[382] The Hard-Fought Battle Against Ugumori

Chapter 382: The Hard-Fought Battle Against Ugumori

"Safe on base!"

Whoa, that was fast!

The instant Kuramochi reached base, Seiichi on the mound couldn't hide his dramatic reaction. His usually fierce expression gave way to a comically surprised look.

Honestly, you could almost call it a charming contrast.

"Nice job, Mr. Cheetah."

"Perfect base running, Kuramochi. That's how you play to your strengths."

"Exactly, exactly. That's your one good skill, isn't it?"

"Kuramochi, keep it up!"

"You punks! What's that supposed to mean, 'the one thing I'm good at?' I won't stand for it!"

Back in the dugout, as Kuramochi reached base, the Seidou High players wore wide smiles. Kuramochi on base basically meant a run was as good as scored.

An 80% scoring rate.

That was a solid stat.

It's why even powerhouse teams, when faced with a bases-loaded situation, would rather not let Kuramochi on base. The guy's base-running was too dangerous. When it came to stealing bases, the odds were usually around 70/30, sometimes even 80/20 in his favor.

Only elite teams with exceptional catchers like Miyuki, Kengo, or Renji had a chance of stopping him.

Other teams? Sorry, you'd just have to watch him push forward, base by base.

Like now.

Kuramochi stood, fidgeting with anticipation. His aggressive lead from first base made Seiichi and the Ugumori players flinch slightly. The guy was a real headache.

"This is tough. I underestimated this runner's speed," Matsubara Nao muttered from the dugout, rubbing his temples and showing a pained expression.

"Second batter, second baseman, Kominato."

No hesitation. Swing at the first pitch. If there's an opportunity, steal. Don't fear the risk.

Keep up the aggressive play.

In the dugout, Coach Kataoka rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then made a small fist and tapped it against his chest twice before adjusting his cap.

On the field, Kuramochi and Haruichi both adjusted their caps as well.

"Focus on the batter. If the runner tries to steal, let him steal. Prioritize getting the batter out," Matsubara instructed from the dugout.

Stopping Kuramochi seemed unlikely.

So, they'd shift their focus to the batter. Not that they'd completely ignore Kuramochi's attempts, but they would place their primary attention on the hitter in the box. Kuramochi's actions would be left to chance.

The crouched, focused leopard—Kuramochi—fixed his sharp gaze on the pitcher's mound. His intense eyes made Seiichi feel unusually uncomfortable.

"Play ball!" the umpire's call rang out.

Seiichi's arm moved swiftly.

As soon as his leg lifted—

Whoosh!

Like the wind, like lightning.

Kuramochi seized the moment and took off for second base.

"He's stealing!"

"No, it's a hit-and-run!"

Just as Kuramochi bolted from the base, a wave of gasps rippled through the crowd in the stands.

Whoosh.

As the ball neared the plate, Haruichi's bat swung into motion.

Ping!

A sharp, crisp sound rang out. Haruichi had timed it perfectly, making clean contact.

Whoosh.

A brilliant white streak shot high into the air.

Seiichi's face changed as he leaped to intercept the soaring ball. But the distance, the speed, the sheer momentum—it was all too much. Seiichi couldn't reach it.

Whoosh.

The ball zipped past the infield, landing squarely between left and center field.

Thump.

As the ball hit the ground, Haruichi safely reached first base, while Kuramochi sprinted all the way to third.

No outs. Runners on first and third. After a bold defensive performance in the top half of the inning, Seidou High's offense now unleashed its commanding presence.

"Batting third, center fielder, Sawamura."

"No outs, runners on the corners. In the best possible situation, Seidou High's lineup brings up their third batter, their ace, Eijun Sawamura. This is the reigning champion's prime opportunity to strike first!"

Runners on first and third? It really was the worst-case scenario, and now they had to face the toughest hitter in Seidou's lineup.

Seiichi licked his dry lips, his eyes still gleaming with determination.

It seemed that secret weapon wouldn't be kept under wraps until the end. It had to be brought out in this inning. Wasn't that right, Nao?

Seiichi's gaze turned back toward Nao in the dugout.

Nao froze for a moment before nodding slightly. Indeed, now wasn't the time to hold anything back. If Seidou's lineup got rolling here, the entire game would be in jeopardy.

They would have to go head-to-head and take down Seidou's third batter right here.

Otherwise, there'd be no point in continuing.

"Go for it, Seiichi."

"We've got your back. Let him bring it."

"Push forward, Sei."

"You can do it!"

Runners on first and third—by any strong team's standards, this was the time for the cleanup hitter to deliver.

And with Kuramochi on third, the pressure to capitalize on this opportunity was even higher.

Standing in the batter's box, Eijun glanced toward third base, where Kuramochi was poised.

The bond between teammates—especially those sharing the same dorm—created an unspoken understanding.

Without anyone else noticing, Kuramochi seemed to sense Eijun's fleeting glance and met his eyes.

That look alone conveyed the message: as long as he didn't strike out, even a ground ball would do. Kuramochi would charge home and score. Eijun just needed to swing boldly.

"A secret weapon… a powerful curveball. I'd bet half a dollar he's going to use that pitch against me this at-bat."

In the original timeline, that hidden pitch had only been revealed later, against Inashiro Industrial. This time, with Inashiro out of the picture, it was Seidou's turn to face it.

"But it's not an easy pitch to hit."

Eijun took a deep breath, his hands lightly shifting the bat. He'd never actually seen it in person before. In the original timeline, his only exposure had been through a computer screen, relying on a vague recollection of its trajectory.

"Well… here goes nothing."

With a long, measured exhale, his eyes sharpened, a faint golden glow flickering in his gaze. Eijun was locked in.

"Play ball!"

On the mound, Seiichi's expression grew intense. He planted his foot firmly and whipped his arm around, sending the ball hurtling toward the plate.

Whoosh.

A streak of light shot forward.

An inside fastball.

Eijun's eyes widened slightly. He locked on, the light reflecting in his pupils.

"Boom."

Whoosh.

In that split second, a fraction of a second's decision, Eijun twisted his body, dropping the barrel of the bat and controlling his swing's speed. His timing was spot on—absolutely precise.

Ping.

The ball and bat collided with a powerful impact.

At that moment of brilliance, the figure on third—a cheetah ready to pounce—sprang into action!

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