[383] Seiichi's Strength

Chapter 383: Seiichi's Strength

"Whoosh"

When that dazzling flash of light streaked through the air, the hearts of everyone present were instantly gripped, especially those from Ugumori. Matsubara clutched his wheelchair tightly. Will it go out? Will this ball clear the fence!?

Seidou's ace, Sawamura Eijun, might just replicate his first at-bat against Teito in this game.

A leadoff home run.

If it goes out, the momentum will completely swing in Seidou High's favor. For Ugumori High, that would be nothing short of a disastrous start.

Of course, this suspense lasted less than a second.

"Plop."

The radiant light, after cutting through the infield and outfield skies, ultimately landed just beyond the left field boundary line.

As the sound rang out, most people expressed regret while Ugumori High collectively sighed in relief.

Even Seiichi, usually composed and meticulous, felt his heart tighten at that moment. If the first pitch had been blasted out, the game would've been over before it began.

"Foul!"

After confirming it was a foul ball, Kuramochi, who had started running, casually returned to the base.

In that brief moment, even Kuramochi thought it would clear the fence.

Only Eijun himself and a select few experienced individuals knew that the ball had no chance of going out. Even the odds of it staying fair were slim.

Looking at Eijun's batting stance and the height, speed, and especially the angle of the ball's trajectory, it was clear.

"While the pitch isn't fast, the control is surprisingly good. This guy throws with a finesse that's completely at odds with his appearance. If I recall, that's exactly how he fooled Inashiro Industrial in the original story."

Eijun lightly waved his bat, then gripped it firmly once more. His sharp gaze fixed on the pitcher's mound.

Such keen instincts, decisive judgment, and now such formidable power—could Seidou's ace really be this overwhelming?

For the first time, Seiichi felt a sense of admiration for another player. Of course, it was just admiration. No matter how strong the opponent, Seiichi never allowed himself to feel fear. He had his own goals to reach, his own dreams to fulfill—not just for himself, but for…

"Whoosh!"

In that moment of raising his arm, it was a clear expression of the pitcher's own will.

The brilliance flared, a roaring, dazzling streak of light.

"Shush."

"Clang."

"Bang."

"Foul!"

"Whoosh."

"Pop."

"Ball."

"Whoosh."

"Clang."

"Bang."

"Foul!"

All the pitches were coming in at tricky angles! Were they planning a surprise attack with that particular pitch?

Eijun gritted his teeth, swinging his bat with all his might.

Still relying on Kuramochi's senses.

Having faced numerous elite pitchers whose speeds were generally 135+ or even 140+ km/h, adjusting to Seiichi's pitching was truly challenging right from the start.

Especially with the occasional unexpected pitch mixed in.

"Whoosh"

Here it comes again!

Eijun's pupils narrowed as he abruptly halted his steps. With a sudden burst of strength, he swung his bat in what felt like a brief pause, delaying the motion just enough to meet the wandering ball.

"Clang."

A slow curveball.

That pitcher's specialty.

"Whoosh."

"Bang."

"Foul!"

A tricky fastball paired with a slow curve—this guy's control is surprisingly sharp. At first, I thought he'd rely on that powerful curve right away.

Hmm, to borrow Miyuki's words from the original story, it's like a slightly altered version of a vertical slider. (In the original series, around episode 90 at the 4-minute mark, Seiichi refers to it as a power curveball, and Miyuki calls it something similar—though translations might vary, the key point is that the breaking ball is clearly a curve or slider.) This phenomenon isn't unusual; a pitcher's body type, grip, finger length and width, release timing, angle, and height all affect how a breaking ball moves.

That's why Seiichi calls his go-to pitch a "power curveball." It's distinct enough to warrant its own name.

This pitch certainly demands full caution.

But there's no need to rush. We have the upper hand now. If we just wait patiently…

"Boom!"

A flash of light and a swing of the arm.

"Whoosh."

As Eijun pondered his next move, a new sensation came rushing toward him.

A fierce light from the ball.

A sharp, cutting presence.

Confronted by that glimmering ball, Eijun could sense its icy, biting aura.

Here it is, that pitcher's true finishing pitch!

Eijun's steps moved, his body twisted, and memories from the original story flashed in his mind. He quickly recreated the scenario as closely as possible and prepared his body for the challenge.

His lower body remained tense.

The form had to be perfect, or the power wouldn't transfer properly to the bat.

A leaping figure.

The metallic bat gleamed in the light.

In the next moment, the bat caught the ball's glow.

"Ping!"

From the pitcher's mound, Seiichi's pupils contracted sharply.

The bat and ball made intimate contact.

A loud crack echoed.

But.

At the moment of impact, Eijun's expression changed.

Damn it, the angle is trickier than I expected.

Eijun's eyes flashed with frustration, not satisfaction.

"Whoosh."

The ball deflected sharply, bouncing hard off the ground.

Eijun quickly discarded the bat and sprinted toward first base.

Unfortunately, the ball's trajectory was just too unlucky.

Seiichi reached out, snatching the ball firmly into his glove.

From the corner of his eye, Kuramochi froze at third base, unable to move.

"Whoosh."

"Pop."

Throwing to second, then to first.

"Whoosh."

"Pop!"

"Out! Double play!"

Flawless infield defense.

Haruichi, forced to advance, and Eijun, racing to first, were both eliminated on the spot.

"Whoa! Nice play, Sei!"

"Haha, double play! Great work, Kondou."

"Sei, that was fantastic!"

"Yeah, keep it up, Sei!"

For most of Ugumori High, there was a surge of joy.

But on the mound, Seiichi's expression was serious. He glanced at Eijun near first base, who let out a quiet sigh.

This guy is like a prodigy, isn't he?

That thought crossed Seiichi's mind.

What he didn't know, of course, was that Eijun's reaction was only possible because he had prepared himself in advance. Otherwise, he'd have been easily struck out or caught.

"That last pitch—what was it?"

As they passed through the on-deck circle, Miyuki, wearing a stern expression, asked.

"Something like a vertical slider, I guess. But the break was even sharper, and the pitch had a lot of tailing force. It broke really hard," Eijun said, exhaling deeply.