No outs.
Runners on first and second base.
Despite such a perfect scoring opportunity, the Seido High School Baseball Team failed to convert.
Zhang Han, in particular, became the turning point. As one of Seido's power hitters, he had been forced into a double play, instantly killing the rally.
Coach Kataoka didn't say anything on the surface. But deep down, this play left a very poor impression.
Ace.
Fourth batter.
Captain.
Ichidai Third High School desperately wanted to shoulder everything onto Kameshima alone.
This alone revealed two things. First, how difficult Ichidai San's situation currently was. Second, just how important Kameshima's position within the team truly was.
There was no doubt about it. He was the core of Ichidai Third High School. And it wasn't just because of his skill.
With Kameshima on the field, Ichidai San visibly gained backbone. The team looked steadier, tougher, and far harder to break. His presence alone organized both offense and defense, constantly increasing pressure on Seido High School Baseball Team.
"How many pitches has Kameshima thrown so far?" Coach Kataoka asked quietly.
"Seventy-eight pitches," came the reply.
Four innings.
Seventy-eight pitches.
Although Ichidai San had managed to suppress Seido's offense, Seido hadn't been completely passive. They had still forced Kameshima to pay a price. That pitch count was already climbing dangerously high.
"Our Hidezawa has also exceeded seventy pitches," another coach added after checking the records.
"Over seventy already?"
Kataoka's tone darkened.
But after thinking it through, he realized it was unavoidable. Both lineups were strong.
Seido's batting order was terrifying, and Ichidai San's lineup was no less formidable.
Especially Kameshima.
Even when he wasn't giving up runs, his presence alone applied tremendous pressure. Every pitch he threw demanded full effort from the opposing batters.
But thankfully, there was one key difference.
Although Hidezawa's velocity, ball speed, control, and changeup were all slightly inferior to Kameshima's, there was one area where he clearly surpassed him.
Stamina. And not by a small margin.
Hidezawa's endurance had always been better.
Now that Kameshima was heavily relying on his gyroball, the gap would only widen. That pitch consumed far more physical strength and placed greater strain on the body.
When Seido's players returned to the dugout, Coach Kataoka gave a new command.
"That guy is too much of an eyesore," he said flatly. "Get him off the field for me."
Everyone understood who he meant.
Kameshima.
Zhang Han's heart skipped a beat.
"Uh… isn't that a bit dangerous?" he muttered.
Because of his love for baseball, Zhang Han occasionally read baseball manga. And phrases like that were almost always spoken by major antagonists.
In those stories, Zhang Han always imagined himself standing with the protagonists.
Now that his team was saying the same thing, it felt oddly thrilling.
Miyuki shot him a sideways glance.
"What nonsense are you thinking about?" he said. "The director means exhausting his pitch count. In simple terms, we drain his stamina."
Zhang Han scratched his head.
"Is that really useful? In manga, the protagonists throw two or three hundred pitches in one game and still look fine."
"That's manga," Miyuki replied dryly. "This is real baseball. Even if stamina holds up, condition won't. Besides…"
He smirked.
"We're the protagonists, aren't we?"
Zhang Han laughed. That sounded surprisingly uplifting.
"Let's go!"
With a shout, the Seido players rushed back onto the field.
The game moved into the top of the fifth inning, with Ichidai Third High School at bat.
Earlier, when Kameshima faced Seido's core lineup of Azuma Kiyokuni, Yuuki, and Zhang Han, he had given up two hits.
But he had adjusted in time. Even with runners on first and second, he hadn't allowed a single run to score. That defensive stand greatly boosted Ichidai San's morale.
One by one, their players stepped up to the plate, eyes blazing. When they looked at Seido's players, it was as if they had red-eye disease.
Especially when staring at Hidezawa. Their gazes were greedy, sharp, as if he were a feast waiting to be devoured.
On the mound, Hidezawa felt it clearly.
"They really think I'm easy prey…"
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Kameshima. A strong competitive spirit surged within him.
At first, when Hidezawa saw Kameshima throw his gyroball, he had felt powerless. For a moment, he even believed that no matter how hard he worked, he would never catch up.
But his teammates' trust had changed him. Kameshima's pitching was certainly terrifying, almost inhuman at times.
But…
An Ace wasn't defined by how flashy his pitches were. An Ace was defined by whether he could lead the team to victory.
Compared to that, individual rivalry meant nothing.
"Whoosh!"
With a calm mind and steady breath, Hidezawa delivered the pitch.
His fastball already carried heavy force. Now, his control had improved enough to paint the corners.
Coupled with Miyuki Kazuya's precise pitch calling, the two formed a perfect partnership.
One plus one was clearly greater than two.
Even Ichidai San's batters felt the pressure.
They swung.
Missed.
Swung again.
Missed again.
Two outs.
No runners on base.
Now, Ichidai Third High School's leadoff batter stepped up.
His heart pounded.
He had known Kameshima and Hidezawa for a long time. He was familiar with their pasts.
In his mind, Kameshima had always been the winner. The protagonist of their generation.
As for Hidezawa…
Aside from being far more handsome, he had lagged behind in almost every other aspect. Talent, opportunity, recognition.
Even Oda himself had once looked down on him.
Every time he saw media reports claiming Hidezawa possessed top-tier pitching in Tokyo, he felt amused. He never understood how people could believe that.
But now, standing in the batter's box, Oda felt it.
"How did this guy get so strong?"
Aside from the gyroball, the current Hidezawa was no longer inferior to Kameshima.
Oda couldn't gain any advantage at all. Let alone dominate him.
"I refuse to lose to someone like this!"
Stubbornness erupted in his chest. After battling through six or seven pitches, Oda finally seized an opening.
"Ping!"
It took three full confrontations before he managed to do it.
Something he never would have imagined before.
The satisfaction surged through him.
The bat flew from his hands as he sprinted forward. But the ball didn't fly deep as he had hoped. Just as it passed over the shortstop's area, a figure was already waiting.
Zhang Han.
He leaped lightly, timing perfect, and caught the ball cleanly in his glove.
"Pop."
"Out!!"
Three outs.
Side retired.
"Nice catch!"
"You rascal!"
The Seido players rushed toward Zhang Han, surrounding him, ruffling his hair and completely ruining his carefully styled look.
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