Chapter 121: Advancement!

"Pop!"

"Strike!"

The final movement of the baseball avoided Shinkawa Kenichi's bat.

Swinging at air, a trace of nervousness finally appeared on Shinkawa Kenichi's face.

Top of the ninth, two outs, two strikes; if they failed to get a hit on just one more pitch, Inashiro would lose this game and miss out on Koshien!

"One more pitch to go!!"

The Seido fans roared again, and opposite them, behind the Inashiro dugout, the Inashiro fans were not to be outdone, likewise shouting to cheer on Shinkawa Kenichi.

Amidst the noise, Huangqian Yangyi began his pitch quickly after seeing Miyuki's sign, and the little white ball flew out—it was an inside two-seam fastball.

Just as Miyuki set his glove, before Shinkawa Kenichi could even bring his bat back, Haneda Kazuki had already dashed toward second base!

It's a stolen base!!

At the same time, Shinkawa Kenichi's bat swung out.

Bang!

Amidst the crisp sound of impact, the baseball slammed into the ground and bounced toward second base.

Kominato Ryosuke quickly stepped forward to pick up the baseball and threw it to first base, completely ignoring Haneda Kazuki who was stealing; as long as they got Shinkawa Kenichi out, the game would be over.

The little white ball and Shinkawa Kenichi were both rapidly approaching first base; the Inashiro and Seido fans had their mouths wide open, staring intently without daring to blink, terrified of missing this decisive moment.

"Pop!"

The baseball entered the glove, and almost at the same time, Shinkawa Kenichi touched the first base bag.

The entire stadium became incomparably quiet at this moment, and two seconds later, the umpire's voice rang out.

"Out!!"

As the words fell, Shinkawa Kenichi on the first base bag collapsed to the ground as if his soul had been drained away.

In the Inashiro spectator stands and the dugout, there was silence, and sobbing sounds gradually emerged, eventually merging into one.

Especially the third-year players of Inashiro were crying the most sorrowfully; their summer had ended.

Among the others, the one crying the loudest was Narumiya Mei; in this game, his performance could not have been more perfect, as he had not given up a single run and had successfully suppressed the Seido batting lineup.

Yet at this moment, Narumiya Mei was slumped over the railing, crying until he was out of breath.

Hearing his weeping, the Inashiro third-year ace Matsumoto Takuhai felt incredibly remorseful; it was him, it was he who had given up runs in the first half of the game.

"I'm sorry."

Matsumoto Takuhai suddenly bowed deeply toward his teammates.

Hearing Matsumoto Takuhai's apology, everyone from Inashiro gathered around, and when they helped Matsumoto Takuhai up, they saw that the ace's face was already drenched in tears, and he collapsed limply against his teammates.

Seeing his appearance, everyone in Inashiro felt incredibly guilty; yes, it was true that Matsumoto Takuhai had given up runs, but could he be blamed for that? Compared to the runs Matsumoto Takuhai gave up, they themselves had achieved absolutely nothing on the batting end; if one had to blame someone for losing the game today, every one of them had a responsibility.

Unlike the sorrowful atmosphere on the Inashiro side, everyone on the Seido High School Baseball Team, having won the game, went wild; the players on the field swarmed toward the pitcher's mound, and the substitute players in the dugout also rushed onto the field.

They were truly too excited!

"We won, we really won." Takashima Rei's lips trembled; this was clearly just a semi-final, yet she could not control her emotions at all.

How long had it been since Seido had entered the final of the Summer Tournament? Takashima Rei did not want to think about it.

Beside her, Department Head Ota had slumped into his chair the moment the game ended, pressing his chest with one hand and gasping for air.

Standing outside the dugout, Coach Kataoka's hands were also trembling slightly at this moment.

"You did it, Huangqian."

Chris smiled slightly and closed the notebook in his hand, his eyes revealing a touch of gratification, and also a hint of regret.

On the field, teammates surrounded Huangqian Yangyi in the center, and large hands landed on his head one after another.

"Well done!"

"That was beautiful, Huangqian!"

"We won!"

Huangqian Yangyi laughed happily, celebrating the victory of the game with his teammates.

"West Tokyo Summer Regional Tournament semi-finals, the game between Seido High School and Inashiro Industrial High School, the winner is Seido High School! Score 2:1!!"

With a difference of only one run, one team advanced, while the other had to endure the pain of defeat.

When the two teams shook hands, Narumiya Mei kept his head low, still crying softly.

Huangqian Yangyi held his hand, and the mocking trash talk he had thought of before the game could not be spoken at this moment.

Thus, he said nothing, and just as he was about to let go of Narumiya Mei's hand, Narumiya Mei gripped it tightly and then raised his head.

"Next time, the ones entering Koshien will be us!"

Huangqian Yangyi was stunned, then said: "I'll be waiting for you."

"Don't you dare lose to Ichidai Sanko! If you beat us and then dare to lose to them, I'll make you pay!" Narumiya Mei said.

"Rest assured, today's champion will definitely be Seido!" Huangqian Yangyi said.

Narumiya Mei understood what Huangqian Yangyi meant; the champion was not the champion of the Summer Tournament, but the champion of Koshien!

"You'd better be! It will be even more interesting to defeat a Seido like that!" Narumiya Mei said.

Huangqian Yangyi smiled and said: "How much longer do you want to hold on?"

Uh...

Narumiya Mei hurriedly let go, shaking his hand vigorously as if he had touched something filthy.

After the handshakes were finished, the Seido players circled the field to thank the spectators.

After everything ended, the team walked out of the stadium under the leadership of Coach Kataoka, and as soon as they appeared, a large crowd of reporters swarmed over.

Outside Jingu Stadium, Department Head Ota and Department Head Takashima Rei led several assistant coaches to quickly escort all the players onto the bus, while Coach Kataoka was surrounded by reporters.

"Coach Kataoka, Seido has won the semi-final, what are your thoughts right now?" a reporter asked.

"Gratifying," Director Kataoka said coldly.

"Seido has defeated Inashiro and will face Ichidai Sanko in the next game. How does Director Kataoka view the finals? Do you have any specific strategies for Ichidai Sanko?"

Director Kataoka glanced at this reporter; the question was asked with too little professionalism.

"The second Semi-finals match hasn't been played yet; how do you know it will be Ichidai Sanko advancing to the finals?" Director Kataoka said.

"This..."

The reporter couldn't answer for a moment. Was this not common knowledge? Wouldn't that show a lack of respect for the other school?

After answering a few more relaxed questions, Director Kataoka finally boarded the bus, and Department Head Ota hurriedly closed the door, fearing these reporters would squeeze onto the vehicle.

After returning to the school, Director Kataoka dismissed everyone to go back and get some good rest, especially the two Pitchers, Nanjo Taishi and Huangqian Yangyi, as they were the ones who had expended the most in today's Semi-finals.

The team members dispersed in a hubbub, walking toward the dormitories in twos and threes.

Watching the backs of the youths, a smile finally appeared on Director Kataoka's face.