Chapter 189: Cruel Blow

"Wow~!!"

"Kid, strike him out!"

"Hehehe! Hey kid over there, as long as you can strike out Huangqian, I'll treat you to ice cream!"

"Go for it, kid, we're rooting for you!"

Listening to his teammates' teasing, Huangqian Yangyi felt somewhat helpless.

Sawamura, on the other hand, looked left and right, not quite understanding why these people were cheering for him; weren't they all on the same side?

Hmph, there must be some scheme, I won't fall for it, Sawamura thought, focusing all his attention on the Batter in front of him.

Hoo~

Sawamura took deep, heavy breaths; he didn't feel any aggression from Huangqian Yangyi, but he just felt an inexplicable pressure, as if it were about to swallow him whole. Gritting his teeth against the discomfort in his heart, Sawamura gathered his strength and threw the ball.

Huangqian Yangyi stared at the incoming baseball, not making a move, and the moment the baseball changed trajectory before entering the Home Plate, a black shadow flashed rapidly before Miyuki's eyes.

Bang!

The crisp sound left Sawamura, on the Pitcher's Mound, completely stunned.

"A, a Home Run!"

"Hey, hey, that's too cruel, he's just a middle schooler."

"Picking on the little guy, that despicable Huangqian."

"Bad guy, definitely a bad guy."

"I told you, Huangqian is just like Miyuki, their hearts are both black."

The teammates whispered and complained; such a result was completely within their expectations. This middle school kid clearly had no idea who was standing in the Batter's Box right now.

This was the monster rookie who hit 6 Home Runs at Koshien; if counting from the start of high school, that was 13 Home Runs in half a year.

And this was even with Huangqian having limited appearances.

Ignorance is fearless, indeed.

Poor middle schooler.

"Hey, you really didn't go easy on him," Miyuki asked in a low voice, looking up.

This guy Yangyi hit a Home Run right off the bat, scaring the kid silly.

"I never said I was going to go easy," Huangqian Yangyi said.

Hearing this, Miyuki raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit strange; that shouldn't be right.

In Miyuki's impression, given Huangqian Yangyi's personality, it was impossible for him to treat a newcomer like this, especially a middle schooler.

"I'll explain later, you go adjust his state first," Huangqian Yangyi said.

"Alright!" Miyuki stood up and jogged to the Pitcher's Mound, only to see Sawamura with his eyes glazed over, as if he had lost his soul.

"Hey, don't overthink it. Getting hit for a Home Run by him isn't something to be ashamed of. Let alone you, even the top Pitchers in the entire high school circuit wouldn't dare say they could strike him out." Miyuki felt that saying this should make the guy feel a bit better.

After coming to his senses, Sawamura clenched his hands tightly. This, this is a high schooler? What a terrifying swing! Who exactly is this guy!

"Alright, stop staring at him. Tell me, what kind of pitches can you throw? Let's think of a way to deal with him together." Miyuki patted Sawamura's shoulder, acting overly familiar.

"What? You're on the same side as that guy, aren't you?" Sawamura angrily swatted Miyuki's hand away. Although he didn't have any ill will toward Huangqian Yangyi, no one would be in a good mood after just being hit for a Home Run.

"Well, if you don't cooperate, we absolutely won't be able to defeat him, absolutely!" Miyuki said with certainty.

Sawamura didn't retort for once after hearing this; just one pitch had already made him realize the terror of high school baseball.

However, he wouldn't lose when it came to talking.

"This is a duel between him and me, I don't need your help!"

Hearing this, Miyuki smiled, "What? Didn't you say that baseball is only fun when played with partners? We're partners now, are you planning to play baseball all by yourself?"

Sawamura froze, then his face turned red, "Who, who is your partner!"

"Well~ don't be shy. Come on, tell me, what pitches can you throw?"

With his shoulder held by Miyuki, Sawamura shouted in shame and anger, "I only use my Fastball to decide the outcome!"

"Really?" Miyuki couldn't quite believe it.

"Yeah!" Sawamura snorted through his nose and nodded heavily.

Miyuki was stunned for a long while, then sighed and said, "It's over, we're doomed, there's no saving this."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Sawamura asked.

Miyuki shook his head. Although he didn't know why, with Huangqian Yangyi being so serious, trying to get a Strike against him with a Fastball under 135 km/h—even with a strange tailing movement—was absolutely impossible, even if the Catcher was him.

After all, before that guy's eyes, such speed and movement were practically non-existent.

"Good luck, I'll do my best," Miyuki patted Sawamura's back, his eyes filled with undisguised sympathy.

"Bastard, I knew you were on his side. Just wait, I can beat him on my own," Sawamura shouted.

"Hehehe." Miyuki laughed heartlessly and returned to Home Plate.

Huangqian Yangyi smiled at the sight; although he didn't know exactly what the two had said, Sawamura's fighting spirit seemed to have returned.

Then, the fired-up Sawamura threw a few more pitches; 4 Home Runs, 2 Extra-base Hits—that was the final result.

The teammates watching the spectacle couldn't laugh anymore. It was so cruel, truly too brutal. Treating a middle schooler like this, Huangqian was too cold-hearted.

Must never provoke him in the future! The teammates all felt a chill down their spines.

Looking at Sawamura on the Pitcher's Mound, who looked like he had lost his soul and was left with only a shell, Huangqian Yangyi knew it was about enough; it was time to move to the next stage, otherwise, Takashima Rei would be worried to death.

Carrying his bat, he walked up to Sawamura, and Huangqian Yangyi pressed the bat against Sawamura's chest.

"Sawamura Eijun, right."

"Understand now? If you want to truly go far on this path of baseball, if you want to see the scenery at the top, passion and joy alone are absolutely not enough to get you there."

Sawamura lowered his head and gritted his teeth; everything today had been too much of a shock, and too cruel.

Seeing this, Huangqian Yangyi sighed, feeling a bit soft-hearted.

"Your pitching is still not bad. Don't take today's duel to heart; it's not that you're too weak, but that I am too strong."

Reaching out to place a hand on Sawamura's shoulder, Huangqian Yangyi continued, "I can see your passion for baseball. If you want to test your own abilities and see the scenery from the very top, come to Seido. Although the training here is nothing short of hell, you should enjoy this hell."

Hearing this, Eijun's hands trembled, then he raised his head, his eyes filled with confusion and inner conflict.

"I, I cannot betray the companions in my hometown!" Sawamura said, gritting his teeth.

Huangqian Yangyi smiled; he had finally reached the main point, that wasn't easy.

"Although I don't know how deep the bond between you and your friends is, I ask you: baseball, do you like baseball?"

"Of course I do!"

"Since that's the case, answer me with your hand on your heart: if you don't seize the opportunity before you now and regret it later, are you going to blame your friends for it?!"

"Answer me, look into my eyes, Sawamura Eijun!"