Chapter 217: Spring Tournament Champion

"Damn it!"

Harada Masatoshi had not expected that such a tricky pitch would be easily tracked by the opponent, and that they would hit it so far despite being in a position where it was difficult to generate power.

"Yeah-ha! Run, Kominato-senpai!" Kuramochi Yoichi shouted from the sidelines.

Kominato Ryosuke sprinted past third base just as the baseball hit the ground.

"Run!!"

The voice of the base-running coach rang out, and Kominato Ryosuke did not stop for a single step, charging toward home plate once more.

The baseball was relayed from the outfield to the second baseman, who quickly turned and threw the ball to Harada Masatoshi.

"Hurry!!"

Fans from both sides shouted at the same time; Kominato Ryosuke and the baseball were both closing in on home plate. In the end, Kominato Ryosuke touched the home plate base first, successfully scoring a run for Seido.

"Oh!!!"

All the Seido fans stood up and cheered loudly. One run—the game had reached the eighth inning, and they had finally scored a run.

Meanwhile, the Inashiro fans were silent. One run—don't underestimate it as just one run; they all knew in their hearts how difficult it would be to take this run back.

On the pitcher's mound, Narumiya Mei looked at Kominato Ryosuke with frustration. The game had reached its final stages, and he still hadn't been able to hold them off completely.

In the Inashiro dugout, Coach Kunitomo's brow was furrowed into a straight line. Giving up a run at this moment was very hard for Inashiro to bear.

With one out and a runner on first, Narumiya Mei glared fiercely at Huangqian Yangyi, who was walking toward the batter's box carrying his bat.

After taking deep breaths to readjust his state, Narumiya Mei tried hard not to be affected by the run he had just given up, throwing each pitch steadily and firmly. Huangqian Yangyi hit one ball foul and swung and missed at another, bringing the count to two strikes.

Bang!

On the third pitch, Huangqian Yangyi tracked the changeup thrown by Narumiya Mei, but unfortunately, because his hitting rhythm was disrupted, he couldn't generate good power. The baseball flew high into the air—it was an infield fly ball.

"Out!"

The baseball was caught by Inashiro second baseman Hirai Tsubasa, and Huangqian Yangyi was out on a flyout.

Having dealt with Huangqian Yangyi, Narumiya Mei didn't feel much joy. The run had already been given up; he just wanted to quickly close out this inning and take the run back in the ninth.

Sixth batter Miyuki Kazuya stepped into the batter's box. Although there were runners on base, it was clear that Miyuki's passive approach didn't work this time—three pitches, three strikes.

The eighth inning ended, and the battle between the two sides reached its final climax.

Top of the ninth, Inashiro's turn to attack. This was their last chance to attack; if they couldn't score a run in this inning, today's game would be declared over right here.

Compared to the players, most of the fans no longer held any expectations. As the sixth batter was easily dealt with by Huangqian Yangyi, the seventh batter who followed also failed to hit a base hit.

By the time the last person stepped into the batter's box, the Inashiro supporters were already sighing and didn't want to watch anymore.

Pop!

"Strike!"

"Strike!"

"Strike!"

"Strikeout!"

"Game over! In the Spring Tokyo Tournament final, Seido High School versus Inashiro Industrial High School, the champion is Seido High School!!"

As the voice faded, the Seido players rushed onto the field to celebrate.

Although the Inashiro players were frustrated, they weren't overly sorrowful. After all, this was just the Spring Tournament.

Even though the champion and runner-up of the Spring Tournament determined the spots for the Kanto Tournament, it didn't matter much for Inashiro, who had made it to the final four in the Spring Koshien; they were already qualified for the Kanto Tournament, and the same was true for Seido.

Watching the Seido group celebrating on the field, Narumiya Mei walked out from the Inashiro team and came step by step to stand in front of Huangqian Yangyi.

"Huangqian."

Narumiya Mei shouted, looking straight ahead.

Huangqian Yangyi turned around and smiled at Narumiya Mei.

"Congratulations, you won again," Narumiya Mei said softly, his eyes filled with frustration but still full of fighting spirit.

"Thanks," Huangqian Yangyi smiled.

"Next time, when we compete again, I will definitely win!" Narumiya Mei looked at Huangqian Yangyi with determined eyes.

"I'll be waiting," Huangqian Yangyi said.

Narumiya Mei nodded and turned to look at Miyuki, "See you at the Kanto Tournament."

"See you at the Kanto Tournament," Miyuki said.

After a simple celebration, the Seido group boarded the bus to return to school.

Although the Spring Tournament didn't carry much weight, every little bit counts, and since it was a championship after all, the school arranged a grand celebration ceremony for everyone.

The cafeteria was filled with plenty of food, and the First Year kids also got to enjoy a good meal.

"I didn't expect we would only win by one run in the end. That guy Narumiya Mei is evolving too fast," Huangqian Yangyi said while eating.

Miyuki, sitting nearby, nodded, "He is quite hard to deal with. But I didn't expect you wouldn't be able to get a hit. Is your condition not good?"

Hearing this, the people eating around them all looked over.

Huangqian Yangyi shook his head, "Of course not. You guys don't think I can just hit it whenever I want, right? That's Narumiya Mei and Harada Masatoshi; both the pitcher and the catcher are the top-tier among high school students."

"Besides, I was already exhausted just from pitching, so it's normal for my hitting condition to fluctuate a bit."

Hearing this, Miyuki nodded thoughtfully. That was true; in a single game, it was already very difficult to concentrate on pitching well, and it was impossible to expect Huangqian Yangyi to maintain his best state in both pitching and hitting at all times.

After the lively celebration ended, the group gradually dispersed. Huangqian Yangyi rubbed his full stomach and returned to the dormitory with Arima Kazusa.

The kid enthusiastically pulled out a chair for Huangqian Yangyi to sit down, then brought over a glass of water and handed it to him, and finally started playing the violin directly.

Huangqian Yangyi enjoyed the service from his junior, listening to the pleasant music, but the corners of his mouth curled up involuntarily.

What does this kid want?

Soon, the song ended. Huangqian Yangyi put down the glass in his hand and said, "Arima, if you have something to say, just say it."

Arima Kazusa hurriedly put down the violin upon hearing this and said with an eager face, "Huangqian-senpai, I want to hit your changeup."

"Oh? Why?" Huangqian Yangyi looked at Arima Kazusa in confusion. Wanting to hit a Changeup? What kind of strange request was this?

"Never hit one before!" the child's answer was plain and simple.

"How about this: tomorrow night at the Indoor Training Ground, Chris-senpai happens to be teaching Sawamura some things about being a Pitcher, so you can call Kominato along too, and I'll let you all have a try at hitting them," Huangqian Yangyi said.

Huangqian Yangyi had always been very indulgent toward these few First Year juniors; as long as he had the time and it didn't interfere with his regular training, he generally wouldn't refuse.

"Thank you, Senior!"

"Let's go, let's go take a bath, and help me knead my shoulders," Huangqian Yangyi said as he picked up his washbasin and stood up.

"You got it!" Arima Kazusa shouted like a little sidekick.

They went next door to call Miyuki, Kuramochi, and the others, and the army of straight guys marched boisterously toward the bathhouse.