Chapter 306: Heart-Breaking Home Run

The game remained deadlocked into the seventh inning without a score, and Huangqian Yangyi could not help but feel a bit anxious; this was the first time such a situation had occurred since he entered high school.

It must be said that Inashiro's defense was truly airtight, especially under the leadership of an evolved Narumiya Mei, which was completely on par with any team in the country—a strength that was undeniably championship-level.

Even a team as flourishing as Seido would find it difficult to score against them.

In the Batter's Box, Yuki Tetsuya knew very well that if he could not score in this turn at bat, the next time it would be his turn would be at least the ninth inning, and if he failed to reach base to advance the lineup, he might not even have another chance to bat.

He had to seize the opportunity before him!

Harada Masatoshi and Narumiya Mei also understood this point; they knew in their hearts that as long as they survived this inning, the pressure afterward would be much lighter.

Mei!

End him here!

Harada Masatoshi extended his hand and began to signal.

On the Pitcher's Mound, Narumiya Mei nodded slightly, glanced at Yuki Tetsuya, and then threw the baseball.

The rapidly flying baseball and the forcefully swung bat met in front of home plate; as the baseball dipped, Yuki Tetsuya pressed his legs down, lowering his center of gravity significantly.

Bang!!

Yuki Tetsuya blasted a heavy shot with an extremely awkward posture, and the baseball flew like a laser from low to high over the infield.

How is that possible! Narumiya Mei's pupils dilated, looking back at the little white ball in the sky.

The baseball flew at high speed, heading straight for the corner of the Left Fielder, and landed in front of the wall.

"Jiecheng!!"

"Captain!!"

A soul-stirring hit; the fans in the stands stood up excitedly, and Yuki Tetsuya quickly charged directly to Second Base.

The Seido 4th-batter Captain, with the game at a stalemate, blasted a double, contributing a precious scoring opportunity for the team.

"Huangqian! It's up to you!"

"Send Jiecheng home!"

"Home Run!"

Amidst the cheers of teammates and fans, Huangqian Yangyi walked to the Batter's Box carrying his bat.

"I didn't expect it, hit on the very first pitch," Huangqian Yangyi said, lowering his head.

"Hmph!"

Harada Masatoshi did not speak; Yuki Tetsuya's swing just now had also surprised him. It was truly powerful explosive force; to be able to hit the ball that far with such an awkward posture.

Seeing Harada Masatoshi ignore him, Huangqian Yangyi did not mind, turning his head to look at the Pitcher's Mound, where there was still an angry little blond.

Raising his bat, Huangqian Yangyi wiped the smile from his face, just waiting quietly for Narumiya Mei to pitch.

Soon, after adjusting his mindset, Narumiya Mei saw the signal given by Harada Masatoshi: an outside forkball.

Whoosh~

Narumiya Mei focused all his attention as he lifted his leg and swung his arm, and the baseball flew toward home plate.

Huangqian Yangyi aimed at the trajectory and swung his bat.

Snap!

"Strike!"

"Tsk, a forkball, huh." Huangqian Yangyi muttered as he pulled back his bat.

Harada Masatoshi looked up at Huangqian Yangyi; although the ball hadn't been hit, the momentum of the swing was even more intense than Yuki Tetsuya's.

Even after dueling so many times and losing so many times, Harada Masatoshi still could not understand how there could be such a monstrous person in this world. Clearly, he was a genius, and Narumiya Mei was a genius, yet they were held down firmly by this one person.

Taking a deep breath, Harada Masatoshi's gaze became more determined. He didn't mind for himself; although he wasn't a starter in his First Year, he had still joined the team as a regular to enter the Summer Koshien. But Narumiya Mei was different; he was a guy more talented than most. If he didn't make it to the Summer Koshien even once in his three years of high school, how regrettable that would be.

Not for himself, but for Narumiya Mei, Harada Masatoshi would never allow them to lose this game.

Patting his glove heavily, Harada Masatoshi began to signal.

Having secured one strike, Narumiya Mei did not relax at all; he knew in his heart that until he truly struck out Huangqian Yangyi, the crisis remained.

For the second pitch, Narumiya Mei still brought out his best state to throw the ball toward home plate.

Swish!

The bat swung out; Huangqian Yangyi aimed at the trajectory and swung toward the high outside corner. It was a slider, and it was hit and flew out just as it entered home plate.

Huangqian Yangyi dropped his bat and was just about to sprint, but the baseball flew out of bounds along the First Base line.

"Damn it, so annoying." Huangqian Yangyi bent down to pick up his bat and returned to the Batter's Box with an unhappy face.

Whoosh~~

Harada Masatoshi let out a long breath. That ball was so far, almost flying to the corner of the Right Fielder; fortunately, it went out of bounds.

On the Pitcher's Mound, Narumiya Mei's heart had also stopped for a moment when the ball was hit. It was a bad ball; tricking him into swinging was fine, but what was up with hitting it so far?

Fortunately, the baseball ultimately went out of bounds, otherwise... Narumiya Mei looked back at Yuki Tetsuya, fearing that he would have charged straight back to home plate.

After the relief, Narumiya Mei looked at the Batter's Box. He knew that Huangqian Yangyi was serious now. At this point in the game, whichever side scored first would occupy a huge advantage, perhaps even sealing the victory.

He had the determination not to let the opponent get a hit, and the opponent held the belief that he must reach base; in the end, it would depend on who was superior.

Come on, third pitch!

Harada Masatoshi gave the signal: Reverse Changeup!

Narumiya Mei nodded. This pitch, specifically used to deal with Huangqian Yangyi, had only been thrown once this game, and he believed it would have a great effect this time as well.

Without much hesitation, Narumiya Mei changed his grip and threw the ball.

In the Batter's Box, Huangqian Yangyi's mouth curled up. The moment the baseball flew out, he had already seen it was a changeup, but the question was, was it a Circle Changeup or a Reverse Changeup? This would be hard to guess under normal circumstances.

But now, with a runner on Second Base and two strikes, just one step away from being struck out, Narumiya Mei would definitely bring out what he considered his best weapon: the Reverse Changeup.

Making up his mind, Huangqian Yangyi exerted force from his feet and rotated his body. The bat in his hands whipped up a great wind, and after the baseball dipped and shifted, he struck it accurately.

Boom!!

The sound of the bat striking the baseball mingled with the sound of Harada Masatoshi's heart breaking, and the little white ball flew high into the sky.

The spectators also looked up at the sky together; illuminated by the sunlight, the little white ball flew toward the Center Fielder, it was going out, and the Seido fans were filled with anticipation.

As the little white ball shot into the stands, the entire stadium instantly erupted.

"Whoa!!!!!"

"Roar!!"

"Home Run!!"

"Huangqian!!"

"Ace!!"

"Seido!!!"

The fans in the stands shouted at the top of their lungs, chanting slogans in perfect unison, and the Seido student cheering squad even began singing Huangqian Yangyi's personal song, accompanied by the brass band playing along.