Chapter 337: A Show of Force!!

After Ochiai Hiromitsu finished speaking, the members of the First String all nodded in contemplation.

"Hmm? Did I not speak well? Why aren't they shouting 'Yes'?"

With his quiet voice and soft-spoken manner, Ochiai Hiromitsu was completely unaware that no matter how correct his words were, once they left his mouth, they lacked that certain spark of passion.

After the director and coaches finished their instructions, Huangqian Yangyi led the team out of the locker room and into the dugout on the first-base side.

"They're here!!"

"Oh, oh, oh, oh~!!"

"Seido!!"

"Champions!!"

"Huangqian! You'll be playing today, right!"

"Go Seido!"

"Coach Kataoka!"

Unlike the cheers for their own team on the Seido side, on the opposite side:

"Teito!"

"GO, GO, let's go! Teito!"

"Beat Seido!"

"Beat Huangqian!"

For some reason, among the Teito fans, the chants of "Beat Seido" were even louder than the cheers for their own team.

In the stands behind the first-base dugout, a blond-haired boy and a hooded boy sat side by side.

These were two boys from Daikyo Little League: the starting Catcher, Okumura Koshu, and the starting Second Baseman, Seto Takuma.

"Haha, as expected of a clash between powerhouses; the stands are full even with the rain during the first round."

Seto Takuma sat down with a laugh, leaning forward to look around.

"Not surprising, I suppose. After all, it's the strongest matchup between the East and West districts, and Seido is a three-peat Koshien champion; this level of attention is only natural."

Beside Seto Takuma, the blond-haired, serious-looking Okumura Koshu said quietly.

"You're right!"

"But Koshu, why did you suddenly want to come watch this game today? It's so strange." Seto Takuma turned his head to say this. As best friends, he knew this quiet, brooding boy of his too well; usually, he rarely went out except for training.

Okumura Koshu nodded: "A feeling."

"A feeling? What does that mean?"

"Whoever wins this game, that's where I'll go."

"Is that so... What?!!"

Seto Takuma was startled. Whoever wins, that's where he'll go? Is he being that reckless?

One must know that as the core Catcher and Second Baseman of Daikyo Little League, they had received invitations from quite a few powerhouses, such as Kanaharu, Yokogaku, Kohodai Sagami...

As for Seido, although they were very strong, because of their geographical location, neither of them had considered them before.

He wanted to say something, but seeing the flicker of excitement in Okumura Koshu's eyes, Seto Takuma knew that he, too, would be a Seido person in the future.

Saying something like "whoever wins is where I'll go"?

Isn't that just nonsense? In this game, the win probability between Seido and Teito is at least 70-30!

After another round of cheering, the players from both sides entered the field.

"Line up!"

"Salute!"

"Please treat us well!!"

The tall, upright figures of the boys from both teams stood facing each other on the field under the light rain.

Huangqian Yangyi shook hands with Inui Kengo, his peripheral vision catching Mukai Taiyo, who happened to be looking over as well.

Sensing the provocation in the other's eyes, Huangqian Yangyi lifted his chin slightly.

Kids these days really don't know how to respect their seniors at all.

At the same time, the starting lineups for both teams appeared on the scoreboard.

"Good!"

"It really is Huangqian starting!"

"Ace-sama! Crush them!"

"Captain! You have to win!"

"Haha, our Overlord is starting; Teito is going to suffer today."

Seeing Huangqian Yangyi appear in the starting lineup, the Seido fans all looked toward the Teito High School side with malicious intent.

Because one is in East Tokyo and the other in West Tokyo, compared to Inashiro Industrial and Ichidai Sanko, Teito High School had almost never been ravaged by Seido High School.

This time, they had to let Teito taste that flavor too; share the rain and dew equally, after all.

Top of the first inning, Teito High School attacks first.

Putting on his glove, Huangqian Yangyi loosened his shoulders, preparing to take the field.

"Huangqian-kun, the weather isn't good today, and you've also been resting for a while. You don't need to pitch too aggressively at the start; just play it steady and get the outs," Ochiai Hiromitsu said.

"Right, I know."

"Hmm, Teito's batting lineup is also quite high-level and very good at sticking around. Also, their 4th batter, Inui Kengo, is a national-level slugger. Be careful not to get tangled up with them; you can slow down the pitch speed, but your pitch placement must be aggressive."

Huangqian Yangyi nodded. Ochiai Hiromitsu was right; he was standing on the Pitcher's Mound again after more than a month, and with this hellish weather, it was better to be careful.

As for Inui Kengo, he was very concerned; this was a super slugger who, in the original story, had hit a Home Run off a Narumiya Mei in top form!

Stepping onto the field, the fans in the stands chanted Huangqian Yangyi's name in unison.

Walking to the front of the team, Huangqian Yangyi and Miyuki simultaneously raised their hands and bumped their fists together.

"Let's go together, partner!"

The Autumn Tournament, the first game of the main tournament, the Seido Twins, the King's battery, reunited once again!

"Now! In the first round of the Tokyo Autumn Tournament main tournament, the two teams are the kings from West Tokyo, Seido High School, and the overlords from East Tokyo, Teito High School. Top of the first inning, Teito High School is on offense first. We can see that the one standing on the Pitcher's Mound representing Seido High School is Seido's absolute ace, the undefeated Overlord, the Fourth Batter and Captain—Huangqian Yangyi!!"

"After a month and a half of rest since the Summer Koshien final, the Overlord has appeared on the Pitcher's Mound once again. This time, what kind of brilliant performance will he bring us!"

Standing on the Pitcher's Mound, Huangqian Yangyi looked at Teito's leadoff Batter.

"Playball!"

As the umpire's voice fell, Miyuki gave the pitch selection immediately.

"First pitch! Inside high, a straight Fastball! Come on, let's say hello!"

Huangqian Yangyi nodded and quickly lifted his left leg; his muscle-filled body was incredibly relaxed at this moment. After taking a step forward, the moment his arm whipped around, the little white ball seemed to break through dimensions, possessing a terrifying momentum like a fierce beast.

Whoosh!!

Pop!

"Strike!!"

The Batter swung and missed; even though he had been prepared, his swing was still too slow!

"158 kilometers!"

Huangqian Yangyi started off by using a blazing Fastball to say hello to Teito High School, or rather, to give them a show of force.

Looking provocatively toward the dugout on the Third Base side at Mukai Taiyo, Huangqian Yangyi curled his lips into a smile.

Next, the second pitch, an outside low Cutter Slider.

The third pitch, a Forkball.

"Strike!"

"Strikeout!"

Compared to the first pitch, the speed of the following two pitches was much slower, both around 150 kilometers, but such speed, combined with precise control, was already enough to leave Teito High School's leadoff hitter helpless.