Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 264: The Intense Clash with Kiryuu

"Next pitch, a curveball, Tachi. Make sure to keep it low and precise."

Perhaps due to the precise control of his pitching, the umpire, though strict with calls on low balls, no longer seemed biased as he had been earlier, when borderline pitches were consistently called balls.

This shift was good news for Kiryuu High's battery.

Noticing this, Shibata adjusted his pitching strategy once again. When Tachi received the signal, he pressed his lips together and nodded slightly.

The left leg moved, the right arm swung.

Whoosh

That fierce smile, combined with his movements, made him look even more terrifying.

A streak of icy light shot forward.

Swish

Unyielding and unflinching, Isashiki, the third batter, demonstrated his determination. Fixated on the pitch, Isashiki Jun swung his bat with all his might.

Under the blazing sun, the metal bat gleamed coldly, its sheen sharp and biting.

Bang

Bang

The booming sound reverberated, pulling at Shibata's nerves at home plate. The approaching ball, the swinging bat—

Whoosh

Pop

The ball arched gracefully in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the bat and landing squarely in Shibata's glove.

At the same time, Shibata exhaled quietly, though his expression remained composed.

"Strike!!!"

A curveball?!

Even in the middle innings, this guy's control is still so steady.

What an incredible player!

Isashiki Jun's wide eyes, bloodshot with intensity, locked onto his opponent like a predator eyeing its prey.

Yet, his mind remained calm and collected.

In any situation, make the right judgment.

As Seidou's third batter, Isashiki Jun knew his role and responsibilities well.

In Seidou High's dugout, Eijun observed the pitch's trajectory and curve. A thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.

"This curveball seems to be thrown even lower than before. If that's the case, it won't feel good for the batter. If he gets ahead of you, it'll make reading the pitch and deciding on timing and angle incredibly difficult in such a short moment."

"Isashiki-senpai, be careful," Eijun thought silently.

Whoosh

Ping!

"So heavy!!!"

"Foul ball!!!"

"This guy... he's both the ace and cleanup hitter, yet his stamina is still this strong. On the surface, he doesn't show any signs of fatigue. What a terrifying opponent."

Isashiki Jun's eyes remained wide open as he exhaled heavily and adjusted his batting stance once more.

"What a troublesome opponent."

"Next pitch, throw it here, Tachi."

Whoosh

Ping

Thud

"Foul ball!"

Whoosh

Pop

"Ball!"

Whoosh

Ping

Thud

"Foul ball!"

Whoosh

Pop

"Ball!"

Whoosh

Pop

"Ball!"

...

It was as if they were at an impasse. Isashiki swung his bat with relentless aggression on every pitch, using sheer force to dictate the pace.

To an untrained eye, it seemed like brute strength, but to those who understood the game, it was clear.

The third batter had completely locked onto Kiryuu High's pitcher and catcher.

A hit could come at any moment, and no one would be surprised.

Every swing—its angle, the stride, the precision—was calculated to perfection, leaving Kiryuu's battery struggling to adapt.

Whoosh

Reaching the limits of his patience, Shibata, with runners on third base, made a bold decision. He chose to throw a forkball in this critical moment, determined to secure an out against this batter.

Pop

But Isashiki Jun, fully anticipating the move, held back his swing at the very last second.

His sharp instincts read the trajectory of the pitch perfectly, leaving Shibata frustrated as the ball landed in the glove.

"Ball four! Walk!!!"

Having earned a walk, Isashiki clicked his tongue in slight annoyance, shook his head, and tossed his bat to the ground before jogging toward first base.

On his way, he raised his right hand and cast his gaze toward the on-deck circle.

"Whoa! In a bold attempt to use a forkball to secure the out, Kiryuu's pitcher and catcher were completely read by Seidou's third batter. Ball four! The bases are loaded!!! And now, the absolute core of Seidou High steps up to the plate—the cleanup hitter, Tetsuya Yuuki! Can Seidou High decide the game right here and now?"

"Batting fourth, first baseman, Yuuki-kun."

"Here we go! The big stage!!!"

"Captain, we're counting on you here!"

"End the suspense and wrap up this game!"

"Go for it, Captain! Cleanup hitter, it's all on you now!"

"Tetsuya!!!"

The passionate cheers, the fiery gazes, and the electrifying atmosphere enveloped the field as Yuuki rose slowly from the on-deck circle. His calm and composed demeanor radiated the aura of a true champion.

"Damn it, the most troublesome guy is here now."

Boom!

The steady, intimidating sound of his footsteps echoed.

At home plate, beads of sweat formed on Shibata's forehead.

Facing a bases-loaded situation against the opponent's cleanup hitter—one of the top three most fearsome players of this era—was an incredibly daunting challenge.

Trying to intentionally walk him wasn't an option either; it would mean handing the opposing team a free run.

And doing so would cost Kiryuu High even more than they could afford.

Beyond their pride refusing to allow such a move, the consequences of walking Yuuki would be devastating.

Following him were the likes of Masuko, Miyuki, and even pitcher Eijun—none of whom were easy to handle.

The only choice left for Kiryuu's battery was to face Seidou High's cleanup hitter head-on.

"Let's go, Tachi! This is the crucial moment. If we overcome this crisis, we'll have a shot at victory!"

Shibata took a deep breath, his gaze steady as he looked toward the mound at Tachi.

The pitcher grinned widely, his familiar, menacing smile reappearing.

Focus up. Adrenaline up.

Every ounce of their strength and concentration was pushed to its limit.

This was their pivotal battle—their showdown on the ultimate stage.

In Seidou's dugout, Eijun prepared himself, donning his batting gear and staying ready to step up if needed.

His serious expression fixed on the field, fully aware of the stakes.

Anyone with any sense understood just how significant this at-bat was for both Seidou and Kiryuu.

If Captain Yuuki could deliver a clutch hit here, it wouldn't just change the scoreboard—it could completely shift the momentum of the game.

Not to talk about certainty, but at the very least, the evenly balanced 50-50 situation could swing dramatically to a 70-30 or even 80-20 advantage in Seidou's favor.

This was the most intense showdown of the entire game.

Everything in this match would be decided in this at-bat!

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