Chapter 421: The Unstoppable Offensive Against Ouya
Miyuki's at-bat didn't end the way he or Eijun expected—
but the outcome made perfect sense.
"Four balls, walk."
After the home run, even someone with nerves of steel like Wakabayashi couldn't help but feel rattled.
A home run is still a home run.
Even professional pitchers get shaken after giving one up—
let alone a high school student.
The fact that Wakabayashi managed to hold himself together and not crumble completely already spoke volumes about his mental strength.
Still, in that shaken state, facing off against Miyuki wasn't the right call.
Just because he had gotten Miyuki out in the last at-bat didn't mean he could suppress him again so easily.
That kind of thinking would've been a big mistake.
Intentionally walking him was the safest—
and most reluctant—option.
Even if it gave Seidou a one-in-a-thousand chance to score again,
it was still the best decision Ouya High could make.
Coach Araki had come to the same conclusion from the bench.
And so, Miyuki was walked intentionally.
Glancing meaningfully at Wakabayashi—who now appeared calm on the mound—Miyuki gently tossed his bat to the ground and jogged toward first base.
"BOOOO!!"
As soon as the walk was announced, the Seidou fans in the stands erupted in boos.
If it had been a regular four-ball walk, that would've been one thing.
But this was such a blatant intentional walk.
Sure, it was a valid and strategic move.
But one reason people love high school baseball is that—
aside from the occasional moments of brilliance that rival the pros—
they get to see the fiery, unrelenting spirit of youth.
That fighting spirit, that refusal to give up even when cornered—
those raw emotions are what make high school baseball so electrifying.
Of course, sometimes a team has no choice but to make these decisions for the sake of victory. That's fair.
This isn't about right or wrong.
It's just the reality: most regular spectators don't like seeing this kind of "avoidance" play, because it feels like it strips the game of its fun and intensity.
"Fifth batter, first baseman, Maezono."
"Stay calm. Don't let it shake you. Giving up two runs was expected—it just happened differently than we thought. What's important now is shutting down the rest of their offense."
On the mound, Wakabayashi wiped the sweat from his forehead, forcing himself to focus.
It was still only the fourth inning.
He knew exactly what he had to do now.
"One out!!!"
Wakabayashi raised his right hand and shouted, as if to fire up both his team and himself.
"Yeah! One out!"
"Let's go, Gou! You've got this!"
"We believe in you, Ace!"
"Two more outs to go—take them down, Gou!"
"Keep pressing! Keep attacking! We'll hold the line, Gou!"
Even with their momentum suppressed, their spirit remained unshaken deep down. That wasn't just because Wakabayashi was the ace leading the team—it was also a matter of Ouya High's pride.
They were a team that had once made it to Koshien.
They were all young warriors.
No one was inherently stronger than anyone else.
This was a moment where they couldn't afford to retreat even a single step.
"Wait for the right moment to strike. Apply pressure on both offense and the basepaths. If we can get one more run here, we can completely shake the pitcher's confidence. That'll lock down our win."
From the dugout, Coach Kataoka calmly signaled a play.
On the field—
Miyuki and Maezono simultaneously touched the brims of their caps.
A hidden weakness.
Combined with something different from the original plan—
With Eijun's deliberate setup and distraction—
At this point, only Sumi, the catcher behind the plate, had even a slight sense of unease. Not even Coach Araki had picked up on anything suspicious.
And so—
Whoosh!
Clang!!
The sharp metallic ring of the bat echoed.
The moment the roar pierced the air—
Wakabayashi's expression twisted into one of horror.
Whoosh!
A white streak flew past him.
Miyuki, already in motion with a head start from the pitch—
"A hit-and-run."
They had rattled the pitcher by applying pressure both at the plate and on the bases.
Another outside fastball.
And Maezono met it with a powerful, well-timed swing, smashing the ball with incredible strength and precision.
The ball carved a glowing arc across the sky—
Boom!
It slammed into the left field wall before the left fielder for Ouya High could even react.
A massive impact.
"OOOOHHHH!!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Maezono's bold, thunderous swing—a deep extra-base hit—gave Miyuki, who had already taken off, more than enough time to sprint home.
Seidou added another run.
The score stretched to a 3-run lead in an instant.
"Damn it… are they specifically targeting Gou's fastballs!?"
At home plate, Sumi suddenly stood up and ripped off his mask, his face showing deep worry and tension.
On the mound, Wakabayashi…
At this point, Wakabayashi had truly started to spiral into self-doubt.
"What a hit! An outside fastball, and the fifth batter, Maezono, didn't let it go—
a powerful swing adds another run for Seidou! The current score is 3–0! There's still only one out, with a runner on second—
Ouya High is now staring straight into a do-or-die crisis!!"
"Haha! Nicely done, Maezono!"
"That's the spirit! Keep it up, keep it up!"
"Let's get three or four more!"
"Let's decide the game right here!"
"Go, Seidou High!"
Cheers exploded from both Seidou's dugout and the stands behind first base.
Glancing back, Kuramochi and Miyuki both made a clenched fist gesture of victory.
Up in the stands, Watanabe was visibly emotional.
His scouting data hadn't been wrong.
His analysis had been spot-on.
His hard work had clearly made a difference to the team.
And just that alone—
—that was enough to make Watanabe feel that all his effort hadn't been wasted.
Everything he'd done was for a moment like this.
With Seidou having already scored three runs this inning, not only had they seized the upper hand in the match, but Watanabe also felt a deep, personal sense of fulfillment.
"Time!"
As expected, Ouya High called for a timeout.
From the dugout, Coach Araki sent out a messenger.
This too was within everyone's expectations.
After all, a three-run deficit with only one out and a runner still in scoring position on second—
this was far worse than the worst-case scenario Ouya had envisioned at the start of the inning.
If they didn't find a way to stop the bleeding now, this game might very well be decided right here.
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