Chapter 274: Still Not Enough!
Human memory is like this — it hides deep in the mind, and once a trigger appears, it erupts like a fountain.
The appearance of Coach Nakanishi was the key that unlocked Harada's memories.
For Harada, that practice match against the Wild Cats six years ago had been a nightmare.
He had believed he wouldn't lose to any of the Wild Cats' players at the time… but the moment that man appeared, Harada began to feel lost about baseball.
He had even considered giving up baseball altogether.
At that young age, he thought all professional players were monsters on that level.
It was his own coach who woke him up from that illusion.
Whether he could become a pro or not wasn't the point — what mattered was whether he truly loved baseball.
That was what sparked Harada's desire to one day form a battery with Sendo.
But what he received from Coach Nakanishi's mouth… was news of Sendo's departure.
As time went by, the shock and fear that Sendo had left in him back then were buried deep in his memory.
He once thought Sendo's talent had already run dry, but seeing him today made it clear — that was definitely not the case.
The only reason this guy wasn't famous was because he had never played professional baseball.
Six years later, Harada understood the world of baseball far better.
Sendo in the future would likely still be terrifyingly strong, but according to the information he had… he definitely wouldn't be this strong right now.
With his memories combined with the information he learned, Harada realized something: Sendo had not received any professional training these years.
His skills shouldn't be much better than back then — he was still the same prodigy who relied on his natural physical abilities to play baseball.
Another piece of good news was this: Harada finally understood why Sendo swung at bad pitches. It wasn't what he originally thought — it was the same reason from their elementary school days.
To a certain extent, Sendo simply didn't distinguish between balls and strikes.
This was thanks to that one unknown Wild Cats guy who shouted information in front of everyone back then.
At the same time, Harada once again felt the desire to form a battery with Sendo in the future.
Though he still wondered why Sendo didn't continue as a pitcher…
...
"Wow! He actually hit a home run off Narumiya!"
"So this is what a championship-deciding match feels like!"
The honor-student team watching from the sidelines had long been shocked speechless. They didn't know how to describe a game so completely world-shaking for them.
.....
"That old Wild Cat guy is calling your name!"
Sawamura pointed dumbfoundedly at Coach Nakanishi, who was acting like a child in the stands.
"Just ignore him! So embarrassing! Doesn't that old man have any shame!?"
Sendo complained.
The game resumed.
"Sixth batter! Third baseman, Masuko!"
"Ooga!"
"Keep going, Masuko!"
"Let's go!"
"Masuko-senpai!"
"Narumiya! Be cautious when pitching!"
"Reset your mindset!"
"Stay sharp! Keep the ball low! Right here!"
Harada emphasized once again, focusing on control.
Pop!
Pop!
Pop!
Pop!
"Four balls! Walk!"
"Today marks the third walk! As expected, there's no way that home run's impact can be erased so easily!
If we want to break him, now is the time," Miyuki thought as he watched Narumiya adjust his cap on the mound.
"Even though he threw a walk, the power on his pitches is still there. The problem isn't that serious.
This should be fine," Harada evaluated Narumiya's pitching calmly.
Narumiya's grip on his cap tightened slightly — revealing his restlessness.
"Baka yarō…"
He muttered under his breath, though it was unclear whether he was insulting himself or something else.
"Seventh batter! Catcher, Miyuki!"
"Hm?"
Hearing the announcement, Narumiya lifted his head and locked eyes with Miyuki.
Miyuki's theme music practically began playing.
"Attack again, Miyuki!"
"Hit it out!"
"…Aim for the hit!!!"
The cheering ended in a united shout.
Seeing Miyuki step up to bat actually improved Narumiya's mood.
"Yaroo…"
Miyuki settled into his stance.
Masuko edged off first, taking a small lead — a very normal opening move.
"This batter is someone you absolutely can't underestimate. Should I test him with a fastball first?
No… this guy might be targeting the first pitch. Here!"
Masuko glanced toward the bench coach, then turned his eyes to Sendo.
Sendo smiled and nodded.
Masuko nodded back.
"Coach! Those two just…!"
Assistant Manager Ota noticed their exchange.
"It's fine. That was their decision as players.
Narumiya isn't a pitcher you can attack carelessly."
"Phew… Kazuya, this is the kind of battle you wanted, isn't it? I think I finally understand your feelings now!
But… the chance to go to Koshien —that is the one thing I will never hand over to you!"
Narumiya raised his arm.
"Steal! No, Narumiya didn't notice the runner!"
Whoosh!
Pop!
Miyuki swung and missed at the forkball!
Whoosh!
Pop!
"Safe!"
Because Miyuki was batting left-handed, combined with the swing and the breaking ball's movement, Harada had absolutely no time to react to the sudden steal.
"Strike!"
Once everything settled, the umpire announced the pitch.
"Hahaha! Masuko actually stole a base!"
"Masuko-senpai is surprisingly fast!"
"So bold! But this is the perfect moment — Narumiya's mental state is still unstable!"
"No — THIS is Seidou baseball! Attacking aggressively under any circumstance! And because Narumiya was mentally shaken and focused entirely on the batter, this tactic became possible! Judging from his pitches earlier, aside from some attention lapses, he's already returning to his usual level!
Brilliant decision!"
Mine Fujio immediately grasped the core of the strategy.
But tactics like this are the kind where "once used, the opportunity won't come again."
"Two outs already, Narumiya!"
"Don't worry about it!"
"Reset your mind!"
"Focus on the batter!"
"Miyuki!"
"The pitcher's scared!"
"Score this run!"
"You guys make it sound so easy…" Miyuki grumbled.
"I'm not a monster like Sendo! Even at my best condition…"
The aura Sendo was giving off now was so overwhelming that simply standing next to him felt uncomfortable — almost hard to breathe.
Only those two idiots could stay completely unfazed by it!
(Unlike Furuya's explosive "gas burner" pressure, Sendo's presence was a suffocating heaviness — the feeling right before a storm breaks.)
Anyway, I'm not good at hitting difficult pitches!
So I'll aim for the straight pitch that helps me earn strikes!
Miyuki's thoughts were running at full speed.
He had already grasped parts of Harada's pitch-calling rhythm.
He might not be able to predict the deciding pitch, but during a long duel, he could guess a lot.
And then—
"Ping!!"
"Hit toward the right-field line! The runner from second is heading home!! Eighth run scored! Seventh batter, catcher Miyuki — a timely hit!! The No. 1 left-handed pitcher in Kanto, Narumiya, who entered this final with zero runs allowed, has now surrendered eight runs to Seidou's lineup!!! And next up is the first-year with two hits today, Furuya!"
"Ki—!!"
Narumiya stared at Furuya at home plate, jaw tight, fury spilling from him.
"Narumiya! Go all out!"
"Reset your mindset!"
At this moment, his heartbeat surged.
He remembered last year's overpitching…
The defeat…
The torture that came after…
The pain stabbed into his chest again — but now that pain ignited endless rage and determination.
Narumiya's eyes sharpened once more — filled with killing intent and pride.
"Whoosh!!"
"Ping!"
"Wings-kun!"
"Pop!"
"Out!!"
With just one fastball, Narumiya disposed of Furuya.
But it wasn't enough.
It was far from enough!!!
....
"Yosh!!! Hold the defense strong!!"
Jun-san rallied the team before the bottom of the 8th began.
"What happened when you cried earlier — I won't tell anyone!"
Oniisan hid perfectly behind Tanba's large frame, but his words made Tanba sweat buckets.
"Kawakami! Sawamura! Be ready anytime!"
"Yes!"
"Got it, Boss! I absolutely won't betray your expectations! Absolutely— the Boss's expectations—!"
No one responded to him.
"Tanba! Stick to your own pitching!"
"Yes!"
"Focus! Tanba!"
"Just get the first out!"
"Ooga!"
The third-years each encouraged him in turn.
"We may have taken the lead, but it's only two runs.
And their inning starts from the cleanup hitter! Don't forget your fighting spirit until the very last out!"
"Yes, sir!!!"
....
"Damn it…"
"Damn it!!"
"Damn it!!!"
"Are you kidding me!? Are you kidding me!? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!! Baka yarō!!! Sendo Akira!!! BAKA YARŌ!!!!"
The fury Narumiya had been holding onto the mound exploded out completely on the bench.
"Ahhh… much better!"
Narumiya finally stepped out after venting through the entire inning break.
"You don't look 'better' at all…"
Shirakawa muttered.
"No! I feel great! Completely refreshed! The game isn't over yet! We haven't lost! And I'll take those runs back with my own bat."
"…Huh? You're surprisingly calm," Shirakawa said.
"Of course! Just watch! I'll take those runs back right away!"
Narumiya grabbed his helmet.
"I honestly thought he'd be more shaken… The fact he didn't explode on the mound is already impressive.
And he managed to reset himself after that…"
Kagami watched Narumiya's back, thoughtful.
"That's right. We still have two innings of offense left.
I won't let the game end like this. Seeing Sendo again after all these years is emotional…But I'm not going to roll over and lose. Monster or not — he's nowhere near his perfect form yet! And this time, my teammates aren't inferior to yours! Let's settle this fair and square…Sendo!"
Harada stepped out of the dugout.
....
"Bottom of the 8th inning! Fourth batter — catcher, Harada!"
"How long do you want this pitcher to last!? Yassan! Knock him out!!"
Narumiya's eyes sparkled with fighting spirit.
"We worked so hard to take back those runs — I'll shut them down!"
"Whoosh!"
"Ping!"
"Ah—!"
"Foul!"
"So close! Just a few dozen centimeters more and it was gone!"
"That was dangerous!"
"Lower than I expected… made me swing too early," Harada admitted, clicking his tongue. Just a little more and it would've been a home run.
"Tanba's curveball finally got hit…"
Miyuki's expression darkened.
Even though this game was far worse in runs allowed compared to the previous timeline,
Seidou had scored enough that Tanba hadn't been replaced.
Ideally, Seidou wanted Furuya + Tanba to cover the entire game.
Kawakami's mental weakness and Sawamura's limited arsenal (plus being a first-year) meant they didn't want to use them unless absolutely necessary.
Even in the previous timeline, Sawamura being in excellent shape didn't make the coaches consider using him — no sane coach gambles everything on an immature pitcher.
But because of Sendo's words last night, Coach Kataoka's view of Sawamura's big-game mentality had shifted a little.
Still, Seidou hoped Tanba could hold the line.
The fewer outs remaining, the lower the risk of a pitching change.
They had two pitchers left — but ideally, they wanted to avoid using them.
Tanba's earlier poor condition forced Miyuki to call for many breaking balls.
Now that the curve had been struck well — it was a red warning light.
They needed to change the pitch sequence and pitch with more caution.
"Use tricky pitches to lure him into swinging. If the count becomes dangerous — walk him."
Miyuki had made up his mind.
Tanba couldn't withstand another long hit — let alone a home run.
....
"Whoosh!"
"Pop!"
"Ball!"
Second pitch — low outside.
"Whoosh!"
"Pop!"
"Ball!"
Third pitch — outside forkball.
Harada didn't bite.
"Pop!"
"Ball!"
Fourth pitch — high and inside.
Harada stayed calm, refusing to swing.
Now Miyuki didn't dare gamble anymore.
Both the curve and fastball might get hit.
So he signaled with his right hand toward the left batter's box —a clear intentional walk.
A straightforward free pass, not a fake-aggressive four-ball sequence.
.....
"Seidou's battery chooses to avoid the cleanup hitter and face the fifth batter, Narumiya, directly!"
The commentator exclaimed.
"Avoiding the powerful cleanup, and challenging Narumiya — who may still be emotionally affected by the top half — it's a very accurate judgment!"
Mine Fujio agreed.
Narumiya inhaled deeply — then exhaled slowly.
"So you're underestimating me, huh?"
He spoke half-angrily, half jokingly.
He didn't have Miyuki's or Sendo's sly mind,
but basic strategy?
He absolutely understood that.
Narumiya, who wanted total focus, deliberately spoke up to give Miyuki the illusion that he wasn't calm yet.
His obsession with victory was something he wouldn't lose to anyone.
And Miyuki fell for it.
But Miyuki was far from stupid—seeing the opponent "riled up," he intentionally used strong yet hittable pitches to bait Narumiya.
"Pop!"
"Strike!"
The first pitch — a curveball.
If even Harada struggled with it earlier, Narumiya had no chance of handling it.
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