Even though Narumiya Mei had just been caught out and was extremely frustrated, once he stepped onto the pitcher's mound, his world narrowed down to only the batter in front of him—Seido's cleanup hitter, Azuma Kiyokuni.
With Inashiro in a critical situation and the batter being such a monster, Narumiya Mei no longer had time to dwell on the humiliation from moments ago.
Azuma Kiyokuni stood in the batter's box with his ferocious grin and wide eyes. Just looking at him made Narumiya Mei feel irritated. These guys weren't just trying to hold onto their one-run lead—they were looking to extend it!
Knowing Seido's intentions, Narumiya Mei quietly adjusted his breathing.
Absolutely… absolutely, I won't let you do as you please!
Narumiya Mei's gaze sharpened, refusing to look at Azuma Kiyokuni any longer.
At this moment, Harada Masatoshi stood behind home plate, carrying pressure equal to Narumiya Mei's. As Inashiro's second-year ace catcher and their fifth batter, the weight on him was immense.
Trailing by one run in the eighth inning, if Seido scored again now, Inashiro would truly be pushed to the edge of the cliff.
Walk.
Masatoshi's signal came. Narumiya Mei's face twisted the moment he saw it—he wanted to refuse immediately. But seeing Harada Masatoshi's terrifying stare, he didn't dare.
He was annoyed, but the situation left no room for ego. Walking Azuma Kiyokuni was the correct choice.
Four straight balls.
Azuma Kiyokuni sneered, "This is already the second time."
Masatoshi paused, then remembered—Azuma had been walked once earlier by Matsumoto Takumi. Now again.
But as much as it hurt, avoiding Azuma Kiyokuni was the right decision.
Azuma took first base. The next batter, Tanaka Wataru, stepped into the box.
A Straight ball.
A Slider.
Tanaka did not swing at either.
After watching two pitches, he was ready. The third pitch would be a Forkball—that was his prediction.
He had observed Narumiya Mei's tendencies: the forkball appeared more often than the slider recently, especially before the batter could adapt to the new slider form.
Narumiya had already thrown a Straight and a Slider. The chance of a Forkball next was highest. And with his power, if he could connect, it would fly.
Eyes sharp, Tanaka Wataru growled in his mind:
"Come! Throw it!"
Behind the plate, Harada Masatoshi lifted his head, eyes firm, and gave the sign.
Bring out the new pitch!
Narumiya Mei's lips curved.
This pitch—the one he had developed after consecutive losses to Seido—was his trump card. Before the game, Harada told him:
"We only use this if absolutely necessary."
And now, it was necessary.
Exhaling, Narumiya Mei fully calmed himself.
Seido had no information on this pitch. Only his Slider and Forkball were known. The effect would be devastating.
Whoosh!
He threw.
Tanaka Wataru's eyes narrowed—
Straight ball! Right down the middle!
He swung with full power—
But the baseball veered outward at the last moment, sliding just past the tip of the bat.
Thwack!
"Strike! Strikeout!!"
Harada Masatoshi felt the tension in his chest loosen.
A cutter.
Tanaka's eyes flew wide. He had no preparation for it.
A new pitch…? At this moment?!
As expected of Inashiro—they always pull out something new.
Tanaka glanced helplessly at Azuma Kiyokuni—he couldn't advance him.
And now, Narumiya Mei had:
Four-seam Fastball
Cutter
Slider
Forkball
Pitch selection became a nightmare.
"This is bad," Shida Shota muttered. "Narumiya Mei still had a trump card."
"Yeah… scoring now is going to be tough," Yoshikawa Junpei sighed.
"This guy has more pitches than Kanzaki," Kuramochi Yoichi complained, throwing an arm over Kanzaki Ryou's shoulder. "You both brought out new pitches in the same inning."
Kanzaki Ryou laughed. "It's not surprising Mei developed something new."
Miyuki nodded. "After all… it's Mei."
Kuramochi groaned, "You two really have a soft spot for that kid."
"Just stating facts," Kanzaki Ryou replied calmly.
"Exactly," Miyuki agreed.
Kuramochi was speechless.
Back on the field, the sixth batter, Isashiki Jun, entered the box. Compared to Tanaka, his pitch anticipation and batting skills were weaker. Against Narumiya's cutter, he had no chance—strikeout.
Two outs.
Narumiya Mei grinned wickedly at Azuma Kiyokuni on first base.
See? Walking you was all part of my plan.
Idiot!
Azuma seethed in fury. But he held it in and turned to watch the seventh batter, Araki Keita, who also struck out under the pressure.
Inashiro's strategy of walking Azuma Kiyokuni succeeded—they ended the eighth inning safely.
As they left the field, Azuma Kiyokuni glared murderously at Narumiya Mei, who instantly ducked behind Harada Masatoshi like a scared puppy.
Completely different on and off the mound.
The game moved to the ninth inning.
The intense clash between Seido and Inashiro was reaching its conclusion.
Seido leads 2–1.
Inashiro now had only two options:
Tie the game in the ninth and hope to fight in extra innings
—or—
Score more and finish the game right here.