Chapter 456: Red vs. White (7)
After Miyuki reached first base, from the dugout, Ochiai immediately gave the signal for a hit-and-run play.
Even though Eijun reacted quickly—
catching Maezono's sharply hit grounder mid-bounce with his glove—
Miyuki's aggressive jump off first still caused trouble for Team B.
Everyone knew Miyuki could run—
but no one expected just how fast he really was.
Even Eijun had thought he could turn the play into a double play.
But thanks to Miyuki's early break, that small advantage was just enough—
by the time Eijun tried to tag him out at second base, Miyuki had already slid safely in.
Left with no choice, Eijun quickly turned and fired the ball to first instead.
"Whiz!"
"Pop!"
"Out!"
"Damn it, that was so close!!!"
Maezono Kenta, who was tagged out, wore a frustrated expression as he walked off the field.
On the mound, Eijun smirked slightly.
Honestly, if anyone should be upset, it's me.
I almost had a double play there...
"Batting sixth, center fielder, Tojo-kun."
One out, runner on second.
For Team A, this was a prime scoring opportunity.
In the dugout, Ochiai stroked his small mustache, his eyes flashing with a sharp glint.
With a slight motion of his right hand, he gave a new set of signs.
On the field,
both Miyuki and Tojo Hideaki subtly touched the brims of their caps at the same time.
Meanwhile—
at Team B's bench,
Coach Kataoka maintained his usual solemn expression.
At this stage, he didn't issue any special orders.
After all, it was just a runner on second.
He trusted his chosen ace—
Eijun could handle the situation by himself.
And just as Tojo stepped into the batter's box, he immediately showed bunt stance.
Behind the plate, catcher Ono frowned.
"What now, Sawamura? Go all-in? Or...?"
Ono cast a questioning glance toward the mound.
Eijun's eyes narrowed slightly,
his gaze flickering toward Miyuki—
who had taken a big lead off second, clearly looking ready to steal.
Throwing every trick in the book, huh?
"Don't worry about him, Ono-senpai."
"We can't let them dictate the pace here. Stick to our game plan."
Eijun gave a small shake of his head.
A true ace pitcher doesn't let the opponent control the tempo.
Even if the situation wasn't ideal—
he would forcibly seize it back, using his own style.
That was the only correct move.
First pitch—
modified cutter.
Attack without hesitation.
Don't give them a chance to build any momentum.
A glint of determination flashed in Eijun's eyes.
He lifted his right leg high, his left arm sweeping up as he prepared to pitch.
"Boom!"
His right leg stomped down hard—
a small cloud of dust puffed up from the mound.
"Whiz!"
A streak of brilliance shot out,
blazing toward Tojo at the plate—
an inside pitch!
The ball hurtled forward like a bullet.
The white blur reflected in Tojo's eyes—
he instinctively straightened his body.
In that instant, relying on his quick judgment, he swung his bat.
"Swoosh!"
The sharp screech of the metal bat cutting through the air.
The next moment—
The blazing fast pitch.
The ball howled through the air, bending along a sharp trajectory toward the inner corner.
"Ping!"
A misjudged swing.
The moment the bat made contact with the ball, Tojo's expression changed.
The ball's angle was too sharp—
and he couldn't fully control it.
"Whiz!"
"Thud!"
Using his natural agility, Tojo managed to barely adjust his swing, forcing the ball out sideways.
It bounced violently between second and third base.
At the same time, Miyuki, on second, took off immediately, charging straight toward third base.
"Damn, so stubborn!"
Eijun hadn't expected Tojo to react to that pitch. It was supposed to be almost unhittable.
As expected of the former ace of the Little League team.
That kind of instincts, that kind of reaction...
"Third base!"
Eijun shouted toward third.
Miyuki was already almost there.
Coming in from third, Shoji dove into position.
At the same time, shortstop Nakata sprinted over to cover.
The two closed in from both sides.
"Pop!"
Nakata snatched the ball into his glove and, without hesitation, whipped it toward Shoji.
By then—
Miyuki had nearly reached third.
But while Miyuki was fast, Shoji, as one of the starting players, had the top-level reaction speed expected from a powerhouse team.
"Pop!"
Shoji's left glove reached out and cleanly caught the ball.
"Boom!"
Miyuki, mid-dive, was tagged on the body before he could even touch third base.
In one fluid motion, Shoji pivoted and fired the ball toward first base.
"Pop!"
"Out! Double play! Three outs! Change sides!!"
"Ooooh, beautiful, Shoji!"
"Haha, Nakata, that was a rock-solid catch!"
"Yeah, that's how we show these guys how strong we are!"
"Let's goooo!"
The field erupted in cheers from Team B's bench.
That's exactly what they needed.
The players who usually didn't make the starting lineup—
finally had a chance to unleash all that pent-up frustration.
This was their chance to prove themselves.
No matter what, they weren't inferior to the starters.
Every one of them was waiting for their chance to pounce on a starting spot.
"Tch tch, even during tournament season, we're holding such an intense Red vs. White match."
"Coach Iron-Heart is just as passionate as ever."
On the field—
the match had already reached a fever pitch.
Off the field—
a large figure appeared quietly by the stands,
his gaze directed at Coach Kataoka, filled with warmth and nostalgia.
After a moment, the figure moved toward the control room near the field.
"I'm coming in."
A deep, familiar voice called out as the door slowly pushed open.
Inside the control room, Ota and the slightly scatterbrained assistant manager Haruno both turned around in confusion.
The moment Ota saw the broad figure standing in the doorway—
his eyes widened in shock.
"Ehhh?! Coach Sakaki!?"
"Oh, it's been a while, Ota-kun."
With slightly graying hair and a gentle smile, the newcomer was none other than—
Coach Sakaki, the legendary coach who had once led Seidou High to Koshien, turning them into a powerhouse known nationwide.
The moment Ota cried out his name, even Haruno let out a small gasp, covering her mouth in astonishment as she stared at the kindly smiling elder standing before them.
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