Chapter 251: An Unprecedented...
"Strikeout!!"
"That's the 17th strikeout!!"
In the stands, Seidou High School's diehard fans were going wild, cheering and waving anything they could get their hands on in celebration.
The game wasn't over yet—
But to those loyal supporters, the outcome was already clear.
"Just one out to go!"
"Let's get that unprecedented 18th strikeout!!"
The crowd erupted in a frenzy of cheers.
Even the announcer couldn't hide his excitement.
For commentators like him, calling a game of this historic significance was a golden addition to their careers—a moment they'd remember forever.
Who could resist such a thrill?
No one.
With enthusiasm bubbling over, the announcer exclaimed,
"I can hear the crowd shouting for that record-breaking 18th strikeout! This is truly a breathtaking moment—even I can't help but look forward to it. But let me just say this…"
Those familiar with the industry smiled knowingly.
Announcers weren't supposed to take sides—it was standard practice.
So after praising Seidou, it was only natural for him to say something nice about Inashiro as well.
But just as they were waiting to hear the usual words of balance—
The next thing the announcer said left them all stunned.
"Even this 17th strikeout—and the 16th before it—are already unprecedented!"
His voice was trembling with excitement.
"I can say with full confidence: we've witnessed history today. Not just once—but multiple times!!"
Although the fans had already sensed it in their hearts, hearing it confirmed out loud overwhelmed them with a wave of pure happiness.
As baseball lovers, they chased many dreams.
But the kind of moment that would stay etched in their memories for a lifetime—
The kind they could brag about in the future—
Was incredibly rare.
High school baseball was played every year.
They watched it every year.
But true classics?
Those were few and far between.
Some fans might never witness one, no matter how many games they watched.
But today—this moment—was different.
They could proudly say: "We saw a true classic unfold before our eyes."
"And it's the kind that breaks records!"
This continuous stream of record-breaking, legendary moments—
Even in Koshien's century-long history—was one of a kind.
And they were lucky enough to experience it.
"Seidou! Seidou!!"
"Furuya! Furuya!!"
Overcome with excitement, fans raised their cheer gear and shouted Furuya and Seidou's names at the top of their lungs.
They couldn't wait to witness the next historic moment—
The moment that would seal the 18th strikeout.
Meanwhile, over in Inashiro's dugout—
The players sat pale-faced.
Given the massive point gap, their chances of a comeback were already slim.
Now, they could clearly feel Koshien slipping farther and farther out of reach…
Seeing the crowd's overwhelming reaction, the Inashiro players turned their eyes toward the pitcher's mound—
Where that spirited young man stood tall and confident.
That boy had already stepped over Inashiro's dreams twice.
For the players of Inashiro Industrial, it felt like a knife had been driven straight into their chests.
The pain was unbearable.
And yet, there was nothing they could do.
This was the reality they now faced.
Only one out remained.
Two outs, no runners on base.
"Batting fourth, number 2, catcher—Harada."
As the announcement rang through the stadium, a sturdy figure stepped into the batter's box.
His name was Harada—Inashiro's cleanup hitter, their captain, and the heart of their team.
But could he really turn the tide at this point?
Most people in the stadium didn't think so.
Despite being one of the top three power hitters in West Tokyo, Harada had gained nothing from his previous encounters with Furuya.
And it wasn't just that.
This was already their fourth showdown, and Furuya's stamina had noticeably dropped.
On paper, this situation should favor the batter.
But the problem was well known—Harada had a flaw:
His overwhelming sense of responsibility.
Normally, being responsible isn't a bad thing—
But in high-pressure moments, that very sense of duty can become a burden.
It leads to overthinking, and mistakes follow.
Inashiro had already paid the price for this flaw before.
And now, it was Harada's final at-bat…
The fans in the stands—almost instinctively—felt he wouldn't be able to hold up in such a moment.
And it wasn't just the fans—
Even his own teammates shared that same silent concern.
But what could they do?
All they could do now was hope—
Hope for a miracle on the field.
Of course, all this energy from the crowd, the pressure in the air,
It was impossible not to feel it as a player.
Especially for Harada, standing alone in the batter's box.
He knew—
He knew exactly what his teammates and the Inashiro fans feared in their hearts.
He also knew—if he made the final out, then Inashiro's summer was over.
In the past—
Faced with a situation like this, Harada would do everything in his power to drive in a run.
He would never let the game end like this.
That was just how strong his sense of responsibility was.
But that very trait had become his Achilles' heel in high-stakes matchups.
Whether it was a game against Seidou, or last year's Koshien—
Harada had suffered because of it.
It was like the opposing catcher could read him like a book.
They knew what pitch he was looking for before he even swung.
He was always a step behind.
And this time, even Harada couldn't help but feel a flicker of doubt as he stepped up.
Strangely, though—
As he stood in the batter's box now—
His heart… felt calm.
Even though he knew just how important this final at-bat was, Inashiro's captain stood in the batter's box with a calm, unshaken heart.
He lowered his stance slightly, raising his bat high—
His eyes locked tightly onto Furuya.
It felt as if, the moment Seidou's ace released the ball,
He would swing without a moment's hesitation.
That might sound ordinary for most batters,
But for Harada—Inashiro's cleanup hitter—it was nothing short of a miracle.
Squatting behind the plate, Miyuki's sharp instincts immediately picked up on the change.
From their last encounter, Miyuki had already sensed it—
This cleanup hitter from Inashiro had started to transform.
Not just Narumiya Mei—even Harada, their 4, had clearly grown.
But with the game nearing its end, having the opponent awaken now?
That was not good news for Seidou.
Miyuki gave a signal, warning Furuya to stay alert.
And Furuya—standing on the mound—nodded solemnly.
His senses were just as sharp.
He could feel it too—Harada had become stronger.
Facing him now, every cell in Furuya's body trembled with excitement.
Though his stamina was already past its peak,
Though his pitches had inevitably lost some power—
He still wanted to go all out against this man.
"Senpai… I'm not holding back!!"
He raised one leg high—then slammed it down with force.
With his body shifting forward, he released the ball with a roar.
BOOM!
The pitch tore through the air with a thunderous sound.
In the stands, and even in Inashiro's dugout,
Every player and fan clenched their jaws—nearly grinding their teeth.
They couldn't understand it.
Wasn't Seidou's ace tired?
"Is he really human like us?"
Just as those thoughts raced through their minds—
The white ball streaked past—
"Smack!"
"Strike!"
Harada, standing in the batter's box with overwhelming presence, didn't even react.
Inashiro's players and fans grew even more anxious.
They didn't want to admit it—
But it was starting to look like their cleanup hitter… wasn't a match for that man.
"Damn it…"
To lose the game like this…
Neither the Inashiro players nor their supporters could accept it.
Emotionally, mentally—
They felt deep sorrow for their team.
But unlike everyone else, Harada himself didn't waver.
He hadn't moved an inch, but his eyes were glowing with clarity.
"There's a flaw!!"
Earlier in the game, no one—not even Harada—
Had found a single opening in Furuya's pitching.
Even as opponents, they had to admit—
Seidou's first-year ace was terrifyingly strong.
He had no weaknesses.
Only fearsome power.
But now—right now—
Standing in the batter's box, Harada saw something different.
He could clearly sense it.
Furuya's pitch was still fast, yes—
But it no longer had the fierce finishing bite it had earlier.
"You've hidden it well… but at this point in the game, your stamina is clearly running low, isn't it?"
Harada was absolutely certain of it.
It was a chilling realization—
Because if Furuya hadn't run out of stamina,
If Seidou's first-year ace could still pitch at his peak…
Then Inashiro had virtually no chance of getting anything off him.
At full strength, Furuya's pitching was simply un-hittable.
That thought shook Harada to the core.
But he didn't have time to dwell on it.
Right now, instead of thinking about how strong Furuya was—
He had only one job: to hit that ball.
BOOM!
Furuya's second pitch came in just as fast—clocking in over 150 km/h again.
The players and fans of Inashiro felt their hearts sink into despair.
But then—suddenly—
Harada moved.
He stepped forward, body twisting as he swung.
His hands gripped the bat tightly, and he didn't hesitate as he attacked the pitch.
Ping!
The white ball was struck—
And in that instant, Inashiro's players and fans lit up with hope.
"He hit it!"
Though the ball ultimately flew foul,
And Harada fell behind in the count,
Everyone on the Inashiro side still felt a surge of joy.
Because this swing meant everything.
It proved their opponent wasn't untouchable after all.
Furuya wasn't a machine.
He wasn't flawless.
"There's a chance! We still have a chance!!"
In Seidou's dugout, however, the mood had turned grim.
The happier Inashiro became, the more anxious they felt.
After all, they had been in the exact same position earlier—
Two outs—
Then came four consecutive hits and three runs.
Was Inashiro about to repay the favor?
Would Furuya collapse just like Narumiya had?
Even Coach Kataoka couldn't help but waver.
But unlike Narumiya, he had already learned from the Tokyo Prince's mistake.
His eyes shifted to Tanba, who was ready in the bullpen.
They had discussed it beforehand—
If anything went wrong, they wouldn't hesitate to switch pitchers.
And yet—
Now that the moment had arrived, even Kataoka found himself hesitating.
Was it really time to pull Furuya?
And if even Furuya couldn't finish the job…
Would bringing in Tanba really change anything?
But before the Seidou coach could reach a decision—
Furuya was already in motion.
Whoosh!
Even after getting tagged on the previous pitch,
He didn't hesitate.
He threw his third pitch with full force.
As the ball came flying in, Harada braced himself.
His grip tightened.
He was certain this would be a breaking ball.
The first two fastballs? Just bait to set up this final pitch.
"This is it—fly!"
Harada unleashed his full power—
All the strength he'd built up through his entire high school career.
Ping!
The moment the bat made contact, Harada froze.
"…A fastball?"
He had guessed wrong.
Furuya hadn't thrown a breaking ball.
He'd gone with a straight, ordinary fastball.
The ball soared high into the sky.
Out at second base, Haruichi had already anticipated the trajectory.
He was waiting right where the ball was going to fall.
As it dropped—
He effortlessly caught it in his glove.
"Smack!"
"Out!!!
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