Diamond No Ace: The Monster

Chapter 178: Bullet!

"Three outs! Change of sides!"

The players and supporters of Yakushi High School's baseball team were left stunned.

At this moment, they could barely catch their breath, the water they had just sipped remained in their mouths, not yet swallowed.

And now, they were expected to take the field again?

"These guys from Seidou..."

Mishima, a burly player, wanted to say something. But after glancing at his team's low morale, he wisely shut his mouth.

He understood well that, though the game had just begun, his teammates were already exhausted.

Everyone was gasping for air, still unable to recover.

Deep down, there was a shared, unspoken feeling of crisis looming over the team.

If anyone dared to complain at this point, it would undoubtedly make things worse, like pouring salt into a wound.

Not only would the upcoming game be difficult, but it could become unbearably hard.

In this situation, Mishima decided silence was the better option.

Seeing Mishima's restraint, Yakushi's coach secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Though he wasn't entirely satisfied with this particular player, it was evident that Mishima knew when to hold back.

Right now, Yakushi High couldn't afford any unnecessary mistakes or losses—no matter how small.

"Sanada!"

Faced with an unprecedented crisis, Raizou Todoroki decisively sent in his star ace.

On one hand, the game's score had already become dangerously one-sided, and Yakushi couldn't afford to concede any more runs.

On the other, it was a strategic move to boost his team's morale.

The game had fallen entirely into Seidou's rhythm.

If Yakushi didn't make a bold change now, it might be too late to recover.

In Seidou's dugout, the players watched as Yakushi sent their true ace onto the field.

Their gazes met, and from each other's eyes, they saw a shared sense of unease.

Yakushi had clearly run out of options, a sign that Seidou had pressured them to the brink, leaving no room to worry about future matches.

Yakushi was cornered.

They were going all out here and now.

This might be good news for Yakushi's next opponent, but for Seidou, it was anything but comforting.

"Prepare to give it everything!"

"They've sent out their ace. It's not going to be as easy as before."

Seidou's players had a strong feeling about what was coming.

"They brought him out a bit too late," Chris commented, pen in hand, offering an objective view.

Could Yakushi's full-force effort match Seidou's dominance?

To be honest, it remained an open question.

Even Seidou High School's own players couldn't make a clear judgment.

But to say that Yakushi High School's baseball team was significantly stronger than Seidou? That was simply unrealistic.

It was this understanding that led Chris to his earlier conclusion.

Seidou was already leading by a solid five runs.

For a team like Seidou, this was undoubtedly a very safe margin.

It would be incredibly difficult for Yakushi to score five or six runs against them.

Not to mention, Seidou was likely to extend their lead in the coming innings.

Coach Kataoka agreed with Chris's assessment. However, he still reminded the players heading to the plate, "Don't be careless, and don't rush. Focus on understanding the pitcher's strengths and weaknesses first, then find the opportunity to break him down completely."

"Yes, sir!!"

The players responded loudly and energetically.

The first to step into the batter's box was Sakai, the ninth batter.

This third-year senior from Seidou looked visibly tense as he stood at the plate.

Although the team had identified Sanada as Yakushi's ace before the game and had prepared strategies against him, Sakai never expected the responsibility of this critical moment would fall on him.

In Seidou's lineup, he was considered one of the weaker players, both in hitting and overall ability.

His inclusion in the starting lineup was more out of necessity than skill.

While Sakai felt fortunate to be part of the starting lineup, the weight of his responsibility felt enormous.

The pressure was so intense that he began doubting himself.

But just then, a burst of encouragement came from Seidou's dugout.

"Don't look back! You're one of the best on our team!"

"Keep your eye on the ball, and when the chance comes, don't hold back—go for it!"

The cheers and support from his teammates bolstered Banba's confidence significantly.

"I'm a starting player for Seidou High. I'm not that easy to deal with either…"

With renewed determination, Sakai's eyes locked onto Sanada.

The energy radiating from him was powerful.

Though he was just Seidou's ninth batter, Sakai firmly believed:

As long as the white ball reached his range, he would hit it without hesitation.

"Come on! Bring it!"

Seeing Sakai's confident display, Sanada, who had just stepped onto the mound, felt immense pressure.

"Hah! Even Seidou's lower-order batters—an insignificant ninth hitter—carry this kind of presence?"

Sanada shook his head in disbelief.

When they played against Ichidaisan High, they had considered themselves lucky to face such a prestigious team. But they never truly grasped their opponent's strength.

Only now, Sanada was beginning to realize just how formidable Seidou was.

What kind of team were they facing?

Even a seemingly minor player carried such a terrifying presence.

A team like Seidou, once they start gaining momentum, would undoubtedly crush a team like Yakushi High with their current level of play.

"The opponent is too strong; there's no hope at all!"

For a moment, Sanada, standing on the mound without a ball in hand, felt an overwhelming urge to escape.

But the moment the baseball landed in his hand, his eyes lit up.

"Still, I was born to never give up!"

Despite recognizing the strength of his opponent and knowing that the upcoming battle would be anything but easy, Sanada squared up, fully focused, and unleashed a powerful pitch with everything he had.

Seeing Sanada's determination, Yakushi's players looked at him as if he were their savior.

The scoreboard read 5-0, with Seidou High completely dominating under the leadership of Furuya.

This was the same team that stormed through the Kanto Tournament, defeating numerous powerhouse teams to claim the title.

Originally, the favorites for the championship this season were either Ichidaisan High, who had secured a spot in Spring Koshien, or Inashiro Industrial, with their superior overall strength.

In the previous Spring Tournament, Inashiro Industrial had reached the finals and were heavily favored.

However, the team that ultimately emerged as the West Tokyo champion contender wasn't either of those giants.

It was the unexpected dark horse—Seidou High School.

Even with a challenging group draw, many fans in West Tokyo firmly believed that Seidou would go all the way.

No team had been able to truly match them on the field.

Facing such an opponent, it wasn't just Yakushi who would feel nervous—even a stronger team would feel the pressure.

Yakushi's players had harbored such feelings of uncertainty.

After realizing Seidou's overwhelming strength, they calmly analyzed the game and concluded that they were no match.

But everything changed the moment their ace, Sanada, took the mound.

Even though Sanada had yet to make a significant play, Yakushi's supporters and players felt a surge of hope.

Their eyes shone with renewed determination.

Sakai watched in surprise as the white baseball came hurtling toward him.

Gripping the bat tightly, he prepared himself to swing with all his might and send the ball flying.

Here it comes!

The baseball streaked toward him like a bullet, suddenly appearing right in front of him.

The sheer speed of the pitch stunned Sakai.

How could it be this fast?

How could it be so sharp?

But the questions swirling in his mind would remain unanswered.

All he could do was watch helplessly as the ball whizzed past him.

"Pop!"

"Strike!"

The Yakushi players, already brimming with hope, were now flush with excitement after witnessing their ace's outstanding performance.

"This is it! Take them down in one go!"

"The Kanto Tournament champions aren't so scary after all!"

In Seidou's dugout, confusion spread among the players.

From their perspective, they could see through the essence of many aspects of the game.

Take that last pitch, for example.

After exchanging glances, they reached a unanimous conclusion:

It was strong!

But for Seidou's players, that wasn't their biggest concern.

They had faced strong pitchers countless times before.

Leaving aside the powerhouse teams from the Kanto Tournament, just in West Tokyo, they had already struggled against Narumiya Mei and You Shunshin.

Both were undeniably formidable opponents.

Sanada, standing before them now, was no different.

Given their five-run lead, Seidou's players weren't overly worried about his individual strength.

What truly concerned them was the volatile mental state of Yakushi's players and supporters.

Earlier, when Yakushi was trailing, these guys had already shown how tenacious and unpredictable an underdog could be.

At that time, Seidou's players didn't think much of it.

From their perspective, Yakushi's resilience was simply a product of rigorous training and strong fighting spirit.

They firmly believed that Yakushi's morale could only go so far.

But now, they realized they were wrong—deeply and utterly wrong.

Their opponents were mentally abnormal.

When Yakushi was at a disadvantage, they seemed somewhat normal.

But the moment things started to go their way, Yakushi's players switched into a frenzied state.

They became like a pack of rabid dogs, exuding an almost deranged energy.

"This is just bizarre!"

"Not just in West Tokyo, but even across Kanto and the entire country, we've never seen anything this strange!"

In Seidou's dugout, the players couldn't stop complaining.

Yakushi's erratic behavior heavily influenced how they judged this opponent.

At this moment, Sanada successfully struck out Sakai, securing the first out of the inning.

When Sakai returned to the dugout, he immediately shared his observations with his teammates.

"The ball is like a bullet! It whooshes by, so close to your body!"

As he shared his insights, another Seidou batter stepped up to face an unprecedented challenge.

No matter how much Kuramochi gritted his teeth, he could only manage to barely make contact with the ball.

"Ping!"

The ball flew off his bat but landed directly in Sanada's open glove.

"Pop!"

"Out!"

Two outs, no runners on base.

In the first inning, Yakushi High had been utterly outclassed by Seidou High, looking completely helpless.

But now, it was as if Yakushi had flipped a switch, suddenly entering a whole new gear.

They quickly secured two outs, their pace frighteningly fast.

Even Seidou's most loyal fans noticed the shift, their brows furrowed in concern.

"Yakushi's new pitcher looks like he means business!"

For these die-hard supporters to voice such recognition spoke volumes about how formidable they found this opponent.

"He's strong—super strong!"

Amidst the murmurs in the stands, a cheerful figure calmly stepped forward to the batter's box.

"Number 2, second baseman, Ryousuke Kominato!"

Even though Seidou had already conceded two quick outs, the sight of Ryousuke Kominato stepping up to bat brought a sense of relief to the fans.

Yakushi's ace, who had just taken the mound, was riding a wave of unstoppable momentum.

To counter him, Seidou needed a batter with enough skill and experience to turn the tide.

And without a doubt, Ryousuke Kominato was exactly the player they needed.

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