Diamond No Ace: The Monster

Chapter 161: A Man Who Grows Stronger Against Tough Opponents!

"Seidou! Seidou!!!"

"Furuya Satoru! Furuya Satoru!!!"

The Seidou supporters in the stands were ecstatic, cheering with uncontainable excitement.

Though Akikawa High School's baseball team put up a good fight and created plenty of challenges, so what?

Judging from the flow and outcome of the game so far, the team they supported—especially their ace—was firmly in control of the match.

"Don't think playing well alone will save you. A single pitcher can't turn the tide!"

"Standing before you is Seidou High, the Kanto Tournament champions and one of the nation's most elite teams!"

As fans of Seidou High's baseball team, they may not have been on the field themselves, but they still had every reason to feel proud.

After all, their team was dominating the game, firmly holding the upper hand.

In contrast, Akikawa's players, while not completely defeated in spirit, seemed visibly shaken.

The already sparse Akikawa supporters in the stands fell completely silent when Furuya struck out three consecutive batters.

Both the players and the fans could only sit in stunned silence, unable to make a sound, staring blankly at their opponents.

"Hehe, now you know how strong we are, right?"

"I'm not exaggerating, you know. When this rookie gets serious, even we feel a little intimidated..."

In Seidou's dugout, the players shook their heads and sighed.

To be fair, even if they tried putting themselves in Akikawa's shoes, they couldn't imagine how to deal with the situation.

Facing Satoru's pitches, just staying calm was already impressive.

And on top of that, trying to do anything else? That would be like dreaming in broad daylight—completely unrealistic!

On the other side, Akikawa High's team suffered a heavy blow.

Their coach glanced up at the massive scoreboard, a hint of despair flickering in his eyes.

To be honest, their ace pitcher had performed admirably—it wasn't as if he was throwing poorly.

The current score was only 1-0.

While Seidou had an advantage, it wasn't as overwhelming as people might expect.

But even so, the Akikawa coach knew deep down that his team wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.

"The gap in skill between the two teams is just too big! No matter how reliable Shunshin is, he's still just one player."

In contrast, Seidou High had an entire lineup of strong players. On the mound was Furuya, and in the batter's box was a lineup of heavy hitters.

"It's our fault. If we were stronger, maybe Shun could—"

Akikawa's players had clearly recognized this issue as well.

Their voices were filled with guilt.

"Don't say such nonsense. If it weren't for all of you, how could I have made it this far? Besides, the game isn't over yet. Why are you all acting like we've already lost?"

You Shunshin's attitude was completely different from the rest of the team.

In his eyes, there was not a trace of discouragement. Instead, they burned with fierce determination.

Although his personality kept these emotions from showing outwardly as much as others, his teammates knew him inside out.

After spending so much time with You Shunshin, the Akikawa players understood their ace better than anyone—his thoughts and feelings practically resonated with their own.

"You're excited to face an opponent like this, aren't you?"

Though phrased as a question, one of Akikawa's players spoke with certainty.

"Of course! This is the baseball I've always dreamed of!"

Even though You Shunshin had played in countless games with his team, he couldn't help but admit that the matches they'd played before felt like child's play in comparison.

Even when their opponents had some skill, it was nothing like what You Shunshin had envisioned.

Not until today, in this match against Seidou High, did You Shunshin finally experience the kind of baseball he had dreamed of as a child, watching games on TV.

"This is the kind of opponent... This is the kind of atmosphere…"

"We're only down by one run. Let's give it everything we've got!!"

You Shunshin's entire leadership style seemed completely different from before.

He was more proactive, more energetic...

It was as if he was determined to lead the team to achieve something truly extraordinary.

"Alright!"

"Let's get three outs first and take it from there…"

Inspired by You Shunshin, the rest of the Akikawa High School baseball team players also underwent a transformation.

They no longer fixated on the score but instead threw themselves wholeheartedly into the game.

Meanwhile, in Seidou's dugout.

Miyuki and Chris both wore serious expressions.

Others might not have noticed, but these two saw everything clearly.

They had fully grasped Akikawa High's true strength, and it was precisely because of this that they knew the game wasn't over yet—not by a long shot.

"With an ace like that, you can't let your guard down until the very last moment. This is tough…"

Chris rarely gave such high praise, which only underscored just how formidable their opponents were today.

"If there's ever a chance to pair up with that guy, it'd be really interesting! Hehehe!"

Miyuki chimed in with a smirk.

The game moved into the bottom of the third inning, with Seidou High on offense.

Leading off was Seidou's first batter, Kuramochi.

"Damn it, the coach emphasized so much before the game, yet I haven't delivered at all."

Kuramochi found it hard to forgive himself for his lack of performance.

So, as soon as he stepped into the batter's box, he displayed a determined stance, ready to give it his all.

His intention to hit the ball straight out of the park was obvious to anyone watching.

"He looks sly, like a delinquent. But if you observe closely, this second-year from Seidou isn't that hard to read."

Even Akikawa's starting catcher had seen through Kuramochi's intentions.

And, of course, their ace, You Shunshin, had as well. He saw everything with perfect clarity.

"So, you really want to hit this one, huh? Then I'll let you try!"

Whoosh!

The white baseball came hurtling toward the plate. This time, it wasn't aimed for the corners but positioned slightly lower in the center—right in Kuramochi's sweet spot.

His eyes lit up instantly, focused entirely on the incoming ball.

Kuramochi initially planned to wait for a better opportunity.

Even though he was eager to hit the ball, he wasn't reckless, especially knowing the opponent's impressive skills.

But now, the situation was different.

The opposing pitcher had thrown the ball right into his sweet spot.

It was as if they were asking for trouble!

As one of Chiba's top players, Kuramochi couldn't let this golden opportunity slip by.

Gripping the bat tightly, he swung without hesitation the moment the ball came within range.

"A pitch in this spot? The great Kuramochi never misses!"

It was a bold claim, but so what?

As long as he managed to hit the ball, no one would care about his boasting.

In fact, they'd probably admire his confidence.

Just as Kuramochi eagerly awaited the praise he was sure to receive...

Ping!

The ball he hit didn't sail into the outfield as he had imagined.

Instead, it barely traveled a few meters.

Akikawa's first baseman took just a few steps forward and easily caught the ball in his glove.

Pop!

"Out!!"

One out, no runners on base.

It had taken just one pitch to retire Kuramochi.

Even from the stands, the scene was dramatic.

And for Seidou's players in the dugout, it was downright shocking.

The pitch had been in Kuramochi's best hitting zone.

And yet, he had failed to deliver.

Chris's analysis was spot on: "It was likely just a fraction higher than Kuramochi's ideal hitting spot—by about a ball or half a ball."

That slight difference had turned what should have been a solid hit into a routine pop fly.

"Can someone really have such precise control over their pitches?"

Seidou's players exchanged stunned looks.

Even Kawakami, their most precise pitcher, couldn't achieve this level of control.

And Kawakami's control wasn't just top-tier within Seidou—it was among the best in all of Tokyo.

Even so, the best Kawakami could manage was dividing the strike zone into quadrants.

This level of precision went beyond what sheer effort could achieve.

"Though I hate to admit it, our opponent has reached a near-perfect level of control over his pitches."

"Even when the pitch looks like one of our preferred targets, we have to second-guess ourselves when facing this guy."

The players understood this reality.

But they also knew that once doubt crept into their minds during an at-bat against You Shunshin, their chances of making solid contact would drop even further.

Even Ryosuke, known as the "Devil Batter," faced difficulties in his second at-bat.

Kominato's reliability was almost on par with their captain's.

While he wasn't known for home runs, his at-bats often seemed to carry a certain magical impact against opposing pitchers.

Both the fans in the stands and his teammates in the dugout pinned their hopes on Ryousuke to step up in tough situations.

Despite Ryousuke battling through six pitches, he ultimately fell into You Shunshin's trap and swung at a bad pitch.

It wasn't entirely his fault.

You Shunshin's control was so precise that the umpire's trust in him had reached an almost unshakable level.

Even pitches barely grazing the edge of the strike zone were consistently called strikes.

This left Ryousuke with no choice but to take a swing when an opportunity arose.

But facing a precision machine like You Shunshin? Opportunities were few and far between.

Ryousuke waited through several pitches, hoping for the one he wanted, but it never came.

Left with no other option, he was forced to swing at a pitch he wasn't entirely comfortable with.

Ping!

The ball flew past the second baseman, landing in what seemed to be a great spot for a hit.

But somehow, Akikawa High's outfielder had already anticipated the play.

Positioned perfectly, he charged forward and caught the ball cleanly in his glove as it descended.

Pop!

"Out!!"

Two outs, no runners on base.

Seidou High's offensive momentum had been completely halted.

In the bottom of the third inning, despite Seidou's strong showing, Akikawa's ace, You Shunshin, remained unfazed.

He continued pitching with relentless determination.

Now, with two outs already recorded, he was one step away from escaping the inning unscathed.

If he could hold Seidou off this inning, the game would likely remain a close contest.

"Stop dreaming! We didn't fight this hard just to let a dark horse ace show off on the mound! Get ready to watch that ball fly!"

Even in the dire situation of two outs and no runners on base, Jun Isashiki, Seidou's cleanup hitter, showed no signs of worry.

Stepping into the batter's box with his usual fearless demeanor, he swung with full force as the pitch came toward him.

Ping!

The instant the ball connected with the bat, You Shunshin's brow twitched involuntarily.

That pitch had been executed with precision, a sharp angle aimed at a difficult spot.

Even if the batter had anticipated its location, it shouldn't have been easy to make solid contact without adjusting their stance beforehand.

Yet, despite the difficulty, Seidou's third batter managed to awkwardly connect with the ball and send it flying into the air.

"Damn it!"

You Shunshin's gaze followed the ball as it soared high into the outfield, then began to drop.

If that ball landed, Akikawa's situation would become much more precarious.

But just as the ball was about to hit the ground, a young outfielder sprinted in at full speed and made a diving catch, snagging the ball in his glove before crashing to the ground.

Pop!

"Out!!"

"Three outs! Change sides!!"

The third inning ended with the score still 1–0.

Seidou's diehard supporters, already on the verge of celebrating a victory, were stunned.

What had seemed like a sure thing had suddenly been overturned.

And so, the game moved into the top of the fourth inning, with Akikawa High taking their turn at bat.

Their lineup was now making its second trip through the order.

Meanwhile, Seidou had decided against switching pitchers and sent Furuya back to the mound to continue pitching.

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