Diamond No Ace: The Monster

Chapter 138: The Game Ends, Seidou Dominates!

"Ping!!"

The white baseball soared high into the sky. Even with the Cosmic team's outfielders desperately sprinting backward, there was nothing they could do.

By the time the outfielder reached the far end of the field, he could only watch helplessly as the ball smashed into the protective netting at the edge of the stadium.

"Home run!!!"

Even though there were no runners on base, Furuya's powerful hit secured a crucial run for his team, marking a significant breakthrough—their score jumped from zero to one.

The scoreboard now read 1-0.

The coach of Osaka Kiryuu High School's baseball team transformed into a raging demon after witnessing the scene.

"What the hell is wrong with you all? What are you doing out there?!"

He roared furiously.

Some first-time spectators in the stands were puzzled by the Universe team's outfielders.

"Why didn't they just pick up the ball? If it hit the wall and didn't go out of the field, couldn't they have thrown it back in?"

A seasoned fan patiently explained:

"That's where you're mistaken. The nets around the field are safety measures to prevent balls from flying out of the stadium. They're much higher than the walls used in official games. Any ball that hits the upper part of those nets is automatically considered a home run!"

He continued with a smirk, sharing another bit of baseball trivia:

"A baseball field only has certain boundaries, like the foul lines extending from first and third base or the area behind the catcher. But the space beyond home plate technically extends infinitely along those two lines. If someone somehow managed to leave the stadium, retrieve the ball, and throw it back in time, the batter could still be tagged out! But in real games, once the ball soars into the stands, that's obviously impossible. That's why balls landing in the stands are counted as home runs."

"And in this case, if not for that net, who knows how far that ball would've gone?"

The die-hard supporters of Seidou High beamed with pride. Their admiration for Furuya was evident, their eyes practically sparkling.

"This first-year player is incredible, isn't he?"

"No doubt. But there's no way he was this amazing before joining Seidou High!"

"It's only after joining the prestigious Seidou baseball team and undergoing their rigorous training that he's transformed so completely."

As they said this, the loyal Seidou fans exchanged knowing smiles.

Their love for Seidou High's baseball team wasn't just because of their consistent wins and powerhouse performance that brought them joy.

There were two other reasons—deeper ones—that tied them to the team.

For many, it was personal. A significant portion of Seidou's most ardent supporters were alumni of the school, with some even being former members of the baseball team. Their unwavering support for their alma mater and former team was deeply rooted in sentiment.

The second reason, however, was equally significant. It was the spirit of Seidou High's baseball team—a tenacity, discipline, and camaraderie that inspired admiration far and wide.

Seidou High School's performance on the field truly embodied what a prestigious baseball team should look like. Their fans took immense pride in this fact—not as an exaggeration, but as their most genuine belief.

Furuya's unexpected home run caused a huge uproar on the field. It wasn't just the Cosmic team's players who were stunned—even Seidou's own teammates were left in disbelief.

Furuya hit the ball out of the park?

This was against Tachi's pitch, no less—a pitch so challenging that even Seidou's experienced third-year players struggled to handle it. If it weren't for the difficulty, the game wouldn't have dragged on for so long.

Yet, in the face of such a formidable opponent, Furuya decisively cracked the problem wide open.

His teammates couldn't help but marvel at his achievement.

As core members of the team, Seidou's second and third-year players had watched Furuya grow from a raw rookie to a dependable force on the field.

They had witnessed his transformation—his evolution through relentless effort and dedication.

Even so, their assessments of Furuya's abilities remained cautious.

Despite his incredible talent, they believed that his limited time with the team and relatively brief exposure to their intensive training made it unlikely for him to surpass them just yet—at least in terms of batting and overall performance.

When it came to pitching, however, there was no contest. Furuya was leagues ahead, a phenomenon in his own right.

But today, their assumptions were shattered.

Why did they think this first-year monster couldn't match their batting skills?

The home run Furuya just hit was a resounding slap in the face. Seidou's veteran sluggers had been completely stymied by Tachi's pitching. If not for Furuya's stellar performance on the mound earlier, the game's outcome might have been very different.

And now, when the team was struggling offensively, it was Furuya again who stepped up—pinpointing Tachi's fastball and blasting it out of the park to secure the lead.

It wasn't as if Furuya had a clear advantage in raw ability over Tachi. Quite the opposite—on paper, Tachi was a superior pitcher. Hitting his pitches should have been extraordinarily difficult for Furuya. Yet, he seized the perfect moment, swung with conviction, and delivered the decisive blow.

His composure and incredible hitting power had turned the tide, putting Seidou in the lead despite their subpar physical condition.

And this wasn't just any opponent—it was the Cosmic team, Osaka Kiryuu High, last year's Koshien runner-up. Even with a slightly weaker lineup this year, they remained one of the nation's elite powerhouses, a top-eight or even top-four contender.

For Seidou to hold their own against such a team while dealing with adverse circumstances was nothing short of extraordinary. The players couldn't help but imagine—what kind of performance would they deliver once they were back to full strength?

The thought was thrilling.

The game continued. Sawamura pitched three innings, allowing only a single run. Meanwhile, Seidou's upperclassmen started to rally.

In their third time at bat, they finally cracked Tachi's pitching. Ryousuke Kominato, Jun Isashiki, and Tetsuya Yuuki delivered a sequence of hits, with Yuuki's clutch single driving in two crucial runs.

The score shifted decisively, and Seidou's momentum surged forward, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the final result.

By the end of the 7th inning, despite their physically drained condition, Seidou High School's baseball team managed to take a commanding 3-1 lead over the Cosmic team.

Even Seidou's own players found the result hard to believe. Around the stadium, spectators supporting Seidou were left completely dumbfounded.

"Are they really this strong?"

Though puzzled, the undeniable reality was that Seidou's performance on the field was nothing short of astonishing. Their dominance was so overwhelming it sent chills down their own spines.

On the opposing side, Osaka Kiryuu team's head coach, Matsumoto, finally lost his composure.

He knew that Seidou's players had just finished an intense hell-training camp. By the latter half of the game, many of their key players appeared to be on the verge of collapse—staggering with exhaustion, barely staying on their feet.

And yet, this seemingly battered and unreliable group of players was firmly outplaying the Universe team.

Not only had the Universe team failed to gain any advantage, but they were also trailing by two runs.

Unable to tolerate the situation any longer, Matsumoto unleashed all of his team's secret weapons—strategies and players he had deliberately held back.

Initially, Matsumoto hadn't intended to reveal these hidden cards during a practice match. On one hand, he believed their natural strength would suffice. On the other, he was cautious about keeping their strategies confidential—after all, even the best-kept secrets could leak.

Last summer, despite their stellar reputation, the Universe team had suffered a bitter defeat against their longtime rival, Seihou High. Matsumoto had prepared these secret strategies specifically to turn the tables should they face Seihou again.

But now, with the current game spiraling out of control, he had no choice but to play all his cards. Losing to Seidou—a team that had just undergone grueling training and was far from peak form—would crush their confidence and call into question their ability to avenge last year's defeat.

Meanwhile, Seidou's coach, Kataoka, made his own decisive move. In the final moments of the game, he sent Kawakami to the mound as their last pitcher.

However, Kawakami faced immense pressure. Over two innings, he allowed two runs, bringing the Cosmic team back into the game.

In the end, the score was locked at 3-3 after nine grueling innings, resulting in a tie.

For Matsumoto, this outcome was far from satisfactory. Despite avoiding a loss, failing to defeat an exhausted Seidou team left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Facing a Seidou High School team that was far from being in peak condition, the Cosmic team had to reveal their trump cards just to secure a draw. This outcome was a bitter pill for Matsumoto, the Osaka Kiryuu team's coach, to swallow.

However, despite his frustration, Matsumoto felt a sense of relief once the match ended in a tie.

He knew full well what it would have meant if they had failed to catch up in the final moments. The psychological blow to his players would have been devastating, potentially derailing their confidence for the rest of the season.

While the result was far from ideal, it was at least acceptable. Their late-game offense had shown resilience and determination, offering some consolation.

As the game concluded and the teams parted ways, Matsumoto's previously devilish grimace softened into a more composed expression.

"Coach Kataoka, congratulations!" he said. "It's rare to see such extraordinary talents like Furuya-kun. And your other first-year pitcher is just as remarkable..."

Predictably, Matsumoto heaped high praise on Seidou's two first-year pitchers. From his perspective, they were the standout discovery of the game.

In the past, the Cosmic team had never considered Seidou High a serious threat, despite their undeniable skill. Seidou simply lacked the comprehensive strength to compete on the same level as the Cosmic team.

But now, with the addition of two exceptional first-year pitchers, Seidou had transformed into a formidable opponent. Matsumoto was convinced they would pose significant challenges at Koshien in the future.

Coach Kataoka initially wanted to exchange a few more pleasantries. After all, the Cosmic team had gained valuable lessons from this match, including insight into Seidou's potential. However, Kataoka knew that Seidou had gained far more from this encounter.

This game didn't just establish Furuya's position as an ace; it also gave Seidou's players an unparalleled boost in confidence.

Whether facing the two other powerhouses in West Tokyo or any strong opponents at Koshien, Seidou's players now believed in their ability to fight to the very end.

From this moment forward, they no longer saw themselves as inferior to anyone.

"We are just as strong as anyone else," was the unshakable belief that now burned in their hearts.

At the end of their conversation, Matsumoto made a surprising request.

"May I speak with Furuya-kun privately?"

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