Diamond No Ace: The Monster

Chapter 193: Furuya Satoru, The Monster!

When the white baseball was thrown back to home plate, everyone in the stands was utterly stunned.

The runner from Yakushi High School's baseball team felt as if his eyes were about to pop out.

How could something so unbelievable happen?

Where did that throw even come from?

He turned to look at the field.

Seventy meters away, the person standing there looked barely larger than a toad.

All he could see was a blurry silhouette.

Yet it was that very person who had thrown the ball from that distance back to home plate.

The players on Yakushi's team didn't need to verify it—

the fans in the stands were the best witnesses.

Even though most of the spectators' attention was focused on the players at home plate, there were still some fans whose eyes habitually followed Furuya.

If he hadn't made that throw, the crowd would've already exploded in disbelief, not remained in stunned silence.

"Monster!!"

In that brief moment, the Yakushi player felt all the strength drain from his body.

They had been so ambitious, hoping to fight Seidou High School to the very last moment.

In fact, just a moment ago, they had indeed gotten that chance.

Unfortunately, they failed.

Instead, Seidou's players displayed an incredible cohesion and terrifying strength in the face of crisis.

To think they could even throw a ball like that back to home plate!

The Yakushi players couldn't even imagine anything Seidou couldn't do anymore.

Back in Yakushi's dugout, the previously joyful atmosphere had completely vanished.

Everyone squinted their eyes but couldn't say a word.

Their team had always maintained a relaxed vibe.

Coach Raizou constantly taught them to let go of distractions and simply enjoy the game.

This approach had never been a problem—until today, this very moment.

Suddenly, the Yakushi players realized that games wouldn't always go smoothly.

They would face setbacks and insurmountable challenges.

The scoreboard read 6-3.

In terms of score difference, it wasn't enough to crush their spirits.

But their three key batters—the first, second, and third hitters—had already come up.

Even if all of them performed perfectly, Yakushi could only tie the game.

And it was already the end of the top half of the eighth inning, leaving Yakushi with just one last inning to turn things around.

Three outs.

In such limited chances, they had to completely reverse the game situation.

Tough!

This made the always confident and self-proclaimed miracle underdogs of Yakushi feel deep despair.

They were shocked to realize that no matter what they did, it seemed impossible to change the outcome.

How could their morale not plummet under such circumstances?

"Don't get discouraged. On the field, only by giving it your all can you have a shot at victory. Otherwise, your result will inevitably be failure! I know the situation is tough, but if you give up, then we have no chance at all. But as long as you don't quit, anything is possible! Who knows? Maybe a meteor will fall from the sky and directly crush all those Seidou players to death."

Hearing their coach's joke, the Yakushi players burst into laughter.

"Coach, your metaphor is a bit too much..."

As everyone voiced their complaints, Coach Raizou suddenly spoke up.

"Think carefully—what can we do right now? We can't let them score again. First, we need to take care of their top hitters!"

As he spoke, Raizou cast a worried glance at Sanada.

The reason they hadn't sent their ace pitcher to the mound from the start was simple—Sanada had suffered a previous injury. Prolonged games put a significant strain on his body.

They had hoped to avoid pushing him too hard, but the current situation left them no choice.

If they wanted to challenge Seidou High School head-on, they had to give it their all and shut down their opponents.

"Facing a top-tier powerhouse is tough, right? I know you're exhausted, but we have no choice now. You must hold the line!"

Seeing the concern in his coach's eyes, Sanada responded with a warm smile.

Unlike other players on the Yakushi team, Sanada felt an even deeper gratitude toward their coach.

Many Yakushi players had never even dreamed of having a chance to shine, given their limited skills.

But Sanada was different.

Although his talent had been overlooked in middle school, once he reached high school, his abilities as a pitcher became impossible to ignore.

He even caught the attention of professional teams.

Unfortunately, the team's poor performance made people doubt his true capabilities.

Was he really as exceptional as they imagined?

Everything changed when Raizou and his son arrived.

Their arrival transformed the team completely.

Now, even when facing the nation's top contenders, Yakushi had the strength to put up a fight.

This meant everything to Sanada.

"You gave me a stage to showcase my full potential, along with teammates to train with. How could I ever let you down?"

Standing tall on the mound, Sanada held his head high.

Meanwhile, in Seidou's dugout, the players stared at the scoreboard, their eyes burning with frustration.

This was supposed to be a game they had firmly under control.

Yet now the score stood at 6-3.

Although they were still in the lead, none of the Seidou players felt any joy.

They had scored five runs at the very beginning, but it was only after that when Sanada Junpei took the mound.

If they factored that in, it felt like they were already trailing Yakushi.

Just thinking about it was infuriating.

"The lead is still too narrow," Coach Kataoka said sternly. "Before the final inning, we must score more runs. The next batters are all second- and third-year starters—especially the seniors. Don't overthink it—just focus on sending the ball flying!"

His tone was harsher than usual, clearly showing his urgency.

"Yes, sir!"

The players responded in unison.

Bottom of the eighth inning: Seidou High's turn to attack.

The first to step up to bat was Kuramochi Youichi, nicknamed "Cheetah."

Right from the start, he adopted a bunt stance.

"Everyone else has made plays—I can't be the only one left out, right? Even if it's just a bunt, I will get on base."

His determined posture made it impossible to ignore him.

On the mound, Sanada frowned slightly as he faced his opponent.

He knew Kuramochi's strengths well.

While his batting skills weren't exceptional, once he got on base, his track-and-field-level speed posed a massive threat to Yakushi.

"You think I'm afraid?"

Facing the aggressive Kuramochi, Sanada showed no signs of backing down.

Sanada's stance on the mound was even more aggressive than Kuramochi's.

The white baseball flew from his hand with what seemed to be even greater speed than before.

How is this possible? Kuramochi thought, gritting his teeth.

The game has gone on for this long, and this guy's pitch speed still hasn't dropped? Damn it!

Realizing his usual tricks weren't working, Kuramochi withdrew his bat, only to swing decisively at the next pitch.

"Ping!"

The ball made contact but didn't travel far, landing in an unremarkable spot.

Seeing this, many Yakushi players and fans broke into a cold sweat.

"That's so underhanded!"

Seidou High, the nation's top baseball powerhouse, was resorting to trick hits?

Fortunately, Mishima was prepared. He leaped and caught the ball cleanly.

"Out!"

One out, no runners on base.

Holding the ball triumphantly, Mishima felt as if he were the center of the world.

He raised his arms high, shouting excitedly.

"Woohoo!!!"

"I'm a genius!!!"

Yakushi's fans in the stands lit up with joy at the sight.

"That's what we want!"

"Great job! You're the best!"

Seidou's players, however, were left exchanging bewildered glances.

How did things turn out this way?

It was starting to feel as if Yakushi still had a real chance.

"Keep attacking!"

Coach Kataoka remained silent, but his mere presence conveyed a clear message.

The players knew exactly what they had to do on the field.

"Come on, we still have a chance!" they shouted with renewed determination.

Sanada paid no heed to the cheering. He simply focused on the game, delivering his pitches with unwavering power.

His intensity hadn't waned one bit, despite the game nearing its conclusion.

Even Seidou's players were starting to feel the pressure.

Yakushi's coach Raizou watched with misty eyes, deeply moved.

"That's the Sanada I know!"

Several Yakushi players had been under Raizou's guidance since they were young, including his own son.

But none had ever fully satisfied him—not even his prideful offspring.

They were decent players at best.

But Sanada was different.

An unexpected gem, he was a disciple Raizou was genuinely proud of.

"No one's more dependable than you!"

Just as these thoughts filled Raizou's mind, Seidou's batter, known for his relentless persistence, suddenly swung his bat without warning.

There was no buildup, no hesitation.

Thwack!

The ball soared through the air, struck squarely by the bat.

Yakushi's fielders raced desperately toward its landing point.

But luck wasn't on their side this time—fortune had finally shifted away from Yakushi.

Previously, they made the catch, but this time their gloves were 10 centimeters short.

The fielders from Yakushi High could only watch helplessly as the baseball bounced off the ground right in front of them.

The Seidou supporters felt as if a heavy weight had finally been lifted off their chests.

"It made it through!!"

As the ball slipped past the defense, Ryousuke seized the opportunity and safely reached first base.

The situation on the field now stood at one out with a runner on first.

Next up to bat was "the guy with the mustache."

The die-hard Seidou fans in the stands were visibly excited.

To them, the current scene was absolutely mesmerizing.

"Awesome!"

"You better knock it out, Dog!"

Hearing the nickname the fans gave him, Mustache-senpai was about to blow his top.

"My name is Jun! Isashiki Jun!"

His furious shout didn't anger the fans in the slightest. On the contrary, they found it even more amusing.

"Got it, Dog!"

For a moment, Jun's face turned red with embarrassment.

Being too far from the stands, there was no way he could storm over to confront them.

All he could do now was channel his rage toward the Yakushi team.

Facing Sanada's pitch, Jun swung his bat without hesitation.

However, the sudden movement of the ball caught him off guard, preventing him from hitting the sweet spot.

As a result, his out was inevitable.

Still, his out allowed Ryousuke to advance to second base.

Two outs, runner on second.

Now it was the cleanup hitter, Yuuki, stepping up to bat.

The moment he took his place in the batter's box, a buzz of anticipation swept through the stadium.

Yakushi even considered intentionally walking him.

This guy's power was just too terrifying. A single mistake could easily result in a big hit.

With the current score at 6-3, Yakushi's chances of a comeback were already slim.

If the gap widened further, they would be completely out of contention.

Despite this concern, Sanada showed no signs of backing down.

"Even if I get hit, so be it. If we don't have the courage to face them head-on, what right do we have to bring down a powerhouse?"

"Whoosh!"

Having made up his mind, Sanada unleashed a full-force pitch.

"Boom!!!"

Seeing the ball hurtling toward him, Yuuki didn't hesitate for a second.

He swung his bat with immense power—strong and heavy.

The Yakushi players had a sinking feeling as they watched.

Their worst fears were soon realized.

"Ping!"

The white ball soared dozens of meters before slamming into the outfield.

In that brief moment, the Yakushi fielders couldn't even react.

"Safe!"

"Score!!!"

"The score is now 7-3!!!"

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