Ace of Diamond: Return of the Pitcher

V6_Chapter 16: Speed Show

With no Outs and the runner safe at first base, things were already looking grim, especially with Kuramochi on the base.

Next up for Teito was Seidou’s core lineup, starting from the second batter.

Even if they wanted to intentionally walk a powerful batter to face an opponent they were confident of getting Out, the timing wasn’t right.

Kengo Inui felt rice stuck to his hand, and no matter how much he wiped, it just wouldn’t come off.

“The Ace Pitcher sometimes has to face strong batters head-on. You can do it right, Taiyou?” Inui asked.

On the mound, Mukai Taiyou’s face was expressionless, as if the current situation had drained all his smiles away.

Teito’s players anxiously watched their Ace. They knew that without Taiyou’s pitching, Seidou would break them apart.

Since the departure of Seidou’s third-year players, their offensive power had indeed diminished significantly. But even a thin camel is larger than a horse. No matter how weakened, they were still National Champions, retaining half of their main lineup.

Without Taiyou’s pitching, even this half lineup could still dismantle them.

And so far, they hadn’t seen much hope of overcoming Sawamura Eijun. Even though they had prepared thoroughly to face him, they realized that their preparations were far from sufficient once the game began.

Relying solely on game footage and online analyses wasn’t enough to decode Sawamura’s pitching.

At this moment, Taiyou couldn’t afford to falter.

Wearing jersey number 1 on the mound, Mukai Taiyou suddenly stuck out his tongue playfully.

This Ace pitcher, who had held his position since his first year of middle school, wasn’t easily defeated.

No matter the game situation, all he could do was to meet the challenge head-on.

Years of being an Ace had taught Taiyou that fear and hesitation would not solve any problems. Unless he willingly gave up his hard-earned position, he had to face every challenge with courage.

‘That’s the plan from the start,’ Taiyou thought as he glanced casually at Kuramochi on first base. He used his gaze to keep Kuramochi in check.

Kuramochi seemed far from first base, but it was still within his safe range. Even if Taiyou threw a pick-off attempt, its effect would be minimal.

No need to worry!

With that judgment in mind, Taiyou prepared to pitch.

Just as he was about to pitch, Kuramochi, who had been waiting calmly, suddenly made a move!

‘It’s not just you studying us. We were studying you too! With your pitching rhythm, you can’t stop me.’

Kuramochi dashed confidently toward second base at lightning speed.

“Underestimate me, huh?”

Kengo Inui, the catcher, immediately stood up and threw the ball to first base after receiving it. His movements were swift, and the ball was fast.

But unfortunately, stopping the runner wasn’t just about the throw.

As Taiyou pitched, the ball soared into Inui’s Mitt. This took about two seconds.

With Kuramochi’s speed, he had already covered most of the distance.

By the time Inui reacted and made the throw, Kuramochi was already nearing second base.

SNAP!

The precise, laser-like throw reached second base, but Kuramochi was already there a step ahead.

“SAFE!”

With no Outs and the runner on second base, Kuramochi had aggressively broken through Teito High’s defense.

Once he passed first base and reached second, the rest was smooth sailing for him. Mukai Taiyou, a Southpaw Pitcher, was facing first base. Even though he was focused on first base, he couldn’t prevent Kuramochi from stealing the base.

Let alone when he had his back turned?

No matter how well Taiyou and Inui cooperated, it was extremely difficult to stop Kuramochi.

As the main partners of the team, they had their own methods. Faced with Kuramochi, who seemed unstoppable, they remained expressionless.

Taiyou prepared to pitch again, while Kuramochi sprinted toward third base.

Even with Taiyou facing him, he couldn’t be stopped.

‘What chance did he have with his back turned?’

Kuramochi was confident, believing that Teito High’s battery couldn’t stop him.

“Go back!”

Kominato, who had been waiting in the batter’s box, suddenly shouted.

Kuramochi, who had already run about ten meters, felt a jolt at Kominato’s shout. Without hesitation, he trusted Kominato and returned to second base.

Switching from a full sprint to a sudden stop, and then running back, was physically taxing. Only someone with Kuramochi’s talent and agility could manage such a quick change.

Fortunately, his speed ensured he didn’t lose any time.

Once he safely returned to second base, Kuramochi realized what had happened. Teito’s battery hadn’t intended to confront Haruichi from the start.

‘Their real target was Youichi-senpai.’

Taiyou had deliberately altered his pitching rhythm, throwing the ball to the catcher faster. Inui had also adjusted his position, standing up and moving to the side of the strike zone to prepare for a quick throw.

This entire setup was a carefully planned trap, waiting for Kuramochi to fall into it.

“Damn, that’s really sneaky!” Kuramochi thought, relieved to be safely back on second base.

Kuramochi glanced at the battery of Teito High School with lingering apprehension. He hadn’t noticed any communication between the two before, but their cooperation now seemed incredibly coordinated, almost as if they were telepathically linked.

‘What a pair of schemers!’

Kuramochi’s evaluation of Mukai grew even higher.

On the other side, Teito High School was also caught off guard by the reactions of Seidou High School’s players.

Kengo Inui eyed his current opponent with concern: Seidou High School’s second batter, Kominato Haruichi.

‘If it hadn’t been for his interference, we would have successfully gotten Kuramochi Out.’

The reason they didn’t achieve this was that Haruichi had given a timely reminder during Kuramochi’s base steal.

What a terrifying opponent!

‘Just by observing Taiyou’s pitching form, he had discerned their entire strategy and alerted his teammate.’

‘According to our information, he was already a member of the Champion team, but he didn’t get to play much because of his elder brother who was in the same position. Even when he is that capable. Just how much of a monster that Devil Brother!’

‘No, thinking about that now is useless. What is more important is the other information.’

At this moment, Inui was acutely aware of a crucial fact: Seidou High School was definitely not a one-man team centered around Sawamura Eijun. Any team treating Seidou High School as a one-man team would end up regretting it.

‘It’s not just the runners on base we need to watch out for; the batter currently at the plate is also a serious threat,’ Inui thought, signaling Taiyou again.

Taiyou took his stance and pitched again.

Kuramochi, who had narrowly avoided being Out, gritted his teeth and sprinted toward third base with all his might.

‘Do you dare try it again? After your plan has failed just now.’

The previous attempt at containment wasn’t for free. If Kuramochi didn’t steal the base, they were just wasting Balls and adding to their count. With a Ball already thrown, there are fewer chances they can use it against the batter.

If they reached two Balls, it would be extremely disadvantageous for the battery.

If they had to throw another ball, their options would be greatly restricted. The last thing they wanted was to let Haruichi get on base, leading to even more trouble.

Kuramochi believed that Teito High School’s battery would not dare use the same tactic again.

“Go back!”

At the batter’s box, Kominato Haruichi appeared calm but spoke with a hint of urgency.

Taiyou’s pitch deviated again, and Haruichi guessed the opponent’s plan. However, Kuramochi, who was running full speed, couldn’t easily go back.

Because he was running so fast, stopping was difficult. Nonetheless, he gritted his teeth and stopped, finding himself stuck between second and third base, losing all initiative. He could only watch where Inui passed the ball and then decide where to run.

Inui prepared to throw to third base. To him, Kuramochi, who seemed nearly stationary, was now an easy target.

In this situation, it would be best to tag him between second and third base.

Unexpectedly, at the moment Inui raised his hand, Kuramochi suddenly dashed toward second base at full speed.

It was as if he had not lost his acceleration at all.

If the ball was passed to third base first and then to second base, it might be too late.

With this in mind, Inui changed the direction of his throw, passing the ball to second base.

Kuramochi, running at full speed towards second base, made an abrupt 180-degree turn and sprinted towards third base with renewed vigor.

“What!”

As a prestigious team, Teito had only top-notch players. Although these players weren’t very famous yet, their skill was undeniable.

The fielder at second base, after catching the ball, passed it directly to third base.

Kuramochi, moving like a wild beast, gave Teito High School’s players no chance to react.

As he approached third base, he leaped towards it.

The entire sequence of actions was irrational, with no apparent plan. He just did it instinctively.

Teito’s fielders had never faced such an opponent and were caught completely off guard.

By the time the third baseman tried to tag him, Kuramochi’s hand had already firmly touched the base.

“SAFE!”

This dazzling display left the spectators stunned.

As observers, they clearly saw Teito High School’s battery’s plan. From their perspective, the strategy seemed flawless. Seidou High School’s players appeared to have fallen into the trap!

But they hadn’t expected Seidou’s runner to deliver such a wild performance after being caught in the trap.

The clash of speed and strategy was so exciting that they couldn’t take their eyes off it.

“Seidou! Seidou!!!”

“Kuramochi, Kuramochi!!!!”

In the stands, the cheers from Seidou High School’s supporters grew louder and louder, shaking the entire stadium.

“Amazing!!”

The brown-haired boy, Seto Takuma, watched Kuramochi in astonishment. Seto is known for his speed, he found his own abilities pale in comparison to this Senpai.

Speed was secondary; the most frightening aspect was Kuramochi’s nimbleness.

Being able to change direction freely while running at high speed was something the brown-haired boy had never seen before.

Kuramochi Yoichi put on a unique speed show in this game.

This speed show was just beginning and had yet to reach its peak.

When Mukai Taiyou of Teito High School made his third pitch, resulting in two Balls, and a Strike, Inui received the ball and threw it back.

At that moment, Kuramochi, who had been calmly stationed at third base, quietly left the base.

As soon as Inui released the ball, Kuramochi, like a predator, began his attack.

He became a streak of blue-green, sprinting toward home plate.

…