Diamond Ace's Passionate Swing

Furuya Akira then truly realized just how heavy and tricky Narumiya Mei's throws were.

Lin Xiao's monstrous performance earlier almost made people subconsciously forget how terrifying this Tokyo prince was.

The broadcast started again.

"Seido High School's offense, first batter, pitcher, Lin Xiao."

It was Lin Xiao's turn to play his second match.

This time, he doesn't intend to be content with just picking the ball and getting on base like he was in the last at-bat.

""call out!""

Narumiya Mei's first pitch, accompanied by the sound of wind, headed straight for home plate!

"Clang!!"

Lin Xiao swings the bat!

But the timing of the swing was a little too slow, and the bat hit the bottom edge of the baseball!

Referee: "Out of bounds!"

Without pausing for a moment, Narumiya Mei fired another fastball at nearly 148 kilometers per hour toward home plate!

"Ping!"

Lin Xiao swung his bat again, and it was still a foul ball!

Cheng Gongming looked at Lin Xiao, his eyes showing some displeasure.

"What an unlikable first-year student."

""call out!""

The third ball! A high-speed slider! A tricky angle!

However, the ball's trajectory is too high.

Referee: "Bad ball!"

Cheng Gongming tried to lure Lin Xiao into swinging with this high ball, but Lin Xiao didn't move an inch and didn't fall for it.

Harada Masako secretly praised Lin Xiao.

"A very sharp eye for ball selection."

He gave Narumiya Mei a secret signal.

"Ming, calm down. You can't trick him into hitting with a normal pitch."

"This hitter is no ordinary player. It seems... we'll have to use that ball."

Upon seeing the code, Narumiya Mei's face broke into a rare, excited smile.

On the pitcher's mound, Lin Xiao keenly noticed the subtle changes in Narumiya Mei's expression.

Is it coming?

""call out!""

"call!"

The baseball leaves the hand! Flying towards home plate!

The speed doesn't seem as fast as the previous fastball!

Lin Xiao's eyes narrowed, and he swung the bat without hesitation!

""boom!""

However, when the bat swung, it felt like hitting thin air!

The baseball suddenly slows down as it approaches home plate!

"Snapped!"

The baseball landed smoothly in Masatoshi Harada's glove.

Referee: "Good shot!"

Lin Xiao was speechless.

"cut!"

Is this Narumiya Mei's change-speed ball? It truly lives up to its reputation.

The rest area of ​​Seido was in an uproar.

"Change of Speed! Narumiya Ming used Change of Speed ​​on Lin Xiao!"

""call out!""

""boom!""

Another change-speed ball!

This time, Lin Xiao saw through the ball's trajectory, but judged that he wasn't entirely confident in hitting it well, so he chose to stop.

He didn't intend to waste his energy on this kind of ball.

Referee: "Good shot!"

"!!!"

Gasps erupted again from the stands and rest areas!

"Lin Xiao was cornered by two strong shots!"

"Nariya Mei threw two changeup pitches in a row!"

"Lin Xiao, whose hitting ability is almost comparable to Captain Yuki-senpai, actually missed his target!"

Miyuki analyzed calmly.

"It's not that I missed, it's that I didn't time my swing well."

"Changeup pitches may look fast, but to the batter at home plate, they don't actually go that fast. This speed difference is very deceptive."

"Come on, the decisive ball!"

Miyuki looked at the pitcher's mound and thought to himself.

"Should we continue with the change-of-speed shot, or decide the winner with a straight shot?"

"Whether you gamble or not is up to you, Narumiya Mei."

In all these games, not a single opponent has ever thrown a changeup. To hit it on the first pitch would be like a miracle.

Lin Xiao was certain that if he dared to throw a changeup again in his next game, he wouldn't dare to throw a changeup in his next game or any game after that.

Once such a hitter becomes familiar with the ball's trajectory, it will be disastrous.

After carefully observing Lin Xiao's position and ready stance, catcher Harada gave the signal for the final ball.

It's now a 2-for-2 situation, with the pitches in the pitcher's favor but pushing the batter to the brink.

Narumiya Mei took a deep breath, her eyes becoming incredibly focused.

Concentrate all your strength into your fingertips and throw!

""call out!""

""boom!""

The baseball, like a white lightning bolt, pierced straight into the inside corner!

Lin Xiao's pupils contracted!

"Straight ball inside corner!"

Without hesitation, he swung the bat with all his might!

"Ping!"

A crisp metallic clang echoed throughout the stadium!

Narumi's expression changed, and he immediately shouted.

"Second baseman!"

The baseball transformed into a streak of white light, flying at high speed toward the gap between first and second base!

First baseman Shirakawa desperately retreated, trying to intercept!

The ball flew too fast! It landed!

""call out!""

"Da da da!!"

Lin Xiao burst out of the batter's box like a cheetah and sprinted towards first base at full speed!

Shirakawa picked up the ball and quickly threw it to first base!

"Snapped!"

They arrived almost simultaneously!

The referee's arms are outstretched!

"Safely on base!"

Lin Xiao successfully reached first base with his amazing speed!

He took a breath and looked toward the pitcher's mound.

"Phew... I didn't throw a changeup in the end."

Cheers erupted at the Seido rest area!

"Aaaaaah!!"

"Successfully reached base!"

"Well done, Lin Xiao!"

Harada stared at Lin Xiao's figure with a serious expression.

"That speed...it's ridiculously fast! Any other runner would have been eliminated by now with that shot."

Thankfully, he didn't throw a changeup. If he had, a batter of that caliber would have observed his pitches for a few more pitches, and his deciding pitch would have been smashed, since changeups are unpredictable. Using them as decoys, however, is extremely effective.

Cheng Gongming glared fiercely at Lin Xiao on first base, his cheeks flushed with anger.

"Damn it!"

Lin Xiao stood on the first base, looking at Cheng Gongming without showing any weakness, a provocative smile playing on his lips.

"Hey, Your Highness, Ace."

"If you don't take that game-winning shot now, you'll miss your chance."

"After all, we're already leading by 4 points, and I'm just worried the game might end prematurely."

He deliberately stretched out his fingers and counted slowly.

"By the way, how many points are we leading again?"

Narumi was so angry that his temples throbbed.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! That arrogant first-year student!"

Next up, Kuramochi stepped into the batter's box.

He exchanged a glance with Lin Xiao at first base, and instantly understood each other's intentions.

"Use speed to disrupt your opponent!"

Harada immediately became alert and signaled to Narumiya Mei.

"Bang! Watch out for Lin Xiao stealing our base!"

We can't ignore the runners on base now, especially since Inashiri is trailing.

If the game were to end prematurely as Lin Xiao suggested, the reputation of Inashiri, a baseball powerhouse, would be completely ruined.

Just as Narumiya Mei raised her leg to throw the ball!

Lin Xiao made a move!

He shot towards second base like an arrow released from a bow!

Narumiya Mei reacted extremely quickly, immediately stopping his pitching motion and turning to pin down second base!

But Lin Xiao's speed was simply too fast!

Slide!

Successfully reached second base!

Kuramochi, standing in the batter's box, watched Lin Xiao successfully steal a base, a smile appearing on his lips.

"Well done! Now it's my turn!"

Cheng Gongming was getting a little impatient because of Lin Xiao's base stealing.

Harada gave the signal again, indicating to use the speed ball.