The game had reached the top of the eighth inning, with Matsuyama High School at bat.
Zhou Hao's dominant pitching completely crushed their hopes of expanding the lead.
Even their coach and players no longer brought up the idea of scoring more runs.
Deep down, they understood that it was now impossible to get hits or runs off Zhou Hao.
At this point, the only thing they could hope for was to maintain their current lead.
Their team's ace, the chubby Midorima, was also at his limit.
No matter how unwilling they were, they had no choice but to switch pitchers.
Matsuyama High School's relief pitcher was a well-built player. In terms of looks alone, he could instantly outshine their ace without question.
But in baseball, looks meant nothing.
As he stepped onto the mound, he was visibly nervous.
His body trembled non-stop like a leaf in the wind…
"Iida-kun!"
The substitute pitcher barely regained composure upon hearing the coach's voice.
"Coach?"
"I know sending you up at this moment makes you incredibly nervous."
Even in previous official games, this substitute pitcher had never been this unsteady.
But today's game was different.
They had staked everything on it—no matter what, they couldn't accept a loss.
What's more, they were currently leading by three runs. This meant their chances of winning were very high.
Yet, the higher the stakes, the greater the pressure on the substitute pitcher.
He had seen with his own eyes how formidable Seidou High's team was on the field.
Even now, whenever he thought back on it, he still felt lingering fear.
He hadn't even stepped on the field before, yet he still felt that way.
Let alone now, having to face them directly on the mound.
Just because their ace Midorima could withstand it didn't mean he could too.
But the coach's words were like a soothing hot spring, slowly flowing through his body, calming his nerves and anxiety.
"We're ahead, and the top of their order is just coming around again. Don't be afraid—their batting lineup isn't as fearsome as you imagine. As long as you pitch like you usually do, you can definitely hold them off."
"Even if you're unlucky and give up a run or two, it's okay. Don't panic!"
If there were any other option, the coach would never have sent their backup to the mound.
The difference in strength between the backup and the ace was just too vast.
But there was no other choice.
Even Seidou, a top-tier national powerhouse, didn't have a flawless ace.
Matsuyama High, while one of the top four teams in Chiba, was still just an ordinary school.
Having one good ace was already considered lucky.
Hoping their substitute could match up to the ace?
They might as well hope to win the lottery—slightly more realistic.
"I'll give it my all!"
Matsuyama's substitute pitcher made a solemn vow.
He had never pitched under this kind of pressure before. It felt like the entire team's hopes rested on his shoulders.
Such crushing pressure would break most players.
A total collapse on the mound wouldn't be out of the question.
But Iida was the exception.
Even if he lacked confidence internally, his pitches had something to them.
Zhou Hao activated his Sharingan.
Seeing the ball approach, he decisively swung the bat.
Clink!
The ball was hit nicely, and Zhou Hao immediately began to run.
But Matsuyama's second baseman had already anticipated the hit, arriving at the landing spot just in time to make the catch.
Smack!
"Out!"
One out, no one on base.
Matsuyama's coach looked on with satisfaction.
Even though their substitute pitcher was nowhere near the ace in terms of pitch quality...
That didn't mean Iida's pitching lacked value.
He might not be dominant, but he was a dependable teammate.
"We're going to win this game!"
Seidou's second and third batters came up next...
But they too failed to get good results.
Every ball they hit seemed to be drawn toward the defenders.
Three consecutive outs.
The score remained 2–5.
It was now the top of the ninth, and Seidou still trailed by three runs.
This kind of blow was undoubtedly devastating to any team.
Especially after realizing that Matsuyama's backup pitcher wasn't weak at all.
Scoring off him was proving extremely difficult.
Matsuyama's coach wore a satisfied smile.
Even though Seidou had tricked them and used them as stepping stones for their secret weapon...
The outcome was still in their favor.
He looked toward Seidou's dugout, trying to read Kataoka's expression.
To his disappointment, Coach Kataoka remained unfazed.
As if everything happening was just a minor event.
"Keep pretending! I don't believe you're really that calm inside!"
Even if the coach could stay calm, the players were still sixteen or seventeen-year-old boys.
They couldn't possibly remain composed, right?
With that thought, the Matsuyama coach shifted his gaze to Seidou's bench.
Despite trailing by three runs and the odds of a comeback looking slim...
The atmosphere in Seidou's dugout wasn't gloomy at all.
It wasn't as if they were cheerful either.
Rather, they were huddled together, constantly discussing strategies.
The players about to go up were warming up with unwavering determination.
Seeing this, the Matsuyama coach could only feel one thing—these guys clearly hadn't given up.
Even with slim chances, they still planned to fight until the end.
"This is Seidou."
"Even though they've underperformed for years and haven't made it to Koshien, they still carry the name of a national powerhouse."
The coach felt his heart twist.
Because the team they were facing...
Was only Seidou High School's second string.
So what about their first string?
Even if Seidou had fallen from grace, a team of their caliber was still out of Matsuyama's league.
Top of the ninth, Zhou Hao returned to the mound.
His opponents had already given up—the outs came easily.
Soon, three outs. Time to switch offense and defense.
Bottom of the ninth—Seidou High School was up to bat.
---------------------------
Advance chapters
patreon.com/DaoOfPeeking