Diamond no Ace: My Sharingan

Hakuba Academy's expectations—

Were destined to be shattered.

Top of the eighth inning.

Hakuba Academy on offense.

Coming up—

Their core lineup.

Fourth batter.

Fifth batter.

Sixth batter.

Seeing these three step forward—

A flicker of hope ignited in the hearts of Hakuba's players and coach.

If Seido changed pitchers now…

If they could face someone other than Zhou Hao—

Could they finally break through?

They didn't even dare dream of a comeback.

Just one run—

Even that would be enough.

But—

Coach Kataoka had no such intention.

Back in Seido's dugout, three pitchers were already warmed up, waiting for their turn.

Yet—

Kataoka didn't even glance at them.

His eyes locked onto one person.

Zhou Hao.

"No problem?"

Zhou Hao nodded without hesitation.

"I've still got plenty left."

And it wasn't just bravado.

From the sixth inning onward—

He had changed his approach.

Seven pitches.

Six outs.

The result spoke for itself.

At this moment—

Energy surged through his entire body.

Fatigue?

Nowhere to be found.

"Let's go!"

Hakuba's fourth batter stepped into the box, fully focused.

He had made up his mind.

Zhou Hao had to be nearing his limit.

Even if he still had stamina—

It couldn't be much.

His pitch quality had to drop.

If he seized this moment—

He could send the ball flying.

Maybe even get a clean hit.

And once that happened—

Momentum would shift.

Like a snowball rolling downhill—

Hakuba could turn everything around.

It was a beautiful vision.

But—

Reality was merciless.

Boom!

The pitch roared in.

Cold sweat formed instantly on the batter's forehead.

Fast.

Too fast.

In the blink of an eye—

The ball was already on him.

"Did his stamina… recover?"

The thought sent a chill through his spine.

If Zhou Hao had truly regained his form—

Then touching the ball again would be impossible.

But—

This pitch…

He could hit it.

His grip tightened.

Even if it was forced—

He wouldn't let it pass.

Ping!

He connected.

The ball shot forward—

Dropping into what looked like a gap in the defense.

Did it go through?

For a moment—

Even he couldn't believe it.

He dropped the bat and sprinted.

One thought filled his mind—

Get on base.

If he could get a hit—

Then Zhou Hao's invincibility would crack.

And once that crack appeared—

Everything would change.

But—

He had underestimated Seido.

"Hyaha!"

A blur streaked across the field—

Fast as a hunting cheetah.

The ball, which had just bounced—

Was already in his glove.

Pa!

Without slowing down—

The throw came instantly.

Pa!

"Out!!"

The batter hadn't even reached halfway.

Still four, five meters from first base.

He froze.

How…?

Hadn't that ball broken through?

The answer—

Was obvious.

Reality hadn't changed.

Only his expectations had.

Silently—

He turned back toward the dugout.

No one spoke.

Hakuba's players wanted to encourage him.

To say something.

Anything.

But—

They couldn't.

Because deep down—

They all understood.

They were cornered.

There was no way out.

They had all agreed on one thing—

Find a flaw in Zhou Hao.

But no matter how hard they searched—

They found nothing.

The number one player in the country—

Was still untouchable.

On the mound—

Zhou Hao stood calmly.

As if everything—

Was under his control.

And yet—

He didn't overpower them anymore.

He tempted them.

Lured them.

Let them believe—

They could hit.

And that illusion—

Was irresistible.

The memory of failing to even touch the ball earlier—

Had already carved itself into their minds.

A psychological scar.

They needed to prove—

They could hit him.

Even if it wasn't a hit.

Even if it led to an out.

Just making contact—

Was enough.

So when they saw a hittable pitch—

They couldn't stop themselves.

Their hands moved before their minds.

Their bats—

Refused to listen.

All they could see—

Was the image of sending the ball flying.

"Fifth batter—"

Hakuba Academy's Fifth Batter stepped into the box.

His mind—

Was already made up.

He would hit it.

Even though their Fourth Batter had just been retired—

He had touched the ball.

And that alone—

Changed everything.

Zhou Hao's pitch had still broken past 150 km/h.

Not his peak—

But still terrifyingly fast.

Before this—

They couldn't even make contact.

But now—

They could.

What did that mean?

The answer seemed obvious.

Zhou Hao—

Was weakening.

The illusion took root instantly.

If their Fourth Batter could do it—

Then so could he.

So when the pitch came—

He didn't hesitate.

Ping!

Clean contact.

Just like he imagined.

The moment the bat connected—

He threw it aside and sprinted.

This is it.

The myth is broken.

But then—

His expression froze.

The ball…

Hadn't gone far.

Seven meters.

Maybe eight.

It bounced weakly—

Straight toward the mound.

Zhou Hao stepped forward calmly.

Glove open.

Pa!

The ball settled neatly inside.

No rush.

No wasted movement.

A clean throw to first—

Pa!

"Out!"

Two outs.

No runners.

Silence crept into Hakuba's side.

Neither hit was bad.

Both had made solid contact.

And yet—

Both were outs.

What did that mean?

The truth—

Was unavoidable.

Zhou Hao had seen through everything.

He didn't need elaborate traps.

No fancy bait.

Just a slight drop in speed—

Just enough to tempt them—

And they took it.

Hook.

Line.

Sinker.

They had to swing.

Because they needed to prove—

They could hit him.

And that desperation—

Became their downfall.

One pitch.

One out.

Again.

And again.

The Fourth and Fifth Batters—

The core of Hakuba—

Fell just like that.

At that moment—

Fear began to spread.

Before this—

Their greatest hope—

Was Zhou Hao collapsing.

If he left the mound—

They would have a chance.

For that—

They endured.

They struggled.

They waited.

But now—

That hope was gone.

Zhou Hao showed no signs of breaking.

Instead—

He grew more efficient.

Two pitches.

Two outs.

Combined with earlier—

Six outs in seven pitches.

Their entire strategy—

Had failed.

Completely.

Utterly.

"Ping!"

The Sixth Batter held on for three pitches—

The longest anyone had lasted.

But in the end—

Pa!

"Out!!"

Three outs.

Change sides.

Top of the eighth—

Ended in silence.

Bottom of the eighth.

Seido on offense.

Oshima Shin stepped up.

The moment Kazama released the ball—

His eyes narrowed.

The speed—

Had dropped.

An opening.

He gripped the bat tightly—

And swung with everything.

Bing!

The ball shot forward—

And landed cleanly in play.

For a split second—

Even Seido's supporters were stunned.

Then—

They erupted.

So it wasn't impossible.

Kazama—

Wasn't invincible.

If even Oshima could break through—

Then the rest…

Confidence surged.

One after another—

Seido's batters attacked.

Hits piled up.

Momentum exploded.

By the end of the inning—

Four runs.

The scoreboard flipped—

From 2–0

To 6–0.

At last—

The true strength of the kings revealed itself.

Top of the ninth inning.

Hakuba Academy's final chance.

In the stands—

Reporters held their breath.

Something—

Was about to happen.

Oowada Akiko frowned slightly.

"What's going on?"

Beside her, Fujio smiled knowingly.

"They're waiting."

"For what?"

"A story."

"A headline big enough to shake the baseball world."

Before she could respond—

His gaze had already returned to the field.

Because he, too—

Was waiting.

Swoosh!

Ping!

"Out!"

Swoosh!

Ping!

"Out!!"

Seventh.

Eighth.

Both retired cleanly.

No resistance.

No miracle.

Now—

Only one batter remained.

"The last out!"

"Finish it!"

"Don't give them anything!"

The roar of the crowd shook the stadium.

Zhou Hao stood on the mound.

Calm.

Composed.

He took a deep breath.

Lifted his leg.

And delivered.

Boom!

The pitch exploded forward.

The Ninth Batter's eyes trembled.

Why… him?

Everyone else—

Had at least touched the ball.

Why did he—

Have to face this?

Wasn't Zhou Hao using bait pitches now?

Why not give him one?

But on the field—

There was no mercy.

In the stands—

The reporters were on the verge of losing control.

This—

Was the moment.

The moment they had been waiting for.

"Strike!"

"Strike!!"

"Strike!!!"

"Strikeout!!"

"Three outs!"

"Game over!"

And just like that—

The curtain fell.

A masterpiece.

A complete performance.

Zhou Hao—

Had written the final note himself.