The Yakushi High School Baseball Team quietly defeated their third-round opponent, and in the next round, they would face Ichidaisan High School, one of the Three Great Powers of West Tokyo.
In the first three rounds, first-year members like Kitamura Kou and Todoroki Raichi hadn't taken the field once—but the games were won comfortably, without any major scares.
Seido High School, Seishin Dormitory
Seido High School held a pre-match analysis meeting, reviewing intelligence on their upcoming opponent.
The first to speak was Takigawa Chris Yu, the former starting catcher in charge of scouting, known as Kanto's Iron Catcher.
"Ace Pitcher You Shunshin doesn't throw many breaking balls. To get strikes, he often relies on curveballs and forkballs. His velocity is around 130 km/h, but what's truly dangerous is his control. He can move the ball from high-inside to low-outside, then high-outside to low-inside, effectively using the diagonals of the nine-zone grid. Batters will have a hard time finding timing to swing. In my judgment, he won't throw anything down the middle."
Everyone in the room felt a subtle tension settle over them.
Takigawa continued, ignoring the room's murmurs: "The key to beating him is to avoid chasing corner pitches and stick to your own hitting technique."
Coach Kataoka Tesshin, dressed in grey-black and wearing sunglasses like a mob boss, folded his arms. His voice was serious and commanding:
"Hesitant swings only give the pitcher momentum. Whatever ball comes, swing with all your strength. Never forget that. And to counter a pitcher who 'pitches with his head,' use mobility and bunts strategically."
Kuramochi Yoichi and Kominato Ryosuke exchanged a knowing glance and smiled, silently acknowledging their shared understanding.
Coach Kataoka added: "Getting on base puts pressure on the pitcher. Everyone should understand that, right?"
"Yes…"
The team responded in unison.
The Next Day, Seido High School Baseball Field
Players trained according to the strategies discussed the night before.
Kuramochi Yoichi practiced bunting to get on base. Kominato Ryosuke feinted a bunt, then swung normally, honing hit-and-run tactics. Others worked on swings and batting techniques tailored to their styles.
The field was crowded. Graduated seniors, local residents, baseball reporters, and even professional scouts came to watch Seido High School practice.
"Amazing! Watching them hit is satisfying."
"They don't just swing for the fences; their bunts to connect the offense are precise, too."
"As expected from a team that scored so many runs in two consecutive games. They're a real threat."
"Especially their captain, Yuki. He's imposing."
"Looks like the scouts are all here, too."
"But he himself seems focused only on leading the team to Koshien," one observer remarked.
A woman in a red-and-white T-shirt with a ponytail stepped forward. "Wow, so many reporters. Seido High is really getting attention."
"Under young Coach Kataoka, stories abound about whether this team can restore the school's glory," a middle-aged man in a black T-shirt and green hat replied.
The two were reporters for Baseball Kingdom Monthly: Mine Fujio and Owada Akiko.
Owada's eyes suddenly lit up with interest. "Miyuki Kazuya! The second-year we interviewed last year! I'm a fan—look at those eyes!" She pulled out a newspaper with his photo.
"Looks like you just love guys with glasses," Mine Fujio said, accustomed to her excitement, and ignored her antics.
"Glasses are justice!" Owada quipped, tucking away the newspaper.
Mine Fujio turned to the main target: the first-year high-velocity pitcher. "Let's check the bullpen."
"Uh, yes!"
In the bullpen, Kanemaru, clad in layers of protective gear, was practicing inside pitches with Sawamura Eijun and Takigawa Chris Yu.
Shuu! Pa!
An inside pitch, clearly out of the strike zone, nearly hit Kanemaru.
"Bastard! Where are you throwing? On purpose?!" Kanemaru's legs shook as he shouted.
"I'm sorry!" Sawamura Eijun hurriedly apologized.
Takigawa's calm voice added, "Thank you for volunteering for this. It's tough."
"It's nothing! Having someone in the box makes practice feel like a real game. Plus, in Akikawa Academy's lineup, seven of nine are left-handed, and he's a southpaw—maybe he'll see action, though probably not. Come on, Sawamura! Give it your all; I'm not afraid!" Kanemaru replied.
"Kanemaru, inside pitch!" Sawamura shouted, sending a ball hard into Kanemaru's body.
"Damn it! You did that on purpose!" Kanemaru yelled.
"Sorry!" Sawamura called energetically.
The crowd outside the bullpen murmured and reacted to the intense practice.
"His pitching form is interesting."
"That looked painful."
Shuu! Pa!
"Strike!"
Owada Akiko noted down observations while watching Sawamura and Kawakami Norifumi. "Practicing in the bullpen are second-year Kawakami and first-year Sawamura. The Ace, Tanba, is training with the coach at the net. Though they've played two games, the Ace hasn't stepped on the mound. Could the rumors of his injury be true?"
"Even if it's true, Seido can still be strong. But without their Ace, the summer will be tougher," Mine Fujio analyzed. "No matter how fast Furuya is, he's still just a rookie."
Owada realized she hadn't spotted Furuya and scanned the field. "Strange… where's that legendary high-velocity pitcher?"