The Seido High School Baseball Club's exclusive B-field.
Zhang Han stood on the pitcher's mound, heart pounding.
The score between the Old-timers and the New School Teammates had become completely one-sided.
10 to 3.
Unless a miracle happened, the freshmen's chances were zero.
The outcome of the game was basically set.
But Zhang Han's personal battle was just beginning. The team evaluation was over. His own evaluation had only just started.
What level of pitching could he show? Would he earn the right to pitch once he reached the First-string? Everything now depended on the pitches he was about to throw.
"Another contender for Ace!"
The alumni watching didn't need anyone to explain it. They could see how important this test was for Zhang Han.
"I admit the kid's hitting is great. Even compared to the main players, he's not lacking. But his pitching? I doubt it."
A substitute pitcher from Matsukata Little League. That title might mean something in an ordinary school, but this was Seido. Here, even an Ace from a powerhouse middle school often struggled the moment they joined the high school team.
These alumni had seen it again and again. Ace pitchers who dominated in middle school were exposed the moment they arrived at Seido. A substitute pitcher like Zhang Han? His chances were even slimmer.
And to make things worse, his first opponent was Chris. Chris, who had been promoted to First-string catcher in his first year. A player who could take over a game by simply stepping onto the field.
Everyone wore the expression of people ready to watch a good show. They were happy the freshmen had talent, sure. But they hoped the Old-timers would crush them. The Seido they supported was not something a group of rookies could challenge.
Chris stood in the batter's box in an ordinary stance. Simple grip. Straight posture. Yet it radiated huge pressure.
Zhang Han pushed down the discomfort, lifted his leg high, and drove it down with force.
It had been more than two months since school let out. This was the first time he had pitched from a mound since then.
The feeling was fresh. He savored it for a heartbeat, then poured his strength into his pitching arm and whipped it forward. His index and middle fingers gripped the seam tightly, loading extra spin onto the ball.
"Whoosh…"
The ball left his fingers and flew toward Chris in the blink of an eye.
"Pretty fast!"
"That kid hit Hidezawa's pitch for a home run. This kind of speed makes sense."
The alumni were surprised, but not stunned.
Chris looked slightly impressed. He didn't swing. He watched it pass.
"Thwack!"
The ball slammed into Ono's glove with such force that the echo rang across the field.
On the mound, Zhang Han felt a spark of joy. The increased strength he gained these past months didn't just boost his hitting. It boosted his pitching too.
This was the best pitching sensation he had ever felt. With this, even Chris might be within reach.
"Strike!"
Ono returned the ball. Hidden behind his glove, he squeezed his catching hand several times. The webbing between his thumb and index finger throbbed.
What had Zhang Han been eating these past few months? His pitching power had jumped this much?
If they hadn't played together for a year, Ono might not have been able to catch it properly. Even after landing in his glove, the ball kept trembling.
"I told you! Another contender for Ace!"
The alumnus who said it first repeated it excitedly.
The Old-timers getting pushed around wasn't pleasant to see. But having a pitcher like Zhang Han emerge? That was a blessing for Seido Baseball.
With him, their pitching staff could develop better rotation options and stronger internal competition.
Looking ahead, Seido's chances in the Summer Tournament jumped by ten to twenty percent. The championship and Koshien, No longer distant dreams.
The alumni were excited. Chris was excited too. As the team's main catcher, he welcomed strong new pitchers.
But that didn't mean he would go easy. The freshmen had already exceeded expectations. They had proven themselves.
On the other hand, the Old-timers were in trouble. Five First-string substitutes had been sent here, and it was already hard to choose who should return to the main roster. Now that two freshmen looked likely to be promoted, the available seats were shrinking fast.
As a second-year, Chris wanted more of his peers to make the First-string. For himself, and for his friends. So he would not hold back.
Just as Chris steeled himself, Zhang Han threw his second pitch.
"This rhythm is insane…"
The spectators were stunned. They had imagined all sorts of scenarios, but most expected Zhang Han to struggle against Chris.
Instead, Zhang Han showed no hesitation at all.
The ball flew fast. Even without a radar gun, Chris could judge the speed.
Close to 140 kilometers per hour. Maybe more.
For a rookie, that was a monster fastball. Even compared to high school players nationwide, it was high-level speed.
But it still wasn't beyond Chris's reach.
"Ping…"
"Thwack…"
"Out!"