After a period of devilish training, the two newly promoted First-string members, Zhang Han and Miyuki finally managed to adapt to the First-string's intense training rhythm. With the addition of several powerful newcomers from the second team and first-years, the overall strength of the Seido High School Baseball Team steadily improved.
Everything seemed to be developing in a positive direction.
Coach Kataoka, who originally had very little confidence in the team, also began to believe under this encouraging atmosphere that this group of players might truly have a chance to compete for a Koshien slot. Although the odds were still low, they at least had the qualifications to fight.
And truthfully, even if they had no chance at all, a man like Kataoka would never slack off in training. But now that there was hope, he became even more proactive.
Two months before the start of the Summer Tournament, he stayed with the players through every late-night practice session.
Just as the entire baseball club seemed to be thriving, an unexpected incident occurred.
Chris, the team's main catcher, the mixed-race talent who had previously led the First-string substitutes and second-team regulars to suppress Zhang Han and Miyuki, injured his shoulder due to overtraining.
According to the doctor's diagnosis, he needed at least one year of rest. And that was under the condition that his rehabilitation progressed ideally. If things went poorly… Chris might never play baseball again during his high school career.
This news struck the Seido High School Baseball Team like a bolt of lightning.
Hidezawa, the team's Ace Pitcher, was already unstable. At least half of his good performance was thanks to Chris's game-calling and receiving. Some even said Chris was the true Ace of Seido.
Now that the real Ace had fallen, neither Iki, the third-year catcher, nor Miyauchi, the second-year catcher, could fully replace him.
One month before the Summer Tournament, Seido plunged into an unprecedented crisis.
At this moment, Coach Kataoka stepped forward. He handed the main catcher position to Miyuki Kazuya. He made this newcomer—who had been with the team for less than three months—the number two player on the roster.
This decision caused an uproar throughout the entire club, and the unrest continued until the Summer Tournament began.
"Looks like this year is hopeless. Our luck is simply terrible."
"How did Chris get injured?"
"That child's sense of responsibility is too strong… He knew the team probably wouldn't reach Koshien, so he—"
No one needed to finish the sentence. Everyone understood.
Chris had already taken responsibility for the team onto his own shoulders. On one hand, he pushed teammates to train harder; on the other, he trained twice as hard himself.
This batch of second-years did not have the outstanding talent of the generations before or after them. But their effort was second to none.
Most third-years, once facing their final Summer Tournament, trained as if their lives depended on it. And the second-years—led by Yuuki, Isashiki Jun, and especially Chris—had trained just as hard from their very first year.
By their second year, practicing alongside seniors like Azuma, they had never left the field earlier than the third-years.
Chris, in particular, was almost always the last to leave the field. Everyone admired his spirit and perseverance, but no one expected that even such effort had limits. No one expected overtraining to break him.
Even Kataoka and the coaching staff had not noticed anything abnormal. They felt his training was excessive, but still within the acceptable range.
Chris came from a baseball family; his father was a professional player. He knew better than anyone how dangerous overtraining was.
Kataoka believed Chris would never harm his own body knowingly.
And yet, this was exactly what happened.
Did Chris truly not understand? Of course he did.
But he could not stand seeing the third-years who had only one Summer Tournament left, working desperately beside him. He wanted to do even more. He wanted to fight alongside them at Koshien.
His injury was disastrous for Seido. It damaged not only their strength, but also their morale.
Of course… There were exceptions.
When the Titanic struck an iceberg, it was a catastrophe for the passengers. But for the fish stored in the ship's tanks… it was liberation.
Similarly, Chris's injury was not disastrous for everyone.
Miyuki, a first-year catcher, gained the opportunity of a lifetime. He became the official No. 2 player of Seido.
Yet Miyuki was deeply dissatisfied with this opportunity. He never wanted to benefit from misfortune. He wanted to compete with Chris fairly, even if he lost.
A major reason he chose Seido was precisely because of Chris. He wanted to challenge him, learn from him, and grow under his shadow.
Now, with Chris injured, all of his plans collapsed.
He could only pray for Chris's swift recovery… And shoulder the burden of being Seido's main catcher. But the First-string did not yet recognize him. Could this first-year truly replace Chris?
Doubt hung over the team.
Amid this chaos, the Summer Tournament officially began.
As a seeded school, Seido had a bye in the first round. Their first match would be in round two.
Their opponent is a well-known powerhouse of West Tokyo, Musashi High School.
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