Chapter 85 - Situation

🎉Happy New Year!! 🎉

Thanks a ton for supporting the book and sticking with me so far—it really means more than I can say.

To celebrate the new year, I'm dropping 10 chapters as a little thank-you gift.

Let's hope this year is even better than the last!

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Seido High School's decisive victory over Metropolitan Third High School—another five-inning mercy-rule game—once again caused a huge stir throughout Tokyo.

At the beginning of the tournament, although no one dared to underestimate the Seido High School Baseball Team, few truly believed in them. Most people thought Seido would act as a spoiler in West Tokyo. But saying they could go all the way still seemed unrealistic.

Yes, their batting lineup was strong—so strong that it even looked better than Ichidai Third and Inashiro Industrial. But their pitching staff was unstable. As long as this weakness existed, people believed Seido would inevitably run into serious trouble once they faced a truly powerful opponent.

However, after two rounds of games, Seido had advanced smoothly into the top 16. Although they conceded one or two runs in each game, they scored far more—16 runs in the first game and 21 in the second. More importantly, those runs were scored in just five innings of offense. Compared to that, the runs they allowed were nothing more than a drop in the bucket.

Under these circumstances, who would dare say Seido had no chance?

Not only outsiders but even people within Seido High School began to change their views. Originally, the school leadership and coaching staff didn't think the team had much hope in this tournament. They had personally witnessed the team's formation and knew all too well about its hidden issues. Yet it was precisely these players—who had filled them with unease—that kept delivering surprises on the field.

It had to be said: Coach Kataoka was truly remarkable. When he first took charge, the team didn't look strong. There were few outstanding prospects, and lineup adjustments were always plagued with problems. And yet, once the games began, those same players—who clearly had flaws—often performed exceptionally well. Wasn't that strange?

Seido High School hadn't reached Koshien in recent years, but they had still made the Tokyo top four several times. Even at their worst, they remained in the top 16. For a powerhouse like Seido, failing to reach Koshien was indeed considered a failure. 

But the situation was never so bad that Kataoka needed to be replaced. At the very least, the school board saw his potential. Or rather, they didn't believe that changing directors would magically reverse the situation in such a competitive environment.

Anyone with a discerning eye knew the real reason Seido struggled wasn't internal collapse—it was Inashiro's overwhelming rise. The competition for Koshien spots was simply too brutal. 

In the past five years alone, Inashiro Industrial had represented Tokyo or West Tokyo at Koshien six times. Ichidai Third High School managed two appearances. Seido had one Summer Koshien appearance—five years ago, during Kataoka's first year—and one Spring Koshien appearance, which came through East Tokyo.

And Inashiro's dominance didn't even begin five years ago. Since Kunitomo became director, Inashiro Industrial had gone to Koshien more than ten times in over a decade. He had long been the undisputed overlord of West Tokyo. Under such pressure, it was only natural that Seido and Ichidai Third struggled.

In fact, Ichidai Third also faced many problems. Compared to Seido, they simply had slightly better results—two Koshien appearances in five years made them look more stable on the surface.

Originally, everyone believed Inashiro Industrial would remain the most likely team to reach Koshien this year. Unexpectedly, Seido appeared out of nowhere. 

Judging from the first three rounds, the strongest team in West Tokyo at the moment might actually be Seido. After all, they held the largest run differential after two games.

So much so that Seido's principal and dean felt as if a pie had fallen from the sky. Over the past two days, they quietly visited the team three or four times, offering encouragement and making their presence known. Each time, under Coach Kataoka's icy gaze, they retreated just as quietly.

Despite advancing to the top 16 with overwhelming scores, the Seido players themselves couldn't feel happy. They advanced in the morning, and soon after heard the news. At Hachioji Stadium, Ichidai Third High School—the very team that had defeated them in the Spring Tournament—had annihilated their quarterfinal opponent with a terrifying score of 25–0. Another five-inning mercy-rule game.

Inashiro Industrial's position as the overlord of West Tokyo suddenly didn't seem so secure anymore. Both challengers had revealed terrifying offensive firepower. No matter which one Inashiro faced, it would be a brutal battle. 

The only thing Inashiro could be thankful for was the tournament bracket. Before facing Inashiro, Seido and Ichidai Third would have to clash with each other first. From the tournament structure alone, Inashiro also enjoyed a stamina advantage.

For now, the young men of Seido felt immense pressure.

Frankly speaking, they were unlucky. In the Spring Tournament, Ichidai Third had defeated them and advanced first. That meant Ichidai Third could rest while waiting for Seido in the upcoming semifinal. They could even watch Seido's quarterfinal match against Aoyama High School tomorrow with ease. Just thinking about it was infuriating.

That entire afternoon, the third-year seniors trained like they'd swallowed gunpowder, sweat pouring off them. Manager Ota paced anxiously on the sidelines, rubbing his hands nonstop. Stimulated by Ichidai Third's performance, the players couldn't calm down at all. Their minds were filled with one word: revenge.

But they still had a game tomorrow.

If they burned themselves out today, what would happen in the quarterfinal? The thought made Ota feel like an ant on a hot pan. Finally, with no other choice, he turned to Coach Kataoka.

Unexpectedly, Kataoka took a completely hands-off stance.

"Let them be. If they exhaust themselves, aren't there still first- and second-year players?"

Ota froze, then realized Kataoka was right. In the past, eighty to ninety percent of the team consisted of third-years. Underclassmen couldn't carry games at all. But now, things were different.

First-years like Zhang Han and Miyuki Kazuya. Second-years like Yuuki Tetsuya, Isashiki Jun, Kominato Ryosuke, and Tanba Koichiro. First and second-year players now made up more than half the team and a very capable half.

They could absolutely play.

But tomorrow was the quarterfinal.

The fourth round of the West Tokyo Tournament.

Was this really okay?

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