"Hidezawa! Hidezawa!!!"
In the stands, Seido High School Baseball Team's loyal supporters shouted Hidezawa's name with tears in their eyes.
They were genuinely moved. They had almost forgotten how long it had been since they'd seen a scene like this. But today, they finally saw it again.
A true Ace standing on Seido's pitcher's mound.
At that moment, they were deeply touched.
At that moment, they were filled with ambition.
Seido High School Baseball Team's biggest problem in the past had always been the lack of a true Ace pitcher.
Once that weakness was solved, then forget West Tokyo—even against national powerhouses, they would have no reason to retreat.
Although the players themselves had long known that Hidezawa's control had improved significantly, seeing it unfold live still made it hard to contain their excitement.
They gathered around him, showering their Ace with praise.
In the dugout, the slender Tanba watched Hidezawa with eyes full of light. Coming from a relief pitcher background himself, Tanba saw his own future reflected in Hidezawa.
Among everyone present, Hidezawa himself was the calmest.
He ignored the surrounding noise and walked straight toward Zhang Han.
"How many of my pitches just now could you hit?"
Although Zhang Han was only a first-year, no one on the team treated him like a newcomer anymore. Especially when it came to hitting, he was second only to Azuma Kiyokuni.
He was considered on par with Yuuki and Tanaka. Even that comparison was conservative, given Zhang Han's age.
In the eyes of many, Zhang Han's batting ability might not even be inferior to Azuma's.
Whether in daily practice or actual games, Zhang Han's performances spoke for themselves.
Hidezawa thought the same.
Between the two first-year newcomers, Miyuki, his catcher, showed no respect for seniors and had a sharp tongue that Hidezawa disliked.
Zhang Han, who seemed unrelated to him, had also clashed with him during the freshman exhibition game.
Hidezawa didn't like Zhang Han either. But personal likes and dislikes were one thing.
As teammates, there were no two people more reliable than these first-years.
They had sharp insight and solid ability. Especially Zhang Han's batting, which had become an important benchmark for Hidezawa.
He was eager to know just how effective his pitches had been. He felt great, better than ever before.
The Ichidai Third High School batters, who used to give him endless headaches, now felt much easier to handle.
Zhang Han was about to answer when he noticed Kataoka giving him a subtle look.
He immediately swallowed the words he was about to say.
"So?" Hidezawa pressed. "How was it?"
"From shortstop, I could only see part of it, not very clearly," Zhang Han replied cautiously. "So it's hard to make a precise judgment. But judging from Ichidai's reactions, your pitching has clearly improved a lot compared to before."
Those words hit the mark. That was exactly how Hidezawa felt as well. He had only wanted confirmation from another perspective.
Bottom of the first inning.
It was Seido High School's turn to bat.
Ichidai Third High School's Ace was Kameshima, a round, plump pitcher who looked like a giant rubber ball.
In some ways, his style resembled Seido's Ace. Both threw exceptionally heavy pitches. The difference was that Kameshima was more fully developed.
His velocity was also around 140 kilometers per hour, but his control was clearly superior—at least compared to Hidezawa before.
It was said that the two had once been teammates in middle school.
One was the Ace.
The other, a relief pitcher.
Seido's leadoff batter was Tanaka.
In the stands, Seido's supporters erupted again, singing and dancing as the orchestra and cheer squad played energetic offensive music.
"Whoosh!"
Kameshima delivered the pitch. Tanaka didn't wait. He swung at the first ball.
"Ping!"
The white ball shot forward and rolled along the ground.
Tanaka exploded out of the batter's box, sprinting to first like he had a cheat code.
"He's on base again!"
"This guy is way too strong this semester!"
Aside from Azuma Kiyokuni, Yuuki, and Zhang Han in the heart of the lineup, Tanaka had been Seido's most consistent performer at the plate.
His on-base percentage remained above fifty percent. So did his batting average. And he had never been walked once.
Compared to the middle-order sluggers, his only shortcoming was the lack of home runs.
In every other aspect, he was not inferior at all.
No outs. Runner on first.
Right from the start, Seido's momentum was overwhelming.
More importantly, Seido's strength wasn't limited to a single area.
They were strong across the board.
In their direct confrontation with Ichidai Third High School, they weren't being suppressed as many had expected.
Instead, they displayed terrifying overall strength and potential.
Even neutral spectators had to admit it. This Seido High School Baseball Team was fundamentally different from past Seido teams. In previous years, Seido had only posed a partial threat to Ichidai or Inashiro.
They needed luck to win.
But now, they weren't just a threat.
They truly had the ability to win.
In Ichidai Third High School's dugout, Director Tahara looked across the field at Kataoka.
By now, Kataoka had been a Director for five or six years.
He was no longer the inexperienced young man he once was.
The team he personally built was no longer merely dangerous.
Now, the players he nurtured could stand toe-to-toe with Ichidai Third High School.
If they won, it wouldn't be because of luck.
It would be because of strength.
From now on, bullying Seido would likely be impossible.
"Don't think about tomorrow's semifinal," Tahara signaled to his players. "Win today first."
On the mound, Kameshima turned his round face, confusion flickering in his eyes.
"Tomorrow is Inashiro…"
"If we lose today," he thought, "what happens to tomorrow?"
Director Tahara's gaze was resolute.
He had made his decision.
Kameshima's heart trembled.
Had things really reached this point?
During the Spring Tournament, they could still hold back their trump cards and defeat Seido.
Now, they had to go all out—and still might not win.
The rapid shift in the balance of power left everyone stunned.
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