After two full innings, the score stood at 2:1.
Seido High School Baseball Team held a temporary lead.
The fans in the stands were thoroughly satisfied.
From their perspective, today's game was everything a baseball fan could ask for. Both teams were highly skilled, trading blows without hesitation. Every inning carried tension. Every at-bat felt meaningful. Up to this point, neither side had gained a decisive advantage, and the outcome remained completely uncertain.
Whether judged from a technical standpoint or as a pure competitive spectacle, today's match delivered in full. The audience had gotten their money's worth.
But while the crowd enjoyed themselves, the mood among the players and directors of both teams was far from relaxed.
They all knew the reality of the schedule.
After today's game, there would be no rest. Tomorrow, they would face Inashiro Industrial, a brutal opponent capable of crushing any team that entered the game unprepared.
From both teams' perspectives, the same principle applied.
The less energy consumed today, the better.
As long as they could win, they wanted to conserve as much stamina as possible. If they could avoid revealing their trump cards, that would be even better.
That was the ideal scenario.
Unfortunately, ideals rarely survive contact with reality.
After two innings of probing and counterattacks, none of the directors, coaches, or players still entertained such optimistic thoughts. They had already tested each other's depth and strength.
The conclusion was clear. This was an evenly matched opponent.
Both teams were fully qualified to stand on the same stage as rivals. Their overall strength was close to fifty-fifty.
Whoever won today would do so not because of luck, but because they performed better when it mattered.
To put it more bluntly, victory would belong to the team that fought harder, invested more, and carried a stronger obsession with winning.
Before the start of the third inning, Kataoka gathered his players. His expression was stern, his voice low but firm.
"This is an all-out war," he said. "It's not just a test of the pitcher or the batter. It's a test of every part of us."
On the other side of the field, Director Tahara was delivering almost the exact same message.
"Boys," he said calmly, "throw away your arrogance and your prejudices."
He looked at each of his players in turn.
"The team standing opposite us now is absolutely qualified to be our opponent."
Seido High School was different.
This wasn't just a feeling shared by Ichidai San or the people in the stands. Anyone with eyes could see it.
Although Seido's old flaws had not been completely resolved, they had changed fundamentally.
For example, their ace pitcher had improved significantly, but he still could not be called fully reliable. Even so, this team had begun to develop its own distinct character. It had found its rhythm, its style, and its confidence.
Bit by bit, it was revealing a sharp, dazzling edge.
Fujio, a senior reporter from Baseball Kingdom Magazine, once described the current Seido High School Baseball Team with a single phrase.
"They already possess a kingly demeanor."
Ichidai San, as Seido's opponent, felt this more deeply than anyone. Director Tahara did not hide the truth from his players. Instead, he laid it out plainly.
"The current Seido is not the team we knew before," he said. "If we want to win today, there is only one choice."
"We go all out."
The assistant coach hesitated.
"But tomorrow—"
The team that won today would still have to face Inashiro Industrial the next day. Excessive fatigue or revealing too much information could be fatal.
Director Tahara cut him off.
"First, consider our position," he said coldly. "If we lose today, there won't be a tomorrow."
The assistant coach froze. That was the moment he truly acknowledged the strength of their opponent.
Had Seido High School really grown to such a terrifying level? The following innings quickly proved Director Tahara's foresight.
In the top of the third inning, Ichidai San launched a full-scale attack.
They pressed forward aggressively and managed to produce a clean hit, stirring hope among their supporters.
But that was all they got.
Hidezawa, with Miyuki's steady guidance behind the plate, maintained his excellent form. He gritted his teeth and fought through every batter, refusing to yield another run.
One out.
Two outs.
Three outs.
Ichidai San's offense was stopped cold.
As the game moved into the bottom of the third inning, Seido High School Baseball Team hoped to ride the momentum and extend their lead.
No one underestimated Ichidai San's batting lineup.
While Seido's offense was stronger overall, Ichidai San was still terrifying. They weren't just among the best in Tokyo. They were well-known nationwide.
With a lineup like that, who could guarantee they wouldn't suddenly explode?
No one.
That was exactly why Seido wanted to score more runs as quickly as possible, to relieve pressure on Hidezawa.
But on the mound, Kameshima seemed like a completely different person.
At this moment, he looked almost inhuman.
Pitch after pitch, he unleashed overwhelming force. His control sharpened, his velocity increased, and his presence became suffocating.
Seido's top batters found themselves completely suppressed.
One fell.
Then another.
Then another.
There was no way through.
After the third inning ended, the score remained 2:1.
Many people had not expected this.
"The ace pitcher of Seido seems pretty capable."
"He's only given up one run in three innings."
"Still, he's allowed a lot of hits. His pitch count must be over fifty by now."
The fans couldn't track every pitch precisely, but they were experienced enough to make educated guesses.
Hidezawa had secured many outs, but it had come at a cost. In just three innings, he had already thrown more than fifty pitches.
"And Ichidai San's ace isn't doing much better."
"He's given up three hits and two runs."
"His pitch count has to be around forty or fifty as well."
Although the score hadn't changed significantly, the ferocity of both teams' batting lineups was evident.
Only three innings in, and both aces were already drenched in sweat. Even while sitting in the dugout, sweat poured down their faces.
Part of it was the heat. But more than that, it was the pace of the game.
This match was fast. Relentless. Intense.
For the pitchers standing at the center of the battlefield, it felt like being locked in the crosshairs. Every throw demanded total focus. Every mistake threatened disaster.
Their mental and physical stamina were draining at an alarming rate.
In the fourth inning, Ichidai San finally seized their chance.
Hoshida delivered a timely hit. The ball slipped through, and the runner crossed home plate.
The score was tied.
Hidezawa showed a trace of frustration, but it quickly faded. He had expected this.
Deep down, he knew it was inevitable.
No matter how hard he and Kameshima fought, there was still a clear gap between them and their respective teams' batting lineups.
They were simply outmatched. Even if they pushed themselves to the limit, the best they could do was minimize the damage.
A complete shutdown was impossible.
Understanding this, Hidezawa immediately adjusted his rhythm. He steadied his breathing, regained control, and retired the next batter cleanly.
The inning ended.
The total score was now 2:2.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, it was Seido High School Baseball Team's turn to bat once more.
The first batter stepped forward.
Azuma Kiyokuni.
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