Some people are born for competition.
The two first-year players of the Seido High School Baseball Team, Miyuki Kazuya and Zhang Han, were clearly among them.
Everyone who noticed Zhang Han's movement could not help but marvel in silence. These first-years truly could not be underestimated. Their ability was outstanding, but even more astonishing was their courage.
In such an important first game, on the Koshien stage, the two of them dared to make such a risky move without hesitation.
And the most incredible part was that it looked like it was about to succeed.
"Thwack!"
"Safe!"
Miyuki, who had dived forward, successfully touched First Base with his fingertips and reached safely.
Aside from his flawless acting, Miyuki Kazuya was decisive and sharp in execution.
Now, it's your turn.
After confirming he was safe, Miyuki turned his head toward Zhang Han.
Zhang Han was less than ten meters from Home Plate. His long legs moved with explosive force, and a distance like that was nothing more than a blink of an eye for him.
A faint smile crept onto Miyuki's lips. His risky performance had not been wasted. Seido High School Baseball Team's first run was right there.
Suddenly, a small white ball shot out from behind Miyuki.
Like an arrow released from a bow, the baseball crossed more than forty meters in an instant and arrived at Home Plate. The throw was slightly off, forcing the catcher to move two steps to his side to receive it.
Even so, it was an excellent throw.
Before Zhang Han could reach Home Plate, the ball arrived first and settled firmly into the catcher's mitt.
"Nice throw!"
The Hosen High School catcher, who had almost been stunned out of his wits, immediately snapped back to reality after catching the ball.
He had to admit it. These players from Seido High School were truly dangerous. They had nearly scored in the blink of an eye.
But Hosen High School was not some nameless team.
They were perennial contenders at Koshien.
Even a powerhouse like Seido, if they pushed Hosen too far, would be met with a fierce response.
Who would win this game was still far from certain.
Miyuki froze when he saw the ball reach Home Plate.
He had been too impulsive.
He had underestimated Hosen High School.
It was true that Hosen faced little pressure in their own region. But as regular participants at Koshien, the opponents they encountered were never limited to weak teams. They had fought through practice games, the Kanto Tournament, and Koshien itself.
They had survived those battles and often emerged victorious.
That alone proved their strength.
Miyuki believed his move was clever. By deliberately falling, he thought he had completely drawn Hosen's attention.
What he did not realize was that Hosen had already seen through it.
They simply chose not to act immediately, waiting for Miyuki and his teammates to walk into their trap.
And now, that trap had snapped shut.
The baseball flew more than forty meters and landed securely in the catcher's mitt.
As he caught the ball, the catcher glanced at Zhang Han's distance out of the corner of his eye.
Based on years of experience, he was certain of one thing.
This runner would not give up.
There was no logic to explain it. It was instinct, built from countless games.
Some opponents did not need deep analysis. Just watching their actions was enough to understand them.
And Zhang Han was exactly that type.
Sure enough.
When Zhang Han saw the catcher holding the ball, a flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes.
He had not expected the situation to turn out like this.
But the surprise vanished almost instantly.
His gaze sharpened, fierce and resolute.
At this point, retreat was meaningless. Even if he could go back, Zhang Han would not choose to.
There was nothing left to think about.
When it came to courage, Zhang Han had never lacked it.
The distance between them shrank rapidly.
Five meters.
Four meters.
At Zhang Han's speed, they would collide in the blink of an eye.
Just as their bodies were about to meet, Zhang Han suddenly changed direction mid-sprint. His torso tilted sharply as he attempted to slip past the catcher.
Impossible.
There was no way the Hosen catcher would allow that.
With Home Plate behind him, the catcher pivoted his body smoothly and extended his mitt. Blocking Zhang Han's path was not difficult.
His movement followed Zhang Han closely, sealing off the route. It seemed impossible for Zhang Han to get around him.
But Zhang Han had never planned to rely on a single move.
When the catcher's mitt shifted left, Zhang Han's right foot slammed into the ground. His body twisted violently, and he cut sideways, covering nearly two meters in a single motion.
He avoided the mitt and attacked from the opposite side.
A move straight out of basketball, executed seamlessly on a baseball field.
The Hosen catcher was battle-hardened. He had faced countless strong teams, even powerhouses.
But never had he been this stunned.
What were these two first-year players from Seido thinking?
Especially the runner in front of him.
What kind of conviction was driving him to pursue victory with such recklessness?
The sudden change completely broke the catcher's rhythm. His body reacted instinctively, twisting back and reaching out to tag Zhang Han.
But it was too late.
Zhang Han's dive toward Home Plate took only a fraction of a second.
By the time the catcher's mitt brushed against Zhang Han's body, Zhang Han's hand had already slapped down on the plate.
"Safe!"
Zhang Han successfully crossed Home Plate, securing Seido High School Baseball Team's first run on the Koshien stage.
The score became one to zero.
It was only the second inning, and Seido High School Baseball Team had already begun to reveal its terrifying strength.
They had scored first.
The stands erupted in applause, and the commentator's voice rose with excitement.
In Seido High School's dugout, the players exploded with emotion.
Before the game, they had all felt the pressure.
But now, with Zhang Han scoring the opening run, everything had changed.
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