"The first team to score is the Seidō High School Baseball Team!"
The commentator at Koshien shouted with rare passion, his voice echoing across the massive stadium.
Those familiar with the broadcast froze for a moment. Everyone knew this commentator well. Mr. Hidezawa was famous for his lighthearted, sometimes even playful commentary style. He loved jokes, wordplay, and the occasional tease, and the audience adored him for it. However, that same audience often felt that his commentary lacked raw intensity when the moment truly demanded it.
But now—
Even his voice trembled.
There was no humor, no embellishment. Only pure emotion surged through every syllable.
"Mr. Hidezawa, are you feeling all right?"
A staff member beneath the broadcast platform looked up, confusion written all over his face. This kind of commentary was completely unlike Hidezawa's usual self.
Another staff member leaned over and explained quietly, "Mr. Hidezawa is also a graduate of Seidō High School. Although he never joined the baseball team, he has always held deep affection for his alma mater."
Watching Seidō charge forward on the sacred grounds of Koshien stirred something deep within him. Hidezawa's chest felt tight as memories flooded back—memories of youthful days spent lingering outside the baseball field, watching practices, cheering silently from the sidelines.
He had never worn the uniform himself.
But he had always loved baseball.
And now, watching Seidō's players fight on this stage, his heart simply would not allow him to joke.
His gaze followed the two figures standing out most vividly on the field—Zhang Han and Miyuki Kazuya. The sight of them battling Hōsen stirred a nostalgic ache in his chest, as if he were once again that young man dreaming of glory beneath summer skies.
Hidezawa wasn't the only one shocked.
All around the stadium, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Who are those two first-years?"
"They're incredible! Are they really freshmen?"
"The catcher hitting just now—that's Miyuki Kazuya. I heard he was already famous during middle school."
"And the one who scored earlier? That's Zhang Han, right? An international student from China. Apparently, he used to play for Matsukata and even went to nationals."
Koshien was packed with seasoned baseball fans. It didn't take long for someone to uncover the truth behind the two newcomers. Once the information surfaced, it spread like wildfire through the stands.
Soon, tens of thousands of spectators knew their names.
And that wasn't all.
Hidezawa, consciously or not, wanted to bring glory to Seidō's players. During a brief lull, he privately asked the staff to gather detailed information about Zhang Han and Miyuki. When the broadcast resumed, he delivered a thorough introduction to the entire nation.
Tens of thousands in the stadium listened.
Tens of millions watching from home heard every word.
From their backgrounds to their strengths, he praised them generously, leaving no detail untouched.
This caught the attention of Fujio, a senior reporter from Baseball Kingdom Magazine, who was observing the game from the press section.
First-year players gaining attention at Koshien wasn't unheard of.
But players like Zhang Han and Miyuki—who had only debuted moments ago and made just one or two impactful plays—receiving such overwhelming acclaim so quickly?
That was rare.
Fujio narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
Fame at Koshien was a double-edged sword.
If a player lived up to expectations, it could propel them into legend. But if they faltered, even slightly, the backlash would be merciless. Worse still, even average performance could be seen as disappointment under the weight of inflated hopes.
Premature fame could crush a young player just as easily as it could elevate them.
Keeping that in mind, Fujio's gaze followed Zhang Han and Miyuki as they returned to the dugout.
Hōsen High School was no ordinary opponent. As a perennial powerhouse at Koshien, their strength ran deep.
Although Miyuki had reached base earlier, he was soon caught in a double play before he could contribute further.
And then there was Baldy.
Hōsen's ace pitcher unleashed a pitch sharper than anything he had shown before.
In Seidō's dugout, several players surrounded Kou Shunmin, bombarding him with questions.
"That pitch just now—what was it?"
"Was that a changeup?"
Manager Ōta stood nearby, scratching his head in frustration.
"I really didn't expect Hōsen to keep such a trump card hidden until now," he muttered. "I thought they were already going all out."
Kou Shunmin frowned as he replayed the sensation in his mind. "It dropped right as it reached my glove. It didn't feel like a curveball… more like a slider."
"A dropping slider?"
That vague description didn't help much.
In the end, there was only one solution—face it directly.
By the end of the second inning, Seidō managed to scrape together one precious run.
The scoreboard read: 1–0.
In the bottom of the second inning, Hōsen took their turn at bat.
Their fifth batter reached second base, igniting a spark of danger. But Hidezawa's steady pitching and Seidō's airtight defense shut down any further advance.
Three outs.
Sides exchanged.
The third inning began, and Seidō's batting order returned to the top.
Captain Tanaka stepped up.
He had been retired in his previous at-bat, but expectations were high. Cheers roared from the Seidō supporters, their voices nearly hoarse with anticipation.
But Baldy's newly revealed pitch proved merciless.
Tanaka struggled, timing thrown completely off. His final swing was weak, sending the ball straight up.
"Pop!"
The catcher settled under it.
"Out!"
Hidezawa and Yamada followed, both failing to gain any ground.
Three batters up.
Three batters down.
Seidō's offensive momentum was abruptly halted.
In the dugout, tension thickened.
This team… was stronger than they had anticipated.
Even Coach Kataoka had to admit it silently. Hōsen truly deserved their reputation. Their strength wasn't exaggerated, it was terrifying.
He squinted toward the mound, mind racing for solutions.
But in such a short time, breaking through Hōsen's defense seemed nearly impossible.
Bottom of the third inning.
Hōsen returned to offense.
After one out, their upper lineup rotated in, ambition burning in their eyes. They wanted to tie the score. Standing in their way was Seidō's ace and an ironclad defense.
"Whoosh!"
Hidezawa's pitch cut through the air like a blade, arriving before the batter could even react.
So fast.
The radar gun showed just over 140 kilometers per hour—not exceptional by Koshien standards, especially compared to Baldy.
But in the batter's box?
It felt overwhelming.
The first batter could barely comprehend it.
It was faster than Baldy's pitch.
"That's impossible…"
Where did this monster come from?
Before today, he had been practically unknown. Yet now, he stood at the center of Seidō's resistance. People once spoke only of Azuma Kiyokuni when mentioning Seidō. Now, they would remember their ace as well.
The batter's thoughts spiraled into chaos.
He couldn't swing. He could only watch.
"Pop!"
"Strike!"
"Whoosh!"
"Strike!!"
"Strikeout!!"
The second batter made contact—but it was weak. Zhang Han reacted instantly, fielding the ball cleanly and firing it to first.
"Three outs! Sides exchanged!"
The third inning ended with the score still 1–0.
Few runs had been scored—but no one could deny it.
This was a phenomenal game.
As the top of the fourth inning approached, Seidō High School returned to offense, determination etched into every face.
The real battle had only just begun.
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