"It got through!!"
The crowd erupted as Zhou Hao safely reached base. Fans of Seidou High School and Zhou Hao himself couldn't contain their excitent.
What they had just witnessed had completely shattered their expectations.
Zhou Hao wasn't just good.
He was extraordinary.
Even with the legendary Inashiro Industrial pitcher on the mound—an ace recognized across Japan—Zhou Hao stood his ground and delivered.
This wasn't just talent.
It was sothing more.
Sothing rare.
So when Zhou Hao had missed the first pitch earlier, the Seidou supporters weren't shocked.
They expected a fierce battle—and to them, it was no sha for a first-year to go toe-to-toe with a national ace.
After all, matching a pitcher like Yuki was no small feat.
Even if Zhou Hao didn't dominate from the start, as long as he recovered, it was more than enough.
But now…?
Now they realized that they had still underestimated him.
Zhou Hao had just ripped a clean hit that landed deep near the first base line.
Though the ball didn't travel far, it threw the Inashiro defense into chaos.
The players weren't prepared.
Not ntally. Not physically.
Seizing the mont, Zhou Hao sprinted.
He rounded first base without hesitation as the first base coach waved him forward.
He charged for second.
The timing was tight—so tight the throw reached the second baseman just as Zhou Hao slid into the base.
"Snap!"
"SAFE!"
One out. Runner on second.
Zhou Hao looked up to see the ball sitting firmly in the glove of Inashiro's second baseman—less than 30 centiters from his chest.
A split-second later and he would've been tagged out.
From the Seidou dugout, his teammates exhaled in relief.
"Good thing he's been working on his speed..."
"Yeah, he's a lot faster than he was last month."
They knew exactly how close that play had been.
But the fans?
They didn't see the grind, the training, or the margin for error.
To them, it looked like perfection.
"What precision!"
"He knew exactly when to go!"
"He read the defense like a book!"
"Zhou Hao's a genius!"
Cheers rang across the stands.
"Omnipotent Zhou Hao!"
"Seidou's unstoppable today!"
At that mont, a sense of inevitability took over the Seidou side.
The montum had shifted.
They weren't just hanging in—they were in control.
If a first-year like Zhou Hao could dominate like this, then what couldn't they do?
Their confidence soared.
So fans even said aloud what many were thinking:
"If this team doesn't make it to Koshien... then sothing's wrong with the universe!"
"Justice demands Seidou take the championship!"
The chants rained down:
"Zhou Hao!!"
"Zhou Hao!!"
"SEIDOU!!!"
"SEIDOU!!!"
It felt like a pro ga.
The energy, the passion—this wasn't just high school baseball anymore.
Even the players of Inashiro Industrial could feel the weight.
For the first ti, they truly understood the hype surrounding Zhou Hao.
He wasn't just a rising star—he was the storm itself.
Back in Inashiro's dugout, the three highly touted first-years sat with burning eyes.
They were no strangers to expectations—but watching Zhou Hao steal the spotlight lit a fire in them.
Especially Narumiya i, their own young ace.
His blood boiled as he watched Zhou Hao shine.
"Put in," he muttered under his breath.
He wasn't just eager to protect Inashiro's pride—
He wanted to prove sothing for himself.
Top of the first inning. Seidou's still on offense.
One out, runner on second.
"Now batting: third batter, number three, first baseman – Yuki Tetsuya!"
As Yuki stepped up to the plate, the fans leaned forward with anticipation.
Reporters tapped away at their keyboards, taking note of Coach Kataoka's strategy.
Many had questioned his decision to place Zhou Hao in the second spot instead of a core power slot.
But now, they saw the genius behind it.
With Zhou Hao getting on base so reliably, it opened the door for Yuki and Azuma Kiyokuni to bring him ho.
"Seidou should be the first to score!"
And with the way things were unfolding, that prediction felt less like a guess—
And more like prophecy.
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