As Narumiya i took the mound to face Zhou Hao, the crowd erupted with excitent.
The long-awaited showdown between the two most talked-about rookie pitchers had finally arrived.
But to everyone's shock…
It ended just like that.
Zhou Hao sent the pitch flying with ease.
It didn't even feel like a challenge.
The players of Inashiro Industrial stood frozen, stunned by what had just happened.
This was not what anyone had imagined.
By the ti the ball was thrown back in, Zhou Hao was already standing safely on first base, and Matsumoto had made it all the way to third.
Two outs.
Runners on the corners.
The Seidou supporters went wild.
"Strongest newcor battle? Please."
"It's already settled."
"Total domination. Zhou Hao didn't even give him a chance."
"He's not just West Tokyo's best rookie—he's the best in the entire country!"
Soone shouted that a bit too loudly. Realizing how bold it sounded, he quickly added:
"…as a newcor, of course."
And with that clarification, the confidence in his voice returned.
No one could argue.
Everyone had seen it with their own eyes.
In the front rows of the Seidou cheering section sat the Nigun (Second String) players.
Among them was Kuramochi Youichi.
His gaze locked on Zhou Hao at first base, emotions swelling in his chest.
When Zhou first joined the team, he'd been nothing special.
Kuramochi had believed in his potential—but this?
Even in his most optimistic dreams, he hadn't imagined Zhou would transform into a player of this caliber.
"If I could be the leadoff batter, and Zhou backed up in the lineup…"
Kuramochi's eyes glead.
He wanted to be on that field.
This sumr, the Second String would have no chances.
But by autumn—when the third-years graduated—
"I'm getting a regular spot on Seidou's First String."
"And I'm going to earn a single-digit jersey."
That was Kuramochi's resolve.
And he wasn't the only one.
All around him, fellow Second and Third String players felt the sa fire awaken in their hearts.
Zhou Hao had beco their symbol.
Their proof that even the most ordinary player could rise through grit, discipline, and opportunity.
"We can do it too."
"We're part of Seidou, after all."
anwhile, the mood on Inashiro's side was the complete opposite.
They had pinned their hopes on Narumiya i. A dazzling freshman who many thought could rise to the occasion.
They believed that if he could just outshine Zhou Hao, the tide would turn in their favor.
It would have lifted the entire team's spirit.
But the result was a punch to the gut.
They gave up another hit.
Seidou had runners on the corners.
They'd already pulled their ace off the mound…
And now, their "secret weapon" had been shaken on his very first pitch.
They were out of answers.
Another substitution would be aningless.
If even Narumiya couldn't hold the line…
Then this ga might be lost right here.
And then—
"Ha, ha… haha—!"
Narumiya laughed.
Loudly.
Tears streaming down his face.
Everyone—umpires, players, fans—watched him in stunned silence.
The ho plate umpire swallowed nervously.
"Did he… just snap?"
This was not sothing they trained you for in umpire school.
What started as a prestigious honor—officiating a West Tokyo powerhouse semifinal—now felt like a curse.
Even the Inashiro players stared at Narumiya in disbelief.
"Is he really breaking down right now?"
But then…
"Is this what high school baseball is like?"
"This clash of giants… it's incredible. I'm fired up!"
Narumiya suddenly raised his glove.
"Two outs!"
His teammates exhaled.
Relief washed over the Inashiro dugout.
He wasn't cracking.
He was getting pumped.
Despite the setback, Narumiya wasn't spiraling—he was revving up.
He pulled himself together and began prepping for the next pitch.
That's when the next batter stepped up.
"Batting third, number 3, first baseman—Yuki Tetsuya."
If Narumiya i was unlucky before…
This was just cruel.
He'd barely recovered from Zhou Hao's hit—
And now he had to face Yuki?
Even the Seidou fans couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy.
Yuki was an elite slugger.
Arguably even stronger than Azuma.
And Narumiya, still fresh on the mound, had to face him with runners threatening to score.
Inashiro's players grew tenser by the second.
They knew exactly what this mont ant.
If Yuki landed a clean hit—if Seidou scored two more runs—
They might as well throw in the towel.
Catching up from five runs down against a team in this kind of form?
Unthinkable.
Yuki stepped into the batter's box.
He stood tall and still—like a mountain.
Not a flicker of emotion.
But inside…
Inside, a volcano was waiting to erupt.
The mont he saw his opening—
There would be no rcy.
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