"Rei-chan, what are you busy with?" Kanzaki Ryou asked.
Takashima Rei stopped walking and sighed helplessly. "I'm heading to Hyogo Prefecture soon, and there's still so much to take care of. And after Koshien, I'll be going on a business trip, so everything's piled up."
"A business trip? Are you scouting new talent?" Kanzaki asked.
"Of course. Recruitnt starts early every year. If we're late, the good prospects will all be taken by other powerhouse schools," Rei said.
In recent years, Seidou's recruitnt had been difficult, with most of their desired players snatched away.
But this year was different—Seidou had finally returned to Koshien. If they could perform well, it would greatly help future recruitnt. Seizing this rare opportunity, Takashima Rei had resolved to bring back as many talented players as possible.
"Hehehe, Rei-chan, can I ask for a favor?" Kanzaki said.
"Oh? What is it?" Rei asked curiously.
"After Koshien, if you go to Nagano Prefecture, let know."
"You want to co with ?"
"We'll see. It depends on the schedule. There's the Autumn Tournant in October and the iji Jingu Tournant in November… so it depends on when you go," Kanzaki said.
Rei blinked in confusion. She didn't quite understand what Kanzaki wanted to do in Nagano, but bringing Seidou's Ace on a recruitnt trip would definitely make things easier—if Coach Kataoka agreed.
"Well… if the Coach approves," Rei said.
"He will. If there's ti, Coach Kataoka will definitely agree," Kanzaki said confidently.
If he could go to Nagano with Rei and et that guy early…
He would definitely teach that baseball idiot the right way to train. No way would he let him waste half a year like in the original tiline.
If that guy got stronger earlier, Seidou's future three consecutive championships would be even more secure.
Everything—absolutely everything—was for the sake of the championship.
For a mont, Kanzaki couldn't help feeling a bit proud.
That must be the duty of an Ace.
That evening, Coach Kataoka gathered nearly a hundred mbers of the Baseball Club.
"Tomorrow, we head to Hyogo Prefecture. First String mbers, I believe all of you are prepared for the tougher, harsher trials that await. I won't say much more."
Then he looked at the rest of the club.
"Normally, all of you would follow the team and watch the gas."
Everyone exchanged confused looks. Was the school preventing them from going?
"However, after Koshien ends, the third-year seniors will retire. The team will be reorganized. At that ti, your strength will be essential. So—who among you will rise and earn a spot on the First String?"
"From today until Koshien ends—around twenty days—I won't force any of you to stay and train. Whether you choose to watch the gas or train is entirely up to you."
Those words stunned the whole room.
Koshien—they desperately wanted to go.
Training—they couldn't miss the chance to get ahead.
The dilemma was huge.
Coach Kataoka then turned to the third-years. Their sumr had ended even before the preliminaries.
"The third-year mbers may follow the team and watch the gas—free of charge."
The seniors imdiately lit up with joy, completely unlike their troubled juniors.
Soon after, the others began to declare their choices one by one.
"I'm staying! I'll get into the First String!"
" too! I won't hand over my position!"
Second-years spoke first, and then others followed. In the end, nearly 80% chose to stay behind to train, while a small portion decided to go experience Koshien in person.
August 4th—three days before the Koshien opening.
All 49 qualified teams were now heading to Hyogo Prefecture.
After five long years, Seidou High School Baseball Club was finally returning to this sacred battleground. Here, for the next half month, they would burn their passion to the fullest.
Koshien—this was the dream stage of every high school baseball player in Japan.
Upon arriving in Hyogo, Seidou's bus pulled up at a hotel near Hanshin Koshien Stadium. The surrounding area was filled with teams from all over the nation.
The mont the players stepped off the bus, a bombardnt of flashing caras awaited them.
Reporters surged forward, raising long and short lenses.
Ota and the coaching staff imdiately stepped up with the hotel security to shield the players so they could enter smoothly.
The next two days were spent on simple training and climate adjustnt.
August 7th — Koshien Opening Ceremony
Under the scorching sun, the ivy on the stadium walls rippled like erald waves. Tens of thousands of spectators filled the stands.
As the noon trumpet echoed across the field, 49 teams marched in one after another, their school emblems shining under the bright sunlight.
Seidou's players stood in the middle of the procession. The blazing heat couldn't dampen the excitent and nerves on their faces. Kanzaki Ryou felt his heart pounding harder and harder.
It was overwhelming.
Truly overwhelming.
This was the real stage.
By the ti the ceremony ended, Kanzaki felt like he had been roasted alive.
Then ca the mont that made the entire stadium tense—the drawing ceremony.
Out of 49 teams, 15 would receive a first-round bye.
Surprisingly, the returning Seidou High School…
was one of the 15.
The players were stunned. A free pass to the second round ant two extra days to adjust and study their future opponents.
"Hmph. I'd rather play imdiately. Now I have to stay nervous for two more days," Azuma said with a dark expression.
"Hehehe, Azuma-senpai… you're nervous, aren't you?" Kanzaki teased.
Azuma looked away with a stiff face.
He was nervous.
Thinking he had to endure this feeling for two extra days—he wished he could step into the batter's box right now and swing away.
"Get your things ready. We're going to the stands to watch the ga!" Coach Kataoka shouted.
"Yes!!!" everyone responded.
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