Late July. The scorching sun blazed overhead, and waves of fans poured into Jingu Stadium like a tide.
Among them stood a graceful young girl, her eyes wide with surprise.
"So many people…?"
The chubby girl at her side puffed her cheeks and pouted.
"Ai-chan, come on. This is the West Tokyo Finals! The winner gets the ticket to Koshien. Of course the stands are packed."
Ai tilted her head, still bewildered. "I just came to watch Zhou-san's game. How would I know all that? Do you think he'll play today?"
The moment she mentioned his name, her cheeks flushed pink.
"Relax," the chubby girl replied confidently. "He's Seido's true ace. Not only will he play, he might even start."
Ai's eyes lit up. "Then… we'll win for sure?"
"We'll have the edge," her friend corrected. "But not everything is in our favor. Word is, Chris—the original main catcher—can't play today."
"Ah, what a shame…" Ai pouted lightly.
Her friend chuckled. "Chris is half-Japanese, half-foreign. Between him and your Zhou Hao, they're known as the best-looking duo in high school baseball."
Ai let out an exaggerated sigh. "What a pity indeed!"
"Come on, let's hurry. Or we'll lose our seats."
When the two finally made it to the stands, they were stunned—the outfield seats were already open, and even those were jam-packed. Everywhere, fans waved flags, shook noisemakers, and chanted in unison.
"Wait… are all of them Seido fans?" the chubby girl muttered in disbelief.
Chants echoed around them:
"Certain victory!"
"This is Seido's year!"
The air was thick with pride, excitement, and belief. For many, Seido wasn't just a team—it was an idol.
"As expected of Zhou-san," Ai whispered dreamily. "He's so popular!"
Her friend smirked. Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.
After squeezing into seats, they found themselves right in front of Seido's bench players, surrounded by Seido students, cheerleaders, and an orchestra. The cheer squad swayed in perfect rhythm, pom-poms sparkling under the sunlight, while the brass band blasted out songs that made the entire stadium tremble.
Ai's eyes sparkled. "Ahh! I should have bought wristbands too!"
Before her regret could grow, the locker room doors burst open—both teams stepped onto the field at once.
Ichidai Third's cheering section was impressive in its own right, occupying nearly a third of the stands, their chants booming, their orchestra just as fierce.
But Seido's presence was on another level. Beyond their organized section, neutral fans, alumni, and even casual supporters filled the stands with homemade flags and wristbands, swelling Seido's support to nearly triple that of Ichidai.
The atmosphere was electric.
On the field, Seido's nineteen players gathered—not around their captain, but around Azuma Kiyokuni, the heart of the team.
"Everyone, are you ready?" His grin stretched wide, voice carrying across the huddle.
"Ohhh!!"
Their eyes blazed with determination.
"Who are we?"
"SEIDO!"
"Who sweats more than anyone else?"
"SEIDO!!"
"Who cries more than anyone else?"
"SEIDO!!!"
"Then what's our goal?"
"To dominate the nation!"
Their roar shook the very air. In unison, they thrust their fingers to the sky.
From the stands, tens of thousands of fans joined the chorus.
"Awohhhh!!!"
The stadium thundered with a resonance only Seido could create. Even Ichidai's seasoned players, no strangers to pressure, felt their hearts tremble at the sight.
This was Seido's Chant—a unity, a spirit, that no other team could replicate.
The announcer's voice finally cut through the storm:
"West Tokyo Finals—Seido High School versus Ichidai Third High School… Game start!!"
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