The Seidou High School Baseball Team returned to the locker room first to prepare.
The Seibo High School Baseball Team players arrived a little later.
As soon as they reached the stadium, they were surrounded by reporters.
The Coach of Seibo frowned deeply.
He hadn't seen Seidou's bus. He hadn't seen any of Seidou's players.
Either Seidou hadn't arrived yet…
Or they were already inside.
Checking the time on his watch, the Coach already had his answer.
Their opponents were not to be underestimated—after defeating Osaka Kiryu, Seidou had become the biggest favorite for the championship.
Yet despite this, they weren't arrogant.
Instead, they arrived even earlier than expected to prepare.
"Dear reporters, we have a game to get ready for. Please wait until after the match. Apologies."
He responded calmly, leading his players toward the locker room.
"Coach, the Seidou High School Baseball Team arrived fifteen minutes ago."
A staff member returned with the answer.
"Fifteen minutes?"
The Coach of Seibo looked at his watch—9:15.
There was still half an hour before the game began.
"They arrived forty-five minutes early?"
Their own team prided itself on being one of the most disciplined among the country's powerhouse schools. They planned to arrive thirty minutes early to avoid accidents, especially since their hotel was only a fifteen-minute walk from Koshien.
Arriving early removed every possible mishap.
Yet compared to Seidou, they were still fifteen minutes late.
The Seidou team's hotel was no farther than their own.
By arriving early, the players could adapt to the stadium atmosphere and adjust their mental state.
"Kataoka…"
The Coach of Seibo nodded to himself.
From this moment on, Coach Kataoka had already left a deep impression on him.
It seemed Seidou's smooth journey wasn't solely because of their Ace, Zhou Hao.
Their coach was also a formidable presence.
Inside Seidou's Dugout
No one knew that the Coach of Seibo had already taken notice of them.
They were fully immersed in their preparations.
"Warm-up complete?"
"Uniforms changed!"
"Final breathing adjustment—"
All the Seidou players closed their eyes, taking two deep breaths.
Using controlled breathing to stabilize the mind before a game…
This was a technique practiced by top professionals.
Seidou's players weren't professionals, but that didn't stop them from learning.
From this moment forward, they would meet every challenge with calmness and focus—just like the players they admired.
"Clear the way!"
Azuma Kiyokuni opened the locker room door and stepped out at the front.
The Seidou players followed behind him.
Their blue-and-white uniforms were crisp and immaculate, their expressions cool and composed.
The fans exploded into cheers as soon as they appeared.
"Seidou!"
"Seidou!!!"
In addition to chanting the school name, fans also shouted the names of their star players.
"Zhou Hao! You look handsome today too!"
"Azuma! Hit another homer! Go for sixty—!"
"Zhou Hao, I want to be your girlfriend!!"
"Yuki!! Play stable today!"
"Chris! Receive well!"
"Zhou Hao!!!"
The number of fans shouting Zhou Hao's name alone made up nearly half the cheers.
His popularity was overwhelming.
On the other side, the Seibo players also emerged.
Their supporters were just as passionate—especially for their Ace.
Soon, the cheering turned into a duel between fanbases.
For five minutes straight, each side tried to out-shout the other.
The commentators were amazed.
"We're truly lucky. The players haven't even faced off yet, but their supporters already are!"
"I'm impatient to see the actual match begin!"
Another commentator, Mr. Sanhe, chuckled.
"Which team do I favor? The one that wins!"
The crowd booed jokingly.
Of course, the commentator wouldn't publicly pick sides before the game.
The Seidou players gathered together.
Those familiar with the team widened their eyes.
"It's coming…"
"It's really coming!!!"
It was the iconic Seidou team chant—something most people only saw on TV or online.
But today, they would experience it live in the Koshien finals.
Even some Seidou fans felt tears forming.
But none were more emotional than the Seidou second-string players watching from the stands.
After today, the third-years would retire.
Soon, many of the second-string main players—including Kuramochi Yoichi—would finally join the First String.
Kuramochi's eyes were red.
He couldn't wait.
"I'll join them… definitely before autumn!"
One day, he too would stand in this circle and shout the team's spirit at Koshien.
The eighteen players formed a circle.
At the center stood Azuma Kiyokuni.
He wasn't the captain.
But he was the spiritual pillar of Seidou.
Even with the sudden rise of Zhou Hao, Azuma remained the team's core.
"Who are we!?"
"SEIDOU!"
"Who sheds more tears than anyone else!?"
"SEIDOU!!"
"Who sweats more than anyone else!?"
"SEIDOU!!"
"Are you ready!?"
"ooooooooh!!!"
"Carrying the honor of our school, we have only one goal—
TO DOMINATE THE NATION!!"
Azuma raised a finger toward the sky.
"LET'S GO!!!"
Everyone followed.
"oooooooooooh!!!!!"
The crowd exploded.
The entire Koshien trembled.
Even Seibo's powerful cheering section faltered.
Reporters were stunned.
"Even Seibo can't suppress Seidou's aura…"
"I thought at least they'd be equal. But there's still a gap."
"Their motto is too exhilarating… my whole body has goosebumps."
Both teams bowed.
"Please guide us!"
"Please guide us!!"
Their presences clashed like two professional teams.
According to the pre-game draw, Seidou would bat second.
Top of the first inning—Seibo on offense.
Seidou's lineup was unchanged.
Zhou Hao, now fully rested after sitting out the previous game, took the mound.
The stands erupted.
"That one game of rest really restored Zhou Hao."
"Facing Seidou in peak condition… they're unlucky."
"The substitute pitcher Yoshida saved them big time."
Even without listening to the fans, Seibo's players knew:
They were incredibly unlucky.
Their opponent's Ace was at 100% power.
First Batter: Shiro
Seibo's leadoff batter stepped in.
Tall, agile, over 180 cm—but fast like lightning.
They'd scouted him thoroughly.
Given a chance, he would steal bases instantly.
He was known for bunting without hesitation.
He would do anything to get on base.
"Leadoff batter, second baseman—Shiro!"
A strange-sounding name, but a famous one.
A member of the national team.
One of the best among Japan's high school players.
Seidou's dugout focused intensely.
Shiro raised his bat, staring at Zhou Hao.
"What pitch will he use…?"
Seibo had studied Zhou Hao's Spiral ball extensively.
They even trained with a machine simulating a 145 km/h Spiral ball.
They were looking forward to this duel.
Shiro tensed.
Zhou Hao lifted his leg.
Here it comes—
Zhou Hao unleashed the pitch.
"BOOM!"
A white flash streaked by.
Shiro's mind went blank.
Too fast!!
He couldn't even react.
The ball smashed into Chris's mitt.
"THUD!"
The explosive impact stunned the entire stadium.
So fast.
So strong.
So fierce.
Everyone instinctively looked up at the scoreboard—
And their minds went blank.