"It's… it's out?!"
On the field, even those who had seen it with their own eyes still couldn't quite believe what they had just witnessed.
The gyroball.
The pitch that had rendered so many powerful batters of the Seido High School Baseball Team helpless.
It had actually been hit cleanly by a first-year rookie.
For a moment, the entire stadium seemed frozen. It wasn't that people didn't understand what had happened. It was simply that the world was changing too fast.
Since when did rookies become this terrifying?
"I heard that in other regions, some rookies who had only joined a team for a few months could already serve as key batters or even aces."
"I never really believed that before."
"But looking at this now… maybe it's not such an exaggeration."
"What's that kid's name again?"
"Zhang… Han…"
"Is he an international student?"
"I remember seeing an article about him before."
"Wasn't he described as a late bloomer?"
"Yeah, I think so. He didn't have much exposure before this season."
"That makes it even more impressive."
"He hasn't even played at Koshien yet, right?"
"Neither has Seido in recent years."
"Hey, stop bringing up old history. With Seido's current momentum, even in West Tokyo, as long as they don't get absurdly unlucky, they definitely have a shot."
"That's true. Even if not this year, they'll have chances later."
"This year though… luck hasn't exactly been on their side."
The fans in the stands buzzed with discussion. For a first-year player to ignite this level of debate among spectators was enough to prove how shocking Zhang Han's performance had been.
Around the field, reporters reacted quickly.
Cameras were raised. Shutters clicked continuously.
Even if this news wouldn't necessarily become a front-page headline, it was still worth recording. For reporters, missing a moment like this was unacceptable. If everyone else had material and you didn't, that alone would be considered a professional failure.
Whether or not they ultimately published it, they had to keep it.
That was simply how the job worked.
Of course, every profession had its hierarchy.
As a senior reporter for Baseball Kingdom Magazine, and the first person to conduct an in-depth interview with Zhang Han earlier in the season, Fujio saw things differently.
This year's West Tokyo tournament was a genuine battlefield of talent. The major powerhouse schools had recruited heavily, gathering gifted players from all directions.
Inashiro Industrial had the most eye-catching lineup. Ichidai San wasn't far behind.
Seido High School, on the surface, looked less flashy.
But Zhang Han…
He was a true dark horse.
Previously, within youth baseball circles, he only had a small reputation. Compared to well-known star prospects, there was a noticeable gap.
But now?
He had produced the most eye-catching results.
In terms of position, he was already a regular in Seido's lineup. Aside from Miyuki, who wore the number two jersey, very few newcomers held such a stable role. Hoshida could barely be considered on the same level.
As for the others—whether it was batting average, on-base percentage, defensive contribution, or even home run numbers—
Zhang Han clearly stood above the rest.
If the Seido High School Baseball Team continued performing well, this international student would almost certainly be recognized as one of the best rookies in West Tokyo.
Possibly beyond that.
There were talented players in East Tokyo as well, but few had become true pillars of their teams so quickly.
If things developed the way Fujio envisioned, Zhang Han could cause a significant stir. Even within Tokyo, that sensation wouldn't be small.
Fujio pressed his pen firmly against Zhang Han's name and drew a circle.
He had already decided.
He would be the first to fully follow this story.
After the game, it would be time to contact Seido High School's principal and athletic department. Fujio was confident they would be interested in such a proposal.
And he wasn't the only one.
Others might not have thought as far ahead, but many reporters had already sensed that this could become something noteworthy. They couldn't yet predict how big it might get, but that didn't stop them from taking action.
There was only one lingering regret.
Seido might not win today.
Even if they did, tomorrow they would still face Inashiro Industrial. Realistically speaking, the Seido High School Baseball Team was still in danger of being eliminated.
Once eliminated, the value of this story would drop sharply.
Because of that, some reporters felt interviewing Zhang Han immediately wasn't urgent.
But not everyone shared that view.
Among them was Komi Jiro. A newcomer reporter from Baseball Weekly.
Baseball Weekly mainly focused on professional baseball. High school tournaments were usually only mentioned briefly unless something truly special happened. That was why they sent someone like Komi rather than a veteran.
But Komi had good instincts.
He also sensed potential here. He wasn't deeply invested in high school baseball, but he understood one thing. Unexpected stories were the ones that spread the fastest.
Everyone else assumed Seido would be eliminated sooner or later. But what if they weren't?
The probability was low. But low didn't mean impossible.
If Seido advanced, this entire game would be revisited—and Zhang Han's name would inevitably surface again.
"Even if there's only a ten percent chance," Komi murmured, "it's worth following."
He had already made up his mind.
After the game, he would go directly to the Seido High School Baseball Team. All of these thoughts passed through the reporters' minds in only a few short minutes.
But in just those minutes—
The situation on the field had already begun to change once again.
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