Zhang Han was struck out!
For the Seido High School Baseball Team, this was no small matter.
Without anyone really noticing, Zhang Han had already become a representative figure for the team, especially when it came to hitting. In the eyes of many teammates, he had long been subconsciously placed on the same level as Azuma Kiyokuni and Yuuki.
And now, he had been shut down.
Not just shut down, but struck out.
This alone was enough to send ripples through Seido's dugout.
At the very least, this strikeout revealed two important things.
First, Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team had come into this game extremely well prepared. They weren't treating Seido lightly, nor were they relying solely on reputation or past victories.
Second, Inashiro's Ace Pitcher, Nishimonji, genuinely possessed real skill.
Neither of these realizations was good news for Seido.
Originally, after scoring two runs in the first inning, the team's mood had been riding high. Confidence flowed freely, and the dugout had been buzzing with energy.
But Zhang Han's strikeout landed like a bucket of cold water.
Invisible, yet undeniable.
It reminded everyone that they weren't playing against an ordinary opponent.
They were facing Inashiro Industrial, the undisputed powerhouse of Tokyo.
Coach Kataoka's attention was mostly fixed on the field, but from the corner of his eye, he caught the subtle changes in his players' expressions. The shift in atmosphere didn't escape him.
He hadn't expected Zhang Han's strikeout to have such a significant impact.
It became clear to him that this player wasn't just skilled; he carried influence. Whether intentionally or not, Zhang Han affected the morale of the entire team.
This situation couldn't be left alone.
Compared to Seido's relatively restrained reaction, the response from the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team was far less polite.
In Inashiro's dugout, a baby-faced young boy doubled over with laughter, clutching his stomach as he mocked loudly.
"That's what you get for being arrogant, kid! Best rookie, huh? Got struck out, didn't you?"
No one knew just how irritated he was that the "Best Rookie" title had gone to someone else.
Wasn't it just a matter of playing a few more games and hitting a few more balls?
In his eyes, that title had been stolen.
He could only conclude that the evaluators' standards were too low.
If it had been him, he was confident he could've shut Zhang Han down completely.
"A first-year rookie trying to make a name for himself in a game like this? Still too green!"
"Exactly. Seido's way too full of themselves."
The comments coming from the stands were even harsher.
Inashiro's supporters spared no mercy, criticizing Zhang Han openly and without restraint.
Fortunately, Ichidai San's players weren't present to watch this game. Their third-years had already retired and were focusing on their studies, while the first- and second-years were busy rebuilding their team. They felt there was no need to watch a match between the current Inashiro and Seido.
If they had been there, they would have been furious.
After all, they had lost to Seido's first-year rookie.
The sheer hostility directed at Zhang Han surprised Fujio, a veteran baseball professional and reporter for Baseball Kingdom Magazine.
He had thought he already held Zhang Han in high regard. Yet even so, he hadn't expected Zhang Han's influence to be this large.
Why else would Inashiro Industrial's supporters react so strongly? Their agitation didn't mean Zhang Han was weak. On the contrary, it suggested the pressure he exerted was so immense that it had seeped into the stands themselves.
On the other side, in Seido's dugout.
Coach Kataoka originally intended to speak immediately, but the team was about to take the field on defense. He temporarily held back his words.
It wasn't until Hidezawa took the mound and, with the help of his teammates, cleanly secured three outs that Kataoka finally spoke.
His gaze settled on Zhang Han.
"Do you understand the pressure Azuma and Yuuki experience on the field?"
That single question left Zhang Han momentarily confused. He didn't quite grasp what Kataoka meant. He looked up at his Director, eyes filled with uncertainty, waiting for an explanation.
"Don't feel guilty about that strikeout," Kataoka continued calmly. "For the team, it was simply one out. But for you personally, it's a good thing."
Zhang Han listened intently.
"Your current skill has reached a level where opponents will prepare specifically for you. Especially an opponent like Inashiro."
Zhang Han understood immediately.
It meant that, in truth, he still wasn't on the same level as Azuma Kiyokuni and Yuuki.
Because he was a rookie, opposing teams hadn't initially devoted enough attention to him. Their preparations were incomplete.
This time was different. Zhang Han had grown strong enough to warrant full preparation. To him, that was both pressure and recognition.
Although he had felt a bit smug recently, pleased with how quickly he was improving, he had never truly compared himself to Yuuki or Azuma. He had enough self-awareness for that.
He considered explaining this to the Director, but when he looked up at Kataoka, he noticed something.
As Kataoka spoke, his gaze occasionally shifted toward the other players.
Zhang Han immediately understood. This wasn't just for him. So he chose to remain silent, standing attentively and listening. Around him, his teammates also began to reflect.
They realized they had unconsciously fallen into a misunderstanding.
They had lumped Zhang Han together with Azuma Kiyokuni and Yuuki, but that comparison wasn't accurate.
Zhang Han was a dark horse, one who had suddenly emerged. Azuma and Yuuki were veterans. Opponents knew them better and feared them more.
On the surface, their results seemed similar. But in reality, there was still a gap.
Zhang Han might not yet be as strong as they had assumed. Even so, no one looked down on him.
After all, how long had Zhang Han been with the team?
How many games had he actually played for Seido?
Yet he had already forced Inashiro Industrial to prepare for him on the same level as Azuma and Yuuki.
When they looked at themselves, the contrast was sharp. They had trained longer. Played more games. But the threat they posed wasn't as great as his.
How could they look down on Zhang Han?
The game continued.
Both teams' Ace Pitchers seemed locked in a fierce duel, each refusing to give an inch. Every pitch carried intent, and neither side allowed a single runner to reach base.
By the bottom of the third inning, the score was still 2–0.
It was Seido High School Baseball Team's turn to bat.
Tanaka and Hidezawa were both retired cleanly.
Two outs.
At this point, Yamada stepped into the batter's box. The player with the two small fangs.
Even now, many people still didn't favor Seido.
Though they held a two-run lead, Inashiro Industrial hadn't collapsed. On the contrary, they had quickly adjusted their rhythm, stabilizing their defense and steadily collecting outs.
But baseball was unpredictable.
And reality could be cruel. Just as Inashiro was preparing to take the third out, Nishimonji's unstable control betrayed him.
A sweet pitch. Right down the middle.
When Inashiro's catcher, Fujita, saw the pitch, despair flooded his chest.
Why now?
"Ping!"
The bat connected cleanly. The white ball soared into the outfield, tracing a long arc before dropping deep. Even Inashiro couldn't react in time. Their fielders chased it down and threw it back quickly, but it was already too late.
Yamada sprinted hard and slid safely into Second Base.
Two outs.
Runner on Second.
The stadium buzzed again.
"Fourth batter, Third Baseman—Azuma Kiyokuni!"
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