On the day of the Koshien final, a massive crowd surged into Hanshin Koshien Stadium.
"Please keep your tickets ready! No pushing! Line up in order!"
The crowd was so large that the local police had to fully mobilize to maintain order on-site.
Even then, there weren't enough officers.
The Hanshin Koshien Stadium could only hold 50,454 people—but today, the number of attendees far exceeded that.
According to incomplete statistics, the total had already surpassed 100,000.
And more were still flooding in from every direction.
Among today's spectators were high-profile figures: a recently retired police commissioner, billion-dollar CEOs from the U.S., the managing director of Teigin Bank, a former prime minister candidate who once contended with Fujiwara Chika's grandfather, and even the heads of the Five Regent Houses.
If anything happened to any one of them, Nishinomiya's entire police department would be in full crisis mode.
…
Inside a VIP suite at the stadium, an elegant older lady said, "Hitomi, your man is quite something. This is Aoba's first time making it to the finals, right?"
"You flatter me, Aunt Ichijo," Hitomi replied with a modest smile—but pride sparkled in her eyes.
The more outstanding Takashi was, the better it reflected on her taste.
"Even back in our day, we never made it this far," said an elderly woman in a kimono, sharp-eyed and thin-faced, with a hooked nose and a calculating glint in her gaze.
"Your man's better than we ever were," another elder chimed in, his appearance plain but voice full of admiration.
"Grandpa Kujou, Grandpa Taka-tsukasa, you two shouldn't praise him in front of him—he'll get cocky," Hitomi said playfully, acting like a sweet, innocent girl among her elders.
"If I looked as handsome as him and accomplished what he has at his age, I'd be even cockier!" declared the Kujou patriarch with a hearty laugh.
He might have been old, but his voice boomed with vitality.
"Have you decided on him as your husband?" asked the head of the Fujiwara family—Fujiwara Chika's grandfather—peering over his reading glasses with a knowing smile.
"Mhm, it's him," Hitomi nodded with a smile.
"How far have you gotten?"
"Have you been intimate?"
"How many children will you have?"
"What will their last name be? Boys or girls?"
These powerful Japanese figures suddenly acted like ordinary old folks gossiping about their juniors' love lives.
Fujiwara Chika, sitting among them, was speechless. So nosy.
They were only first-years—how could things possibly have progressed that far?
Just as Chika took a sip of tea, she heard Hitomi answer:
"Mm. We've already been intimate."
PFFFFFFT!!!
Chika spat her tea everywhere.
Everyone turned to look at her.
"Chika!" her father scolded, clearly displeased.
"How rude!"
"Sorry!" Chika apologized instantly. Then she couldn't help but ask again, "Hitomi-senpai, you and Takashi really…?"
"Yup. What's wrong?" Hitomi blinked innocently, her expression as pure as a child's.
"N-Nothing..."
They were about the same age, yet Chika felt like Hitomi was in an entirely different phase of life.
She hadn't even experienced her first kiss—and Hitomi had already become a full-fledged woman.
Some people study, some people work, some people marry.
No wonder Hitomi had looked so radiant lately. Chika had thought it was skincare—maybe she could borrow the product.
Turns out it was the Kitahara brand.
Not exactly something you could borrow, huh?
You can't seriously be like: Brother-in-law, don't turn around, I'm your sister?!
"As expected, men are the best cosmetic surgery for women."
For no reason, that line she'd once seen online popped into Fujiwara Chika's head.
"People who train in sports usually have good stamina."
Ichijo, a mature beauty, gave Hitomi a sly sideways glance, her tone teasing: "You get what I mean, right?"
"Mhm, I do."
Hitomi nodded, clearly speaking from experience.
She finally understood why so many jerks were from the sports world.
'What do you two even understand?'
Fujiwara Chika blinked her clear—albeit slightly foolish-looking—eyes between Hitomi and Ichijo, feeling like they were communicating in some kind of encrypted language.
Why was she the only one who didn't get it?
"Grandpa, what are Hitomi-neesan and Auntie Ichijo talking about?"
Fujiwara Chika scooted up to her grandfather and asked.
"Children shouldn't ask such things."
Fujiwara Daichi scolded her with displeasure.
But then he smiled and patted his granddaughter on the head. "You'll understand when you grow up."
"So mysterious…"
Fujiwara Chika pouted and muttered.
"Chika, when you find a boyfriend in the future, make sure he's got strong core strength."
Hitomi turned to Fujiwara Chika and gave this piece of heartfelt advice.
Before Fujiwara Chika could ask why, Ichijo laughed teasingly: "Kitahara-kun's core strength is good, huh?"
"Extremely."
Hitomi couldn't help but smile as a thought flashed through her mind.
"He can do sit-ups with his lower body hanging in midair, hold dumbbells while suspended, even support someone sitting on his abdomen while his body's partially off the ground."
"Oh my god."
Ichijo widened her beautiful eyes.
Then, looking at Hitomi with concern, she asked: "Can your body handle it?"
"Barely."
Hitomi pressed her hand to her cheek, troubled. "His energy is just too much. I'm genuinely worried he might cheat someday."
"That's how young men are. Give it a few years, they'll settle down."
Ichijo comforted her.
Before marriage, men: I don't know if others can handle it, but I definitely can!
After marriage: I'm sleeping on the couch tonight.
"Why?"
Fujiwara Chika couldn't help but ask.
"You don't need to know yet. You'll understand once you're married."
Ichijo replied vaguely.
Some things, if you get it, you get it. If not, she wasn't going to explain. Let her chew on it slowly.
"I hope so…"
Hitomi thought about Takashi's stamina and his unwavering morning runs. She felt like it might be hard for him to settle down.
Knock knock!
There was a knock at the door.
A servant went to open it.
Outside stood an old man, looking terminally ill, an oxygen tube in his nose, seated in a wheelchair, being pushed by Hayasaka Ai.
It was none other than Shinomiya Kaguya's father—the head of the Shinomiya Family and Supreme Commander of the Shinomiya Conglomerate, Shinomiya Gan'an.
The cheerful atmosphere inside the private room immediately vanished.
"Mr. Shinomiya, I didn't expect you to come today. Apologies for not greeting you earlier."
Hitomi said politely, but made no move to stand.
Neither did any of the Five Regent Families.
Some people looked like they wanted to stand, but seeing none of the Five Regent Family members do so, they hesitated, unsure if they should offend the Shinomiya or the Five Families.
"I hope I'm not intruding."
Shinomiya Gan'an gave a faint smile.
"Not at all. Please, have a seat."
…
At the same time, the bus carrying the Aoba students slowly pulled up to the main entrance of Koshien Stadium in Hanshin, Hyogo Prefecture.
"Kitahara, we're here."
Katsuta Musashi called out to Takashi.
Eyes closed and mentally preparing himself, Takashi opened his eyes and stood from his seat.
"Let's go win that damn championship!"
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