"The Seidou High School baseball team played against the Seiko Academy High School baseball team. After five tough innings, the final score was 19:5! Congratulations to the Seidou High School baseball team for reaching the top eight in the general class!!"
The young girl handling the live commentary had a bright, energetic voice.
Even though they had seen the outcome with their own eyes, when the Seidou supporters heard the final score announced, they still raised their hands and cheered with open arms.
"As expected of Seidou!"
"19:5! Consecutive hits breaking historical records!"
"We're going to Koshien for sure this year!"
For the veteran fans of Seidou High School, the repeated failures to reach Koshien over the past years had become a painful memory.
Though hopeful each year, all they received in return was disappointment time after time.
By now, some fans had grown emotionally numb.
Even when people praised this year's team as the strongest and full of potential, the seasoned fans firmly believed that only actual games could prove a team's strength.
Today, the Seidou High School baseball team did exactly that.
They proved themselves with action on the field.
Seiko Academy is already a well-known team in West Tokyo—fame that represents genuine strength. After all, a team cannot build a reputation without performance to back it up.
But facing such an opponent, the Seidou High School baseball team showcased their overwhelming strength—crushing all resistance without giving Seiko a chance to respond.
Especially toward the end of the game.
Many might forget that Seidou also faced struggles in the beginning.
They gave up a total of five home runs.
Their second-year pitcher, Tanba Koichiro, was pummeled by Seiko's batters.
But is that important?
Yes—during the game, it certainly matters.
After the game, the team would go back to review it. Those five home runs would be a serious discussion point.
But right now?
With the dust settled, everyone's attention was on the outcome.
And Seidou's answer was resounding: 19 to 5.
Nineteen runs—fourteen more than their opponents.
They ended the game early.
And their opponent wasn't some no-name team—it was a top-16 team in West Tokyo. With this kind of dominant performance, Seidou's presence is impossible to ignore.
Thankfully, the players of Seidou had already mentally prepared themselves for this spotlight. They stood tall on the field, heads held high, proudly facing the cheering crowd.
As one reporter put it:
Even though the tournament is still ongoing and other teams are performing well, which team has the best chance of winning the championship?
Undoubtedly—Seidou.
After the game, both teams lined up to bow and shake hands.
"Thanks for your guidance!"
"Thanks for your advice!!!"
Don't be fooled by Seiko Academy's players just because they're big and muscular—they're just a bunch of kids with sensitive hearts.
Their eyes were red and swollen from crying. Even during the handshake line, one player couldn't help but wipe away tears.
This made the Seidou players unsure whether to go over and comfort him.
These large, burly kids were sobbing like that!
"Don't worry about us, we'll be fine soon."
The original ace of Seiko Academy seemed to notice the awkwardness and took the initiative to raise his hand to wave it off.
Meanwhile, Yamamoto, one of Seiko's star players, walked over to Zhou Hao.
"Want to pick a fight?"
Senior Jun Isashiki, sporting a small mustache, stood protectively beside Zhou Hao. There was no way he'd allow a junior to be bullied under his watch.
Zhou Hao felt a warm appreciation for his senpai's protection.
But thinking it through—it was obvious.
There was no way Yamamoto would cause a scene at this moment.
That would bring trouble not just to him, but also to his team and their coach.
Yamamoto, standing over 190 cm tall and built like a wall, exuded an oppressive aura as he approached Zhou Hao.
Even though Zhou Hao was about 180 cm himself, he still looked nearly a head shorter.
Yamamoto extended his hand—large as a palm-leaf fan.
Zhou Hao, seeing this, reached out as well.
Bang!
Their palms met in a firm handshake.
Yamamoto didn't grip hard. Instead, he softly said, "We lost today fair and square."
It wouldn't be as bad if Seidou had won using a completely different strategy.
But they beat Seiko at their own game—with power swings.
Seiko had power hitters, but so did Seidou.
In fact, they had more.
Azuma Kiyokuni, Yuuki Tetsuya, Zhou Hao—even the first-year pinch hitter Miyuki Kazuya hit a home run.
In terms of both quantity and quality—
Seidou was just as good, if not better.
Seidou had shown everyone what a true national-level batting lineup looked like.
"Don't lose your next game!"
After all, Seiko had lost badly to them. If Seidou went on to lose easily to some other team, Seiko would truly have no face left.
"I'll do my best."
Zhou Hao couldn't promise anything…
But he would give it everything he had.
After the match, the Seidou players gathered near the stands to bow to their loyal fans.
"Thank you, everyone!!"
The supporters in the stands were deeply moved.
Not every team truly respects its fans the way Seidou does.
Aside from the alumni, many of Seidou's die-hard fans were drawn to the team because of this sincerity.
Even though Seidou hadn't made it to Koshien in several years, the fans never gave up on them.
They shared in the team's anxiety—but never switched sides.
They never chose to cheer for some other school.
"The next match is the day after tomorrow. I'm coming back!"
"We're going to blast past the semis—beat Inashiro and Ichidaisan!"
"Let's go to Koshien!"
"Zhou Hao—we're counting on you!"
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