"Two outs, no one on base."
Yoshida's brilliant performance quickly drew the crowd's attention.
Only then did people realize—Seidou High School didn't just have Zhou Hao on the mound. Their other pitcher, Yoshida, was formidable in his own right.
Didn't the silent, shell-shocked Osaka Kiryu players prove it well enough?
In Osaka Kiryu's dugout, Manager Matsumoto Takahiro's face was twisted with rage, his usual polished image shattered. The nationally renowned director now glared at his players with bloodshot eyes.
"You guys, put in some effort!"
"Director, this is Koshien—you need to think about your image!" the anxious assistant coach whispered, pacing like an ant on a hot pan.
Kiryu's reputation was already shaky. With their director's outburst, the coach didn't dare imagine what tomorrow's tabloids would say.
"I don't care anymore!" Matsumoto snapped. "If we lose this game, that will be far more humiliating!"
Deep down, he had already accepted reality. They weren't going to solve Zhou Hao. His breaking balls were simply too overwhelming.
But Yoshida? If they couldn't even score off him—then what hope did they have? Especially since they were still trailing by one run.
The game pressed on.
Kiryu's eighth batter dug in, determination burning in his eyes. He gripped the bat tightly and waited, every muscle coiled like a spring.
The pitch came.
"Buzz!"
His swing cut the air with frightening force.
"Ping!"
The ball skipped off the ground straight toward shortstop.
Chris, watching behind the plate, curved his lips into a faint smile.
"It's over."
The shortstop gloved the hop cleanly and fired to first.
"Thud!"
"Out!"
Three up, three down.
Yoshida had silenced Kiryu's "luxury lineup" without letting a single runner aboard.
Cheers erupted from Seidou's dugout and their supporters in the stands. Even Yoshida couldn't hold back—he roared to the heavens.
"Ahhh!!!"
The commentator blinked in surprise.
"Seidou's number one pitcher… seems a little too excited."
Far away, Inashiro's players, watching from their team room, shook their heads.
"Yoshida, huh…" one muttered.
Such an outburst was a lapse in composure. With millions of fans watching on site, on TV, and online, it felt almost arrogant.
But another player chuckled knowingly.
"There's no helping it. With a genius like Zhou Hao as his junior, of course Yoshida feels the pressure. Don't forget, he used to be Seidou's Ace."
They understood better than anyone. After all, they had their own genius—Narumiya Mei.
"Next year's Seidou won't be easy to deal with," another added grimly.
Zhou Hao was already terrifying this year. How much stronger would he be after another season of growth? Even without new pitches, if his current arsenal gained more power and speed, he'd be like a cheat code for high school baseball.
"Still, he can't pitch every inning alone," one reminded. "That's the opening for other teams. And Seidou's lineup won't be the same once the third-years graduate."
It was true. This year's success wasn't Zhou Hao's alone—the seniors played a huge role. Change the roster, and the balance of power might shift.
Back on the field, Kiryu made a substitution. Their ace, Kuroda, switched positions, handing the mound to Kan Hiromi.
Kuroda's 155 km/h fastball was devastating but costly. Even with his natural gifts, such velocity drained his body. They needed to conserve him for later—especially with the looming threat of Zhou Hao's return.
Kan Hiromi wasn't Kuroda, but his pitches were still sharp and dominant.
For Seidou, this was an opportunity. With Kuroda off the mound, could they extend their narrow lead?
2–1.
A single run wasn't enough to ease their nerves. They had to keep pressing.
But Seidou's bottom order couldn't capitalize. Against Kan Hiromi, their bats still came up empty.
"Ping!"
"Thud!"
"Out!"
"Out!!"
"Out!!!"
Three batters up, three batters down.
The sixth inning rolled on.
Both teams were locked in a duel of elite pitching.
Top of the sixth—Kiryu's ninth batter stepped into the box.
In the stands, a reporter wearing a baseball cap leaned forward, eyes glinting.
"The winner will be decided soon."
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