"Number 2, Miyuki Kazuya."
In the end, Coach Kataoka chose Miyuki.
A trace of bitterness flashed across Chris's eyes.
Meanwhile, a victor's smile appeared on Miyuki Kazuya's face.
To be fair, his victory wasn't entirely without controversy.
But baseball was never a sport of pure fairness.
Luck was also part of a player's strength.
One of the biggest reasons Miyuki had successfully claimed the Starting Catcher position was Chris's injury.
Although Chris had fully recovered, recovery and returning to peak form were two different things.
Especially during the time Chris was sidelined, Miyuki hadn't stood still.
He had continued improving at an astonishing rate.
His current level was stronger than ever.
Closing the gap was already difficult.
Surpassing him would be even harder.
Most of the Seido players had expected this outcome long ago.
That was why the room remained silent.
Under normal circumstances, everyone should have congratulated Miyuki.
But Chris's ability was beyond question.
Had it not been for the injury, the battle for the Starting Catcher position might have ended very differently.
Congratulating Miyuki too enthusiastically now would feel unfair to Chris.
At that moment, however, Chris was the first to recover.
The disappointment in his eyes disappeared almost instantly, replaced by a warm smile.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Chris took the lead in applauding.
Seeing that, the others no longer hesitated.
Soon, applause filled the room.
Miyuki stepped forward with a grin, accepted the Number 2 jersey and patch, then turned around and gave everyone a slight bow.
"I'll work hard."
As he spoke, his eyes locked onto Chris.
"I won't give up the position I fought so hard to earn."
The room instantly fell silent.
Only Miyuki could make a declaration sound both sincere and provocative at the same time.
His tongue was as sharp as ever.
Most of the Seido players found it hard to listen to.
Unfortunately, Miyuki clearly didn't care.
From beginning to end, he had only been speaking to one person.
Chris.
Hearing those words, Chris smiled.
"Don't worry."
"I won't let you keep that position forever."
Everyone knew it was a challenge.
Yet Chris accepted it willingly.
He needed motivation to continue moving forward.
At the same time, he understood Miyuki better than anyone.
Nothing ignited Miyuki's fighting spirit more than a worthy rival.
Sure enough, Miyuki's eyes immediately lit up.
The competitive fire within him blazed even brighter.
At that moment, the last trace of resentment in his heart disappeared completely.
What made him happiest wasn't winning.
It was knowing that Chris still intended to compete with him.
"Number 3, Yuki Tetsuya."
Another completely unsurprising announcement.
Just as no one could challenge Zhou Hao's status as Ace, no one could shake Yuki's position at first base.
Yuki calmly stepped forward and accepted the jersey.
His expression remained as composed as ever.
"Number 4, Kominato Ryosuke."
The room erupted into applause.
Seido's infamous "Demon Batter."
A player whose performances had become a favorite topic among reporters.
Back in middle school, countless powerhouse schools had rejected him because of his small frame.
Now?
No one doubted his ability anymore.
The coaches who once turned him away might still stubbornly insist they had their own standards.
But deep down, they were undoubtedly filled with regret.
A starting second baseman and cleanup-caliber hitter for a national powerhouse.
What team wouldn't want a player like that?
Kominato Ryosuke smiled gently and accepted his jersey.
Off to the side, Kominato Haruichi lowered his head.
His bangs covered his eyes.
No one could see the tears gathering there.
"Number 5, Masuko Toru."
The representative of Room 5.
The king of appetites.
The strongest man on Seido's roster.
Of course, Masuko hadn't become the starting third baseman because he could eat seven bowls of rice.
Nor because of his overwhelming physical strength.
He earned the position because his batting and defensive abilities had reached an elite level.
Competition for third base had been fierce.
Yet Masuko stood above them all.
He was one of the legendary seven who survived until the very end of Hell Week.
No one was surprised by the announcement.
The applause was just as enthusiastic as before.
"Uga!"
Masuko himself looked genuinely relieved.
"Hehehe..."
Kuramochi couldn't help teasing him.
"Looks like a certain senior can finally sleep peacefully tonight."
After being demoted once before, Masuko had become more nervous about losing his position than anyone else.
"Number 6, Kuramochi Yoichi."
"Heh!"
Kuramochi practically bounced to his feet.
Like a gust of wind, he rushed forward and grabbed the jersey from the manager's hands.
His batting still had room for improvement.
But his speed was unmatched.
Combined with his outstanding defensive ability, he was unquestionably Seido's starting shortstop.
When he returned, Zhou Hao immediately offered his congratulations.
"Congratulations."
Kuramochi grinned from ear to ear.
"Heh. That's only natural."
Not a shred of modesty could be found on his face.
Zhou Hao laughed.
"You're right."
"You earned it."
Every number on Seido's roster had been earned through sweat, effort, and competition.
No one received anything for free.
"Number 7, Shirasu Kenjirou."
Competition for the outfield had been fierce.
In the end, Shirasu's consistency, reliability, and versatility secured him the starting spot.
As always, he accepted the jersey quietly.
Without fanfare.
Without unnecessary words.
Exactly like Shirasu himself.
"Number 8, Isashiki Jun."
The moment Coach Kataoka called his name, several teammates couldn't help smiling.
The loudest voice in Seido.
The most passionate fighter on the field.
And one of the emotional pillars of the team.
Isashiki stood up immediately.
His chest puffed out proudly as he strode toward the front.
Even before receiving the jersey, it looked as though he was ready to charge directly onto the Koshien field.
The familiar sight brought laughter throughout the room.
For a moment, the tense atmosphere surrounding the jersey announcements eased considerably.
Isashiki Jun, sporting his trademark small mustache, usually came across as cynical and rough around the edges.
But in reality, he was an incredibly warm-hearted person.
Not only did he constantly encourage his teammates, but he had also never stopped pushing himself. Through relentless effort, he had become Seido's well-deserved Vice-Captain.
"Congratulations, Senior Jun!"
"Totally deserved!"
Faced with the team's enthusiastic congratulations, the mustached senior blushed slightly.
Even so, he stubbornly replied, "What's there to congratulate?"
"Number 9, Oshima Shin."
The first-year finally defeated the senior competing with him and secured a place among Seido's nine starters. The single-digit jersey number spoke for itself.
The entire Seido team applauded.
Holding the number patch in his hand, Oshima couldn't hide the bright smile on his face.
This position had been earned through countless hours of hard work.
Many people believed he was simply born talented, but few knew how much he had suffered and struggled over the past month.
"I definitely won't let everyone down!"
"Number 10, Chris."
"Number 11, Tanba Koichiro."
"Number 12..."
One player after another stepped forward to receive their numbers. These positions had long since been decided, leaving little room for suspense.
Those who failed to secure starting positions were destined to become substitutes.
The real competition was for the remaining substitute spots.
When Coach Kataoka called out Number 17, he paused briefly.
By now, Maezono and the others had already lost hope.
The final position would be decided between Kawakami and the three first-year players.
"Number 18, Furuya Satoru!"
In the end, Furuya received Number 18.
Of course, his ability to throw blazing fastballs exceeding 150 km/h was one reason.
But there was another important factor.
Unlike many pitchers, Furuya was also a capable batter, and Coach Kataoka valued that versatility highly.
As for Furuya himself, he remained as expressionless as ever.
Even after receiving his number, his face showed little change.
"Number 19, Sawamura Eijun."
Though the number had only increased by one, everyone could clearly feel that Sawamura's position within the team was becoming increasingly secure.
Originally, he had joined the First String at the very last stage, making him the player with the most unstable standing.
Yet through his own hard work, he had transformed himself into an indispensable member of the roster.
It was simply that Seido possessed an abundance of excellent pitchers, making his presence seem less prominent.
Otherwise, a talent with his ability and performances would already be receiving special attention as the team's future Ace.
Finally.
Everyone's gaze shifted toward Kominato Haruichi and the remaining third-year player.
The senior's performances had been solid throughout.
By every measure, he was more than qualified to serve as a substitute.
Even Zhou Hao had once felt sorry for Haruichi.
After Oshima's emergence, it had seemed nearly impossible for Haruichi to realize his dream of reaching Koshien alongside his older brother.
Yet through one outstanding performance after another, he had managed to stay in contention.
His showing during the freshman game had left a deep impression on Coach Kataoka and the coaching staff.
His performances on the Second String had become almost legendary.
Even after joining the First String's grueling training camp, aside from some shortcomings in stamina, he had performed admirably in every other aspect.
He had fought his way to this point.
Now, everything depended on Coach Kataoka's decision.
"Number 20, Kominato Haruichi!"
The process had been difficult and full of twists, but the result was a happy one.
The shy boy whose bangs often covered his eyes finally revealed a gentle smile.
Meanwhile, the third-year player who had been passed over stood there in a daze, completely crushed.
He had spent a long time with the First String and was familiar with everyone present.
At that moment, no one dared look directly at him.
Everyone understood that no words of comfort would help.
No one felt the decision was unfair.
If Coach Kataoka and the coaching staff had chosen Haruichi, it could only mean he had demonstrated enough ability to justify that choice.
Had the difference between the two players been small, Seido's coaches would never have coldly removed a third-year player at such a crucial moment.
"Sorry."
Coach Kataoka's brief apology shattered the senior's final emotional defenses.
Tears immediately streamed down his face.
"I know you've already worked incredibly hard. And I'm grateful that you've continued to trust me and train diligently until now."
Coach Kataoka's feelings toward this generation of third-years were complicated.
On one hand, they had once been labeled the weakest class.
On the other hand, no one could deny their dedication.
Whenever he stood by the office window, he could see them practicing tirelessly on the field.
Deep down, he respected their determination.
But as Seido's head coach, he could not abandon the team's principles because of sentiment.
The stronger player stayed.
The player who contributed more stayed.
That was Seido's way.
The only exception involved developing promising first-year talent.
Otherwise, seniority alone would never determine who remained on the roster.
At last, every jersey number had been assigned.
The Summer Tournament was finally approaching.
The players of Seido High School Baseball Team had been preparing for this moment for a very long time.
Last autumn, they had been eliminated far too early.
Although Seido had already captured two championships this year, it still wasn't enough.
They wanted more.
They intended to keep winning.
On the day of the tournament draw, Manager Ota specifically dragged Zhou Hao along with him.
"Why do I need to go? I still have training, Manager."
Zhou Hao showed little interest.
In his eyes, the draw held almost no significance.
Unless something unexpected happened, Seido and Inashiro Industrial would certainly be placed on opposite sides of the bracket.
One was the Spring Tournament champion.
The other was the Spring Tournament runner-up.
Both had also participated in the Kanto Tournament, where they had once again finished as champion and runner-up respectively.
Given those accomplishments, there was no way the organizers would allow the two biggest favorites to meet early.
As for the other teams—including powerhouse Ichidai Sanko—
Zhou Hao wasn't particularly concerned.
The gap between Seido and those teams had already widened considerably.
Beating them was no longer a difficult task.
"We need to show the aura of a national powerhouse. How can we do that without you?"
Manager Ota thought for a moment.
To be honest, he wasn't sure he possessed that aura himself.
That's why he insisted on bringing Zhou Hao.
As for whether anyone else on the team had it...
Manager Ota wasn't certain.
But there was one thing he knew.
As the nation's number-one player, Zhou Hao possessed a presence unlike anyone else.
Since the end of last year's Autumn Tournament, he hadn't allowed a single run.
That achievement alone gave him an overwhelming aura.
As long as he appeared, reporters and opponents alike would immediately feel the pressure.
Unable to withstand Manager Ota's relentless pestering, Zhou Hao finally gave in and accompanied him to the draw venue.
Just as Manager Ota had predicted, the moment they entered the building, they became the center of attention.
More than half of the reporters abandoned their original interviews and rushed toward them.
The representatives from other schools, who had appeared calm moments earlier, instantly looked much more tense.
They could feel the pressure brought by the country's number-one player.
Manager Ota's smile bloomed like a chrysanthemum.
Meanwhile, Zhou Hao found himself completely surrounded by reporters wielding cameras and microphones.
He had said it from the beginning.
He really didn't want to come here just to be treated like a zoo exhibit.