"This is the live broadcast of the National High School Baseball Championship finals."
In the commentary booth, Sakurajima Mai opened with her unique low, magnetic, confident, and slightly husky voice.
"I'm your commentator, Sakurajima Mai."
Ohtani Shohei gave a shy smile. "I'm your commentator, Ohtani Shohei."
"Yo~ I'm Ichiro Suzuki," said Ichiro, his words rolling off his tongue in his signature style.
"This year's final features two newcomers to the finals: Aoba Private High School and Advanced Nurturing High School."
"In this much-anticipated match, who will conquer the nation and stand at the top? Let's find out together."
"Now let's look at the lineups."
"The Advanced Nurturing lineup is—
1st batter / Center fielder: Nagumo Miyabi
2nd / Second baseman: Kakeru Ryuen
3rd / Shortstop: Koenji Rokosuke
4th / Pitcher: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka
5th / First baseman: Horikita Manabu
6th / Left fielder: Kanzaki Ryuji
7th / Right fielder: Yamada Albert
8th / Catcher: Katsuragi Kohei
9th / Second baseman: Sudo Ken
After reading the Advanced Nurturing lineup, Ohtani Shohei announced loudly:
"Aoba's lineup is—
1st / Center fielder: Noda Yusei
2nd / Shortstop: Katsuta Musashi
3rd / Pitcher: Momodani Kaname
4th / First baseman: Okura Kento
5th / Right fielder: Furuotani Taiga
6th / Second baseman: Haruki Yuto
7th / Third baseman: Nakaki Hiroto
8th / Left fielder: Kamiozawa Yu
9th / Catcher: Nise Rei
The moment Ohtani Shohei finished, the stadium exploded.
"Where's Takashi?!"
"You're not putting Takashi in the final?! Is the Aoba coach brain-dead?!"
"We want Kitahara! Put Kitahara in!"
"Finally made it to the finals, and you're planning to surrender now?!"
"Amatani Kensuke, are you trying to ruin this final that everyone's watching?!"
Shocked fans hurled curses at Coach Amatani Kensuke, who sat quietly in the bullpen.
Some extreme fans even threw lighters, coins, and cans at the bullpen, causing loud bangs.
Fans are complicated creatures.
Some are loyal like the old man Ichika interviewed—true die-hard fans. Others are calm and rational.
But there are also those who are wildly passionate, quick to cool off, self-centered, and prone to explosive tantrums when displeased.
Just like when IG won Worlds. That day everyone claimed to be an IG fan and said they should never be criticized.
Then as soon as they lost a game, they got roasted anyway. Some even poured cold water on them.
That's human nature—messy and contradictory.
And fans like that exist in every country, every region.
The cameras focused on Takashi and Amatani Kensuke.
The two sat far apart, one on the left, one on the right—not even glancing at each other. Clearly, they were at odds.
"Come to think of it, didn't Takashi argue with the coach during the last game against Chukyo University? Could he be benched?"
Ichiro slapped his forehead, clearly worried.
"It's possible."
Ohtani Shohei nodded in agreement.
One of the biggest differences between pro and high school baseball—besides the level of play—is the coach's authority.
In pro leagues, if a player is big enough, even the head coach might get replaced.
But in high school, the coach's authority reigns supreme.
No matter how talented someone like Takashi is, many coaches don't like rebellious types.
"Then Aoba's basically doomed, isn't it?"
Sakurajima Mai showed appropriate concern. And truthfully, she was worried about Takashi.
"Aoba made it to the finals thanks to Kitahara-kun's brilliant performance. Why wouldn't they let him play?"
To fight all the way to the finals on a battered body, and then not even get a chance to play—what did all his efforts mean?
Ohtani Shohei and Ichiro exchanged a glance but said nothing. Deep down, though, they understood and supported Coach Amatani Kensuke's decision.
Koshien is about passion, effort, and leaving no regrets behind.
But letting Takashi play despite knowing he's injured? That's not courage—it's recklessness. It's gambling with a young man's health.
If he ends up with an injury that ruins his career—will it be worth it?
Is glory really worth the cost of sacrificing a boy's body and future?
According to Nikkan Gendai, since 1990, the high school pitchers who threw the most pitches at Koshien—including the legendary Yoshida Kosei of Kanano—only Matsuzaka Daisuke and Tanaka Masahiro made it big in the pros.
The rest suffered serious injuries, and even if they entered the professional league, they couldn't regain their high school form and retired early.
Ironically, some players who never made it to Koshien flourished in pro baseball—Ohtani Shohei, Sugano Tomoyuki, Norimoto Takahiro, and others among them.
It had to be said—this was pretty ironic.
The price of early fame is that every step afterward feels like a downhill slope.
From then on, you're constantly chasing the peak version of yourself.
At this moment, Sakurajima Mai's emotions were also being influenced by the crowd. All she could think about was winning or losing, completely ignoring Takashi's health.
But then again, in an environment where everyone is forcing you to take the field, how many people wouldn't be affected?
Just like Liu Xiang back in the day.
If you don't compete, they curse you. If you compete and lose, they curse you anyway.
All we can say is—circumstances really shape people.
…
"What the hell?"
"Takashi isn't playing?"
"Then all the prep we did was for nothing?"
The players from Advanced Nurturing High School all looked disheartened upon hearing Takashi wouldn't be playing.
Koenji Rokosuke even threw his gear onto the chair and crossed his legs. "If Takashi isn't playing, I'm not either."
He was never really interested in Koshien to begin with.
He only joined after hearing that Takashi would be there.
If Takashi wasn't playing, then who cared about the championship?
"Boring."
Nagumo Miyabi also lost his desire to play.
"Do you think Takashi is really not playing, or is it just a bluff?"
Horikita Manabu, noticing the mood, walked up to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and whispered.
"I don't know."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka really didn't know if Takashi would be fielded.
After all, his injury was real, and so was the argument he had with the Aoba coach last game.
Under these circumstances, it was understandable that Takashi wasn't being put in.
But something inside him whispered: Takashi would take the field.
Because based on the fierce determination he showed last time, Ayanokoji didn't think Takashi would just sit still.
But what use was knowing that?
Would Koenji Rokosuke listen to him even if he said something?
"Try to take the lead within five innings."
Horikita Manabu thought for a moment and said that.
At the same time, in Aoba's bullpen:
"I don't care how you do it, but within five innings, don't let them widen the gap. Keep it tight!"
Coach Amatani Kensuke instructed the team.
"After five innings, that's when we counterattack."
"The game will be decided in those five innings, got it?"
"Yes!"
The Aoba players were united, seemingly unfazed by Takashi's absence.
"Let's go!!!"
"Yeah!!!"
The Aoba players charged onto the field like they were on a high.
As the camera shifted to the players, Takashi and Amatani Kensuke exchanged a cold stare from across the field, then quickly looked away, both still clearly at odds.
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Lmao they're like a child.
But every man out there is probably just a boy with responsibilities.
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