"We won!!"
Although they had won by a wide margin, the players of Seidou High School's baseball team were still overjoyed.
They could feel it—the team they played against today was no pushover.
In the past, even if Seidou won, their opponent's resistance often made the game difficult. Whether they lost a few runs or found themselves in tough spots, it could dampen the team's momentum.
And if their momentum took a hit, it could seriously affect their performance when they faced their two archrivals later in the tournament.
In high school baseball, the game isn't just about skills—it's also about morale and spirit.
When two fearless warriors meet on a narrow path, the braver one wins.
And the team that eventually secures a ticket to Koshien usually carries an unstoppable aura.
Now, the players of Seidou High School could feel that very aura surging through them.
This year, they were going to Koshien!
"Thanks for the match!"
"Thanks for the match!!"
The players from Hachioji High School looked dusty and worn out.
They'd held onto their fighting spirit until the very end. Even after realizing they couldn't win, they still wanted to make things difficult for Seidou, to at least disrupt their rhythm.
But even that small wish wasn't granted.
Seidou was simply too strong.
So strong, in fact, that the gap between the teams seemed even wider than the one between their cheering sections in the stands.
Yamamoto's eyes were red and puffy—clearly, he had been crying.
For this third-year player, it was the last summer of his high school baseball journey. He had been the one tirelessly chasing after Seidou during the game.
And now that the game was over, it felt like all the walls he had been holding up finally collapsed.
"Congratulations!"
Yamamoto's sudden words surprised everyone—even his own teammates looked at him in shock.
If someone else had said that, it would've been understandable.
But Yamamoto?
On the field, he looked like he wanted to devour Seidou alive. No one expected him to be the first to offer his blessings.
Even the players from Seidou were caught off guard.
"I thought I'd never be able to say that," Yamamoto said with a bitter but relieved smile. "After all, you guys crushed my dream. But thinking about it now… if I had to lose to someone, I'm glad it was you. That way, I don't have any regrets."
This clean and decisive defeat had clearly helped Yamamoto see the reality of his situation.
Compared to Seidou, he was still lacking. And in that case, it was only natural for him to lose.
After speaking, Yamamoto turned to Zhou Hao.
"You're Zhou Hao, right? Congrats. I'm entrusting my dream to you—take it with you, and sail far!"
Zhou Hao's eyes lit up in surprise.
He had once been just like Yamamoto Naka—watching talented players from afar, powerless.
"Okay."
There was no hesitation in Zhou Hao's voice as he shook Yamamoto's outstretched hand.
Since heaven had granted him this chance, he was going to seize it with everything he had.
The system wasn't omnipotent—it only gave him the tools. Zhou Hao had to use them to crush all his rivals and rise to the top.
After both teams parted ways and the Seidou players changed out of their uniforms, they walked out of the locker room and were stunned by what they saw at the door.
Azuma Kiyokuni, who had opened the door first, was red in the face.
For a simple-minded athlete like Azuma Kiyokuni to get flustered, it had to be something serious.
The rest of the team peeked out through the doorway—and froze.
Standing there was a breathtaking beauty with a cool, elegant aura.
Her skin was smooth and fair, her features exquisitely delicate, and her figure graceful. She wore tasteful makeup and a pair of sleek high heels that accentuated her long legs.
At the moment, she was narrowing her eyes and tilting her head slightly as she spoke to Azuma Kiyokuni.
"You're Azuma, right? I saw your home run earlier—it was amazing!"
She even gave him a thumbs-up as she said it.
"I-I..."
Azuma Kiyokuni, usually the loud and boisterous type, was now utterly tongue-tied.
His teammates, hiding behind the door, tried to stifle their laughter.
But if they were in his shoes, they wouldn't be much better. This woman's presence was powerful enough to make anyone lose their cool.
"Who are you here for?"
Thankfully, Chris stepped in, rescuing Azuma Kiyokuni from further embarrassment.
"I'm Suzuhara Ai, a reporter from Baseball Weekly."
She smiled warmly. "Once you guys get on the bus, other reporters will crowd around. I can't compete with them, so I thought I'd sneak in early. May I have the honor of conducting a quick exclusive interview?"
How could a group of hot-blooded teenage boys refuse such a request from such a beauty?
"We—uh—need our coach's permission..."
Yuki, ever the stickler for rules, tried to object.
But in this situation, no one was going to listen to a second-year player's protests.
"Reporter-san, ask away!"
"We'll give you the inside scoop!"
Zhou Hao watched the scene unfold and chuckled silently.
Looks really do have power.
He had experienced it himself—thanks to his good looks, he'd enjoyed some unexpected advantages in life.
This reporter, Suzuhara Ai, clearly knew how to use her charm to get results.
Once the players gave their okay, Suzuhara Ai pulled out her recorder.
"I know you're short on time, so I'll be quick. Just a few questions."
She looked at Azuma Kiyokuni. "First—how did it feel to hit that home run?"
"Awesome!"
Azuma Kiyokuni's face lit up as he recalled the moment he smashed the ball out of the park.
It was a highlight of his entire high school baseball career.
"The Seidou team seems really fired up this year. Azuma-kun is in great form too. What are your goals?"
"Dominate the country!"
Azuma raised one finger with fiery determination in his eyes.
In the past, he might have just wanted to make it to the semifinals.
But now? Now he believed in their team's slogan.
This year, they were going to Koshien—and they were going to take it all.
Suzuhara Ai nodded, satisfied with his answers. Her gaze soon shifted—and locked onto Zhou Hao.
"Zhou-kun, you're even more handsome than in your photos."
She smiled. "As Seidou's secret weapon, how did it feel to take the mound for the first time in a big tournament?"
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POWER STONE!!!
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