The white baseball shot toward home plate like a bullet.
In the stands, Seidou High School's supporters held their breath. Their hearts pounded, and their palms were slick with sweat.
They were all fans of Zhou Hao.
They all believed in his near-superhuman ability.
But this time... the situation looked far too risky.
The ball hadn't traveled far, and the Ikeda High School fielders were lightning-quick. It was clear how much sweat and effort they'd poured into practice. Though they were labeled a "dark horse," their overall strength was nothing to scoff at.
A steal attempt here?
Zhou Hao's decision seemed reckless—irrational, even.
Yet, as they watched him dash forward, most Seidou fans understood.
The Ikeda team had been pressing Seidou hard all game.
Their batting lineup might not have been terrifying, but their Ace and defense were exceptional—comparable, in fact, to Osaka Kiryu's team from last year.
In terms of defensive prowess alone, Ikeda could already rival the so-called "Universe Teams."
Naturally, scoring against them wouldn't come easy.
And as Seidou's Ace, how could Zhou Hao possibly let a scoring chance slip by?
The entire stadium was on edge.
"Thwack!"
The Ikeda High School catcher caught the throw from the outfield cleanly, his glove snapping shut with a sharp sound. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by fierce determination.
Even heaven itself seemed to favor them—he'd caught the ball perfectly.
"Zhou Hao!"
That name had already become a nightmare echoing in the hearts of Ikeda's players.
"We will never lose to you!"
With a snarl, the catcher turned, glove outstretched.
He'd tracked Zhou Hao's position with his peripheral vision.
If his timing was right, his glove would tag Zhou Hao just in time.
But then—
A blur of motion.
A shadow flashed past him.
"What the—?"
For a heartbeat, the catcher thought his eyes had betrayed him.
Something had zipped past—too fast for him to even comprehend.
By the time he blinked, Zhou Hao's shadow had vanished.
Only the echo of rushing footsteps remained.
And then—
"Safe!"
The umpire's call was drowned out by an eruption of cheers that shook the stands.
"Safe! Zhou Hao scores!"
"Congratulations to Seidou High School for their second run!"
"From the Third Batter's hit-and-run to the Fourth Batter's powerful line drive—two upperclassmen perfectly set the stage for Zhou Hao's dash home!"
From the commentator's voice, it all sounded orchestrated—a flawless, predesigned play that only elite national teams could pull off.
In truth?
It was pure instinct.
This was the natural chemistry of Seidou's three core batters—so skilled that even when pressured, they could still find a way to shatter a deadlock.
The scoreboard now read 2–0.
Ikeda's players stood frozen.
Their offensive power had always been their weakest point. What made them a "dark horse" was their defense—and their Ace, Akahoshi. Through relentless training and discipline, they'd forged an impenetrable wall against stronger teams.
But no matter how strong their defense, one thing remained clear:
Their hitting simply couldn't keep up.
When the deficit was only one run, they still had hope—
The determination to tie, maybe even overtake.
But with two runs down?
Their odds had dropped to nearly zero.
And with Seidou as their opponent—
With Zhou Hao standing on the mound?
Their chance at a comeback had practically evaporated.
"This… this isn't how it's supposed to go…"
The score stood at 2–0.
Though Akahoshi had managed to retire Seidou's fifth batter, the tension in Ikeda's dugout was suffocating. Their players' expressions were stiff, the fire in their eyes dimming.
They all knew it.
Time—and opportunity—were slipping away.
Meanwhile, the stands were roaring with excitement.
"That speed was insane!"
"It's like he disappeared!"
"The Ikeda catcher didn't even react! He just—slipped past him!"
"As expected of Zhou Hao—he's truly an all-around monster!"
Even Seidou's own bench was buzzing in disbelief.
They practiced with Zhou Hao every single day—
And yet, not one of them had ever realized he could move like that.
"Hey, come clean—were you holding back this whole time?"
"Or did you eat something that turned you into a superhuman?"
Surrounded by teasing and amazed faces, Zhou Hao could only sigh helplessly.
Honestly, he understood them.
If someone else on the team had suddenly displayed such superhuman progress, he'd probably be asking the same thing.
"I don't know either," he said, scratching his head. "It just… clicked. Suddenly, my body felt lighter—and faster."
Whether they believed it or not, that was the only answer Zhou Hao could give.
And truthfully, it was the only answer that made sense.
"Alright, enough talk," Coach Kataoka's calm, commanding voice cut through the chatter. "Get ready to take the field."
Though he was just as curious as the rest, he wasn't one to pry.
If Zhou Hao didn't want to explain—or couldn't explain—it was pointless to force the issue.
There were more important things to focus on now.
The game moved into the top of the fifth inning, with the Ikeda High School Baseball Team stepping up to bat once more.