"Coach, I!"
Respect was respect, but competition was competition—
Ever since joining the Seidō High School Baseball Team, Miyuki Kazuya had never once lowered his ambitions.
He wanted to knock Chris out of the starting catcher position.
And now, Chris had spoken first—calm, composed, and with solid reasoning.
Not only the players, even Coach Kataoka looked at him in a new light.
This can't do…!
If things continued like this, Chris would take the catcher's spot for the final without question.
Miyuki needed to say something insightful—something that would force Coach Kataoka to reconsider.
"What are your thoughts? Speak your mind."
For catchers, developing counter-strategies against opponents wasn't just basic homework—it was a fundamental skill.
Chris's analysis was spot-on, and he had a deep trust in their Ace, Zhou Hao.
He wasn't worried about the final against Seibō High at all.
As long as Zhou Hao pitched at his best, the opponent wouldn't be able to cause much trouble.
The Seidō players agreed.
At this stage, both teams had already exposed most of their trump cards.
There was no room for surprises anymore.
Everything would be decided by pure strength.
And in that regard—Seidō had absolute confidence.
Even Miyuki thought the same.
The final would be a head-on clash.
Seibō's Ace was one of the Three Star Pitchers—definitely not someone to underestimate.
They didn't know the full scope of his ability yet, but after facing Kuroda and Akutsu, they could more or less imagine the pressure.
But Seidō had Zhou Hao—who was absolutely on par, if not superior, to any Ace they might face.
This was why Chris's strategy made perfect sense.
But Miyuki couldn't just repeat it.
If he did, why would Coach Kataoka pick him over Chris?
He needed a different angle.
He needed to stand out.
"I think relying solely on the Spiral Ball isn't the only way to shut down their lineup. We can completely disrupt their rhythm by mixing Spiral Balls with breaking pitches."
Everyone turned to him.
Using the Spiral Ball was the safest tactic.
Zhou Hao hadn't pitched in the semifinals, and he had previous records of complete games.
It was natural to assume he could keep throwing Spiral Balls without issue.
Even Zhou Hao himself believed so.
But Miyuki suddenly suggested something else.
Was it a genuine insight?
Or was he just trying to stand out?
Still… no one could blame him.
He was a star player too.
And if they were in his shoes, they would also fight for this last opportunity.
Coach Kataoka nodded, inviting him to continue.
"Chris-senpai is right—we're down to pure strength. And in that, we have the advantage. But it's better to be safe than sorry—"
At those words alone, the atmosphere shifted.
"Seibō's Ace may not be as well-known as Kuroda or Akutsu, but his improvement is real. Especially in the quarterfinals and semifinals—his dominance actually surpassed Kuroda. We can't assume he won't get even stronger mid-game. With Zhou Hao, we don't have to worry about giving up runs early. But what about later? What if it goes to extra innings?"
Silence fell.
It was a valid concern.
Kuroda and Akutsu had traumatized the team enough.
Those two games were the ones where Seidō scored the fewest runs.
Simply because the opposing pitchers were too strong.
The possibility of not scoring in regular innings was very real.
"And in the game where Zhou Hao pitched a complete match, he used a lot of decoy pitches. If we rely too heavily on the Spiral Ball, can he endure it for nine innings? We can't say for sure. Mixing pitches keeps us flexible."
Chris wanted to roll his eyes.
Miyuki made excellent points—no one could deny that.
But he conveniently twisted the idea.
Even if he were the catcher, he wouldn't obsess over the Spiral Ball either.
But Miyuki spoke first.
That was the difference.
This kouhai of his—not only did he compete fairly, he was also the type who would never let the moment slip.
Coach Kataoka nodded again.
"Your analysis makes sense. Specific situations require specific responses—"
The players raised their eyebrows.
Did Miyuki's speech… actually work?
"Chris, you're catching tomorrow. Be mentally prepared to conserve the Ace's stamina as much as possible."
And there it was.
Miyuki froze.
The others barely held back their laughter.
After all that effort… he had built a wedding dress for Chris.
Clearly, Coach Kataoka had already made up his mind.
"Yes, sir!"
Chris stood straight, his expression solemn.
This opportunity was rare.
And he would not—could not—let it slip.
Players gave each other looks.
They glanced at Chris.
They glanced at Miyuki.
Miyuki, sharp-tongued and often disrespectful to his seniors, was finally eating dirt.
It was refreshing.
But they tried not to show it too obviously.
When the discussion cycle finished, Coach Kataoka finally faced Zhou Hao.
Who was most important for tomorrow's match?
Without a doubt—Zhou Hao.
He was the core of the entire final.
Zhou Hao stood up before being called.
"As the Ace—do you have confidence?"
All he needed was a simple "yes."
But Zhou Hao wasn't a man of simple answers.
He looked around, then bowed slightly.
"Behind me, I have the best defense in the world. And the most reliable seniors. Because of them, I can pitch without hesitation."
The players felt something warm swell in their chests.
Zhou Hao rarely needed defensive backup.
But that was exactly why staying sharp was even harder.
Being ready for that one unexpected ball—it wasn't easy.
And yet, he recognized their efforts.
"With everyone here, I fear nothing."
Zhou Hao's tone suddenly grew powerful.
"No matter who we face tomorrow—we will win!"
"We will dominate the nation!"
His shout made their blood boil.
Someone whispered,
"I feel like Zhou-san is glowing…"
"You're a senpai, he's a kouhai! Don't call him Zhou-san—call him Zhou-chan!"
Azuma Kiyokuni burst into applause, and everyone followed.
Even the hotel staff felt their hearts stir and joined in.
Coach Kataoka watched Zhou Hao, pride swelling in his chest.
Before, the backbone of the team was Azuma.
But now… the pillar, the core, the one everyone looked to—
Was Zhou Hao.
That night, few players slept.
Some went out to practice swings.
Some lay awake, restless with anticipation.
But Zhou Hao slept soundly.
Miyuki looked at him and felt a mix of awe and bafflement.
This guy… is on a different level.
The next morning, an unusually cool breeze welcomed them.
Perfect baseball weather.
The players felt refreshed the moment they stepped outside.
"This is perfect for a game!"
As their bus arrived at Koshien, a river of spectators flowed into the stadium.
"It might be full today…"
Of course.
Today's final would be watched nationwide.
Azuma led the team forward.
"Let's go. Time to get ready."