In the stands, many people were discussing excitedly, clearly not having anticipated such a spectacular scene unfolding on the field.
Originally, everyone thought it was already a tremendous stroke of luck for the Seido High School Baseball Team to score two runs at the very beginning.
After all, their opponent was not just any random team, but Shinko High School—one of the nation's top powerhouses.
Against such an opponent, gaining an advantage was extremely difficult. And even if an advantage was gained, Seido High School Baseball Team was not expected to have an easy time. They would inevitably have to pay a price and expend tremendous effort.
Moreover, even after paying that price and putting in the hard work, the final result was still uncertain.
A lead at the start was only temporary, and it was impossible to say who would ultimately benefit more.
Shouldn't a clash between powerhouses be like this—blades clashing, fists colliding?
Especially on the Koshien field, every team is extraordinarily cautious. The tactics they employ and the mindset they maintain during the game are on an entirely different level compared to other matches.
Everyone who stands here is a chosen one. Suppressing the opponent is never easy.
In the audience's imagination, this game should have been a head-on collision between the strongest spear and the strongest shield—an evenly matched struggle between two giants.
Even if Seido High School Baseball Team gained an early advantage, no one believed they would be able to win this game easily.
Yet no one expected that just when most people thought Seido's offense had come to a halt, a new wave of excitement would suddenly erupt.
That feeling was simply too exhilarating.
Although it differed slightly from the kind of game they had originally envisioned, no one minded. If every powerhouse clash followed the same rigid script, wouldn't it become dull?
This unexpected turn of events was thrilling—intensely so.
Shinko High School refused to accept being at a disadvantage and chose to confront Seido High School Baseball Team's powerful hitters head-on.
This choice could not be called wrong. In fact, it made a great deal of sense.
But the final result showed no mercy.
They were taught a harsh lesson by a two-run home run from Seido's strong hitter.
And that hitter was still a first-year rookie.
Wasn't that explosive enough?
But that wasn't even the most shocking part.
The most shocking fact was that this rookie had hit a grand slam and a timely hit in the previous game.
In other words, in the last game alone, this rookie from Seido High School had scored a total of five runs.
Now, in today's game, he added another two-run home run.
Seven runs.
Seido High School Baseball Team had received a bye in the first round, meaning they played one fewer game than most other teams.
Even so, among all the players so far, only this rookie had managed to score seven runs.
He was undeniably the number-one player—the one with the most runs in Koshien.
And with two home runs, Zhang Han had already tied the all-time record for first-year rookies at Koshien.
Previously, the highest record was only two home runs.
That record had now been tied by Zhang Han.
And judging by the quality of those two home runs, Zhang Han had even surpassed his predecessors.
For a first-year rookie to hit two home runs at Koshien was the highest existing record.
However, this record was not unique to one person. In the past, several brilliant rookies had also achieved this feat after reaching Koshien.
This record had stood for many years—tied repeatedly, but never broken.
In recent years, the training systems of powerhouse schools had grown increasingly intense, leaving fewer and fewer opportunities for rookies.
For several years straight, no rookie with the potential to break this record had emerged.
Yet Zhang Han, having played only two games with Seido, had already hit two home runs and tied the record.
Given the potential he had displayed, and the overall strength of Seido High School, he had an excellent chance of setting a new record.
Not just setting it—he had the potential to push it to an even higher level.
"Even if some people don't like it, there's probably no way to stop Zhang-san's brilliance now."
A reporter quietly wrote these words in his notebook.
He firmly believed that as time passed, more and more people would come to recognize Zhang Han's shining qualities.
As long as this player did not suffer an early setback and his development remained smooth, his future achievements would undoubtedly be limitless.
When Zhang Han returned to the dugout, the eyes of the upperclassmen around him carried a strange glint.
Zhang Han's heart skipped a beat.
Relatively speaking, he was already quite familiar with these teammates. Each of his upperclassmen carried themselves with pride, their eyes practically fixed above their heads. Although many of them privately admitted they were not as good as him, they would never show even the slightest hint of it on their faces.
As absolute mainstays of the powerhouse Seido High School Baseball Team, they had their own pride.
They believed themselves to be the best. Making them openly admire someone else was harder than killing them.
So no matter how well Zhang Han had performed before, these upperclassmen had always seemed indifferent—at least from Zhang Han's perspective.
They would be happy like ordinary teammates, celebrating for the team as a whole.
But now, Zhang Han could clearly see undisguised envy—and even a trace of jealousy—in their eyes.
"What did I do?"
Zhang Han was genuinely puzzled.
He had merely helped the team score two runs. Even if they didn't come over to congratulate him, did they really need to look at him like that?
"You kid… do you have any idea how much resentment you're stirring up?"
Azuma Kiyokuni had hit three home runs so far—one more than Zhang Han.
Naturally, he was also a hot commodity now. Several professional baseball teams had privately expressed interest in him, far more than before. Although he had already been somewhat famous before reaching Koshien, he had never received this level of attention.
Koshien truly lived up to its reputation.
This was the golden path. Only by walking this path could one truly make a name for themselves.
Azuma Kiyokuni had no complaints about himself.
Originally, he had thought he could properly suppress the arrogance of the two juniors and let them know who Seido's strongest hitter really was.
He never expected things to turn out like this.
Although he had hit more home runs, Zhang Han had stolen even more of the spotlight.
No matter how many home runs Azuma hit, he was still far from the third-year record of seven home runs.
But Zhang Han had already tied the rookie record.
And if Seido High School Baseball Team continued to advance…
Azuma didn't dare say Zhang Han would break the record with absolute certainty—but the possibility was very real.
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