Whether or not they would get the chance to play this year—

The three first-year rookies of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team couldn't help but pay attention.

Even if they weren't sent out this season, it was only a matter of time.

By next year, they would definitely become the team's new core.

Just like Zhou Hao and Miyuki Kazuya—two first-years who had already made waves at Seidou High School.

Zhou Hao, in particular, needed no introduction.

Once just a relief pitcher, he had quickly grown into Seidou's true Ace.

Of course, that rise didn't happen in a vacuum.

A key reason was that Seidou lacked a truly dependable Ace pitcher before him.

It wasn't that their existing pitchers lacked skill.

They were undeniably talented—after all, you don't make Seidou's roster without serious ability.

But what they lacked was reliability.

Take Yoshida, Seidou's former number-one pitcher.

When he was in form, Yoshida pitched at a national level—

fastballs with sharp angles, difficult to hit cleanly.

Even if you made contact, it usually ended in a weak fly or grounder.

But on his bad days?

He'd drop to a second-rate level.

Over the course of many games, Seidou had paid the price for this inconsistency.

Though Yoshida had grown and matured,

and though his "bad days" had become fewer and farther between…

That unpredictability still lingered.

Even when not at his best, Yoshida could now adjust quickly—

Like in their earlier game against Seikou Academy, where he gave up two home runs but then stabilized.

Had they let him continue that game, Seidou might've even blown out their opponent.

But even brief lapses like that were enough to rattle a team's confidence—especially against tough opponents.

And that's why Zhou Hao's presence was such a game-changer.

Despite being a first-year with limited stamina,

Zhou Hao gave the entire team peace of mind.

As long as he stood on the mound,

the players of Seidou felt—no matter how tough the game—they would win.

Miyuki Kazuya, though not as flashy, was just as impressive.

Had it not been for Chris, Miyuki likely would've been the starting catcher already.

He not only had sharp baseball instincts,

but also proved his batting strength, hitting a home run as a pinch hitter in a critical moment.

Both Zhou Hao and Miyuki were first-years, yet they had already earned the trust of upperclassmen and coaches alike.

And so the three first-year newcomers of Inashiro, who had equally famous reputations in middle school, couldn't help but be competitive.

In fact, some even rated them higher than Miyuki back then.

They weren't going to sit quietly and accept being benched.

"Tokyo's Prince Narumiya Mei, the speed demon Carlos, and the tactician Shirakawa—

if we run into them, we can't afford to be careless!"

While Seidou discussed Inashiro,

Inashiro had also been observing Seidou—in person.

Their players had watched Seidou's game firsthand, and were shocked by their explosive power.

"They haven't made it to Koshien for years…"

"But this year's Seidou feels… different."

"That aura—they're not just aiming for the top four."

"We should treat them as Koshien-level opponents already."

In the locker room, the towering Coach Kunimoto addressed his team.

Usually known for being curt and to the point, he was now giving detailed instructions.

Even though his face remained calm, the players could sense his rare seriousness.

"Narumiya Mei, Carlos, Shirakawa… be ready."

"When the time is right, I'll put you in."

This year, Seidou's pressure was clearly greater than any year before.

Even Inashiro, long known as West Tokyo's ruler, couldn't take them lightly.

"Relax, Coach," said Narumiya Mei, grinning with arrogant confidence.

"It's just Seidou, isn't it? Just let me pitch. I'll handle it."

His words instantly drew ire from Inashiro's current Ace.

"You brat… trying to steal my spot already?"

Unlike Seidou's formerly unstable Ace rotation,

Inashiro always had reliable aces.

It was one of the reasons for their sustained dominance in West Tokyo.

Their core strength never fluctuated.

"Everyone go get some rest," Coach Kunimoto concluded.

"I want you all in top condition for tomorrow."

"Yes, sir!"

After the team dispersed, Kunimoto stayed behind in the office,

quietly organizing Seidou's scouting reports.

Many admired Inashiro's seemingly effortless dominance—

but few knew how much work Kunimoto put in behind the scenes.

"Director, it's late. You've studied every file there is—

the rest will be decided on the field," said the club's balding manager respectfully.

"I'll be right there," Kunimoto replied, cracking his neck with a sharp pop.

He stood and closed the report.

The last page he had been looking at was a full dossier on Zhou Hao.

In the top left corner of the document:

Zhou Hao's photo.

Below it:

Notes on his batting tendencies, pitching mechanics, and pitch types—

detailed, comprehensive… and circled in red ink.

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