"Everyone, come quickly, there's a big fat pig grunting here—!"
Sawamura's furious shout split the air.
The moment the words left his mouth, the entire Seidou field fell into dead silence.
So quiet, you could hear the wind rustling against the nets.
Every player turned toward him in disbelief.
Had someone just openly mocked Azuma-senpai?
Didn't he know Azuma was a monster feared throughout Tokyo?
To insult him so casually… this wouldn't end well.
When they noticed the challenger was only a middle school visitor, most of them relaxed slightly.
A newborn calf fears no tiger—he probably had no idea who he was provoking.
"You brat… who did you just call a fat pig?"
Azuma's face twisted with rage. Gripping his bat tightly, he stepped forward, fully intent on teaching Sawamura a brutal lesson.
A moment ago, his sharp words against Kawakami had been harsh, but they weren't meant as bullying.
Azuma had analyzed all of Seidou's pitchers—Chris was still injured, Miyuki too young to shoulder everything, Tanba unreliable, Yoshida inconsistent.
In Azuma's eyes, the only one who could support Zhou Hao long-term was Kawakami.
Not as an Ace—he didn't have that ceiling.
But as a rotation and relief pitcher? He was perfect. His sidearm delivery, different flight path, and natural control gave him a unique edge.
That was why Azuma was so relentless with him. Push him hard now, and Seidou would reap the rewards later.
Kawakami understood it too. Even if Azuma's words stung, he still looked forward with determination.
But now? A countryside kid dared to interrupt, calling him a pig in front of everyone?
Unforgivable.
Rage consumed Azuma, and he raised his bat to settle the score.
"Azuma, he's just a country boy who doesn't know better. Don't stoop to his level."
Takashima Rei quickly stepped in, worried the situation would spiral.
"Even if he's from the countryside, he can't just insult me! If I don't teach him a lesson—"
Azuma's anger only flared.
But then—
"Not long ago, didn't a team get disqualified from Koshien for fighting?"
Zhou Hao's calm voice drifted from the shade.
Instantly, Azuma froze.
That reminder cut through his fury. If he started a brawl now, Seidou's entire Koshien dream could go up in smoke.
He lowered his bat, but his glare at Sawamura burned hotter than ever.
"I'll deal with you… after Koshien."
"You don't have to wait that long," Zhou Hao said lightly. "This kid's a pitcher too. Weren't you short on opponents? Let him try."
Azuma's eyes lit up instantly.
"Perfect! Kid, once you step on that mound, even if you cry and beg, I won't let you off!"
Around them, the coaches exchanged uneasy looks.
"By regulations, middle schoolers aren't allowed to practice with the high school team…" one muttered.
"Who cares about that outdated rule?" Rei countered quickly. "Plenty of combined schools train their middle and high school players together. No outsiders are here—if we keep quiet, who will ever know?"
Sawamura, however, frowned.
"Why should I play this game?"
He didn't see the point of this setup.
Rei smiled knowingly.
"Don't you want to see Seidou's strength with your own eyes? As a baseball player, nothing's clearer than a real confrontation."
Sawamura hesitated, then admitted, "But… I don't have a catcher."
Rei instantly looked troubled. Sawamura's natural breaking pitch was unique—most ordinary catchers wouldn't be able to handle it properly.
"Where are Chris and Miyuki?" she asked.
"Chris-senpai just went for rehab, and Miyuki went with him," someone answered.
Rei's brow furrowed deeply. Without either of them, Sawamura couldn't truly show his pitching.
At that moment—
"How about I do it?"
Everyone turned.
It was Zhou Hao.
Originally, he hadn't planned on getting involved. But with both Chris and Miyuki gone, curiosity won out.
Sawamura's natural breaking ball… he wanted to see it up close, with his own eyes.
"No way, that's reckless!" Rei immediately objected.
"Why not?" Zhou Hao countered coolly.
Across the field, Azuma's scowl twisted into a grin.
"Perfect! Zhou Hao, don't think I'll go easy on you!"
For Azuma, this was a golden opportunity.
One of his few regrets was never facing Zhou Hao's pitching head-on. Now, with Zhou Hao behind the plate, defeating him here would taste just as sweet.
"Two annoyances in one game? Hah… double the satisfaction!" Azuma's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Players crowded closer. Against Sawamura alone, this would've been amusing.
But with Zhou Hao crouched behind the plate?
Now this was something worth watching.
"Zhou Hao-kun…" Rei's voice carried clear worry.
But Zhou Hao simply adjusted his glove and said, steady and confident:
"Don't underestimate me. It's just a first-year's pitch. I won't let a single ball past me."
The moment those words left his mouth—
Ding!
A clear chime echoed in Zhou Hao's mind.
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