Zhou Hao holding the championship trophy and posing for a group photo soon appeared on the covers of countless magazines and newspapers.
"Seibō High School Baseball Team—The King Has Returned!!!"
"Goal Achieved! Dominating the Nation!!!"
"Congratulations to Seidou High School Baseball Team for Winning the National Championship!"
Similar headlines flooded the media.
Everywhere people looked, they were talking about the same thing.
The traditional powerhouse that had long shouted the slogan 'Conquer the Nation'—
Had finally fulfilled it.
Seidou High School Baseball Team had done what they promised.
All voices of doubt aimed at Coach Kataoka vanished overnight.
To say he was the undisputed number-one coach in the nation might still be controversial—
But no one could deny that he had firmly entered the ranks of the top coaches.
At the same time, the players of Seidou High School Baseball Team also received unprecedented attention.
Their fame skyrocketed.
From this moment on, they were no longer nameless youths—
They were stars of high school baseball.
Especially the key members of the team.
Chris Yū in his second year.
Yuki Tetsuya in his second year.
Zhou Hao in his first year.
And Miyuki Kazuya, also a first year.
Their names appeared repeatedly in reports.
And unlike third-year stars who would soon leave the stage—
They were still active high school players.
That meant the public would continue seeing them on the field.
Their influence quietly began to rival that of the three nationally recognized ace pitchers.
Among them—
Zhou Hao stood at the very center.
As Seidou's Ace, his recognition reached an almost terrifying level.
When the third-year players were still around, his brilliance was already impossible to suppress.
Now, with the conclusion of Koshien—
And the complete departure of the third-year generation—
Zhou Hao's fame surged to an unprecedented height.
He had truly become the number one figure in current high school baseball.
This honor arrived early.
But no one objected.
Looking ahead to next summer's Koshien—
Seidou High School Baseball Team was the undisputed top seed.
The most promising championship contender.
Of course, that didn't mean victory was guaranteed.
After all, Osaka Kiryu, this year's top seed, had been eliminated by Seidou in the first round.
And even if they had survived—
Facing Seibō in the finals would likely have ended the same way.
But none of that mattered right now.
What mattered—
Was reputation.
Before next summer arrived, Seidou High School Baseball Team would enjoy the glory they had earned.
That alone would greatly benefit the team and the players' futures.
And that—
Was enough.
Celebrations.
Cheers.
Excitement.
Even before returning to school, they celebrated late into the night.
Between the exhausting final and the all-night revelry, most of the players overslept.
Zhou Hao, however, woke up on time.
His biological clock refused to budge.
As soon as he moved, soreness spread throughout his body.
A complete-game duel against Seibō.
Plus an entire night without rest.
He had truly squeezed out the last drop of strength.
Even his muscles felt faintly strained.
"Even with powerful skills… this body is still mortal flesh."
Zhou Hao sighed inwardly as he forced himself upright.
He couldn't relax yet.
One national championship—
Was far from enough.
Since fate had given him such an extraordinary opportunity—
He had to lead Seidou into an era of dominance.
Not just one title.
But a dynasty.
Zhou Hao had a vague intuition—
If he could truly accomplish that—
The system would surely grant a special reward.
What kind of reward?
He didn't know.
Maybe it could even allow him to return to his original world.
Or maybe—
Thinking too far ahead was pointless.
Zhou Hao opened the door and stepped into the hotel lobby.
A familiar face was already there.
"Oh? Our Ace is up early?"
That irritating voice made Zhou Hao curl his lips instinctively.
"And you?" Zhou Hao countered.
"I thought you were so excited yesterday that you wouldn't wake up at all."
Miyuki Kazuya grinned.
Despite warming up during the finals, he never got a chance to play.
Zhou Hao and Yuki were simply too strong.
The two of them had even pulled off a walk-off bunt—
A rare ending that elevated Seidou's reputation even further.
Some fans thought it lacked domineering flair.
But to professional scouts and coaches—
It was nothing but delight.
Friendship first, competition second?
That was nonsense.
On the field, only winners mattered.
No team that lost ever thought they played "well enough."
Some leagues even shouted:
"Competition first, friendship fourteenth."
With only thirteen teams—
Friendship ranked last.
Fans loved that honesty.
They wanted players who fought for victory with everything they had.
Win—or lose trying.
For the professional world, Seidou's philosophy was crystal clear.
No wonder their players were so sought after.
"You're up early… don't tell me it's for morning practice?"
Miyuki raised an eyebrow.
"You just won the championship and still won't rest? Balance work and rest—that's the way of the king."
"You're saying that while doing the same thing?"
Zhou Hao looked at him skeptically.
Miyuki waved his hand.
"That's different. You're the unquestioned Ace. No one can shake you."
Tanba. Kawakami.
Neither could even see Zhou Hao's taillights.
But Miyuki was different.
"If I don't work harder, how am I supposed to steal Chris's catcher position?"
Zhou Hao gave him a thumbs up.
Not many people would still have ambition with Chris standing in front of them.
"That kind of competition," Zhou Hao said, "is exactly what this team needs."
"Then let's go together," Zhou Hao continued.
"I also need to make sure my Ace spot doesn't get stolen."
Just as they stood—
The lobby doors opened again.
Second-year players walked in.
Yuki Tetsuya.
Chris Yū.
Kominato Ryosuke.
Isashiki Jun.
Masuko Tōru.
Miyuki swallowed.
These seniors had gotten up even earlier.
"What are you staring at?" Isashiki said gruffly.
"Don't think this era belongs to you just because the third-years are gone."
"We are the protagonists now," Kominato said calmly.
"The seniors conquered the nation. We can't fall behind."
Miyuki smiled.
"Yes… the seniors' era."
For the first time, he felt real security.
Seidou wouldn't collapse just because the third-years left.
Successors would rise.
Zhou Hao patted Miyuki's shoulder.
"People more talented than you are working harder."
"I really feel sorry for you."
Miyuki nearly broke.
The second-years laughed without mercy.
"Let's go."
"Go!"
As the two first-years left, the second-years felt reassured.
Talent alone wasn't everything.
These two geniuses also worked relentlessly.
That—
Was Seidou's true strength.
Later, the third-years gathered.
They finally relaxed.
They had completed their mission.
The dream once left unfinished—
Had finally been fulfilled.
When the newspaper appeared on the rack—
Azuma Kiyokuni grabbed it.
The cover showed Zhou Hao holding the trophy.
Another photo showed Zhou Hao and Coach Kataoka together.
Perfectly framed.
As if they were lifting the trophy together.
Azuma flipped through every page.
No photo of him holding the trophy.
Not even one.
"…Outrageous!!!"
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A/N: Just kidding HAHAHAHA