The Tokyo Spring Tournament Final between the Seido High School Baseball Team and the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team was held as scheduled.
Ten minutes before the game even began, the stadium was already packed with spectators.
For fans who truly understood high school baseball, they knew one thing very clearly:
Even if these two teams met in the final, neither side would necessarily go all out.
In similar situations over the past few years, the finals of the Spring Tournament had often turned into matches between substitute players.
Everyone was already used to it.
Yet no one expected that the stands would be filled before the game even started.
"It's magnificent!"
Akiko, the beautiful reporter from Baseball Kingdom, raised a hand to shield her eyes as she looked around the stadium.
Her voice was filled with genuine surprise.
Before arriving, she had already researched the background of the Spring Tournament finals.
Logically speaking, such a relatively insignificant game shouldn't have attracted such a massive crowd.
How could she not feel curious?
Hearing her words, Fujio also carefully observed the surroundings before nodding.
"It really is magnificent."
Even he hadn't expected such a grand scene.
By all logic, today's game shouldn't have been this lively.
But sometimes logic simply didn't apply.
After all, the two teams playing today were Seido and Inashiro Industrial.
One was the national champion, while the other was the Spring Koshien runner-up.
Even if the absolute main players didn't take the field, the game itself would still be exciting.
Missing a matchup between these two teams would definitely feel like a loss.
Otherwise, why would reporters from Baseball Kingdom personally come to cover the game?
"Perhaps today's match will be different from what we expected."
Fujio suddenly said.
And his prediction was soon confirmed.
When the starting lineups of both teams appeared on the stadium's big screen, the crowd erupted in shock.
"Oh my god—have you seen the lineup?!"
Before the game even officially began, the names of the starting nine from both teams were already displayed.
Every single one of them was a core member of their respective teams.
The moment the audience saw the lineup, they immediately realized something.
This final—which many people originally thought would be insignificant—
Was going to become an extremely intense game.
On the field, the two head coaches exchanged a brief glance.
Kataoka
and
Kunimoto
There had been no prior communication between them.
No discussion.
No secret agreement.
Yet the moment they saw each other's lineup, they both understood.
Their thoughts had coincidentally aligned.
While preserving their Ace pitchers, both teams had decided to fight this match seriously.
Even if their hidden strategies and tactical arrangements were exposed in front of reporters and rival teams watching from the stands—
Neither coach cared.
They both had absolute confidence in their Aces.
After all, with their Ace on the mound, their teams would become completely different monsters.
Even if today's strength was seen through by everyone—
When they met again in the future, the opponent would still have to face a stronger version of them.
"This game is going to be tough."
In Seido's dugout, Kuramochi stared at the big screen and clicked his tongue.
Kuramochi Yoichi curled his lips slightly, a teasing smile on his face.
"Do you think our coach secretly discussed this with Coach Kunimoto beforehand?"
Although he sounded playful, his tone carried a hint of seriousness.
Beside him, Zhou Hao rolled his eyes so dramatically they nearly reached the sky.
Even though he had a good relationship with Kuramochi, he really didn't want to answer such a ridiculous question.
Clearly, he wasn't the only one who felt that way.
The other Seido players quietly turned their heads away.
No one wanted to respond.
"Get ready!"
Despite this being considered a relatively unimportant final, the players of both teams were unusually serious.
They shouted their slogans loudly as they charged onto the field.
"Charge!"
"Let's go!!"
Both teams lined up across from each other.
Forty players stood face-to-face.
Then they bowed.
"Please guide us!"
"PLEASE GUIDE US!!"
Their voices echoed across the stadium.
The fans in the stands felt their blood start to boil.
Yes.
This was exactly the feeling they had come for.
"So today's ticket wasn't wasted after all!"
"I knew something interesting would happen when these two teams met."
"Substitutes don't even have the right to play in a game like this."
"That's right. This isn't a stage for substitutes."
The crowd murmured excitedly.
No one truly wanted to pay money just to watch a game played entirely by substitute players.
Even if they had mentally prepared themselves for that possibility before arriving—
It didn't mean they actually wanted it.
But now it seemed that the pride of these two powerhouse schools was far greater than expected.
Even in a final that seemed insignificant, they were still willing to shoulder the responsibility that came with their reputation.
After the coin toss, Inashiro Industrial won the right to bat first.
Top of the first inning.
The starting pitcher for Seido High School stepped onto the mound.
The stadium announcer's voice rang out clearly.
"Starting pitcher for Seido High School—"
"First-year, Furuya Satoru!"
Furuya Satoru
The announcement immediately caused a stir.
To be honest, the players of Inashiro Industrial hadn't expected this choice.
And they weren't the only ones surprised.
Even the Seido players watching from the stands looked stunned.
The notice about the starting lineup had only been given to the main team the previous night.
Those sitting in the stands belonged to the second string and third string squads.
Naturally, they hadn't been informed.
"Didn't they say Senior Zhou Hao would pitch?"
"No need to use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken."
"But this guy's luck is unbelievable… getting the first turn on the mound."
From the stands, someone clicked their tongue.
Nearby, Sawamura Eijun watched with visible jealousy in his eyes.
Sawamura Eijun
He had already been promoted to the First String roster.
But because he didn't yet have an official jersey number, he still couldn't play.
If he were the one standing on that mound right now—
Maybe he would also have a chance to prove himself.
The more he thought about it, the more unwilling he felt.
"Sawamura-kun… the flames burning around you are practically scorching me."
A gentle voice sounded beside him.
It was Kominato Haruichi.
Kominato Haruichi
Sawamura wasn't the only one who wanted to wear the blue-and-white uniform and play on the field.
Haruichi felt the same way.
Unfortunately, just like Sawamura, he also didn't have a jersey number.
All he could do was watch from the stands.
And that feeling…
From now on, he had to work harder.
Harder than ever.
"First batter—Carlos!"
The first batter for the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team stepped up to the plate.
It was the mixed-race outfielder, Carlos.
Carlos
With his dark skin and long limbs, he resembled a black leopard ready to pounce.
Every movement of his body radiated explosive power.
Facing such an opponent, Furuya Satoru, standing on the pitcher's mound, felt a trace of uneasiness.
Furuya Satoru
However, his usual expressionless face hid those emotions well.
From the outside, he looked calm and composed.
But anyone who truly knew him could tell—
His movements were slightly stiff.
Furuya wound up and fired the pitch.
"Whoosh!"
The moment the ball left his hand, the catcher squatting behind the plate narrowed his eyes.
Miyuki Kazuya instantly noticed something wrong.
This pitch is too stiff…
It lacked Furuya's usual natural rhythm.
Coach Kataoka should have considered the pitcher's condition when deciding the starting pitcher.
After all, their opponent was Inashiro Industrial, and Furuya had very little experience in high-pressure games.
Ideally, he should have entered the game as a reliever or closer.
If Seido had already built a lead, Furuya could pitch with much less pressure.
In that situation, his performance would surely be better.
But now…
Furuya clearly hadn't fully adapted yet.
His nervousness directly affected the quality of his pitch.
Why would Coach make this decision?
Miyuki couldn't understand.
But before he could think further, the baseball had already reached the plate.
Carlos, who originally had no intention of swinging, suddenly changed his mind.
He couldn't just watch this pitch pass by.
Against a powerful pitcher, ignoring a hittable pitch would almost be disrespectful.
Once he missed this opportunity, another one might never come.
If this pitch is coming to me… I can't be blamed.
Locking onto the ball's trajectory, Carlos decisively swung his bat.
"Ping!"
The ball bounced sharply after hitting the ground.
Carlos immediately sprinted toward first base.
The Seido fielders reacted quickly.
Unfortunately, the ball had landed in an awkward spot.
By the time they retrieved it, Carlos was already too fast.
There was no chance to stop him.
"Snap!"
"Safe!"
No outs.
Runner on first base.
The Seido supporters in the stands gasped.
It wasn't that they underestimated their opponent.
Everyone knew just how strong Inashiro Industrial was.
But the game had just begun—and they had already allowed a hit.
It still felt frustrating.
"If Senior Zhou Hao were pitching—"
The fan stopped mid-sentence and almost slapped himself.
If Zhou Hao had started the game, something like this likely wouldn't have happened.
But today's match clearly wasn't meant to be that kind of battle.
If their speculation was correct, the Aces of both teams would not pitch today.
It was a silent understanding between the national champion and the Spring Koshien runner-up.
Their true showdown would happen later—
Either in the Kanto Tournament or the Tokyo Summer Tournament.
Not here.
A Spring Tournament final simply wasn't worth exposing their ultimate trump cards.
Otherwise, not only would they reveal their strengths to each other—
They would also give valuable information to other teams watching from the stands.
Since everyone understood this, the real question now was:
How would Seido win this game with their current lineup?
"Even without Zhou Hao, there's still Tanba and Kawakami. One of them should—"
The fan suddenly stopped speaking.
If you thought about it carefully, the situation became obvious.
Why wasn't Tanba on the mound?
Tanba Koichiro
Simply put—
Coach Kataoka probably had doubts about Tanba's current condition.
It wasn't enough to shake his position as the team's second pitcher.
But clearly, the coach had begun giving opportunities to other pitchers.
Whoever performed best would rise.
And the first player to receive that chance—
Was Furuya Satoru.
Just thinking about it made people's scalps tingle.
"Is Coach Kataoka using the Spring Tournament final to train players?"
Last autumn, Seido had lost to Inashiro.
This match was supposed to be a revenge battle.
That was why so many fans had come today.
Originally, they believed they understood the situation.
But now it seemed they still didn't fully understand Coach Kataoka.
Kataoka Tesshin
Even under these circumstances, he still boldly sent a first-year rookie onto the mound.
Compared to the result of the game itself—
He valued the growth of this pitcher even more.
Even with an absolute Ace like Zhou Hao on the team, Coach Kataoka still insisted on cultivating new players.
Just that alone was enough to earn admiration.
"No wonder Seido produces so many professional players."
Fujio muttered quietly.
Now he finally understood why Seido had risen to such prominence.
As long as they continued developing players this way—
Their rise was inevitable.
And right now…
That moment had clearly arrived.
"Still… for a first-year pitcher, this situation is a bit cruel."
Furuya had only just taken the mound.
Yet he was already facing a huge challenge.
Carlos, standing on first base, moved like a restless leopard.
He constantly edged forward.
The moment Furuya pitched—
He looked ready to sprint toward second base.
"Oh no…"
Squatting behind home plate, Miyuki pressed his lips tightly together.
He understood better than anyone what this meant.
Furuya's weakness had been exposed far too early.
The players from Inashiro Industrial were incredibly sharp.
Once they sensed an opening, they would cling to it like sharks smelling blood.
Now Furuya faced an unprecedented challenge.
He wasn't just battling the batter anymore.
He also had to control the runner.
Carlos was never a passive player.
If he saw even the slightest opportunity, he would immediately steal the next base.
At that point, the test would no longer be about pitching alone.
It would become a test of game awareness and adaptability.
Their team's Ace, Zhou Hao, was nearly perfect in this regard.
Tanba struggled a bit with it—that had always been one of his weaknesses.
But as for first-year Furuya Satoru—
He simply didn't know how yet.