Meiji Jingu Second Stadium.
"Azuma!!"
"Yuki!!"
"Nanjo!!"
"Coach Kataoka!!"
"Seidou!!"
As the Seidou bus pulled up outside the stadium, cheers immediately erupted from the crowd of supporters waiting nearby. Many waved banners and called out the players' names with excitement.
"Tsk tsk, this atmosphere... and it's only the fourth round," Kanzaki Ryou said with a grin as he stepped off the bus, taking in the sight.
"It'll be even crazier if we make it to the finals," Miyuki replied.
"I'm kind of looking forward to it," Kanzaki chuckled.
At 10 AM sharp, the fourth round of the Spring Tokyo Tournament officially began.
Seidou High School's match was the first game of the day — their opponent, Towa High School.
Seidou took the first-base dugout, while Towa occupied the third. Seidou would bat first.
"Tokyo Spring Tournament, Fourth Round, Game One," the announcer declared. "Seidou High School versus Towa High School — the game begins now!"
As the broadcast ended, a wave of cheers swept through the stands.
On Towa's side, their director stood by the dugout, shouting encouragement. Facing one of Tokyo's Four Giants — Seidou — was no easy feat.
"Go, kids!"
"Yes!!"
The nine starters ran out onto the field, full of determination.
Despite their underdog status, not a single player backed down.
On Seidou's side, fighting spirit burned just as fiercely.
"Shida, swing when you see your pitch — don't hold back," Coach Kataoka instructed before the game.
Today, they had to seize the lead early.
"Yes, Coach!"
Shida Shota, the leadoff batter, gripped his bat tightly as he stepped into the batter's box. Behind him waited Nanjo Taishi, the second batter.
On the bench, Kanzaki Ryou and Miyuki Kazuya sat side by side, silently rooting for their seniors.
Whether they would see playing time today depended on how well the first lineup performed early on.
"Towa's ace pitcher, Takano Kento, third-year," Chris muttered beside them while flipping through his small notebook. "Max velocity, 139 km/h. Average 136. Main weapons — forkball and high-speed slider."
"Ryou, if you were the leadoff batter, how would you approach this pitcher?" Chris asked suddenly.
The question caught Kanzaki off guard. After thinking for a moment, he replied,
"I'd swing at the first pitch. His velocity isn't that fast, so he'll rely on mixing his fastball and slider to confuse batters. But I doubt he'd open with a slider."
He paused, eyes narrowing. "I'd expect it to be a fastball, probably outside."
Chris nodded slightly, then turned to Miyuki. "What about you? If you were the catcher, would you call an inside or outside pitch first?"
Miyuki blinked, surprised to be dragged into the conversation. After a moment's thought, he smirked.
"Outside," he said. "You test the batter's reach first."
Standing near the dugout, Coach Kataoka overheard their discussion and gave a satisfied nod before focusing his attention back on the field.
The crowd roared.
Play ball!
Crack!
The sound of the bat echoed through the stadium as Shida Shota connected with the first pitch, sending the ball flying into the outfield.
"Run, Shida!"
"Go, go!"
The Seidou supporters erupted, their voices shaking the air.
The ball landed safely, and Shida reached first base with ease — a perfect start.
"Nice hit!"
Towa's players shouted encouragement to their ace, trying to calm him down.
But Seidou wasn't slowing down.
The second batter, Nanjo Taishi, smashed an inside pitch right through Towa's infield defense, advancing the runners.
Then came Yuki Tetsuya. After missing two pitches, he finally connected on the third — a slider — sending it to right field and loading the bases.
The crowd went wild.
No outs, bases loaded.
And stepping up next — Seidou's cleanup hitter, Azuma Kiyokuni — the monstrous slugger who had already hit 37 home runs in his high school career.
"Ya hahaha~!"
With his trademark laugh, Azuma strode into the batter's box, exuding overwhelming confidence.
"Azuma!"
"Blast it out!"
"Number 38!"
The cheers shook the stadium.
On the mound, Takano Kento exhaled shakily, sweat dripping down his neck. The pressure was suffocating.
"Don't be afraid! Pitch to him!"
"Go, Kento!"
He clenched his fist and threw.
Crack!
The sound was sharp — like a gunshot.
Azuma's bat connected perfectly, sending the ball soaring high into the sky.
The left fielder sprinted desperately, eyes locked on the white speck — but it was hopeless.
The ball sailed over his head, into the stands.
Grand Slam Home Run!
The stadium exploded with cheers.
Seidou's dugout roared, and the runners jogged leisurely across home plate one after another.
Four runs — in one swing.
"This lineup is too strong," Kanzaki said, watching his seniors dominate.
"Yeah," Miyuki nodded, eyes narrowing. "Too strong."
He glanced at Kanzaki. Even among such monsters, Kanzaki could still hold his own — even when limited to a few pitches.
This guy's a monster too.
On the mound, Takano Kento stood frozen, his spirit shattered.
They had fought so hard to reach the quarterfinals — only to be crushed the moment they faced a true powerhouse.
So this was the difference between them…
These were the Four Giants of Tokyo.
----------------
Support me at patréon com/DaoOfPeeking