"The Arayashiki High School baseball team — last year's top sixteen, and this year's Spring Koshien top eight."
"In terms of Koshien performance alone, they're even stronger than Inashiro Industrial High School."
After Seidou High defeated the mighty Osaka Kiryu, a quiet pride began to stir among the players.
They had conquered a national powerhouse. They'd stared down some of the country's strongest batters and emerged victorious.
Naturally, they began to believe they could stand toe-to-toe with anyone.
But the moment they started researching their next opponent, that confidence began to waver.
Arayashiki High School — a name few of them had ever paid attention to before.
And yet, the more they looked, the more shocked they became.
This was no ordinary opponent. Their record and consistency were comparable to Inashiro itself.
When the matchup was announced, the realization hit hard.
They weren't facing an underdog — they were facing another giant.
"Play ball!"
"Arayashiki High School will bat first!"
In Arayashiki's dugout, a tall man wearing glasses adjusted his cap, his gaze locked sharply on the figure standing atop the mound.
"Talk about bad luck…" he muttered.
According to their scouting and preparation, Seidou's ace, Zhou Hao, should've been completely drained after the grueling match against Osaka Kiryu.
Their entire plan revolved around that assumption.
If Seidou underestimated them and rested Zhou Hao, Arayashiki could launch a surprise attack early and build a lead before their ace entered the game.
If they could score early, their director was confident they could control the rhythm and seize the win.
But Coach Kataoka crushed that plan instantly.
Seidou's starting pitcher… was still Zhou Hao.
From the very first inning, Seidou made it clear: there would be no openings, no underestimating, no mercy.
"Even if you can't hit him," Arayashiki's director said firmly, "make him throw. The more pitches he wastes, the better."
Over 20,000 fans filled the stadium.
It wasn't quite the spectacle of Seidou vs. Osaka Kiryu, but it was still one of the most anticipated games of the day.
Other powerhouse matches couldn't compare — all eyes were on this one.
Many of Arayashiki's players had played in last year's Koshien and even reached the top eight in spring. On paper, their experience surpassed Seidou's.
And yet, the director could see the tension in their eyes.
This crowd was different.
Unlike the quiet crowds they were used to, today the stands were packed with roaring fans and flashing cameras — all drawn here because of Seidou.
Ever since defeating Osaka Kiryu, Seidou had become the new first seed, the center of national attention.
Arayashiki might have the experience, but under this kind of pressure, even veterans could lose their composure.
"You just need to focus on your game," their director said, his voice calm but firm. "Don't overthink. Play your baseball."
Top of the first inning.
Arayashiki's leadoff batter — a sturdy, broad-shouldered player — stepped into the box.
He took a deep breath, tightened his grip on the bat, and locked his eyes on Zhou Hao.
The moment he steadied himself—
Whoosh!
The baseball exploded out of Zhou Hao's hand.
The batter's pupils shrank.
He had been expecting Zhou Hao's devastating Spiral Ball, that monster pitch that had shredded Osaka Kiryu's lineup. They'd all studied it in detail and even prepared countermeasures.
But the pitch coming at him now… wasn't a Spiral Ball.
It was a Straight Fastball.
"Is he… looking down on me?" the batter thought bitterly.
Still, he didn't swing.
Thwack!
"Strike!"
The ball landed neatly in Miyuki's glove — Seidou's starting catcher for this game, replacing Chris.
Miyuki nodded, a confident smirk crossing his face as he tossed the ball back to Zhou Hao.
Zhou Hao caught it smoothly, his expression unreadable.
He didn't hesitate.
Whoosh!
Another pitch came, just as fast. Another straight ball.
The batter's fingers twitched. The urge to swing burned inside him.
They knew the Spiral Ball was practically unhittable, even for Osaka Kiryu's cleanup hitters.
But a fastball? That was supposed to be their chance.
Besides, they knew the Spiral Ball came with a price — it put enormous strain on Zhou Hao's wrist. There was no way he could throw it endlessly.
So if Zhou Hao wanted to throw Straight Balls...
Then this was their chance!
"Come on!"
He gritted his teeth, raising his bat high.
There was no reason to fear. He was a Koshien veteran. A straight ball was nothing!
The third pitch came flying.
Identical trajectory. Identical speed.
But something was off.
The moment he swung—
Whoosh!
The ball vanished from his sight.
"Wha—?!"
Thwack!
"Strike!"
The umpire's call echoed across the stadium.
"Strikeout!!"
The leadoff batter froze in disbelief, his bat hanging motionless in the air.
That wasn't just a straight ball.
That was something else entirely.
The pitch that should have been ordinary… had disappeared.
And thus, Koshien witnessed the birth of a new terror—
Zhou Hao's Vanishing Fastball.
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