The score was 8–0. Seidou had won.
In the stands, Seidou High School's supporters erupted as if celebrating a national holiday.
"Top 8!"
"National Top 8!!!"
For many Seidou fans, this felt unreal.
At the start of Koshien, few had truly believed their team could make it this far.
No matter how much faith they had, they knew the truth — there was always someone stronger.
Powerhouses from all over the country had gathered here.
Even Inashiro Industrial, before this, hadn't produced remarkable results at Koshien.
And when Seidou drew Osaka Kiryu in the first round, many fans sighed in despair.
They thought their team was unlucky — destined to be eliminated right away.
Yet here they were, not only defeating Osaka Kiryu but also toppling Ikeda High, the tournament's strongest dark horse.
Especially in the second and third rounds — Seidou's opponents were not weak. Fans who knew baseball could tell from the data.
But the results were all the same: crushing victories.
Ever since the match against Osaka Kiryu, Seidou had begun to display a unique aura — the aura of a true powerhouse.
From that day forward, a quiet belief had started to take root in their supporters' hearts.
Now, that belief burned bright.
"Three more games!"
"The Seidou High School Baseball Team is the strongest!"
"The slogan we've shouted for years, the dream we've chased for generations—it's time!"
"Dominate the nation!!!"
"Dominate the nation!!!"
It started with one or two passionate fans, but soon spread through the entire crowd.
Tens of thousands of voices united in a single cry that shook the stadium.
The commentator's voice trembled, almost hoarse with excitement.
"Incredible! Absolutely incredible!! The Seidou supporters have created something unprecedented here at Koshien!"
This wasn't the final — it was only the quarterfinals. The tournament wasn't even over halfway yet.
"But the Seidou fans already believe their team will dominate the nation!"
"This level of support… even the Universe Team's fans, Osaka Kiryu's, might not match it."
"There's something special—something magnetic—about this team."
"And besides the team, one name keeps echoing through the air."
"Zhou Hao."
"I believe that, right now, this name has already reached every fan watching from home."
What was madness?
Just look at the crowd. Tens of thousands of people chanting in unison — that was madness.
Even neutral spectators had become Seidou fans in that instant.
In Seidou's dugout, the players were equally overwhelmed.
The victory itself, the fans' roaring support — everything was surreal.
None of them could calm down.
President Ota's eyes were red as he wiped his tears.
"We finally made it through…"
Though he wasn't the coach, Ota had witnessed Coach Kataoka's entire journey — from high expectations, to harsh doubts, to whispers of dismissal.
Rumors once spread that the school was considering replacing Kataoka.
Even though they were later proven false, their existence said enough.
There's no smoke without fire.
If the board and school executives hadn't lost confidence in Kataoka, such rumors wouldn't have existed in the first place.
But now, all that darkness had been washed away.
Coach Kataoka hadn't just led Seidou to Koshien — he'd led them to the Top 8 in the nation.
He had done more than enough.
From this moment forward, Seidou's baseball program would be forever changed.
They would become one of Japan's brightest and most feared powerhouses.
"Dominate the nation!!"
President Ota couldn't hold back any longer.
At first, the players tried to restrain themselves.
The fans' unified chants were already enough to make headlines.
Didn't they see all those reporters, snapping photos and recording every second?
This was big news.
If Seidou's players joined in, they'd be making a bold declaration — one that every remaining team would take as a challenge.
After all, only eight teams remained. All of them were championship contenders.
If Seidou publicly showed such confidence, the other teams would inevitably view them as their primary target.
The pressure would double.
That, however, wasn't the biggest risk.
The true danger was hubris.
If Seidou shouted too loudly and later lost, they'd become the nation's laughingstock.
Every player understood this.
So at first, none of them joined the chanting.
But then—
As they looked up at the stands, at tens of thousands of fans shouting their hearts out, they felt something shift inside them.
How could they stay silent in front of such passion?
President Ota shouted again.
And this time, Seidou's ace stood up.
Zhou Hao raised his arm, pointing a single finger toward the sky — the team's rallying gesture.
"Dominate the nation!!"
With Zhou Hao leading the chant, the crowd erupted even louder.
"Zhou-senpai!!"
Zhou Hao's image in their hearts grew even brighter.
"Dominate the nation!!"
Then Higashi Kiyokuni, Yuki Tetsuya, Isashiki Jun, Matsumoto, Yoshida, Shimo…
One by one, the main players joined in.
Even Chris and Miyuki — usually the calm, level-headed catchers — could no longer hold back.
After all, this was youth.
If they couldn't be bold now, when could they?
The entire Seidou dugout raised their hands and pointed to the sky.
"Dominate the nation!!"
The chant lasted three… four whole minutes.
The players of Ikeda High stood quietly at the side, watching in silence.
Before this game, they couldn't understand it.
Why could they play evenly with other powerhouse teams, yet fall apart completely against Seidou?
They had searched for an answer — any reason.
But now, as they watched Seidou shout in unity, they understood.
It wasn't just about skill.
It was about belief.
Did they have the same conviction, the same hunger, the same fire burning inside?
They didn't.
That was the difference.
Seidou had faced countless strong teams, suffered countless failures, and trained endlessly.
That experience forged an unshakable confidence.
Now, both the players and their fans truly believed — they would not lose to anyone.
Reaching Koshien wasn't their goal anymore.
Winning it all was.
"It's no wonder," murmured Agawa of Ikeda. "Aside from Akahoshi, the gap between us and Seidou is just… too big."
His teammates nodded, faces filled with bitter understanding.
Ultimately, Seidou was the one advancing to the national Top 8.
And for them, this was far from the end.
"Thank you for the game!"
"Thank you for the game!!"
The players lined up, bowing respectfully before exchanging high-fives.
When Akahoshi reached Zhou Hao, both teams instinctively paused.
Everyone sensed something was about to happen.
Zhou Hao blinked, confused.
Why are they all staring? What's there to talk about?
Sure, Akahoshi had managed to get him out once — but overall, Zhou had dominated him.
Even in that last duel, the ball nearly cleared the fence.
"Zhou Hao!"
Just as he was thinking that, Akahoshi called out.
The Seidou players exchanged knowing smiles.
They had seen this before.
What level of charm did Zhou Hao possess?
Simply put — he was like a magnet for geniuses.
Every ace who faced him ended up captivated by him.
Narumiya Mei of Inashiro, Kuroda of Osaka Kiryu… and now, Akahoshi of Ikeda.
"Akahoshi-senpai," Zhou Hao greeted with a polite smile.
"It's a pity I'm graduating soon," Akahoshi said regretfully. "We won't be able to face each other again in Koshien."
Although he had lost, Akahoshi wasn't bitter — only wistful.
"You'll go pro, right?" he asked.
Zhou Hao nodded.
"Then I'll wait for you in the pros! I'm sure we'll face each other again!"
Akahoshi's voice was firm, filled with conviction.
The Seidou players couldn't help but laugh quietly.
Where have we heard that before?
Against Arayano's ace, against Kuroda — every time, it was the same line.
Apparently, for the truly gifted, turning pro was as natural as breathing.
"I'm so jealous of these guys," one Seidou player muttered.
"Talk about a full-blown Versailles moment…"
They weren't bitter — just exasperated. These geniuses really had no idea how unfair they sounded.
"How do you think I compare to Kuroda?" Akahoshi suddenly asked, unable to stop himself.
The Ikeda players nearly fainted.
Their ice-cold ace was acting like an eager fanboy!
Before today, they thought he was stoic, expressionless — the quiet type.
Now, they realized he just hadn't met someone he wanted to talk to.
Zhou Hao scratched his cheek, smiling awkwardly.
"Personally, Kuroda-senpai was harder to handle," he admitted. "But your pitching has its own strengths. You're both incredible in your own way."
He wasn't being diplomatic — it was true.
Kuroda had shut him down repeatedly but struggled against Seidou's other batters like Yuki and Azuma.
Akahoshi, on the other hand, was the opposite — Zhou crushed him, but he tied up everyone else.
Akahoshi grinned. "Then I'll see you in the pros. We'll settle it there."
The umpire sighed from nearby.
"Are you two done? Everyone else is waiting to leave."