"Are you two done yet?"
That voice carried not just the umpire's irritation, but also the impatience of the players.
At first, when they heard Akahoshi and Zhou Hao talking, players from both sides were actually excited.
They all knew the charm of their ace—it wasn't the first or second time they had seen such a scene. When two geniuses of this level met, who wouldn't be curious about what they'd say to each other?
But instead of a short, fiery exchange between rivals, the two of them just kept talking… endlessly.
After the game, Akahoshi even took the initiative to ask Zhou Hao for his contact information. Zhou Hao was initially unwilling.
Although he had exchanged contacts with several other prodigies before, most of them were like him—rarely reaching out, maybe chatting once every two or three weeks at most.
That kind of light, nonintrusive friendship was just right for Zhou Hao. They could exchange insights and keep their distance comfortably.
But Akahoshi was different.
Despite his cool exterior, Zhou Hao soon realized he was a complete chatterbox once you got to know him.
If they really added each other on social media, Zhou Hao could already imagine how often the guy would message him.
It was fine now since he didn't have a girlfriend… but what about later? How was he supposed to live like that?
Still, with Akahoshi's enthusiasm and so many people watching, Zhou Hao couldn't just refuse. He reluctantly added him anyway.
And just as Zhou Hao expected, before the day even ended—Akahoshi struck.
They had just finished thanking the audience and returned to the hotel. Zhou Hao hadn't even washed up yet when his phone buzzed with a new message.
"How exactly do you throw that disappearing pitch?"
Direct. Blunt. The kind of question that made Zhou Hao's scalp tingle.
"That's a secret."
He sent the reply, tossed his phone aside, and went to take a shower.
When he came out, there were already over a dozen new messages waiting for him.
Zhou Hao sighed helplessly. "He really is a troublesome guy."
After everyone had washed up, Coach Kataoka gathered the team for a meeting.
After three games at Koshien, the eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals would draw lots again. Since they couldn't study their future opponents yet, it was time to summarize what they'd learned so far.
"Don't relax," Coach Kataoka said firmly. "No matter who the opponent is, there's only one thing you need to remember—"
"—Play the way you train."
That was Seidou's philosophy.
From the coach to the players, every single one of them believed in the value of their hard work.
They were the ones who sweated the most, cried the most, and trained the hardest.
For them, the game wasn't a gamble—it was a test of everything they'd built.
And on this point, the Seidou High School Baseball Team stood united in belief.
As for their past losses?
They didn't see them as failures.
Their opponents were near-perfect powerhouses, and without a reliable ace back then, it was natural that Seidou couldn't break through.
But now…
They had found their true ace.
Their final weakness was gone.
From here on out, all that was left was to show their strength—and dominate every opponent.
Their dream was simple: Dominate the nation!
"Don't get distracted by the media or outside noise," Coach Kataoka continued. "From here, every game is a new step forward. The task given to us by the school has already been completed. But whether you're a third-year or a first-year, remember—"
His voice grew hoarse near the end.
The players listened quietly, their expressions solemn.
They understood exactly what the coach meant.
As a national powerhouse, Seidou invested heavily in their baseball program—especially in talents like Zhou Hao.
The resources he received from the school were no small thing. Even his tuition and living expenses were covered by sponsorships and scholarships.
Of course, such investment came with expectations.
Seidou's goal was simple: strive for excellence.
That meant two things—
First, develop star players who could succeed at the next level, so that when people mentioned them, they would also mention Seidou High School.
Just like how prestigious schools built their names through academic excellence, Seidou's pride lay in its baseball legacy.
Second, the team had to perform well—reach Koshien, compete nationally, and show their strength on the biggest stage.
Coach Kataoka had already achieved the first goal, nurturing countless talents over the years. That's why, even during their Koshien drought, the school had tolerated the results.
Now, Seidou had also achieved the second goal—reaching the top eight in the nation.
The principal and faculty were overjoyed.
When Coach Kataoka said, "Our task is completed," that's what he meant.
Of course, that didn't mean they'd stop chasing victory. Far from it.
But from here on, it was also about personal growth.
Each player had to shine in their own way.
Winning the national title was one thing—but if their players didn't perform, their individual value and visibility would diminish.
That was especially true for Zhou Hao.
Though he was only a first-year, he wasn't just aiming for team victories—he wanted to become a baseball star.
To do that, he needed to perform better than anyone else.
Everyone understood the coach's intentions.
They nodded silently, filled with quiet resolve.
Isashiki Jun, however, couldn't help but grumble under his breath.
"It's like the second-years don't even exist," he muttered.
Coach mentioned the third-years and the first-years—but skipped right over them.
Of course, he didn't dare say that aloud. He only complained later, after the meeting, with the other second-years.
Kominato Ryosuke chuckled. "If you could perform like Zhou Hao, maybe the coach would've mentioned you too."
"...If you don't talk, no one will think you're mute," Jun shot back.
He knew the coach wasn't playing favorites. The truth was, the spotlight naturally fell on the third-years and Zhou Hao—those who would attract the most attention in the upcoming games.
Still, none of them expected what would happen next.
Before anyone could even open their phones, calls started flooding in—from parents, friends, relatives.
"Jun! Is it true what they're saying online? Tens of thousands shouting your team's name!?"
Jun's face flushed red.
Remembering that spectacular moment from earlier that day, his heart swelled with pride.
"How did you even know?"
"It's all over TV! Someone said they even saw you on screen—"
Jun nodded, then suddenly froze.
"Wait… didn't you and Mom say you were watching the game at home?"
Caught off guard, his father stammered, "Ah… well, I had some time today, so I went to play pachinko. I… might've missed it. Next time, next time—"
Jun sighed. Typical.
He wasn't the only one getting calls.
All across the hotel, Seidou players were on their phones, fielding excited questions from family and friends.
Even Zhou Hao received several calls—some from his parents, others from classmates.
"Young Master Zhou, you're incredible! Even Bai Su heard about it!"
Zhou Hao chuckled, chatting briefly with the familiar voice on the other end. It had been a while since he'd spoken with his old classmates, and the nostalgia felt warm.
But then another call came in.
He checked the screen—Bai Su.
"I can't talk now," he told his friend. "Coach called for another meeting."
"Then do your best," she said softly. "I'll try to come watch next time."
"Wouldn't that delay your school start?"
"School starts in September. Still more than ten days away."
After hanging up, Zhou Hao took Bai Su's call. Her gentle voice flowed through the line.
When he returned to the lobby, everyone was gathered around, looking at their phones.
"What's going on?" he asked.
They had already found it.
"It's from Baseball Weekly!"
Among the major baseball media outlets, Baseball Weekly was the first to post.
The article spread like wildfire—picked up and reprinted by countless others.
By the time the players saw it, the news had already exploded nationwide.
"Seidou High School Baseball Team, Aiming for the Championship in Advance!"
That title alone made hearts race.
At this stage of the tournament, most teams were already eliminated, but Seidou's declaration was bold and defiant.
Curious, they opened the article—only to find no text. Just a single photo.
Zhou Hao stood in the center, pointing toward the sky. Around him, every Seidou player mirrored the pose.
Four massive words dominated the image:
"Dominate the Nation!!"
The players stared, stunned.
The photo looked… cool. Too cool.
But wasn't it a bit too showy?
"This isn't a photo," Chris said quietly.
Everyone froze.
"No way…"
Matsumoto swallowed and tapped the screen.
Instantly, the roar of tens of thousands erupted from the speakers.
"Dominate the nation!"
"Dominate the nation!!"
The sound shook the room.
They had been too fired up earlier to realize how it would look to others.
Now, watching from a third-person perspective, it felt… embarrassingly dramatic.
Still—back then, the excitement had been real.
That fiery surge in their veins, that unstoppable pride…
They couldn't have held it back even if they'd wanted to.
Chris sighed, smiling wryly. "Well, we're famous now—might as well own it."
Zhou Hao chuckled. "It's not necessarily a bad thing. At least the third-years are getting the recognition they deserve."
Azuma Kiyokuni laughed heartily. "Exactly! Fame means scouts will notice us faster. What's bad about that?"
Someone still looked uneasy, but Zhou Hao spoke up before they could say more.
"There's no turning back now. What's done is done. Instead of regretting it, we should think about what comes next."
He raised his phone, his eyes burning with conviction.
"We've already pushed ourselves to the edge. There's no retreat—only forward. Besides dominating the nation, there's no second option."
His words lit a fire in everyone's hearts.
The earlier embarrassment vanished.
"Right!"
"Dominate the nation!!"
Their unified shout echoed through the hall—stronger and more determined than ever before.