"We did it!" the fans screamed, their voices cracking with excitement.
Despite the big win, Seidō's players stayed calm, a quiet satisfaction on their faces.
They knew Hachiya Oji was a tough team.
Back in the day, a team like Hachiya Oji could've messed with their heads.
Giving up a few runs, getting into a tight spot – any little thing could've thrown them off their game.
And that could've been a problem when they faced their two rivals.
Baseball's not just about skill; it's about keeping that fire burning.
The teams that make it to Koshien are the ones who want it the most.
And right now, they were feeling that fire.
This year, Koshien was theirs for the taking.
"Good game!!"
"Good game!!"
The Hachiya Oji players looked defeated, their dreams crushed.
They'd given it their all, fighting tooth and nail.
Even when winning was a pipe dream, they'd hoped to at least give Seidō a little scare.
But even that was too much to ask.
Seidō was just too good, too strong, too focused.
They never had a shot.
Natsume's eyes were red and swollen from crying.
His last game as a third-year, his high school career, was done.
He'd fought hard against Seidō, holding his team together with sheer grit.
Now the game's over, and he's just... empty.
"Congratulations."
The word hung in the air, met with stunned silence from his teammates.
Anyone else saying it wouldn't be a surprise, but him?
The guy looked like he wanted to eat Seidō alive out there!
Seidō's players were just as surprised.
"Never thought I'd be the one saying that," Natsume admits, a hint of peace in his voice, like he'd finally made peace with himself.
"You guys wrecked my dream, yeah. But I'm almost glad you were the ones to do it. Means I can walk away knowing I gave it everything I had."
The clear loss had forced him to face the truth.
Seidō was just on a whole different level.
His team never stood a chance.
He turned to Takumi. "You're Yamamoto Takumi, right?" he asked, his eyes steady. "Congratulations. Take my dream with you. Go all the way."
Understanding flashed across Takumi's face as he met Natsume's outstretched hand.
He saw that burning desire, that frustration of coming so close and still falling short.
He knew what it was like to watch from the sidelines.
"I will." No hesitation, no show. Just a solid grip, accepting the torch.
Since fate had granted him this opportunity, he'd make the most of it.
The system wasn't a cheat code, it just gave him the tools to compete.
And now, he had to use them, beat everyone, and take his place in the spotlight.
The players from both teams exchanged their goodbyes.
Back in the locker room, as the Seidō players changed, they were a little surprised by what they saw outside.
Azuma Kiyokuni, leading the way, even blushed.
Curious, Takumi and some of his teammates peeked through the door.
There stood a beautiful woman, exuding a cool, sophisticated air.
Her skin was smooth, and she had great features with just the right amount of makeup.
Her legs were long and slim, that looked really put-together in heels.
Then, she looked right at Azuma, tilted her head, addressing him directly.
"You must be Kiyokuni-san, right? I just saw your home run – it was incredible!" As she spoke, she gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
"I—" Azuma stuttered, totally lost for words.
His teammates were cracking up behind the door, trying not to laugh.
But honestly, they probably wouldn't have handled it much better. She was just captivating.
"Can I help you?" In the middle of the awkwardness, Takigawa stepped up, greeting the woman like it was no big deal.
"Hi, I'm Minamoto Haruka, from Baseball Weekly," she explained, sounding friendly and professional at the same time.
"I figured you guys would be swamped when you got on the bus, and I didn't want to get caught in the crowd. So, I thought I'd try my luck here. Would you mind if I interviewed a few of you?"
With a woman that pretty asking them for an interview, it was hinda hard to say no.
"Well, our Coach..." Yūki Tetsuya, always sticking to the rules, started to bring up the coach.
They weren't supposed to do interviews without permission from the coach.
Still, what could a second-year do in this situation?
"Minamoto-san, go for it!" one of the guys called out, not worrying about the details.
"Yeah, we'll give you the inside scoop!" another added, looking pretty excited.
Watching all this from the back, Takumi couldn't help but smirk.
Looks really did get you everywhere.
He knew firsthand, since he'd gotten similar treatment before just for how he looked, and it seemed like this reporter was in the same boat.
With the green light from the team, Minamoto whipped out her voice recorder. "I know you're all busy, so I'll try to keep it quick. Just a couple of questions. First off, Azuma-san," she began smoothly, sounding nice yet professional, "What was it like hitting that home run?"
"It was awesome!" Azuma exclaimed, his face lighting up like a Christmas tree.
He'd never forget that moment, not in a million years. The highlight reel of his entire high school career.
"Seidō's really on a roll this year, and you're in top form, Azuma-san," Minamoto pointed out, looking at him carefully. "So, what's the big goal for the season?"
"To take the whole thing!" Azuma answered, pointing straight up, not even hesitating.
Maybe before, just getting to Koshien would've been enough.
But now he had this feeling that their team could actually go all the way.
This year, they'd definitely get to Koshien and take home the title.
Happy with his answer, Minamoto nodded and looked around for someone else to talk to.
Her eyes landed on Takumi almost instantly.
"Yamamoto-san, you look even better in person than you do in your photos," she smiled, a playful glint in her eyes. "So, as Seidō's secret weapon, how do you feel about pitching in such a big tournament?"