"His fastest pitch has reached 156 km/h, putting him on the same level as Shigeno Goro, the pitcher who defeated us before. More importantly, he consistently maintains speeds above 150 km/h with his Four-Seam Fastball."
The moment those numbers were announced, the atmosphere in the conference room grew noticeably heavier.
The scout continued.
"What's even more troublesome is that Kitamura Kou's control surpasses Shigeno Goro's. He can paint the corners of the strike zone with remarkable precision. In addition, he has already mastered several high-level breaking balls."
He paused briefly before delivering his conclusion.
"In many ways, he's an upgraded version of Enomoto-senpai."
The entire room instantly turned toward Kaidou's ace.
Naoki Enomoto.
The players' expressions made it obvious—they were waiting to see his reaction.
Enomoto snorted dismissively.
"Hmph. That's quite an exaggeration."
He crossed his arms.
"That brat may have talent, but without Kaidou's training system, simply developing a high-velocity fastball and decent control would already be impressive."
His eyes narrowed.
"As for mastering several advanced breaking balls? I don't believe it."
"Even Shigeno Goro only reached that level after nearly a year of hellish training here. And he mainly relied on his Gyro Ball."
A confident smile appeared on Enomoto's face.
"I don't take some pitcher from an unknown school seriously."
His voice grew colder.
"In tomorrow's game, I'll personally teach that arrogant brat a lesson."
The moment he finished speaking, an overwhelming presence erupted from him.
The room seemed to tremble.
At that instant, Enomoto resembled a war god standing atop a battlefield, radiating absolute confidence and dominance.
The players exchanged glances.
Then smiles gradually appeared on their faces.
This wasn't blind arrogance.
It was trust.
Trust built through years of fighting alongside their ace.
Even though Mayumura Ken possessed enough talent to challenge Enomoto's position—and perhaps even a superior Gyro Ball—the foundation of this Kaidou team still revolved around two players:
Naoki Enomoto.
And Sengoku Masato.
Their leadership, experience, and presence formed the backbone of the reigning champions.
As long as Enomoto stood on the mound, Kaidou's players believed they could overcome any obstacle.
That confidence had been forged through countless victories.
It wasn't something that could be replicated overnight.
Coach nodded slightly before speaking again.
"Enough."
"The meeting isn't over yet."
He pointed toward the screen.
"Yakushi's strengths are obvious."
"But every coin has two sides."
"Their weaknesses are just as apparent."
The next slide appeared.
"Defensively, they're a disaster."
"Too many careless errors."
"Poor coordination."
"Limited bench depth."
"An overreliance on first-year players."
"Lack of experience."
"And their mentality can become unstable during crucial moments."
The coach folded his arms.
"Frankly speaking, the fact that they've reached the semifinals is already remarkable."
His gaze swept across the room.
"Now then."
"Let's hear everyone's thoughts."
As one of the leaders of Kaidou's second-years and the team's starting catcher, Sato Toshiya stood up first.
"I'll begin."
He adjusted his glasses and looked at the scouting report.
"Regarding our offensive approach..."
While both teams continued their preparations, time quietly slipped away.
Soon, the day of the Summer Koshien semifinals arrived.
Today's schedule featured two highly anticipated matchups.
Two dark horses.
Two traditional powerhouses.
Would the miracle runs continue?
Or would the established giants defend their pride and advance to the championship game?
The answer would soon be revealed.
8:00 AM.
Hanshin Koshien Stadium.
Under a clear blue sky, crowds steadily poured toward the stadium from every direction.
Groups of friends excitedly discussed the upcoming games.
Parents led their children through the gates.
Dedicated fans had arrived more than an hour early in hopes of securing good seats.
Before long, the stadium was overflowing with energy.
"It's packed already!"
"Of course it is! These are the final three games of Summer Koshien!"
"Seriously? We came an hour early and almost didn't get in!"
The excitement spread throughout the venue.
At that moment, two buses arrived at the stadium parking lot almost simultaneously.
The doors opened.
Players from both schools stepped out one after another.
Each wore their school uniform with pride.
Each carried the confidence of a team that had survived countless battles to reach this stage.
Almost immediately, both sides sensed one another.
As if guided by instinct, players from both teams turned their heads.
Their eyes met across dozens of meters.
No words were exchanged.
Yet the tension was unmistakable.
The noisy surroundings seemed to fade away.
Only the gentle rustling of leaves remained.
The players stood silently.
Motionless.
Their gazes collided in midair.
Some eyes burned with confidence and provocation.
Others carefully studied the opposition, searching for weaknesses.
Neither side was willing to back down.
A great battle was about to begin.
Would the defending champions, Kaidou High School, advance to the Summer Koshien Finals for a second consecutive year?
Or would the dark horse Yakushi High School continue its miraculous run and charge toward the national championship?
The answer would soon be decided on the field.
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