The members of the Seidou High School baseball team were extremely excited.
Even while sitting on the bus heading home.
For the Seidou High School baseball team, their itinerary after winning the championship wasn't anything new.
They were so familiar with this routine!
To put it bluntly, no other teams in the country could compare to them in this regard.
Since Sawamura joined the Seidou High School baseball team, except for one interruption during the Jingu Tournament, the Seidou High School baseball team's players have claimed all the major championship titles.
Because of this, their players were completely accustomed to celebrating victories.
The third-year Senpais were all grinning from ear to ear, having accomplished their greatest wish—helping the Seidou High School baseball team reach the pinnacle of legend.
But as their smiles lingered, they couldn't hold back their tears anymore. The tears streamed down like raindrops.
After winning the national championship, even though there were no regrets left in their hearts...
The thought of leaving the Seidou High School baseball team still made them feel overwhelmingly sad.
Even Miyuki and Kuramochi, these two guys, couldn't avoid it.
"Really crying? That's not very manly, is it?"
Sawamura mocked them without mercy.
"Who's crying, idiot? I just got sand in my eyes."
Kuramochi denied it.
Miyuki didn't pay any attention to Sawamura's teasing and instead seriously patted his shoulder.
"From now on, the team is in your hands!"
The speaker was casual, but the listener took it seriously.
Before Sawamura could respond, the others who were listening couldn't help but furrow their brows.
At that moment, they clearly realized that the third-year Senpais were really going to leave.
In just over a month, the Fall tournament would officially begin.
All the reliable third-year Senpais in the team would be gone.
A lot of spots in the first-string lineup would definitely open up to accommodate the new players.
The new first-string selection and the battle for the main positions had already begun.
In the first-string lineup, the second-year players were still in a relatively good position.
Led by Sawamura, these second-year players were basically the team's fixed core, and they didn't need to worry about their spots at all.
Even when the third-year Senpais were still around, the second-year players who made it into the first-string lineup were highly skilled.
Now that the third-year Senpais were leaving, could these second-year players, who had already secured their spots, possibly be replaced from the main lineup?
That possibility was nearly zero!
After all, the Seidou High School baseball team had just won the National Championship.
With the third-year players leaving, the morale was low, and no one felt like talking about it.
Even though they had achieved their ultimate wish and helped the Seidou High School baseball team reach legendary status, the thought of leaving the team made many players feel that, in the future, they might find it hard to even play baseball again.
Their attachment to the team was overwhelming.
The most active ones in the cabin were the first-year players.
Although Coach Kataoka had been creating opportunities for them in this year's Koshien, almost every first-year player had been able to participate in a game.
Perhaps, it didn't seem so significant for now.
But as time went by, people would be amazed to realize that they had also been part of this journey.
For those who had succeeded in Koshien, and even for those who hadn't, this trip was incredibly meaningful for their entire lives.
At the same time, their innate desires would also be awakened.
Such a wonderful place, how could they possibly settle for just one visit?
They would definitely come back next time!
And they would come back with pride.
For the first-year players, their experience in Koshien was more like a bystander's role—they hadn't contributed much to the team.
The Seidou High School baseball team was great!
But that greatness didn't seem to have much to do with them.
Realizing this, the few first-year prodigies silently swore to themselves.
Next time, they would absolutely not let themselves be in such a pitiful state.
They would perform on the field, hit the ball, or make brilliant defensive plays.
"What's in the newspapers?"
The members of Seidou High School baseball team didn't get a chance to buy the paper because they were rushing back to Tokyo.
They could only follow the live updates on their phones.
The media online had been going crazy about this match.
Most of the people, probably over 90%, were praising the Seidou High School baseball team.
Just as Sawamura had expected, if he hit two home runs, and these two home runs were the only two points for the Seidou High School baseball team...
Then the media wouldn't just ignore it; they would definitely report on Sawamura's greatness.
What would the headlines say? Everyone knew it clearly.
"Once-In-A-Century!"
"Baseball's Super Genius!"
To Sawamura, all these words the reporters were saying were nonsense.
Now, thanks to his generosity, people had even forgotten all the previous unpleasant times.
But some things were destined to never be forgotten, no matter how much time had passed.
The media praised them extravagantly, and the teammates of Seidou High School baseball team were really happy to see it.
While everyone was in high spirits, someone suddenly suggested a thought.
"We're so awesome. We should get a break when we get back, right?"
This idea was supported by everyone in the team.
They were right. They definitely deserved a few days off, didn't they?
Previously, the goal of the high school baseball team was to reach Koshien, and after that, to dominate the country. Dominating the country meant becoming a legend.
Along the way, the Seidou High School baseball team faced many challenges.
They had overcome them all and reached where they were now.
Throughout this journey, they had sacrificed a lot—holidays, opportunities to stay with family.
Now, they had achieved all their goals and completed an unprecedented three-peat.
Now, the media online had praised them to the skies.
Not just in their home country, but in neighboring countries and many places across the globe.
They could see praises for them everywhere online.
The King's revival, the Modern Baseball Epic, a team that was falling down to the Strongest Champion Team in history.
Such a team must have an Ace, and that Ace was Sawamura.
Originally, Sawamura's fame was limited only to their home country, but through this wave of praise,
More people around the world had come to know the name Sawamura.
...