August 7th, Weather: Sunny with occasional clouds, south wind 2–3 level, temperature: 27°C–37°C.
At 5 AM, standing in front of a life-sized mirror, Takashi began fixing his outfit.
'My hair's grown again?'
He realized that unknowingly, his hair had returned to its original length.
Youth was great. Hair grew fast.
Unlike middle-aged men, whose scalps were practically bare.
Speaking of which, hair loss seems to be becoming more common these days.
As he let his mind wander on these trivial thoughts, he grabbed a baseball cap at the entrance and stepped out.
Opening the apartment door, a cool morning breeze blew in, refreshing him.
As he walked downstairs, a white Cullinan was parked quietly below.
Only one person would dare to park their car here—Yozakura Hitomi.
After all, the entire apartment building he lived in belonged to her.
She must be waiting for him.
Takashi opened the door and ducked into the car, greeting Hitomi, who was resting her eyes with one arm propped on the central console: "Morning, landlord."
Hitomi let out a soft "Mm," not even opening her eyes.
She lifted her right foot, and Takashi, instantly understanding, obediently helped her take off her pristine shoes.
Then her left foot.
After her shoes were off, Hitomi leaned over onto Takashi's side.
He caught her gently and rested her head on his lap.
Hitomi, still with her eyes closed, adjusted to a comfortable position. "Let's go."
The car slowly pulled out and smoothly entered the main road, heading toward Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture.
"Did you have fun at the fireworks festival yesterday?"
Lying with her head on Takashi's lap, Yozakura Hitomi suddenly asked.
"You weren't there. How could it be fun?"
He was joking.
If he admitted it was fun, he'd be dead.
No matter how fun it was, Takashi would always say it wasn't.
"Oh, really?"
Hitomi smirked, a cold smile forming.
"You looked like you were having fun. Running down the street hand-in-hand with a girl, how romantic. It even made the trending list~"
Even with the car's air-conditioning, Takashi was sweating bullets.
Trending... That meant all the girls related to him could potentially see what he was doing last night.
Narii, Kotonoha, Momo, Nagisa, Umaru… just thinking about them finding out made Takashi feel like the sky was falling.
He clung to a last hope: "W-Was it at least censored?"
Hitomi burst into laughter: "8K uncensored. With close-ups."
Takashi couldn't hold it in: "Who the hell filmed it?! Are they crazy?!"
Out of all the celebrities they could've filmed, they chose him.
And to upload it without asking for his permission?
Did he have no right to privacy?
"Got their info? I'm suing them!"
You could ask Takashi to swear loyalty, but don't ask him to post photos online.
He didn't even allow pictures in his friend circle, let alone videos online.
"The filmer was a girl~"
"So what? She shouldn't have been born then."
"Relax, I got someone to suppress the trending post."
"Godmother~"
"Good boy~"
Originally planning to scold Takashi, Hitomi suddenly decided to let it go after receiving enough emotional validation.
She turned her face toward his abdomen and got ready to nap.
She had slept at the office the night before.
Not at Takashi's place, so she hadn't rested well.
Without his scent nearby, she found it hard to fall asleep.
Just as she was about to doze off, she felt something poking at her head.
"Ahem, maybe use a pillow instead."
Before Hitomi could react, Takashi quickly lifted her and slipped a cushion beneath her.
She wasn't like Shinomiya Kaguya, the naive rich girl— Hitomi quickly realized what had been poking her.
"Someone's very energetic~"
She opened her eyes and gave Takashi a sly look.
"You know... young blood, lots of fire," Takashi laughed awkwardly.
Hitomi chuckled and closed her eyes again, quickly falling asleep.
A few strands of hair slid across her face. Takashi gently brushed them behind her ear with his finger.
The driver drove, Hitomi slept, and Takashi, bored after a while, put down his phone and drifted off too.
The driver glanced back and noticed that even in his sleep, Takashi still had one hand protectively cradling Hitomi's head.
…
Koshien, also known as the National High School Baseball Championship, is the highest honor in Japanese high school baseball.
Every year, more than 3,600 schools apply, but only 2% of the teams make it to the Koshien Stadium, which holds 50,454 people.
For students, stepping onto Koshien is an honor. Even after graduation, it's a résumé-worthy highlight.
In Japan, no sport compares to baseball—not even soccer.
Today, 49 winning teams out of more than 3,600 schools gathered to begin a new round of fierce battles on the Koshien field.
"You're now watching the 107th National High School Baseball Championship. I'm your host, Itsuka Kyoka."
"Standing to my right is last year's summer champion: Kyoto International High School."
"Kyoto International, founded in 1999, they…"
Hanshin Koshien Stadium, along with Meiji Jingu Stadium, is considered a holy ground for Japanese baseball.
Located in Nishinomiya, Hyogo, it is the home field of the Hanshin Tigers.
Every spring and summer, the national high school baseball tournaments are held here, making it widely known.
Right now, outside Koshien Stadium, over a hundred media outlets—including Asahi, Yomiuri, Mainichi, and Sankei Shimbun—were scrambling to interview the teams.
Takashi's school, Aoba, was among them.
Although Aoba Private High School always gets knocked out in the first round at Koshien, the fact that they qualify every year is already a testament to their strength.
"Coach Amatani, what are you and your players looking for?"
The reporters noticed that Amatani Kensuke kept glancing at his watch during the interview, and behind him, the Aoba players—about to take the field—were also scanning the surroundings, as if searching for someone.
This piqued the curiosity of the reporters.
"I'm here!"
"Kitahara's here."
Before Amatani Kensuke could answer, someone in the team shouted.
The reporters turned and saw a handsome boy in an Aoba baseball uniform walking over slowly.
They didn't know how strong he was, but his looks were unquestionably the best among all the players in the tournament.
No competition.
"Coach."
Takashi greeted Amatani Kensuke and was about to return to the team when a reporter approached him.
"Excuse me, student—what's your name? What's your position? What spot in the batting order?"
Takashi glanced at the coach, and seeing him nod, he replied calmly, "Takashi. Relief pitcher. Batting cleanup."
"What's your goal, Kitahara?"
"To be kept by a rich woman."
"Uh... Kitahara, I meant your goal for the tournament."
One reporter reminded him awkwardly.
Takashi thought for a moment and gave a classic hot-blooded sports anime line: "To dominate the nation."
"Do you have confidence?"
"As long as I don't want to lose, no one can make me."
Takashi's tone was light, but full of pressure.
That felt good.
After saying that, Takashi felt a surge of satisfaction.
He, Kitahara Takashi, is a transmigrator from China, a system holder, and a Japanese high school student—a fusion of three in one.
He should be living a youth full of passion, ambition, flashiness, and a harem.
Instead, he's constantly surrounded by girls, trapped in a death-flagged romantic battlefield where his life could be at risk at any time.
Just as the reporters were about to ask more questions, Amatani Kensuke cut in, "Time to go."
Then he took the lead walking onto the field.
Takashi and the rest of the baseball club followed.
Just as they stepped in, Umaru arrived at the venue.
She wasn't alone today—she came with the school.
This year marked the first time Arayata High School had qualified for Koshien, and the principal had rallied all students and teachers to come support the baseball team.
Umaru originally planned to fake being sick to avoid coming, but when she heard Takashi might play, she came anyway.
Where is he?
After getting off the bus, Umaru instinctively started looking for Takashi.
"Umaru, what are you looking for?"
Ebina Nana noticed her behavior and asked curiously.
"N-Nothing."
That's what Umaru said, but her eyes kept darting around.
…
Hanshin Koshien Stadium's underground parking lot.
A sleek black car, longer than average but not quite limousine-level, slowly pulled into the lot.
A Koshien executive quickly walked over, bowing even before he reached the car, with a respectful smile on his face: "Miss Adagaki, you're here."
The car door opened, and a girl in a white dress and sunglasses stepped out.
"Mm."
Adagaki Aki crossed her arms and began walking toward the stadium.
Wherever she went, the crowd naturally moved along with her.
…
In the stands, Hayasaka Ai sat in the front row, playing on her phone.
Hayasaka Ai: [I'm here watching you live, photo.jpg…]
Takashi: [Watch closely as I take down three opponents in a row.]
Hayasaka Ai: [What if you lose?]
Takashi: [Then I'll say you're my master.]
Hayasaka Ai: [I don't have such a rebellious disciple!]
As the chat went on, a faint smile formed at the corner of Hayasaka Ai's lips.
Over time, as she got to know Takashi better, Hayasaka Ai discovered they were very alike and had a lot in common.
With Takashi's tragic backstory, their shared interests, and frequent chats, their bond had grown rapidly.
When he invited her to Koshien, she came.
Even took time off to do so.
Come to think of it, this was the first time Hayasaka Ai had ever taken a day off for a guy.
…
"Found it—over here."
In the VIP section, Yotsuba led Kuro to their seats.
Following behind her were her four sisters.
"Miku, I didn't think you'd actually come."
After they sat down, Nino teased her.
"Yeah, I thought for sure you wouldn't come either."
Itsuki said while stuffing popcorn into her mouth, looking surprised at Miku.
"Miku, be honest—do you have a thing for Takashi?"
Ichika poked Miku and teased her.
"I was forced to come."
Miku replied with a blank look and a helpless tone.
You think she wanted to come?
She absolutely did not.
But that damn Takashi had threatened her: If you don't come, I'll go after your sisters instead.
To protect them, she had no choice but to come.
She's sacrificed too much for this family.
Always enduring silently.
…
"My, I didn't expect to run into the Ryuuju heiress here."
In the VIP section, Kashiwagi Nagisa smiled at Ryuuju Momo.
By some strange coincidence, she ended up sitting right next to her.
"Tch."
Momo clicked her tongue when she saw Kashiwagi.
She didn't like this woman.
"Ryuuju-chan is here on my invitation. But Kashiwagi-senpai, you like baseball?"
Koyasu Tsubame was also surprised to see Kashiwagi Nagisa here.
"I don't like baseball. But someone I like is playing today. I'm here to cheer him on."
"But... don't you already have a boyfriend?"
"Can't I like someone else even if I have a boyfriend?"
Nagisa's line sent Tsubame's brain into overheat.
What do you mean you can like someone else even with a boyfriend?
How could you possibly like someone else if you're already taken?
"I don't care about your business, but you'd better not lay a finger on certain people."
Momo said with an unfriendly glare and a clear warning.
"I'm afraid that's not possible."
Nagisa cupped her face and tilted her head to the side.
"Because I really, really like him. I like him so much I can't stand it."
Momo's eyes turned cold: "Are you looking to die?"
"We're all from the same school, let's not fight!"
Tsubame quickly tried to defuse the situation.
…
In a hospital room, ABC TV's Koshien opening ceremony was playing live.
Otani Shota looked at Tanaka Kota and said, "What exactly do you want me to see?"
Recently, he didn't want to hear anything about Koshien.
Shota's emotions were complicated—he didn't want Aoba to lose, but he didn't want them to win either.
If Aoba lost, he'd blame himself even more for getting injured at a critical moment.
If Aoba won, wouldn't that prove they didn't need him at all?
"Just watch."
Tanaka Kota took an apple from the fruit basket, and without peeling it, bit right in.
Otani had no choice but to keep watching the screen.
Soon, he heard the sweet voice of the announcer: "Now entering the field, Aoba Private High School from Tokyo!"
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