In the fifth inning of the Aoba vs. Shuwa game, the umpire declared the game over.
At that moment, the score had reached 19 to 0.
Shuwa High couldn't hit the balls Takashi pitched and had no way to score effectively.
Each time they felt like they were just about to connect with Takashi's pitch—but like the mythical fight between Chen Xiang and the Erlang God, they always missed by just a little. Always a little.
In contrast, Aoba had no need to worry about defense and swung freely, growing more confident with each play.
In any game, many factors can determine the outcome—one of them is spirit.
As the point gap widened, Shuwa's confidence was completely shattered.
And once that fighting spirit is gone, people act like they've lost their souls—dazed, confused, not even sure what they're doing anymore.
That's one of the reasons the score ballooned to 19:0.
"Let's congratulate Aoba Private High School for making it into the Top 16!"
The male commentator shouted excitedly from the booth.
"It's been five years since Aoba last reached the Top 16."
"This year, under Takashi's lead, will Aoba finally fulfill their century-long dream and seize the first crimson flag? Let's wait and see."
On the field, the entire Aoba baseball team laughed and shoved each other around in pure joy.
"That was an amazing game!"
"Takashi, your pitching was phenomenal!"
"Go show the world what it means to stand at the summit!"
Under the coach's guidance, Takashi and the team bowed in thanks to the students and fans who had come from afar to support them.
Meanwhile, the players from Shuwa High quietly returned to their defensive positions and began digging into the black soil.
As they dug, some of them began to cry.
No one who's come this far wants it to end here.
Shuwa's team had always known there was a gap between them and the seeded teams.
Not just Aoba—even schools like Sobu High, which were eliminated in the first round, were stronger than them.
But no one expected the gap to be this wide.
Now they finally understood why regional divisions exist—to protect them.
Without these regional rules, they wouldn't even qualify to step onto the grounds of Koshien.
After the game, Takashi iced his right arm with a cold pack, assisted by Anai Tatsuya.
He didn't stick around to watch the following matches and instead left the stadium immediately.
Because he knew—with the performance he just put on—all the other teams had already started studying him.
Thinking you can win the world with one flashy move? Impossible.
Sure, the crowd was cheering now—but only because he was strong and matched the image of a powerful hero that the people of this country admired.
But if he ever lost—the louder the cheers today, the harsher the backlash tomorrow.
The people of this country worship strength. It's embedded in their DNA.
In this country, the winner takes all.
As long as Takashi can seize the crimson flag, he can erase everything—rewrite his entire story.
Losers—your very breathing is a mistake.
Many people don't truly love the sport—they love the champion.
The moment Takashi stepped out of Hanshin Koshien Stadium, he was immediately surrounded by reporters lying in wait.
"Takashi-kun, may we have a word?"
Takashi didn't stop walking and showed no interest in engaging with the reporters.
"Takashi-san, this match looked even easier than the last. Between Shuwa and Sobu High, which team do you think is stronger?"
Without hesitation, Takashi replied, "Sobu High."
Sobu High wasn't weak. They simply lost because of bad luck in the draw.
Playing well doesn't matter as much as drawing well. On this point, no one speaks with more authority than Arsenal during the Wenger era.
Sometimes, luck really does trump skill.
"In the next match, you'll be facing Osaka Toin. Between Aoba and Osaka Toin, who do you think is stronger?"
"On paper, Osaka Toin is stronger. But regardless of who the opponent is, Aoba won't lose."
After a few straightforward questions, the reporters immediately switched to gossip about Takashi's love life.
"Takashi, can we ask—when did you start liking Miss Shinomiya?"
"That was in March, when everything begins to blossom in spring. From the moment I first laid eyes on her, I fell for her completely."
He said this with a straight face, not the slightest blush or hesitation.
Because lying, for Takashi, was as natural as breathing.
"Takashi-kun, if you like Miss Shinomiya, then why are you still with Yukino?"
A female reporter asked disapprovingly.
"She's just a stand-in for Miss Shinomiya."
"Oh? So I'm just a stand-in?"
A cold voice rang out.
The girl's voice was like the icy winds from the far north, chilling everyone who heard it to their core.
Even without turning around, Takashi knew exactly who it was.
Because in this world, no one could produce that voice except Yukino.
All the reporters wore expressions of pure glee, like spectators watching a juicy drama unfold.
Takashi's body stiffened. He hadn't expected to be caught talking trash by the very person he was trashing.
But wait a second—didn't Sobu High already get eliminated?
Shouldn't Yukinoshita have gone home by now?
So why was she still here?
"My mother wants to see you."
Without caring about the scene or the commotion she had caused, Yukino dropped that bombshell and walked away as if nothing happened.
Before Takashi could react, the reporters erupted.
"Takashi-kun, are you going to meet the parents?"
One of the reporters wore the expression of someone getting front-row seats to the juiciest gossip.
"Takashi-san, didn't you just say your favorite person is Miss Shinomiya?"
Another reporter scolded him.
"Is it about getting engaged, Takashi-san?" asked one particularly imaginative reporter.
Takashi ignored all of them and quickly caught up to Yukino.
"Hey, what nonsense were you spewing just now?"
Her silky black hair swayed gently, and Yukino didn't even spare him a glance as she continued walking forward.
"And who was the one spouting nonsense in front of the cameras first?"
"They're the ones who assumed we were a couple. What's that got to do with me?"
Yukino gave him a sharp glare. "Do you not have a mouth? Couldn't you have explained?"
"With my current reputation, do you think anyone would actually believe me?"
Takashi said, feeling a bit aggrieved.
It's not like he didn't want to explain.
The problem was… some of the things he was accused of, he actually did.
For instance: the stuff with Miura Yumiko—guilty.
What Katsura Kotonoha said about him snatching someone—true.
As for Umaru, that was even more blatant—he publicly stole her right after someone else confessed to her.
How was he supposed to explain that?
They say if there's mud in your crotch, people will assume it's shit even if it's not. But what if it is shit from the start?
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