Chapter 24: Vegetables

"Hyun-san?"

Just as he heard that the tourist Lee-Hyun was going to Seidou next year, the tour guide beside him was a bit surprised.

Lee-Hyun who was not expecting that he would hear the name of Seidou like this quickly snapped out of his thought and turned to look at the guide.

"What's wrong?"

"Hyun-san, would you like to watch this game?"

Lee-Hyun nodded. According to the exchange program management's suggestion, he needed to join a sports club at Seidou High School, as it was part of the program.

He was just a lucky young man from South Korea's countryside who got the chance to get into this large exchange student program.

As he was not on the stellar side with the academic tests but had a very good score on the athletic ones, he was able to get into the program where he was recommended to get into a sports-focused school in the program.

So, when they introduced him to Seidou as a household name in high school sports especially baseball, Lee-Hyun didn't think much of it and agreed.

Playing sports is more fun than studying anyway, and he was happy with the opportunity to join this program and enjoy the experience in general.

'And it is a high school sport, not like it will be a big deal.'

So when he heard that a high school match was played in such a big stadium, and was getting this much attention, he was surprised.

And not any team, it was Seidou, the school he was going to join.

So naturally, he was interested.

As Lee-Hyun followed the group into Jingu Stadium, he was deeply stunned by the scene before him.

The seats, which could hold tens of thousands of people, were packed.

The usually orderly and polite Japanese people were cheering and roaring wildly and letting out their excitement.

They were cheering for the players on the field, especially Sawamura, who had just hit a home run.

The group was looking at the brightly smiling Sawamura who had already completed a lap around the field and returned to the dugout.

Lee-Hyun saw with his own eyes that nearly all the Seidou High School players in the dugout rushed to embrace Sawamura.

Their joy was genuine.

The score on the field was 1-0, with Seidou High School in the lead.

"SAWAMURA!"

"SAWAMURA!!!"

Initially, it was just Sawamura's fans chanting his name, but soon everyone in the stadium joined in as if the chant was the only way to fully express their excitement.

"…Amazing!"

Standing in the stands, surrounded by thousands of fans, Lee-Hyun suddenly understood what he wanted.

He wanted to stand in the middle of the field and bask in the audience's adoration.

This is what a passionate young man like him should pursue.

Koshien Stadium is the dream destination for countless passionate players who think the same thing.

At this moment, Lee-Hyun still didn't fully understand the significance of Koshien.

But this did nothing to diminish his resolve to make his mark on the field.

He wanted to join Seidou and become one of them.

Wearing the blue and white jersey, he wanted to fight alongside the players.

"Ohhh!"

The tour guide beside him let out an excited exclamation.

Clearly, he was also a fan of Seidou High School.

"So this is the Tokyo Fall Tournament? It's being held quite late!"

A fellow student in the program who had come with Lee-Hyun asked curiously.

Before coming, they had done some research and found that the Fall Tournament was supposed to end in October. Why was it still going on in November?

"The Fall Tournament has indeed ended, but this is a playoff," the guide explained.

"A playoff? Did Seidou High School get eliminated before?"

"Unfortunately, yes. We ended up in a tough group, facing Teito and Inashiro one after another…"

The guide's voice was filled with regret, but he quickly regained his enthusiasm.

"However, it doesn't matter! Through a very rare chance, Seidou can still make it to the Senbatsu…"

***

At this moment, the Seidou High School players were unaware that a group of uninvited guests from a foreign country had arrived in the stands.

They were completely immersed in enjoying the game.

Their opponent is their sworn rival, Sankou High School!

This was a crucial playoff game that would determine who got the spot in the Spring Koshien.

The enthusiasm of the players was off the charts—almost frighteningly high.

Especially after Sawamura hit a home run, Seidou High School's momentum soared to its peak.

With Eijun pitching, Seidou High now had a lead of another point.

In this situation, it seemed almost impossible for Seidou not to win.

Even though the game had just begun, the players acted as if victory was already secured.

They were genuinely thrilled. Since their defeat in the previous Fall Tournament, they had never been this excited.

The feeling of recovering from a loss was simply exhilarating.

"Fourth batter, catcher, Miyuki-kun."

With two Outs and no one on base, it was time for Seidou High's captain, Miyuki, to bat fourth.

His presence on the field made the players even more excited.

Miyuki himself felt the weight of the moment. This was undoubtedly the best time to crush Sankou. After just hitting a home run and with the game still at the beginning, if the opposing pitcher were to falter, now was the time.

Even if it sounds bad, Miyuki didn't mind being the villain. He took up the exact same stance that Sawamura had used earlier.

'Bring it!'

Miyuki was more than happy to pour salt into the opponent's wounds.

The catcher Takami was visibly uneasy.

He could feel the tension rising.

'These Seidou players were pushing it too far!'

'Kousei, don't let them provoke you!'

As the catcher worriedly looked towards the pitcher's mound, Amahisa Kousei on the mound suddenly burst into an inexplicable laugh.

"Hee hee! Haha!!! Hahaha!!!"

'National champion!'

'King Seidou!!'

'Maou Sawamura!!!'

These names had previously been like thunder to him.

Now, he was finally experiencing it.

'It was exhilarating.'

'This is why we play baseball!'

After being hit with a home run, Amahisa Kousei was fully awakened.

He was determined to lead his team to victory with his pitching.

He lifted his leg high and then slammed it down.

'If you want to hit, then hit!'

Whoosh!

The ball's trajectory was the same as the one before. Against Miyuki, Amahisa used the same pitch that had been hit for a home run.

Miyuki was unruffled, swinging his bat with precision.

Ping!

The ball was struck cleanly and bounced to the third baseman.

With a bit of effort, Sankou's third baseman caught the ball and threw it to first base.

Snap!

"OUT!!!"

Miyuki frowned slightly. He lifted his head and carefully studied Amahisa Kousei, who was returning to the dugout.

'Not easy at all!'

'During his pitching, there was no hesitation. The pitch that had been hit for a home run was also very strong.'

"What a troublesome guy!"

'Different from Manaka!'

Amahisa Kousei, the new Ace of Sankou High, truly had the strength of a top-tier national pitcher.

"Nice pitch!"

"Amazing!!!"

"Let's take down Seidou like this!"

As another powerhouse in the Tokyo area, Sankou High had many supporters in the stands.

Seeing their Ace perform well, their supporters became extremely arrogant.

In the bottom of the inning, Sankou went on the attack.

Before taking the field, Miyuki and Sawamura discussed their strategy.

"Despite the point you just scored, the opponent's momentum is still very strong! At this point, if we want to really solve the opponent…"

Miyuki didn't finish his sentence.

But Sawamura Eijun, his partner, knew exactly what he meant.

"I get it! We'll go all out from the start."

"The opponents are also a powerhouse. Ordinary fastballs might not be enough to handle them. I'll ask for breaking balls as needed."

"Got it!" Sawamura nodded confidently.

Seeing Sawamura in high spirit, Miyuki was happy.

"Okay, let's do it partner!"

The two bumped their mitts together and took their positions as the game resumed.

"Sawamura!"

"Sawamura!!!"

Since Sawamura took the mound for the first time in the playoffs, the cheers around him had not stopped.

"This is Sawamura?"

In the stands, Lee-Hyun observed the figure on the pitcher's mound thoughtfully.

Due to the distance, he couldn't see Sawamura Eijun's features clearly.

He could only see a bit tall and lean figure.

Then he watched as the figure lifted his leg high and then slammed it down.

His mitt pushed forward like a wall, holding the ball in his left hand and throwing it like a javelin.

Whoosh!

The ball's speed was surprising, feeling very fast.

Snap!

The baseball landed precisely in the catcher's mitt.

"STRIKE!"

During this process, the batter in the strike zone stood there like a fool, without any response.

"Nice! Did he get faster?"

A middle-aged man in the seats next to Lee-Hyun asked.

"He did! It's 145 km/h now!"

"Wonderful!"

"Right? This way his breaking balls will be more deadly!"

"I want to see the Forkball with the steep drop, it has been a while since it appeared."

"Maybe Miyuki will not ask for it. Personally, I am looking forward to seeing the Change-up after his velocity improvement."

"looking forward to the Moving ball too!"

"I think he will focus more on the new Cutter. Man, that break was scary!"

"…"

Hearing the audience talking about breaking balls like they were vegetables in the market, Lee-Hyun didn't know if the problem was his lack of baseball knowledge or if the pitcher was this special.

'Pitcher shouldn't have that many breaking balls, right?'

.....