Chapter 29: The Need for a Challenge

Previously, we've been saying that the third-year Senpais are retiring, but this isn't entirely accurate.

At this point, the third-year seniors haven't retired yet. Traditionally, after the summer tournament ends, the third-year seniors are considered retired from the team automatically as they can no longer participate in the high school competitions with the name of the school.

However, for teams that make it to Koshien, especially those that reach the top eight, this isn't the case.

For the top players in the team, They still have the U-18 Baseball World Cup to participate in!

Moreover, even if you are not invited to the National Team, the members of teams that reach the top eight at Koshien, no longer need to worry about their future, more like they have things to get ready for.

If they were planning to continue in the university, there are usually good schools that will recruit them specially or invite them into the tryouts to test their skills.

In addition, if you were eye-catching enough in the Koshien, you might even have the opportunity to directly participate in the Professional Draft and enter the fantasized world of Pros directly after High school.

In such situations, the players no longer have the pressure of advancing to university and can naturally enjoy playing baseball for an extra two months.

Even after the U-18 Baseball World Cup ends, players who have already decided to enter the Professional Draft can continue training with the team until they complete their studies.

This is why people often say that for teams that make it to Koshien, the summer can be extended accordingly.

Seidou High School is sparing no effort for its third-year seniors, even setting aside one of their two outdoor fields exclusively for their practice.

During this period, the third-year seniors are training with a very relaxed mindset.

For them, they have already tasted the sweetest fruits of victory. Throughout their high school years, they have no regrets.

As graduation approaches, the time for them to enjoy playing baseball together is becoming increasingly limited. So they cherish this final time together even more.

Apart from their studies, they are always practicing together on the field.

To be honest, they don't really need to work this hard, but they are willing to do so.

Perhaps in their own hearts, practicing baseball together, even sweating profusely, doesn't feel like a hardship at all.

They only feel happiness.

It's probably hard to find a school that can take training as a pleasant time as Seidou High School does in the whole country.

Of course, this pleasant atmosphere hasn't made them neglect their concern for the team.

They are aware that they have been struggling to find suitable practice opponents, but they believe it shouldn't be a big problem.

In fact, any team that makes it to Koshien more or less faces such troubles.

Just forming the team and the Fall Tournament about to start, without any real test, the team is about to be dragged onto the battlefield.

Before the regression of Sawamura, the team that made it to Koshien that summer was Inashiro Industrial High School.

Even they unexpectedly lost in the subsequent Fall Tournament.

It wasn't because of their own lack of strength. If we talk about strength, the team that defeated Inashiro initially didn't even have the qualifications to defeat them other than the adventurous spirit.

It's just that the team hadn't undergone much testing, and the problems hadn't been exposed, which is why they suddenly fell behind in the matches...

Now Seidou High School is facing the same problem.

And what awaits Seidou High School next are only two paths: one is to gradually improve the team as the matches progress.

The other is for vulnerabilities to suddenly emerge, catching them off guard at the decisive moment.

Whichever scenario of the two happens will be quite normal.

Originally, the third-year Senpais were worried about their Kohais, but with the new team winning consecutive practice matches, they also believe the problem shouldn't be significant.

From the results of their practice matches, everything seems manageable. Plus, with the Demon King Sawamura on the pitcher's mound, it's not easy for opponents to cause an upset even if they try.

All of this changed when Yuuki accepted an invitation from a professional team manager.

During this time, Yuuki was also troubled.

To be frank, throughout high school, Yuuki has stood at the top of the pyramid.

He also has some hesitation about his future choices.

According to his original plan, he wanted to go to university for further studies. But everything at Koshien has made it hard for him to let go of baseball.

He wants to accept a higher level of challenge!

Although you can continue playing baseball in university, when it comes to facing the highest challenges, the university doesn't quite measure up.

University baseball's level is indeed high, but honestly, compared to Koshien, it doesn't reach that level.

Continuing to develop in university for baseball suddenly seems meaningless.

Should he go directly into professional baseball?

Everyone will hesitate when they face a crossroads in life. Even the Captain of Steel Yuuki Tetsuya can't avoid it.

After seeing off the manager, Yuuki happened to pass by the Superintendent's office.

He didn't intend to eavesdrop. With his personality as team captain, he couldn't do such a thing.

But the voices happened to come through the door, and he heard them.

"What are the chances of our current lineup challenging the Fall Tournament?"

That was Superintendent Kataoka's voice.

"It's hard to say. The chances probably won't exceed forty percent. This is just an optimistic estimate due to the reputation of players like Sawamura and Miyuki. Honestly, it might not even be thirty percent." That was Coach Ochiai's voice.

"Has the situation become this serious?"

"Isn't it obvious? The players' morale is very high right now, and their condition is surprisingly good.

They're in a state of overwhelming dominance against weaker teams. Having just won the Koshien championship, whether it's players who have been to Koshien before or those who haven't, they won't settle with anything less and definitely want to go that high again.

This is also why everyone's morale is high and their condition is good."

"But only morale isn't enough."

"With their current state, if they encounter ordinary opponents, there won't be any problems at all. It will definitely be a one-sided victory!"

"But when problems do arise, it might be too late."

Ochiai and Kataoka were evaluating the current situation of the team.

To be honest, who doesn't have a bit of vanity? Superintendent Kataoka is proud of winning the Koshien championship, not just the players, but himself as well.

Experience is truly a valuable treasure.

Only someone like Coach Ochiai, who has experienced several Koshien tournaments, can understand why a team suddenly falls into exhaustion right after entering Koshien.

It's not even related to individual reasons; it's already a rule.

"What is the best thing should we do in such a situation?"

"We need to quickly find a qualified opponent to let the players know that high school baseball isn't as simple as they think. Even if it's just once, we won't discover all the problems. But as long as they are mentally prepared, they will have the motivation to continue fighting when they face difficulties in the future." Coach Ochiai said sincerely.

But where can it be that easy?

It's not difficult to find practice opponents, but finding opponents with enough weight, as Coach Ochiai said, who would be willing to play against Seidou High School at this time?

These opponents with enough weight that they speak of are all aiming for Koshien themselves.

They are already enemies with Seidou High School. Why would they actively come to provide help at their own expense when every second counts?

They are not stupid. Of course, they would not do such a brainless thing.

...