"What the heck?!"
Neutral fans could not believe their eyes.
The supporters of Seido High School Baseball Team, whether they were classmates from school, members of the second team or third team, or simply loyal followers shouted Azuma Kiyokuni's name in unison.
"Azuma!"
"Azuma Kiyokuni!!"
Then another wave followed.
"Zhang Han!"
"Hidezawa!"
And once again,
"Azuma Kiyokuni!!!"
The cheers came in layers, each louder than the last.
Unknowingly, more and more players from Seido High School Baseball Team had grown into figures capable of dominating the game. Whether skill or luck played a greater role no longer mattered. As long as they performed like this on the grand stage of Koshien, they were undoubtedly star players.
Among them, Azuma Kiyokuni's name shone the brightest.
This was his fifth Homerun in this Koshien.
It had been several years since a batter had reached such a height in a single tournament. The previous legendary player who had done so was still remembered today.
Now, Azuma Kiyokuni was only two Homeruns away from tying the highest single-player Homerun record in Koshien history.
The game was not over yet. Seido High School Baseball Team's journey might continue. No one could say with certainty whether Azuma would get more opportunities in the games ahead.
But one thing was clear.
Azuma Kiyokuni's name was destined to be remembered.
This record was entirely different from Zhang Han's rookie record. When Zhang Han broke the rookie mark, he entered the public eye and attracted interest from professional baseball teams.
But if Azuma Kiyokuni tied or broke the overall Koshien record, his status would be elevated to another level entirely.
He would become an undisputed baseball superstar.
Even without stepping into professional baseball, his fame would surpass that of many professional players.
This was the influence of Koshien.
This was the magic of Koshien Stadium.
This was the dream stage pursued by countless high school baseball players across the island nation.
Anyone who carved their name here would forever be surrounded by a halo.
"Azuma Kiyokuni! Azuma Kiyokuni!!"
Amid thunderous cheers, Azuma completed his trot around the bases and stepped firmly on home plate.
The scoreboard changed.
7–4.
Seido High School Baseball Team now led by three runs.
"Haha!!"
Azuma Kiyokuni was not known for humility, and such a performance was more than enough to inflate his confidence.
When he crossed paths with Yuuki Tetsuya, he smirked.
"Kid, you still need to work harder!"
When he approached Zhang Han, he was even more brazen.
"You're still far behind!"
"Senior, with your physique, trying to act cool is just too unbecoming," Zhang Han shot back immediately.
He would not indulge Azuma just because he was his senior. If Azuma refrained from provoking him, fine. But if he did, Zhang Han would answer without hesitation.
Though he spoke lightly, Zhang Han felt genuine surprise in his heart.
Ever since entering Koshien, he had sensed significant improvement in himself. Compared to when he first joined the team, he had undergone a complete transformation. He once believed he was gradually closing the gap between himself and Azuma Kiyokuni and Yuuki Tetsuya.
He had even thought that, given enough time, he might surpass Azuma.
But now he realized that Azuma had already advanced even further.
Yuuki Tetsuya had only hit one Homerun so far. Although Yuuki had driven in many runs, in terms of momentum, he had already been overshadowed by Zhang Han.
Zhang Han originally believed that surpassing Azuma was only a matter of time.
Now it seemed impossible.
If he wanted to contend for the Fourth batter position, he would probably have to wait until Azuma graduated.
With the lead widened to three runs, the situation on the field changed dramatically.
To those unfamiliar with baseball, the difference between a two-run lead and a three-run lead might not seem significant.
But anyone who truly understood the game knew that the two were completely different concepts.
A two-run difference meant that with one strong offensive opportunity, it was possible to catch up or even take the lead.
When the gap reached three runs, a single opportunity was barely sufficient. It required consecutive chances, sustained pressure, and flawless execution to reverse the situation.
In a hitting battle like this, three runs were not enough to guarantee victory.
But they were enough to influence the direction of the game.
Earlier, even with a two-run lead, Seido High School Baseball Team's probability of winning was not high.
Now it was different.
They truly had a chance to win.
And given the current momentum, that chance was not small.
"Keep it up!"
"Hit it out!!"
Inside the dugout, Seido's teammates were fully fired up. They shouted encouragement toward Yuuki Tetsuya, hoping he could extend the momentum.
The Cosmic Team of Osaka Kiryuu was not named lightly. No team could afford to relax against them.
Although Seido now led by three runs, their players desperately wanted more.
Five runs.
Six runs.
Even more.
The larger the gap, the better.
Yuuki thought the same way.
He had previously connected solidly against Komochi, so of course he wanted to continue.
But Komochi was different now.
Even after giving up a towering Homerun to Azuma, he did not panic as he had earlier in the game.
He calmly pitched to the corners, maintaining strict control.
For the final decisive pitch of the at-bat, he did not choose the Forkball.
Yuuki had been waiting for it.
He adjusted for the drop.
Instead, he was fooled.
"Ping!"
The white ball flew high into the sky.
It lacked the explosive force of Azuma's swing.
"Thwack!"
The ball descended neatly into Masaoka's glove.
"Out!!"
Three outs.
Side retired.
Komochi's adjustment was clear.
The players of Seido High School Baseball Team exchanged glances.
Based on their experience, Komochi's current state was unquestionably red-hot.
It would not be easy to score off him again.
"So impressive."
Even Miyuki, known for his sharp tongue, could only raise his thumb in acknowledgment.
An opponent's strength, however, was never good news.
The scoreboard showed 7–4.
The game entered the top of the sixth inning.
Osaka Kiryuu High School Baseball Team came to bat.
The first batter stepping into the box was their Fourth batter, Masaoka.
Standing 187 centimeters tall and weighing 95 kilograms, he was the embodiment of power. As a representative of U18, he had undergone numerous tests. It was said that his physical fitness and body fat percentage were both below eight percent.
Such numbers might not be extraordinary among basketball players.
But in baseball, a physique like that was absolutely rare.
And now, he stood at the plate, ready to swing.
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