The match between Seidou High School and Yamamori Academy is about to begin.
The entire Spring Koshien tournament lasts only two weeks. During this period, 32 teams face off to determine the champion.
The schedule is extremely tight.
At the start of the tournament, because there are more teams participating, the rest periods between games are relatively longer.
However, for teams like Inajitsu High School, who had a late game start, the rest time was significantly reduced.
Generally speaking, the teams can take it easy in the first two games.
Once the tournament reaches the quarterfinals, the schedule becomes very tight, with only five days allocated. To win the national championship, teams must play three intense matches within these five days.
There is almost no time for rest, and Seidou High School is now facing its opponents head-on.
Yamamori Academy!
Before the game began, both teams exchanged salutes.
Seidou High School's players did not know much about their opponents. Despite receiving a lot of information from Takashima Rei and Watanabe, this was the first time they came in contact with Yamamori Academy.
Unlike the other teams in the quarterfinals, which were all familiar rivals, Yamamori Academy was completely unknown to Seidou.
Even with the information, their understanding of Yamamori Academy was blank.
They couldn't estimate their opponents' level at all.
"The opposing pitcher takes time to get into his rhythm. If there's a chance, we need to score early," Coach Kataoka said in his final briefing.
Though he did not think Yamamori Academy could make a comeback, he emphasized the need for caution.
After all, this is Koshien, where anything can happen.
"Yes!"
The Seidou High School baseball team responded in unison.
What could they say about their coach's orders?
On the other side, in Yamamori Academy's resting area.
Seeing the formidable Seidou High School baseball team, their players were visibly intimidated.
"Wow, they really are a powerhouse!"
"Their presence is completely different."
"I'm really looking forward to seeing their style of play!" The pitcher older brother with a cheerful personality is Kotari Yuuto.
"This game will be totally fun!" The catcher's younger brother with an equally cheerful personality is Kotari Kazuto.
Yamamori Academy's Coach also had a wide smile on his face. If he did not occasionally give sharp glances from time to time, it would be hard to imagine he led a baseball team, not a kindergarten class.
As the Coach of one of the top eight teams in the country, his team was not a traditional powerhouse.
This Coach was also very competent.
"Alright, now is not the time for bravado; our opponents are ready too," said Yamazaki Kento with a smile.
Yamazaki Kento, the first baseman for Yamamori Academy, also had an unusual presence.
"Spring Koshien, Quarterfinals, Game 1: Seidou High School vs. Yamamori Academy, officially begins!"
With the referee's whistle, both teams charged onto the field.
"PLEASED TO PLAY WITH YOU!!"
"PLEASED TO PLAY WITH YOU!!"
Miyuki lost the rock-paper-scissors, so Yamamori Academy chose to bat second, and Seidou went up to bat first.
"First Batter, shortstop, Kuramochi-kun!"
Kuramochi Yoichi, the former delinquent, was Seidou High School's leadoff batter.
He is the driving force behind Seidou High School's offense. When he reaches base, Seidou's chances of scoring in the first inning increase exponentially.
Yamamori Academy's players were well aware of this.
They had specifically adjusted their defense, with infielders moving forward to defend.
'Preparing for my bunts?' Kuramochi was not surprised.
As his reputation grew, opponents' defenses against him became more intense.
Typically, whenever Kuramochi was up to bat, opponents would adopt various levels of forward defense.
There was no other way; his speed was too overwhelming. If they did not use a forward defense, they could not stop him from stealing bases. And with his speed, once he was on base, his threat was immeasurable.
In such a situation, it was not surprising that the opponent would employ a forward defense strategy.
'But I'm not someone who can be easily stopped.'
Kuramochi swung his bat with power, hitting the pitched ball.
'A Hit!' Kuramochi was thrilled.
Kotari Yuuto had a common issue that many pitchers experience: a slow starter.
His initial pitches and later pitches seemed like they were delivered by two different pitchers.
That's why Coach Kataoka concluded that the beginning of the game was the best time to attack.
Ping!
The white ball was hit and rolled in the diamond.
An infield grounder!
The ball didn't make a clean hit but bounced within the infield.
Fortunately, the direction of the ball was favorable, landing in a gap between the players.
For an average player, such a ball might not provide a chance to reach base.
Even if one did get on base by luck, it would be sheer fortune.
But Kuramochi was different. His speed was so fast it caught opponents off guard.
His entire body seemed to blur with afterimages as he swiftly covered the 20-meter distance, quickly approaching first base.
"Kuramochi!"
"Kuramochi!!!"
Kuramochi had accumulated some fans nationwide.
Seeing him sprint, the fans in the stands cheered him on loudly.
However, despite his speed, there was someone acting faster.
Yamazaki Kento!
Kento, who had originally been at first base, had arrived at the ball's landing spot.
He skillfully picked up the ball and threw it to first base.
Yamamori Academy's second baseman had also positioned himself at first base early to cover.
Snap!
Just as Kuramochi was one step away from first base, the ball arrived early.
"OUT!"
The first base umpire, without hesitation, spread his arms.
One Out, no one on base.
This result left the Seidou players looking at each other in disbelief.
"That was fast!"
"Oi, was that player really this fast?"
"In the information collected, he was usually the first batter so he should be fast. But this is not just about speed."
"True, his defense skills are well honed. Moreover, the second baseman cooperated with his seamlessly."
'Yamazaki Kento, first baseman, leadoff batter.'
For some reason, Sawamura found him oddly familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before.
But after searching his memory, Sawamura couldn't recall anything.
Puzzling!
Sawamura was sure he had never seen Yamazaki in person.
But he must have heard of him or seen his performance in some video.
A player with such a broad defensive range should not be unknown to him.
One Out, no one on base.
"Second batter, second baseman, Kominato-kun."
As Kominato Haruichi stepped into the Batter's Box, he was unusually distracted.
Normally, when Kominato was in the Batter's Box, he focused solely on hitting the ball.
But this time, he did something different. He took a moment to observe both the pitcher on the mound and the catcher behind the plate.
'They were identical.'
Although siblings often share some resemblance, this level of similarity is something only twins could have.
Kominato himself had an older brother, but they were not twins. His brother was born two years earlier.
If they had been born in the same year and grown up together, perhaps Kominato wouldn't always be chasing his brother's shadow.
Kominato was lost in these thoughts despite the intensity of the game.
This behavior was entirely out of his control, happening naturally.
The concept of "brother" likely held a special meaning for Kominato.
"Come on!"
"Hit it!"
"It's up to you!!!"
Just as Kominato was about to lose himself in his thoughts, his teammates' cheers erupted from behind him.
As if jolted by an electric shock, Kominato snapped back to reality.
He widened his eyes and focused on the opponent before him.
'Now was not the time for daydreaming; there was a formidable opponent right in front of me, waiting to be defeated.'
Yamamori was also one of the top eight teams in the country.
Without a certain level of skill, they could not have reached this stage.
The opponent's strength could not be underestimated.
Even if Kominato hadn't seen the opponent's pitches with his own eyes, he was certain of this.
'Focus!'
'Focus!!'
He forced himself to calm down and stared intently at the pitcher's mound.
…