The Tokyo regional competitions are always high-intensity.
On one hand, there are many participating teams; on the other, there's a pressing timeline.
Like the current Spring Tournament, both the champion and runner-up from the Tokyo regional tournament will advance to the Kanto Tournament.
It wouldn't be right for teams from other regions to have already been selected while everyone waits for Tokyo to finish.
Currently, Seidou High School is set to play in the quarter-finals on the next day of their match against Bunkyo High School.
Their opponents have yet to emerge as they wait for the results of the afternoon game.
Meanwhile, Sankou High School is struggling. Amahisa Kousei initially found himself in a tough spot, causing the team to fall behind by two points right from the start.
However, Kousei gradually regained his form, and his pitching became sharper, leaving batters bewildered.
Finally, he stabilized the situation.
Then, the team's strong hitters, Hoshida and Sasaki, made explosive plays, bringing the score back in their favor.
Their opponent is no pushover, but rather a renowned powerhouse from East Tokyo.
After the score was tied and even reversed, the opposing team's coach didn't give up. Instead, he passionately motivated his players, instilling a fighting spirit in them.
"Don't worry! That kind of collapse we saw at the beginning will happen again. As long as we stabilize our performance and play steadily, we'll find opportunities once more."
His words flowed with enthusiasm.
The younger players listened, fired up with excitement.
Clearly, this Coach excels at stirring emotions, at least as well as Seidou High School's Coach Kataoka.
Seeing the opponent's momentum, Sankou High School felt uneasy.
Hoshida frowned and said, "A one-point lead isn't reassuring. We need to score a few more points."
Sasaki beside him nodded vigorously, clearly agreeing with Hoshida.
After the graduation of the Senpais of Sankou's third year, they became the actual leaders of the team.
With the two of them reaching a consensus, the others naturally nodded in agreement.
"Not so!"
Of course, not everyone was convinced.
A shaved-headed young man stood up from the bench, his eyes blazing with determination.
"A one-point lead is enough! I won't let them run rampant any longer!"
This person is naturally Amahisa Kousei, the current Ace pitcher of Sankou's Baseball Team.
Seeing Kousei's fighting spirit, Hoshida frowned slightly and asked the people around him, "What's got this guy so fired up?"
"Just got the news that Seidou has won on another field!"
'Seidou has won!'
Upon hearing this, Hoshida fell silent.
He finally understood why Amahisa Kousei had changed so much.
After the previous Ace pitcher, Manaka, retired, Kousei became the new Ace of their team.
His journey to becoming an Ace has been smooth sailing; he has never lost to anyone.
Until the autumn competition, when he faced off against Sawamura Eijun.
That kind of full might crushing finally opened Kousei's eyes to the heights of the game called baseball.
He felt like a frog that had just jumped out of a well, finally seeing the world anew.
During this time, his progress has been evident to all.
Gradually, everyone understood that Seidou had become Kousei's fixation.
Besides leading Sankou High School back to the top, he harbors another goal.
That is to defeat Seidou High School and pull Sawamura Eijun, the Demon King, from his throne. (Narumiya: Welcome to the club!)
"STRIKE!"
"STRIKE!!"
"STRIKE! BATTER OUT!!!"
Amahisa Kousei was as if a wild beast unleashed, devoid of any mercy.
He ruthlessly tore apart the enemies before him. (Figuratively of course.)
In the end, this match concluded with Sankou High School achieving a significant comeback victory.
Although there were some small twists and turns along the way, Sankou High School showcased their terrifying might to the other teams.
The other qualifying teams also emerged.
They include Niougakusha Ootsuki High and Koukaidai Sugata!
Niougakusha is a prestigious and powerful team in East Tokyo with a strong reputation.
As for Koukaidai Sugata High School, they can be considered a dark horse team.
However, they aren't exactly a dark horse team.
Koukaidai Sugata High School ranks very high among all schools in the country, excelling in various aspects, whether in academics or sports.
In baseball, they often reach the top 32 and top 16.
But reaching the quarter-finals this time is their first time.
So they are dark horses, yet not entirely so.
Of course, if they can take another step forward and reach the semi-finals in Tokyo, they could create a major upset.
However, considering their opponent is Yakushi High School, a top school that recently reached the quarter-finals in the Spring Koshien, it seems their chances of pulling off an upset are slim.
Besides these two schools, there is also Kasugaichi, a relatively strong school in East Tokyo.
After battling for nine innings, they finally defeated their opponents and advanced to the quarter-finals.
On that afternoon at Jingu Stadium, the first match of the quarterfinals will be held.
The Tokyo regional tournament's quarterfinals were held at Jingu Stadium.
Ugumori, who had already secured a spot in the top eight, was set to face the superpower of their region, Teito High School.
Tomorrow, the remaining six teams will face off against each other.
They are:
Sankou High School against Niougakusha Ootsuki High School.
Yakushi High School against Koukaidai Sugata High School!
Seidou High School against Kasugaichi High School.
Ugumori, Teito, Niougakusha, and Kasuga!
These four schools are from East Tokyo.
On the other side, Yakushi High School, Sankou High School, Seidou High School, and Koukaidai Sugata High School!
These four schools are from West Tokyo.
Simply looking at the distribution of the top eight, East Tokyo and West Tokyo can match each other equally.
However, this situation may only last until the top eight.
Even without playing the remaining matches, many people have already speculated about the outcomes.
It will surely be a bloody result.
After absorbing new recruits, Ugumori High School has transformed into a…quirky legion?
The younger players on their team seemed to have come from every corner, each sporting unique and colorful hairstyles.
"After adding the newcomers, the opponents look more like a gang of delinquents! I mean, what's up with those sharp faces?"
Teito High School's Ace pitcher, Taiyou Mukai, bewilderedly commented.
Beside Mukai, his partner, Inui, added, "You've seen their match against Seidou High School before, but don't underestimate them!"
Inui's tone was steadier than ever.
During the winter break, he improved not only in skills but also in his overall style.
Just thinking about the miracles created by Ugumori High School made his mind have been struck by lightning.
'It's hard to believe that a non-elite school possesses such chilling power.'
Let's put it this way: the most powerful school in the high school is recognized to be Seidou High School by nearly everyone.
Of course, this doesn't guarantee that Seidou High School will definitely win the championship; after all, many other factors besides strength determine the outcome.
When it comes to strength, Seidou High School undoubtedly has the big weapons.
Nationwide, there aren't many teams that can threaten them. Honestly, without a certain level of strength, it's impossible to even contend against Seidou High School.
This is the King!
Among non-elite teams, there are even fewer that can pose a threat to Seidou High School. Across the country, you could count them on one hand.
Ugumori is one of them.
Though they're not a prestigious school, their strength is certainly not inferior to that of elite schools.
"Don't let others' ambitions overshadow our own prestige," Mukai said with a smile.
"I won't let them hit the ball!"
When he said this, Taiyou Mukai appeared confident.
They had lost to Seidou High School in the first round of the competition last Fall.
They must have lost their dignity long ago.
But there's a silver lining; since their loss was so early, their winter break was also significantly longer.
Now that their days of hardship have ended, it's time to show their muscles and fangs.
"Hey, Are You Talking Too Loudly? We Can All Hear You!"
In the Ugumori High School resting area, Umemiya, who was preparing for defensive practice, said angrily.
"I said it for you to hear, Hairface!"
Taiyou shot back.
Although Teito High School is just one of the four giants in all of Tokyo, they are the undisputed king in East Tokyo.
How could they, the kings of East Tokyo, lose to their regional opponents?
A fierce battle is inevitable.
"The game begins; let's get on the field and teach those Sweet City Boys a lesson!"
"YEAAAAH!!!!"
Under Umemiya's lead, Ugumori's players marched toward the field.
They aren't focusing their strategic attention on Seidou High School.
In the upcoming summer competition, their biggest enemies aren't those giants from West Tokyo at all.
It is Teito High School right in front of them.
Only by defeating Teito High School can they advance to Koshien.
As for the showdown with Seidou High School, that will be after they enter Koshien.
Thinking about it now is too early.
Under Umemiya's exceptional skills and strong fighting spirit, Ugumori displayed a tenacious fighting spirit in this match.
They pressed down on Teito, never conceding a single point.
On the other hand, they faced the Trickster, Taiyou Mukai.
Ugumori too didn't show any signs of performance.
Having grown accustomed to rapid-fire plays, they found themselves helpless against Teito's steady defense.
Especially against Taiyou Mukai!
Currently, Tokyo is in an era where talented pitchers are emerging in droves.
Many of the nation's top pitchers have emerged.
These talented pitchers, regardless of their unique styles, all share one undeniable trait: they throw exceptionally fast.
Furuya Satoru is the fastest pitcher in the nation, with Narumiya Mei's velocity reaching 150 km/h.
Other star pitchers, even if their speeds aren't as terrifying as those two, typically hover around 140 km/h.
They are all classic fastball pitchers.
But Taiyou Mukai!
Even now, his velocity is only a mere 135 km/h.
Among all star pitchers in Tokyo, he has the slowest speed.
Yet this does nothing to diminish his pitching talent.
His throws seem to be cast under some spell.
They always disrupt the batters' timing.
The actively offensive Ugumori batters gradually turned into their own worst enemies.
...
T/N: Offers from across the seas, rising dark horses, and rivals sharpening their weapons.
Poor boy Sawamura is not going to have it easy. XD
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