Chapter 51: Osaka Kiryu
The next day dawned clear and bright.
On such a beautiful day, Seidou High School was preparing for its final training camp event before the summer tournament: practice matches against four other high schools.
At Seidou's dedicated baseball field, known as Field A, the surroundings were bustling with people. As soon as news spread about the weekend practice games at Seidou High, everyone who could make it had gathered. Each person had an eager expression, excited for the games to begin.
Everyone was discussing the potential outcomes of today's matches. Those familiar with Seidou's first string's grueling training knew winning these practice games would be challenging. The players' energy, stamina, and overall condition were far from optimal.
Among the crowd, two figures stood out distinctly. If Eijun were present, he would immediately recognize them as significant supporting characters from the original story: the baseball magazine reporter Mine Fujio and his intern, Akiko Owada.
"Oh wow, there are so many people here, Mine-senpai," Akiko exclaimed in amazement.
"Of course. As I told you before when we visited Seidou, it's one of the three prestigious schools in West Tokyo. Even if they haven't made it to Koshien in recent years, they remain formidable. Besides, this year's Seidou team has sparked unprecedented interest," Mine Fujio replied, waving his fan with a serious tone.
"Yes, yes, it's all about that first-year powerhouse pitcher, right?" Akiko nodded enthusiastically.
"Today's practice match is against Osaka Kiryu. I'm really looking forward to it. I wonder how it will go. By the way, will Furuya-kun be playing today?"
"It should be the other first-year pitcher, who just recently moved up from the second string," Mine Fujio said with a curious smile.
"Huh? The other first-year pitcher?" Akiko said in a surprised tone.
"Yes, his name is Sawamura Eijun," Mine Fujio replied with a tone of deeper meaning.
His gaze drifted to the figure in the dugout area near first base, showing a peculiar expression.
At that moment, in the center of the field, the two teams' managers met for their pre-game handshake.
"Thank you for coming all the way, Coach Matsumoto. Let's have an exciting game today," Coach Kataoka said with a respectful and solemn expression, extending his right hand to the middle-aged man with a Buddha-like demeanor across from him.
This was Matsumoto Takahiro, the coach of Osaka Kiryu, a man renowned for turning the school into a national powerhouse. His appearance suggested a kind old grandfather, complete with eyes squinting in a warm gaze, adding an extra layer of friendliness.
However, those familiar with him knew that, in baseball, he was a coach with a deceptively genial exterior but a fiercely competitive spirit.
Now, as Coach Matsumoto shook hands with Coach Kataoka, he reviewed the lineup of starting players exchanged for today's game and displayed a sly smile.
There was a slight hint of sarcasm in his smile.
"An exciting game indeed, Coach Kataoka. You really have some nerve to face us with two first-year starters, one of whom is a pitcher. I understand you want to try different things before summer," Matsumoto's eyes glinted with subtle coldness.
There was also a faint hint of concealed anger. Was this a slight against Osaka Kiryu, last year's runner-up? Even if it was just a practice match, sending out first-year players, especially two of them, seemed audacious.
This left Coach Matsumoto with a palpable sense of malice in the air.
His words were laden with more than a hint of sarcasm.
"Yes, indeed. I have some strategies I'd like to test before the summer tournament. I look forward to your guidance today, Coach Matsumoto." Coach Kataoka responded with a serious expression, seemingly unfazed by the sarcasm in Matsumoto's tone.
"Heh, of course. Regardless of the match, Osaka Kiryu always aims to crush our opponents with full force!!" Coach Matsumoto's seemingly amiable demeanor was undercut by the fierce pride and intensity belonging to a powerhouse team.
"First-year?" On the third base side, in the Kiryu dugout, the players showed surprised expressions.
Some of the more impatient players even scoffed openly. To them, this was a clear sign that Seidou was underestimating them.
Who were they, after all? Last year's runner-up, Osaka's powerhouse, the nationally renowned Kiryu High School.
"Heh, Seidou truly is an interesting team, especially with that young coach." Coach Matsumoto remarked in his dugout, with a smile that belied a hint of irritation, especially emphasizing the word "young."
Those familiar with their coach's temperament couldn't help but shudder slightly—Coach Matsumoto was not pleased.
"Alright then, go show that first-year kid what real high school baseball is like, understand?" Matsumoto's eyes shone with a dangerous glint.
"Yes, sir!!!!"
On the first base side, in Seidou's dugout:
"I don't need to tell you what kind of team Osaka Kiryu is. I'll be clear: given our current fatigue, winning this game will be extremely difficult. What I want to see is how you perform under these conditions, especially you two, Sawamura and Furuya, understand?"
"Yes, sir!!!!" Eijun and the others responded loudly.
"Pitch cautiously yet boldly, play to your strengths, follow Miyuki's lead, and show all the skills you have at this stage. I want to see how you handle Kiryu's lineup." Coach Kataoka turned to Eijun, his gaze serious and filled with meaning that made Eijun's heart skip a beat.
Eijun nodded vigorously, responding loudly, "Yes, I understand, Coach!!!!"
"Then, go!"
"Whoa ooohhh!!!"
"Salute"
"Please guide us well!!!!"
With the resounding voices of the players, the battle between the Tokyo powerhouse, Seidou High School, and the Osaka giants, Osaka Kiryu High School, was about to begin.
The clash was imminent!
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