Recaps

With the Autumn Tournament approaching, Kōshū cut back on pitching because he still felt the effects of Summer Koshien, while Eijun and Furuya worked to improve under Ochiai Coach’s watch. The chapter ended with the other players worrying that Kōshū’s lingering fatigue might keep him from pitching in the tournament.

• Kōshū reduced his pitching and increased lower-body stability training because his arm still felt heavy from Summer Koshien.
• Eijun repeatedly checked that Ochiai Coach was watching him as he worked to recover his pitching form.
• Furuya threw with greater force after Ochiai Coach told him he had the potential to become the ace if he earned the team’s recognition.
• Kōshū left the Bullpen early and went to the Equipment Training Room for independent training.
• Kōshū told a teammate that he had reduced his pitching because his fatigue from Summer Koshien had not gone away, prompting concern that he might be unable to pitch in the Autumn Tournament.

Kōshū supported Miyuki as Seido struggled to settle its new team, while Lang Zhi wrestled with whether to pursue shortstop or third base. Lang Zhi became the fixed third baseman, and Seido finalized its roster before the drawing, with Kōshū wearing number 1 and Sawamura number 20.

• Kōshū recognized the team's pitching, defense, batting, and personnel problems, then listened as Miyuki complained about the burdens of being catcher, cleanup hitter, and captain.
• Kōshū identified how he could help Miyuki by coordinating the pitchers and setting an example for the first-years, and Miyuki asked him to lend the team his strength.
• Kōshū urged Lang Zhi to consider third base, but Lang Zhi admitted that he still wanted to stay at shortstop and left Kōshū's room abruptly.
• Lang Zhi became Seido's fixed third baseman in the following games, prompting Kanemaru to reconsider his own chances and Tojo to praise Lang Zhi's growth through playing.
• Seido finalized its new-team roster before the drawing, assigning Kōshū number 1 and Sawamura number 20.

Kōshū attended the Tokyo Autumn Tournament draw with Miyuki and reunited with his former Kinoshita Little League seniors. Miyuki’s draw placed Seido in a brutal Team B, where it would face Tachikawa first and later meet several powerhouse schools.

• Kōshū spotted Hayakawa, Nozawa, and Ido at the venue and reconnected with them through a group chat.
• Nozawa and Ido agreed to meet Kōshū and Hayakawa after the draw, while Nozawa joked that Tachikawa would beat Inajo Jitsugyo if they met.
• Yakushi drew number 17, Inajo Jitsugyo drew number 35, and Tachikawa Private drew number 40.
• Miyuki drew number 41 for Seido, setting up its first game against Tachikawa Private.
• The draw placed Seido, Inajo Jitsugyo, Teito, and Kawasaki Academy together in Team B, prompting Kōshū to criticize Miyuki’s luck.

Kōshū reunited with his former Little League teammates and learned that his first Autumn Tournament opponent would be their team, Tachikawa Private. He gave Seido some information about the opposing pitcher and catcher while concealing his concern about his shoulder, and planned to get it checked before the game.

• Kōshū met Senior Nozawa, Senior Ido, and Hayakawa after the draw, and they looked forward to facing one another in the tournament.
• Miyuki revealed that Tachikawa Private was Seido’s first opponent and that its regular pitcher and catcher were Kōshū’s former Little League teammates.
• Kataoka asked Kōshū about Senior Nozawa and Senior Ido, and Kōshū described their past skills and roles.
• Kataoka questioned Kōshū about leaving the bullpen early, and Kōshū said he was working on lower-body strength to improve his pitching velocity.
• Kōshū decided to resume his training while secretly planning to have his shoulder examined.

Kōshū’s shoulder examination found no major damage, but the doctor ordered him not to pitch for at least half a month. Kataoka gathered the team to make an announcement, leaving Kōshū and his teammates waiting to hear what it was.

• Kōshū asked Miyuki to help him increase his pitching velocity, but Miyuki urged him to focus on recovering before the first game.
• The School Doctor examined Kōshū’s shoulder and ordered X-rays after hearing that his arm felt swollen, tight, and heavy when he pitched.
• The orthopedic doctor found no major problem, diagnosed likely inflammation from insufficient rest, and told Kōshū not to pitch for at least half a month.
• Takashima Rei and Kōshū arrived at the dormitory, where the players gathered around to ask about his condition.
• Kataoka told Miyuki to assemble the team at the Indoor Practice Field and announced that he had something to tell them.

Kataoka announced that Kōshū would miss Seido’s first three Autumn Tournament games because of his shoulder, and he assigned Furuya and Kawakami to pitch against Tachikawa, Teito, and Kawasaki. Kōshū asked Ochiai Coach to oversee his recovery so he could return at full strength for the fourth game against Inashiro.

• Kataoka told the team that Kōshū’s shoulder was not seriously injured but barred him from playing before the Inashiro game.
• Kataoka urged the new team not to rely on its Koshien runners-up legacy and instructed the fielders and central lineup to take responsibility in every play and at-bat.
• Kataoka assigned Furuya and Kawakami to handle the first three games, with Furuya starting against Tachikawa and Kawakami warming up in the fourth inning.
• Kataoka said Sawamura could be used if his pitching form was corrected, but warned that any renewed distortion would keep him off the mound for the Autumn Tournament.
• Kōshū told Ochiai Coach he wanted to return at full strength for the fourth game and asked him to manage his recovery training.

Kōshū and Lang Zhi left Ochiai after discussing Kōshū’s shoulder recovery, while Lang Zhi joked that Ochiai brought misfortune. Their teasing turned into a chase through the dorms, where Kuramochi and Senior Nanmu offered Lang Zhi reassurance and encouragement.

• Ochiai realized he needed to approach Kōshū directly if he wanted to influence the ace, while Kōshū headed back to the dorms with Lang Zhi to rest.
• Lang Zhi listed mishaps he associated with Ochiai and called him the God of Misfortune, so Kōshū flicked him on the forehead and chased him with Miyuki’s help.
• Lang Zhi hid in Room 5, where Kuramochi let him read a shortstop’s autobiography and told him not to make Kōshū worry.
• Senior Nanmu reassured Lang Zhi that the setback would not affect him, and they discussed preparations for the National Sports Festival and batting with wooden bats.
• Lang Zhi reflected that trying to fix his habits by waking early had become a burden because he could not fall asleep after waking at six.

Kōshū continued training alone while injured and learned that he would not pitch against Tachikawa Private. Seido’s team analyzed Tachikawa’s rising players and their pitcher-catcher battery ahead of the game.

• Kōshū trained in the Equipment Room while the rest of Seido practiced on the field, and he resolved to return as soon as possible.
• Nozawa and Ido teased Kōshū in their LINE chat, but he hid that he would not take the mound against Tachikawa Private.
• Watanabe briefed Seido on Nozawa’s Tornado Style, his pitches, and his trusted catcher Ido.
• Watanabe explained that Tachikawa Private had recruited more baseball-specialty students and could become a stronger team in the fall.

Eijun asked Kōshū to teach him a Changeup so he could offer more value to the team, and Kōshū taught him a Fast Cutter instead. Eijun learned the pitch during practice, while Lang Zhi made him promise to buy manga for him.

• Kataoka Manager dismissed the team after warning them to prepare for Tachikawa Private without overtraining.
• Eijun asked Kōshū to teach him a Changeup, explaining that he needed to strengthen his value to the team.
• Kōshū agreed to teach Eijun and Lang Zhi a Fast Cutter, explaining its grip and release while Furuya and Haruichi watched nearby.
• Eijun repeatedly practiced the pitch with Lang Zhi catching and finally made the ball break into the strike zone.
• Lang Zhi demanded that Eijun buy him manga in return for helping him practice, and Eijun agreed so he could keep throwing.

Tachikawa Private analyzed Seido’s pitchers and devised plans to face them in the Autumn Tournament opener. In the rain, the new Seido team took the field against Tachikawa, and Furuya threw the first pitch.

• Coach Ōkawa asked Tachikawa’s players to discuss how Seido’s relay pitching and Kōshū’s fastball could be countered.
• Ido explained Kōshū’s accuracy, true spin axis, and high spin rate, and Tachikawa’s players suggested batting strategies.
• Coach Ōkawa told the intelligence team to record the players’ plans and training priorities for the next two days.
• On the rainy bus ride, Kōshū reflected on how much Seido had changed since the seniors left and wondered how their tournament was going.
• Seido took the field against Tachikawa, and Lang Zhi cheered for Furuya as the umpire called play ball.
• Furuya threw the first pitch of Seido’s Autumn Tournament opener.

Lang Zhi handled several defensive plays in Seido’s first tournament game, but nerves began to stiffen his movements as Tachikawa’s pitcher challenged Seido’s hitters. The chapter left the game ongoing, with Miyuki studying Tachikawa’s approach at the plate.

• Lang Zhi helped retire Tachikawa’s first two batters, then dove to stop a hard-hit ball and completed the third out despite hitting the ground hard.
• Kōshū and Eijun welcomed Lang Zhi back to the Dugout, where Lang Zhi calmed himself before Seido’s turn to bat.
• Tachikawa’s No. 11 used controlled Two-Seam Fastballs, and Kominato struck out after failing to hit one cleanly.
• Lang Zhi looked nervous on defense and stiffened up as a ball passed him, but Kuramochi covered the play and recorded the out.
• Miyuki read Tachikawa’s hitters’ approach and prepared for their selective, decisive swings at pitches in the Strike Zone.

Furuya pitched through the rain as Seido’s coaches discussed Kataoka’s promises to protect Kōshū’s health and future by limiting his workload. At the bottom of the third, Nozawa entered for Tachikawa Private and appeared intent on drawing Kōshū onto the field, but he noticed Kōshū was still dry.

• Kataoka told Ochiai that he had promised Coach Ninomiya not to let Kōshū pitch a complete nine innings in major games and had promised Kōshū’s parents to prioritize his health.
• Kataoka explained that he planned to give Seido’s other pitchers opportunities to develop through relay pitching, even as Ochiai questioned his trust in Kōshū.
• Furuya broke the deadlock at the bottom of the third with a hit, and Kuramochi followed by bunting to advance the runner.
• Tachikawa Private substituted Nozawa for its pitcher, and Nozawa exchanged a determined look with Kōshū.
• Nozawa gestured toward Seido’s dugout as he left the field, then remarked that Kōshū probably would not play because he was still dry.

Tachikawa used its players’ independent judgment and the rain-soaked field to put pressure on Furuya, but Seido escaped the fourth inning without conceding a run. Kōshū recognized Tachikawa’s maturity and, unable to take the field, felt his resolve waver as he watched Eijun act freely to help Furuya.

• Tachikawa’s batters crowded the plate and drew a walk, bringing Furuya’s pitch count to seventy-five for the game.
• Kōshū explained to Kanemaru that Tachikawa’s players made their own seasoned decisions with few Signals from Coach Ōkawa.
• Tachikawa’s cleanup batter hit a grounder that slipped past Furuya in the mud, then beat Haruichi’s throw to reach first as the runner advanced to third.
• Miyuki moved the infield in and urged Furuya to pitch like an ace; Furuya struck out the fifth batter to end the inning.
• Kōshū praised Miyuki’s handling of the situation and pointed out Tachikawa’s independent play, while Miyuki said their inexperience would eventually expose an opening.
• Miyuki asked Kōshū to watch Furuya, and Eijun brought Furuya a dry undershirt, leaving Kōshū comparing Eijun’s freedom to his own responsibilities as an ace.

Kōshū struggled to rest while Seido played Tachikawa, worrying that the team no longer needed him as its ace. Seido narrowly won 3-2, and Kōshū reassured Nozawa that he was not injured while looking ahead to the game against Teito.

• Kōshū envied Eijun’s ability to act without overthinking and admitted to himself that he still doubted whether he had become the ace the team needed.
• Kanemaru asked Kōshū why he seemed off, and Kōshū went to the Locker Room to move around and quiet his thoughts.
• Seido left runners on base, and the game remained tied 0-0 through the fifth inning as Nozawa and Tachikawa held their own.
• Kataoka Manager let Kōshū move around inside after noticing that he could not warm up outside.
• Seido brought in Eijun when Furuya’s control faltered, and Eijun’s pitching helped Seido secure a narrow 3-2 win.
• Nozawa checked Kōshū for an injury after the game, and Kōshū insisted he was fine while thinking about the upcoming game against Teito.

On the bus after Seido’s rain-soaked game, Miyuki reflected on Furuya’s growth as the ace while Kōshū studied Teito, their next opponent. Kōshū remained frustrated that he could not pitch, and he resolved to set goals for the six days before the next game.

• Furuya fell asleep against the bus window after receiving praise for his performance, and Miyuki said the game would help him understand what it meant to be the ace.
• Miyuki worried that Kōshū might struggle mentally with being unable to play, especially as scouts watched Seido’s ace and rumors about his injury could spread.
• Lang Zhi asked Kōshū to add him to the group chat, then tried to get his attention while Kōshū researched Teito’s pitchers.
• Kōshū noted Mukai Taiyo’s improved pitching and Teito’s strong lineup, then grew irritated that he could not take the field to address Seido’s weaknesses.
• Miyuki told Kuramochi that Kōshū was still young and had little experience seeing players hurt by baseball, before joking that they should let him experience being treated like an ordinary player.
• Kōshū decided to set goals for the six days before the next game, though he could not find a good reason to ask Kataoka Manager to let him play.

Kōshū coached Eijun and Furuya during practice as both declared their ambitions to become Seido’s ace. Six days later, Kōshū watched from the dugout while rumors about his injury spread, and Narumiya Mei hijacked Hayakawa’s phone to argue with him in the group chat.

• Kōshū praised Eijun’s cutter, while Miyuki questioned its reliability and urged him to focus on his fastball.
• Furuya threw a powerful fastball and told Kōshū he would not give up fighting for the ace position; Eijun then declared that he wanted to be ace too.
• Kōshū welcomed their ambition, thinking that strong rivals made the competition more exciting.
• Six days later, Kōshū sat in the dugout as rumors that Seido’s ace was injured spread among rival schools and in the Line group chat.
• Narumiya Mei took Hayakawa’s phone, argued with Kōshū in the chat, and became upset when Kōshū mistook him for Hayakawa’s little brother.

Hayakawa recalled the rain-delayed game against Ugumori in which he and Narumiya struggled to communicate during an eighth-inning suspension. The chapter ended as Hayakawa began telling Narumiya about a memorable Little League game involving Kōshū.

• Narumiya took Hayakawa’s phone and argued with Kōshū while teasing Hayakawa about his catching, then claimed Hayakawa’s bed for himself.
• Hayakawa remembered the October 3 game, when heavy rain repeatedly suspended Inashiro’s tied match against Ugumori.
• During the eighth-inning suspension, Hayakawa proposed a changeup-focused strategy, but Narumiya shoved him away and refused to talk.
• Inashiro’s teammates watched the awkward exchange, while Kunimoto Manager waited to see how Hayakawa would handle Narumiya’s tantrum.
• Hayakawa turned away from Narumiya and began telling him about a Little League game involving Kōshū, catching Narumiya’s attention.

Hayakawa told Narumiya Mei how the previous Inajitsu ace taught Kōshū to keep a normal mindset, prompting Narumiya to get jealous and demand Hayakawa's loyalty. As Inajitsu went to warm up, Narumiya watched Seido and Teito's scoreless game, where Miyuki broke the deadlock and Mukai Taiyo suspected Kōshū was injured.

• Hayakawa recounted how Senior Nozawa comforted the team after a disastrous game and taught Kōshū to face adversity with a normal mindset.
• Narumiya Mei cut Hayakawa off, grew jealous of his praise for Kōshū, and ordered him to catch Narumiya's pitches loyally.
• Narumiya followed Hayakawa's pitching strategy in the next inning and helped Inajitsu clear the Ugumori hurdle.
• As Seido and Teito remained tied 0-0 in the sixth inning, Narumiya hoped Seido would win so Kōshū would take the field against Inajitsu.
• Miyuki hit Mukai Taiyo's pitch in the seventh inning, and Mukai regretted not choosing a West Tokyo team and suspected Kōshū was injured.

After Seido defeated Teito, the pitchers wrestled with the pressure to earn scarce chances on the mound. Kōshū returned from the hospital cleared to pitch, leaving Eijun anxious about the next game as the team prepared to face Kawasaki Academy.

• Mukai Taiyo reflected on Seido’s victory over Teito, while Kuramochi and Kōshū discussed the missed chance to pitch again.
• Narumiya learned Seido had won without Kōshū pitching and assumed Kōshū might be injured before their expected matchup.
• On the bus, Kōshū, Furuya, Eijun, and Kawakami each worried about their chances to pitch as Seido’s tournament schedule tightened.
• At the Bullpen, Kōshū announced that his hospital follow-up cleared him to pitch, and Eijun worried he would lose a chance to take the mound against Kawasaki Academy.
• Kawakami encouraged the three first-years to keep winning so everyone would have more chances to pitch.

Kawakami embraced his role in guiding Seido’s young pitchers, while Kawasaki Academy prepared for its game against Seido. In the bullpen, Kōshū overcame his hesitation about his healed shoulder and found his pitching rhythm again.

• Kawakami told Eijun, Furuya, and Kōshū that every pitcher and dugout player had an important part in Seido’s victory, and Kōshū planned to pitch the final two innings.
• Miyuki recognized Kawakami as the right person to guide Seido’s first-year pitchers.
• Kawasaki’s coach urged the fourth batter to study Seido’s players and consider whether he might pursue professional baseball.
• Miyuki and Ochiai Coach helped Kōshū focus on his lower-body rotation instead of worrying about his shoulder.
• Kōshū relaxed into his pitching motion, threw a good pitch, and began to recover his feel for pitching.

Seido used its game against Kawasaki Academy as a final tune-up before facing Inashiro, giving Furuya and Sawamura the mound while Kōshū prepared to pitch. The chapter ended with Narumiya Mei noticing Kōshū warming up and guessing he would be part of the next game’s plan.

• Narumiya Mei and Kōshū exchanged taunts before their teams took the field.
• Furuya started for Seido and struck out Kawasaki Academy’s batters while Seido went three up, three down.
• Kataoka kept his pitching rotation unchanged despite Furuya’s strong performance and said every pitcher would get a chance against Kawasaki Academy.
• Sawamura took over from Furuya in the fifth inning and used his unusual pitching timing to get Kawasaki Fourth Batter out.
• Kōshū warmed up at the edge of the field, and Narumiya Mei noticed him and anticipated that he would pitch against Inashiro.

Hayakawa recalled how his unassuming demeanor concealed his ambition while trying to keep Narumiya focused on the game. Kōshū took the mound in the seventh, and despite struggling to regain his pitching rhythm, he struck out a batter with a powerful inside pitch.

• Hayakawa told Narumiya to watch Kōshū pitch, but Narumiya refused to consider exploiting a possible injury.
• Hayakawa’s past actions showed how he had earned a starting catcher position through effort while maintaining a pragmatic attitude.
• Narumiya lingered in the stands to watch Kōshū, and Hayakawa went downstairs without him when the ace refused to leave.
• Kōshū took the mound in the seventh as his teammates encouraged him and Miyuki tested his pitching condition.
• Kōshū’s first pitch missed low and outside, but he followed with powerful inside pitches that induced a fly-ball out.

Kōshū closed out Seido’s win over Kawasaki Academy, while Narumiya Mei prepared for Inashiro’s game and remembered how his past defeat by Seido had haunted him. The chapter left Narumiya facing that old bitterness as he watched Seido’s players pass by.

• Seido scored two runs in the eighth, and Kōshū helped finish Kawasaki’s batters to secure the victory.
• Kōshū noticed Kawasaki’s players seemed to accept their loss without sorrow and wondered why he felt unusually sensitive to the heat around him.
• Hayakawa told Narumiya Mei that Seido had won, and the two teams exchanged quiet greetings as they passed outside the stadium.
• Seeing Seido stirred Narumiya’s memories of the summer when he surrendered a run and lost to them, a defeat that had made him doubt himself.
• Narumiya recalled how Hayakawa had helped him recover by pointing out a newspaper’s praise of his pitching, and he had invited his teammates to watch Seido’s game.

Kōshū struggled with the pressure of being Seido’s ace as the team prepared to face Inashiro. After Miyuki challenged him to confront his feelings, Kōshū admitted he could not accept losing the position he had worked to claim.

• Seido watched Inashiro’s game, and Haruichi noticed the tense silence among Kōshū, Eijun, and Furuya.
• Miyuki reflected that Kōshū needed to accept challenges from the pitchers behind him as part of being an ace.
• Inashiro won, and Seido learned they would face them in three days.
• Kōshū practiced late at night while Miyuki questioned whether he was willing to give up the mound to another pitcher.
• Kōshū admitted he did not know what an ace truly was, but he could not easily accept losing the position after it had become his.
• Miyuki told Kōshū to stay in the position longer and experience what he felt.

Seido faced Inajitsu in a heavily publicized game, with Kōshū starting in left field and Kataoka warning the team not to underestimate their opponents. The game began with Seido batting first, and Kuramochi opened the at-bat against Inajitsu pitcher Hirano by taking a strike.

• Kataoka assigned Kōshū to start in left field and warned Seido that Inajitsu was a dangerous opponent.
• Miyuki led Seido's pregame rally as the new captain.
• Seido and Inajitsu exchanged greetings at home plate, and Seido took the field to bat first.
• Kuramochi faced Hirano with no outs and let the first pitch pass for a ball.
• Kuramochi watched Hirano's next pitch cross the outside edge of the strike zone for a strike.