Chapter Summaries

Japan’s U15 team played through the preliminary round in Taiwan, losing to Cuba and Australia but defeating Russia and Venezuela. They finished second in Group A and, after Coach Ninomiya approved an outing, Kōshū led the team around downtown Taichung.

• Japan lost 5–2 to Cuba while Kōshū sat out, then watched footage of China routing Russia before their next game.
• Japan defeated Russia 20–0, and Kōshū reflected on how to turn his early physical development into a lasting advantage.
• Kōshū started on the mound against Venezuela as Japan built an early lead and won 5–1.
• Japan lost 10–9 to Australia, finishing the preliminaries with three wins and two losses in second place in Group A behind Cuba.
• After Coach Ninomiya approved an outing, Kōshū planned the route and guided the team around downtown Taichung.

Kōshū started against Korea and helped Japan win the first knockout-stage game, but the coaches rested him against China and Japan lost by one run. Japan advanced to the third-place playoff against Mexico, where Kōshū was expected to pitch, and he went to sleep before the final.

• Kōshū prepared for the knockout stage and studied Korea’s hitters while Japan drew the Korean Team.
• Kōshū pitched five innings against Korea, and Japan defeated the Korean Team 8-3.
• The coaches decided to preserve Kōshū against China and aim for a third-place finish rather than risk chasing first in the group.
• Japan lost to the Chinese Team 5-6 after its remaining pitchers gave up the lead.
• Japan’s third-place playoff against Mexico was scheduled for the next day, and Hayakawa encouraged Kōshū before the game.

Kōshū visited the U.S. team’s field, where its pitching coach assessed his pitches and discussed his mechanics and possible elbow hyperextension with Coach Ninomiya. After Japan’s final against the Mexico Team, Kōshū flew home with his teammates as the ace of the U15 third-place team.

• Coach Ninomiya took Kōshū and Hayakawa to meet Coach Fukunaga and the U.S. team’s pitching coach.
• Kōshū watched an American pitcher and then demonstrated his Four-Seam Fastball and Two-Seam Fastball for the coaches.
• The U.S. pitching coach questioned the usefulness of Kōshū’s pitches and suggested his elbow might be hyperextended after observing him throw.
• Coach Ninomiya told Kōshū to set aside the morning’s advice and pitch as usual in Japan’s afternoon final against the Mexico Team.
• Kōshū packed his luggage the next morning and flew back to Japan with his teammates.

After returning from the U15 tournament, Kōshū reunited with his family and learned about his siblings’ recent illness. At dinner, the family discussed his special admission to Seido and Lang Zhi’s plans to apply there, leaving Lang Zhi set on getting in.

• Coach Ninomiya held a wrap-up press conference, and Kōshū answered reporters’ questions about the U15 tournament and his pitching award.
• Lang Zhi eagerly rummaged through Kōshū’s souvenirs on the drive home while Grandpa Sasaki explained that Kōshū’s younger siblings had been hospitalized with pneumonia.
• Kōshū learned that Miyuki had been sent down to the Second String after struggling to get along with the pitchers.
• Mr. Sasaki told Kōshū that Seido’s special admission and scholarship arrangements had not changed and that Lang Zhi would apply through a recommendation and take an exam.
• Kōshū laid out Lang Zhi’s study and application schedule, and Lang Zhi insisted that he would get into Seido.

Kōshū balanced baseball training with caring for his family as his grandparents’ health failed and the household became overwhelmed. After his grandparents recovered enough to leave, he prepared to join Seido’s independent training while reflecting on how his former baseball teammates had scattered to different schools.

• Kōshū organized Lang Zhi’s studies and helped care for the children while Grandma Sasaki recovered from surgery and the adults struggled to manage the household.
• When Grandpa Sasaki called with trouble speaking, Kōshū rushed home, arranged help, and took him to the hospital, where he received thrombolytic treatment for a mild cerebral infarction.
• At the hospital, Mr. Sasaki asked whether Kōshū regretted the younger children’s birth, and Kōshū assured him that he and Lang Zhi had no complaints and that he would keep Lang Zhi in line.
• Grandpa Sasaki recovered, and he and Grandma Sasaki returned to their daughter’s home while Ms. Huizi became a live-in nanny.
• Kōshū visited Kinoshita Club, discussed joining Seido’s independent training with Coach Fujii, and learned that Shibasaki, Hayakawa, and Yoshino would attend different schools.

Kōshū and Lang Zhi moved into Seido High School’s dorms early, and Kōshū prepared to show Kataoka Manager his pitching. The chapter left Kōshū in the bullpen with Miyuki ready to catch him.

• The Sasaki family arrived at their Kokubunji house, where Kōshū and Lang Zhi prepared for their first day of Seido training.
• Kōshū chose a first-floor dorm room near Senior Nanmu, while Lang Zhi chose a room near Senior Miyuki and stored manga under Kōshū’s bed.
• Takashima Rei led the brothers to Field A as their parents toured the school and planned to meet them at home for hot pot.
• Miyuki told his teammates that Kōshū was arriving, and Kataoka Manager summoned Miyuki to the bullpen.
• Kataoka Manager welcomed Kōshū and asked him to demonstrate his current pitching, with Miyuki catching.

Kōshū demonstrated his pitches and pinpoint control to Kataoka Manager, who considered him ready to strengthen Seido High School’s pitching lineup. Lang Zhi impressed the team with his fielding, and both brothers were assigned to train with the Second String during spring break.

• Kōshū showed Kataoka Manager his fastballs, cutter, two-seamer, and improved OK Changeup.
• Kōshū demonstrated that he could hit Miyuki’s targets across the Nine-section Grid, and Kataoka tentatively placed him among the First String.
• Kataoka called Lang Zhi to demonstrate his fielding, and Lang Zhi handled more than thirty balls before tiring.
• Kataoka assigned Kōshū and Lang Zhi to train with the Second String during spring break as the First String prepared for the Metropolitan Tournament.

Kōshū and Lang Zhi settled into life at Seido, while their family struggled with the separation and visited them during their first day. The chapter ended with the family sharing a toast before the adults returned home, leaving the brothers to continue adjusting to high school.

• Kōshū and Lang Zhi returned to their grandfather's house after training, and the family discussed their progress and their move into the dorm.
• Kōshū took Lang Zhi back to the dorm, organized his belongings, and warned him to prioritize studying before waking him early for a run.
• At lunch, Seido players discussed how Kōshū had memorized and restored the conditioning plan after asking for a lighter recovery session for Lang Zhi.
• Kōshū and Lang Zhi ate lunch with their parents and siblings at a family restaurant, where their father said he had watched them train.
• The family toasted the brothers' start at Seido before Shen Qing and Mr. Sasaki returned home to handle the clinic renovations.

Kōshū and Lang Zhi settled into Seido’s training routine as the new students arrived, and Kōshū was assigned pitcher-specific drills under Miyuki. Sawamura Eijun arrived late on the first day and was ordered to run laps with his two Room 5 upperclassmen.

• Kōshū adapted to Seido’s intense training, while Lang Zhi slowly regained muscle but still lacked confidence and game experience.
• Kuramochi frightened a new student with Room 5’s welcome prank, and Kōshū introduced himself after being called out from the neighboring room.
• Kōshū and Lang Zhi joined the freshmen’s assembly and introduced themselves as pitchers from Kinoshita Little League and a shortstop from Kinoshita Little League, respectively.
• Sawamura Eijun arrived late, introduced himself as a pitcher from Akagi Junior High who wanted to become Seido’s ace, and bowed in apology.
• Kataoka ordered Sawamura and his two Room 5 upperclassmen to run until training ended, while Miyuki began measuring Kōshū’s pitching ability and testing his potential under pressure.

The freshmen took tests for their defensive positions, where Kōshū showcased his speed and throwing distance but was upstaged by Furuya Satoru’s 150-kilometer-per-hour pitching. Lang Zhi performed strongly in the base-running test, and the chapter left Kōshū recognizing that high school baseball reset everyone’s middle-school standing and that he needed to keep improving.

• Kōshū joined Sawamura Eijun and the other freshmen for the tests, dominating the explosiveness drill and recording a best throwing distance of 112 meters.
• Kōshū discovered that Sawamura could not throw a fastball yet and began teaching him how to grip the ball.
• Furuya Satoru threw 120 meters and declared that he would not hand Senior Miyuki over to Kōshū, prompting Sawamura to challenge him to a fair competition for Miyuki.
• Lang Zhi was eliminated during the ground-ball test, then excelled in the base-running drill with smooth slides and sharp reactions.
• Furuya Satoru impressed the pitchers with throws near 150 kilometers per hour, though Kōshū noted that his pitches were all high.
• Kōshū accepted that high school baseball judged players by their present ability and resolved to stay humble and keep improving.

Kōshū grew closer to Chris while helping Sawamura prepare for high school baseball. As Seido’s First String left for a match against Ichidai Third High, Sawamura stayed behind to train.

• Kōshū discussed Chris’s injury and his commitment to baseball, then asked him to review explosive-power training methods.
• Chris told Kōshū to build muscle and eat more, after Kōshū admitted he had given his leftover food to his younger brother.
• Kōshū teased Sawamura in class and advised him to improve his stamina and eat three large bowls each day if he wanted to become Seido’s ace.
• Kataoka Manager reminded Seido’s First String that Ichidai Third High had defeated them the previous autumn, and the team departed for Jingu Stadium.
• Sawamura chose to stay behind and train while the Room 5 seniors and Kōshū headed to the match.

Kōshū watched Seido defeat Ichidai Third 13–9 in the Spring Metropolitan Tournament quarterfinal, while assessing the team’s players and pitching weaknesses. He left thinking about how he might earn a place in the First String and whether to discuss his future with Kataoka Manager.

• Kōshū cheered for Seido alongside Lang Zhi and Haruichi, then watched Miyuki hit a three-run homer and heard a senior explain his strengths at the plate.
• Seido took a 4–2 lead after Tanba gave up two runs in the first inning, while Kōshū considered Kuramochi’s speed and asked Chris about his batting statistics.
• Kōshū thought about how Lang Zhi could establish himself in the First String and considered speaking with Kataoka Manager about his own plans for pitching.
• Tanba walked a batter and gave up a hit in the bottom of the fourth, and Miyuki caught a runner stealing to end the inning after Ichidai Third scored.
• Kawakami replaced Tanba in the fifth and surrendered three runs, but Seido’s batting lineup carried the team to a 13–9 victory over Ichidai Third.

Sawamura and Furuya formed an uneasy alliance after realizing Kōshū was already earning the coaches’ attention, but Kōshū soon drew Furuya into the first-year friend group. Their rivalry during morning runs left Furuya fainting and all four of them assigned to clean the field for a week.

• Sawamura and Furuya played catch, then joined forces to figure out how to learn Kōshū’s pitching techniques and compete with him.
• Takashima Rei urged Kataoka Manager to rebuild the pitching lineup, and news spread that Tanba had lost his starting pitcher position.
• At dinner, Sawamura introduced Furuya to Kōshū, who welcomed him into the first-year group alongside Haruichi and Lang Zhi.
• Kōshū told Furuya and Sawamura to run more before entering the Bullpen, then outpaced Furuya during morning training until Furuya collapsed from low blood sugar.
• Kōshū, Sawamura, Furuya, and Lang Zhi were punished with a week of field-cleaning, and Kōshū left the recovered Furuya in Haruichi’s care.

Seido’s coaches evaluated the first-year pitchers in the Bullpen, where Kōshū, Furuya Satoru, and Sawamura showed their distinct abilities. Kataoka Manager recalled Kōshū’s meeting with him and set a longer stamina-building period, with the Red and White Battle and possibly the Kanto Tournament as goals.

• After Seido finished as runners-up in the Spring Metropolitan Tournament, the first-year pitchers were called to the Bullpen for evaluation.
• Kōshū threw a 143-kilometer fastball, and Furuya Satoru followed with a 148-kilometer pitch.
• Sawamura threw unpredictable pitches in the low 120s, while Kataoka Manager learned from Takashima Rei that Sawamura had pitched softball and lacked formal hardball training.
• Kōshū offered to practice his Changeup with Hiratani, and Furuya switched places with him to keep pitching.
• Kataoka Manager recalled Kōshū showing him a half-year training plan and advised him to extend his stamina-building period and prepare for the Red and White Battle, with a possible chance at the Kanto Tournament.

Kataoka Manager assessed the first-year pitchers ahead of the Red and White Game, while Kōshū used a pitching demonstration to show Sawamura Eijun and Furuya Satoru why lower-body stability and running mattered. He sent them back to train and began a session with Hiratani.

• Kōshū left Kataoka Manager’s office with a report after discussing the Kanto Tournament and his training.
• Kataoka Manager ranked Kōshū first, Tojo Hideaki second, Kaneda third, Furuya Satoru fourth, and Sawamura Eijun fifth among the first-year pitchers.
• Sawamura Eijun and Furuya Satoru asked Kōshū for different training, and he led them to Hiratani to demonstrate his pitching.
• Kōshū showed the two pitchers his accuracy and varied pitches, including a Changeup, then explained how differences in speed could strike out batters.
• Kōshū ordered Sawamura Eijun and Furuya Satoru to keep running, then began training with Hiratani.

Kōshū rallied the first-years before their Red and White Game against the Second String and took charge of the pitching strategy when his rookie catcher struggled. After Tanba shut down the first-years’ offense, Kōshū hoped the senior would keep fighting for his place as ace.

• At breakfast, Kōshū promised to help Sawamura and Furuya improve their pitching, and Miyuki revealed that the next day’s Red and White Game would pit the first-years against the Second String.
• Kōshū and the Second String seniors traded taunts, turning the cafeteria’s uneasy mood into spirited competition between the two groups.
• During the game, Kōshū’s rookie catcher called for pitches that let a batter reach base, so Kōshū took over the pitching strategy and helped end the inning with runners stranded.
• Kōshū told Tōjō to warm up, expecting Kataoka Manager to make an early pitching change, while Sawamura and Furuya waited for their chances to play.
• Tanba used his Curveball to unsettle the first-year batters, and Kōshū hoped the senior would keep showing his fighting spirit.

Kōshū led the first-years to an early run against the Second String before his replacement, Tojo Hideaki, gave up five runs. After the rookies rallied, Eijun was sent to right field and made a throwing play, but the seniors kept scoring, and Kataoka brought in Furuya Satoru.

• Kōshū struck out the Second String in order, then reached third as Lang Zhi bunted him over and a first-year batter drove him home for the rookies' first run.
• Kataoka replaced Kōshū with Tojo Hideaki and told Kōshū he would train with the First String starting the next day.
• The Second String scored five runs against Tojo and the first-years, leaving the rookies shaken until Eijun and Lang Zhi urged them to keep fighting.
• Kataoka sent Eijun to right field, where he missed a catch but threw to third in time to get an advancing senior out.
• The Second String scored six more runs in the inning, and Kataoka replaced the first-years' pitcher with Furuya Satoru.

The first-years took on the Second String in a red-and-white game, with Furuya pitching and the rookies using steals, bunts, and timely hits to score. Sawamura relieved Furuya and baffled the seniors until Masuko hit a home run, but Sawamura remained undeterred on the mound.

• The first-years replaced the catcher for Furuya, whose fastballs were difficult to handle, and he struggled to control his pitches while still getting through the inning.
• Lang Zhi reached first against Kawakami, then stole bases as Eijun used a sacrifice bunt and Haruichi pinch-hit to bring him home.
• Furuya hit a long ball, helping the first-years add another run before Kataoka sent Sawamura in to pitch.
• Sawamura followed Kōshū's advice to use his pitches' movement and fielded the Second String's weak contact, ending their half-inning with a double play.
• Masuko moved forward in the Batter's Box and hit a home run off Sawamura, who stayed spirited and prepared to face the next batter.

Kataoka assigned Kōshū, Furuya, and Sawamura to different development paths, while Kōshū struggled to meet First String demands and checked on Haruichi and Lang Zhi’s practice. The chapter ended with Kōshū planning to talk to Sawamura after the first Kanto Tournament game, followed by the author asking readers how Tanba could have allowed four runs on three hits.

• Kataoka praised Kōshū’s ability, put him on the mound for the Kanto Tournament, assigned Furuya to the First String, and kept Sawamura with the Second String under Chris’s guidance.
• Eijun, Lang Zhi, and Haruichi continued conditioning, while Lang Zhi and Haruichi discussed their hopes of reaching the First String and worried that Sawamura might feel left behind.
• Kōshū struggled under the First String’s workload and extra training, while Tanba helped him demonstrate pitcher fielding drills to Furuya.
• Kōshū found Haruichi hitting grounders to Lang Zhi, who practiced fielding one-handed to improve his footwork, and joined Haruichi in the drill.
• Kōshū learned that Sawamura was dissatisfied with Chris’s coaching and planned to speak with him after the first Kanto Tournament game.
• The author asked readers how Tanba had allowed four runs on three hits in an inning and acknowledged that walks and hit-by-pitches could explain the scoring.

Seido faced Yokohama Kohoku in the Kanto Tournament, where Tanba’s outing turned shaky after he surrendered the lead. Kōshū entered with the bases loaded and stunned the opposing lineup with his first pitch, leaving Eijun questioning whether he could ever become Seido’s ace.

• Seido took a 1–0 lead in the third inning, but Tanba allowed Yokohama Kohoku to tie the game in the fourth before recovering to strike out two batters.
• Masuko hit a double in the fifth, helping Seido level the score at 2–2.
• Yokohama Kohoku scored again in the seventh, and Tanba walked a batter to load the bases with no outs.
• Kataoka sent Kōshū in to replace Tanba, and Kōshū accepted the challenge despite the dangerous situation.
• Kōshū threw a 143-kilometer-per-hour inside fastball that silenced Yokohama Kohoku’s coach and impressed the players watching.
• Eijun recalled Chris’s warning that he could never become the ace with Kōshū on the team and began wondering whether he could compete with him.