Chapter Summaries

Sawamura overcame his fear of pitching inside and retired Yoshizawa to end the eleventh inning, keeping the game tied. As the twelfth inning began, Seidou prepared for another showdown with Narumiya Mei, and Captain Tetsu encouraged Sendou to swing for himself.

• Miyuki noticed Yoshizawa was waiting for an inside pitch and realized Sawamura had been shaken by Shirakawa getting hit.
• Miyuki helped Sawamura face the frightening memory, steady his breathing, and return to the mound with confidence.
• Sawamura threw an outside pitch to disrupt Yoshizawa’s timing, then used a cutter inside; Sendou caught Yoshizawa’s fly ball to end the eleventh inning.
• The teams entered the twelfth inning tied, with Narumiya Mei and Seidou’s batters bracing for a battle of willpower.
• Captain Tetsu thanked Sendou for helping carry Seidou into extra innings and urged him to enjoy his showdown with Narumiya Mei.
• Sendou accepted Tetsu’s encouragement, then teased him for forgetting that he was the leadoff batter.

In the top of the twelfth, Captain Tetsu battled Narumiya Mei through a tense at-bat as Seidou rallied behind him. Tetsu survived a series of dangerous pitches and reached first on a lucky, irregular ground-ball bounce, keeping Seidou’s attack alive.

• Captain Tetsu entered the batter’s box as Sendou watched silently from the on-deck circle.
• Narumiya Mei struck Tetsu out swinging at an inside Forkball, then used a sharply breaking Changeup that Harada could not catch for a ball.
• Sawamura and Seidou’s supporters raised their voices to encourage Tetsu, who steadied himself and continued facing Narumiya.
• Tetsu fouled off Narumiya’s pitches, including another Changeup, while the count and tension mounted.
• Narumiya’s final inside Forkball broke Tetsu’s stance, but Tetsu hit a ground ball toward third.
• The ball struck the base bag and took an irregular bounce, rolling foul after hitting Yoshizawa’s glove, while Tetsu safely reached first base.

Sendou entered a heightened state of focus as he faced Narumiya Mei, whose changeup had already troubled Captain Tetsu. The chapter ended with Sendou watching Narumiya’s first pitch, a changeup that bounced into Harada’s mitt for a strike.

• Narumiya Mei told Harada he was in excellent form after throwing a remarkable changeup, and Harada warned him to stay calm against Sendou.
• The stadium crowd roared for Sendou, while Seidou’s teammates cheered him on and Kuramochi dragged Sawamura away to warm up.
• Sendou stepped into the batter’s box and reached an unusually focused state, feeling fully rested and ready to challenge Narumiya Mei.
• Harada signaled for Narumiya to throw another changeup to Sendou, and Narumiya delivered it as his first pitch.
• Sendou did not swing, and the changeup bounced before Harada caught it for a called strike.

Yuuki stole second as Sendou entered an intense duel with Narumiya Mei, whose extraordinary breaking pitch briefly stunned the stadium. With Inajitsu’s defense rallied by Mei’s determination, Harada used a mix of pitches to push Sendou to a two-ball, two-strike count before finally signaling for the Changeup.

• Yuuki stole second while Sendou swung at a bad pitch, and Coach Kataoka decided to trust Sendou’s instinctive approach at the plate.
• Sendou took two balls without swinging, then watched Narumiya Mei throw an unusual breaking pitch into the Strike Zone for a strike.
• Sendou fouled off an inside pitch with a blisteringly fast swing, and Harada called a timeout to steady Inajitsu’s defense.
• Narumiya Mei declared that he would shut Seidou out and led Inajitsu’s players in regaining their confidence.
• Harada repeatedly worked the edges of the Strike Zone as Sendou fouled off pitch after pitch, keeping the count at two balls and two strikes.
• Harada finally signaled for Narumiya Mei to throw the Changeup, hoping to catch Sendou off guard.

In the top of the twelfth, Sendou crushed Narumiya Mei’s decisive Changeup for a two-run home run, giving Seidou High School the lead and leaving Inajitsu stunned. The stadium erupted as Sendou rounded the bases, while the chapter ended with the author’s note describing the buildup to the at-bat.

• Harada and Narumiya Mei chose a decisive Changeup against Sendou, hoping to strike him out and protect Inajitsu’s chances.
• Sendou reached the low Changeup with his long arms and bat and drove it deep into the left-field stands for a two-run home run.
• The commentator announced that Seidou High School had taken a two-run lead in the top of the twelfth with no outs and a runner on second.
• Seidou’s players and supporters celebrated as Tetsu ran the bases and Sendou jogged past a stunned Harada.
• Inajitsu’s players and coaches fell silent, and Mine Fujio remarked that Sendou’s hit had shattered the King’s confidence.

Sendou’s extraordinary home run broke Narumiya Mei, forcing Inajitsu to replace its ace as Seidou erupted for four runs and took an 11–8 lead. As the game entered the bottom of the twelfth, Sawamura prepared to defend Seidou’s advantage and try to end the game.

• Seidou’s players celebrated Captain Tetsu’s run and teased Sendou after his home run, while Sendou reflected on the peak condition that let him read Narumiya Mei’s changeup and blast it out.
• Narumiya Mei broke down in tears after Sendou’s hit, and Coach Kunimoto replaced him with Iguchi as the spectators applauded their departing ace.
• Masuko hit into Yoshizawa’s diving stop, but Sendou and Miyuki correctly anticipated Iguchi’s next pitch, and Sendou hit a solo home run to make the score 11–8.
• Seidou batted through its lineup for four runs, with Shirazu, the Little Prince of Bunts, Kuramochi, and Haruichi contributing before Carlos caught Jun-san’s fly ball.
• Before the bottom of the twelfth, Sendou helped Sawamura regain his composure, and Coach Kataoka urged Seidou to hold its four-run lead and finish the game.

Sawamura used Sendou’s advice to master a low outside-corner pitch and retired Inajitsu’s batters in the bottom of the twelfth. Seidou won the four-hour-and-seven-minute final, ending Inajitsu’s bid for consecutive championships and advancing to Koshien for the first time in six years.

• Before the bottom of the twelfth, Miyuki and Sawamura discussed Sendou’s suggested outside-corner pitch, and Miyuki promised to give Sawamura the signals.
• With two strikes on Harada, Sawamura recalled Sendou’s advice to relax and guide the ball with his fingertips, then threw a tricky low outside pitch.
• Harada fouled off a cutter before Sawamura struck him out, and Kominato caught the resulting fly ball for the first out.
• Sawamura got Iguchi out on one pitch, then Yamaoka hit a long fly ball that an outfielder caught to end the game.
• Seidou celebrated its victory as the commentator announced that the team had advanced to Koshien and ended Inajitsu’s dream of consecutive championships.

Seidou defeated Inajitsu, and both teams lined up through tears before Seidou celebrated its victory and looked ahead to Koshien. After receiving the Victory Banner, Sendou reluctantly agreed to face reporters as the game’s standout player.

• Seidou and Inajitsu players gathered at home plate, thanked each other for the game, and shook hands after their hard-fought match.
• Harada exchanged LINE IDs with Sendou and learned that Sendou had chosen not to pitch because he found the role exhausting.
• Seidou thanked its supporters, received cheers from the crowd, and Captain Tetsu led the team in a chant about seizing the summit.
• Mine Fujio praised Seidou’s strength and highlighted Sendou’s four hits in six plate appearances as the team celebrated its win.
• After Seidou received the Victory Banner, Rei-chan stopped Sendou from avoiding an interview, and he agreed to meet the reporters.

After Seidou’s victory, Sendou gave a lively interview, exchanged LINE contacts with Harada, and returned to school with the team. He escaped Isashiki’s bat-wielding pursuit after getting off the bus, leaving the team’s post-game events to follow.

• Sawamura and the others mistook Rei-chan’s affectionate gestures toward Sendou for romance before the reporters arrived.
• Sendou told reporters he focused on enjoying the game, praised his teammates, and described Narumiya as the strongest opponent he had faced.
• Sendou teased Isashiki about crying during the game, prompting Isashiki to reveal the truth and grow furious.
• Harada congratulated Sendou outside the stadium, and the two exchanged LINE contacts before Seidou left with the Victory Banner.
• Sendou got Sawamura to carry his luggage and wash his clothes, then ran from Isashiki, who chased him around the field with a bat.

After Seidou defeated Inajitsu, Coach Kataoka thanked the players and managers for their collective effort, then was tossed into the air by the celebrating team. As the players rested before Koshien, Mine Fujio turned Sendou’s interview into admissions material that would help attract future players.

• Coach Kataoka tearfully thanked the players and managers for their contributions to Seidou’s victory over Inajitsu.
• Isashiki and the team led a crowd of players in tossing Coach Kataoka into the air while Sendou secretly filmed the scene.
• Coach Kataoka dismissed the team and announced a day of rest before recovery training began.
• Rei-chan reminded Sendou to rest and asked him to send her the video of the celebration.
• Mine Fujio used Sendou’s interview in Seidou’s admissions brochure, which later helped recruit players.

After Seidou celebrated its victory and qualification for Koshien, Sendou talked with Miyuki and Fumino about the game and the team’s future. Returning to the dormitory late, he found Maezono and the substitutes practicing their swings.

• Seidou held a celebratory banquet, where Yuuki gave a brief toast and Isashiki led the team in a cheer for their first Koshien trip in six years.
• Sendou slipped away from the noisy feast, and Fumino joined him outside to look at the stars.
• Miyuki came over with drinks, and he and Sendou discussed the game, Sendou’s intense concentration, and the need for Miyuki to improve his batting before the new team formed.
• Sendou stayed until the banquet ended and escorted the female managers home, while Captain Tetsu planned to sleep in Sendou’s room.
• Sendou returned to Seishin Dormitory late and saw Maezono and the substitute players practicing their swings, so he left without interrupting them.

After Seidou’s victory over Inajitsu, Sendou learned that his unusually focused final at-bat may have been the zone, then spent the team’s day off sleeping. That evening, he agreed to help Miyuki evaluate Sawamura’s pitching, while Sawamura and Furuya competed over how many pitches they would throw.

• Sendou called Coach Nakanishi, who suggested Sendou had entered the zone during his final at-bat and explained its effects and costs.
• Seidou’s players practiced on their day off, and Captain Tetsu said his decisive hit had come while his body reacted instinctively, much like Sendou’s at-bat.
• Sendou woke late, ate the meal Senior Takako had saved for him, and slept through most of the day.
• Miyuki tricked Sendou into agreeing to stand in the batter’s box and assess Sawamura’s Inside Corner Ball during evening practice.
• Ryo-san offered to join the batting practice, and Sawamura and Furuya argued over how many pitches they would throw before Miyuki stopped them.

After reading an article that dubbed Seidou's first-years the Super Diamond Generation, Miyuki persuaded Sendou to pitch for him at full power. Sendou displayed overwhelming velocity and control, and Miyuki eagerly asked to keep catching as their session continued.

• Miyuki showed Sendou Mine Fujio's article praising Seidou's first-years and calling them the Super Diamond Generation, with Sendou named Japan's Number One batter.
• Sendou explained that his extreme-concentration state was rare for him, then agreed to let Miyuki catch ten pitches at full power.
• Sendou tricked Miyauchi-senpai into leaving the dormitory, and he and Miyuki went to the Indoor Practice Field with Sendou's glove.
• Sendou warmed up with Miyuki and unleashed a powerful fastball that thrilled Miyuki with its force and precision.
• Sendou threw several pitches to different locations, while Miyuki urged him to continue before embarrassing himself by imitating Naru.

Sendou experimented with fastballs and forkballs while Miyuki caught, revealing exceptional pitching ability and an unexpected diagonal-breaking Fast Forkball. The chapter left Miyuki stunned by Sendou’s potential as a strikeout machine.

• Miyuki persuaded Sendou to throw more pitches, and Sendou demonstrated a powerful fastball with rising movement.
• Sendou threw a Fast Forkball for the first time after discussing what he had learned about the pitch.
• Sendou experimented with different grips and finger pressure, but his attempts to control a normal Forkball’s direction failed.
• Sendou threw another Fast Forkball that suddenly broke diagonally, leaving him and Miyuki shocked.
• Miyuki realized Sendou might be a genius at Fast Forkballs and called him a Strikeout Manufacturing Machine.

Sendou experimented with a Changeup while Miyuki caught for him, and they discovered how Sendou’s unusually long fingers affected his pitches. Their practice was interrupted when Captain Tetsu and Jun-san arrived, leaving Sendou suspicious that others had been watching them.

• Sendou threw a Changeup that hit the ground, and Miyuki laughed until Sendou realized his long fingers had caused the pitch to dive.
• Sendou altered his grip and threw a slow pitch into the mitt, while Miyuki pointed out that it lacked power and was easy to hit on its own.
• Sendou decided the Changeup experiment was enough for the day because he was a fielder, not a pitcher.
• Captain Tetsu entered the room and revealed that he and others had followed Sendou and Miyuki to watch them practice.
• Jun-san came in after Captain Tetsu, and Sendou wondered whether the visit had been a trap.

Coach Kataoka assigned Sendou to pitch batting practice for Seidou’s regulars, with Chris catching, and considered using Sendou as a relief pitcher at Koshien. Miyuki was disappointed to lose the chance to catch Sendou, but Sendou assured him that Furuya and Sawamura would become exciting pitchers too.

• Sendou avoided a showdown with Captain Tetsu by citing his fatigue and the approaching Koshien games, but Coach Kataoka turned the situation around by scheduling him to pitch batting practice.
• Coach Kataoka set the batting practice lineup and assigned Chris to catch Sendou for nineteen at-bats, leaving Miyuki out of the battery.
• Coach Kataoka explained that Sendou could skip outfield defensive practice and might pitch a few innings at Koshien, prompting concern among Tanba and the Double Pitcher duo.
• Kuramochi questioned Sawamura about Sendou’s middle-school pitching, and Sawamura insisted that Sendou had never pitched in an official game and that he had been the ace.
• In the bathhouse, Miyuki admitted that catching Sendou’s pitches felt addictive and that his disappointment was genuine, while Sendou encouraged him by praising Furuya and Sawamura’s potential.

Sendou faced Seidou’s regulars in a practice showdown, using blazing fastballs and precise four-quadrant control to overwhelm them. He struck out Captain Tetsu and Miyuki, leaving Furuya stunned by the lesson in control.

• Sendou and Senior Chris discussed signals and pitch sequencing before Coach Kataoka called the regulars to Field A for batting practice.
• Sendou struck out Kuramochi, Oni-san, and Isashiki with fastballs, showing how his speed and control could dominate the batters.
• Captain Tetsu stayed still for an inside pitch and an outside ball, then swung at Sendou’s fastest pitch and barely fouled off a high inside fastball.
• Sendou struck out Captain Tetsu with a low outside pitch after the foul, finishing the at-bat in four batters’ combined twelve pitches.
• Miyuki tried to bat against Sendou and struck out after swinging and missing twice, while Furuya watched in shock.

Seidou completed its intensive batting practice against Sendou, whose fastballs and breaking pitches repeatedly shut down the lineup while pushing Captain Tetsu to improve. As the team prepared to leave for Koshien, Tanba-san recovered fully and Seidou set its sights on reaching at least the quarterfinals.

• Sendou and Senior Chris used high-speed pitches to strike out Seidou’s batters, and Captain Tetsu recognized that he needed to improve his swing speed and reactions.
• Captain Tetsu struck out repeatedly against Sendou’s fastballs and Changeup, while Haruichi’s bat broke after he hit a powerful pitch.
• Sendou completed nineteen at-bats in forty-six pitches, and Seidou endured four straight days of no-hit practice, with Captain Tetsu showing the most visible improvement.
• Sendou joined Haruichi, Oni-san, and Kuramochi in a stopwatch timing game, then left to meet Harada-san before Seidou departed for Koshien.
• Oni-san pushed Kuramochi hard in training, while Tanba-san completed his recovery and Sawamura improved his Outside Corner Ball.
• Seidou finished its preparations for Koshien and aimed to reach at least the quarterfinals.

Sendou met Harada, discussed their goals for Koshien and Harada’s worry that Naru might quit baseball, then agreed to face him in a private pitching showdown. The chapter ended with Sendou promising Harada he would not even let him touch the ball.

• Harada met Sendou in a Tokyo plaza to borrow his copy of Strategies of the Warring States, and Sendou said he wanted to reach Koshien with the Third Years.
• Sendou told Harada that he had been pitching in practice, striking out Tetsu-san ten times in four days, and Harada challenged him to a showdown.
• Harada revealed that Naru had lost confidence after Sendou’s Home Run in the final and might give up baseball, but Sendou insisted Naru would return.
• Harada led Sendou to a baseball field with a ball and equipment, and Sendou realized Harada had tricked him into coming to pitch.
• Sendou took the mound and told Harada he would not let him touch the ball in their three-at-bat showdown.

Sendou dominated Harada in their first at-bat, striking him out with a fastball after reading his intentions and exploiting his hesitation. He then agreed to begin the second at-bat and correctly guessed that Harada had originally come to catch him pitching, before teasing him about not having a girlfriend.

• Harada realized Sendou knew far more about his habits than he knew about Sendou, and Sendou confidently began their showdown.
• Sendou's first pitch surprised Harada with its sharp diagonal trajectory, and his second fastball came too quickly for Harada to swing.
• Sendou read Harada's plan to target an outside fastball, threw it anyway, and struck him out without letting him touch the ball.
• Sendou offered to start the second at-bat immediately, and Harada accepted despite suspecting Sendou would use a changeup.
• Sendou guessed that Harada had come to trick him into pitching so Harada could catch, then teased him about being unable to find a girlfriend.