Chapter Summaries

Sawamura, Kanemaru, Tojo, and Sendou joked after practice and discussed their middle-school baseball experiences. Sendou explained how his crushing loss in the Nagano regional final shaped his path, then said he had fulfilled his promise to take Sawamura to Koshien and was glad he had come to Seidou.

• Sawamura and the others bickered over cleanup and tried to invent a better abbreviation for field cleanup, then talked about their exhausting fungo practice.
• Kanemaru and Tojo explained what Senior baseball was, while Sawamura misunderstood the term and praised the impressive players he had encountered.
• Tojo asked about Sawamura's middle-school baseball days, and Sawamura described founding a club, chasing animals during practice, and winning almost no games.
• Sendou revealed that Sawamura's team had been made up of beginners and recalled their chaotic first official game, then explained that he joined the club in his first year of middle school.
• Sendou recounted losing the Nagano regional final after defeating their longtime rival and said he had fulfilled his promise to take Sawamura to Koshien, with a new goal at Seidou.

Furuya's foot was declared healed, and Seidou held a Red and White Battle between the regular and substitute lineups, with Sawamura and Furuya starting for their teams. The scrimmage began with Sawamura pitching steadily, while Furuya struggled after Team B's batters pressured him and scored a run; Higasa prepared to attack what he expected to be a fastball.

• Furuya was cleared as fully healed, but Coach Kataoka kept his workload limited and scheduled a Red and White Battle.
• Coach Kataoka assigned Furuya to start for Team A and Sawamura to start for Team B, while Sendou was ordered to run instead of play.
• Sawamura used pitches he could control, and Team A's defense helped him retire Kuramochi and Shirazu before an upperclassman caught Kominato's long fly ball.
• Kijima drew a walk against Furuya, Guan bunted him to second, and Ono also walked after Miyuki called for a Vertical Slider.
• Yamaguchi hit into the outfield to bring Kijima home, giving Team B a run as Furuya continued to struggle with his control.
• With runners on first and second and the count at three balls and one strike, Higasa expected Furuya to throw a fastball and readied himself to hit it.

During Seidou’s Red and White Battle, the players tested one another’s weaknesses while Rei-chan introduced Tetsu’s Younger Brother to the team and its approach to baseball. After watching the game and hearing about Sendou and Coach Kataoka, Tetsu’s Younger Brother grew more interested in attending Seidou and pursuing professional baseball.

• Kanemaru caught Higasa’s high-bouncing hit and completed a double play, while Miyuki helped Furuya refocus and Sawamura’s changeup was targeted by the opposing lineup.
• Sendou noticed the visiting Coach Sakaki, then greeted Rei-chan and Tetsu’s Younger Brother, who introduced himself as Yuuki Masashi and said he had followed Seidou and Sendou since summer.
• Rei-chan explained Seidou’s practice games and told Tetsu’s Younger Brother about Sendou’s confidence and his childhood connection with Sawamura, strengthening the visitor’s interest in the school.
• Sawamura struck out Asou after pitching inside, and Kuramochi reached base and stole second while Shirazu hit a changeup, allowing Kuramochi to score.
• Tetsu’s Younger Brother watched the players and coaches analyze the game from behind Watanabe-senpai, becoming even more impressed by Seidou’s professionalism.

Supervisor Sakaki watched Seidou’s internal game and praised the team’s pitchers, while Fumino revealed her childhood connection to Sendou. After the game, Tetsu’s younger brother criticized Seidou’s lack of offensive power, and Sakaki invited Oota and the managers to speak with Tiexin.

• Supervisor Sakaki arrived in the observation room, recognized Sawamura’s familiar personality, and watched Furuya and Sawamura pitch against Seidou’s starters and substitutes.
• Fumino remembered that she had been Sendou’s childhood friend before he entered fourth grade, and Sakaki connected her to the boy he knew.
• Furuya finished five innings without allowing a run after the first, while Sawamura held the starting lineup to one run and received praise from his teammates.
• After Sawamura was replaced by Kaneda, the starters scored six runs against him while Kawakami limited the substitutes to one run; Asou also got a hit and an exaggerated slide.
• Tetsu’s younger brother left after observing the team and said Seidou lacked the offensive power to support Sendou, while Sakaki invited Oota and the managers to chat with Tiexin.

After Seidou’s game, Coach Sakaki revealed that he had joined Yura General Institute of Technology High School and came to declare it Seidou’s rival in the West District. Sendou and Coach Sakaki recalled that Sendou and Sawamura had nearly joined Yura instead, leaving Head Manager Oota shaken by how close Seidou had come to losing them.

• Seidou’s players discussed the game afterward, while Coach Ochiai praised how the match had improved the players’ morale and fired Sendou up.
• Sendou recognized Coach Sakaki, who introduced himself to Coach Ochiai and greeted Sendou as an old acquaintance.
• Coach Sakaki told Coach Kataoka and the others that he had joined Yura General Institute of Technology High School and declared it a rival to Seidou in the West District.
• Coach Sakaki joked about recruiting Sendou and explained that he had once hoped to bring both Sendou and Sawamura to Yura.
• Sendou said Sawamura had chosen Seidou, but that they would have gone to Yura if Sawamura had refused Seidou’s offer, and Head Manager Oota realized how close Seidou had come to losing them.

After the practice match, Seidou’s players discussed their progress and Watanabe led a pitching reflection meeting, identifying weaknesses in Sawamura’s Changeup, Furuya’s starts and control, and Kawakami’s Sinker. The meeting ended with Sendou offering to help Kawakami overcome his hesitation in the Batter’s Box.

• Sendou teased Coach Kataoka after Coach Sakaki left, while Kataoka accepted that Seidou had gained another opponent on the road to success.
• Nakata noted that Kawakami had also allowed a run, but Kuramochi, Maezono, and Miyuki focused on the team’s adjustments and the two games still ahead.
• Watanabe warned Sawamura that his high Changeups were vulnerable to left-handed batters, and Sawamura resolved to keep their Ball Trajectory low.
• Watanabe praised Furuya’s improvement after a shaky first inning while noting his unstable starts and Four Balls remained concerns.
• Watanabe said Kawakami’s Sinker stopped working after the lineup saw it again and that Kawakami still could not use it confidently in a game.
• Sendou offered to stand in the Batter’s Box from the next day to help Kawakami build courage.

The Seidou players discussed Kuramochi’s switch-hitting and Kominato’s bat choice as they prepared for the semifinals. Sendou left the dorm to clear his head and send draft-day messages, then heard someone familiar call his name.

• Senior Kawakami took heart from Sendou’s encouragement, while Sendou challenged Kuramochi to focus on improving his on-base percentage.
• Miyuki suggested Kuramochi keep switch-hitting while taking advantage of his good form from the left side, and Kuramochi agreed to try it more often.
• Miyuki and Sendou advised Kominato to keep using a wooden bat if it suited him, and the players dispersed to practice as Watanabe-senpai analyzed upcoming opponents.
• Sendou thought of Fumino under the stars, then messaged Harada Masakatsu and the other players entering the draft.
• Sendou wandered outside Seishin Dormitory, where a familiar voice called, “Sendou-kun?”

Sendou met Senior Takako after her cram school class and went with her to visit her younger siblings. The children greeted him with questions about marrying into their family, leaving Sendou flustered while Senior Takako laughed.

• Sendou asked Senior Takako about her studies, and she said admission to Todai's Faculty of Medicine remained risky despite his study advice.
• Sendou told Senior Takako that the coach had excluded him from the Red and White Battle and assigned him twenty laps.
• Senior Takako invited Sendou to her house to see her younger siblings and help look after them while their parents were out.
• Sendou and Senior Takako arrived at her house, where the children excitedly welcomed him.
• Senior Takako's siblings asked Sendou whether he had married into the family and when he would marry their sister, making him flustered.

Sendou spent a restful evening with Senior Takako and later listened as Rei-chan shared the hardships of scouting Seidou’s new players. The next day, Seidou prepared for its upcoming games while Watanabe-senpai briefed the team on Seiko’s defensive weaknesses.

• Senior Takako studied while Sendou rested at her home, and he left after declining an offer to stay the night.
• Back at Seishin Dormitory, Sendou met Rei-chan, who gave him juice and teased him about visiting Senior Takako.
• Rei-chan told Sendou about her difficult years of scouting and her satisfaction at Yuuki Masashi agreeing to join Seidou.
• Seidou continued training to address weaknesses from the Red and White Battle ahead of its weekend games.
• Masu Shinichiro struggled to manage Seiko’s shirtless, muscle-flexing players, while Watanabe-senpai told Seidou to target gaps in Seiko’s outfield.

The narrator developed a stomachache after eating grilled chicken racks and drinking cold boiled water, and wondered whether the food or their stomach was to blame. Their mother had also noticed their poor complexion and peeling skin, which the narrator suspected might be caused by staying up late.

• The narrator got a stomachache after eating grilled chicken racks and drinking cold boiled water.
• The narrator wondered whether the food had upset their stomach or whether their stomach had become more sensitive.
• The narrator's mother said their complexion had looked poor lately and the skin on their face was peeling.
• The narrator wondered whether staying up late had caused the changes to their skin.

As Seidou prepared to face Seikou in the semifinals, Sawamura and Furuya discussed pitching with Sendou, and Miyuki announced that Furuya would start. Before the game, Miyuki led the team in declaring Seidou a group of challengers ready to begin again.

• Masu Shinichiro caught for Ogawa and encouraged him as they prepared to lead the new team toward Koshien.
• Sawamura, Furuya, and Sendou exchanged ideas about pitching and Changeups in the Indoor Practice Field.
• Miyuki told Sawamura and Furuya that Furuya would start against Seikou, then Sendou caught for them as they worked through their frustration.
• Furuya returned from a hospital checkup with approval to play, and Seidou prepared to face Seikou at Jingu Stadium.
• Miyuki told Seidou’s players that they were challengers rather than Kings, and the team roared together before the semifinal.

Seidou began its Metropolitan Tournament semifinal against Seikou Academy, and Furuya opened with a dominant outing. He struck out the first two batters and retired the side in three batters, leaving Seidou energized as it headed to offense.

• Miyuki led Seidou’s players, substitutes, and managers in a rallying cry before the semifinal began.
• Raizo Todoroki brought Mishima, Raichi, and Akiba to watch the game and advised them to study Seidou.
• Furuya faced Seikou captain Masu Shinichiro, whose disciplined approach pushed the count full before Furuya struck him out on a called strike.
• Furuya struck out Yamashita swinging, and Seikou’s third batter was retired to end the inning.
• Seidou’s players and supporters celebrated Furuya’s perfect start while Ogawa wondered whether growing bangs would make him look cool too.

Seidou opened its offense against Seikou by exploiting the opposing center fielder’s slow speed and scoring a run. With Kominato on first and Sendou stepping up amid roaring cheers, Seikou called a timeout and Masu warned Kojima to pitch carefully.

• Coach Kataoka told Seidou’s batters to focus on hittable pitches and hit toward center to make Seikou’s bulky outfielders run.
• Kuramochi hit a ball into the gap between right and center, raced to third, and gave Seidou a runner in scoring position.
• Shirazu hit a Changeup through the right side as Kuramochi charged home, scoring Seidou’s first run before Shirazu was thrown out at first.
• Kominato hit Kojima’s high fastball into center field and reached base with one out.
• Sendou rose to bat as the stadium erupted in cheers, prompting Masu Shinichiro to call a timeout and warn Kojima to avoid a careless pitch.

Sendou blasted a two-run home run in the first inning, helping Seidou build an early lead against Seikou. Furuya then struck out Seikou cleanup hitter Osada to open the second inning, leaving Seidou in control.

• Sendou hit Kojima’s outside slider over the left-field fence, scoring Komaru and giving Seidou a two-run lead.
• Miyuki drew a walk, and Maezono’s fly out let Miyuki advance to second base.
• Furuya hit a deep fly ball that was caught, ending Seidou’s first-inning attack with a three-run lead.
• Furuya struck out Osada with three pitches, finishing their tense showdown with a changeup.

Furuya dominated Seikou with his fastball and newly revealed breaking pitches, but a hard-hit fly ball tested Seidou’s defense before Asou caught it to end the inning. In the bottom of the second, Seidou began building another chance, and Asou reached first with a hit as Kuramochi came up.

• Furuya struck out Osada with a newly revealed Vertical Slider, then struck out Tamaki with a mix of fastballs and a Fast Forkball.
• Furuya struck out Nishijima, but another batter drove a high fly ball toward left field, where Asou caught it to end Seikou’s inning.
• Miyuki warned Furuya to keep his pitches lower after the hard-hit fly ball, while Coach Oga sent Tsune to warm up as Kojima’s confidence wavered.
• Kanemaru grounded out on a diving stop by Seikou’s second baseman in the bottom of the second.
• Asou hit a single to center field and awkwardly raised his left arm while Kuramochi prepared to bat.

Seidou extended its lead to four runs as Senior Asou and Shirazu scored, while Seikou changed pitchers and brought in the erratic Ogawa. Ogawa walked Kominato and hit Sendou with a pitch, leaving the bases loaded and the inning tense.

• Kuramochi hit a fly ball to center field, and Senior Asou charged forward before Seikou caught him for an out.
• Shirazu hit a single to left-center, bringing Senior Asou home for Seidou's fourth run.
• Seikou moved Kojima to center field and brought Ogawa in to pitch, but Ogawa's control faltered and he walked Kominato.
• Sendou asked Masu Shinichiro about the dangers of catching, and Masu explained that the position was the only way to secure a future in baseball.
• Ogawa's inside pitch grazed Sendou's arm, awarding him first base and loading the bases as Masu hurried to apologize.

Seidou protected its four-run lead as Furuya and Seikou’s Ogawa traded effective innings, with Ogawa’s singing and spiral ball helping him escape a bases-loaded jam. The chapter ended as Seikou’s Masu led off the fourth against Furuya, while Miyuki watched the matchup closely.

• Masu Shinichiro apologized after Ogawa hit Sendou, then settled Ogawa down as Seikou faced a bases-loaded crisis.
• Ogawa struck Miyuki out with a spiral ball, and second baseman Tamaki made a fine play to end the inning.
• Miyuki and Sendou discussed Ogawa’s singing and the spiral ball before Furuya retired Seikou’s lower lineup three up, three down.
• Ogawa struck out Maezono, then Seidou’s Furuya and Asou were quickly retired as Seikou completed a scoreless inning.
• Furuya began the fourth against Seikou leadoff batter Masu, while Miyuki noted that Furuya’s predictable rhythm could help Masu anticipate his pitches.

Seikou mounted its first serious threat against Furuya, but Seidou escaped with a double play after Miyuki helped Furuya regain his composure. Furuya appeared to hurt his right ankle on the play, and Seidou’s batters headed out determined to score for Sendou.

• Masu Shinichiro hit a slider through Seidou’s infield and dove safely into first, giving Seikou its first runner.
• Yamashita grounded out to Furuya, advancing Masu to second, and Kojima singled to put runners on first and third.
• Osada’s powerful swings unsettled Furuya, so Miyuki called a meeting and reminded him to focus on control and trust his catcher.
• Furuya calmed down and induced Osada to hit a grounder; Kuramochi and Furuya completed a double play to end the inning without allowing a run.
• Furuya felt a sharp pain in his right ankle while turning to cover first, but he finished the play and returned to the dugout.
• Sendou told Seidou’s batters they had to score in the inning, determined to repay Seikou through baseball.

Seidou’s offense faced Ogawa’s difficult pitching in the bottom of the fourth, and Koharu’s single brought Sendou to the plate with two outs. After Seikou disrupted Sendou’s rhythm and then intentionally walked him, Miyuki came up with runners on first and second.

• Kuramochi batted left-handed to counter Ogawa’s screwball but grounded out, and Shirazu also made an out.
• Koharu followed Coach Kataoka’s advice, hit Ogawa’s high-inside fastball for a single, and broke his bat on the heavy pitch.
• Sendou came to bat as Seikou used a dangerous pitch and a ball far outside to unsettle him.
• Sendou smashed a tricky breaking ball into the left-field stands for a foul, stopping Seikou’s fast pace and steadying his breathing.
• Masu Shinichiro intentionally walked Sendou, leaving runners on first and second with two outs as Miyuki stepped to the plate.

Miyuki drew a walk to load the bases, but Maezono grounded out and Seikou escaped the fourth-inning crisis. Furuya held Seikou scoreless until Ogawa hit a solo home run in the fifth, and the chapter ended with Furuya stepping up to bat, fired up to reclaim his place as Seidou’s ace.

• Miyuki walked on Ogawa’s wild pitching, but Maezono grounded out to end Seidou’s bases-loaded threat without a run.
• Furuya retired Seikou’s fifth and sixth batters with controlled fastballs, then struck out Ogawa twice before Ogawa hit a solo home run.
• Seikou’s eighth batter hit Furuya’s next pitch deep, but Shirazu caught it near the fence to end the inning.
• Miyuki praised Furuya for recovering after Ogawa’s home run, and Furuya was thrilled to hear him called an ace.
• Furuya stepped into the batter’s box determined to help Seidou and reclaim the mound as its ace.