Chapter Summaries

Seidou’s Winter Training Camp began with punishing physical drills that left Sendou and his teammates exhausted from the first day. On the second day, the team continued training while struggling through the routine, though the afternoon workload eased somewhat.

• Before winter break, Sendou and Miyuki talked about the camp, and Sendou privately looked forward to seeing the third-year seniors teach Miyuki a lesson.
• At 5:30 a.m. on December 23, Watanabe woke Sendou, and the players began camp with a jog, circuit training, and a thousand dry swings before breakfast.
• The team endured more intense physical training, weighted runs, partner exercises, and evening strength work; Sendou collapsed from exhaustion and was carried back.
• At 5:30 a.m. on December 24, Watanabe woke the aching Sendou while Sawamura and Kuramochi got ready next door.
• The team repeated the morning drills, then fought to finish breakfast as Sendou struggled to lift his utensils and the players continued pushing through the training.

The Seidou players endured the Christmas training camp before gathering for a dorm party, where they joked about their gift-exchange presents and prepared a feast. The party began with food disappearing as Masuko-senpai secretly ate it, while the team celebrated together.

• Sendou struggled through the second day of training, and Watanabe-senpai dragged him out of bed again the next morning.
• Coach Ochiai discussed the winter training plans with Coach Kataoka, who would visit affiliated schools after New Year's.
• The players finished their Christmas Eve training early and gathered gifts and food for the dorm party.
• Sawamura, Sendou, Haruichi, and Furuya teased one another about their gift-exchange presents before Kuramochi called them to the cafeteria.
• Isashiki-senpai scolded Sawamura for keeping the upperclassmen waiting, and the players admired the decorations and Christmas feast.
• Miyuki presented his homemade roast chicken, but Kuramochi and Tanba discovered that several dishes had vanished while Masuko-senpai stuffed himself.

The Seido players’ Christmas gift exchange devolved into a series of awkward and eccentric presents, while Sendou realized why Senior Takako had urged him to coordinate with the managers. The exchange ended with Furuya accepting Senior Tanba’s life-advice book, and Sendou reflected on his sore shoulders after getting a second shot.

• Pudding-senpai ate all the food, prompting the others to tease him about missing out on dessert, and Isashiki-senpai began the gift exchange.
• The first-years’ chaotic singing stopped the music-based passing game, so the team opened presents in order, starting with Tetsu’s batting gloves from Kanemaru.
• Ryosuke received Haruichi’s horror DVD, Masuko-senpai got Furuya’s melted polar-bear ice cream, and Tanba happily accepted Senior Chris’s book.
• Senior Chris received Sawamura’s new tire, Miyuki got Captain Tetsu’s shogi book, and Kuramochi received Isashiki-senpai’s favorite shoujo manga.
• Haruichi accepted Big Brother’s picture book for crybabies, while the players continued handing out personal favorites and sales pitches as Sendou understood Senior Takako’s warning.
• Furuya received Senior Tanba’s Episode Three of Listen to Taro, and Sendou thought the gift exchange was full of bizarre presents.

The Seidou players celebrated Christmas with a gift exchange and a feast of food Sendou had prepared, before Coach Kataoka announced training after their break. Sendou later exchanged gifts with Senior Takako and wished her luck on the university entrance exam.

• Miyuki revealed that Sawamura's gift was an egg cutter, and the two argued until Senior Chris calmed Sawamura down.
• Sendou opened Fumino's music box, and the group finished the gift exchange before Sawamura led everyone in shouting “Merry Christmas.”
• The players ate Sendou's dishes until they were stuffed, then Coach Kataoka announced that training would begin after a one-hour rest.
• Sendou and some of the other players tried to relieve their discomfort by making themselves vomit, and Sendou later took digestive medicine.
• Senior Takako thanked Sendou for helping her study and gave him a handmade charm; Sendou wished her luck on the upcoming entrance exam.

Seidou’s players finished their grueling winter training camp and began their New Year’s break, parting for home and making plans for the next season. Sendou reminded Sawamura of his vow to return to Koshien and become Seidou’s ace, while the players settled into their family lives and the story ended with Miyuki wondering about his father’s struggling shop.

• Sendou gave Sawamura an amulet from Senior Takako, and it remained with him for years.
• Seidou’s players endured the final days of brutal conditioning before Coach Kataoka announced the camp’s end, leaving them exhausted and in tears.
• The players headed home for the New Year’s break, and Tojo and Kanemaru agreed to practice pitching together.
• Sendou reminded Sawamura of his vow to return to Koshien and become Seidou’s ace.
• Kuramochi returned home and argued with his mother and grandfather about his popularity, while Miyuki, Haruichi, and the others reunited with family.
• Miyuki saw his father working alone at the shop and wondered whether business had gotten worse.

Furuya reunited with his family in Hokkaido and explained how Sendou had inspired him to become a stronger ace. On New Year's morning, Sendou joined Sawamura and their friends for shrine prayers, where his Great Luck fortune eased their worries before they returned to find Fumino at his house.

• Furuya's mother fretted over his exhaustion, while his grandfather learned that Furuya admired Sendou and wanted to lead Seidou to victory.
• Sendou called Furuya to urge him to rest at night and ask his grandfather for advice, and Furuya followed his instructions.
• Sendou returned home to a feast prepared by his grandmother, then Sawamura woke him early on New Year's morning to visit the shrine with their friends.
• Wakaba wished for Sawamura to shine at Koshien, while Sawamura wished aloud for a collection of baseball improvements and Sendou wished for a girlfriend.
• Sawamura and Wakaba drew Slightly Lucky fortunes, but Sendou drew Great Luck, reassuring the group after they recalled his Great Misfortune from the previous year.
• The group returned to Sendou's house and found Fumino waiting there.

After the New Year's break, Sendou hosted Fumino and their friends before returning to Seidou, where the team resumed training under Coach Ochiai. Sawamura began developing his new pitches with Miyuki while Sendou continued recovering and improving his physical condition.

• Fumino moved into Sendou's house for the rest of the break, and Sendou agreed to let her assist with cooking as long as she stayed away from the knife, seasonings, and stove decisions.
• Sawamura tried to persuade Sendou to practice pitching, but Sendou refused and later cooked a large meal for their friends and Sawamura's family.
• Sendou and Fumino spent the morning buying ingredients and cooking together, then shared a meal where Sawamura and the others talked about baseball and their recent seasons.
• Sendou, Fumino, and their friends returned to Tokyo after the winter vacation, while Isashiki-senpai discussed his university choices and Sawamura and Furuya brought him a manga.
• Coach Ochiai took charge of Seidou's practices while Coach Kataoka went to Kansai, emphasizing conditioning and strength training.
• Miyuki worked with Sawamura to test different grips, assigned numbers to selected pitches, and began developing the Number Ball system, with Sendou offering advice as he continued his recovery training.

Sendou told Seidou’s players that a magazine would interview the team after practice, prompting Maezono and the first-years to worry about what they should say. The first-years began discussing their possible questions and standout qualities, but the chapter ended before the interviews took place.

• Sendou told Miyuki, Kuramochi, Maezono, and the first-years that Rei-chan had arranged an exclusive interview with Baseball Kingdom.
• Maezono panicked about the interview and practiced smiling with Miyuki and Kuramochi before abruptly running off when he learned there would be photographs.
• Miyuki and Sendou informed the first-years about the interviews, and Sawamura fretted that their families might worry after seeing the magazine.
• Sawamura gave the first-years misleading details about Miyuki’s old interview, leaving them uncertain about what questions they might face.
• Kominato, Tojo, Kanemaru, Furuya, and Sawamura discussed baseball strengths and standout qualities as they prepared for the interviews.

Sawamura and his teammates joked about catchphrases, then rehearsed for the magazine interviews. Sawamura and Kawakami both turned interview questions into apologies, and Sawamura continued coaching Kawakami as reporter while the others watched in exasperation.

• Sawamura invented teasing catchphrases for Haruichi and Kanemaru, then his teammates nicknamed him the “Baka Left Pitcher.”
• Kanemaru suggested practicing for the magazine interviews, and Sawamura responded to a question about the Jingu Tournament final by apologizing for his pitching.
• Kawakami admitted he was nervous about being interviewed, so Sawamura praised his strengths and helped him feel more confident.
• Sawamura started a mock interview with Kawakami, who bowed and apologized about his start against Tsurumigaoka High School.
• Sawamura urged Kawakami to answer normally and continued the rehearsal, while Kanemaru, Haruichi, and the others watched helplessly.

Seidou’s players prepared for a baseball magazine interview, then returned to night practice, where Sawamura and Kominato discussed batting technique. The chapter ended with Kominato explaining the differences between wooden and metal bats.

• Kuramochi rushed the team to meet reporters, and Miyuki tried to gather everyone in their practice uniforms.
• Maezono arrived in his father’s old-fashioned suit, so Miyuki sent him and the others to change before the interview.
• Sendou spoke with Mine Fujio about his recovery, the Winter Training Camp, and Seidou’s prospects after the Jingu Tournament.
• During night practice, Sawamura objected to Sendou using the tire he had given Senior Chris, but Sendou argued that it was shared equipment.
• Sawamura practiced swings while Sendou ran, and Kominato joined them and explained how wooden bats differed from metal bats.

Seidou trained through the offseason while reporters discussed the team’s prospects for Spring Koshien and interviewed its players. A magazine sample revealed how the players had described one another, and the chapter ended with Sendou’s powerful batting photo presenting him as fully recovered.

• Seidou celebrated receiving its invitation to the Selection Tournament, while Yakushi learned it had also been selected.
• Coach Ochiai told reporters Seidou would focus on conditioning and building players’ strength before games resumed.
• Miyuki read Maezono’s flattering magazine profile aloud, prompting Kuramochi to laugh at its tactful description of him.
• Sawamura discovered the magazine called him the “Baka Left Pitcher,” and Kanemaru explained that Furuya had coined the nickname during a first-year discussion.
• Sendou inferred that Furuya had accidentally told the reporters the nickname, then Miyuki read the article’s praise of Sendou’s return to form.
• Sendou had suggested a head-on batting showdown with Furuya and Miyuki, and the resulting photograph showed him hitting a powerful ball.

Coach Ochiai gave Sendou a day off, and Isashiki-senpai brought him to Captain Tetsu’s house to spend time with the seniors. Sendou’s shogi games with the Tetsu brothers ended in crushing defeats, and the group finished the gathering with games and Sendou’s cooking.

• Coach Ochiai noticed Sendou’s lack of focus and gave him a day off, so Isashiki-senpai took him along to Captain Tetsu’s house with Jun-san and Endou Naoki-senpai.
• Sendou met Tetsu’s Younger Brother, who admired him and had been copying his baseball stance and watching his recordings.
• Captain Tetsu and Tetsu’s Younger Brother played shogi while the others chatted, and Sendou discovered Captain Tetsu’s collection of shogi books and shojo manga.
• Sendou played three shogi games against the brothers, including one where they teamed up, and defeated them all decisively.
• The group stopped playing shogi and gathered for games and conversation, and Sendou cooked for everyone before leaving.

Sendou and Seidou prepared for Spring Koshien, said farewell to the graduating seniors, and learned their tournament draw, which set up a second-round clash with Kyoma if they advanced. As Yakushi opened its tournament, a Kouya executive asked Coach Kunimoto to manage a proposed Tokyo representative team against an American high school team.

• Sendou teased Narumiya Mei about their promising juniors, then blocked him after claiming their juniors would compete against each other.
• Zaizen continued pursuing baseball and joined the same university as Senior Chris, while Seidou’s graduating seniors received an emotional farewell from the team.
• Miyuki drew Houmei High School as Seidou’s first-round opponent, with Kyoma awaiting them in the second round if they won.
• Coach Kataoka adjusted Seidou’s lineup, and Senior Maezono and Senior Shouji Higasa lost their starting positions before Spring Koshien began.
• Yakushi took the lead in its opening game as a Kouya executive asked Coach Kunimoto to manage a Tokyo team for an exchange game against an American high school team.

Seidou prepared for its rematch against Houmei High School at the Spring Koshien, determined to approach the tournament as challengers despite their summer championship. In the top of the first inning, Houmei’s ace Itou struck out Kuramochi, and the chapter left the game just underway.

• Miyuki and Sendou settled into their hotel room and discussed resting before Seidou’s game against Houmei.
• On March 27, Seidou gathered for its pregame ritual, and Miyuki rallied the team to pursue the championship as challengers.
• Coach Kunimoto watched the game with Narumiya Mei, Carlos, Yamaoka, and Shirakawa while considering teams for the Exchange Tournament.
• Kuramochi faced Houmei’s ace Itou, fouled off two pitches, and was struck out by the third.

Miyuki and Furuya led Seidou into the bottom of the first against Houmei, where Furuya struck out the leadoff batter but then gave up a walk and a hard-hit ball. Sendou caught the ball and turned it into a double play, ending the inning and marking his return to the outfield.

• Miyuki and Furuya declared that they would keep Houmei from scoring, while Sendou welcomed his return to center field.
• Furuya struck out Kaii with a 152-kilometer fastball after two pitches had frozen the leadoff hitter.
• Furuya walked the next batter, prompting Sawamura to shout from the bullpen that he should be allowed to pitch.
• Moriguchi hit a hard ground ball, but Sendou caught it in the outfield and threw out Kawahara for a double play.
• Seidou's players celebrated Sendou's defensive play as Houmei's chance with runners on first and third ended the inning.

Sendou returned to the batter’s box for his first official at-bat in five months, drawing loud cheers as Houmei’s battery pitched cautiously. The chapter ended with Sendou making contact with an inside pitch.

• Sawamura shouted excitedly about Sendou, then argued with his teammates after the commentator mentioned his Baka Left Pitcher nickname.
• Miyuki teased Sendou about being nervous before Sendou said he wanted to get on base and asked Miyuki to hit a home run.
• Sendou stepped up as Seidou’s fourth batter, and the crowd erupted for his long-awaited return.
• Houmei’s coach urged the battery to stay aggressive against Sendou, while the first pitch missed low and outside.
• Hakeda called for an inside changeup, and Sendou hit it with a ping.

The narrator struggled with a splitting headache, weakness, and painful mouth ulcers during the National Day holiday. Eating noodles hurt, and they felt they could hardly take it anymore.

• The narrator complained that everything was always so difficult for them.
• The narrator described having a splitting headache and feeling weak throughout their body.
• The narrator said painful mouth ulcers made even eating noodles difficult during the National Day holiday.

Seidou scored the first run against Houmei when Sendou stole third and Miyuki drove him home with a single. The game settled into a steadier phase as Seidou struggled to adjust to Houmei’s pitcher and Furuya gradually found his rhythm.

• Sendou opened the top of the second with a hit that put him on second base.
• Sendou stole third while Houmei’s defense focused on Miyuki.
• Miyuki hit a single to bring Sendou home and give Seidou the first run.
• Houmei retired the next batters, and the game entered the bottom of the second with Furuya’s condition stabilizing.
• The author added a note about persistent headaches and a long-standing habit of staying up late.

Seidou used a hit-and-run with Furuya at the plate to break the game open against Houmei, then added more runs through coordinated offense. Furuya continued to dominate Houmei in the bottom of the fourth, leaving Seidou with a four-run lead and strong momentum.

• Kominato reached base with an infield hit, and after Sendou was caught out, Miyuki advanced the runners to first and second.
• Coach Kataoka signaled for Furuya to bunt, but Seidou sent both runners and Furuya switched to a swing, driving a hit into the outfield.
• Shirazu followed with another hit-and-run, scoring the runner from third and advancing Furuya to third; Yamaguchi then brought home Seidou's third run with an outfield fly.
• Seidou widened its lead to four runs through coordinated batting, and Furuya struck out Houmei batters with pitches reaching 152 kilometers per hour.

Seidou extended its lead over Houmei before Sawamura Eijun replaced Furuya on the mound with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. As Sawamura prepared to pitch, Miyuki teased him about his nerves and urged him to impress the crowd.

• Kuramochi stole third and drew a throw with his aggressive bluff, allowing Tojo to reach first on a bunt.
• Sendou hit a double to help Seidou take a five-run lead, though Miyuki's at-bat ended the inning.
• Houmei scored its first run in the sixth, but Seidou maintained a four-run lead as the game reached the seventh.
• With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Seidou replaced Kanemaru and rearranged its fielders as Sawamura took over pitching from Furuya.
• Sawamura and Furuya bickered during the changeover, and Miyuki calmed Sawamura by admitting he was nervous and reminding him of the summer crowd.