Chapter Summaries

The narrator developed a fever, felt their vision blur, and decided to take medicine and lie down.

• The narrator noticed their forehead felt as hot as a hot-water bottle.
• The narrator's vision began to blur.
• The narrator decided to take medicine and lie down.

The narrator remained groggy with a fever and began throwing up acid after eating very little for a day. They gave up and stayed in bed.

• The narrator felt less scared than the day before but remained groggy.
• The narrator began throwing up acid after barely eating for a day.
• The narrator gave up and stayed in bed.

Sendou took leave from class to watch Inajitsu face Yakushi at Meiji Jingu Second Stadium, where the packed crowd and players’ reactions built excitement for the game. He exchanged greetings with Narumiya Mei and Mishima, leaving both teams warming up as the matchup approached.

• Sendou asked Kanemaru why he was absent from class, learned he had gone to watch Inajitsu versus Yakushi, and was ordered to stand for the rest of class after shouting.
• Sendou watched from the front row and told Watanabe-senpai that Inajitsu’s chances depended on how well its pitcher-catcher battery had meshed.
• Narumiya Mei hurried into the stadium to find Sendou, exchanged a smug smile with him, and returned to the dugout without warming up further.
• Mishima spotted Sendou and waved for his attention, prompting Sendou to give him a peace sign and Narumiya Mei to look displeased.
• Mishima and Raichi excitedly prepared to bat as the crowd cheered, while Sendou watched the field feeling better.

Yakushi and Inajitsu began their third-round Spring Tournament game before a packed crowd, with Sanada showing off a sharper pitching style against Inajitsu’s first batters. The chapter ended as Sanada faced Yabe, while Raichi charged toward a ball hit in his direction.

• Sendou, Sanada, and the others waited for the game while Yakushi’s players and Inajitsu’s first-years discussed their opponents and the crowd.
• Inajitsu’s first-year players cheered Carlos as he opened the game against Sanada.
• Sanada struck out Carlos with an inside pitch, and Sendou noticed that Sanada had changed his position on the pitcher’s plate.
• Sanada used sharp inside pitches and an outside pitch to retire Shirakawa and then forced another Inajitsu batter into a groundout to Raichi.
• Sendou assessed that he could adjust to Sanada’s pitching after facing him once, while Mine Fujio reflected on Sanada’s offseason growth.
• Sanada faced Yabe, and Raichi charged toward the ball as it flew in his direction.

Sanada and Yakushi’s defense shut down Inajitsu’s top lineup, but Narumiya Mei answered by striking out two batters and showing off his refined Changeup. Mishima got a Texas Hit off Narumiya before Raichi came to bat, and Tadano went to the mound to settle the tense pitcher as the inning continued.

• Sanada retired Inajitsu’s first three batters, prompting Narumiya Mei to warm up and take the mound for Inajitsu.
• Narumiya Mei struck out Akiba with three pitches, including a Changeup, and then struck out the next batter without allowing anyone to touch his pitches.
• Sendou recognized that Narumiya’s Changeup had been perfected but noted that his fastball and control still looked rough.
• Mishima swung through Narumiya’s first two pitches, then hit the third for a Texas Hit that dropped in safely.
• Tadano called time and went to the mound after Mishima reached base, and Narumiya grabbed his face while demanding to hear his joke again.

Narumiya Mei and Tadano faced Raichi in a tense first at-bat, with Tadano calling a sequence that disrupted the batter’s sense of space. Narumiya struck Raichi out of his rhythm with a fastball that became a high fly out, and the pitcher’s confidence began to surge.

• Tadano tried to cheer Narumiya with a joke, and their teasing exchange made the sideline spectators laugh before Tadano returned to his catching duties.
• Tadano called inside and outside pitches against Raichi, while Sendou analyzed the battery’s choices from the stands and recognized how they were disrupting Raichi’s sense of space.
• Narumiya threw an inside fastball for a strike, pushing Raichi back and bringing the count to two balls and two strikes.
• Sendou left to buy cola, saying one outside pitch would be enough to finish Raichi if Tadano was to prove himself as Inajitsu’s starting catcher.
• Narumiya threw the decisive pitch, and Raichi hit a high fly ball to left field that was caught for an out.
• Narumiya walked off the mound and then began jogging as his relief turned into renewed confidence, while observers noted that he had beaten Raichi mostly with fastballs.

The narrator woke after possible insomnia feeling completely drained, groggy, and unable to move.

• The narrator had possibly suffered from insomnia the previous night.
• The narrator felt exhausted and groggy the next day.
• The narrator did not want to move.

Narumiya Mei struck out Raichi Todoroki in his second at-bat, shifting the game’s momentum toward Inajitsu, and Carlos followed with a solo home run off Sanada in the sixth. Yakushi still held Inajitsu scoreless through the fifth, but the pressure on them rose as Inajitsu’s morale surged.

• Sendou said Narumiya Mei had exploited Raichi Todoroki’s inexperience, while Narumiya recalled the summer at-bat that had shattered his confidence.
• Sanada was inspired by Narumiya’s pitching and retired Inajitsu’s fourth, fifth, and sixth hitters without allowing a baserunner in the second inning.
• Narumiya’s fastball and changeups overpowered Raichi Todoroki, striking him out in his second at-bat in the bottom of the fourth.
• Yakushi suppressed Inajitsu’s center batting lineup in the fifth inning, though two other Inajitsu runners had reached base earlier.
• Carlos hit Sanada’s Shootball over the fence with one out in the top of the sixth, lifting Inajitsu’s morale and increasing Yakushi’s pressure.

Inajitsu overwhelmed Yakushi High School as Narumiya Mei shut down its lineup and led his team to a 4–0 victory. After the game, Narumiya realized Sendou had already left and vowed to defeat him in the finals.

• Carlos hit Sanada's shootball for a home run, and Shirakawa and Yamaoka followed with hits that gave Inajitsu a 2–0 lead.
• Sanada recovered after the home run, but Narumiya shut down Yakushi's batters and struck out Raichi Todoroki for the second time.
• Narumiya continued his dominant pitching as Inajitsu held Yakushi to one hit and added two more runs in the eighth inning.
• Carlos caught Akiha's hit in the final inning, ending the game with Inajitsu victorious 4–0.
• Narumiya noticed that Sendou had left the stands and declared that he would make him understand his strength in the finals.

After Inajitsu defeated Yakushi, both teams reflected on the loss and their ambitions for summer as their first-years traded barbs in the hallway. Sendou considered how Seidou might counter Narumiya and his catcher, leaving Watanabe-senpai eager to hear more.

• Tomobe left the stadium with Taniguchi and Kuroki, while Sanada and Raizo Todoroki rallied Yakushi after their decisive loss to Inajitsu.
• Raizo Todoroki urged Yakushi to learn from the defeat and prepare for summer, and Raichi vowed to defeat Narumiya Mei and Inajitsu.
• Mitsuishi, Yoshizawa, Kuroki, Hayakawa, and Taniguchi exchanged teasing remarks about their schools and the difficulty of making the bench.
• Akamatsu Shinji and Tomobe promised to meet again on the field and win next time.
• Sendou admitted Narumiya's Changeup troubled him, then said Seidou could exploit the catcher’s inexperienced pitch selection; Watanabe-senpai arranged to discuss the idea after they returned.

After Inajitsu shut out Yakushi 4–0, Sendou returned to Seishin and the team reviewed the game, focusing on Narumiya’s pitching and the threat Inajitsu posed. Sendou stayed behind to study and collect himself, while the upperclassmen began analyzing how Seidou might face their summer rival.

• Sendou blocked Narumiya and the rest of Inajitsu after receiving Narumiya’s angry messages, then returned to Seishin with Watanabe-senpai.
• Watanabe-senpai reported Inajitsu’s 4–0 win over Yakushi, noting Narumiya’s dominance, Sanada’s strong performance, and Carlos turning Akiha’s deep hit into the final out.
• Watanabe-senpai told Coach Kataoka and Coach Ochiai that Sendou had noticed something about Inajitsu’s catcher, though Coach Ochiai doubted it would become a useful team strategy.
• The Seidou players watched key moments from the game, and Sawamura asked Watanabe-senpai for the scorebook to study Narumiya’s pitch calling.
• Miyuki admitted he had no idea how to deal with Narumiya’s improved changeup, prompting Kuramochi to curse at him.

Seidou’s players discussed Sendou’s chances against Narumiya and Watanabe analyzed how Narumiya’s Changeup strengthened his fastball and other pitches. The conversation drove the team to practice harder, while the first-years resolved to earn chances to face powerful opponents.

• Kuramochi and Watanabe teased Miyuki about Sendou being targeted, and Sawamura imitated Sendou’s supposed reaction.
• Maezono vowed to become a reliable batter behind Sendou, while Kuramochi resolved to focus on getting on base.
• Watanabe explained that Narumiya had saved his Changeup for later innings and used it to make his fastball, Slider, and Forkball more effective.
• Kominato, Maezono, Kuramochi, and other Seidou players went to take extra swings after watching Inajitsu and Yakushi’s game.
• Yui admired Narumiya and hoped to face him on the field, while Seto reflected that earning a place in Seidou’s lineup would be difficult but exciting.
• Miyuki decided to find somewhere private to practice despite still having a headache and sneezing.

Miyuki got caught secretly practicing swings by Sendou, who blackmailed him with a photo and complained about Narumiya Mei’s repeated calls. The next morning, Seidou focused practice on batting, where Sawamura struggled to hit while Maezono and Yamaguchi showed off their long hits.

• Sendou caught Miyuki practicing alone, took his picture, and agreed to discuss deleting it later in exchange for a favor.
• Sendou told Miyuki that Narumiya Mei had repeatedly called him from borrowed phones after Sendou blocked Inajitsu contacts, so he blocked calls from unknown numbers too.
• On April 8, Seidou began morning batting practice to address the lineup’s weakness against top pitchers such as Hongo Masamune and Narumiya Mei.
• Sawamura took batting practice with Kariba, managed one hit, then swung and missed while boasting about his abilities.
• Maezono and Yamaguchi hit long balls during practice, and Sendou criticized Maezono’s home-run output, silencing the group.

The First Years pushed themselves through morning running and practice as they competed to prove they could reach the First Team, then struggled to eat breakfast. Sendou helped Seto Takuma and Okumura avoid forcing down food too quickly, while Tetsu's Younger Brother and Yui eagerly went back for more rice.

• Kanemaru worried that Coach Kataoka had left two Spring Tournament bench spots open because he had promising First Years in mind, and he urged Toujou to keep practicing.
• Tetsu's Younger Brother and Yui sprinted ahead during the First Years' run, and Okumura joined their race with Seto Takuma following.
• Sendou went to hit Long Hits while the coaches and seniors watched the First Years finish their run and morning practice.
• Kanemaru urged the First Years to eat enough to recover from training, while Sawamura boasted about his large servings and Haru praised Sendou's appetite.
• Tetsu's Younger Brother and Yui quickly finished their rice and got more, prompting Okumura to try to match them and nearly choke.
• Sendou gave Okumura water and told him not to rush eating, while Seto Takuma struggled to finish his breakfast.

At lunch, Sendou encouraged Okumura and Seto Takuma to build their stamina and quietly told them that two first-years might earn First Team spots. In the Supervisor's Room, Ochiai recommended five first-years for the Spring Tournament bench, and Kataoka decided to have the first-years join the afternoon practice.

• Sendou explained his large appetite to Okumura and Seto Takuma, then advised them to eat slowly as they adapted to the team's training.
• Sendou told Okumura and Seto that the First Team might choose its final two players from the first-years, but warned them not to push themselves into injury or tell anyone.
• Sendou gave Okumura and Seto hawthorn slices after they started eating more slowly, and the two resolved to keep improving their stamina through eating and running.
• Ochiai reviewed Inajitsu's game and presented Kataoka with a list of five first-years he recommended for the Spring Tournament bench.
• Kataoka decided the first-years would join the other players for the afternoon's live batting practice, and Ochiai suggested canceling defensive practice so everyone could focus on hitting.

Sendou and the Seidou players prepared for afternoon practice, where the first-years would join the upperclassmen and spectators gathered to watch. The chapter left off as Maezono and Yamaguchi took their turns batting in practice.

• Sendou joked about joining the Anime Club, then led Sawamura and Furuya toward the field while Fumino and Haruno went to meet the first-year girl managers.
• Koharu told Sendou and Sawamura that talented first-years would join practice early and could compete for two First Team spots, but Sawamura and Furuya had not realized this.
• Seidou alumni and spectators gathered at the field, including an American scout interested in Sendou, while others hoped to see Furuya pitch.
• Miyuki said he would bat last among the second- and third-years and Sendou would bat last among the first-years, then sent Sendou to run with Sawamura and Furuya.
• Tojo volunteered to pitch batting practice, and Maezono hit solidly before Yamaguchi stepped up to match his power.

Sendou left the batting practice to train his baserunning, impressing an American scout with his extraordinary speed. Meanwhile, Miyuki and Yuuki Masashi showed off their power at the plate, leaving the coaches and teammates newly alert to the first-year’s threat.

• Coach Ochiai sent Sendou to Field B, where Sendou chose to practice baserunning and agreed to clean up afterward.
• Sendou sprinted repeatedly while an American scout timed and filmed him, recording typical runs around 2.9 to 3 seconds and an occasional 2.82.
• Miyuki hit Tojo’s pitch into the home-run area, praised Tojo, and told him to give Sendou everything when Sendou came up to bat.
• Yuuki Masashi stepped into the batter’s box and blasted an inside pitch beside the scoreboard, drawing startled reactions from the coaches and players.
• Sendou paused his drills to watch Masashi hit again, while the American scout urged him to return to practice.

The narrator suffered severe dizziness, headache, fever, and sleepiness after the third time, with no improvement after nearly eight hours. The chapter leaves them still in pain.

• The narrator hoped the third time would be milder, but it turned out to be the worst.
• After the half-hour observation period, the narrator became dizzy, developed a headache and fever, and felt extremely sleepy.
• Nearly eight hours later, the narrator had not improved and found that shaking their head made the headache worse.

The narrator woke several times during the night and slept for eleven hours, but still did not feel rested. They accepted that they needed another day off.

• The narrator underestimated the aftereffects and woke several times during the night.
• The narrator slept for eleven hours but still felt that it was not enough.
• At nine o'clock, the narrator gave up hoping for the best and accepted the situation.

Seidou’s First Years impressed the team with powerful batting, intensifying the competition for summer roster spots. Sendou then practiced with a Wooden Bat at the coaches’ request and hit a booming ball, drawing the American scout’s attention.

• Tetsu's Younger Brother, Yui, Hikaru, and Seto Takuma each showcased impressive long hits during batting practice, alarming the upperclassmen competing for First Team positions.
• Miyuki realized Coach Kataoka had brought the First Years into practice to spur the team and make clear that the fight for summer back numbers had begun.
• Coach Kataoka and Coach Ochiai discussed the First Years’ performances, including Kagami’s solid fundamentals, and considered giving Tetsu's Younger Brother chances to try different positions.
• Miyuki gave Sendou a Wooden Bat for batting practice, explaining that the coaches wanted him to improve his precision and go easier on the First Years.
• Sendou hit a powerful ball near the center-field fence with the Wooden Bat, impressing the spectators and prompting the American scout to watch him closely.