With that home run—and his outstanding performance throughout the game, Yuki Tetsuya completely entered the sight of the professional scouts in the stands. One after another, their attention lingered on Seidou's second-year, silently reassessing his value.
On the field, the game continued.
One out. No one on base.
Seidou's cleanup hitter, Azuma Kiyokuni, stepped into the batter's box.
After a brief exchange of glances, Nakae Yuta and his catcher made the same decision almost simultaneously.
Intentional walk.
Four straight balls later, Azuma clicked his tongue lightly and jogged to first base.
Immediately after, Seidou's fifth batter, Kanzaki Ryou, received the exact same treatment. Full of fighting spirit when he entered the box, he could only walk to first with a frustrated expression.
Having avoided the two most dangerous hitters, Nakae Yuta finally focused everything he had on the next batter.
Against Isashiki Jun, he poured all his concentration into three pitches—
Strikeout.
Two outs. Runners on first and second.
With clenched teeth, Nakae Yuta faced Seidou's seventh batter, Araki Keita, and struck him out as well.
The inning ended.
And just like that, the Koshien Final entered its last chapter.
The ninth inning.
Seihou High School, trailing by six runs, wore expressions filled with unwillingness and frustration. No one had given up—but reality stood before them.
Six runs.
In their final offensive chance.
Two three-run home runs?
Such a miracle was something even dreams refused to grant.
The leadoff batter stepped into the box with the resolve to fight to the very end.
On the mound, Kanzaki Ryou showed no hesitation.
He stopped holding back.
151 km/h.
153 km/h.
154 km/h.
Three overwhelming fastballs.
Strikeout.
"One out!!"
"One out!!"
The Seidou stands erupted.
Just two outs remained.
For years, Seidou had fallen short—blocked by Inashiro Industrial, Ichidai Third, and countless disappointments in West Tokyo.
But now—
They stood on the brink of everything.
Kanzaki Ryou shut out the noise completely, pouring his entire being into every pitch.
"Strike!"
"Strike!"
"Strike—three!!"
Back-to-back outs.
Just one more.
In the dugout, Coach Kataoka's hands trembled uncontrollably.
President Ota, usually overflowing with emotion, stood uncharacteristically silent.
Behind her glasses, Takashima Rei's eyes brimmed with tears.
Even Chris, meticulously recording the game moments ago, had risen to his feet—his pen forgotten on the ground.
Every Seidou member stared at the pitcher's mound.
At him.
Whoosh!!
The final batter, Seguchi Masato, swung and missed.
Strike one.
Whoosh!
"Strike two!"
The entire stadium fell into a deathly silence.
Every heartbeat followed Kanzaki Ryou's motion.
The final pitch.
The ball tore through the air—
For a brief instant, time itself seemed to stop.
Then—
Seguchi Masato's bat slipped from his hands and fell to the dirt.
Strike three!
The stadium exploded.
"CHAMPIONS!!!"
"We won—WE WON!!"
"Seidou is number one!!"
"National champions!!"
Cheers shook Koshien itself.
Tears flowed freely.
From the mound, Kanzaki Ryou barely had time to breathe before his teammates rushed him from behind, lifting him into the air again and again.
This time, he didn't resist.
Coach Kataoka's shoulders shook violently as tears streamed down beneath his sunglasses.
"We won… we are champions…" President Ota finally shouted.
"Yes… we finally did it," Takashima Rei said, removing her glasses to wipe her eyes.
Across the field, Seihou High School stood in tears of regret. After nine exhausting innings, giving everything they had, the gap of six runs remained an insurmountable wall.
Once his feet returned to the ground, dizzy and smiling, Kanzaki Ryou suddenly pointed toward the dugout.
"Everyone—let's thank our amazing Coach Kataoka!"
Moments later, Coach Kataoka himself was lifted into the air.
While everyone's attention focused on their coach, Kanzaki Ryou quietly walked toward the sideline and looked up into the stands.
His mother was already crying—overwhelmed with pride.
His father stood beside her, silent, his body trembling.
His older sister, Kanzaki Mamiko, wept openly. More than anyone, she knew how much sweat and pain this victory had cost.
"Ni-chan~!"
His younger sister Kumiko waved wildly, eyes shining with admiration rather than tears.
Beside her, Kosaka Reina covered her mouth, her gaze fixed on Kanzaki Ryou as if engraving that moment into her heart forever.
After a respectful conclusion to the ceremony, Seidou finally returned to the hotel.
Inside the locker room—
"Ryou."
Azuma Kiyokuni suddenly spoke.
"Hm?"
Azuma looked at him seriously.
"Thank you."
Kanzaki Ryou smiled. Azuma had already turned away.
Later, surrounded by fans and reporters, time passed in a blur.
At the hotel entrance, Kanzaki Ryou's family waited.
Coach Kataoka dismissed the others and walked over with him.
"Kumiko!"
She rushed forward, burying her face in his chest.
"Congratulations, brother! You're a champion!"
Kanzaki Ryou smiled, his heart completely full.
"Kumiko."
"Hm?"
"Happy birthday."