"This grouping…"
The Seido High School Baseball Team's teammates were speechless when they saw the bracket.
"Don't relax. High school baseball is a one-way street. All third-year players will stake their last hopes here, and it's not surprising for them to do anything."
Coach Kataoka was as usual.
Even if there were no opponents that could truly challenge them, he still reminded his teammates not to be careless.
"Yes!"
The players of the Seido High School Baseball Team all agreed.
As for whether they could truly achieve it, that would only be revealed on the field.
Coach Kataoka was still very foresighted. Even in these first three seemingly unchallenged games, the Seido High School Baseball Team still faced considerable challenges.
However, at this moment, even though all the teammates readily agreed, not a single one of them believed that Coach Kataoka's worries would eventually become a reality.
Their team's strength was evident; it wasn't something just anyone could challenge.
"If there are no surprises, our opponent in the semifinals will be Inashiro Industrial. In the finals, we might face Ichidaisan Third High School, or another dark horse."
Seeing the bracket for the other half of the division, the Seido High School Baseball Team's teammates felt dazzled.
Although Ichidaisan Third High School should be the strongest among them, judging from their match against Ichidaisan Third High School in the Spring Tournament, they might not necessarily make it to the end.
Yakushi, who only lost to Seido by one run in a practice game, always showed progress whenever Seido High School Baseball Team's teammates encountered them.
If Zhang Han hadn't come to the rescue in that practice game, the Seido High School Baseball Team had a high chance of an unexpected defeat.
Ichidaisan Third High School's senior, Manaka Kaname, performed well. But could he truly block the attacks of Yakushi High School Baseball Team's strong hitters?
Especially Raichi Todoroki?
If Yakushi met Ichidaisan Third High School, it was really hard to say what the final outcome would be.
Besides Yakushi, there were also Sensen, Seikou, and so on.
A series of strong teams with potential were waiting to play against them.
It was really hard to say whether Ichidaisan Third High School could make it to the finals.
But for the Seido High School Baseball Team, no matter which team made it to the finals, after experiencing such a series of intense battles, their team's strength would definitely undergo tremendous changes.
Even if the Seido High School Baseball Team could rest and wait, such a final might not necessarily be to their advantage.
Not to mention, before the finals, they would also have to fight a bloody battle against the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team.
Judging from the current grouping, the Seido High School Baseball Team's grouping for the first few rounds was undoubtedly the most ideal.
They would only encounter teams that could pose a real threat in the semifinals and finals.
Such a grouping could be described as perfect.
However, from another perspective, the challenges the Seido High School Baseball Team would face in the upcoming semifinals and finals would probably be the most severe in recent years.
Considering the current strength of the Seido High School Baseball Team, ordinary teams could pose very little threat to them.
Such a grouping could be said to be both the best and the worst for the Seido High School Baseball Team.
As a result, after seeing such a grouping, the teammates didn't know what opinions they should express.
Coach Ochiai's mood wasn't very high after returning.
He viewed problems even more extremely than the players. From his perspective, the only teams that could truly pose a threat to the Seido High School Baseball Team were the other two great powerhouses.
Ichidaisan Third High School and Inashiro Industrial.
According to normal logic, the Seido High School Baseball Team, who won the Spring Tournament, should be in one division.
The other two teams should be in another division.
At the very least, the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team, the team that dominated the nation in the Spring Koshien, should be in one group.
The Seido High School Baseball Team and Ichidaisan Third High School should be in another group.
The first scenario would be the best arrangement for the Seido High School Baseball Team. Although the second scenario wasn't great, it was still an acceptable arrangement for the Seido High School Baseball Team.
But now, Inashiro, who won the Spring Koshien, and the Seido High School Baseball Team, who won the Spring Tournament, were placed in the same group.
Ichidaisan Third High School, on the other hand, got an advantage.
For Seido and Inashiro, this was undoubtedly the worst arrangement.
As the representative sent by the Seido High School Baseball Team to draw lots, even though Ochiai never went on stage, he still felt disgraced.
Seeing Ochiai's low spirits.
Coach Kataoka took the initiative to find his assistant.
"Senior Ochiai, don't mind it too much. Perhaps this is fate's arrangement. All we can do is actively prepare for the next game and win it."
To be down-to-earth and move forward step by step.
Although the reason was simple, this was indeed the best path for the Seido High School Baseball Team at the moment.
After hearing this, Ochiai felt much more relaxed.
"I hope the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team also thinks that way…"
On the other side, in the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team's Coach's office.
Coach Kunitomo tossed the bracket aside.
He shared Ochiai's view and was extremely dissatisfied with this grouping.
On the surface, it seemed that all the strong teams were in the other half of the bracket.
But for the Three Great Powerhouses, their eyes were only on each other.
Although Yakushi's performance was fierce, Coach Kunitomo didn't believe that this super dark horse, who had beaten them in the Spring Tournament, was truly that threatening.
The teams that truly made him feel threatened were themselves, each other.
And the biggest threat was Seido.
Before the finals, the opponent Coach Kunitomo least wanted to face was also the Seido High School Baseball Team.
Before encountering them, Coach Kunitomo did not intend to expose the tactics and methods he had specially prepared for the Seido High School Baseball Team.
But now, they might meet in the semifinals. It's not just a possibility, but a certainty.
It could be imagined that it would definitely be a colossal battle, like a volcano hitting Earth.
After that battle, all the trump cards prepared by both sides would surely be exposed completely.
This way, no matter which team they faced in the finals, the opponent could prepare countermeasures in advance.
"It's a few points more difficult than I initially imagined."
Although Inashiro Industrial had become the uncrowned king of West Tokyo over the past decade or so, they could almost be called the overlord of this region.
But now, this overlord had to face the most terrifying challenge.
Recalling the strength displayed by the Seido High School Baseball Team in the Kanto Tournament finals.
Coach Kunitomo had to admit that this should be the year they had the least confidence.
However, this was also good.
If Inashiro never encountered a threat, the players would never improve.
Both teams were preparing for battle.
Thus, the day the Summer Tournament began arrived.
Above Jingu Stadium.
Drums thundered, firecrackers exploded, colorful flags fluttered, and people swarmed, baseball teams from various schools entered the stadium in order.
The Seido High School Baseball Team, as the champion of the last summer Tournament, was the first to enter the field.
However, the one who spoke on behalf of the players was Harada from the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team.
Isashiki Jun senior felt resentful about this.
"It should have been our Yuuki."
The champion of the summer Tournament not only entered first, but their team captain would usually also become the player representative.
But, who told the Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team that they had won a Koshien championship for Tokyo in the previous Spring Koshien?
Even though it was the Spring Invitational Tournament champion.
But Tokyo hadn't won this honor for over a decade. Now that they finally won it once, shouldn't they promote it vigorously and show off?
This directly led to the current scene, where Harada Masatoshi represented the players in taking the oath.
"Don't worry, next year it will be us!"
Zhang Han said.
Wearing the number one uniform, he sounded particularly credible when he said this.
So much so that his teammates around him felt especially encouraged.
Only Jun seemed unimpressed.
After hearing Zhang Han's words, he directly curled his lips.
"What's the use? Next year, it will have nothing to do with us."
Isashiki Jun didn't question the credibility of Zhang Han's words, but rather stated an extremely realistic problem.
"It's so hot!"
Furuya Satoru, born in Hokkaido, where it's covered in ice and snow year-round, experienced the high summer temperatures of Tokyo for the first time.
He felt as if he had been completely dried up.
Sawamura, who stood behind him, supported him with his arm. He was afraid that if he let go, the guy would just collapse.
"Why don't you stand on your own!"
Not only Furuya Satoru, but even players from Tokyo were extremely unaccustomed to such high temperatures.
After standing under the scorching sun for two or three hours, their clothes were already soaked with sweat.
After more than an hour of rambling, the leaders on the podium finally concluded the opening ceremony.
The players left one after another.
"I really admire these leaders. Sitting so high, with the sun directly on their faces, they can still speak for so long. If it were me, I would have died of thirst from dehydration long ago."
The players discussed animatedly.
After leaving, the Seido High School Baseball Team's teammates waited for the bus at the main entrance.
As a team with an exclusive bus, their movements were very convenient.
As the richest place in the country, Tokyo had many schools with this privilege, especially the Three Great Powerhouses.
While the players of the Seido High School Baseball Team were waiting for the bus.
Other players also came out one after another and waited together.
Those who knew Seido players would also take this opportunity to step forward and greet them.
Most of the Seido High School Baseball Team's players had good social skills, and at this time, they would always meet a few acquaintances and start chatting with them.
This made the first-year players extremely envious.
Fortunately, not all seniors received such treatment. For example, Zhang Han, who currently wore the number one jersey for the Seido High School Baseball Team.
Compared to his other teammates, Zhang Han seemed like a lone wolf.
None of those who actively came forward to chat greeted Zhang Han.
And it was even less likely for Zhang Han to take the initiative to greet these people.
As a result, a hollow space formed around Zhang Han.
"Is Senior Zhang Han not popular…?"
"Perhaps it's because he's too handsome, so he can't make friends."
"What nonsense are you talking about? It's just that the levels…"
When levels were different, it was naturally difficult to have fair interactions. It didn't matter among teammates of the same team, but when dealing with players from other teams, levels were very important.
It wasn't until the main players from teams like Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team, Ichidaisan Third High School, and Yakushi High School Baseball Team came out that the empty situation around Zhang Han was completely broken.
The first to rush over was Narumiya Mei. He deliberately turned Zhang Han around and carefully looked at his back number.
"You're pretty amazing, kid. You became your team's Ace in such a short time. What about Senior Tanba? Could it be because he was disheartened…?"
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