Today, the opponent of the Seidou High School baseball team is Nanakyo High School.
In the resting area, they couldn't stop hearing the people around them cheering for Seidou High School's baseball team.
Throughout the entire stadium, there was a faint sense of exclusion directed at them.
The game hadn't even started yet, and they had already become the villains everyone wanted to defeat. Judging by the audience's reactions, if they could step onto the field right now, it seemed like they would be devoured alive by the fans of Seidou High.
The entire world felt like an enemy!
Anyone in this situation would definitely feel uncomfortable.
The players of Nanakyo High School were, after all, just a group of ordinary high school students. Facing such a situation, many of them were left stunned.
How could they play now? Forget winning against their opponents, would they even dare to compete? If they dared, wouldn't the fans in the stands rush down and really devour them?
Though the players of Nanakyo High School knew this kind of thing was absolutely impossible, seeing the scene in front of them still made them feel like this.
It's easy to see how much pressure they were under during the match.
Even before the game had begun, the pressure was enough to crush all of them.
It was terrifying!
The players from Seidou High School were terrifying!
The official players hadn't even made a move, and they were already terrified by a group of fans.
Such things—how could the players from Nanakyo High School have experienced this before?
Their leader, Hanagata, also had a bitter expression on his face.
When he found out their opponent was the Seidou High School baseball team, he had already vaguely sensed that this might happen.
What stood before Nanakyo wasn't just the monsters from Seidou High School, but also their own cowardice.
They didn't even believe in their own ability to win?
'How could they compete against the Seidou High School baseball team under such circumstances?'
Hanagata thought pessimistically.
At that moment, he felt like all his energy had been drained.
A deep sense of helplessness filled his heart.
Shouldn't he just stop struggling and surrender already?
This thought barely surfaced before Hanagata forcefully suppressed it.
He absolutely couldn't do that!
If he gave up, their team would be completely finished.
Looking back, if it weren't for him convincing these guys to practice together, they wouldn't even be here.
Since they had made it this far, Hanagata had to take responsibility for everyone.
"Think about the folks back home in Kyoto, think about the classmates who specially came to watch your match. Are we just going to surrender like this?" Hanagata asked calmly.
When the Nanakyo players heard him, they snapped out of it.
'That's right!'
'How could we do something so cowardly?'
Hanagata had led them to Koshien, fulfilling their long-time dream.
The people from their hometown, their classmates, the people they loved, and those who loved them...
Even though the fans on-site didn't support them, And nobody cheered them on, They still had their own family, friends, and classmates.
Those people were all standing behind them, offering support.
Even for their sake, they couldn't show weakness like this.
What if their opponent was Seidou High School's baseball team? Aren't their players just ordinary high schoolers, like them? They didn't grow three heads and six arms, so why should they be afraid of Seidou?
The Nanakyo players silently encouraged themselves.
Finally, they calmed down and no longer felt like a complete mess.
Hanagata knew that this was already a good performance!
At least now, his teammates weren't shaking with fear.
This way, they can fight against the Seidou High School baseball team.
'The next steps would be determined during the match itself.'
Hanagata had just finished calming his teammates when the players from Seidou High School were all standing together.
Under the leadership of Sawamura, they shouted their slogan to win the championship.
Looking at the imposing Seidou team, the Nanakyo players were completely stunned.
They stared at their opponents, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Though they had seen similar scenes on TV before, seeing it live was still a completely different experience.
Especially at the very end, when not only the players from Seidou High School were roaring.
Almost all of the spectators in the stadium were shouting along with them.
The entire Koshien stadium trembled under their momentum.
This scene was just too overwhelming!
Though they were currently the opponents, the players from Nanakyo High School couldn't help but admit it.
The players of Seidou High School were truly amazing!
They were dazzling beyond belief.
So cool, so spectacular!
The players couldn't even think of an appropriate way to describe how they felt at this moment.
Deeply shaken, and also filled with admiration.
An odd thought unconsciously popped into their minds.
What if they were a part of the other team? What would that be like?
It wasn't just the ordinary players. Even Hanagata, who had seen the world before, couldn't help but feel emotional after seeing the Seidou High School team.
This kind of momentum—this was what a champion looked like?
It was different. It really was different.
Once one of the Twelve Rising Talents, Hanagata had many prestigious teams lining up to invite him when he graduated.
If he hadn't already decided to quit baseball back then,
He might very well have become a player for one of those top teams now.
If that had been the case, his life would have been very different, wouldn't it?
He shook his head, dismissing such unrealistic thoughts.
Hanagata had never regretted his decision.
Just like now, he had no regrets about staying with his teammates.
Although they weren't strong and still a bit immature,
Hanagata was filled with gratitude towards them.
If it weren't for these teammates, he might never have returned to the field.
Even to repay their kindness, he planned to give his all in today's match.
"Challenging such an opponent is very difficult, but the opportunity is also the same! This is the opening match, and the opponent is the Seidou High School baseball team. It's the most-watched match. If you perform well in this game, it is easy to gain some fame."
The Nanakyo Coach's words were full of temptation.
It was like a psychopathic Manager in a company brainwashing his subordinates to exploit them.
From the looks of the players, you could see the greedy light in their eyes.
The brainwashing worked!
Competing against Seidou High School's baseball team, there's no need to think about the embarrassment of losing, because that was a given.
But if they could shine, or even win this match…
For the opponents of Seidou High School's baseball team, that kind of glory would be no different from winning the Koshien championship.
This was the first game of Koshien, true.
But for Nanakyo High School's baseball team, it was equivalent to their final.
If they won this match, even if they lost later, their Koshien journey would still be considered a success.
So, they didn't need to worry about anything else, they just needed to give it their all and show their strength.
"The opponent is the king, and we are the small fry. In the beginning, the opponent might not give their all, and that's a rare opportunity for us. Do you understand what I mean?"
Hanagata said to the teammates around him.
These guys weren't stupid. As soon as Hanagata said it, they understood.
If Seidou High School's baseball team underestimated them because they were an unknown team, it would indeed be a good opportunity for Nanakyo High School's players.
And a really good opportunity.
"Now, the players from both teams are about to take the field!"
The announcer's voice came through the microphone, broadcasting live to every corner of the country.
…