Chapter 437: A Sideline Presence
The bustling scene on Seidou High's bench.
After the game ended, the players began packing up their gear.
But they weren't heading back to school just yet. First, they would store their equipment on the bus, as the entire Seidou team planned to stay and watch the next quarterfinal match.
The winner of that game would determine their opponent in the semifinals.
On one side stood Seikou High, known for its powerhouse offense. On the other side, Sensen High, featuring the imposing "giant" Yosuke Maki.
This next matchup promised to be just as intense and thrilling, drawing a large crowd of spectators.
Whoever advanced would greatly influence Seidou's lineup choices and tactical plans for the semifinals.
Thus, it was essential for the entire team to observe this game together.
Of course, Eijun Sawamura already knew who their future opponent would be.
But just because he knew didn't mean he was entirely sure. Eijun understood that his presence had changed a lot of the storyline.
Whether Seikou High would defeat Sensen High as it did in the original events was now uncertain.
"Hey, Sawamura, you ready yet? We're leaving," Kuramochi called from the locker room doorway, slinging a bag over his shoulder.
"Oh, sure, sure," Eijun quickly hoisted his backpack and hurried to catch up with the rest of the team.
"Are we heading straight to the stands next?"
"No, the coach said the match hasn't started yet. We'll store our gear first."
"By the way, it's Seikou versus Sensen next, right?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"The winner becomes our next opponent."
"Hey, what about the other quarterfinal match?"
"We'll worry about that later. Honestly, barring any surprises, it'll probably be those two schools fighting it out in the semifinals."
"Well, in a way, this bracket's working out pretty well for us."
"Come on, that's not what you guys were saying at the start."
"Haha, Captain, relax, relax."
"Hahaha."
"By the way, Furuya, you didn't ice your shoulder earlier, did you? Come on, you absolutely need to ice it."
"What's for lunch?"
"Uh, I think it's still bento boxes. Sumire and the others went to get them."
"Wow, suddenly I'm craving eel rice."
"Haha, let's suggest that to the dining hall lady after we win the championship."
"Two more wins!"
Walking through the tunnel, the Seidou players smiled and chatted, heading to the parking lot outside the stadium.
Today's game had not been much trouble for Seidou. They controlled the pace from the middle innings onward, and everyone carried a lighthearted attitude afterward.
"Next up is the second quarterfinal match: Seikou High versus Sensen High. The game is set to start at 1 p.m., with practice times scheduled as follows…"
As Seidou and Ouya's players left the field, the dugouts on both sides were already filled with Seikou and Sensen's teams.
Sensen's giant, Yosuke Maki, naturally drew attention. With his height alone, he stood out, and scouts from the professional leagues had already noticed him.
Although Maki didn't yet have impressive stats or the raw talent of players like Narumiya, Amahisa, Eijun, or Furuya, his height gave him an undeniable advantage.
In the world of professional baseball, techniques can be honed, strength can be built through conditioning, but height—height is something you can't just train.
Many knew that if Maki had the desire, he would be drafted into the pros after high school. His lack of standout results might lower his signing bonus or draft rank, but a third or fourth pick from a smaller team seemed highly plausible.
If Maki could lead his team to Koshien next year and achieve better results, that would be another story. But realistically, that chance was nearly zero.
Naturally, Yosuke Maki became a focal point for the crowd's attention.
However, compared to Sensen High, where only Maki drew the spotlight, Seikou High made everyone turn their heads.
One by one, their players emerged—towering figures with massive builds and powerful limbs.
"Goodness, are these really high schoolers?"
"They're enormous!"
"Wait, not all of them are that tall. Look, over there—it's like a tiny mountain peak in a range of giants."
Indeed, among the towering Seikou players stood one exceptionally small figure, looking like an elementary schooler surrounded by a pack of wolves.
Even after seeing them countless times on TV, witnessing them in person made Eijun's mouth twitch.
"Damn… just looking at their physiques is intimidating…"
Eijun muttered under his breath.
He'd never seen another team with players as massive as Seikou's.
"Are we sure these are high school students!?" Kuramochi nearly spit out his food, staring wide-eyed.
"With physiques like that, their swings must put incredible pressure on pitchers," Miyuki said, his expression turning serious.
"The catcher looks so small," Haruichi murmured, his own lips twitching.
Next to him, Furuya's gaze seemed slightly unfocused, his mouth curling up as if he found something amusing.
"A pure power lineup. This team is all about offense," Maezono remarked, arms crossed and face solemn.
"The key is how much Maki can suppress Seikou's lineup," Miyuki added.
In the stands, the Seidou players wore various thoughtful expressions.
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