There was nothing noteworthy the previous night and by the next day.
The first match of the Koshien quarterfinals.
The West Tokyo Seidou High School Baseball Team was facing the representative team from Nagano Prefecture, Hoshiryu High School.
Twenty minutes before the game began, the stands at Koshien were already packed to capacity.
Even with the reigning champions, Seidou High School's team, such scenes were rare.
It was clear from this how much attention this game was receiving.
The "Great Demon King" Sawamura was facing off against his hometown friends.
This match had caused a media frenzy, with reporters flocking to cover it.
Just a little bit of thought and so many potential storylines could be created around it.
They couldn't possibly miss such a game.
When Akiko and Fujio from Baseball Kingdom Magazine arrived, this was the scene they were greeted with.
Had it not been for the press box, they would probably have had trouble finding a place to stand.
"Isn't this too lively?" Akiko wiped the sweat from her forehead with the handkerchief in her hand.
She had barely made it to the press box, and it had taken a lot of effort.
"Considering the news about Sawamura, it's only natural that it's causing such a stir," Fujio said nonchalantly.
A year and a half ago, Fujio was a frequent visitor to the Seidou High School baseball team.
Back then, if someone had told him that someday a high school player could cause such a sensation, one comparable to top-tier celebrity status...
Fujio would have scoffed.
He would have said they didn't know what they were talking about!
High school baseball was popular, but it had its natural limitations.
You couldn't just wish for things to happen.
Such a fantasy, like a castle in the air, was simply impossible.
But now, having watched Sawamura Eijun step by step, Fujio had become accustomed to the phenomenon.
If Sawamura's game ever had fewer fans, Fujio might actually be more surprised.
Fifteen minutes before the game started, both teams' buses arrived at the Koshien stadium's gates.
They got off almost simultaneously.
But the treatment they received after getting off was worlds apart.
On the Hoshiryu High School side, there wasn't a single reporter in sight.
On the Seidou High School side, however, they were immediately
"These guys are too awful! They're blind!" Nanami said angrily.
"Calm down. After all, they're the reigning champions and the 'Great Demon King.' How can we, a supporting cast, compete with them?" Oda said, taking it in stride.
He looked over at the familiar figure on the opposite side and couldn't help but feel nostalgic.
Though he had sensed back when they were in Akagi Middle School's baseball team that Sawamura's future was limitless...
He hadn't anticipated how fast Sawamura had progressed.
Not only had his baseball skills reached the national top-level...
But even his fame and fans were unmatched.
"Excuse me!"
Suddenly, a bespectacled reporter rushed up from behind their team, holding a camera as if he was about to take their pictures.
"See? Not everyone's blind. They're interviewing us too," Hosho remarked.
The Hoshiryu players quickly began adjusting their clothes.
None of them disliked being interviewed.
"If you have any questions, just ask. I'm..." Tsuchihara was about to speak.
But the reporter with glasses interrupted her, saying, "Excuse me, could you move aside? You're blocking my shot!"
Tsuchihara almost choked on his own words.
When he turned around, he realized it wasn't a reporter but just a photographer and the real reporters were ahead trying to interview Seidou.
This was incredibly frustrating.
After finally dealing with the reporters, the players of both teams began heading onto the field.
They were already pressed for time, and this delay only reduced the little time they had left.
Both teams hurriedly walked toward the entrance, almost at a run.
It was a strange coincidence that the two teams met fface-to-facejust as they entered.
The opponents were about to face off, and this way of meeting felt a bit awkward.
As Seidou High School's representative, Miyuki gave a symbolic nod to the opponent before charging ahead.
The Seidou players followed close behind.
The match hadn't started, and they didn't know what to say to their opponents yet. Maybe it was better to talk after the game.
Hoshiryu High School's response was the opposite.
They all froze as if they were respecting Seidou High School, letting them go first.
Of course, that wasn't really the case.
The players of Hoshiryu High School, at first glance, appeared to be calm and nonchalant.
But deep inside, they were as proud as anyone.
The reason they had all stopped was because of the last player on the Seidou team.
To be honest, Sawamura didn't want to meet these guys at this time.
Some things were better said on the field.
It would be better to face each other head-on and, after the game, whether they won or lost, they could sit down, chat, and reminisce.
Seeing their opponents right before the match, as both friends and rivals, what could he possibly say to them?
Sawamura wracked his brain but couldn't come up with an answer.
But he still stopped.
His former rivals, and his former teammates, all made it clear that they were coming for him.
What could he do?
Retreat?
Sawamura Eijun, who had lived this long, didn't even know how to write the word "retreat."
All his friends ran ahead, leaving Sawamura at the back.
He stood face to face with the Hoshiryu players, who had purposely stopped.
They stood there, stunned for a good two to three seconds.
Actually, that time wasn't long at all, just a few blinks of an eye.
But for everyone's hearts, that time felt like it stretched on forever.
At that moment, everyone remembered the past, from two or three years ago.
The time hadn't passed that long, but it felt like ages.
Eventually, it was Sawamura Eijun who took the initiative to break the silence with a smile.
"Long time no see!"
The simple four words immediately broke the awkwardness of the moment.
The Hoshiryu players smiled as well.
They looked at Sawamura Eijun seriously and nodded.
"Long time no see!"
"You're really amazing now!"
"What are your plans? Are you starting as the pitcher?"
Once the conversation started, it was like opening the floodgates.
It was impossible to stop.
Sawamura smiled slightly, brushing aside the awkward emotions.
Regardless of their positions, seeing old friends and rivals from years ago was always a joyous occasion.
Not to mention they were from the same hometown.
Though it wasn't as if they were crying tears of joy from meeting an old friend, the intimacy of the feeling was still something to cherish.
"We're rivals now. Do you think I'd tell you our team's plans? Dream on!"
After a few more casual exchanges, there were less than 10 minutes until the game began.
The two teams said their goodbyes, returned to their dugout and changed into their gear.
As they watched Sawamura's figure fade into the distance, the Hoshiryu players felt as if they could never catch up to that person.
"Don't think about those useless things. We're now opponents on the same field. They're no more noble than we are. Let's give it our all!"
Hosho Ryuki, before the game started, gathered his players.
He stared seriously at each player as he spoke.
…