"Well, although the overseer prefers Takigawa to take over as captain, we unanimously chose Yuki as captain."

"Yuuki? That sophomore, who has a strong blow?! ”

"Well, we believe that with him leading the new team, he will definitely make Qingdao stronger and stronger."

"I see." Akiko Owada, who suddenly came to her senses, continued to ask, "Hey, that's right...... Where's Yagami-kun? ”

"Probably running with my junior."

"Huh? Don't you need to practice? ”

"No, after Koshien ended, I was recuperating because of inflammation in my elbow."

"The superintendent also said that although the National Sports Conference mainly relies on three-year students, after Yagami recovers from his injury, he will still let him participate in the National Sports Conference with Takigawa and Yuki with the three-year students."

"He should be quite tired during the two-week battle in Koshien, so he can take advantage of this time to take a good rest."

"We're going to have to rely on him to pitch more in the future."

……

"Soon it will be the regional caucuses for the Tokyo Metropolitan Games in the fall."

After finishing the interview with Higashi Kiyokoku, Owada Akiko began to summarize the current situation of Seichi.

"After the National Sports Conference in early October, the third-year students will officially retire."

"On October 7th, it was the main event of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in the autumn...... To build a new team in such a tight schedule—"

"It's not easy to win all the way to the last team!"

"But," said Mine, following the words of his colleague, "this is also an experience that can only be experienced by being the No. 1 team in the country." ”

"All of this may be all proof of entering Koshien!"

"Whether it's the team that was eliminated in the first qualifier or the team that won the Koshien tiebreaker, they all stood on the same starting line again after spending their respective summers."

……

B training ground, when Naoya Kuraza was stacking the pitcher mound, Yoichi Kuramochi next to him suddenly asked Kenta Maezono, "What about Nagumo?" ”

"He hasn't come yet..."

"It's a rarity... He's going to be late, too? ”

Instead of paying attention to Yochi Kuramochi and Kenta Maezono who were talking, Naoya Kurazo focused on the two students of the same rank who were still staying in the three armies passing by.

"That senior named Yagami didn't come today......

"That guy has won the championship since Koshien..."

"After winning the championship and dominating the country, I never came to the ministry to practice again..."

"Did he win the first place in the country all of a sudden, so that his enthusiasm faded completely?"

"I don't think it's smug..."

……

At 6:05 p.m. on August 26, after the practice was over, Superintendent Kataoka stood in front of a group of soldiers and began to announce the arrangements for the last three practice matches before the end of the summer vacation.

"Playing a practice match with the city university?" The teammates were obviously a little surprised by the sudden practice session.

"Yes, the other party temporarily offered to play a practice match, and I agreed."

"The opportunity for revenge is coming so soon!" For this practice match with the third year of the city university, many people are excited about it.

"The practice match with Yokohama was pitched by Kimura and Nagumo, and the practice match with Mitsushi was Yagyu ......"

"Huh?!" Many people were puzzled by Kataoka's arrangement, and although Nozomi Yanagi defeated Saitama Sakae High School on August 23 to win the National High School Women's Hardball Tournament, and the fact that she and Rin Nishio often attend practice in the department, does not mean that she will be able to participate in their practice matches with other schools.

"As the final race of the summer vacation—"

Faced with their confusion, Superintendent Kataoka did not answer, and continued to himself, "I am ready to send all the available players in the third year of the city university, so please prepare with such an awareness. ”

"Yes!" Everyone shouted in unison.

"Damn, I also want to be a junior in the battle city." Kenta Maezono was a little unwilling to do this.

"The important thing is the two games before the third game." Yoichi Kuramochi is unwilling to take the front garden seriously, as long as he performs well in the first two games, he can naturally play in the third year of the city.

"Yes, if you do well, you might be able to start as a starter." Shoji Higasa, who was promoted to the first army with the four of them, Yoichi Kuramochi, Kenjiro Hakushu, Takuya Kimura and Seiichi Minamigumo, seemed a little excited in his tone: "You must show your results." ”

"That's right!!"

……

On August 27th, practice tryout, Qingdao vs Yokohama.

"Whew!"

"Bang!"

"Good shot, batsman out."

"That's good!" Facing Takuya Kimura, who threw four games in a row without conceding points, Yokohama's Watanabe supervisor did not skimp on his praise: "Even Urakawa lost a point, and it is surprising that he has such a good performance in the first grade." ”

After the retirement of the third year, Yokohama's strength dropped quite a lot, but they believed that Seichi was the same, but they didn't expect Ayato Urakawa to lose to first-year student Takuya Kimura in performance as the team's No. 2 pitcher.

In the decisive retrial six days ago, Tanaka, who needed to play with a little bit of nutrients to play, was destined not to be favored by the god of baseball.

Because the god prefers Yagami Yagama, who has been on the field from beginning to end, and his team, Aomichi, Komatomaki lost the showdown of the century with Aomichi. But this does not mean that Qingdao Dao, who has reached the top of the country, still has the strength to suppress them after the replacement of new and old students.

"The team's offensive strength is very strong!" Seido graduates, who came over to work as coaches during the summer vacation, were overwhelmed by the strength of the new team.

"Yes, because the strength of each player is not weak." Supervisor Kataoka was quite satisfied with the performance of the new team.

"Although there is still a feeling that the line is not coherent enough." Minister Ota is still a little puzzled by their unusual behavior: "Why is it suddenly today..."

……

"Oh!"

"Hit at the right time!!"

The first-year students who were watching around were cheering for the outstanding performance of their peers!

"Higasa, that guy, it's hit again!"

"Bastard!!"

Seido took four points from Yokohama in five or six innings, extending the difference between the two sides to four points.

"Kimura, start guarding the left outfield in the second half of the seventh inning." Superintendent Kataoka, who was sitting on the bench outside the rest area, turned his head to Takuya Kimura, who was resting behind him.

"Huh?!" Takuya Kimura, who was drinking water, was taken aback by Kataoka's arrangement, and he didn't even hold the water cup in his hand steadily, causing it to fall to the ground.

"Nagumo, from the bottom half of the seventh inning, it's up to you to pitch."

"Yes!" Nan Yunshi, who had already warmed up, replied together.

Soon the first half of the seventh inning was over, and the Seido side returned to the game under the leadership of first-year student Yuki Kazuya.

"The... Could it be that the third battle of the city university stimulated everyone, right? Looking at the energetic players in front of him, Minister Ota reacted that their good state today was stimulated by the third battle of the city university behind.

"I'm also so worried because my opponent is a junior in the city."

"Because I really want to confirm ......" In response to Minister Ota's question, Superintendent Kataoka gave his reason for accepting the invitation to practice matches.

"Huh?" Minister Ota was a little surprised.

"They also want to know how strong they are?"