Coach Kataoka had never imagined that the principal and the dean could be this enthusiastic.

Even during his first year as director, when he had led the baseball team back to Koshien, the two had never been so warm. Back then, they had offered polite congratulations, but there had always been a trace of distance.

Now it was different.

The chubby principal wore a broad smile from start to finish. The dean, whose voice usually sounded sharp and impatient, spoke with unusual gentleness. They bowed slightly when addressing Kataoka and showed a level of accommodation that almost felt exaggerated.

If this had happened a year ago, Kataoka might have found it ironic.

Their relationship in the past had not been harmonious. There had even been rumors that the principal and the dean had secretly contacted other coaching candidates when Seido failed to reach Koshien for several consecutive years.

But at this moment, Kataoka did not feel anger.

In competition, results speak louder than words.

If he could not lead Seido High School Baseball Team to Koshien, why should the school leadership treat him with reverence?

At that time, the fact that they had not openly criticized him was already a sign of restraint. In truth, much of that respect had been directed toward Takashima Rei rather than him.

Now, however, it was different.

He had proven his ability.

He had taken Seido back to the national stage.

He had delivered results.

Their current attitude was not flattery. It was recognition.

Kataoka did not dislike this feeling. On the contrary, it aligned with his personality. He believed in strength. He believed in merit.

For the first time in a long while, his expression softened slightly when speaking with the principal and dean.

Victory smooths over many conflicts.

After Seido reached Koshien and achieved a top-eight finish, the previous disagreements between the director and the school leadership quietly disappeared.

In essence, they all wanted the same thing.

They wanted Seido High School Baseball Team to thrive.

They wanted the school’s name to be known nationwide.

What defines a true national powerhouse?

It is not merely advanced facilities or meticulous care for players. It is reputation forged through consistent performance.

Since the 1970s and 80s, when capital began to influence high school sports more deeply, many once-glorious programs had faded into obscurity. Some still possessed strong resources, but without results, their reputations eroded.

Only those teams that withstood time, funding pressures, and competitive cycles, and continued to perform on the Koshien stage, could truly be called national powerhouses.

Osaka Kiryuu High School.

Inashiro Industrial.

Ichidai Third High School.

These names carried weight because of repeated achievements.

And Seido High School.

Previously, calling Seido a national powerhouse might have invited skepticism. A team that failed to reach Koshien for several consecutive years inevitably faced doubt.

Now, that debate no longer mattered.

They had returned.

They had fought fiercely.

They had finished among the top eight in the nation.

For at least the next two years, even if Seido failed to qualify for Koshien, critics would hesitate to question their status again.

From this perspective, Coach Kataoka and the players were indispensable to the school’s reputation.

After the grand celebration banquet concluded, Kataoka gathered the team.

“Ten days of vacation,” he announced.

The players blinked in surprise. This was three days longer than usual.

Including the time spent participating in Koshien, it meant nearly three weeks away from regular training. Seido High School Baseball Team had never enjoyed such a long break.

Yet no one complained.

Especially the third-year players.

For three years, baseball had consumed nearly every hour of their lives. Early morning practices, late-night training sessions, endless drills. Many had barely spent time with their families.

Now, with their high school careers concluded, they deserved to go home.

Nearly half of the team members were not originally from Tokyo. For them, this extended vacation was precious.

“Report back to school on the 23rd,” Kataoka continued. “We will form the new team a week in advance to prepare for the Autumn Tournament.”

With the end of the Summer Tournament, the current roster was effectively dissolved.

A new era would begin.

Players from the second and third teams would be evaluated. Some would be promoted to the first-string squad. Positions would be reassessed. Roles would shift.

While the players dispersed for vacation, Coach Kataoka and Manager Ota were already planning intensely.

Zhang Han, however, did not worry about these matters. No matter how the roster changed, certain positions were secure.

He and Miyuki had already cemented themselves as first-string regulars.

Among the confirmed core players were second-years Yuuki Tetsuya, Isashiki Jun, and Kominato Ryosuke.

Alongside first-years Miyuki Kazuya and Zhang Han.

That made five.

Koichiro Tanba’s position was also relatively stable. He had a strong chance to compete for the ace role.

However, opinions about him were divided.

Aside from the final game against Osaka Kiryuu, his performances in earlier matches had been inconsistent. Azuma Kiyokuni, in particular, was openly skeptical. In Azuma’s view, if Tanba became the ace, even Yuuki and Zhang Han might struggle to carry the team back to Koshien.

Interestingly, some players had begun paying attention to an inconspicuous first-year pitcher whose raw pitching quality showed promise.

Change was inevitable.

After returning home, Zhang Han resumed his routine.

Morning swings. Basic conditioning. Core strength exercises.

Beyond that, he stayed home.

When his mother went to work, he often ended up competing with his sister, Lan Yu, for control of the television remote.

The result was predictable.

The star who had dazzled on the Koshien stage was utterly powerless at home.

As children, Zhang Han used to tease his sister effortlessly. But as they grew older, he found himself losing more often than winning. Lan Yu had mastered the art of negotiation and emotional leverage. She could twist arguments in her favor and leave him speechless.

He could only surrender the remote with a sigh.

Even during vacation, news from Koshien continued to trickle in.

The two strongest teams advanced to the final.

Seihou narrowly defeated their semifinal opponent two to zero.

Osaka Kiryuu High School won convincingly, six to one.

Before the semifinals, some commentators had questioned Osaka Kiryuu’s defensive strength. After all, they had conceded twelve runs against Seido in the quarterfinals. Critics claimed that although Osaka Kiryuu’s offense was formidable, their defense might not be elite.

The semifinal results silenced those doubts.

Osaka Kiryuu’s opponent had been a team renowned for its explosive offense. Yet against Osaka Kiryuu’s pitching relay, they managed only a single run. The so-called toothless tiger analogy became widespread.

Comparing that game to Seido’s quarterfinal battle led many observers to a startling conclusion.

Seido’s offense was terrifying.

Three home runs. More than a dozen hits. Twelve runs scored against the Cosmic Team.

Osaka Kiryuu’s three pitchers had been pushed to their limits. If not for exhaustion and the razor-thin margin at critical moments, the outcome might have been different.

Viewed from this angle, Seido High School Baseball Team was anything but weak.

Their potential was immense. And next summer, they would return stronger.

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