After lunch, everyone took a short rest in the hotel. In the afternoon, they were required to wear shirt-style uniforms and gather together in the hotel venue to wait for the lottery ceremony.

Speaking of which, the number of participating teams this year has reached 49. If you want to decide the championship with this number, some teams will definitely get a bye. Therefore, the organizers of the event have put a lot of thought into the grouping and drawing of lots.

In order to select the top eight, all teams will be divided into eight divisions to compete. Because the teams in the lower half are in small divisions, they will play one less game than the teams in the larger divisions in the preliminary stage.

Although there is only one game, in the Koshien finals where time is tight in this kind of event, one game will often determine the final result.

When the person in charge of the Osaka branch of the organizer Asahi Shimbun announced the schedule of the game, representatives of all the teams would step forward in order to draw the groups for the game.

"Kato-kun, if you can draw a group with one game less, we will have more confidence in entering the top 8!"

"I know, don't bother me anymore at this time!"

"Uh...I'm sorry!"

Seeing that Aya Kato was going crazy now, Ono quickly turned his head away in embarrassment. At this moment, the name of Chiyoda Academy was suddenly handed over on the stage.

"call!"

I saw Kato Aya rubbing her hands together, standing up from her seat with a serious expression, and then let out a deep breath.

It's really strange. For other teams, the main player draws the lottery, but Chiyoda is appointed by the team's manager. As a result, after Kato Aya came on stage, the audience immediately remembered and exclaimed.

"Are you the representative of Nishi Tokyo Chiyoda? Please draw lots!"

"Hi! It's 18a"

When Aya Kato drew the lottery, the whole audience was amazed. Seeing the eye-watering second half of the matchup table, many teams began to envy Chiyoda's luck.

"That's great, we're in the half-district with one game less!"

The players in the audience were chatting quietly, while Kato Aya on the stage returned to her seat with a happy face after thanking the organizer.

"Ah... I had a premonition that I would have good luck today! Haha, now I can skip one round!"

Kato Aya proudly showed off to everyone. After a while, Hanamaki Azuma from Iwate Prefecture got the 18b code and became Chiyoda's enemy in the first game.

"Ah...it's a team from the Northeast region, so lucky!"

"What's good? Hanamaki East is a very powerful team and has produced many well-known professional players!"

"That's better than meeting a powerful guy from Osaka!"

…

Everyone was talking about it until the lottery ceremony was over. Everyone left the venue one after another. But just when Arata walked out of the venue and was about to get in the car, he suddenly heard someone calling him from behind.

"Arata!"

Hearing the voice behind him, Arata turned around in surprise, only to see a guy who surprised him.

"Long time no see, I didn't expect to see you at Koshien..."

"Gengping! You are now..."

"In Yokohama, I was the team's main pitcher! Ah... I thought you would continue to be a catcher? I didn't expect you to change to pitching now!"

"Yeah! I didn't expect that either..."

Arata chatted with the other party for a few words in a complicated mood. At this moment, he heard Ono urging him to get in the car. Seeing this, Arata could only bid farewell to the other party:

"Sorry! My friends..."

"Ah, I happen to be leaving, so... if there is a chance, see you on the field!"

As Kohei spoke, he stretched out his hand, as if to say hello to Arata, but when Arata saw it, he was just stunned for a moment, then bowed and turned around and ran quickly to the car.

After getting in the car, seeing Arata's serious look on his face, Ono couldn't help but curiously asked:

"Who is that guy from the Yokohama team? Do you know him?"

"Well! Former teammates, get in the car!"

"oh!"

Seeing that Arata didn't say much, Ono didn't ask any more questions. Arata looked at the scenery on the road along the way. After arriving at the hotel, he watched TV for a while and then received a call from Ryoko.

"Arata, did you have fun in Osaka?"

"Please...I'm here to compete, not to play!"

Hearing Liangzi's words, Arata instinctively retorted, but perhaps because he was in a good mood, Liangzi did not continue to argue with him, but said to Arata proudly:

"Haha, staying in a luxurious hotel is different! I also had delicious eel for dinner, ah... it was so wonderful!"

"That's not all thanks to Shizuka's care, but...it's a pity that Odo-san and Oka-san can't come to the game!"

"Don't worry, they will be here during the competition. Isn't there still a few days left?"

Arata and Ryoko were talking like this, and suddenly the conversation changed. Arata told Ryoko about meeting his former classmate Kohei at the lottery ceremony.

"Hey, that guy really went to a prestigious school like Yokohama!"

"Well, it is said that he is still the leader of the team!"

"So, you still can't let go of what happened in middle school?"

"How should I put it? Now that I have come to Koshien, I don't seem to care so much about that matter!"

"Eh... I thought you would be affected by him! How about, when will the first game start..."

"It will be about three days later. Our opponent is Hanamaki Higashi from Iwate Prefecture. It is a very powerful school!"

"Come on! You're here now, but you have to win a game before going back!"

"I know, you crow's mouth!"

Arata pretended to be dissatisfied, but couldn't help laughing before hanging up the phone. At this moment, Ono-kun walked out of the bathroom with a towel. Then he asked curiously

:

"Why...chat with your girlfriend!"

"It's sister!"

"What, is your family coming to Osaka to watch the game too?"

"Well, it hasn't been decided yet, but isn't there still a few days left for the competition?"

"Hey...I really envy you!"

"Um?"

"My parents don't have the money or time to come to Osaka to watch me compete! But I heard that the students in the performance club and the cheering group paid their own expenses to come to Osaka. It's really a private school!"

Hearing Ono suddenly mention this topic strangely, Arata couldn't help but look at him in surprise.

"Why...didn't I tell you? I'm not a child from a rich family! I was able to attend this school because I reached the finals of the Fuchu City Middle School Fieldball Competition when I was in junior high school, and the school agreed

I’ve been given a scholarship. You have to work harder, Arata! Although I’m overestimating what I say now, I’m looking forward to becoming a professional player after graduation!”

As Ono said, he suddenly stretched out his hand and looked at Arata with a smile. Seeing this, Arata stretched out his hand without hesitation and responded:
Chapter completed!