Chapter 897

The expressions of Zhongdao Satoshi and Aoki Masao turned exceptionally ugly.

Zhongdao Satoshi thought for a moment, then added with a solemn expression.

"Also, I will personally inspect every single baseball used in this match before we begin; there will absolutely not be another 'accident' like last time."

His tone carried self-reproach and determination.

Just then.

Konoe Hitomi, who had been almost ignored by everyone else, spoke up proactively, which was a rare occurrence.

Her voice was calm and ripple-free, yet carried an unquestionable weight.

"No need."

She lifted her hand slightly.

"I have already prepared all the equipment."

As soon as she finished speaking.

Several well-trained men in black suits appeared from nowhere and arrived silently at Konoe Hitomi's side.

One of them held an open, exquisite ball box with both hands, inside which ten brand-new, high-quality professional baseballs were neatly arranged.

Konoe Hitomi nodded slightly.

The man in black then respectfully handed the box to Natsume Chikage.

Natsume Chikage looked at the spectacle before him, a trace of helpless "as expected" flashing across his face.

He had long since grown accustomed to these "Mido family style" entrances, so he silently took the box, deciding not to make any more snide remarks.

Meanwhile, the moment Zhongdao Satoshi saw this scene, his face flushed red, then immediately turned pale.

He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing, his shoulders simply slumping powerlessly.

He did not feel surprised.

It was a fact that the equipment provided to Natsume Chikage during their last duel had quality issues.

Being distrusted now was only logical.

At this moment.

Just as Natsume Chikage and Shinohara Shingo were each doing their final warm-ups.

The news of their upcoming duel was like a giant boulder dropped into a lake, stirring up massive waves.

Students passing by the baseball field in the early morning witnessed the scene, and the news spread like wildfire throughout the campus.

Especially in the teachers' office, where the teachers were just now shocked to hear of this startling "loser drops out" wager.

"What?! Natsume Chikage and Shinohara Shingo? A dropout wager? Right now at the baseball field?"

Language teacher Jiu Jing Ziyuan, who was also Natsume Chikage's homeroom teacher, dropped her red pen onto the open composition book with a "clatter" the moment she heard the news.

Without a moment's hesitation, she stood up, pushed aside her chair, and rushed out of the office.

Home economics teacher Xiao Tian Youcai's expression also changed drastically, and she followed closely behind.

Driven by curiosity and worry, the other teachers in the office could not sit still either; they all stood up and surged toward the baseball field.

However, the most anxious among this group of teachers was not the homeroom teacher, Jiu Jing Ziyuan.

It was the baseball club's advisor—Yidong Yingzhi.

He had personally discovered and cultivated Shinohara Shingo, a rare "two-way" genius who excelled at both pitching and batting, serving as the core ace for the team's push toward Koshien.

As for Natsume Chikage, in his eyes, he was an unpolished gem, a gifted batting genius who had only failed to join the baseball club due to family circumstances.

He had recently been secretly planning ways to apply for a special scholarship for Natsume Chikage so that he could join the club without any worries.

He dreamed of building a dream team consisting of Shinohara Shingo, Zhongdao Satoshi, Aoki Masao, and Natsume Chikage.

He believed such a lineup would be enough to sweep the regional tournaments and even stir up a storm at the national Koshien stadium.

But now, what was he hearing?

The two students he valued most had actually made such an absurd wager in private, insisting on fighting until one of them had to drop out?

Yidong Yingzhi felt his vision go dark, his blood pressure soaring.

Immediately following that, boundless rage surged into his heart.

"Hu Nao! This is absolute nonsense!!"

He growled, rushing toward the baseball field at top speed, determined to stop this foolish farce immediately.

However, when he and the large group of teachers who had heard the news arrived at the perimeter of the baseball field.

Several tall men in black suits stood like a silent wall, blocking their path.

"Teachers, please stop here."

The leader of the men in black spoke with a polite tone, but his posture was unquestionable.

"By order of Miss Konoe, no one is permitted to interfere with the proceedings on the field in any form while the match is in progress."

The teachers were stunned, looking at each other in bewilderment.

They did not understand why Miss Konoe of the Mido family would stop them from mediating a student dispute.

But everyone knew that these men in black represented the will of the Mido family.

In Japan, especially at this academy which had deep ties to the Mido family, openly defying them was almost impossible.

Therefore, even though Yidong Yingzhi and the other teachers were burning with anxiety, they could only stand helplessly in place, looking toward the field from a distance.

And at this moment.

It was not just the teachers.

The news had also grown wings and flown into the teaching building.

Yue Dao Lin, Xiyuanji Qilai, Classmate Tengyuan Kui, and others had all learned of this explosive news through different channels.

They all simultaneously put down what they were doing, hurried out of their classrooms, and ran toward the baseball field.

In the hallway, Xiyuanji Qilai happened to run into Classmate Tengyuan Kui, who was also in a rush.

"Kui-chan! What on earth is going on?!"

Xiyuanji Qilai grabbed Classmate Tengyuan Kui's arm, her light brown eyes filled with panic.

"Why would Natsume-kun suddenly want to duel with Senior Shinohara? And a 'dropout' wager at that?!"

Classmate Tengyuan Kui was also full of anxiety and confusion, shaking her head vigorously.

"I don't know either! I just heard about it too!"

Yue Dao Lin's face turned exceptionally pale, and those eyes, usually so cold, were now churning with shock, anger, and deep self-reproach.

"No wonder yesterday... he was called to the student council alone..."

She muttered to herself, her fingers unconsciously gripping her skirt.

"So it was because of this..."

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, a complex emotion clogging her chest.

"You... idiot!!"

With her intelligence, she guessed the root of the matter instantly.

Shinohara Shingo had clearly targeted Natsume Chikage because of her!

Recalling how Shinohara Shingo had shown jealousy and anger when he saw Natsume Chikage walking with her after his confession was rejected downstairs...

This whole thing was caused entirely by her!

Natsume Chikage was completely innocent, dragged into this and forced to bear this unprovoked disaster.

It was her... who dragged him down.

Thinking of this.

Yue Dao Lin's exquisite face, which usually lacked expression, could not suppress a look of intense self-reproach.

She bit her lip tightly, almost drawing blood.

No, she had to stop it!

This absurd wager should never have existed in the first place!

Natsume Chikage had absolutely no reason to agree to such conditions!

What "dropout if you lose"... why on earth would he agree to that?!

But that big idiot... why on earth did he agree?!

However, when they hurried to the edge of the baseball field.

They were politely but firmly blocked by the men in black who were guarding the area.

"Apologies, young ladies."

The man in black's voice was calm and ripple-free. ===== CHAPTER 898 =====