In this chapter, we are introduced to a number of characters who have been introduced in previous chapters. The first of these characters is the head coach of the Sendai High School team that lost to Uomori High School in the first round of the autumn tournament. The coach, who is also the captain of the team, is very upset at the loss of his team. He blames himself for the team's defeat, saying that he put the team on the field because he was the one to put the player on the mound. He also blames the other players for the loss, saying they did not put their trust in one another. He hopes that the loss will spur the team onward to greater heights. In the meantime, the coach is back at the school, where he greets the returning students. He tells them that he has just returned from the tournament, and that he hopes they will be able to watch the game immediately. He asks them if they saw the game in person, and they tell him that they did, but that they felt that the team was not as strong as they thought they were. They also say that it is not fair for their team to lose before they have a chance to prepare for the upcoming season.