Shigenori Nishio coaches the Meisei High School baseball team and sports facial hair. During the senior year of the Uesugi twins, a significant health issue forces Nishio into extended hospitalization, causing him to miss nearly the entire season. Before his absence, he appoints Eijiro Kashiwaba as interim coach, describing Kashiwaba as a kind, gentle man with a deep love for baseball. However, the players soon discover a stark contrast between this description and Kashiwaba's actual coaching style and personality, leading to team dissatisfaction. Nishio eventually recovers and resumes his coaching position after almost a full season under the interim coach's leadership.