The thick night had not yet receded.
A large group had already gathered on the Seido High School Baseball Team's training ground.
The new students who had reported to the dormitory the night before lined up in two rows under the direction of the assistant coach. They waited nervously for the figures they had only ever seen on television.
After a short while, a group of people walked to the other side of the field, moving with powerful, asured strides.
At the forefront was Kataoka Tesshin, Director of the Seido High School Baseball Team, known throughout Tokyo for his strictness.
Beside him were Manager Ota, Vice-principal Takashima Rei, and the middle-aged man with the small beard.
Behind these four were the second and third-year mbers of the Seido High School Baseball Team.
From the new students' perspective, every one of these individuals looked formidable. They didn't even need to get close to feel the pressure rolling off the upperclassn.
Too powerful.
The people on the opposite side were the Seido High School Baseball Team. As a newcor, it was inevitable to feel nervous facing a formation like that.
Zhang Han and his teammates found it quietly surreal.
Just one year ago, they had stood on the other side, being scrutinized by Director Kataoka and their upperclassn. Now they stood behind Director Kataoka, joining in the scrutiny of the players who had just joined the baseball team.
This was how the tables turned.
It was also at this mont that the teammates truly felt how much their own identities had changed. Especially for the players who had just entered their second year, the shift in feeling was the greatest.
From this mont on, they were no longer the youngest on the team. They were upperclassn now, sitting sowhere in the middle.
The Seido High School Baseball Team had completely entered a new era. These second-year players were bound to face new challenges.
"I am Director Kataoka of the baseball team. These two are our Manager Ota and Vice-principal Takashima Rei."
Director Kataoka introduced himself, then introduced Ota and Takashima Rei. But for the middle-aged man with the small beard standing beside him, Kataoka said nothing at all.
Not only were the new students surprised; even veterans like Zhang Han didn't understand what this ant.
The previous night, in Director Kataoka's office:
"It's best to keep my identity hidden from the players for now, so I can observe them properly without interference. If they knew who I was, they would try to perform for , and I wouldn't see anything genuine."
Ochiai had suggested this to Director Kataoka.
It was sowhat unexpected, but Kataoka nodded in agreent.
That was why today's scene played out as it did. Director Kataoka did not introduce the new coach to the team.
"Now, begin your self-introductions. Na, graduating school, preferred position."
Director Kataoka said.
This caught many newcors off guard. Shouldn't a self-introduction also include their achievents from middle school?
In the corner of the group, a boy with a bowl cut muttered quietly.
"Is this their way of telling us that everything we achieved in middle school counts for nothing here?"
This was the top national powerhouse, the Seido High School Baseball Team, which had reached the Sumr Koshien quarterfinals the previous year and was known as the National First Batting Line.
Their manner was indeed sothing else.
"I am from..., and my preferred position is..."
Starting from the first player in the first row, the new students introduced themselves one by one.
The Seido veterans could piece together a rough sense of each newcor's level from the junior baseball teams and schools they ntioned, along with the positions they listed. It wasn't always accurate, but it was a useful reference.
Players who had co from competitive junior baseball programs and held key positions there generally weren't lacking in ability. The player's bearing mattered too. Soone who stated their position with particular confidence usually had sothing to back it up.
Seido had reached the Sumr Koshien quarterfinals the previous year, losing only to Osaka Kiryuu, who went on to win the championship. Compared to previous years, the current team had changed significantly, and the reputation had stuck.
Among the newly reported students, alongside Zhang Han's two junior elentary schoolmates, there were several players from strong junior baseball backgrounds, including core players from competitive junior programs.
Toujou Hideaki, Kanemaru Shinji, Takatsu Hiroomi, Jinguuji.
These few stood out imdiately.
"Huge harvest this year."
Kuramochi said, yawning.
Compared to their own intake year, Seido had drawn considerably more promising newcors this ti around.
Zhang Han turned to look at him. Dark circles, clearly hadn't slept well.
"Why are you so sleepy?"
Today was their first day with all the new students, and the Director valued it greatly. If anyone perford poorly now, Kataoka would not be lenient. Under those circumstances, why would Kuramochi have stayed up so late? Was he out of his mind?
"It's that guy who ca yesterday. He played gas until past two in the morning."
Kuramochi gritted his teeth.
He had never seen anyone so careless. Didn't that guy know what day it was?
"The newcor in your dorm sounds like a character. Who is it?"
Zhang Han was genuinely curious. Soone who could leave both Kuramochi and Masuko this exhausted was worth knowing about.
"That guy hasn't woken up yet."
There was a hint of satisfaction in Kuramochi's voice.
Play gas that late. Reap what you sow.
"You didn't wake him up?"
Zhang Han asked, disbelieving.
Kuramochi was usually loyal to a fault. Sharp-tongued, sure, but he generally looked out for his own. How could he be this ruthless to a junior elentary schoolmate sharing his room?
"He overslept on his own. Nothing to do with ."
Kuramochi looked entirely unbothered.
Zhang Han's curiosity deepened. What kind of newcor could make Kuramochi hold a grudge like this?
"Soone's late and sneaking in!"
Just as Toujou was about to introduce himself, a voice rang out.
New students and veterans alike turned toward it.
Then they saw the frozen, petrified figure of Sawamura Eijun.
Zhang Han didn't know what to say. He turned to Kuramochi.
"The newcor in your dorm isn't him, is it?"
Kuramochi nodded, looking delighted.
Even he hadn't expected the kid to be this bold.
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