The noisy bickering between the two gave Zhou Hao a headache.
"Let's talk about it again during training camp…"
Although Zhou Hao said this vaguely, in his heart, he had already made a decision.
If he were to choose a dorm room, it would definitely be Dorm 5.
Not just because he got along better with Kuramochi, but also because that dorm was full of legends.
After training ended, Zhou Hao went ho to shower and rest.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, Zhou Hao got up and went for a run with the first-string players.
The senior second- and third-year students naturally cast their eyes toward Zhou Hao.
"So this is the little guy who just got promoted? Zhou Hao, right?"
"Good luck!"
"I've got high hopes for you."
Zhou Hao's first impression of these upperclassn was very good.
Everyone seed to have high expectations for his future performance on the field.
Zhou Hao responded politely to all of them.
But as they kept running, the third-year seniors around him suddenly picked up the pace.
"Warm-up's over. Now it's ti for sprint mode."
The first to charge ahead was a burly senior. His muscles were so developed they seed ready to burst from his body.
"Higashi, you're being reckless again."
"We've been warned so many tis about morning training already."
Though they said that, none of them slowed down. Like a pack of sprinters, they all started charging forward.
Zhou Hao knew very well that his stamina was worlds apart from these seniors.
He wasn't foolish enough to try and keep up with them.
Or so he thought—yet when everyone around him started sprinting, he instinctively began to speed up as well.
By the ti Zhou Hao realized it, he was already gasping for breath.
"Are these guys monsters or what?"
Even after increasing his speed, the first-string seniors still lapped him completely.
And not just by the top runner—even the last runner among the first-stringers lapped Zhou Hao once.
Panting heavily, Zhou Hao finished his final lap.
Once the run ended, he collapsed flat on the ground in exhaustion.
"Little Zhou Hao, your physical strength is way too lacking. You really need to train hard, hahahaha…"
Senior Higashi Seikoku plopped down next to Zhou Hao with a hearty laugh.
"He's just joined the first string, so he's not used to it yet. Even in the second string, he was only recently promoted,"
Another senior, who looked quite foreign, smiled and explained.
It was obvious this senior had so understanding of Zhou Hao's situation.
His na was Chris.
"The coach is coming. Why are you still on the ground?"
Team captain Yoshida barked sharply.
Higashi raised his hand, putting on a begging pose. "Got it, Captain!"
Zhou Hao also staggered to his feet from the field.
Even when running the sa distance, running at different speeds created completely different levels of fatigue.
Zhou Hao had trained before, but never felt this exhausted.
But even so, he stubbornly stood up.
Many of the second- and third-year seniors were silently watching Zhou Hao. When they saw him get up despite his exhaustion, their expressions softened slightly.
Why did Coach Kataoka promote Zhou Hao to the first string?
They all understood the reason.
From the team's perspective, they supported the coach's decision.
But just because they acknowledged and supported it didn't an they accepted it in their hearts.
Every single player on Seidou High's first-string baseball team was chosen after a grueling selection process.
They had endured hardship and shed sweat and blood to earn their promotion.
Saying their path was full of thorns wouldn't be an exaggeration.
When Miyuki Kazuya was promoted, no one objected.
Even though he was also a first-year rookie, he had clearly undergone rigorous training and could keep up with the first-string's intensity.
With Miyuki's talent and work ethic, no one could deny him a spot.
But Zhou Hao was different.
By Seidou's usual standards, Zhou Hao clearly wasn't qualified for the first string.
Everyone knew it.
They, who had worked so hard to get to the first string, now had to accept a new recruit who was only here because of his raw talent.
How could they not feel bitter?
Even if they accepted him on the surface, they couldn't truly approve of him inside.
But seeing that Zhou Hao, despite being weak, was still willing to work hard and improve—
They were relieved.
That kind of perseverance aligned perfectly with the values of Seidou High's baseball team.
When the seniors realized that Zhou Hao shared that sa spirit, their initial resistance faded considerably.
"This is Zhou Hao. He'll be training with the first string from now on."
Though everyone already knew, Coach Kataoka still formally introduced him.
"There's not much ti left before the Sumr Tournant. Zhou Hao, here's your training schedule."
Miyuki and Kuramochi, who had been thinking about getting Zhou Hao into their dorm room, looked disappointed.
It seed that wouldn't be happening after all.
The team was about to enter Hell Week, and every hour of training was scheduled.
Yet even in this situation, Zhou Hao had a training plan just for him?
That ant—he didn't need to participate in Hell Week at all!
"Coach?"
Even Zhou Hao was confused.
He couldn't understand why Kataoka was doing this.
Wouldn't this make it harder for him to integrate into the team?
If a pitcher can't blend in with the team…
How could he ever play in a ga?
"Your stamina is too poor. You simply can't handle the training load."
According to Seidou's tradition, every player who wanted to participate in the Sumr Tournant had to go through Hell Week.
This kind of high-intensity training helped build muscle mory.
But Zhou Hao clearly wasn't in shape for it.
If he were to join such intense sessions, not only would his stamina fail, but he might even get injured.
No matter how traditional Kataoka was, since he planned to use Zhou Hao in the Sumr Tournant, he couldn't risk injuring him in training.
"Your training focus will be: reaction on the mound, fastballs, and stamina…"
In less than a month, there was no way Zhou Hao could catch up to the first-string's full intensity.
But improving his stamina—that, Kataoka believed, was achievable.
Still, considering Zhou Hao's physical condition, it would need to be gradual and asured.
"Yes, sir."
After hearing Kataoka's explanation, Zhou Hao could only accept it—reluctantly.
What else could he do, with a body this frail and delicate?
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