Chapter 6: Big Shots Everywhere

After a night of silence, the next day was April 1, marking the start of the new school year.

From today onwards, Sawamura and his friends officially began their second year of high school.

On the morning of April 1, the Seidou High School baseball team had no training scheduled. On one hand, this was to help the players recover from fatigue, and on the other, it allowed everyone to prepare for the opening ceremony.

Sawamura and the others enjoyed a rare sleep-in, with most of the main lineup opting not to practice, except for a few players.

In contrast, the freshmen were all ambitious and woke up early.

"It really is as vast and tidy as they say," Takuma remarked as he strolled across the Seidou baseball field.

The baseball facilities at Seidou High School are almost on par with those of professional teams.

The only thing Seidou's baseball team lacks is a professional game field. While they do have three fields—Field A, Field B, and an indoor field—they don't have the spectator stands typical of a regular stadium.

It's not that the school is stingy; it's just that such things hold no significance for the players in training.

Two massive fields are surrounded by a dam in the center, with a strength training room, equipment training room, professional pitching practice bullpen, and professional hitting area nearby.

Seeing a field like this for the first time would surely leave anyone deeply impressed. In such an expansive area, even the coaching staff needs to use a loudspeaker to communicate; otherwise, the players training wouldn't hear them at all.

Having just checked into the dorms yesterday, they visited the stadium early the next morning.

Upon witnessing such a luxurious scene, Takuma was left in awe.

'No wonder it's the most popular team in the country, a top-tier powerhouse...'

What Seidou High School has accomplished in these areas is truly remarkable.

Beside Takuma stood Okumura, a handsome guy with blond hair who looked like he came out of a video game, who silently surveyed the field with a serious expression, his mind recalling what he'd seen in the dorm the day before.

"Hello!"

As the two explored the field, a voice suddenly called out from behind them.

"Hmm?"

Turning around, they spotted a familiar face.

Takuma's jaw dropped in surprise.

"Wait, you're Okumura from the Daikyou Senior Youth Club, right? Shouldn't you be joining Kurebayashi or Tsuruta instead of coming to Seidou?"

Okumura remained silent.

Takuma, however, was quick to respond.

"Let's talk about you instead! You were the captain of the national team, the prodigy Yui Kaoru! If any of us have a standing, yours should be the highest. There must be plenty of top teams raining invitations to you; why did you choose Seidou?"

"It's not quite like that!" Yui Kaoru smiled wryly.

He expected to receive invitations from many elite teams based on his experience, but the reality was different. Due to his stature, many good teams had outright rejected him.

Coming to Seidou was more than half a coincidence.

"Regardless, we'll be teammates on the same team!" Yui extended his hand.

Takuma eagerly shook it.

"Seems like there are very few of us who know about you this year!"

While they were chatting, two figures dashed over from the distance.

Both looked tall—one slightly more muscular and the other a bit thinner.

What is a bit funny is both were running like he was competing.

Yui Kaoru chuckled.

"When it comes to prestige, I really might not be the biggest."

Following Yui Kaoru's gaze, Takuma and Okumura were also taken aback.

No kidding, they were indeed acquaintances.

Though they didn't know the thinner one, they were very familiar with the stronger one.

"It's Yuuki from Akadou Junior High!"

The two junior baseball teams had faced off before.

Naturally, Daikyou Senior—Okumura and Takuma's team—lost.

They certainly remembered this opponent who had hit two home runs.

"Wow, there really are a lot of monsters here!" Takuma exclaimed in disbelief.

Speaking of monsters, one was actually in their dorm.

"I'm not talking about him!"

Earlier, both of them had been focused on Yuuki Masashi.

Yui Kaoru quietly explained.

His real attention was on someone else.

It was Nishiyama Kibo, Yui's teammate on the national team!

He truly didn't expect him to choose Seidou of all teams.

Yui Kaoru was the captain of Japan's national team in the Little League World Series!

As Yui is the catcher, Nishiyama is the pitcher.

His best result with the team was as runners-up in the world, and he was the Ace.

Not only that, he also was one of the cleaners.

Kousoku Nishiyama! (Lightspeed Nishiyama)

He had earned the nickname Nishiyama.

Such a player, even as a first-year student, would undoubtedly be an Ace at any high school!

Logically speaking, he had no need to attend Seidou High School to face the legendary Demon King.

After all, Seidou High School certainly had no shortage of good pitchers.

They had the Ace Sawamura Eijun and The Monster pitcher Furuya Satoru.

For at least the next year and a half, it would be tough for anyone to take their places.

This meant that Nishiyama could expect to be a substitute at most for the next year and a half.

Thus, upon hearing Nishiyama's decision, disbelief echoed in his mind.

'What a waste!'

Yui Kaoru firmly believed that waste was the greatest crime.

Yui was still a bit vexed at Nishiyama.

Gazing at Nishiyama as he approached, he said in an angry tone.

"In the end, you continued your stubborn streak and joined Seidou."

Nishiyama looked at Yui and smiled a bit and said.

"If you can come, why can't I?"

"Ha ha, regardless, we're companions now. Let's get along."

Takuma, unable to stand the awkwardness, took the initiative to break the ice.

But neither of them truly paid attention.

They continued staring at each other, with Yui being annoyed and Nishiyama being stubborn.

"More people are coming!"

To be fair, there were indeed quite a few diligent freshmen.

Just when the atmosphere turned awkward, two more figures sprinted over from a distance.

"Who are they?"

It took real courage to get up and train on the very first day of school while none of the seniors were awake.

They shouldn't be nameless players.

However, looking at the two running over, Takuma didn't recognize either of them.

This situation was more embarrassing.

"They are the main members of the former national champions, Akagi Middle School's baseball team, from the Softball League. They are also Kohais of Sawamura-senpai, Hirota, and Matsumoto."

Yui Kaoru, having met them beforehand, took the initiative to introduce them to those around him.

Upon hearing the introduction, several people revealed expressions of recognition.

Akagi Middle School Baseball Team!

Seeing everyone focus on them, Hirota and Matsumoto felt quite uneasy.

They were from a small area and couldn't compare to these renowned national players.

Mamiya, Daikyou, Akadou, Suzuhara and the national team.

These were the top training bases in the country. The players there might not be the best but were certainly top-tier.

Moreover, they had all made a name for themselves in their respective junior clubs. Even if not the captain, main catcher, or fourth batter, they were at least the core of their teams.

It wasn't hard to see their strength.

Although Matsumoto and Hirota had experience dominating the nation, during that time, Sawamura's brilliance was so dazzling that other players hardly got a chance to shine.

By the time they were in charge, they had failed to deliver results to prove themselves.

Thus, their momentum inevitably felt weaker.

Not to mention the gap between softball and hardball.

As they gathered together, Yuuki didn't enjoy such a lively atmosphere, so he continued running around the field without saying a word to anyone.

"Yuuki, don't just leave without saying hello! At least tell us which dormitory you're in!" Yui Kaoru asked actively.

"I live nearby, so I don't live in the dorms."

Yui, Takuma, Okumura, Hirota, Matsumoto, Nishiyama...

The response left everyone's faces sour.

Every one of them was a special recruit. They all lived far apart and couldn't be in the same place at all.

They envied those whose schools were right next to their homes; it was so convenient.

"Speaking of which, have you heard the rumor?"

"What rumor?"

"Apparently, there's a transfer student from South Korea who joined the team!"

Transfer student, South Korea.

Although they were not unheard of, and many of them joined the NPB from the draft.

But they are quite rare.

…

T/N: And the boys are gathering!