Chapter 122: After the Game

Having defeated Inashiro and advanced to the finals, Seido High School has effectively stepped one foot through the gates of Koshien.

Compared to Inashiro, at least looking at their strength on paper, this year's Ichidai Sanko is not all that terrifying.

The pitching of their ace, Zhenzhong Yao, also lacks the ability to completely suppress the Seido batting lineup.

That afternoon, the second semi-finals match between Ichidai Sanko and Nio Gakusha ended with a score of 6:3, and as expected, it was Ichidai Sanko that advanced to the finals.

After the game ended, the topic of the final match between Seido and Ichidai Sanko drew frantic attention from various media outlets and commentators; both schools received a massive number of interview requests that day, though, as expected, they were all rejected by Coach Kataoka.

The reason given was that the Seido High School Baseball Club would be conducting closed-door training over the next two days to adjust their condition for the upcoming finals.

Regarding Coach Kataoka's decision, everyone from the players to the school administration and the board of directors was in unanimous support; in the past, if the media wanted an interview, the principal and the board members would naturally have been very happy to oblige.

But now, with Seido having reached the finals and needing to prepare with all their might, if external matters were to affect the players' condition and cause problems in the game, no one could afford to take that responsibility.

Moreover, Seido's momentum is excellent this year, especially after winning against Inashiro; many people believe that the representative for the West Tokyo region this year will be Seido, and compared to entering Koshien, media interviews and the like are simply unimportant.

That evening, inside the Seido High School cafeteria.

Although the principal canceled the celebration party for reaching the finals at Coach Kataoka's urging, he still instructed the cafeteria to provide extra food that night.

Not only the Seido Baseball Club, but the cheerleading squad and the brass band were also invited to the gathering, as their support and cheering would be needed for the upcoming finals.

Some of Seido's veteran teachers also participated in the dinner that night; to them, the Seido High School Baseball Club was also a source of pride they could boast about to others after tea or a meal. They had witnessed the glorious days of the Seido Baseball Club, and being part of a powerhouse school always brought a sense of pride from the bottom of their hearts, but the fact that Seido hadn't been able to enter Koshien in recent years meant that whenever they mentioned being at a powerhouse school to outsiders, others would always say, "A powerhouse? How can a powerhouse never make it to Koshien?"

But now, times are different; the Seido High School Baseball Club has eliminated the current number one powerhouse in Tokyo, Inashiro Industrial, to reach the finals. In the eyes of the veteran teachers, this is already enough to hold their heads high, and if they can successfully defeat Ichidai Sanko to enter Koshien, then the backs they have had to hunch for years can finally straighten up.

"Coach Kataoka, you're amazing!"

"Yeah, so cool."

"I think we'll definitely make it to Koshien this time."

"Congratulations in advance."

A crowd of teachers surrounded Coach Kataoka; as a colleague, Coach Kataoka really couldn't chase them away like he would reporters, so he had to force a smile and deal with them.

On the students' side, the members of the First String gathered together to discuss the events on the field today.

"Hey, Huangqian Yangyi, that Hit by Pitch today—you are absolutely forbidden from doing that again in the future!" Miyuki said while eating his dessert. Just thinking about how Huangqian Yangyi didn't dodge at all when facing that dangerous Hit by Pitch from Matsumoto Takumi during the day made a surge of anger rise in his heart.

Huangqian Yangyi was eating steak and choked when he heard this; he turned his head and laughed awkwardly: "I thought I could get away with it, hehe."

"Did you hear me or not?" Miyuki said.

"I heard you, I heard you. Don't worry, I only did it because I was sure of myself."

"That's still not okay!"

"Exactly, Huangqian, you're our team's ace now. You can't do such dangerous things anymore. If you really get hurt, it won't just affect you!" Zhitian Jiangtai appeared behind Huangqian Yangyi, though it was unclear when he had arrived.

"Oh, Senior, how come you're also..."

"Huangqian, they're right. As the ace, keeping yourself away from danger at all times is also one of your responsibilities," Nanjo Taishi also spoke up.

"Heh, I think this kid doesn't take it seriously at all. Maybe he'll dare to do it again if he encounters a pitch like that," Dong Qingguo said loudly, turning back with a vegetable leaf still stuck to his teeth.

Huangqian Yangyi gave a helpless, bitter smile. Isn't this bastard senior Dong Qingguo trying to set him up? He hurriedly turned his head and said to Miyuki with a sincere face: "There will absolutely not be a next time!"

Miyuki nodded and said "mm," no longer dwelling on the matter.

After the gathering ended, the players left one by one. Just as Huangqian Yangyi was about to leave, he was called over by Takashima Rei—well, Coach Kataoka wanted to see him about something.

Arriving at the office, he was first admonished by the coach regarding the Hit by Pitch, and then Coach Kataoka asked: "Are you tired today?"

Huangqian Yangyi nodded and then shook his head: "It's alright. The physical toll wasn't that great, but I feel a bit exhausted mentally. It might be due to the atmosphere of the game."

He had only pitched a few innings, and the pitch count wasn't high; Huangqian Yangyi's pitching was all about efficiency.

Coach Kataoka nodded. In a duel between powerhouses, and in the semi-finals at that, for a First Year like Huangqian Yangyi to withstand the pressure and carry the game was enough to show just how strong his mental fortitude was.

Smiling with satisfaction, Coach Kataoka said: "Get some good rest these two days. Don't overdo the training; focus on maintaining your condition. You need to bring your best state to the next game."

"Yes."

"Go on, and call Tanba over on your way," Coach Kataoka said.

"Okay."

Huangqian Yangyi turned and walked out of the office. The coach wanting to see Senior Tanba at this time was worth thinking about; first and foremost, it was highly likely that the coach intended to send Senior Tanba out in the finals.

Compared to the preliminary rounds, the Koshien schedule could only be described as even more brutal. With 49 teams from all over Japan needing to determine a champion in just two short weeks, playing every two days was a common occurrence. In such highly intensive games, a team wanting to make it to the end could never rely on just one ace pitcher; most teams would even have four or five pitchers rotating.

Seido wasn't that extravagant, but if Seido wanted to go further in Koshien, Tanba's strength was absolutely necessary.

By then, there would be at least three pitchers in rotation, so that Huangqian Yangyi and Nanjo Taishi wouldn't have to persist while bearing the weight of fatigue.

Returning to the Seishin Dormitory, Huangqian Yangyi went to Tanba's room and knocked on the door.

"Huangqian?" It was Tanba who opened the door.

"Senior, the coach wants to see you," Huangqian Yangyi said.

Upon hearing that the coach wanted to see him, Tanba immediately became nervous. This introverted and shy person was most afraid of teachers or the coach calling him in for a private talk.

"Huangqian, do you know what it's about?" Tanba asked in a low voice. Since Huangqian Yangyi had come to find him, it meant this guy had just come from the coach's office; perhaps he knew something, so he might be able to prepare himself mentally.