Chapter 15: Entering the First String!

After the notification, today's training came to an end. The upperclassmen surrounded Chris, chatting and asking about his injury.

Two days later, the Seido High School Baseball Team's first game of the year officially kicked off.

As a seeded team, Seido joined the competition starting from the third round.

Although Chris's absence caused Seido's strength to decline somewhat, they still won the game easily.

After the first game, that same evening, Huangqian Yangyi and Miyuki Kazuya, who were learning defensive tactics with Chris, were called to the manager's office.

"Manager."

"Boss."

The two entered, greeted him politely, and stood in front of the desk.

Inside the room, the three Seido giants looked at the two and nodded in unison, then they heard Manager Kataoka speak.

"Huangqian, Miyuki, starting tomorrow, you will join the First String for training."

"Eh? First String?" Miyuki blurted out.

"What, you don't want to?" Kataoka's stern gaze swept over, and Miyuki shivered instantly.

"Boss, can't we wait until after the Welcome Tournament?" Huangqian Yangyi asked.

The current Seido First String roster, including the injured Chris, had a total of 18 people.

The Spring Metropolitan Tournament had a 20-man roster, which meant there were two spots left to enter the First String.

Regarding these two vacant spots, according to Seido's long-standing tradition, they were basically reserved for freshmen to give talented newcomers a chance to play and gain experience.

Even so, the second and third-year upperclassmen were still eyeing them covetously; everyone felt the same desire to play in games.

Yet now, at this time, while the Spring Metropolitan Tournament was underway, promoting Huangqian Yangyi and Miyuki Kazuya directly to the First String would likely be hard for the upperclassmen to accept.

"I can't wait until after the Welcome Tournament. Although the opponent in the next round isn't strong, it will only get harder as we go. Huangqian, I hope you can get on the field to accumulate experience and feel the atmosphere before we encounter strong enemies. Do you understand what I mean?"

Kataoka Tesshin looked over with a serious expression from behind his sunglasses.

"Understood!" Huangqian Yangyi shouted.

The opportunity had come, and naturally, one had to seize it.

He hadn't expected to have a chance to play during this Spring Metropolitan Tournament. Perhaps Chris's injury played a part, but it was more a reflection of his own strength.

Next, Kataoka Tesshin looked at Miyuki, "Before this summer's Summer Tournament, I hope you can take over Chris's position. How about it, do you have the confidence?"

"I can do it!" Miyuki said.

"Good, I will announce this tomorrow. Even after entering the First String, you cannot be the least bit lax. Harder and stricter training awaits you!"

"Yes!"

After leaving the office, Huangqian Yangyi keenly noticed that Miyuki's mood was a bit off.

"What's wrong?" Huangqian Yangyi asked.

Miyuki was silent for a long while, then said in a low voice: "I came to Seido to defeat Chris, but I cannot accept this way of doing things!"

Hearing this, Huangqian Yangyi sighed. Miyuki Kazuya, the true beneficiary of Chris's injury.

"Don't overthink it; there's no other way. If you want to prove you're stronger, then lead Seido to Koshien."

"With me!"

The serious tone made Miyuki pause, then he laughed out loud, "Let's go, come help me with batting practice."

The next afternoon, before training began.

"Huangqian Yangyi, Miyuki Kazuya, starting today, you two will join the First String training."

As soon as the words fell, there was an uproar in the orderly ranks. First String? Two first years?

The second and third-year upperclassmen, especially those in the Second String bitterly waiting for an opportunity, clenched their fists. They were unwilling, so unwilling.

"Didn't you hear me?!"

"Yes!"

"For this Spring Metropolitan Tournament, I need you to be a boost to the team, but if you don't perform well, be prepared to be taken off the field!"

"Understood!"

"Training begins. First String, adjust your condition on the A-side Field, don't overtrain. Everyone else, B-side Field," Manager Kataoka shouted loudly.

On the way to the A-side Field, Isashiki Jun sidled up to the two, draped an arm over each of their shoulders, and said: "You two brats, how long have you been in the club and you're already in the First String."

"Isashiki-senpai, are you jealous?" Miyuki chuckled.

"Ha? Me, jealous? Why would I be jealous? I'm in the First String too."

"And a starter."

Isashiki started shouting and yelling.

"Impressive, impressive," Huangqian Yangyi said.

In the previous starting lineup, there were only three second-years: Chris, Yuki Tetsuya, and Isashiki.

"Hmph." Isashiki huffed and strode away.

At this moment, Yuki Tetsuya and Kominato Ryosuke walked over.

"Congratulations, Yangyi, Kazuya," Yuki Tetsuya said.

"Thank you, senpai."

Yuki Tetsuya nodded, then said: "Do you know how to play shogi?"

"Yuki, now is not the time to be talking about that."

Kominato Ryosuke smiled, his eyes landing on Huangqian Yangyi, "During batting practice later, you'd better pitch with all your might."

Hearing this voice, Huangqian Yangyi only felt a chill down his back. There was something demonic about it!

"I won't let you hit it, senpai."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Soon, the First String's Batting Practice began, with a total of 4 pitchers, including Huangqian Yangyi, taking turns to pitch.

Each Batter must leave the field after three pitches, and the pitcher is rotated after 5 Batters.

In the Batter's Box, it was always the liveliest whenever it was Dong Qingguo's and Isashiki's turn, as the two loudmouths would let out roars on the field from time to time.

"Tanba!"

"Tanba~!"

Watching Tanba, who had been scolded by senior Dong until he looked dejected, Huangqian Yangyi couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for him.

After Dong Qingguo finished his three pitches, it was the fifth Batter's turn, and Huangqian Yangyi stepped into the Batter's Box.

Holding the bat, he swung it lightly twice; since joining Seido, apart from the initial batting test, the First Years hadn't had any chance to hit balls in subsequent training, only doing swing practice.

Facing the second-year senior Tanba, Huangqian Yangyi also wanted to know to what extent his own batting could reach.

Carrying his bat with high spirits, Huangqian Yangyi immediately entered a state of machine-like focus; based on his observations just now, senior Tanba's main pitches were the Four-seam Fastball and the Curveball.

Among them, that diagonally breaking Curveball was Tanba's lifeline and also his winning pitch.

Dealing with a First Year like himself, Huangqian Yangyi felt it was unlikely that Tanba would throw a Curveball right away; after all, a Breaking Ball needs to be paired with a Fastball to effectively disrupt a Batter.

First pitch, if it comes, I'll hit it!

Having made his judgment, Huangqian Yangyi's eyes were bright, and he stared at Tanba with great interest.

Looking at this junior across from him, Tanba's inner thoughts suddenly became complicated.

Their year was known as Seido's lean year, and from the day they entered the school, they had spent their time under the disappointed gazes of outsiders; during the first year's Summer Tournament, among their year, except for Chris, not a single person had received a chance to play, and even Yuki Tetsuya, who now appeared strong, only got his chance after the seniors retired following the end of last summer.

And now, a junior who had only joined the club for a few days had so easily entered the First String and was even standing across from him.

He didn't want to lose to him, and he couldn't lose to him!