Chapter 184: New Team

After the match, the news of Seido winning the championship spread across the country, and the title of Koshien champion pitcher brought even more attention and expectations to the name of Huangqian Yangyi.

Quite a few scouts from professional teams even began contacting Seido through official channels, attempting to get a step ahead in making contact with Huangqian Yangyi, yet Director Kataoka rejected them all.

Being only a First Year, professional matters were still too early for Huangqian Yangyi; premature contact with the adult world was not a good thing for him.

On the night they returned to school after the match, the entire Seido administration, without exception, led a group of students to welcome the players all the way from the school gate to the field.

After the grand victory banquet, every First String player was too excited to sleep, to the point that everyone slept until noon the next day before getting up.

"I still have the feeling that I'm dreaming even now."

Dong Qingguo got off his bed and sat on a chair, saying with a sigh.

"Well, Senior Dong, stop showing off and hurry up and go wash up; you didn't even shower last night," Huangqian Yangyi said, sitting at his spot while wiping and maintaining his beloved baseball bat.

"You brat don't know a damn thing." Seeing that no one was fawning over him here, Dong Qingguo walked out of the dormitory in a huff; he had to go somewhere else to show off some more.

Huangqian Yangyi smiled, turned to look at Chris, who was already seriously studying at his desk, and said, "Senior Chris, we have three days off, aren't you going home?"

Chris shook his head, "No, my home is nearby; I can go back whenever I want."

Huangqian Yangyi nodded; he had forgotten that Senior Chris's father was not short on money, and buying a house nearby was easy for him.

"When are you leaving, Yangyi?" Chris asked.

"At noon."

Huangqian Yangyi smiled. After Koshien ended, Director Kataoka gave everyone in the Baseball Club three days off, and Huangqian Yangyi had even cheekily asked Director Kataoka for two extra days of leave in private.

Regarding this, Director Kataoka did not offer any obstruction and very willingly approved the leave request for Huangqian Yangyi.

"Give my regards to your parents when you go back," Director Kataoka instructed him.

On the day the match ended, Director Kataoka had also had a brief exchange with Huangqian Yangyi's parents and family, mainly to thank them for sending Huangqian Yangyi to Seido.

Time reached noon, and Huangqian Yangyi carried his luggage out of Seido.

During the 5-day holiday, Huangqian Yangyi rested well at home, and on August 25th, he went with his sister Mamiko, who was also on summer break, to the venue of the Kansai Band Competition to watch his younger sister's performance.

The Kitauji High School Wind Instrument Department performed at a level not inferior to the strong schools, ultimately winning the Gold Prize and miraculously (squeezing out one of the traditional top three) becoming one of the three wind instrument departments to advance to the National Tournament.

After the holiday ended and he returned to Seido, Huangqian Yangyi began the same dull and tedious training as before.

Time reached September; among the First String members, the retired Third Year seniors had also not appeared on the field for many days.

Except for Dong Qingguo, that guy who had already received recruitment offers from professional teams didn't know what studying was at all; every day, whenever he had nothing to do, he would come to the field to throw his weight around in front of his juniors.

"Speaking of which, we still have to participate in the National Sports Festival next month, right?"

Several Third Year seniors sat on the grass outside the field, chatting while watching the training inside.

"Yeah, we Third Years will all participate," Nanjo Taishi said.

"That's nothing; what I'm worried about now is the Autumn Tournament next month. So many days have passed, and the First String roster still hasn't been formed," Zhitian Jiangtai said, looking worriedly at the juniors on the field.

"Well, the Director surely has his own plans, not to mention we still have that guy Huangqian," Shinoki Keita said, holding an iced cola in his hand with a comfortable, lecherous smile on his face.

The feeling of not having to train himself while being able to drink iced cola in front of his hardworking juniors was truly great!

"We don't have to worry about the pitcher position with Huangqian there; after the baptism of Koshien, this guy is becoming more and more terrifying," Nanjo Taishi said.

"As for the batting lineup, Kominato should still be the second batter, and Jiecheng might be the 4th batter."

"Oh? What about Huangqian? I think him being the 4th batter would also be good," Zhitian Jiangtai asked.

Huangqian Yangyi was absolutely qualified to bat 4th; his record of 6 home runs in Koshien ranked first.

"Being both the ace and the 4th batter is too tiring; I don't think the Director will add extra burden to him."

"Yeah, I think so too. But who will be the 1st and 3rd batters? Also, who do you think can make it into the First String, and who will be the starters?" Yoshikawa Junpei asked.

"The 1st batter should be Kusunoki Fumiya. Although the First Year Kuramochi is also good and fast, he is still too green; at least for this Autumn Tournament, he probably won't be a starter."

"As for the 3rd batter, let's go with Isashiki Jun."

The few were chatting, completely unaware that Dong Qingguo had arrived behind them at some point.

"What about the Captain! Who do you think is better to be the captain of the new team?" Dong Qingguo's voice rang out, giving them a start.

Seeing it was Dong Qingguo, the few looked at each other and said in unison: "Jiecheng!"

Hearing this, the corners of Dong Qingguo's mouth curled up: "When the Retirement Match comes, we'll beat the new First String led by Jiecheng and Huangqian together!"

The next evening, at the Indoor Training Ground, all the First and Second Year players gathered at the field.

After these days of observation, Director Kataoka also decided on the First String members to be promoted for the Autumn Tournament.

Regarding the upcoming Autumn Tournament next month, they no longer had time to wait until the practice matches were over to decide the First String roster; the team had to be formed as soon as possible, followed by constant training and polishing through practice matches.

And the remaining people in the First String were Yuki Tetsuya, Kominato Ryosuke, Isashiki Jun, Tanba Koichiro, Kusunoki Fumiya, and Masuko Toru; these were all Second Years.

Among the First Years, there were only Huangqian Yangyi, Miyuki Kazuya, and Kuramochi Yoichi.

Soon, Director Kataoka finished announcing the names of all the players promoted to the First String; as expected, the vast majority were Second Year seniors.

Among the First Years, pitcher Kawakami Norifumi and catcher Ono Hiroshi were also promoted to the First String due to their excellent performance in the Second String.

In the time that followed, Seido began its coordination training with the Autumn Tournament as the goal.

In mid-September, after finishing the Retirement Match against the Third Year seniors the day before, and just after the next day's training had ended, Huangqian Yangyi was called to the Director's office by Takashima Rei just as he came out of the cafeteria after eating.

"Boss, Rei-chan, do you have something for me?" Huangqian Yangyi asked.

Director Kataoka lifted his chin to signal Huangqian Yangyi to sit down.

"Take a look at this," Takashima Rei handed over a thick document.