Chapter 68: Persuasion, Kuramochi's Choice

"Right, your fundamentals are solid, and your personality is decent too, unlike that idiot Kuramochi, who is always swinging left and right when batting, not steady at all."

While praising Shirasu, Huangqian Yangyi did not forget to put down Kuramochi.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Kuramochi was immediately displeased.

"What do you know? Switch-hitting is the coolest!" Kuramochi said.

Huangqian Yangyi smiled noncommittally: "It is cool, but you have speed. If you could focus on practicing left-handed batting to increase your on-base percentage, I dare say you would absolutely have the chance to become the player with the highest on-base percentage of this generation."

"So what? Being cool is all that matters," Kuramochi said dismissively. Switch-hitting was so cool, how could he possibly give it up?

"If you are the leadoff hitter in a game and the team is in a crisis, desperately needing you to act as the detonator to get to First Base, can your switch-hitting do that?" Huangqian Yangyi continued.

It would have been one thing if it hadn't been mentioned, but since it had already been brought up, he had to make this clear today. If he could get Kuramochi to focus on practicing left-handed batting from now on, it would absolutely be a move that kills many birds with one stone.

Kuramochi set down his chopsticks and glared at Huangqian Yangyi: "Huangqian! What do you mean by that!?"

The shout attracted the attention of everyone in the cafeteria. Just as Miyuki and Kawakami, who were nearby, were about to step in to smooth things over, they heard Huangqian Yangyi laugh.

"It's clear your batting could be stronger, and it's clear there are better ways to utilize your speed..."

"If you lose the summer preliminary final, will you really not regret it?"

"I..." Kuramochi's face flushed red; imagining such a scene, he couldn't say a word.

Huangqian Yangyi followed up with a heavy dose of medicine.

"You would, wouldn't you? You would definitely blame yourself. I can tell, Kuramochi, you are a kind-hearted person with a strong sense of responsibility, a nice boy."

Upon hearing this, Kuramochi glared at Huangqian Yangyi; "nice boy" or whatever, it sounded so embarrassing.

"Also, Kuramochi, how are your grades?"

"What do my grades have to do with you?" Kuramochi said.

Huangqian Yangyi smiled: "As far as I know, your grades aren't very ideal. Getting into university should be, well, a little bit difficult."

"Are you annoying or what!"

"Look, think about it. If you focus on practicing left-handed batting and become the player with the highest on-base percentage of this generation, not only can you help the team at critical moments, but you can also increase your own value. Entering professional baseball in the future isn't just a dream, and even if you don't want to go pro, getting into a good university will definitely be no problem."

Huangqian Yangyi shoved a big promise right into Kuramochi's mouth.

"Those who bat well aren't as fast as you, and those who are fast don't have your left-handed batting advantage. Kuramochi, someone like you, if not one of a kind, is at least one in a thousand."

After these words were finished, Kuramochi stood stunned for a full half-minute.

"Re, really?"

"Of course, this is a gift bestowed upon you by the heavens. You're a genius!"

"Heh, when you put it that way, it really seems like it."

Although Kuramochi had a fiery temper and was stubborn, he was also simple-minded.

When you truly break down a problem clearly and toss it to him, he will make the most reasonable choice himself.

Almost there, it was time to deliver the final blow!

"And."

"And what?" Kuramochi pressed.

Huangqian Yangyi took a deep breath: "The Kuramochi Yoichi who practices left-handed batting, can help the team at critical moments, and becomes a savior, versus the Kuramochi Yoichi who switch-hits but can only feel dejected due to insufficient batting strength."

"Which one is cooler? Isn't that obvious?"

Boom!!!

A giant hammer struck Kuramochi in the heart.

A savior?

Is it for real?

Can I do it?

Never mind Kuramochi himself, even the three people watching the whole process from the side—Miyuki, Shirasu, and Kawakami—felt inexplicably fired up.

Buddy, have you ever worked in multi-level marketing?

Huangqian Yangyi gave the three of them a look that said everything was under control.

Opposite him, after struggling for a long time, Kuramochi Yoichi said: "My idol is Songjing Jiataoyang..."

(Songjing Jiataoyang, a Japanese professional baseball player, once played in the American Major Leagues, known for his agility and versatility, skilled at switch-hitting.)

A few minutes later, Kuramochi finished telling the story of how he came to love baseball, and how he came to love this professional player and imitate his switch-hitting.

Silently listening to the end, Huangqian Yangyi reached out and placed his hand on Kuramochi's shoulder.

"These things aren't important. What's important is that you aren't an imitator of anyone. You don't need to be a second version of anyone; you only need to unleash your own talent and be the first Kuramochi Yoichi!"

"One day in the future, when you become a professional player and have the chance to stand before him, you can pat your chest and tell him, 'Although you are my idol, I am no worse than you!'"

Another big, passionate promise. Huangqian Yangyi felt that after feeding him this, Kuramochi should be just about... convinced.

Sure enough, Kuramochi's eyes gradually became clear and firm.

"I know what I have to do!"

Whew~~

Huangqian Yangyi took a deep breath. Success; it was worth all the breath he had spent.

Having achieved his goal, Huangqian Yangyi turned his head and gave Miyuki a look, and the two picked up their trays and left silently.

On the way back to the dormitory, Miyuki looked at Huangqian Yangyi thoughtfully.

"Kazuya, if you have something to say, just be direct. You're creeping me out like this."

Miyuki stopped walking, his fingers rubbing his chin, looking like a famous detective.

"Hey, Yangyi, aren't you tired?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Huangqian Yangyi looked confused, not understanding what Miyuki was saying.

"First Kawakami, now Kuramochi. You don't even have enough time for your own training, yet you're able to understand their characteristics so well and give them advice. Have you been observing the other First Years this closely in private?" Miyuki asked.

"Sigh."

Huangqian Yangyi sighed; he knew that Miyuki had misunderstood.

"You're overthinking it. I don't have the time to observe anyone; it's just that I happen to be more familiar with Kawakami and Kuramochi," Huangqian Yangyi said.

"Is that so? As long as you feel there's no problem, then it's fine."

Huangqian Yangyi nodded: "I know, don't you worry about it."

Miyuki shrugged and said: "Let's go, want to take a bath?"

"Let's!"

In the blink of an eye, it was mid-June.

During this period, the Seido Baseball Club naturally wouldn't remain quiet; in less than 20 short days, Seido played 6 external practice games, 3 for the First String and 3 for the Second String.

In the First String's practice games, although Huangqian Yangyi only got one chance to take the mound, he played from the first inning until the end of the game, and he was quite satisfied with such treatment.

Pitching a full game for the first time, Huangqian Yangyi didn't feel much fatigue when it ended; instead, he was excited for the entire day. This feeling of having the outcome completely in his own hands fascinated him.

Contrary to Huangqian Yangyi, Miyuki played in every game; Director Kataoka likely wanted him to get into a rhythm with different Pitchers, as the burden on Miyuki's shoulders would be very heavy in the coming summer.