Chapter 74: Ace!

As the words fell, everyone swallowed a mouthful of saliva at the same time.

"First is jersey number 1, Huangqian Yangyi!"

Boom!

Everyone's gaze turned in unison toward Huangqian Yangyi, who was standing in the front row. Huangqian Yangyi turned his head to look at Nanjo Taishi, only to see the corners of Nanjo Taishi's mouth curling up, watching him with a smile.

"Do your best."

Huangqian Yangyi's heart jolted; although there was no sound, he still understood the shape of Nanjo Taishi's lips.

Composing his emotions, under the gaze of everyone, Huangqian Yangyi stepped out of the ranks and walked step by step to the front of Coach Kataoka.

"Huangqian, your strength is enough to support this jersey number. Do not have the slightest hesitation; use your pitching to open up a new path for the team!"

Coach Kataoka took the jersey number from the hands of Takashima Rei and handed it to Huangqian Yangyi.

"Yes, Boss!"

Huangqian Yangyi took the jersey number, and a large number '1' came into view.

Is this the jersey number of the ace? It feels a bit heavy.

Returning to the ranks, Huangqian Yangyi was still staring at the jersey number in his hands in a daze. When he had first joined Seido, he had thought the ace jersey number was just rather handsome? Or perhaps it just sounded cool?

In any case, he didn't have much of a real sense of it, but after spending nearly three months together, Huangqian Yangyi knew deeply what this jersey number signified.

At this moment, Coach Kataoka had already begun distributing the remaining jersey numbers.

"Number 2, Tanaka Wataru!"

"Number 3, Yuki Tetsuya."

"Number 4, Kominato Ryosuke."

"Number 5, Dong Qingguo."

"Number 6, Zhitian Jiangtai."

"Number 7, Yoshikawa Junpei."

"Number 8, Isashiki Jun."

"Number 9, Shinoki Keita."

"Number 10, Nanjo Taishi."

Having failed to keep the ace jersey number, there was no look of disappointment on Nanjo Taishi's face as he walked steadily to the front of the coach to receive the number 10 jersey.

"Nanjo, use your strength and experience to become the reliance for your juniors."

"Yes, Coach." Nanjo Taishi understood that while the current Huangqian Yangyi might be strong enough, due to a lack of experience or perhaps stamina issues, when he encountered difficulties on the field, the coach would need him to step onto the Pitcher's Mound at critical moments, allowing his junior to adjust his state in the outfield and recover his stamina, or for him to go up and finish the game after Huangqian Yangyi left the mound.

Perhaps this was somewhat cruel, but as long as it could help the team, Nanjo Taishi had no complaints in his heart.

"Number 11, Tanba Koichiro."

"Number 12, Miyuki Kazuya."

"Number 20, Kuramochi Yoichi."

Kuramochi Yoichi walked up excitedly. Just as he was about to take the jersey number, Coach Kataoka continued, "Be serious during your make-up exams."

The hand Kuramochi used to take the jersey number stiffened in mid-air.

"Yes!"

"Haha, Kuramochi, I heard you failed 3 subjects," Miyuki laughed loudly.

"Well, that's how a barbarian is."

"A guy with well-developed limbs, after all."

"You can't play in the games if you don't pass your make-up exams."

Kicking him while he was down, the teammates who took the opportunity to mock him hit Kuramochi with one sentence after another.

Seeing Kuramochi return to the ranks, Coach Kataoka turned his head and said, "Chris, you will serve as the Recorder."

"Yes." Chris smiled. Being able to contribute to the team in this way made him feel very satisfied as well. As long as he waited for his injury to heal, sooner or later, he would once again put on the Seido uniform and stand on the competition field.

At this time, Coach Kataoka took several new uniforms from the hands of Takashima Rei and turned to look at the several Managers of the Baseball Club standing to the side and behind him.

"Next, are the Managers."

"During this time, you have done too many things for the team; you have worked hard."

After speaking, Coach Kataoka picked up a jersey and unfolded it: "This summer, wear these clothes and cheer for all the players as members of the team."

Once he finished speaking, the third-year Jiantian Youxiang and the second-year Fujiwara Takako could not control their emotions on the spot and burst into tears.

Team Manager—it sounds like it might be very impressive, but in reality, there is no salary and no glory.

Every day after school, they almost have no time of their own. Their daily routine must be consistent with the team's, and the Seido Baseball Team almost has no holidays; as managers of the team, they are naturally the same.

Doing dull and arduous work without pay, they don't even get to share in the glory when the team achieves it. Every day, they are exhausted, relying entirely on their burning passion and love for baseball, as well as the feeling of sharing in the honor.

Their precious three years of youth were dedicated to the Seido Baseball Club.

It is precisely for these reasons that the status of the managers in the hearts of the players is quite high. Anyone who dares to bully them will surely be surrounded and intercepted by nearly a hundred people from the Baseball Club; even speaking loudly to them is not allowed.

"Thank you, Coach."

After receiving their own uniforms from Coach Kataoka, the several Managers held them tightly in their arms.

"Hey, Senior, do you want to trade uniforms?"

Huangqian Yangyi suddenly asked.

"Eh?"

The several Managers looked over at the same time.

"Huangqian, I..."

"I want to!"

Jiantian Youxiang had wanted to say that there were 4 of them, but Fujiwara Takako, whose tears hadn't even been wiped dry yet, spoke up without hesitation.

"Senior Mita, I'll trade with you!" Kuramochi Yoichi shouted.

"I'll trade!"

"Trade with me!"

Huangqian Yangyi started it, and the stadium suddenly became as noisy as a vegetable market.

In the crowd, Nanjo Taishi watched the boy who was exchanging jerseys with Fujiwara Takako, a smile on his face as his lips moved slightly.

You must shoulder the future of Seido, Huangqian.

In the blink of an eye, the time arrived in July.

Jingu Stadium, the opening ceremony of the East and West Tokyo Tournament.

Under the scorching sun, more than five thousand people from 260 schools in the East and West districts gathered here.

In the less than three weeks to follow, only two schools would remain among them, representing East Tokyo and West Tokyo respectively to compete in Koshien.

"What a devilish schedule."

Thinking about the average of one game every two days, Huangqian Yangyi wished he could activate an infinite stamina cheat for himself.

"Well, stop complaining; it's already good enough that we start from the third round." Miyuki stood behind and poked Huangqian Yangyi with his finger.

"Can't I even talk about an unreasonable schedule?" Huangqian Yangyi said.

In Japanese high school baseball, games are played one after another every year, and many promising players are ruined within these short two and a half years.

The situation for a Pitcher is especially severe; in many schools, their managers even treat a Pitcher as a consumable, thinking that since the members will only stay on the team for two and a half years, they just need to squeeze out their value as much as possible.

As for the future of the players, what is that? Does it have anything to do with them?

"Yes, yes, you're right, but what can we do? We have no choice but to cooperate honestly," Miyuki said helplessly.

"Just complaining a bit; it's also because this hellish weather makes one feel irritable."

"What temperature is this? The temperature is even higher during Koshien," Miyuki said.

The two chatted in the team line, but the opening ceremony took quite a long time to end.