Chapter 8: Partners

"Let's go, Huangqian Yangyi, I'll take you to your dormitory." Miyuki Kazuya had a smile on his face, and even eagerly stepped up to help Huangqian Yangyi with his luggage.

If someone offers favors for no reason, they are either a traitor or a thief.

Deeply understanding this principle, Huangqian Yangyi naturally would not let Miyuki succeed.

After getting the key from the administrator and arriving at the dormitory door, Huangqian Yangyi smiled knowingly as he looked at the three names on the doorplate.

Dong Qingguo, Takigawa Chris Yu, Seido's third-year monster Fourth Batter and second-year genius Catcher, plus himself, a First Year Pitcher—it was a perfect lineup.

"I'm really envious of your room." Miyuki Kazuya's tone was sour, like a widow.

"Heh, you can go back now." Huangqian Yangyi said as he opened the door; it was clean, bright, and tidy—that was his first impression.

It must have been cleaned by Senior Chris; Senior Dong didn't look like the type who loved cleanliness.

"Don't be like that, come on, let me help you tidy up." Miyuki Kazuya followed him inside, thick-skinned.

"No need, you just stand there."

"Alright."

How strange!

Huangqian Yangyi couldn't figure out what Miyuki Kazuya was trying to do, so holding onto the mindset that less interaction meant no losses, he finished packing all his things before asking.

"Miyuki-san, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Miyuki Kazuya pulled over a stool and sat down, smiling with a sincere expression: "Don't be so formal, I'll call you Yangyi, and you call me Kazuya."

"You really are quick to get familiar, but I don't dislike that, Kazuya."

Huangqian Yangyi actually quite liked this; aren't names just meant to be called? Being all coy and hesitant as if they were something precious was ridiculous.

The two looked at each other and smiled; after a brief time together, both were quite satisfied.

"Let's go." Huangqian Yangyi suddenly stood up and said.

"Eh? Go where?"

"Isn't that what you want? To see me pitch, Catcher-san."

Huangqian Yangyi had figured it out by now; this guy must have heard about him from Takashima Rei and had been dying of curiosity.

"Haha, we really are a good match." Miyuki Kazuya laughed heartily, satisfied.

After the two changed into sportswear, they went to the training field. Because school had just started, no one was training on the field; even the two seniors from Huangqian Yangyi's dorm hadn't returned to school yet.

"Are you sure you aren't wearing protective gear?" Huangqian Yangyi looked at Miyuki, who only had a glove; wasn't this guy afraid of being hit by the ball?

Miyuki Kazuya turned his head to look over, his eyes suddenly becoming extremely serious, "Rei-san said your ball control is excellent, I believe in you!"

"Phew~ you say it like that, and it puts so much pressure on me. If I injure a genius catcher like you, the sin would be huge." Huangqian Yangyi said.

"Heh, if there's no pressure, how can your level be shown? I've heard about someone's ace declaration."

Miyuki was full of mischievous smiles. Back then, Huangqian Yangyi's declaration had spread widely throughout Seido; not just the Baseball Club, but almost everyone who paid attention to the Seido Baseball Club knew about this chuunibyou statement.

"Just catch the ball with the resolve that you might get injured by me, you bastard!"

For some reason, Miyuki's mischievous smile made Huangqian Yangyi feel a trace of shame regarding the declaration he had previously thought was cool.

What a hateful man!

He walked up to the Pitcher's Mound in a huff, and when he turned back, Miyuki was already squatting at the Home Plate position.

"Only three pitches!" Huangqian Yangyi said; they hadn't warmed up, and it wouldn't be worth it if they injured their bodies.

"That's enough!" Miyuki also became serious.

The two looked at each other, not noticing at all that there were two people standing outside the field.

"Director, aren't you going to stop them?" Takashima Rei asked.

How long had she been gone? These two kids were already doing something like this, trespassing on the field, and most importantly, not even warming up!

What if they got injured?

Compared to Takashima Rei, the decisive Kataoka Tesshin had already strode over, shouting just as Huangqian Yangyi was about to throw the first pitch.

"What are you two doing!!"

Clatter~

The ball dropped to the ground, and the two stood there stunned. After stiffly turning their heads, they were met with the terrifying, square face of Kataoka Tesshin.

"Director!"

"Boss!"

The two stood at attention and shouted, standing obediently in place.

Boss?

Miyuki Kazuya wanted to laugh, but didn't dare to; he held it in until his face turned purple.

"Why didn't you warm up? Is your baseball just that casual?" Kataoka Tesshin questioned them very sternly.

"Sorry." ×2

"Go, come back after you've warmed up properly." Kataoka Tesshin said.

Hearing this, the two looked at each other; they hadn't expected Kataoka Tesshin to be so reasonable.

"After you finish pitching later, each of you go run 5 kilometers for me!"

Reasonable my foot!

Ten minutes later, the two returned after barely finishing their warm-up. Under Kataoka Tesshin's scrutiny, Miyuki obediently put on his gear.

"Huangqian, pitch with all your might!" Kataoka Tesshin said; he also wanted to take this opportunity to learn more about Huangqian Yangyi's strength.

Besides, there was no one else on the field right now except for them, so there was no need to worry about information leaking.

"Yes!"

Walking onto the Pitcher's Mound, Huangqian Yangyi noticed the glimmer of excitement in Miyuki Kazuya's eyes; he must also be eager to catch a ball thrown at full strength.

After locking eyes, Huangqian Yangyi shouted: "First pitch, four-seam fastball."

Lifting his left leg high, Huangqian Yangyi stared at the glove opposite him, gathering all his strength into his fingertips to release it.

Such a fluid motion!

This was Miyuki's first impression; then, the little white ball had already drilled into his glove, without the slightest deviation.

"Ha... hahaha."

Miyuki suddenly lowered his head and laughed, his whole body shaking non-stop; it was truly a delightful pitch.

Whether it was the ball speed, the weight of the pitch, or the control, everything was just right.

This feeling is just too blissful.

"Nice ball!"

Receiving Miyuki's powerful return throw, Huangqian Yangyi also felt his excitement.

"Boss, what's the speed?" Huangqian Yangyi turned his head to ask; this winter, both his height and weight had increased, so his ball speed would naturally have improved as well.

Kataoka Tesshin put down the radar gun in his hand, "151."

"It only went up by two kilometers?"

Seeing that Huangqian Yangyi was still unsatisfied, Miyuki patted his glove, "151 kilometers is already very powerful, don't be ungrateful, alright?"

"Tch, a genius's growth should be even more rapid."

"Here we go again, the chuunibyou talk." Miyuki covered his mouth and smirked.

"Bastard, you get back in that crouch and catch the ball properly."

"Hee hee~"

"What are you laughing at? Are we even that close?"

Seeing the two of them inexplicably start arguing, Kataoka shouted, "Second pitch, hurry up and start!"

With the director's instruction, the two of them immediately behaved.

The second pitch was thrown quickly; it was a Two-seam Fastball whose trajectory would shift horizontally to the right in the latter half.

Pop!

Miyuki firmly caught the ball in his glove, "Not bad, the Two-seam speed is also very fast. Not only is the horizontal movement significant, but it also carries a large amount of downward break; how can you even call this a Two-seam?"

"A Huangqian-style Two-seam, do you have a problem with that?"

"No, on the contrary, I like it very much."

Miyuki smiled; such a Two-seam Fastball combined the characteristics of a standard Two-seam's horizontal movement and a Sinker's downward break, and the magnitude was greater than both, making it extremely unique to him.