Chapter 82: Mindset

After returning to school, Coach Kataoka gave a brief speech in front of the bus before dismissing everyone.

Back in the dormitory, Huangqian Yangyi took a shower and immediately lay on his bed to scroll through his phone; just then, a message popped up.

"Onii~ Congratulations on winning the game, the Golden Home Run was super cool!"

Huangqian Yangyi smiled; this girl was getting clingier as she grew up.

"Focus on your classes!"

With just those four words, he dealt a critical hit to Huangqian Kumiko, who was far away at Kitauji High School.

Hmph!

At Kitauji High School, Huangqian Kumiko angrily threw her phone into a drawer; bad brother, stinky brother!

The phone hadn't been in there for more than three seconds before Huangqian Kumiko pouted and took it back out; just then, a message popped up.

Tee-hee, it's from Nii-chan.

She hurriedly opened it, and Kumiko covered her mouth in surprise.

This is! A transfer of 50,000!

"Onii, why are you giving me so much money?"

"Koshien finals, remember to buy a ticket and come watch!"

Huangqian Yangyi replied quickly; just as his younger sister sent the message, he remembered something.

His younger sister Kumiko's birthday was August 21st, and this year's Koshien final was also on August 21st.

Very good, he had one more reason to win the championship.

"Tee-hee, Nii-chan, our whole family will go to watch the finals, but Dad will definitely be the one paying."

Kumiko didn't doubt for a second whether her brother could make it to the Koshien finals; instead, she started eyeing her dad's wallet.

"Then just keep it as pocket money and buy more pretty dresses."

"Bad brother, you're the one who wants me to watch, right!" Kumiko curled her lip; her foolish, sister-obsessed brother was too easy to read.

"I want you to!"

"You jerk, I'm ignoring you."

After replying, Kumiko slumped over her desk, burying her head in her wrists, and let out a faint whimpering sound.

"Nii-chan~"

Yeah, she missed her brother.

The next day, because Coach Kataoka had reviewed the previous night's game, those who performed well were naturally praised.

And so, a smug Kuramochi was full of passion during early morning training, screaming like a ghost at the top of his lungs even during a simple run.

"That bastard is so noisy!"

"I'll buy ice cream for whoever goes and sews his mouth shut!"

"How about we dig a hole and sell him off?"

"Hmm, the hill behind the school would work, the feng shui is good."

The upperclassmen joked while running; just then, Huangqian Yangyi appeared with a shovel he'd found somewhere, held it high, and charged toward Kuramochi.

"You beast! Shut your mouth!"

The horseplay continued until the run ended; because there was another game tomorrow, today's First String training focused on maintaining condition, whereas the Second String and First Year students were sweating it out on the B-side Field.

Huangqian Yangyi carried his bat and found Yuki Tetsuya, who was sitting on the grass resting.

"Huangqian, come sit here." Yuki Tetsuya's deep voice sounded strangely sexy.

Huangqian Yangyi nodded and sat down: "Senior, could you teach me your Imagination Training?"

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Yuki Tetsuya's face, and one could even see how happy he was in his eyes.

"You have a good eye!"

Huangqian Yangyi leaned back slightly, looking at Yuki Tetsuya in surprise; he hadn't expected the thick-browed, big-eyed future Seido Captain to be this narcissistic.

"Ahem, please teach me, Senior." Huangqian Yangyi said sincerely.

Having seen Yuki Tetsuya's meditation—that is, his Imagination Training—Huangqian Yangyi had tried to imitate it before, but it had no effect, and he didn't know what he was doing wrong.

He had tried imagining game scenarios and batting scenarios, and he had tried adjusting his breathing rhythm, but he could never achieve the completely immersive Imagination Training that Yuki Tetsuya did; he would always get bored and open his eyes halfway through.

He couldn't do what Yuki Tetsuya did, standing there holding a bat without moving for half an hour, sometimes even an hour without a twitch.

"First, tell me about your problems; I've seen you do Imagination Training." Yuki Tetsuya asked; only by knowing Huangqian Yangyi's own issues could he prescribe the right medicine.

Huangqian Yangyi nodded and described how he felt when doing the Imagination Training; Yuki Tetsuya listened silently, his brows gradually furrowing.

"Based on what you've said, your problem actually lies in your mindset; you're too impatient." Yuki Tetsuya said.

"Impatient?"

"Yes, it might have to do with your age and your pitching."

"Pitching?" Huangqian Yangyi was confused; wasn't this about batting? How did it relate to pitching?

Yuki Tetsuya pondered for a moment before saying: "Your pitching is very strong, and this has invisibly caused you to develop the feeling that you are very strong."

"Am I not strong?" Huangqian Yangyi countered.

Yuki Tetsuya nodded honestly: "You are; I should say you've developed a certain aura—how should I put it? It's that confidence where you truly believe from the bottom of your heart that you are the best."

"Is there a problem with that?"

"Yes, that kind of mindset will make you feel impatient with the tedious, grueling training, even without you realizing it." Yuki Tetsuya said.

Hearing this, Huangqian Yangyi's brows furrowed involuntarily; was that for real? Was he really impatient?

Recalling all the training since he joined Seido, Huangqian Yangyi suddenly realized, damn it, it seemed like it was true.

Whether it was running or basic training, he only did what the coach and Senior Chris planned, and sometimes he even slacked off a little; even during the lower-body strength training he dragged Miyuki into, he ended up being less proactive than Miyuki.

How terrifying!

Thinking of this, Huangqian Yangyi suddenly broke out in a cold sweat; had he become slack without even realizing it?

To put it nicely, it's called being slack; to put it bluntly, has he become arrogant and complacent?

Whew!

Fortunately, it is not too late to realize it now; Huangqian Yangyi looked solemnly at Yuki Tetsuya: "Senior, thank you!"

Yuki Tetsuya smiled: "You don't have to take it too seriously. You are only a First Year, and you are so impressive in both pitching and batting; it's perfectly normal to be a little bit proud."

"I believe the Director has also noticed your problem; do you know why he didn't say anything?"

"Why?" Huangqian Yangyi asked.

"Because you are only a First Year," Yuki Tetsuya laughed.

Huh? Huangqian Yangyi didn't understand; what did that mean?

"Because you are only a First Year, it is normal to have such problems; because you are only a First Year, the Director is not in a hurry at all," Yuki Tetsuya said slowly, like an old monk.

After listening to Yuki Tetsuya's words, Huangqian Yangyi lowered his head and carefully savored the meaning behind them.

After a while, he looked up and said: "The Director, he wouldn't be waiting for me to stumble in the future before bringing this up, would he?"

Hearing this, Yuki Tetsuya smiled and said nothing; some things are not effective just by being told, one must experience them personally to understand.

But looking at it now, Huangqian Yangyi, who has already realized where the problem lies in advance, seems not to need that kind of experience.