Chapter 9: Officially Joining the Club

"You have a good eye."

After saying this, Huangqian Yangyi looked at Director Kataoka again.

"148 kilometers."

"Tch, it only went up by 1 kilometer."

Regarding Huangqian Yangyi's self-deprecating remark, the few people there were too lazy to say anything.

"Huangqian, throw a Changeup next," Kataoka said.

"A Changeup? You can throw a Changeup too?" Miyuki looked at Huangqian Yangyi in surprise; Takashima Rei had previously told him that Huangqian Yangyi's Fastball was very fast, and he had assumed he was just a pure power Pitcher.

After all, no matter how talented, the other party was only a middle school student; it would be good enough to have mastered a Fastball.

"Heh, so you knew, Director," Huangqian Yangyi laughed. That was right, even if it was meant to be kept secret, it was impossible for Chris not to have told the Director.

Takashima Rei, standing behind Kataoka, was also full of anticipation; she was one of those in the know.

"Quick, throw it to me."

Miyuki couldn't wait to squat down and set up his mitt.

"Watch closely, and don't get scared."

As Huangqian Yangyi said this, he hid his right hand inside his glove and gripped the ball using the Changeup technique.

When Huangqian Yangyi set his pitching stance, Kataoka Tiexin nodded almost imperceptibly.

The pitching stance for the Changeup and the Fastball were exactly the same, which to a large extent already deceived the Batter.

Miyuki stared intently ahead; before the small ball left Huangqian Yangyi's fingertips, he couldn't see any difference from a Fastball at all.

However, the moment the ball flew out, the pupils of all three people present constricted slightly.

This... it's so slow.

How could it be this slow?

The small ball reached the Home Plate and suddenly dropped rapidly, falling into Miyuki's mitt.

Director Kataoka looked at the number on the speed gun, feeling it was simply unbelievable.

"126 kilometers," Kataoka Tiexin said, not even believing the number himself; he even felt the speed gun might be broken.

"Huh?" Miyuki looked at Huangqian Yangyi in surprise, only to see the other party tilting his head back and laughing triumphantly.

"How about it? You were scared, weren't you?"

"How did you do that?"

They couldn't help but be surprised; Huangqian Yangyi's Four-seam Fastball reached an astonishing 151 kilometers, yet the Changeup was only 126 kilometers—the difference was actually that large.

If these two pitches were used in combination, wouldn't it make the Batter spin around in confusion?

"Perhaps, this is talent."

When the atmosphere is right, a well-timed bit of showing off is harmless.

After the shock, Kataoka actually looked left and right, and after confirming no one was eavesdropping or watching, he said with extreme caution: "Huangqian, this Changeup must absolutely not be exposed during the Summer Tournament—no, not until we meet a strong opponent."

Hearing this, Huangqian Yangyi and Miyuki Kazuya were both stunned, then nodded in mutual understanding.

The strong opponents in Kataoka Tiexin's mind were Inashiro Industrial and Ichidai Sanko.

Even in the Summer Tournament, before meeting these two schools, there was absolutely no need for Seido to bring out this trump card given their strength.

This pitch might become the key to whether Seido could enter Koshien!

And Takashima Rei, standing behind Kataoka, looked at Huangqian Yangyi with a different expression now; these words just now almost explicitly told Huangqian Yangyi that in this year's Summer Tournament, Kataoka Tiexin would rely heavily on him.

The Ace?

After three pitches, the two of them were still unsatisfied and wanted to continue, but one look from Kataoka Tiexin made them behave.

On the training field, after Kataoka Tiexin and Takashima Rei left, the two began their penalty laps.

"It's all your fault!"

"Huh? You wanted to catch it just as much, didn't you?"

"I wanted to catch it, but it's still your fault!"

Miyuki Kazuya helplessly took the blame and promised to treat Huangqian Yangyi to ice cream that night.

5:00 PM, opening ceremony.

What made Huangqian Yangyi very unhappy was that the freshman representative was actually Miyuki Kazuya; no, on what grounds?

While feeling resentful, Huangqian Yangyi also noticed a few familiar faces.

Sitting not far from him, Kuramochi Yoichi was moving around like a little puppy.

Kawakami Norifumi, who was silent and looked somewhat shy.

Maezono Kenta, who had a burly build like a gorilla... and so on.

But they didn't know each other yet, so Huangqian Yangyi found it difficult to go up and strike up a conversation.

After the opening ceremony ended, Huangqian Yangyi returned to the dormitory, opened the door, and entered to see two tall figures organizing their respective luggage.

"Senior Dong, Senior Chris."

The people in the room were naturally the two seniors from the same dormitory.

"Long time no see, Yangyi," Chris said with a gentle smile on his face.

"Kid, you've finally arrived; I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Dong Qingguo had a fleshy face and a loud voice; if it were an ordinary person, they might have been scared by him.

"I'm a bit flattered that Senior Dong has been thinking of me so much," Huangqian Yangyi said.

"I look forward to your performance!" Dong Qingguo said.

The next day, 6:00 AM, Seido High School Baseball Club, A-side Field.

All the newly joined freshmen had already gathered on the training field.

"That idiot, did he oversleep?"

Huangqian Yangyi looked around, but could not find any sign of Miyuki Kazuya.

Late on the very first day, this guy really isn't afraid of death.

Before he could worry for Miyuki, a flurry of messy footsteps rang out; at the entrance of the field, Kataoka Tesshin, wearing his Seido uniform and sunglasses, walked over with his prized students.

The moment these second and third-year seniors appeared, Huangqian Yangyi felt an unusual atmosphere.

It was killing intent!

The seniors were like wild beasts, each and every one of them locking their gaze onto Huangqian Yangyi; to them, Huangqian Yangyi was not just a future teammate, but an enemy!

An enemy who had come to Seido to challenge them a few months ago!

Everyone had arrived, and the scale of nearly a hundred people looked quite spectacular.

It was just that compared to the senior team, the freshman team lacked a sharp, fierce momentum, like newly hatched chicks.

"Are these all the freshmen for this year?"

Director Kataoka asked in a deep voice with his arms crossed over his chest; paired with his sunglasses and sturdy physique, the sense of oppression was immense.

At the very least, Huangqian Yangyi clearly noticed that Kawakami, standing beside him, had already started to get nervous.

"Yes, Direc..." Takashima Rei didn't finish her sentence before she realized that Miyuki Kazuya was missing from the freshman ranks.

This idiot!

"What's wrong?" Kataoka asked.

"There is still one person who hasn't arrived," Takashima Rei said helplessly.

"Who?"

"Sorry, sorry~"

At this moment, the late Miyuki Kazuya came running over with a wide grin, and as soon as he reached Director Kataoka, he bowed 90 degrees.

"I'm sorry!"

"To dare to be late on the first day, you've got some nerve," Kataoka said with a dark face.

In reality, he wasn't that angry about Miyuki's first-day tardiness; he could even use this opportunity to make an example of him and establish his authority in front of the freshmen.

But then again, rules are rules.

"Go run laps later, until morning practice ends!"

"Yes!"

The moment Miyuki turned around, he looked at Huangqian Yangyi in the ranks with a smile, and then proceeded to squeeze right in.

"The person who was late, go to the back and behave yourself, okay!"

"Well, don't be like that, partner, you'll hurt my feelings."

"Don't get so close to me!"

"You two whispering over there! You're going to run laps later too!"

Kataoka's cold voice rang out; Huangqian Yangyi's face turned black, and he wished he could strangle Miyuki to death.