Chapter 102: This Is Not a Place for Long Stay

Everyone parted ways in front of the family restaurant.

"See you tomorrow~"

"Tomorrow morning, go directly to school. We officially start preparing for the campus performance." Qingshan Li reminded them.

"Can't hear you, can't hear you!" The girls covered their ears and ran away, as if Qingshan Li's words were a downpour targeting their ears.

After Mikami Ai left as well, the three of Qingshan Li returned home.

He himself did not enter the house.

"I'm going to the amusement center to practice baseball for two hours." Qingshan Li said.

Ono Mika realized: "Come to think of it, Li, you're also a member of the baseball club."

"Yes, I still have to play in tomorrow's practice game."

"Nice." Ono Mizuki muttered, "I want to switch clubs too."

"Is the choir club not good?" Ono Mika asked with concern.

"A little unhappy. The national competition is too realistic; the Budokan is more romantic."

"You can do whatever you want." Qingshan Li said, "Both of your wishes, I will fulfill them for you."

"Give me money!" Ono Mizuki immediately held out her small hand.

"Even the national competition isn't as realistic as you!"

Qingshan Li came to the nearby sports amusement park, where one could rock climb, indoor ski, and so on.

He went to the baseball area, paid the money with great reluctance, put on a helmet, picked up a bat, and walked into the protective netting.

'Let me try myself first.'

A ball at 80km/h flew over.

Qingshan Li swung the bat.

Clang!

The ball was hit out.

'Not bad, not bad!'

But he didn't continue practicing on his own; the reason was simple: he had no extra money to squander.

—Light·Ray·Ah!

【Start 'Baseball' Guidance】

Ball speed 130km/h.

"Whoosh!" The white ball rubbed against the air, letting out a whistling sound.

Thud!

The white ball flew back at an even faster speed.

—How was that hit?

Qingshan Li studied carefully: the way to grip the bat, the sequence of exerting force, stance, gaze.

The system's guidance was tailor-made for him personally, able to maximize his talent and potential.

This process would not only not harm him, but would make him stronger; of course, it required post-session massage and rest.

After seven balls, that feeling appeared again.

Qingshan Li couldn't tell whether the one swinging the bat was himself or the system; he seemed to have become the system, and the system seemed to be him.

This might be the system's perfect guidance state.

It definitely wouldn't be him himself; swing after swing, never missing, and looking like every hit was a home run — how could that possibly be him?

Outside the protective netting behind him, a group of people had gathered, old and young.

Among them, a crew-cut man took out his phone to record, and forwarded it to Nagami Na with a puzzled look.

◇

"Grandpa! Grandpa!" The female manager rushed out of the room into the living room.

Grandpa was drinking tea with Dad, Mom was watching TV in the living room.

"Nana, don't disturb the neighbors at night!" Mom turned back and scolded.

The female manager ignored her, kneeling beside Grandpa: "Grandpa, look quick!"

Grandpa agreed with a smile while looking at the phone screen.

On the screen, a familiar-looking boy hit one after another, more machine-like than the pitching machine, perfectly knocking every ball away.

A pitching machine is no match for a real person, but this kind of batting average is equally terrifyingly inhuman!

"Grandpa," the female manager peeked at Grandpa's expression, whispering, "This is Qing Shan Jun, you know, the Qing Shan Jun you promised me yesterday to let play. This video was just taken; he's training right now."

"Completely discarding hesitation." Grandpa suddenly spoke, as if to himself, "The absolute sense of balance supporting the body, the perfect swinging posture, total concentration."

"Isn't it amazing?!" The female manager asked expectantly.

"Very strange." Grandpa was puzzled.

"Very strange?"

"Apart from strength and physical ability, he's already completely at a pro baseball level, but why did he strike out last time? Acting? No, doesn't look like acting." Grandpa muttered to himself.

"Pro baseball?!" The female manager exclaimed.

"Nana!" Mom said.

Compared to disturbing the neighbors, Mom actually cared more that her TV watching was being disturbed.

Because of Grandpa, this family had watched baseball games since childhood, and baseball games seemed to be on every day, so Mom's time to watch TV naturally became less.

"Grandpa, the pro baseball you mentioned, do you mean professional baseball?" The female manager continued asking.

Grandpa was still thinking.

"Grandpa! Grandpa!" the female manager shook Grandpa's body, as if shaking a fruit tree, trying to shake the fruit down.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Grandpa hurriedly answered, "I've seen pros hit this; aside from the physical difference, this kid's technical performance is in no way inferior to that person."

Even more perfect.

But Grandpa couldn't believe it.

Although he had played baseball and watched games for many years, he ultimately had no professional baseball experience, so he lacked confidence when drawing a conclusion.

The only thing he could be certain of was that this kid has the ability to dominate Koshien!

"Tomorrow, let this kid play the whole game!" After Grandpa finished speaking, he picked up his mobile phone and said to Dad, "Look, this is Nana's sweetheart."

"Oh?!" Dad grew interested.

"Ah—" Nagami Na let out a shriek.

"Nana!" Mom couldn't take it anymore.

"Wife, come quick, look at the handsome guy."

"Handsome guy?" Mom left the sofa.

After a while, the neighbors could be heard: "So handsome! Nana, you've got to land him; Mom's second half of life is counting on you!"

◇

【Female Manager: 【Video】】

【Female Manager: Qing Shan Jun, Grandpa decided to let you play the whole game tomorrow!】

Why did it turn out like this?

Just practicing near home, and an extra event can still happen?

Qingshan Li's plan for tomorrow was to hit one home run and then withdraw.

He couldn't do anything else either.

Unlike the current practice, tomorrow in the practice match the system would definitely trigger 'Competition' mode, one hundred percent arm muscle strain, one hit and withdraw.

He didn't specially explain anything to the female manager.

Qingshan Li put away his mobile phone, rubbing his arm as he left the amusement park.

Two hours of training once again sucked a big mouthful out of his already not-very-full wallet.

Damn it!

Is there any way to secretly earn some extra money?

Getting money from Ono Mika is definitely out of the question.

First, it's his own money, yet he has to go through her to use it; would Ono Mika feel like she herself is in the way?

Second, he doesn't want to make her worry, thinking he might have a habit of spending money recklessly.

Third, having a sum of savings that hardly moves is always good.

Is there a way to make money faster than writing novels, that also doesn't attract attention and doesn't require capital?

Sell the adaptation rights to "Detective A"?

Who would buy?

Qingshan Li thought wildly as he returned to the Aoshan Ono Family home.

Entering the yard, he stood before the vegetable garden and looked for a good long while before returning to the house satisfied.

"I'm back."

"Go take a shower quickly." Ono Mika said.

"You were waiting for me?"

"We've already washed."

"Great, today I finally get to enjoy the beautiful girl's bathwater!" Qingshan Li smiled.

"Ugh~" Ono Mizuki dry-heaved while reading a novel.

Then she hurriedly said to the novel draft: "Sorry, sorry, I'm not talking to you~"

She even wiped the screen with the sleeve of her new pajamas.

"Detective A" is good to the degree that it commands respect.

Qingshan Li took a change of clothes, walked into the bathroom, and first squeezed toothpaste to brush his teeth.

"Buzz~"

He picked up his mobile phone from the washstand.

【Agatsuma Haruka: Little Brother, thanks for today, very handsome】

Qingshan Li smiled.

【Bass Sakurako: 【Image: Sports bra photo】】

What is she doing?

Delete after brushing teeth!

【Drummer Mumi: That time you peeked at us changing clothes, I've forgiven you; aside from being lewd, you're still not bad】

But the second time he really didn't see anything.

【F·Rino: Qing Shan Jun, I like you!】

Qingshan Li stopped brushing his teeth.

【Qingshan Li: Sorry】

【F·Rino: This is the new song title!】

【Qingshan Li: Scared me!】

【F·Rino: You're overthinking!】

Perhaps.

Qingshan Li set down his mobile phone and continued brushing his teeth in front of the mirror.

Only now did he belatedly realize: he seemed suited only to stay in the Yaken Club, and Mikami Ai was one of the few people who would not fall for him.

Once the Sunny Band Club is revived, I'll leave.

(Chapter End)