Chapter 545

The two coaches felt the sincerity in his tone and stood up as told, their favor for this boy who was mysterious, talented, but had no airs, increasing by a few more points.

It seems A-kun looks a bit cold on the outside, but his personality is actually very good.

In contrast, the envoy lady from the Mido family next to him, although her appearance was peerless, was expressionless from beginning to end, her eyes indifferent, as if she was born with a kind of detachment and coldness of living in the clouds and overlooking all living beings, making people afraid to get close, and even feeling awe.

Konoe Hitomi remembered that the investigation data showed that the fastest ball speed record Shinoara Shingo had hit in an official match was 148 km/h.

This value was already very close to the threshold of a professional batter.

Based on this data, she knew that given time, Shinoara Shingo could indeed become a professional.

Otherwise, the school wouldn't specifically invite this talented person to the school, just to impact Koshien.

Thinking of this, she spoke straight to the point:

"I think someone should have already made the task this time clear to you on the phone."

"However, I will clarify it again here."

"You two need to start from today, April 23rd, until May 23rd next month."

"Within this month, guide A-kun to conduct professional pitching training for no less than five hours every day."

"The final goal is to train A-kun to the extent of being able to stably throw a ball speed of over 150 km/h."

Hearing the familiar, astonishing time requirement of "no less than five hours every day," Natsume Chikage’s mouth couldn't help but twitch slightly.

He subconsciously glanced at Konoe Hitomi beside him, a trace of silent protest in his eyes.

And Konoe Hitomi, perhaps having anticipated his reaction, also tilted her head slightly at almost the same time, glancing back at him with those calm eyes.

The two stared at each other in silence for several seconds.

He didn't say anything, but she seemed to have completely read his thoughts.

Nothing more than 'I have to go to school, have to work, and have other things every day, I can't spend all my time on training.'

However, she didn't give him a chance to raise objections.

Because even if he did, the result wouldn't change at all.

Konoe Hitomi looked indifferent, as if she had just given an ordinary instruction, and then turned around without hesitation, walking toward the auditorium with a steady pace.

Natsume Chikage shook his head helplessly, watching her back.

He knew that mentioning it was meaningless.

If he wanted to not waste so much time training every day, he could only learn as fast as possible.

And at this time.

The two coaches Kuroda Keisuke and Sano Sho, after clearly hearing the "final goal" set by Konoe Hitomi, only felt a heavy pressure pressing down on them like substance, almost making them unable to breathe.

Within a month, train a boy with zero foundation to be able to throw a fast ball of over 150 km/h?

This wasn't just "pressure" that could describe it; this was simply an impossible "mission"!

One had to know that a ball speed of 150 km/h was already a significant threshold for a Japanese professional baseball pitcher and an important benchmark for measuring whether a pitcher had top-notch "hard fastball" talent.

If an ordinary amateur enthusiast could throw this ball speed, they would absolutely be regarded as a genius, and scouts from major professional teams would swarm.

Even in the highly competitive high school baseball world, a pitcher who could stably throw a ball speed of 150 km/h was absolutely a super ace impacting Koshien, a focus of media pursuit, and an important name in countless scouts’ notebooks.

But those high school genius pitchers who could reach this level, which one didn't start contacting baseball from elementary school, or even earlier, and go through at least seven or eight years, or even more than ten years of day-after-day professional training?

Their arms had long been tempered into "precision instruments born specifically for pitching" through thousands of pitching actions.

The ligaments and muscle groups of the shoulder and elbow joints adapted to that unique power-generating mode; the touch of the fingers knew the rotation of the ball like the back of their hand; the coordination of the whole body’s power chain almost became an instinct.

And Natsume Chikage?

His physical quality looked good, well-proportioned, with a strength foundation.

But from "training the hands and body specifically for pitching"... he was still a long way off.

This was absolutely not something that could be achieved by simply "having muscles" or "exercising frequently."

This was like an experienced master in a construction site.

Their muscles might not be as clearly defined as the "muscle men" deliberately sculpted in the gym, with explosive visual effects.

But when it comes to completing specific physical labor for a long time, efficiently, and without getting injured easily—such as moving bricks, carrying heavy objects, using specific tools—ten "muscle men" might not be as easy, durable, and injury-resistant as one master.

This is the difference between "specialized muscles" and "comprehensive muscles," and the essential difference between the neuromuscular control mode formed by long-term specific training and simple muscle growth.

The barrier that stood between Natsume Chikage and those high school geniuses who received specialized pitching training from childhood was exactly this invisible but indestructible barrier.

Just letting his arm muscles, ligaments, and nerves adapt to and safely master the power-generating mode of high-speed pitching and avoid injury might require several months or even longer of gradual progress.

Not to mention polishing the ball feel, refining the subtle control of the fingers on the ball, mastering at least one or two changeups, and cultivating the pitcher’s tactical thinking...

These, without exception, require a large amount of time that cannot be compressed to immerse, experience, make mistakes, and correct.

One month...

Kuroda and Sano looked at each other, seeing deep powerlessness and anxiety in each other’s eyes.

They would do their best, perhaps they could let this talented A-kun become a "qualified" amateur pitcher in a month, with a ball speed of 110-125 km/h, standard actions, and being able to occasionally throw into the strike zone.

But 150 km/h?

And stable?

This... this was really beyond the limit of their professional cognition.

One had to know that even in a baseball powerhouse like Private Tenhao, they guided countless boys hailed as geniuses, among which those who practiced hard from childhood and had the top talent, after several years of polishing, could reach 140-145 km/h in their third year of high school, which was already rare, enough to be internally designated by professional teams.

Those who could stably throw a ball speed of 150 km/h in high school were "monsters" that were hard to produce in several sessions, miracles bred in the long time by talent, body, technology, and a little bit of luck.

A-kun learned pitching formally for the first time today... this goal was really as difficult as ascending to heaven.

It was basically an impossible task!

However, even though there were all kinds of doubts and almost certain judgments in their hearts, the two absolutely dared not reveal half a point in front of Konoe Hitomi, let alone say the word "no."

That was the Mido family, which had influence like a behemoth in both the political and business circles of Japan.

Defying their will?

They didn't think their lives were too long.

Just when the two coaches were filled with heavy pressure and pessimism, Natsume Chikage appeared exceptionally calm.

He didn't even reveal too much nervousness or worry.

Because only he himself knew what kind of "hole card" he held.

He possessed the [Auxiliary Learning Set], which could increase the understanding ability of all knowledge by 50% and increase learning efficiency by 30%.

This was an aid he didn't have when learning batting last time.

He also had the [Sports Watch], which could increase physical exercise efficiency by 15%, which he thought should be equally effective for pitching specialized training.

He had also just obtained the [Effort Baseball Glove], which could directly increase strength by 5%, control ability, and hit rate by 10% when pitching after equipping it.

If the effect of 'Hot-Blooded Bat' increasing strength and hit rate "when swinging" could also act on the throwing action...

If it could, under the double superposition, the increase would be extremely considerable.

At worst, he could try to collect another piece of special equipment within this month to obtain precious free attribute points.

At that time, directly add attribute points to strength or agility, use the most "simple and crude" way to improve the body’s basic quality, cooperate with the equipment effect, and forcibly improve ball speed and control.

As for the pitching technique itself...

He had another idea.

The "kendo talent" bestowed by the [Decaying Wooden Sword] allowed his control of his body during sword swinging to reach an astonishing precision.

Could this ultimate control of subtle body movements be transferred to the pitching action?

If it could, it would undoubtedly be another huge implicit bonus.

So under various circumstances.

He would never lose!

Thinking of this, Natsume Chikage looked at the two coaches and smiled calmly:

"Two coaches, I'll trouble you for the next month."

Kuroda Keisuke wiped the sweat from his forehead and tried hard to squeeze out a professional smile, but his tone still couldn't help but carry a reminder:

"A-kun... the training this month might be very intense, and the rhythm will be very tight. You... you must pay attention, the actions must be standard, and feel the feedback from your body."

"Yes," Sano Sho also added quickly, his expression serious.

"Especially the arms and shoulders, if there is any slight discomfort, soreness, or abnormal pain, tell us immediately, don't hold on!"

"Many pitcher injuries are cumulative. Once the ligaments or joints are injured, recovery is extremely troublesome, it won't be good for a week or two, and it will affect subsequent training."

"You only have one month, once injured, there is basically no hope."

Natsume Chikage could feel their concern and pressure and nodded solemnly:

"Mm, I understand, I will pay attention and provide timely feedback."

However, looking at the boy’s calm and even somewhat "relaxed" expression, and comparing it with the high-mountain-like indicators set by the Mido family, the worry in Kuroda and Sano’s hearts not only didn't decrease but deepened.