Chapter 565

Natsume Chikage shook his head.

"No."

The office fell into a brief silence again.

Sakai Shion exchanged a look with the other teachers.

They all realized that with the pitching strength Natsume Chikage displayed, joining the baseball club was almost an obvious choice.

It could even be said—it was a call of talent to its possessor.

Just as several teachers were brewing how to speak.

The office door was pushed open with a "bang."

Ito Eiji strode in, his face even uglier than before.

His gaze swept around the room and finally locked firmly on Natsume Chikage.

The emotions in those eyes were complex to the extreme—anger, unwillingness, scrutiny, expectation, and a kind of almost desperate craving.

He had just finished handling the withdrawal procedures for Shinohara Shingo and the others.

Overnight, the baseball club lost its ace pitcher and core hitter, as well as four regular substitutes.

This was a heavy blow almost cut into the main artery of the team.

This year’s Koshien qualifiers had already begun.

There were only a few weeks left until the top 16 selection tournament.

Losing one game meant the end.

However—

Ito Eiji stared fixedly at Natsume Chikage.

However, this boy threw a 158 km/h fastball.

13 km/h faster than Shinohara Shingo.

15 km/h faster than Nakajima Satoshi.

This kind of strength could even directly land in the professional second team and accept the tempering of formal matches.

His existence was enough to make up for all the losses of the baseball club losing Shinohara Shingo—even more so.

Ito Eiji took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm.

"Natsume Chikage."

"The other teachers must have lectured you. I won't repeat that nonsense."

He paused, his gaze like a torch.

"I have only one request."

"You—must join the baseball club."

His voice was low, but every word was resonant.

"With your strength, joining the club now is completely in time to impact Koshien."

"I know your family situation isn't well-off."

"But since you have revealed this kind of talent, the school cannot turn a blind eye."

"After Shinohara Shingo dropped out, the position of the baseball club’s ace pitcher is vacant—you can completely replace him and get a full scholarship for special recruits."

"As for working to make money, the teacher doesn't force you to give it up completely."

"Every day—even if you only set aside one hour to train, I absolutely won't stop you."

His voice carried a trace of earnestness.

"Even, you don't have to work if you don't want to."

"The living expenses and miscellaneous fees for these three years in school, I can pay for you out of my own pocket."

"After you graduate and enter a professional team, you can pay me back slowly."

"Interest—I won't take a single cent."

He stared at Natsume Chikage’s eyes.

"Your talent in baseball is the most powerful I have seen in twenty years of coaching."

"Don't waste it."

"As long as you keep practicing with me, becoming a professional player is a nailed-on thing."

His voice trembled slightly, with expectation.

"Even... you have a chance to surpass Ohtani Shohei."

"Become the strongest baseball player in Japanese history."

The office was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

All the teachers’ gazes were focused on Natsume Chikage.

Natsume Chikage shook his head and said:

"Sorry."

"I... really have no interest in baseball."

Ito Eiji was stunned.

His lips opened and closed, opened and closed.

His fingers were raised tremblingly, pointing at Natsume Chikage, and a broken gasping sound of "You... you" came from his throat.

"You—!"

He finally squeezed out one word, but couldn't continue.

Other teachers also exploded.

"What?! With this kind of talent, you tell me you have no interest in baseball?!"

"If I had your pitch speed back then, why would I be a teacher? I would have run off to play professional baseball long ago!"

"Interest can be cultivated! If you come into contact with baseball more, you will definitely fall in love with this sport!"

"Natsume-kun, think about it again!"

Sakai Shion and Koi Yuuna didn't speak.

But their eyes were also full of regret and confusion.

But more of it was respect for their student’s decision.

Natsume Chikage was about to speak to make a final refusal.

Just at this moment.

Konoe Hitomi was beside them without knowing when.

She looked indifferent, her gaze sweeping lightly over the excited teachers in the room, and finally landing on Natsume Chikage.

"Since Natsume-kun said he doesn't want to play baseball."

"Then I think the teachers shouldn't force him anymore."

She turned to the faculty and staff present and tilted her head slightly.

"Teachers... do you think I’m right?"

The office suddenly became quiet.

Ito Eiji’s face flushed red, his lips moved, and he seemed to want to argue something.

But when he touched Konoe Hitomi’s calm and waveless eyes.

All the words were stuck in his throat.

He slumped his shoulders dejectedly.

Other teachers also looked away one after another, silent.

They knew—

The true owner of this school is the Mido family.

And Konoe Hitomi is the agent most trusted by the Mido family’s eldest daughter, Mido Orihime.

Including everyone’s salary, it is all issued by the Mido family.

So no one has the qualification to say "no" in front of her.

Leaving the teacher’s office.

The corridor was very quiet, with only the sound of two people’s footsteps echoing lightly.

The sunlight passed through the window lattice, casting grid after grid of light and shadow on the clean floor.

Natsume Chikage walked half a step in front, turned his head, and looked at the static beautiful girl with an indifferent expression beside him.

"Hitomi."

"Just now... thank you for helping me out."

"However, how did you happen to come by?"

Konoe Hitomi glanced at him.

"Just passing by."

The two walked side by side for a while.

She suddenly spoke again.

"However—"

"Since you want to thank me, just saying it verbally... is somewhat lacking in sincerity."

Natsume Chikage was slightly startled.

Then, he noticed she had been looking at the banana milk in the vending machine.

"I’m a bit thirsty."

He smiled lightly.

Without saying much.

He walked to the vending machine, inserted coins, and pressed the button.

"Clatter."

A can of banana milk fell into the retrieval slot.

He bent down to take it and handed it to Konoe Hitomi.

Konoe Hitomi took it, her tone seeming to carry a smile.

"How did you know I like drinking this?"

Natsume Chikage looked at her helplessly and smiled, too lazy to complain.