"Before you join the team, we must first understand what your unique characteristics are. We will spend the remaining time specifically honing them. This way, you will have a relatively good start when you enter high school."
Zhang Han's eyes stung.
He solemnly bowed to Ono Binchi.
Growing up in his hometown, he was not accustomed to such etiquette. In his hometown, such etiquette was too solemn, second only to kneeling. But this time, he was sincere. The man in front of him had helped him too much, and Zhang Han truly couldn't find a way to repay him.
"No need for that."
Ono Binchi looked emotional and waved his hand.
"As long as you don't disgrace Matsukata's name in the future, I will be satisfied."
Zhang Han said nothing; he wasn't accustomed to shouting slogans, but he nodded firmly. He would definitely fulfill Ono Binchi's entrustment.
"Whether you choose Ichidai San or Seido, the path you will take is similar. The road of a powerhouse is full of thorns. Every step up is filled with hardship. The most terrifying thing is that while you are working hard, your competitors will also work hard, perhaps even harder. There are also those favored by heaven who possess monstrous strength without needing to work hard. Once you enter a powerhouse, these are all challenges you need to face."
"We don't have much time left. For a good start in high school, let's act now."
"Yes!"
Ono Binchi, the Head Coach of Matsukata Little League, only had average coaching results. After taking over the prestigious team, he had never won a national championship. His best result was the recent runner-up finish.
In other teams, this would be considered glorious. But for Matsukata, it was barely passing. Given the team's foundation, failing to win a championship in over a decade was underwhelming. If not for the recent finals appearance, he might have been fired.
In this environment, Ono Binchi was still willing to spend a lot of time helping Zhang Han. This favor was significant.
"What tests did you take at Ichidai San? Especially after the game. Did they let you pitch?"
As the team's substitute pitcher, Ono naturally thought of pitching first.
"No! They didn't let me pitch at all, nor did they conduct any special tests."
Previously, Ichidai San had been indifferent, then they called actively. Without asking, it must have been during the selection process that they discovered something.
"The last test was hitting?"
Ono Binchi asked.
Zhang Han nodded. "It was a hitting test, and my results should have been the best!"
Ono Binchi was not surprised. Besides pitching, Zhang Han's best skill was hitting. Players with such high batting averages were rare.
"They value your hitting potential? That shouldn't be the case. Although your ball selection is good, your swing is still immature. Especially when facing a Changeup, your performance isn't great."
Zhang Han had a high on-base percentage and was a key combat force for Matsukata. But his highest batting average was against Fastballs. Once it switched to Changeups, his success rate dropped sharply.
This characteristic had both advantages and disadvantages. It was also why Ono Binchi promoted Zhang Han to the main team but didn't find a position for him outside of pitcher. He was not yet a core hitter; there was still a gap compared to Hoshida and Miyakawa.
"They only did hitting tests. Initially, they tested people, and later they also tested machines. I did okay against the machine, but hitting off a pitcher felt more natural."
Zhang Han had many guesses, but he couldn't figure out what Ichidai San and Seido valued about him. If they valued his talent as a pitcher, he could understand it better. His control and speed were decent.
Ono Binchi, although far from a high school powerhouse coach, had been coaching for many years. Once given a hint, he could use deductive reasoning.
There are only a few characteristics in hitting: swing speed, dynamic vision, information analysis, technique, directional prediction...
Zhang Han's other abilities were not strong enough for two major powerhouses to act together. The only thing left seemed to be his directional prediction.
He didn't have top-tier dynamic vision, yet he rarely missed.
Because Zhang Han grew up under Ono's eyes, the coach hadn't thought about these things. Now, looking back, this guy's hitting seemed strange. Not only was his success rate higher than Hoshida and Miyakawa, but his predictions rarely missed.
Could it be?
"Come with me to the kendo hall."
To verify his guess, Ono Binchi took Zhang Han to their middle school's kendo hall.
"Coach, not everyone from the mainland knows kung fu. I haven't learned it—not even ordinary punches and kicks, let alone sword training."
"Less nonsense. If I tell you to come, you come."
Zhang Han followed Ono Binchi with a drooping face.
Heaven knows, in his childhood, he had practiced a few sets of military combat exercises with his grandfather. According to his grandfather, those techniques had practical power. But Zhang Han had never used them to bully anyone.
Not to mention, since he left his hometown, he hadn't touched them for four years.
As the saying goes, a fist not used is a fist forgotten.
After not practicing for so long, what he had learned was mostly waste. Even fighting a strong ordinary person, he probably wouldn't gain any advantage. Let alone specifically competing with people who specialized in these things.
Wouldn't that just be looking for trouble?