At the start of the New School Teammates welcome match, Coach Kataoka unexpectedly gathered the strongest players among the freshmen. There were the four who had already been practicing with the second team, plus several scholarship students.
As the brains of the freshman group, Miyuki and Zhang Han stood together, and the other teammates who were about to play joined them.
"It looks like our Director is very dissatisfied with the third-year upperclassmen. Or rather, he's very dissatisfied with the First-string."
Zhang Han believed Asou's judgment was accurate.
Coach Kataoka had given the freshmen an excellent stage to perform on while grouping all the veterans into one team.
The matchup between the two sides wasn't perfectly fair, but it was the fairest possible under the circumstances.
Unlike the previous selection and promotion system, the Seido High School Baseball Team's evaluation criteria for this welcome match would be based entirely on strength.
It didn't matter if you were a first-year, second-year, or third-year. Coach Kataoka would promote anyone who performed exceptionally well.
After forming the freshman team, the first step was to assign defensive positions and set the batting order.
After spending these past few weeks together, everyone had a good sense of each person's strengths. Assigning positions wasn't difficult.
Zhang Han, who scored the highest in hitting during the tests, was naturally placed as the Fourth Batter. Although some freshmen were unhappy about it, this lineup was the best possible. Otherwise, who knew how long they would argue?
Everyone reluctantly accepted Zhang Han in that position. But Zhang Han himself proposed a different idea.
"If we play the upperclassmen the usual way, I don't think we stand much of a chance."
"Then what are your thoughts?" Miyuki asked.
"If no one objects, I want to volunteer as the First Batter. Then place the stronger hitters as Second and Third. Our stamina and technique probably aren't enough to match the upperclassmen. If we want to win, we need to win by surprise. Score first, seize the lead, and only then think about maintaining it."
A sharp, determined light flashed in Zhang Han's eyes.
Some newcomers still disliked the group of four who practiced with the second team, so they weren't thrilled with Zhang Han's suggestion either—hating the house and the crow.
But they couldn't find a reason to refuse him. Especially after hearing the goal.
This guy actually wanted to defeat the upperclassmen.
The freshmen thought it was unlikely, yet the idea was too tempting. If no one brought it up, fine. But since someone did, the dream formed instantly.
If they could defeat a team made of First-string substitutes and second team mainstays in the welcome match, they would instantly become famous within the club.
Coach Kataoka and the staff would be forced to notice them. Just imagining it made them tremble with excitement. As long as there was even the slightest possibility, they refused to let it go.
Everyone agreed to Zhang Han's plan. And Zhang Han made a concession of his own.
He handed the starting pitcher role to Kawakami, while he took Second Base. It was the only position their group was still missing.
Top of the first inning—freshmen on offense.
The first player to walk into the batter's box was Zhang Han.
Seeing him step in, a wave of chatter rose from the upperclassmen's dugout. They clearly didn't expect this.
Zhang Han had already earned some recognition in junior high for his hitting.
Many of the veterans in Seido had heard of him. Yes, much of that fame came from him being an international student. But without real ability, even an international student wouldn't have become well known.
Plus, he had scored the highest in hitting during the Seido entrance tests.
Then came his work with the second team. At first he made mistakes due to stamina and intensity. But once he adapted, his performance improved rapidly. Now, if a ball didn't go beyond his defensive range, he could almost always field it cleanly.
His improvement was so fast that he was well known in the second team.
The veterans thought the freshmen would hide their trump card, Zhang Han, in the Fourth Batter spot.
They didn't expect him to be the leadoff hitter.
This was a brutal test for Hidezawa.
Hidezawa, when pitching, had many strengths—and just as many weaknesses.
One of them was his unstable starts.
Serving as the umpire, Coach Kataoka's gaze sharpened slightly.
He wasn't sure who had come up with this strategy. But whoever it was observed extremely well and had a strong information-gathering ability.
Such players, who notice details and think independently, were always reassuring on the field.
And as long as their physical condition wasn't terrible, their actual strength was usually high.
"Hoo…"
Standing in the batter's box, Zhang Han didn't think as much as he had back in the dugout.
Right now he had only one thought:
Hit the ball.
He took a deep breath, his eyes locked on Hidezawa on the mound.
Zhang Han had seen Hidezawa pitch before. Once that upperclassman fully unleashed himself, the ball's power was terrifying. Even strong hitters struggled to send his pitches flying.
If Zhang Han wanted to make contact, he couldn't use a choke grip. He had to swing with full power.
Here it comes!
Before Zhang Han could think further, the white ball whistled in.
Hidezawa pitched decisively. Even his warmup throws were as sharp as game-winning pitches.
Zhang Han was fully prepared. Almost the moment Hidezawa moved, he predicted the approximate trajectory of the ball from his motion.
Perfect timing.
He tightened his grip. Both hands swung with all his might.
"Buzz…"
As the bat cut through the air, Zhang Han heard a sharp whooshing sound near his ear.
How?
He hadn't been known for strength back in Matsukata. Why was his swing suddenly like this?
"Ping!"
He didn't have time to wonder. The bat smashed into the ball, blasting it outward.
Everyone's eyes followed the ball. They watched it soar nearly a hundred meters before slamming into the protective net beyond the field.
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