"This new kid from Seido is really something."
An older alumnus watching the game couldn't help but comment.
The others around him nodded subconsciously. Even though Zhang Han hadn't managed a hit or a home run this time, none of the fault lay with him. The second-year player who made that impossible catch simply had incredible defensive skill. With defense like that, almost no ball would get through.
Purely in terms of hitting, Zhang Han had kept the same standard he showed in his previous two at-bats. Three plate appearances, three strong performances.
If his opponent were just some random second-team pitcher, the alumni might not have been this impressed. At most, they would have said he hit well.
But that wasn't the case. His opponent was Seido High School's Ace, number 1. A pitcher well-known throughout Tokyo.
Hidezawa.
Even if Hidezawa wasn't in peak condition, he was still pitching with serious power. And under those circumstances, Zhang Han had produced results in all three at-bats.
It was impossible not to take notice.
"That's incredible."
"He's definitely getting promoted to the First-string."
"Not necessarily."
"With performance like that, do you think Coach Kataoka would ignore him?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Kataoka isn't blind. But the First-string isn't lacking hitters right now. Even if Zhang-kun is outstanding, he probably won't get special treatment as a batter."
"Don't forget, Zhang-kun was Matsukata's pitcher."
Under all those eyes, Zhang Han stepped onto the mound.
Ono, just subbed into the game, walked over first and covered his mouth with his glove.
"Zhang San, I was watching earlier. These seniors are really strong. If we want to deal with them…"
"How many times have I said this? We're partners in the same year. You don't need to use honorifics."
Zhang Han rubbed his temples.
In Matsukata Little League, other than Hoshida the gorilla, players from his same year often used honorifics when speaking to him.
They called him "Zhang-san," a term usually used by juniors to seniors or by subordinates to superiors. "Zhang-kun," on the other hand, implied an equal relationship between classmates or teammates. And "chan" was used for affection or toward younger kids.
But in Matsukata, the moment they joined as first-years, Zhang Han was already a main player. While they were still doing basic drills, he was wearing the Senior League uniform and competing in official games.
Even though they were technically the same generation, their positions were different. So they subconsciously used honorifics. Zhang Han hated it, but no matter how many times he corrected them, they never changed.
It hadn't mattered back then, but now he was at Seido. Everyone here was a freshman. He didn't want the seniors thinking he was stuck-up or full of himself.
Even so, Ono completely ignored his complaint. He had already done so a dozen times.
"The next batters coming up are the second-years who scored the most earlier," Ono said, glancing toward the seniors' dugout.
In the Old-timers' lineup, aside from Isashiki Jun, the first few batters were mostly third-years. The key second-years were actually placed lower in the order.
That included Chris, the heavyset guy, and Kominato Ryosuke.
Earlier, Zhang Han overheard people say that among the current second-years of Seido Baseball, none besides Chris had achieved anything in middle school. Their potential wasn't considered exceptional, let alone top-tier.
Even before entering Seido, he had heard those same rumors. After arriving, he heard them again.
There were twenty players on the current First-string. Eighteen were third-years. Only two were second-years: Chris and Yuuki Tetsuya.
That alone suggested the judgment wasn't unfair.
But what Zhang Han was seeing now was something else entirely.
These second-team players, these second-years, were extremely strong. Even when First-string substitutes were added into the lineup, they didn't overshadow them. If anything, these second-years shone brighter.
Zhang Han felt this while he was fielding at second base. These second-years were far more threatening than the third-years batting at the top.
He didn't doubt Kataoka's and the coaching staff's judgment. There had to be a reason.
The foundation of the First-string had been set last autumn for the Fall Tournament. At that time, these second-years had only been in high school for three or four months. Even with hard work, it wasn't enough time to grow from "the weakest generation" into main squad members.
But now? They had spent a full year in high school. They had been sharpened.
This "worst generation."
This overlooked generation.
Maybe they were hiding potential no one had noticed.
If someone wrote a story about these second-years, this would be the part where they started to soar after months of hardship. And in every story, there was a touchstone.
Something to test whether they were real gold or just ordinary stones. And right now, Zhang Han was the touchstone. But this story wasn't written around the second-years. So the final outcome?
Still unknown.
"What we've seen so far is only the surface," Ono said quietly. "Even practicing with them every day in the second team, I haven't found any weaknesses."
Zhang Han looked at him, calm and steady.
"Don't think about pointless things. They put you on the field so you could show your strength. Stick to our rhythm. Do what you always do. That's all you need."