In this world, the hardest thing is saying no to someone who has helped you. If the issue is a matter of principle or threatens your own interests, you can force the word out and get past it.
But if it's just a simple favor, who can bring themselves to refuse their benefactor?
Some people might, but Kataoka can't.
After failing to reach Koshien for several straight years, the principal and the dean's dissatisfaction with him was practically written on their faces. If not for the school board's support, Kataoka wouldn't hold such firm authority over the Baseball Club.
In that sense, the board is his benefactor.
So when the board asked the team to accept interviews to raise the school's profile, Kataoka had no choice but to agree, even though he didn't want to.
After reading through more than a dozen applications, Kataoka settled on the request from Fujio.
Since he had agreed to do it, he wouldn't cut corners. There were two reasons for choosing Fujio. First, Fujio had covered Seido for years. Even during the team's low points, he stayed loyal. Working with a reporter like that makes everything simpler.
But the main reason was the magazine Fujio worked for: Baseball Kingdom.
Among baseball media in the country, it's easily in the top three. And for high school baseball, Baseball Kingdom is number one. An interview with them would satisfy the board's request without creating unnecessary trouble.
When Fujio got the call from Kataoka, he could hardly believe it. They'd known each other for years, and he understood Kataoka well. Though still growing into his role, Kataoka had become a steady, capable director. He guarded his players the way a mother hen guards her chicks.
Aside from game coverage, he never allowed outside distractions. During major tournaments, Seido almost never accepted interviews, and even when they did, it was usually just Kataoka stating the team's goals.
The recent game had caused a sensation, and Seido—once overlooked—was suddenly a hot topic. Even so, Fujio was sure Kataoka would decline. But the magazine insisted he submit a request, so he sent one anyway.
He never expected it would be approved.
The moment he received the call, Fujio didn't even change clothes. He grabbed his photography assistant and rushed straight to Seido.
According to Kataoka, he could photograph the team during practice and interview three players. Fujio didn't hesitate for a second when naming them.
The first was the widely watched Azuma Kiyokuni. Rumor had it that several professional teams already had him in their files. That meant that no matter how Seido performed this summer, Azuma's future was secure.
For a school that hasn't reached Koshien, that sort of attention is extremely rare. Usually, Koshien is the stage that launches a player's career. Without it, becoming known is ten times harder. But Azuma's talent was enough to draw pro-level interest.
Reporters had been lining up for a chance to interview him.
The other two spots didn't go to captain Tanaka or slugger Yuuki. Instead, Fujio chose two standout first-years.
The first was Miyuki, the catcher who had seamlessly taken over Chris's role. His ability and presence were already turning heads.
The second was Zhang Han.
Four at-bats. One hit. One home run. One walk. Two RBIs.
For a first official high school appearance, that's impossible to ignore.
Seido even moved him into the middle of the lineup. What does that tell you? It makes clear that his earlier performance wasn't luck. At least within Seido, no one believed it was a fluke.
Zhang Han had earned that spot. And he was an international student, which only added to the interest.
After Fujio listed the names, he sensed Kataoka pause on the other end of the line. It seemed Zhang Han held a different sort of significance to him. That only strengthened Fujio's decision.
When Fujio arrived at Seido, nearly a hundred players were sweating on the field. Fields A and B were filled with defensive drills and batting practice. On the sidelines, players did frog jumps and ran laps. In the bullpen, pitchers and catchers worked on their throws.
"Our baseball team has a lot of members, so splitting them up makes training more efficient," Manager Ota said with a warm, straightforward smile.
"I've heard about Seido's training," Fujio replied.
The team's poor results over the past years had mainly been blamed on Kataoka's inexperience. But the players Seido produced were undeniably strong. Several were already active in pro baseball.
That's why Seido's slogan had always carried weight:
Who sweats more than anyone else?
Seido.
What kind of training lets a player say that with pride?
"You can start taking photos now," Ota said. "When you're done, we'll bring the three players for the interview."
The photographer got to work. It wasn't a difficult assignment. He quickly captured dozens of candid shots and signaled that he was finished.
"Alright, let's go," Ota said, leading the way to Kataoka's office.
On the field, the players were buzzing.
"That guy with the camera was a reporter, right?"
"Is there an interview today?"
"Who knows? Didn't a bunch of reporters come during the public practice?"
"That was for the open event. This isn't the same."
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