After a brief chat with Kataoka, Fujio got straight to the point. "When will the three students come in?"
Kataoka opened his mouth but said nothing. He simply instructed Manager Ota to bring them.
"One at a time, or all together?" Fujio asked. He had already thought this through. Two first-years wouldn't speak freely with the vice-captain sitting beside them.
"Let Azuma come first," Kataoka said.
Azuma Kiyokuni walked in. He was big—well past the line of "burly." His round stomach made him look more like a middle-aged man than a high schooler.
At a glance, one might assume he was simple and straightforward, the type who would start talking as soon as he was prompted.
But once the interview began, Fujio realized that wasn't the case. Despite his bold presence on the field, Azuma was cautious in private. He spoke carefully about his ambitions and his future. He said he didn't plan on going to college. After graduation, he intended to enter the draft and aim for professional baseball.
It wasn't hard to guess why he carried himself so maturely. He was managing his image.
As a veteran reporter, Fujio saw through it instantly. But it didn't bother him. Their interests aligned, and the interview moved smoothly. When the article came out, readers would see a skilled, ambitious senior leading his team—exactly what the magazine wanted.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Azuma," Fujio said as they wrapped up.
He was genuinely relieved. The interview wasn't groundbreaking, but it completed the core of his assignment.
Even if the two first-years didn't give him much later, he could still deliver solid material to the magazine.
"Thank you for the interview," Azuma said politely.
"I hope to see you perform well in professional baseball one day."
Azuma nodded. "Thank you. But I'm not thinking that far yet. What I want most now is to reach Koshien with my teammates."
A different light flashed in his eyes as he said it. The sincerity in that moment caught Fujio off guard.
He had to admit: the sentence was powerful. Whatever Azuma's rough edges, this vice-captain was indeed pushing Seido forward in his own way.
The interview with Miyuki followed a similar rhythm.
Although his middle school team hadn't been strong, Miyuki himself was well-known. When he graduated, all the major Tokyo baseball programs had tried to recruit him. It wasn't his first time doing an interview, and he handled it smoothly. He insisted he was just a newcomer still learning everything.
Those lines might fool a casual reader, but not Fujio.
When he couldn't get more out of Miyuki, he switched to talking baseball theory. There, Miyuki was in his element. The conversation stretched on for more than an hour.
After comparing Miyuki's insights to his performance on the field, Fujio was sure of one thing: This kid's abilities weren't luck.
People said Seido was in decline, but Fujio didn't see it that way. Their recent recruiting was outstanding. First Chris, then Miyuki—both top-tier catching talents of their generation. How could a school attract such players if it had truly lost its appeal?
And with Chris injured, Miyuki stepping up so seamlessly was even more impressive. For Seido, he was practically a lifeline.
It was too early to write a full feature on him, though. Two or three more games would reveal whether he could sustain this level. If he did, Miyuki would be the true cornerstone of Seido's revival.
Fujio already had a title forming in his mind.
The last interview was with Zhang Han.
His performance in the game was just as striking as Miyuki's. And beyond that, he was an international student from China—something that gave him a unique narrative.
Covering an international student thriving in Japanese high school baseball could create huge impact. Japan's Koshien tournament had long reached its domestic peak.
Organizers and media had spent years trying to expand its influence abroad—first Korea and Taiwan, then China. Anime and media exposure had helped, but China remained a frontier.
If Zhang Han became a standout and reached Koshien, he could be a breakthrough.
His background alone was compelling.
Born in Japan. Raised in China. Returned in middle school. Graduated from Matsukata. Now attending Seido, one of the most storied programs in the country.
It was a reporter's dream. If Fujio could help raise his profile, others would take notice—and push his story into the Chinese market. It would be valuable for the sport, for Zhang Han, and frankly, for Fujio's own career.
He was considering how best to frame the story when the door opened.
"Hello."
The voice was clear and warm, like water flowing from a spring.
Fujio looked up at Zhang Han. On the field, from a distance, he had only noted that the boy was well-built and pleasant-looking. Up close, it was different.
A slender, 180-centimeter frame. Fair skin. Refined, almost sculpted features. Everything balanced and striking.
In an instant, Fujio realized he had been worrying for nothing. Helping this player gain recognition would be no challenge at all.
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