Chapter 758 - 758: Adapting To Speed

"Akikawa's advancement this time has caused quite a stir. Congratulations, Coach Ozaka."

Fujio congratulated Coach Ozaka politely as he walked with him towards where the players were training.

West Tokyo Top 16.

In other divisions, this might not even be considered a notable achievement. But here, in West Tokyo, known as Little Koshien, a team reaching the Top 16 is already enough to warrant individual analysis by the media.

While not every player might make it into the newspapers, the core players of these teams are definitely mentioned in newspapers and media.

Online self-media even provides detailed introductions to their teams.

As a previously not very well-known team, and with some players who had no prior fame, this kind of treatment alone was enough to make them feel flattered.

Coach Ozaka's previous coaching record was just average. After all, Akikawa High School is not a traditional private powerhouse, but a school known for its academic achievements.

For such a school, the team's previous results were often one-round exits.

The purpose of their coach's existence was merely to provide a place for the players to be active; no one expected them to achieve anything decent.

Now that they had made it to the Top 16, it was said that their school's principal was very surprised and specifically called Coach Ozaka to his office.

"When did our school become so strong?"

Although there was still a long way from the Top 16 to winning the championship and entering Koshien, to be frank, it was only four games.

There were still some opportunities.

If their baseball team truly had such a strong foundation, then the principal believed they could expand investment to help the team advance further. If they accidentally made it to Koshien, it would be of immense help to the school's overall image.

Coach Ozaka immediately smiled and said, "It was just good luck."

"Mr. Ozaka, you are too modest. I know that schools that can consistently hold this position are all well-known. Not to mention powerhouses like Seido, Inashiro, and Ichidaisan. Seikou, Sensen, and Yakushi, their teams alone have dozens of members."

The principal's assistant, a middle-aged man around 30, was usually very interested in high school baseball and spoke eloquently.

Akikawa's principal was also deeply moved after hearing this.

"Then this year..."

Previously, when the team hadn't made it to the Top 16, even if they wanted to support them, they seemed to have no reason.

But now that they had made it, Akikawa's principal believed they could still do something for the team.

For example, mobilizing students from the school to cheer them on.

The reputation of Little Koshien in West Tokyo had been incredibly loud recently, and even the principal, an oily old man who usually didn't pay much attention to baseball, had heard a lot about it.

Previously, Akikawa's principal naturally had no way to join the conversation.

But now that they had also made it to the Top 16, he should be able to chat with those people, right?

The principal could already imagine the fawning and envious looks on those people's faces when they heard he was Akikawa's principal.

"Our next opponent is Seido."

Ozaka's words were like a bucket of cold water.

The excited principal and the assistant middle-aged man both fell silent, and the atmosphere in the office became very awkward.

"Cough, cough."

The principal coughed twice and asked somewhat uncertainly, "Is that the Seido where Player Zhang Han is?"

"That's right."

Coach Ozaka was a bit surprised, not expecting his principal, who knew almost nothing about baseball, to know that Zhang Han was at Seido.

"Everyone still needs to work hard and not give up on victory just because the opponent is strong. I will approve a budget to let the players get some good nourishment."

The principal ultimately provided financial support.

However, he no longer mentioned things like cheering on site or mobilizing students.

Ozaka naturally understood his principal's meaning, but he just smiled and said nothing.

Even the principal, who didn't follow baseball, was so surprised, let alone Fujio, who specialized in it.

Now, the only dark horse openly recognized was Akikawa.

To be fair, Yakushi High School Baseball Team's performance was definitely a few notches stronger.

But Yakushi was not a team that only appeared this summer; they had already gained considerable fame during the Spring Tournament.

And they even had the legendary feat of 'slaying the dragon'.

Yakushi had once defeated Inashiro Industrial, who had recently dominated the country, in the Tokyo Spring Tournament.

Just over a month ago, in a practice game against the Kanto Tournament champion Seido High School Baseball Team, Yakushi only lost by one run.

Although this school had not been rising for long, it clearly had nothing to do with being a dark horse anymore.

As a result, the only dark horse school currently receiving much attention was Akikawa.

The other 15 teams, including the three powerhouses, were either top private powerhouses or traditional strong teams with excellent traditions.

In short, almost every team's performance was commendable.

Only Akikawa High School.

Their performance only improved after their new Ace, You Shunshin, joined. But 'improved' only meant making it to the second round, or at most, the third round.

This was the first time they had advanced all the way to the fourth round, and were about to face Seido High School Baseball Team head-on.

Fujio congratulated Coach Ozaka for this very reason.

Although it was estimated that this team would be finished after encountering Seido High School Baseball Team, with such growth and breakthrough, Akikawa High School should be content.

As their Coach, Ozaka could even proudly puff out his chest and take all the credit for himself.

However, to Fujio's surprise, Ozaka did not seem particularly happy with his praise.

He remained very calm.

"Oh, it's all a coincidence. To be honest, even our own players didn't expect to make it this far."

"Anyone with eyes can see your school's progress."

Fujio initially thought the other party was being modest and prepared to be polite in return.

"It's truly good luck. I still remember that one or two years ago, our school's baseball team was just for show. Although the players trained very hard, whenever it came to a tournament, they basically ended without much performance. We were the legendary one-round exit team."

When saying these words, Coach Ozaka's face showed no shame; he spoke very naturally.

Owada Akiko was very surprised when she saw this.

"It wasn't until Shunchen joined that, under his influence and leadership, our team's performance showed a slight improvement. But even so, we are still a weak team. Making it this far is only because we haven't encountered a strong opponent. Good luck, good luck!"

A smile was on his face, but his words carried a kind of confidence.

Fujio glanced at Coach Ozaka, and a strange feeling arose in his heart.

Almost everyone believed that after Akikawa High School baseball team encountered Seido High School Baseball Team, they would inevitably surrender.

It wasn't that everyone underestimated Akikawa, but rather that Seido High School Baseball Team's performance since last year had been too astonishing.

Except for losing to the red-hot Inashiro last autumn, Seido High School Baseball Team had won almost every victory they could.

The strength of Seido High School Baseball Team was still beyond question.

Fujio originally thought that when he interviewed Akikawa, he would definitely hear complaints about bad luck.

Four groups, and they happened to be in the same group as Seido High School Baseball Team. What else could that be but bad luck?

But Coach Ozaka, from beginning to end, never complained about bad luck; instead, he kept saying his team had good luck.

Was that really the case?

Fujio was very skeptical.

If it wasn't that the other party had a problem with his brain, then there must be other secrets that they didn't know about.

"Are you saying that Akikawa's progress this far is entirely dependent on You Shunshin? I wonder if we could interview him?"

Fujio asked.

"He's practicing right now, but he'll be done soon. I wonder if you can wait a moment?"

"No problem."

"Then let's go to where he's practicing."

As they spoke, the group arrived at Akikawa High School's practice field.

Then, Fujio and Owada Akiko witnessed an incredibly impressive scene.

"Boom!"

The baseball flying out of the pitching machine in the center of the field carried an arrogant aura of destruction.

The baseball was too fast; in just a blink of an eye, it flew over ten meters and landed steadily on the backstop.

The batter, wearing a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and all protective gear, screamed in fright.

"That's terrifying! Can anyone really pitch a 155 km/h ball?"

A 150 km/h ball already felt like his limit. Now, using his eyes for a 155 km/h ball, he felt his eyes aching from staring at the ball.

"Good, no retreat."

"As expected of Shiratori, senior, commendable courage."

The Buddy watching the practice were very excited.

"Senior, do you want to practice a few pitches with me? I can't wait."

You Shunshin, wearing glasses, invited Shiratori, who had just adapted his eyes to the Fastball.

"This challenge is too stimulating. Just adapting to a 155 km/h extreme Fastball, and now immediately facing Shunchen's pitch, someone's going to die."

One of the Buddy couldn't help but say.

Shiratori secretly gritted his teeth.

"Bring it on, who's afraid of whom?"

As the Fourth Batter of the baseball team, if he retreated, how could he set an example for his Buddy behind him?

"Where will this baseball go? Inside or outside?"

Although he had decided to challenge, Shiratori still seemed very conflicted when he actually stood in the batter's box.

Clearly, facing You Shunshin was a very painful experience for him.

"Do you need me to tell you in advance, senior?"

In stark contrast to him, You Shunshin was in high spirits and asked with a smile.

"No need, just bring it on!"

Shiratori said through gritted teeth.

Inside!

The baseball was tightly hugging the edge of the strike zone.

Having just adapted his eyes to a 155 km/h ball, the ball speed had now dropped by four or five levels, to around 135 km/h.

Logically, it shouldn't be very difficult to deal with.

But Shiratori felt no ease at all when he saw the baseball flying towards him.

Although the ball speed was slower, the pitched baseball was like a surgical knife, as precise as could be.

This ball, hugging the edge, made it very difficult for him to handle. He wanted to let it go, but was afraid it would become a strike.

If he swung, it would most likely go foul.

Can't worry about it anymore!

The conflicted emotion only appeared for a moment and was quickly suppressed by Shiratori.

He decided to stop agonizing and to try decisively.

Gripping the bat tightly with both hands, recalling the unwillingness he felt when facing the 155 km/h pitch, Shiratori put almost all his strength into this swing.

"Whoosh!"

The bat swung rapidly, and the catcher in the catcher's position even heard the sound of the bat cutting through the air.

However, the powerful swing failed to make contact with the baseball.

The ball, tightly clinging to the edge, dropped as it approached the strike zone.

"Damn it, it's a breaking ball!"

Shiratori saw it.

But having swung with all his might, he no longer had time to change the direction of the bat in his hands.

He could only grit his teeth and continue to hit.

Then the bat and the white baseball crossed paths, neither touching the other.

"Pop!"

"Strike!"

Shiratori, having swung and missed, looked indignant.

"Shunshin, what you're doing is too despicable. You can't just rely on knowing us, and..."

Shiratori couldn't utter the rest of his words.

Being attacked by exploiting a personality weakness, from any angle, was not honorable.

"Understanding is mutual. I understand you, and you understand me. You can also use my personality weaknesses to attack me."

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on You Shunshin's glasses, reflecting a golden light.

And You Shunshin seemed to be enveloped by this golden light.

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