"That really pisses me off! And you, Furuya, why did you even talk to him?!" Eijun's complaining voice gradually faded away. Left in the darkness, Ochiai Coach let out a breath of relief and put another checkmark beside a name on the list in his mind. That way, the team's number two pitcher will need something from me.
Next would be the team's starting catcher. He had heard that Kōshū's younger brother was also competing for a place on the Autumn Roster.
Faced with Kōshū's polite yet distant manner, Ochiai Coach always felt unable to get a read on him.
In the end, the reason he could earn the trust of children was the information gap and his years of coaching experience. More importantly, after seeing so many children, he more or less understood the mindset of players at every stage and in every situation.
As long as people have desires, they have weaknesses. Take Furuya's hidden yearning to become the ace, for example. As long as he seized upon such points, he could tie the players to himself and quickly establish authority within the team.
"Why does that guy feel so hard to deal with? Is he Kataoka Manager's personal disciple?" Kōshū was completely unlike the other players, whose eyes would immediately flare with desire as soon as they were given a little guidance and hope.
And even without anyone approaching him, that pitcher seemed to have his own method. "He doesn't take the initiative, but he doesn't refuse either. What a troublesome guy."
So Ochiai Coach prepared to start with the people around Kōshū. If Kōshū himself had no weakness, then his younger brother surely would.
The people you care about are your greatest weakness. Ochiai Coach believed he had to win that pitcher over.
Past ten, nearing