The next day, when everyone started training, Kōshū walked out of the campus alone.
The person who met him outside was Mr. Sasaki.
In order not to worry Shen Qing, Kōshū proactively changed the contact parent to Mr. Sasaki.
"Does mom know you're coming?"
"She thought I was on a medical visit."
The two of them were like secret agents. After the car had passed a certain distance, Kōshū finally remembered to ask, "Where are we going?"
Kataoka Manager just told him that his parents had already talked to him and were waiting outside.
"Well, let's go see my home team."
"Home team?" Thinking about it this way, Mr. Sasaki didn't seem to go out to watch games often before, and rarely watched professional baseball games at home. After both children joined the Hardball club, the baseball atmosphere at home began to become stronger.
Looking at the direction of travel, Kōshū didn't quite understand where it was going.
2 hours later.
When they arrived at the place, they got off the car together and walked ten minutes from the parking lot. There was a stadium along the river.
"Here?" How could a stadium like this by the river be the home stadium of a big team?
"It's Second String from Tokyo Swallows Team."
"Your home team?" Kōshū didn't expect that Mr. Sasaki's home team wasn't even First String, "Why?"
The two bought tickets and went in. There happened to be a Second String game today.
"Because it is quiet, there is only the sound of people playing baseball. In this atmosphere, I can spend time peacefully." This was Mr. Sasaki's frequent hobby before getting married. Whenever he had something on his mind, he would come here and watch a ball game quietly, and then all his worries would disappear.
But, what does this have to do with bringing Kōshū?
As if accepting the child's unspoken doubts, Mr. Sasaki said, "Because here, you can see clearly. Who is the rising star, who is the lucky one who is about to take the home court, and who is the poor guy who is about to lose his ability. All professional baseball players will start from here."
At this time, the third inning had begun on the field. The sound of the bat and the shouts inside the stadium were extremely clear and echoed over the stadium.
Kōshū focuses on the following players. These people are the ones who make a living by playing baseball.
Even though there are not many viewers, and I don't know when I will be promoted to First String, I am still playing baseball seriously and in a place where most people don't pay attention.
"Look at that person, the one who is attacking now. He once joined Koshien, but because the team was not strong, his results were not good. He is just Developmental Player. But now he is also the main force of Second String." Mr. Sasaki began to talk about the origins of these professional baseball players, and they were all familiar.
"Bump--" There was a crisp sound, and as he spoke, the man punched out. After landing, Dugout cheered from several people.
"It's such an empty sound." It was like the sound of birdsong coming from the woods in the distance. A baseball game could actually produce such a sound. But after entering this scene, Kōshū quickly understood the "quiet" in Mr. Sasaki's mouth.
Not absolute silence, which is unsettling, but filled with the noise of ordinary life, like white noise, which is reassuring.
In such an atmosphere, the two of them quietly watched a game together. During this period, Mr. Sasaki went out and answered several calls, but Kōshū didn't ask what they were.
"Touch——"
"Ah, Home Run." Today's sunshine is still a bit dazzling, making it difficult to tell where the ball flew, but looking at the performance of the defensive players, it can be seen that it is Home Run.
"Yeah, it looks like my home team is going to win."
"Congratulations." Kōshū couldn't find anything to say. After all, he didn't know much about the people on the field today. They must have been selected from good high schools and good universities. But in the first few years of their professional baseball career, they had to start from the bottom and slowly win trust.
"Well... thank you?"
With an empty mood, Kōshū embarked on the road back to Kokubunji City. He was surprised to find that on the way to the unknown stadium and when watching the game, he did not think about Seido at all.
Being forcibly taken away from that environment, he also fell in love with such a burden-free viewing experience. In the past, when watching games, I was studying the opponent's videos and watching the games with a mission in mind.
"After I came out of the school gate today, I didn't even think about the team at all." On the way back, it was a good time to talk. After enough separation, we still have to go back.
"Yeah." Mr. Sasaki replied with a nasal voice while driving the car.
"Did the supervisor say anything to you?" That's why I was brought here.
"Ah, that." Someone suddenly stopped in front of him, interrupting Mr. Sasaki's words. After the congestion passed, he seemed to have forgotten what he was chatting about and continued driving.
"Hey——" Kōshū turned his face to the other side and said nothing. He understood that if Mr. Sasaki wanted to say it, he would have said it long ago. He has been putting it off until now. He probably didn't know how to say it, so he had to introduce the place where he thought he was most relaxed.
'Sure enough, Lang Zhi understands his biological father. No matter whether it is a big or small problem, as long as it is a little troublesome, Mr. Sasaki will use various methods to avoid it. ' I don't know what tasks the supervisor assigned him, but it made Kōshū relax in a rare way.
The two of them chatted about some family gossip, and after finishing their meal, they returned to the door of Seido.
When Kōshū opened the door and left, Mr. Sasaki said from behind, "Kōshū, I've never been to what kind of place First String is, so I don't know. But don't put too much pressure on yourself. If your goal is to play professional baseball, you still have two years, which is enough to prepare."
Is that why you feel extra close to Swallows Team and Second String?
"Hi! I understand."
Being interrupted by Mr. Sasaki, Kōshū's heart drifted to a far away place.
"Plan, plan!" This realistic thing forced his spirit back.
He can't practice or do anything. His task for these two days is to write down the plan clearly.
"Three years is a long time, right? It's so long that when I think about professional baseball, I feel it's still very early. But it's actually very short. In the blink of an eye, it's already been half a year since you arrived at Seido. Do you feel the passage of time? So, if you really If the goal is to focus on professional baseball, then break down the abilities of professional baseball players. When all the tasks are taken out, you will find that two years is not enough. "This was the suggestion given by senior Chris on the plan yesterday.
"Well, first of all - let's talk about physical fitness. Now I am 1.9 meters, but my weight is still around 86...'
Recalling the Kinoshita Little League period and Shibasaki-kun's multiple meals a day, "Then I will change the diet to 6 meals a day to gain weight and gain muscle at the same time."
In this case, it would be best to consult Little League's nutritionist, but Kōshū didn't dare to call back. He had promised Coach Ninomiya not to be burdened by the false reputation of an ace, not to force himself, and not to get injured. He failed to achieve any of them.