The Whole Family Watches the Seido Match, Part 2

"Hey, are you okay?" Kōshū was inexplicably nudged by Lang Zhi.

"Huh?"

"You seem super excited." In Lang Zhi's impression, Kōshū was the type who couldn't sit still for long during games: "High school games are nine innings long. If you're this excited now, you'll definitely get sleepy later." After all, Kōshū had fallen asleep during a six-inning game in middle school.

Kōshū clearly remembered his embarrassing past and said softly, "Nag, it's because the game was too boring. Watch yours and leave me alone." When he first started watching baseball games, he was surprised that a sports game could have such a slow pace, and he fell asleep without realizing it.

Lang Zhi was about to open his mouth again when his chin was forcibly pinched and turned towards the field.

The female voice from the loudspeaker came at the right time: "Fifth batter, catcher, Takigawa."

"That kid is a first-year," Mr. Sasaki heard the information from other spectators. "A first-year starting catcher, that's amazing."

"His frame is quite big too." Shen Qing could now understand baseball games, but she would only cheer when a Home Plate was hit. At other times, she was in a wandering state, just like Kōshū before. Perhaps this situation would change when she personally watched her son's game.

In the top of the first inning of the game, Seido had already scored 3 points, with one out, and the batting order came to the fifth batter.

Chris stood in the batter's box. The first pitch was a low-angle bad ball. He didn't swing, standing firmly. The opposing pitcher wiped his sweat with his sleeve. It was only the first inning, but he was already having a very difficult time.

Sorry, since you've made it to the semi-finals, it's either us or Inajitsu or Ichidai Third. Let us send you back.

The second pitch, a high Changeup, landed in a high, outside bad ball position, but Chris still caught it, hitting it directly, landing in front of the center fielder.

Too many meaningless bad balls. Chris arrived at first base with ease.

The Seido stands cheered. Although the game was only in the top of the first inning, the entire atmosphere of the game had completely shifted towards Seido.

"It's almost certain that Seido will win, right?" As Lang Zhi expected, Kōshū complained to him after being excited, "If that's the case, I feel like I won't be motivated."

"...So, what are you going to do again?"

"I want to pitch."

"Huh?" Kōshū looked serious, without a hint of joking. "Please, just stay put. Did you bring your equipment?"

Kōshū, who was very mature in other aspects, occasionally seemed very self-centered when it came to baseball.

"No way, although I really want to see that strongman hit a Home Plate, just watching makes my heart itch more and more."

Lang Zhi saw that he was about to stand up and grabbed him: "Hey, hey, are you an elementary school student? You get tired after walking a few steps on a spring outing and want to go home. Please think about it. This is a rare family outing."

Kōshū pulled his sleeve out unhappily, knowing in his heart that Lang Zhi had rarely said something correct. Now that the game was a foregone conclusion, he had to sit here. One-sided games were not good to watch, unless you were the type who supported whoever was winning.

"Sigh—" He seemed a bit out of place among the excited spectators.

Lang Zhi had just been glared at as a warning, and now he secretly grabbed Kōshū's sleeve again, preventing him from suddenly using some excuse to run off to practice baseball.

Shen Qing also breathed a sigh of relief. Lang Zhi was on her left, and Mr. Sasaki was on her right. Because she hadn't been very involved, she had noticed the two brothers' movements just now. Fortunately, the two seemed to have a unique way of getting along, and nothing had happened, so she was relieved.

Then she was attracted by the cheers of the crowd, and her eyes returned to the field. Eh, how did that student with the big frame just return to Home Plate? Regretting her ticket money, Shen Qing decided to watch the game carefully, but soon, an eighth batter's fly ball ended the long top of the first inning.

"Eh? The first inning is over." Shen Qing hadn't watched enough.

"Hahaha, amazing, these kids, the batting line is almost going through a cycle." Mr. Sasaki, who was still not satisfied, seemed to have returned to his youth, telling Shen Qing with a flushed face. Compared to Shen Qing, he was completely immersed in the game, and didn't even notice the two children's exchange.

"Kōshū, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" The slow-witted Mr. Sasaki was a little worried when he saw Kōshū's listless expression.

"No, no, I just feel very shocked. The strength of the entire batting line is very strong, like piranhas, one after another, constantly tearing off meat without giving the opponent time to react and adjust."

"Yes, compared to all the schools in West Tokyo, Seido's batting lineup has outstanding figures every year. As Seido OBs, it would be great if you could play baseball at Seido." Mr. Sasaki emphasized at the end, "The two brothers together."

Lang Zhi chimed in, "Dad, we're only in the second year of junior high." Talking about future paths, it's not certain whether they'll even play baseball in high school. Although Kōshū will most likely continue playing, tsk, thinking about it is annoying. While he hesitates due to lack of ability, the other party doesn't have such worries at all.

"These private high schools still require exams, right? I remember some seniors also took exams to get in."

"But baseball scholarship students don't need to take exams. You don't need to worry, just focus on playing baseball, and let the adults worry about the rest." Mr. Sasaki patted his chest, guaranteeing it with a big, manly gesture.

"Haha, you're just trying to fulfill your regret of not being able to play baseball with your older brother back then." Shen Qing exposed him, and continued, "For further education, we do need to start considering it now. Which school to go to, we have our considerations, but we will still prioritize your wishes."

Amidst the family's casual conversation, the second half of the game began. Seido was on defense, and standing on the Pitcher's Mound was Nakama, a third-year student. Just standing there, the muscles on his thighs were already bulging, indicating that he had undergone a lot of training.

Chris, squatting behind Home Plate, sensed the tension in the batter, an aura of wanting to hit a Straight Ball.

'This stance, is he not planning to watch a few pitches? Then the first pitch, a Curveball, high and outside.'

Nakama nodded, and a slow Curveball left his fingers, landing in the strike zone, low and outside.

The batter, who had been focused on the Straight Ball, tensed all his muscles at the moment the pitcher released the ball, and when the ball drew an arc, his power inevitably dissipated, and he ultimately failed to swing.

'Second pitch, a Straight Ball, high and inside.' The batter swung hastily, turning it into a foul ball towards First Base. With just two pitches, the batter was cornered.

The third pitch, a Curveball low below the knees, was hit towards the Second Baseman, and was easily forced out at First Base.

"The style is very different." Kōshū, stuck in his chair, felt that the game had become much clearer in this bottom half of the inning. Although the second batter got on First Base with a strong line drive to Third Base, the subsequent third batter hit a ball towards Shortstop, which was turned into a double play.

So sleepy, I'm leaving first. I was writing until 9:30 and only wrote 614 words, I'm very desperate, so today is a short chapter.