Baseball: A Two-Way Player

After scoring eight runs in just one inning against East Asia Academy, the rest of the game quickly devolved into trash time.

On East Asia Academy's side, their defense couldn't hold, and their offense posed no threat, leaving the players disheartened and uninterested in continuing the fight.

In the top of the fifth inning, the score was already 10-0—East Asia Academy's last threatening offensive surge was once again mercilessly shut down by Waseda Real's defense; as the final baserunner was trapped at first base, following the "five-inning, ten-run" rule of Takayama baseball, the third match of the autumn tournament between East Asia Academy and Waseda Industries ended abruptly after less than five innings.

After the game ended and they had courteously acknowledged their opponents, Lin Guanglai couldn't help but feel a bit reflective:

Just two months ago at the West Tokyo Conference, the two teams had just delivered a thrilling showdown:

In that game, Waseda Real had to go all out just to squeeze out two runs against East Asia Academy; Takasugi Masahiro's home run off Lin Guanglai's pitch still left a deep impression on him—right until the last moment, the audience didn't know which side would win the game;

A few short months later, the fortunes of both sides had diverged drastically: East Asia Academy, having lost its golden generation, had now completely declined to a second- or even third-rate team in Tokyo; while Waseda Real's strength had also waned, as a prestigious team, their average level was still much higher, and most of what they lacked was just synergy built over time.

High school baseball is just that realistic—those small team players, if they want to advance to Koshien, must hope for the right time, place, and people, wishing for the emergence of a golden generation one day to lead the team to create miracles;

However, once the strong senior class graduates, these teams often get reset to their original state, then repeatedly follow the same process, entering a long dormancy period.

But for those like Lin Guanglai in these prestigious private schools, reaching Koshien is often just the beginning, pursuing good results, or even a national championship is their goal;

Moreover, the reputation of good schools gives them a greater advantage in recruiting players—take Osaka Tsubaki High School, the most representative in Osaka Prefecture for example, their baseball team recruits only a dozen people every year, all of whom are genius players from junior high schools nationwide; replacements in Tsubaki's team often become aces if they go to other schools.

This is why, whenever a team from a small local public school enters Koshien or even achieves good results, it causes a sensation locally and nationwide—the story of David defeating the giant Goliath never gets old for the audience.

After today's game ended, on the bus back to school, Mr. Izumi's complexion finally improved a lot; he praised the performances of many players and stated that this was truly "a victory belonging to the team."

Back at school, organized by Lin Guanglai and Kenshu Yasuda, the team proceeded with their daily training—after all, the game only lasted five innings, the intensity was just slightly higher than usual practice games, and Mr. Izumi would not rest until the players' excess energy was thoroughly exhausted.

In the autumn tournament draw, Waseda Real was placed in the upper bracket to play first; starting tomorrow, the matches of the other half of the bracket, including strong schools like Nihon University and Kantou Number One, will begin to unfold.

After today's match, Waseda Real will enter a week-long break—this inevitably made Mr. Izumi feel a bit apprehensive:

As the team that played first, Waseda Real's players have a certain advantage in physical strength for the subsequent schedule, not needing to compete continuously like the advancing teams from the lower bracket;

However, the team currently lacks synergy, and their condition often fluctuates, with no formal high-intensity matches for a week, nobody knows what they'll turn into later.

Putting aside those worries for now, after the game against East Asia Academy ended, the baseball team seemed to return to its previous daily routine.

At three in the afternoon, after the day's courses ended, Lin Guanglai, as usual, left the classroom to head to the neighboring class to call on Uesugi Yasuyuki, and the two walked together towards the field.

After organizing the necessary equipment for training from the equipment room, and leading everyone through their warmups, Waseda Real's baseball team began their regular training.

During the afternoon's club time, a number of people gathered outside the field to watch the baseball team's practice—to this, Lin Guanglai had grown accustomed: ever since the team achieved the semi-finals in Summer甲, more and more people came to observe the baseball team; sometimes even dedicated reporters would come to film, along with some female students simply attracted to Lin Guanglai's appearance.

However, today, among those gathered outside the field watching the team's training, Lin Guanglai felt a sense of familiarity.

In the middle of the crowd, gazing at the younger students diligently training on the field, Tsuchiya Ryota leaned against the fence outside the field, clicking his tongue as he commented:

"Hmm, Yasuyuki and Takuya's work as catchers is still pretty good."

"I heard from Shinjiro that this kid Yasuyuki has been very dedicated in his training recently, even managing to make catcher throws to second base in under two seconds occasionally—"

"Tsk tsk, I admit he's already got seventy percent of my flair..."

Upon hearing Tsuchiya Ryota's shameless words, Onoda Shunsuke next to him spat and then immediately called him out:

"Ryouta, to talk about anything else, but your thick-skin skills have really grown—it's one thing to boast to others, but we are your teammates, aren't we? Don't we know your actual level?"

"If I remember correctly, your best record throwing to second base was just two seconds, right? And that was only when you were in your third year!"

"Yasuyuki managed to do it in his first year, how can that be the same!?"

Onoda's words quickly resonated with those around, and soon, one after another, the third-year students started bringing up all the embarrassing pasts related to Tsuchiya Ryota, making him wish he could crawl into a hole.

Today is October 15th, Friday—the qualifier match between Waseda Real and Tokai University Takarazuka is set to start tomorrow.

Not quite at ease after their retirement from the team, the third-year students arranged to come together to the training field and check on the team's status.

For these third-year players in front of him, they don't need to spend as much time contemplating their future paths as public school players do—many have already decided to advance to Waseda University.

Lin Guanglai walked to the side net of the field, feeling delighted, and quickly greeted his seniors:

"Hello seniors, do you want to come in and take a look?"

The former team members standing outside exchanged glances, then each walked into the field one by one.

Feeling the familiar touch beneath their feet, Tsuchiya Ryota, just like before, put an arm around Lin Guanglai, rubbed his head, and shouted:

"I heard you've become the team's captain, Guanglai—indeed a junior I'm proud of, you've really come a long way."

Lin Guanglai laughed, then extended an invitation to his seniors:

"We're playing a match tomorrow, but our baseball team hasn't played a regular match in nearly a week."

"How about it, seniors, are you interested in having a friendly match with the new baseball team?"

The third-year players exchanged looks, and then their eyes lit up with the fire of competition; one by one, they took off their uniforms and joined the fray.