Ochiai, who had a small beard on his chin, kept stroking it with his hand.
Hearing Coach Kataoka's question, he raised his head and looked at him seriously.
When Seido High School extended an olive branch to him, Ochiai had been very pleased. Having worked as an assistant for many years, he finally had the opportunity to coach a baseball team, and a top national powerhouse at that.
Of course, he wouldn't refuse such an opportunity.
But the other party told him he would only be the head coach, with a Director above him who was mainly responsible for leading the First-string. His own main responsibility would be to lead the second team and, incidentally, guide the individual skills of First-string players.
The content of this job was similar to what he had done at his previous employer.
Ochiai was immediately unhappy.
People usually change jobs for promotions. Why should he go back to his old ways after changing jobs?
Seido High School Baseball Team was indeed a top national powerhouse, but compared to his old employer, it didn't seem much stronger.
The value of this invitation quickly plummeted, and Ochiai almost refused on the spot.
Just as he was about to voice his refusal, his bank called him. Next month's mortgage payment was due and could no longer be delayed.
Ochiai clearly realized that his savings probably wouldn't allow him to continue being willful.
Before becoming the head coach of a powerhouse baseball team, he had to survive first.
Why not go to Seido High School and just get by for half a year?
He didn't even have to stay. Getting by for half a year and then finding a suitable opportunity to leave wouldn't be bad either.
He had heard that their Director was just a young man who had barely turned thirty. As the saying goes, "A beardless mouth makes an unreliable job."
If the other party was truly unreliable, maybe he could even replace him.
With multiple plans in mind, Ochiai finally agreed to the invitation.
Even so, he told Seido High School that he was just coming to take a look. If it wasn't suitable, both parties would automatically terminate the contract.
In short, it was a trial period.
Of course, the salary was paid in full.
Although Ochiai had never coached a baseball team independently, his methods for developing players were recognized across the industry. He wasn't an unknown, so he certainly wouldn't work for free.
After entering Seido High School, he saw the modern training facilities and the players' active, hardworking figures.
The outside world said that Seido High School Baseball Team's performance last summer might just be a flash in the pan, that they might decline afterward. But Ochiai didn't see that kind of atmosphere at all.
In his opinion, the current Seido High School Baseball Team was clearly a thriving program.
In that case, they only needed to maintain their rhythm to achieve good results. So why did they need a head coach?
Was it to share power with their Director? Was this the school leadership's intention, or the Board of Directors'?
Ochiai played out a palace intrigue in his own mind, but after observing, he knew he had completely overthought it.
Seido High School was simply looking for an assistant for their Director. Someone to share the workload and guide the players' skills.
Coach Kataoka had not received traditional baseball education. Although he had been playing baseball his whole life, he wasn't a professional coach by training. There were some things he didn't understand.
This was the reason Seido High School valued Ochiai.
"That's too optimistic!"
Keep him on a high salary, let him train for a few years, and once Coach Kataoka was fully mature, kick him out.
The Director of the Seido High School Baseball Team had always been a former player from the school. And Coach Kataoka was so young and clearly not incompetent.
"I'm new here and don't know these players very well yet. How about I observe for a while longer and then report to you?"
Ochiai said with a smile.
Coach Kataoka was stunned for a moment but quickly nodded. He hadn't expected Ochiai to be such a measured person.
"Then please, Coach Ochiai, observe carefully."
Ochiai nodded. Then he noticed a stack of materials on Coach Kataoka's desk and asked curiously.
"The players in these files don't seem to be the ones we just saw on the field?"
"These are the new players joining the baseball team this year. They haven't reported yet, but it should be soon."
The reporting time for new Baseball Club members was one day earlier than the start of school. Counting it out, there weren't many days left.
"Last summer, Mr. Kataoka led Seido High School Baseball Team and caused quite a stir at Koshien. I imagine many excellent prospects will be joining this year?"
Ochiai asked with a smile.
Who doesn't like to hear compliments? Even Coach Kataoka was no exception. A slight smile appeared on his face.
Although they had unfortunately lost to Osaka Kiryu High School last summer, the players' fighting spirit had left a deep impression on many teenagers about to enter high school.
Not only were more people applying to join the baseball team, but good news had also come from Takashima Rei. Many players who had rejected Seido High School Baseball Team at the last minute had decreased significantly.
Indeed, many good prospects were coming this year.
If it weren't for Inashiro Industrial and Ichidai Third High School making it into Spring Koshien and performing very well there, Seido's harvest might have been even greater. Many players who were originally undecided had chosen one of those two schools instead.
Of course, these so-called good prospects were based on junior high school standards. Whether they could truly make it could only be known after they entered high school.
But one thing was undeniable. Players who had made a name for themselves in junior high school had a much higher probability of continuing to shine in high school than ordinary players. The new players emerging in West Tokyo were basically all players already famous in junior high school.
"Which new player do you favor the most, Director?"
Ochiai seemed particularly interested in the new players.
Coach Kataoka picked up one piece of material, hesitated, then put it down and picked up another to hand to Ochiai.
"Jinguuji!"
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