The thick night had not yet receded.
A large group had already gathered on the Seido High School Baseball Team's training ground.
The new students who had reported to the dormitory the night before lined up in two rows under the direction of the assistant coach. They waited nervously for the figures they had only ever seen on television.
After a short while, a group of people walked to the other side of the field, moving with powerful, measured strides.
At the forefront was Kataoka Tesshin, Director of the Seido High School Baseball Team, known throughout Tokyo for his strictness.
Beside him were Manager Ota, Vice-principal Takashima Rei, and the middle-aged man with the small beard.
Behind these four were the second and third-year members of the Seido High School Baseball Team.
From the new students' perspective, every one of these individuals looked formidable. They didn't even need to get close to feel the pressure rolling off the upperclassmen.
Too powerful.
The people on the opposite side were the Seido High School Baseball Team. As a newcomer, it was inevitable to feel nervous facing a formation like that.
Zhang Han and his teammates found it quietly surreal.
Just one year ago, they had stood on the other side, being scrutinized by Director Kataoka and their upperclassmen. Now they stood behind Director Kataoka, joining in the scrutiny of the players who had just joined the baseball team.
This was how the tables turned.
It was also at this moment that the teammates truly felt how much their own identities had changed. Especially for the players who had just entered their second year, the shift in feeling was the greatest.
From this moment on, they were no longer the youngest on the team. They were upperclassmen now, sitting somewhere in the middle.
The Seido High School Baseball Team had completely entered a new era. These second-year players were bound to face new challenges.
"I am Director Kataoka of the baseball team. These two are our Manager Ota and Vice-principal Takashima Rei."
Director Kataoka introduced himself, then introduced Ota and Takashima Rei. But for the middle-aged man with the small beard standing beside him, Kataoka said nothing at all.
Not only were the new students surprised; even veterans like Zhang Han didn't understand what this meant.
The previous night, in Director Kataoka's office:
"It's best to keep my identity hidden from the players for now, so I can observe them properly without interference. If they knew who I was, they would try to perform for me, and I wouldn't see anything genuine."
Ochiai had suggested this to Director Kataoka.
It was somewhat unexpected, but Kataoka nodded in agreement.
That was why today's scene played out as it did. Director Kataoka did not introduce the new coach to the team.
"Now, begin your self-introductions. Name, graduating school, preferred position."
Director Kataoka said.
This caught many newcomers off guard. Shouldn't a self-introduction also include their achievements from middle school?
In the corner of the group, a boy with a bowl cut muttered quietly.
"Is this their way of telling us that everything we achieved in middle school counts for nothing here?"
This was the top national powerhouse, the Seido High School Baseball Team, which had reached the Summer Koshien quarterfinals the previous year and was known as the National First Batting Line.
Their manner was indeed something else.
"I am from..., and my preferred position is..."
Starting from the first player in the first row, the new students introduced themselves one by one.
The Seido veterans could piece together a rough sense of each newcomer's level from the junior baseball teams and schools they mentioned, along with the positions they listed. It wasn't always accurate, but it was a useful reference.
Players who had come from competitive junior baseball programs and held key positions there generally weren't lacking in ability. The player's bearing mattered too. Someone who stated their position with particular confidence usually had something to back it up.
Seido had reached the Summer Koshien quarterfinals the previous year, losing only to Osaka Kiryuu, who went on to win the championship. Compared to previous years, the current team had changed significantly, and the reputation had stuck.
Among the newly reported students, alongside Zhang Han's two junior elementary schoolmates, there were several players from strong junior baseball backgrounds, including core players from competitive junior programs.
Toujou Hideaki, Kanemaru Shinji, Takatsu Hiroomi, Jinguuji.
These few stood out immediately.
"Huge harvest this year."
Kuramochi said, yawning.
Compared to their own intake year, Seido had drawn considerably more promising newcomers this time around.
Zhang Han turned to look at him. Dark circles, clearly hadn't slept well.
"Why are you so sleepy?"
Today was their first day with all the new students, and the Director valued it greatly. If anyone performed poorly now, Kataoka would not be lenient. Under those circumstances, why would Kuramochi have stayed up so late? Was he out of his mind?
"It's that guy who came yesterday. He played games until past two in the morning."
Kuramochi gritted his teeth.
He had never seen anyone so careless. Didn't that guy know what day it was?
"The newcomer in your dorm sounds like a character. Who is it?"
Zhang Han was genuinely curious. Someone who could leave both Kuramochi and Masuko this exhausted was worth knowing about.
"That guy hasn't woken up yet."
There was a hint of satisfaction in Kuramochi's voice.
Play games that late. Reap what you sow.
"You didn't wake him up?"
Zhang Han asked, disbelieving.
Kuramochi was usually loyal to a fault. Sharp-tongued, sure, but he generally looked out for his own. How could he be this ruthless to a junior elementary schoolmate sharing his room?
"He overslept on his own. Nothing to do with me."
Kuramochi looked entirely unbothered.
Zhang Han's curiosity deepened. What kind of newcomer could make Kuramochi hold a grudge like this?
"Someone's late and sneaking in!"
Just as Toujou was about to introduce himself, a voice rang out.
New students and veterans alike turned toward it.
Then they saw the frozen, petrified figure of Sawamura Eijun.
Zhang Han didn't know what to say. He turned to Kuramochi.
"The newcomer in your dorm isn't him, is it?"
Kuramochi nodded, looking delighted.
Even he hadn't expected the kid to be this bold.