I became the best friend of the heroine in Love Tour

Chapter 336 Seeded Players
Originally, Hiroya Noguchi thought that this yellow-haired man was just an unimportant person.

After all, this yellow-haired guy had been playing catch and throw the ball with the little girl on the sidelines. He looked like an outsider who came to visit the baseball club and didn't look like a team member at all.

That's why he got angry and wanted to make a scene after being teased by Huangmao.

As a result, I hit a wall.

If you think about it carefully, the coach and the headmaster of Chuyue High School did not stop this yellow-haired guy from playing tricks on them. It even seemed that this yellow-haired guy was very familiar with the headmaster.

But no one expected that the yellow-haired man was actually the vice president of the student union of this private high school. When they arrived at Dezukuri High School, they all saw the virtual concert floating in the air, as well as various lively surrounding stalls and snack stands, and the flying chess game by the swimming pool.

At that time, the person who jumped the loudest and shouted "awesome" when seeing such a lively school festival was none other than Hiroya Noguchi himself.

He also wondered who could make such a big fuss. Compared to his own school festival at Sugikawa High School, let alone a virtual concert, their Sugikawa High School was just a boys' school.

There are no girls in their school. They are either fifty-year-old cleaning ladies or conspicuous losers who dress like women.

The only programs in their school, apart from women's clothing, are funny skits. There are not so many programs.

When he came to the school festival of Izuki High School, he felt that this was heaven.

And the man standing at the pinnacle of heaven is this yellow-haired man?
Hiroya Noguchi looked at the yellow-haired man who was being touched on the head by the loli behind the crowd, and his eyes became much clearer.

Obviously, he was scared at this time and wanted to go back to his school.

However, the people from Sugikawa High School who came with him had no intention of canceling the practice match just for him.

The coach of the Sugikawa High School baseball team, Takashi Yasuda, stepped forward wearing glasses and looking calm.

"I'm sorry, although your vice president may have gone too far, it was indeed our seed pitcher who caused the trouble first this time."

First talk about your opponent's mistakes, then admit your own mistakes.

The coach Yasuda in front of him was obviously not a fool. How could someone who could lead his school's baseball team to win the third place in Koshien be a fool?

After he said this, everyone at Sugikawa High School and Izuki High School quieted down a bit, and Coach Yasuda from Sugikawa High School continued.

"I forgot to introduce him. This monkey is a freshman pitcher at Sugikawa High School."

"Although he hasn't won as many awards as your Date Jujuro, his potential is no less than that of your best pitcher in junior high school."

"Young people are growing up. Some will grow faster and longer, while some have already overdrawn their potential. Running too fast is not a good thing."

Coach Kikuta, who was standing opposite Coach Yasuda, had a rather grim look on his face.

He had known this old rival in front of him for a long time. He was once a baseball player like himself and a top-notch Yin-Yang Master. After an insincere apology, he started to slander him.

Especially the last sentence was undoubtedly a direct belittlement of Date Jujuro and a praise of Noguchi Hiroya, who was standing next to him and wearing a wig and looked like a monkey.

"Oh, really? But some young people start late and then they are one step behind in everything. They lose from the very beginning. In the end, no matter how hard they try to develop their potential, they still can't win. Even if they put on a hat, it's just a monkey in a coat."

After saying that, Coach Kikuta deliberately took a deep look at the monkey Hiroya Noguchi next to Coach Yasuda.

Immediately, the wig-monkey's face turned red, and everyone in the Dezuki High School baseball team laughed unabashedly.

In contrast, everyone in the Sugikawa High School baseball team blushed. This slap was not just for the monkey Noguchi Hiroya, it was a slap on all of their faces.
"Oh? How about a competition? Let our monkey wearing a hat compete with your Date Jujuro?" Coach Yasuda shook his hands and then spoke.

After hearing this, Coach Kikuta understood the other party's plan.

Previously, this monkey, Hiroya Noguchi, acted recklessly, and Sugikawa High School had no intention of doing its best to stop him. When the monkey was bullied by Yoichi Akimoto, they just stood by and watched.

It seems that from the very beginning, Sugikawa High School wanted to find an excuse to make a bet with Izuki High School. The purpose of the bet was to test and verify the strength of Date Jujuro.

Sugikawa High School's move this time is to test the waters, or to suppress the future main force of its competitors.

The current main pitcher of the Detsuki High School baseball team is Jinpachi Morii, but Jinpachi Morii is already in the second grade and will be a third grade next year.

Who will take over the pitching position of Jinpachi Morii? The most obvious choice at the moment is Jujuro Date.

The same is true for Sugikawa High School.

Both sides are eager to find out the other's strengths in advance in preparation for next year's Spring National Baseball League (Koshien), and it would be even better if they could strike a blow to their opponent.

No one would really think that friendship comes first just because it’s a practice match, right?
However, Coach Kikuta had some concerns.

Because just as Coach Yasuda said, Date Jujuro's condition is not stable. If he loses this game, it will definitely be a big blow to Date Jujuro.

"Okay, since Coach Yasuda wants to compete, then come on. I won't be afraid of a monkey that pops out from nowhere." Just when Coach Kikuta was worried, Date Jujuro stepped forward first.

Looking at the motivated Date Jujuro, Coach Kikuta was at a loss for words for a moment.

If we stop him, it might have the opposite effect.

As for Hiroya Noguchi, who seemed to have unknowingly earned the nickname "Monkey", he was a little overwhelmed at this moment.

"Ida Jujuro! How dare you say you don't know me? We even faced off in a junior high school match! You only beat me by one point! Don't be so proud! You were just lucky! You got the best pitcher award! If I hadn't made any mistakes, I would have been the best pitcher! We won the game!"

So that's why. No wonder this monkey wanted to find Date Jujuro in the beginning, because he had competed with Date Jujuro when he was in junior high school.

In the end, I lost.

Now that everyone has entered high school, this is revenge.

"Luck? There is no such thing as luck in baseball." Date Jujuro continued to maintain a cold expression and replied.

He has no interest in the defeated opponents.

If he could beat him, he might even remember what the other person looked like.

"You! You have a point." Noguchi Hiroshi was also discouraged, but soon added, "But I want to beat you in this game! If I win, how about you all shave your heads!"

It seems that the baldness incident was a big blow to Hiroya Noguchi.

While saying this, Hiroya Noguchi also glanced at Akimoto Yoichi behind the crowd.

Although he didn't dare to continue to mock the yellow-haired man directly, seeing that the yellow-haired man shaved his head could be considered as revenge.

"Okay, but if you lose, I want all of you to shave your eyebrows." Date Jujuro chose to fight back.

Shaving one's head is a tradition in boys' schools like Sugikawa High School. In order to allow students to focus more on their hobbies and sports, since there are no girls in the school anyway, shaving one's head is encouraged.

But no one would shave their eyebrows, that would be too expensive.

At this time, Date Jujuro wanted them to shave their eyebrows, which was a bit cruel. Noguchi Hiroya gritted his teeth, raised his hand to make a high-five gesture, and said, "Then it's a deal!"

"It's a deal." Date Jujuro raised his hand and high-fived him.

Seeing two future pitchers from their high school making such an agreement on behalf of their baseball team without their permission, neither the coaches nor the team leaders tried to stop them.

For sports clubs, such competitiveness is not a bad thing.

In other words, being competitive can actually help them grow better, give them motivation, and enable them to overcome some lows and bottlenecks.

"Okay, since we have agreed, let's do it, Coach Kikuta."

The goal was achieved, and a smile appeared on the serious face of Coach Yasuda of Sugikawa High School.

"Well, no problem. Yokota, take everyone from Sugikawa High School to the lounge to change clothes." Coach Kikuta of Izuki High School did not hesitate and went straight into the process.

Standing nearby, Yokota Yuchi nodded and said to everyone from Sugikawa High School, "Everyone, follow me."

Watching Yuchi Yokota leading everyone from Sugikawa High School to the lounge.

Everyone from Chuyue High School gradually dispersed and prepared for the next practice match.

Coach Kikuta, along with Date Jujuro, team leader Morii Jinpachi, Akimoto Yoichi, and Kikuta Touna, came to the rest area.

"I'm sorry, coach, and senior Morii, I accepted the provocation and made this bet without your permission." Although Date Jujuro has a stubborn personality, he is not a fool.

As a freshman, he agreed to the bet without consulting the coach, the department head, or other seniors, and the bet was to shave his head.

This will undoubtedly cause dissatisfaction among everyone in the community, which is why no one objects.

It was all because of Coach Kikuta's expectations of him and Jinpachi Morii's magnanimity.

"If you want to make a bet with the other party, it's no big deal. No one here has a girlfriend anyway, and there's nothing wrong with being bald." Coach Kikuta shook his head and said.

"What's important is not the bet, but whether you can win. The other party is obviously well prepared and is coming directly for you."

"That said, they must have studied your pitching habits and style specifically."

"I'm afraid this competition was aimed at you, Twelve Lang, from the beginning. During the competition, they will definitely make various attempts on you to try to suppress you. In the future competitions, they will also think of ways to defeat you."

If I had been patient and not accepted the bet just now.

If he just lets Date Jujuro test the opponent, pitching a few innings instead of the entire game, he can hide his strength and observe the opponent instead.

It won't be easy for others to find out your details, and there won't be any stakes.

"I think you're worrying too much, coach. There's nothing to be afraid of at Sugikawa High School. If they want to find out our details, then we can also find out the details of that monkey on their team. Isn't that monkey a seeded pitcher like Date Jujuro? When he duels with Date, can't we also see his details?"

Morii Jinpachi spoke carelessly.

Compared to Coach Kikuta who is so thoughtful, Jinpachi Morii makes judgments based on wild intuition.

Of course, this also makes the ball thrown by Jinpachi Morii completely unpredictable, causing headaches for his opponents.

"Thank you, Morii-senpai! I'm so sorry!" Faced with the affirmation from the person he admired, Date Jujuro still bowed his head and apologized obediently.

"It's nothing. It's my duty to support the younger generation. Besides, you don't have to worry too much, coach. Even if the other party knows my details, so what? As long as Ida continues to grow, he will be able to break through himself when facing difficulties and crises."

Morii Jinpachi didn't think at all, he just said what came to his mind.

But what he said does make some sense and is irrefutable.

Coach Kikuta could only smile bitterly and shook his head when he saw this. He looked at the energetic Date Jujuro and said, "Then go and do some warm-up exercises. The rest of the game is up to you."

"Yes, I understand." Date Jujuro nodded in response, nodded to Coach Kikuta and Morii Jinpachi, then turned around and left with the ball.

Looking at Date Jujuro's back, Coach Kikuta sighed softly.

After all, Date Jujuro was still a little impetuous. If he easily accepted the opponent's provocation, how could he maintain a calm mentality during the game?

Although what Jinpachi Morii said made sense, it was not because of Jinpachi Morii's idea that Ida Jujuro agreed to the bet with Sugikawa High School.

"Coach, are you worried about Ida?" asked Jinpachi Morii.

"Well, I'm worried that he's trying too hard." Coach Kikuta said, "Sometimes trying too hard is not a good thing. It's easy to get injured. It's more important to relax your mindset appropriately. You know, everyone has their own pace."

“Not everyone can reach the peak in a short period of time, or the peak you were at before may not be your limit.”

"Some people may never touch baseball, but once they do, they will have terrifying explosive power and growth speed. Ida is still a little impulsive and stubborn, and he sets too high standards for himself."

Mentally, as a pitcher, Date Jujuro obviously still needs more training.

Jinpachi Morii seemed to understand what was said, but this simple-minded muscular man had always done things based on his intuition. Of course, Coach Kikuta did not expect him to understand.

Compared to Date Jujuro, the other newly discovered seeded player was much calmer and more steady.

"Akimoto-kun, how are you getting familiar with it? How's your catching the ball?"

His eyes fell on the yellow-haired man who was playing catch with his daughter, and Coach Kikuta couldn't help but smile relaxedly.

Although baseball is a sport, it is not torture.

If you can do it with love and passion rather than responsibility and pressure, that is the way to unleash your greatest potential.

"Very impressive! Akimoto-nii can already catch the ball very well, and he's also very good at hitting the ball with the bat, although his pitching is still not very accurate."

Before Akimoto Yoichi could say anything, the big bear loli sister Kikuta Touna beside him answered proudly.

While speaking, she reached out and touched Akimoto Yoichi's head.

This made Akimoto Yoichi want to lie on the thighs of this loli girl and enjoy the beautiful view of the big bear approaching.

"Really? Then Akimoto-kun, I can let you be the hitter in the game later." Coach Yasuda said thoughtfully.

Although Sugikawa High School seemed to think that they only had one seeded player, Date Jujuro.

But, in fact, they have a second seeded player, that is Yoichi Akimoto.

In this practice match, Coach Yasuda was more inclined to train Akimoto Yoichi at this moment rather than trying to train Date Jujuro.

(End of this chapter)