Diamond Ace's Passionate Swing

In the afternoon, before the defensive training began.

A slightly overweight figure appeared on the sidelines of the court.

Dong Qingguo laboriously unloaded several large boxes from the car.

"Please wait a moment, gentlemen."

He called out to two team managers who were passing by.

"Hey managers, can I do you another small favor?"

The two girls were somewhat flattered.

"Okay...okay."

They helped carry the boxes.

"Is there anything else?"

Dong Qingguo wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Idiot, don't you even consider who brought the gifts?"

"There are plenty more in the car!"

"This is my gift to those guys."

He patted the box and grinned.

"If I can help them with this little bit, I guess I've already made a profit."

People around him gradually recognized him and began to whisper among themselves.

"Hey, who is he...?"

"There can't be any mistake!"

"Last year's star player, a monster who entered professional baseball as the third overall pick, Higashi Qingguo!"

"But why would professional baseball players come here?"

"Is it still in the middle of the season?"

"I heard that Senior Dong is currently in the Second Army to lose weight."

"He won't compete unless he loses 10 kilograms."

"lose weight?"

Izashiki spotted him with her sharp eyes.

"Senior Dong! Isn't this Senior Dong?!"

Dongqingguo turned his head.

"Hello, Izashiki."

Izashiki walked over quickly.

"haven't seen you for a long time!"

The surrounding chatter did not stop.

"You've really gained quite a bit of weight!"

Isashiki looked Dongqing up and down and spoke without any politeness.

"Senior Dong, have you gained weight again?"

"Why did I gain weight after joining professional baseball?"

Dong Qingguo's face darkened.

"Shut up! This weight gain is from the stress of not being able to play!"

Izashiki pursed her lips.

"Have you spoken to the coach yet?"

Dong Qingguo sighed.

"I just went there, and all he said to me was, 'Go lose weight.'"

He waved his hand.

"That's enough, leave me alone. You guys are the important ones."

"I entrust all the dreams I couldn't realize to you."

Isashiki's expression turned solemn.

"Senior Dong..."

Dong Qingguo patted his shoulder forcefully.

"We absolutely must make it to Koshien!"

The cattle shed area.

Miyuki crouched low, his eyes sharp.

"Next ball, quick fork ball."

"call out!"

The cue ball whistled through the air and slid into the low part of the strike zone.

"boom!"

The gloves made a popping sound.

"Quick throw!"

"call out!"

"boom!"

Another tricky, fast forkball.

Miyuki stood up and threw the ball back to Lin Xiao on the pitcher's mound.

"Not bad at all."

"His pitches are low enough, and after a game of rest, his pitches are powerful again."

"Okay, that's all for today. That's all."

Lin Xiao was still somewhat unsatisfied.

"Is that all?"

"I feel like I haven't even warmed up yet."

Miyuki shook his head.

"The real show starts tomorrow."

"Throwing too much will easily cause muscle fatigue."

Lin Xiao shrugged.

"Then I'm going outside to practice hitting."

He had just stepped out of the cowshed when he heard Dong Qingguo's loud voice.

"Hey, how's it going with you guys? That Tanba kid did a pretty good job."

Higashikiri saw Tanba Koichiro standing to the side.

"They haven't gotten completely crushed yet; these past few games must have been tough for them!"

Danbo looked somewhat embarrassed.

"Um... Senior Dong, actually..."

Izashiki, always eager for a good show, joined in.

"Senior Higashi, you don't know this, do you? There's a first-year ace pitcher who has knocked Tanba out of the ace position."

Dong Qingguo's eyes widened like copper bells.

"Eh!!!"

"What?!"

Izashiki pointed gleefully at Lin Xiao, who had just walked over.

"Oh, that's the kid!"

Dong Qingguo stared at the first-year student, who was almost as tall as him, his face filled with disbelief and shock.

Lin Xiao got closer and then he could see who it was.

"Dongqing Kingdom".

He turned to Miyuki and whispered his confirmation.

"This must be the fourth batter from the previous season, senior Higashi Kiyokoku."

Miyuki nodded, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"How about a game? This is a rare opportunity to experience a professional baseball-level power matchup!"

A hint of interest flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes.

"I am indeed quite interested; it would be a good opportunity to try out a modified ball."

Just then, Dong Qingguo's gaze passed over Lin Xiao and landed on Sawamura Eijun in the crowd, his attention instantly diverted.

"Hey! Aren't you that brat from back then?"

Dong Qingguo pointed at Zecun, his voice booming.

"How did you escape from the cowshed?"

"Could he have already become a substitute player?"

Sawamura paused for a moment before recognizing the person in front of him who had gained weight.

"You...you are..."

"That fat senior I beat to a pulp back then!"

Veins bulged on Dong Qingguo's forehead.

"obesity…"

Sawamura looked him up and down before delivering the final blow.

"Huh? Was I this fat before?"

Dong Qingguo picked up Zecun and lifted him up like a chick.

"Are you here to start a fight, you brat!"

"Didn't you say you hated baseball powerhouses?"

"In the end, they still ended up coming to Seido!"

Sawamura struggled in his grasp.

"I...I don't remember anything like that!"

The Eastern Qing Kingdom issued a vicious threat.

"If you dare to play me again, I'll stuff you into a cardboard box and send you back to your rural hometown!"

Sawamura, being lifted up, instead squeezed Higashikiyokoku's arm.

"It's so soft and fluffy."

The Eastern Qing Kingdom was enraged.

"You bastard..."

Miyuki interrupted in time.

"Senior Dong."

"He is now a vital asset to our team."

Dong Qingguo was taken aback and looked down at Zecun, who was still struggling.

You mean him?

Sawamura puffed out his chest smugly, but Miyuki's next words were not so pleasant.

"What?"

Miyuki added slowly.

"It's just one of our combat forces."

Sawamura immediately became dissatisfied again.

"What?! I'll definitely knock Lin Xiao off his ace position next year!"

Dong Qingguo frowned.

"Lin Xiao? Who is that?"

His gaze scanned the unfamiliar faces in the crowd, finally settling between Furuya Akira and Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao, who had just finished drinking water, put down the water bottle and spoke up.

"It's me, so what?"

The Dongqing Kingdom looked Lin Xiao up and down, their tone carrying the arrogance and scrutiny of a senior.

"That first-grader is really arrogant, getting the ace position in his first year."

"Let me, your senior, test your strength and see for myself!"

Miyuki immediately replied, his smile unchanged.

"I wanted to let him try out the improved new ball trajectory."

Miyuki looked at the Eastern Qing Kingdom with a hint of provocation.

"Would you like to give it a try, senior? How about standing in the batter's box and getting a feel for it?"

Minister Ota watched in horror.

"Things...it seems like things have gotten out of hand..."

Takashima Rei, however, seemed quite interested and pushed up her glasses.

"It's okay, it's okay, I'm just standing in the batter's box."

"In Dong's eyes, what level is Lin Xiao at now?"

She looked at Tetsuya Yuuki with a hint of expectation.

"But don't underestimate him, Dong."

His batting average is currently the highest on the team, and his hitting ability is already on par with Yuki's.

Yuki nodded in approval from the side.

The Eastern Qing Kingdom was even more shocked.