Izumi Minoru listed all the benefits Waseda Jitsugyo could offer, trying to persuade the young man in front of him—after all, for most people, entering Waseda Jitsugyo ant they were halfway into Waseda University’s gates. Who could resist such a temptation?
After carefully listening to Izumi Minoru, Matsui Yuuki did not imdiately respond this ti, seemingly a bit shaken; seeing this, Izumi Minoru hurriedly seized the opportunity to introduce the school’s baseball team:
"You must have watched this year’s Sumr甲 tournant—our team is one of the top in Tokyo and even nationwide. Coming here ans you’ll face many strong teams, whether in daily training, practice matches, or official gas, which will undoubtedly help you grow quickly."
"Plus, we have a genius pitcher like Lin Guanglai. If you, Matsui-kun, co to our Waseda Jitsugyo, I am confident that in the next two years, we can contend for the national championship..."
Izumi Minoru paused to catch his breath; just as he was about to continue, Matsui Yuuki, sitting opposite, politely interrupted him:
"Mr. Izumi, you just ntioned Lin Guanglai, right?"
"I have a question: If I go to Waseda Jitsugyo, how do you see my role?"
Faced with the young man’s question, Izumi Minoru pondered for a mont. Ultimately, he chose not to continue drawing a rosy picture but instead spoke his true thoughts—after all, honesty is a prerequisite when it cos to one’s future.
"If you co to Waseda Jitsugyo, you will undoubtedly start from the second team, which is the rule in any school;"
"But I assure you, as long as you show enough strength in team training, your first-year status will definitely not be a barrier. We’ll directly promote you to the first team—as far as I can see, with your ability, this shouldn’t be difficult."
"After joining the first team, you will most likely be Lin Guanglai’s backup in the first year, adapting to the rhythm of high school gas while participating in so official matches;"
"By the second year, when you’re in your sophomore year, and Guanglai is in his senior year, I think that’s when we’ll truly achieve results—building around the two of you as the core, with Guanglai as the main pitcher and you as the closer. This model, in my opinion, could at least win us a national championship."
"As for your junior year, there’s nothing much to say. You’ll undoubtedly be the team’s undisputed mainstay, and we’ll fully support you as the defensive core. If you have professional aspirations then, we can also formulate a professional plan for you..."
Matsui Yuuki nodded as he listened and thought, indicating his understanding; this ti, he took even longer to deliberate.
After about five to ten minutes, Matsui Yuuki finally seed to have made a decision. He looked directly at Izumi Minoru and slowly said:
"Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Izumi—but unfortunately, I think I want to stay at a local school in Kanagawa to continue playing baseball."
"The scenario you’ve outlined is indeed attractive, and I believe your school has the strength to win a national championship—but when it cos to my future as a baseball player, Mr. Izumi, please allow to be a little selfish."
"In your plan, I would be Lin Guanglai’s backup for the first two years of my high school career—I know this is normal for high school baseball, but I don’t want that."
"Maybe you think that Lin and I complent each other well, with one as a left-handed pitcher and the other as right-handed, both strong enough to coexist as dual pitchers—but, Mr. Izumi, this is not the path I want."
"Rather than silently guarding the team as a closer in the shadow of the starting pitcher, I want to stand in the spotlight, trusted deeply by my teammates and given responsibility by the coach as a starting pitcher."
"Instead of spending three years like an ordinary player, I want to follow a path like Lin’s: Why can’t a first-year be the main pitcher of the team?"
At this point, Matsui Yuuki smiled:
"Besides, Mr. Izumi, Waseda Jitsugyo already has an excellent pitcher like Lin—rather than being a teammate who progresses with him every day, I prefer to beat him fair and square on the field as an opponent!"
"So, please allow to decline your invitation—I’ve already promised Nozaki Yasuyuki of Tong Guang, hoping that in the future, we can compete against Waseda Jitsugyo."
Having said so much, Izumi Minoru knew that he had probably made the trip in vain this ti.
After sending Matsui Yuuki off, Izumi Minoru sighed as he sat in his seat—if the starter and backup pitchers are like a person’s two hands, then Waseda Jitsugyo is currently a deford child with one strong and powerful hand and one weak and feeble hand.
Talented pitchers aspiring for professional baseball won’t co to Waseda Jitsugyo because their pride doesn’t allow them to live under Lin Guanglai’s shadow; however, ordinary players with average strength contribute nothing to the first team’s prowess.
Frustrated, Izumi Minoru closed his eyes—he needed to think long and hard about this issue.
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