"To all the audience at the venue and in front of the TV, welco to the live broadcast of the 8th day of the 92nd Championship Tournant’s 3rd match. Today’s live comntary is brought to you by , Tanaka Shuji, and beside is the familiar Mr. Takumi Tanchisha." Facing the live broadcast cara, Tanaka Shuji greeted the audience from the comntary seat.
"Hi, viewers, I’m today’s guest comntator, Takumi Tanchisha."
"The next match is between the defending champion Chukyo University and the prestigious team from West Tokyo showing impressive form in the first round, Waseda Industries. Mr. Tanchisha, what are your thoughts on today’s match?"
Takumi Tanchisha didn’t directly answer the question but instead laughed heartily:
"Well, Tanaka-san, you’ve given a tough question again! We all understand Koshien tournants; high school players’ competitive states are often unpredictable, so I wouldn’t be surprised by either team’s victory—"
But he then added: "Although comntators shouldn’t be biased, I must admit that as a regular audience focusing on Takayama, I’m truly looking forward to seeing Lin Guanglai from Waseda’s performance on the mound today."
Tanaka Shuji nodded in agreent: "Indeed, he’s a super rookie pitching in Koshien as a first-year student; it’s exciting!"
As if responding to the comntators’ conversation, the live cara shifted towards the bullpen near Waseda’s dugout on the first base side—where Lin Guanglai was practicing pitches before the ga.
"Pop—!" The baseball flew from his hand, swiftly entering Tsuchiya Ryota’s mitt.
"Great throw, Guanglai!" Tsuchiya Ryota caught the fast, sharp-angle fastball, tossed it back with a flick of his arm: "It’s almost ga ti; don’t throw too many, just three more and that’s it!"
Lin Guanglai nodded, then threw the ball again.
"Pop!"—this ti it was a slider.
Watching the trajectory and position of this pitch near ho plate, Tsuchiya Ryota nodded in satisfaction—he was clearly pleased with Lin Guanglai’s throwing form today; a well-controlled pitcher makes a catcher’s job much easier.
Near the stand aisles next to Waseda’s bullpen, a small group of fans had gathered; before the ga starts, many of Takayama’s fans who ca to watch often choose to stand by the bullpen, watching players practice through the net. So even had very professional photography equipnt, showing they ca prepared.
Akane Kujo held a cara, standing at the front of the crowded group, snapping photos relentlessly of Lin Guanglai pitching in the bullpen—as a university girl long devoted to Takayama, she differed from the hardcore Showa era fanatics, treating Takayama fandom as a stardom pursuit.
Every sumr, Akane Kujo loved to browse reports from various tournants, picking out the promising youngsters either in looks or skills, and followed them like idols. As Akane herself put it: "Seeing my favorite young ones make their mark in Koshien or perhaps in professional baseball in the future brings a satisfying sense of them growing up."
With a tall build, handso face, outstanding aura, and impressive skill, Lin Guanglai naturally topped Akane Kujo’s list, becoming one of her main focuses this sumr.
Moreover, to her surprise, her mother specifically reminded her to take more photos of Lin Guanglai after learning about her plan to watch Waseda’s match.
Taking out her newly bought iPhone 4, its screen displayed the conversation records from last night between mother and daughter:
[Mom]: Akane, if you’re going to watch Waseda’s match, rember to take more pictures of Lin!
[]: Huh? Mom, you follow Koshien matches too? You’ve never ntioned it before?
[Mom]: What kind of statent is that? I was into Koshien before I even knew your dad!
[Mom]: Seeing Lin in the news instantly reminded of the bygone Araki—all first-year starting pitchers, all equally handso—it feels like coming of age all over again...
With warm-up almost finished, Lin Guanglai and Tsuchiya Ryota conversed briefly, then took off their gloves and prepared to return to the player area, waiting for the match to start.
Seeing her photo subject moving away, an anxious Akane Kujo couldn’t help but shout:
"Lin, could you turn around for a photo?"
Hearing his na called from behind, Lin Guanglai was montarily stunned but then turned his head towards Akane Kujo’s direction—once eye contact was confird, Lin Guanglai smiled and gave a peace sign towards the cara.
Akane Kujo initially hesitated, but then frantically surged the cara’s shutter; she wasn’t the only one—other fans nearby mirrored the sa actions.
Staring at the charming smile in the photo, Akane Kujo was a little enraptured: "Lin is really handso..."
She then shook her head, resolving: "After today’s match, I must hurry to develop this photo!"
"I hope Waseda wins today; I really want to see Lin continue, but seeing him cry wouldn’t be entirely unwanted either... No, no, Akane, what are you thinking..."
Unaware of the girl’s thoughts, as he walked back to the player area shoulder-to-shoulder with Tsuchiya Ryota, Lin Guanglai got an envious comnt: "It’s good to be handso—having a cute girl photographer focusing on you—ahhhh I’m so jealous!!!"
Pre-ga preparations steadily ticked away and soon, it was almost ga ti.
The referee team signaled both teams to line up for pre-ga greetings.
With warm-ups concluded, team mbers from both sides took positions on the empty spots by first base and third base, led by the referees, they ran towards the ho plate area, settling on either side.
"Ready—"
"Please guide us!!!"
The 92nd National High School Baseball Championship Tournant, 8th day, 3rd match, second round, West Tokyo representative Waseda Industries versus Aichi representative Chukyo University.
First base side, Waseda Industries, strikes first.
Third base side, Chukyo University, strikes second.
As Chukyo University’s defensive players positioned themselves on the field, the venue began announcing the players—the highly anticipated showdown officially began!
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