Chapter 697 - 697: We are the Strongest
"Thank you for the instruction!"
"Thank you for the instruction!"
Under the sunlight, the shadows of the players from the two baseball teams on the field stretched long.
This Kanto Tournament final dragged on a bit…
It lasted a total of two hours and forty-four minutes.
But the fans in the stands didn't feel bored at all.
They clapped excitedly.
This applause was not only for Seido High School Baseball Team, who won the game, but also for the opponent, Inashiro Industrial.
This game was truly spectacular.
After several reversals, Seido High School Baseball Team ultimately secured the victory.
Whether it was the fans from Seido or the die-hard supporters of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team, everyone watched with surging excitement and passion.
Their applause was heartfelt.
At this moment, if they hadn't given recognition to the players on the field, they would have felt they were letting down these kids who had presented such a wonderful game to them.
After saluting each other, the players of the two baseball teams shake hands.
For baseball teams that aren't familiar with each other, this is merely a formality.
Besides encouraging and wishing each other well, they generally don't say anything else. Especially in some major games, to maintain their team's image, most players choose to remain silent.
However, this, when it came to Seido High School Baseball Team and Inashiro Industrial, couldn't help but feel a bit off.
They are rivals, but also the best opponents and the best competitive partners.
They know each other inside and out, and some even have good personal relationships.
Such two teams, in the handshake after the game, were destined not to be so calm.
As the winning side, Zhang Han's initial feeling was very good.
Although he wouldn't go out of his way to show off, Zhang Han would still be very happy to see Narumiya Mei's dejected appearance.
Zhang Han, feeling this way, was startled.
Since when did his personality become so awful?
This is not good, very not good.
In the future, it's better to stay away from Miyuki. I didn't expect that 'dark-bellied' personality could be contagious.
He, a good young man, has been led astray by Miyuki, and now he even knows how to gloat.
Although he knew it was not good, Zhang Han was still very much looking forward to seeing Narumiya Mei's expression.
But he was destined to be disappointed.
Narumiya Mei did not become a drowned rat as Zhang Han imagined; from his face, there wasn't even much anger.
He held his head high, his back straight, and even smiled as he shook hands with the players of Seido High School Baseball Team.
"As expected of Yuuki, I had no power to fight back in our third confrontation."
"Out of a total of 130 pitches, you consumed nearly 30 of mine, you truly are a devil…"
This guy, while shaking hands with the Seido High School Baseball Team players, even praised his opponents.
This kind of thing, if it were anyone else, would be normal. But coming from Narumiya Mei, it was as if the sun had risen from the west.
Zhang Han's heart instinctively trembled.
This kid, he wouldn't have any other ideas, would he?
But he was as proud as a little rooster, his neck almost reaching the sky.
Zhang Han didn't believe he would play any tricks.
If he wasn't playing tricks, why would his attitude take a 180-degree turn?
Zhang Han didn't understand, but one thing he was very sure of was that this was definitely not a good thing.
This guy must have some plan?
On the other side, Harada, as he shook hands with Yuuki, gave Zhang Han and Miyuki a deep look.
"Your juniors are truly reliable!"
It was as if he was saying that Seido High School Baseball Team was able to win this game entirely due to the excellent performances of Zhang Han and Miyuki.
Otherwise, if it had all been a showdown between their third-year players, the result would certainly not be as it was now.
"Aren't your juniors also very capable?"
Yuuki was not someone who liked to argue, but Harada's words really hit a nerve.
He could not, under any circumstances, lose to the other party on this point.
Harada was stunned at first; he really didn't mean that.
But then he turned his head and glanced at his own dugout.
Ace Narumiya Mei, Carlos, the First Batter, Shirakawa Katsuyuki, the Second Batter, and Yamaoka Riku, the Sixth Batter.
Their core main force players, a full four second-years, and all in important positions within the first six batters.
Compared to Seido High School Baseball Team, they really had no right to say anything in this regard.
After all, among Seido High School Baseball Team's first six batters, there were only three people at most.
They were Kuramochi Yoichi, the First Batter, Zhang Han, the Fourth Batter, and Miyuki Kazuya, the Sixth Batter.
In contrast, they were the ones who benefited in this aspect.
Zhang Han stood at the back of the team, witnessing firsthand the fierce confrontations during the handshake process.
To be honest, from an outsider's perspective, it was quite interesting to watch.
However, when it was his turn, this interesting feeling changed dramatically.
These players from Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team, when shaking his hand, each used all their might.
Zhang Han strongly suspected these guys had ulterior motives.
They wanted to use this method to make his hand swell up, so he wouldn't be able to pitch later.
Harada was no exception; large and burly, his handshake with Zhang Han was the most painful for Zhang Han.
"Junior, keep up the good work!"
Zhang Han felt a tremendous grip on his hand.
But he didn't retaliate.
On one hand, his fingers were flexible, and although he could feel pain, it wasn't very serious.
On the other hand, he also considered the feelings of these players from Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team.
Seido had already won the game, so there was no need to cause extra trouble. It was fine to let the players of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team find some satisfaction in this matter.
"I will!"
Zhang Han smiled and agreed.
He agreed so matter-of-factly, as if he had already secured the next victory.
Harada Masatoshi's expression suddenly changed, and he released his hand.
Finally, it was Narumiya Mei's turn, and the two's hands were tightly clasped together, not separating for a long time.
Before, when facing the other players of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team and feeling their grip, Zhang Han would immediately turn his fingers into a claw shape.
Fingers pressed together can greatly reduce impact.
Because he had to pitch, Zhang Han's fingers were very well maintained.
The reason he was unwilling to shake hands forcefully with the other players of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team was largely because these players had calluses on their hands.
Zhang Han was different; because he maintained them well, his fingers had excellent flexibility.
Normal handshakes were fine.
But if Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team's players chose to grip with full force, and Zhang Han also competed.
It was easy to cut his fingers.
Although the probability wouldn't be very high, if it happened even once, Zhang Han would suffer.
So, when shaking hands with others, based on the principle of 'a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him', based on the principle of doing good deeds, and based on the principle of not provoking opponents.
Zhang Han would not take it seriously.
But the object he didn't take seriously definitely did not include Narumiya Mei.
When the two shook hands, Narumiya Mei gritted his teeth, his face ferocious.
Although Zhang Han smiled, he also increased the strength in his palm, meeting him head-on.
The two were in a stalemate for quite a while.
Just as others couldn't help but cast curious glances, they smiled and separated.
Then they hugged each other, patting each other's backs vigorously.
"Thank you so much for giving us a Kanto Tournament championship."
No matter when, as long as Narumiya Mei suffered a loss on the field, this private act was inevitable.
It was like this before, and it still is now.
If there was any difference, it was probably that the current Narumiya Mei was much more mature and cunning than before.
He wouldn't show anything on his face anymore.
Even when exchanging harsh words with Zhang Han, he maintained a smile, as if genuinely happy for his friend.
"It's nothing, just a small regional tournament championship. Consider it a gift from big brother, so you don't graduate without a decent championship and cry in a corner."
My goodness.
Zhang Han was very surprised.
The former Narumiya Mei was at most thick-skinned, daring to say anything.
Now his standard was clearly different.
Not only did he dare to speak, but he could also keenly grasp the key points of an issue.
It seemed that after truly becoming the Ace of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team, Narumiya Mei's pitching skills improved daily, and his verbal skills also grew.
"Then let's meet again in the Summer Tournament!"
Anything said at this point would be superfluous, so Zhang Han extended an invitation for a rematch in the Summer Tournament.
Narumiya Mei's face broke into a smile.
"Next time, I'll definitely pin you guys to the ground and rub you hard."
"It's truly laughable for a defeated opponent to say such things."
The two said the harshest words, gritting their back teeth.
But the expressions on their faces were all smiles, even intimately hooking arms over shoulders.
Under the cameras of the reporters in the stands, their relationship was very good, and even the outcome of the game didn't change their mentality.
Seeing this scene, how could the fans not applaud?
They clapped loudly, and the commentator praised Zhang Han and Narumiya Mei's love-hate friendship since their junior high days.
"Although they are opponents on the field, they are also close friends. I believe that on the path of baseball, they will definitely be able to advance hand in hand and create new glory."
The commentator's high-sounding words almost made Fujio laugh.
How can competitors from the same region advance hand in hand?
Between them, no matter what their private relationship is, on the field, they are bound to clash fiercely.
The players from the two baseball teams separated with smiles.
Whether they won or lost.
Everyone had a smile on their face.
In the stage of exchanging harsh words, Zhang Han actually noticed.
Although their teammates were very happy and felt a sense of vindication.
However, when facing these players from Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team, they still seemed somewhat lacking in confidence.
They had clearly defeated their opponents and avenged their past grievances.
Now they were also the Kanto Tournament champions.
The teammates found it difficult to stand tall when facing the players from Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team.
Why is that?
At first, Zhang Han really didn't understand.
It wasn't until after the game that they held a press conference with the officials.
It was called a press conference, but it was actually a special interview session.
Over a dozen media outlets sent reporters to conduct exclusive interviews with the winners, Seido High School Baseball Team.
As the biggest contributor to this game, Zhang Han naturally wouldn't be absent from such an interview.
The other person who came along was the team captain, Yuuki Tetsuya.
As for the other teammates, due to limited space, they couldn't squeeze in and could only sit on the periphery.
As soon as the interview began, the reporters threw out one tricky question after another.
"Coach Kataoka, what kind of tactics did you prepare when facing Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team?"
This question was relatively normal, and after Kataoka finished answering.
The reporters' questions became sharper and sharper, some even very harsh.
"Seido High School Baseball Team luckily defeated the National Champions. Coach Kataoka, do you think this is Seido's strength or luck?"
The two words "luckily" deeply stimulated Yuuki and Zhang Han.
How did they become lucky?
Coach Kataoka was also stumped by this question at first.
Apparently, he had never expected a reporter to be so audacious.
"This is the result of the players' own hard work."
Facing the impolite interview, Coach Kataoka gave a simple and blunt answer.
His answer essentially blocked that reporter from any further questions.
But that reporter still wouldn't give up.
Unable to get an answer from Coach Kataoka, he threw the same question to Zhang Han.
"Zhang Han, what do you think about this question?"
You must be very excited to have luckily defeated the National Champions, right?
Although the reporter said nothing, all his intentions were clearly displayed on his face.
Zhang Han's expression became a little grim.
To win this game, all the teammates of Seido High School Baseball Team put in tremendous effort.
Even those players who showed almost no performance in the statistics played a very crucial role in the game.
Zhang Han also believed that Inashiro Industrial had also given their all in their match against them.
How could it be just luck?
"The results of the game say it all. Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team did indeed win the Spring Koshien Selection Tournament before. If you call them the best team in the country because of that, then you're not wrong. But now, they are not. We are the ones who won this game, and we are also the ones who defeated the Spring Koshien champions."
"As of now, we, Seido, are the strongest!"
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