Diamond No Ace: The Strongest Hitter Has Arrived

Seido High School, in front of the Baseball Club Manager's office.

"Manager Ota, the newspaper you ordered has been delivered. Please sign for it."

"Thank you…"

The plump Ota seemed to be in a good mood.

"I heard the team won the Kanto Tournament. As the Manager of the Baseball Club, you must have received a good bonus, right?"

"Not at all!"

Ota smiled and rubbed the back of his head.

With the team performing well, he was naturally happy as the Manager of the Baseball Club.

"It's mainly because those kids worked hard enough."

"You're too modest. How could the baseball team's excellent performance be achieved without your brilliant leadership as Manager?"

"Haha, I just gave them some pointers. It's not as exaggerated as you say. It's mainly the credit of our Coach and the players."

Although he said that, Ota's eyes had already narrowed into a slit.

Flattery always works.

"This is…"

After bidding farewell to the enthusiastic newspaper delivery boy, Ota finally focused his attention on the baseball newspaper he subscribed to.

Then he was deeply shocked by the content of the newspaper.

No, I must discuss this with the Coach as soon as possible.

"Something terrible has happened!"

Running all the way to Coach Kataoka's office, the sweat on Ota's forehead hadn't stopped.

"Ota, you should exercise more. Being too bloated is not good for your health."

Kataoka looked at the sweating Ota and frowned slightly.

Although the other party was not a player on the team, even as a colleague, he had a responsibility to remind him.

"Now is not the time to focus on my physique. Please take a look at this newspaper."

"Seido High School Baseball Team's Ace Speaks Out, Claims Seido is the Strongest!"

"Shocking! With over a month until the Summer Tournament, Seido has already reserved its Koshien ticket."

"Ignoring the Spring Koshien champion, is Seido High School Baseball Team truly confident or just seeking attention?"

Several consecutive newspapers had largely similar content. The news reported in these newspapers was the statement Zhang Han made after the Kanto Tournament.

A single stone stirred up a thousand waves.

Regardless of whether those reporters had favored Seido High School before?

Ever since Zhang Han made that statement, everyone had pushed the Seido High School Baseball Team to the forefront.

"Not bad, at least no one is saying we're delusional."

Media outlets that didn't favor the Seido High School Baseball Team inevitably had some critical remarks.

But no matter how harsh the criticism, not a single newspaper said that the Seido High School Baseball Team had no chance.

When this was mentioned, Ota also felt honored.

Because of this report, the Seido High School Baseball Team would definitely not have peace in the days leading up to the Summer Tournament.

At this moment, they had become a thorn in the side of countless teams nationwide.

But being remembered by so many teams itself proved the current strength and status of the Seido High School Baseball Team.

Compared to when they were in obscurity and no one paid attention.

This feeling was undoubtedly much better.

After all, not every team has enough strength to attract the vigilance of all strong teams nationwide.

"We are the Kanto Tournament champions. However, this way, we will become the target of all teams. And our own players will bear a lot of unnecessary pressure."

When he was interviewed yesterday, Ota actually didn't feel anything was wrong.

At that time, those reporters were talking one after another, saying things that even he, a middle-aged man in his 40s, couldn't stand.

Not to mention Zhang Han, a hot-blooded teenager who was not yet 16 years old.

It was understandable that Zhang Han retorted without hesitation, vindicating all the other teammates of the Seido High School Baseball Team.

No one expected it to cause such a big trouble in the end.

"Gather all the players and show them these newspapers."

Coach Kataoka slapped the table expressionlessly and then said.

Ota looked at his Coach in surprise, his eyes full of doubt.

In the past, Coach Kataoka would have wished to protect all the players of the Seido High School Baseball Team under his own wings, like a mother hen.

Not allowing media interviews and interference.

These media people are unscrupulous. It's not surprising for them to do anything for sales.

If the players perform well, they can praise them to the heavens with a few words. If the players perform poorly even once, they can turn their pens into sharp knives of satire, stripping the players bare.

He couldn't let these guys contaminate his own players.

So Coach Kataoka's attitude towards such matters was very firm in the past.

This time, however, he acted out of character and did not suppress the news.

On the contrary, he planned to gather all the players and have them all read the newspapers.

"Why is that?"

Ota really didn't understand.

But accustomed to obeying Kataoka's orders, he didn't question anything and readily nodded, going to gather the players.

Watching Ota trot out, Coach Ochiai hesitated to speak.

According to his inner thoughts, the Coach should not interfere in such matters.

However, everyone has their own teaching methods, and the teaching method he used might not be suitable for Kataoka.

In the strategy meeting room.

The teammates were gathered together, all looking confused.

They had just finished the Kanto Tournament, just finished the celebration, and the team had a rare day off.

Players could practice on their own to maintain their condition, and group practice was canceled.

They finally had some free time. Players who lived nearby were preparing to go home, and players like Zhang Han, who lived at school, were also planning to shop for daily necessities.

Unexpectedly, shortly after the holiday was announced, they were re-gathered.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know…"

The teammates asked each other, but no one knew why the Coach suddenly gathered everyone again.

Fortunately, they weren't confused for long, as the several bigwigs of the Seido High School Baseball Team soon walked over together.

Takashima Rei held a stack of newspapers, and without waiting for the players to ask her, she had already distributed the newspapers.

What Zhang Han said yesterday was causing a stir in the newspapers.

Several players had smiles on their faces, seeing that their team could cause such a sensation.

There were also some, more delicate in thought, who already foresaw the serious consequences these newspapers might bring.

During the upcoming Summer Tournament, whether in the West Tokyo preliminary rounds or in the future Koshien Stadium.

The players of the Seido High School Baseball Team would probably receive a warm welcome from their opponents.

This really couldn't be considered a good thing.

The Summer Tournament itself was tiring enough due to the high temperatures. And in this process, they would also be targeted by all opponents.

Then the situation faced by the Seido High School Baseball Team would probably be several times more severe.

"Zhang Han!"

Kataoka didn't waste words. After he arrived, he directly called Zhang Han.

Yuuki, Isashiki Jun, Kominato Ryosuke, Miyuki Kazuya, Masuko Toru…

Almost more than half of the main players all looked at Zhang Han with concern.

Some even prepared to stand up.

However, as soon as they made a move, they were pulled back by their companions.

No one understood their Coach's temperament better than these players.

If Kataoka truly believed this was a problem, and only Zhang Han was involved, Zhang Han's punishment would be lighter.

If everyone shared the responsibility, Coach Kataoka's punishment would definitely be several times more severe.

Chris pulled Isashiki Jun, giving him a look to calm down.

Although the Coach was strict, he was not an unreasonable person…

"Yes!"

Zhang Han stood up and looked at the team's bigwigs without flinching.

Ota, who had originally raised the question, was now the most nervous.

He wanted to intercede for Zhang Han, but he didn't know what to say.

"When you spoke to the reporters like that yesterday, did you anticipate this situation today?"

Kataoka stared directly at Zhang Han.

Kuramochi, sitting opposite Zhang Han, was shaking his head like a rattle drum.

Of course he didn't anticipate it. Even if he did, he couldn't admit it now.

"I guessed it!"

It would be excusable for others to say they didn't guess.

Besides being a baseball player, Zhang Han also took on some modeling jobs, so he understood what could create a buzz much better than the other players of the Seido High School Baseball Team.

Kuramochi slumped weakly in his seat.

It's over.

Zhang Han stood up for all his teammates and for the Seido High School Baseball Team yesterday, and they were all truly grateful.

They really didn't want to see Zhang Han punished for this matter.

"Since you anticipated it, why did you do it, knowing that we might become the target of everyone?"

Coach Kataoka's face remained cold, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking now.

Zhang Han couldn't guess either.

He could only tell the truth: "Even without such reports, would our opponents relax their guard against us? Don't forget, we defeated Inashiro Industrial, who won the Spring Koshien, and we defeated the National Champions. Even if the opponent doesn't consider us their primary target, they will consider us one of their main hypothetical enemies. In this situation, if we want to achieve something in the Summer Tournament, we can only overcome all obstacles and fight our way through. Instead of understanding this truth during the game, it's better to be prepared from the beginning. That's what I think!"

The teammates of the Seido High School Baseball Team's eyes lit up after hearing Zhang Han's statement.

If they didn't feel the occasion was inappropriate, they would have stood up and applauded.

Even Takashima Rei and Coach Ochiai nodded repeatedly, looking in agreement.

"Anything else?"

On the contrary, Kataoka continued to press the question expressionlessly.

"Since our goal is to dominate the nation, we naturally need to show the dominance of dominating the nation."

Zhang Han replied.

"Well said!"

The expression on Coach Kataoka's face finally softened. He first nodded seriously, then turned to Manager Ota and said, "In the next few days, if reporters come for interviews, use Zhang Han's statement to answer them."

Ota was stunned for a moment.

He was so hyped up by Zhang Han's words that he didn't really pay attention to what Coach Kataoka said.

Fortunately, he quickly figured it out and nodded along.

"Okay! Okay!"

"The afternoon holiday continues. During this time, whether you see similar reports online or someone asks you, answer them with Zhang Han's words. We've already made a big claim. By then, no one will be able to avoid embarrassment if we fail."

"Yes!"

The teammates shouted in unison.

Ochiai looked at Kataoka thoughtfully. He vaguely understood why Kataoka had gathered all the players together.

Instead of letting these players discover the online comments themselves after returning home.

It's better to gather everyone and disclose the news and the team's intentions to them in advance.

This way, even if the players see or hear anything, they won't overthink it.

"How clever! As expected of Coach Kataoka."

For the next two days, whenever Manager Ota received an interview, he would stick out his belly and tell everyone with a smile.

"Dominating the nation has always been our school's slogan and goal, and Zhang Han is the best practitioner of this goal."

This explanation obviously couldn't satisfy the reporters.

So, for the next few days, topics like "Seido is the strongest" and "Seido High School Baseball Team is predicted to win the Summer Koshien" became hot articles in baseball magazines and related online media.

And it continued for several days.

Seido High School Baseball Team was the first to make a grand declaration of dominating the nation before the Summer Tournament began.

The shock caused by this attitude first erupted within the West Tokyo area.

The two rivals of the Seido High School Baseball Team's eyes turned red when they received the news.

"It's infuriating! Just because they won a small Kanto championship, these guys are getting too big for their britches. Just wait, in the Summer Tournament, I'll make them lose convincingly."

Narumiya Mei angrily crumpled the newspaper in his hand and threw it into the trash can.

These reporters are becoming more and more irresponsible now, daring to directly publish such shoddy articles.

It's simply…

On the other side, in the Ichidai Third High School baseball team.

Zhang Han's two former teammates were also whispering together.

Zhang Han represented the Seido High School Baseball Team in saying such things, and everyone was only discussing what their chances of success were.

No one thought they were delusional.

This was too abnormal.

If it were another player, or even another player from the Seido High School Baseball Team, who said their team was the strongest in the nation, they would probably be so ridiculed they wouldn't know which way was up.

But because it was Zhang Han who said it, everyone seemed to fall silent all at once.

Zhang Han, unknowingly, had already reached such a position.

Even if he wasn't the number one high school baseball player yet, he was one of the candidates for the number one spot.

So much so that after he made such a grand declaration, no one directly raised any objections.

"Thinking back two years ago, we were still fighting on the same team, it feels like a dream."

Miyagawa said with emotion.

Before, in their team, Zhang Han was just one of the main core players.

In terms of fame, he was even less known than him and Hoshida.

Unexpectedly, now Zhang Han had far surpassed them and was starting to contend for the title of the number one high school player.

It should be noted that Zhang Han was only a second-year player.

But there was no way around it; 38 Homeruns and being the current holder of the fastest pitch speed in the nation gave Zhang Han enough confidence.

So much so that after he shouted such a grand declaration, no one could raise any objections.

"Although we've fallen behind now, I won't give up. In the summer, I'm definitely going to hit his pitch!"

Hoshida said seriously, gripping the bat in his hand.

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