Chapter 643 - 643: Sonner the Better

"Can you practice pitching with me?"

"Okay!"

When Zhang Han invited Miyuki, he didn't avoid anyone, and many people heard him at the time.

Originally, the teammates had already given up on the extravagant hope of Zhang Han returning to the pitcher's mound, but they saw him pitch an inning earlier and thought the coach was holding him back for the most important game. But that didn't seem to be the case either, since the coach hadn't even told him to get ready earlier in the meeting.

Everyone still trusted their team's Coach very much, so their attitude towards this matter was to not inquire or ask too many questions.

To save Zhang Han's face, they hadn't even discussed this matter in front of him.

Although it wasn't brought up, everyone didn't discuss this issue much privately.

But not discussing it doesn't mean that everyone truly doesn't care.

They still cared a lot, and some even inquired privately.

But no matter how curious they were, they didn't get any definite answers from anyone.

In this situation, Zhang Han actually invited Miyuki to practice together.

Almost all of the teammates felt a sense of relief.

They had already prepared for the worst in their hearts.

But now it seemed their previous speculation was wrong.

Zhang Han would still stand on the pitcher's mound as an Ace.

Even if he couldn't make it to the next game for some reason, by the time of the Summer Tournament, or even by the time Zhang Han and his peers reached their third year.

They would definitely see the true Ace of the Seido High School Baseball Team return.

Not only were those two or three familiar teammates watching the practice together.

Among the twenty First string players of the Seido High School Baseball Team, at least more than half wanted to go and watch together.

"Don't you have anything to do?"

Coach Kataoka suddenly walked out, looking at the large group following behind, and asked directly.

The players who had originally planned to watch the practice together immediately gave up their curiosity and scattered in every direction.

Only after all the players had left did Coach Kataoka seriously stare at Zhang Han and ask.

"Have you gotten used to it?"

The coaching staff's suggestion to Zhang Han earlier was actually to have him continue training his right shoulder to get a better feel and keep his pitching hidden until the Summer Tournament, but it all changed after reaching the ninth inning earlier that day. With one foot already in the finals, Kataoka knew Tanba couldn't keep up his dazzling first-half performance as he always had, and he subbed in Zhang Han to pitch with his right hand.

If he hadn't been so stubborn in this regard, he wouldn't have cultivated so many players for professional baseball, yet the team he led had never been able to make it to Koshien.

However, with the current makeup of the team, the situation was different, and it even gave him the confidence to use the entire Kanto Tournament as a huge training ground, to see how well the other pitchers could handle the pressure. In the end, the results were within expectations.

Tanba started out well, but that was only until a certain point. Kawakami was a good backup but never a bona fide starter. And the fledgling Furuya? He would find out the next day.

If you don't let such an excellent person serve as the team's pitcher, it's only a matter of time before the team runs into problems, and that was why he let Zhang Han pitch.

After nearly two weeks, he could finally answer Coach Kataoka's question.

"I don't know how I might perform right now after over a year of not using this hand, but I would never know until I pitch in a real game against the toughest opponents. I also don't want to impose so many restrictions on myself. As a member of the Seido High School Baseball Team now, I am willing to pitch when the team needs me. Even tomorrow."

Zhang Han did not avoid Kataoka's gaze this time.

"Are you sure you won't regret it? This might expose you to them sooner than you would have liked."

"There's nothing to regret. I believe in myself; I can handle it. Even if it truly has an impact then, I'll just overcome it."

Compared to the unpredictable future, Zhang Han was more willing to live each day in the present.

Coach Kataoka looked at Zhang Han seriously, his eyes filled with a strange glint.

Zhang Han's answer also resolved a doubt that had been bothering him.

Considering the individual player or considering the team, for other Coaches, this wouldn't even be a question.

They would only take into account the players' future while ensuring the team's interests.

The biggest difference between Kataoka and other Coaches lies precisely here.

As an educator, a qualified gardener.

While training and directing players, he hoped to cultivate every player under him to be successful.

Players with hope should aim for professional baseball.

For players without hope, he also hoped to give them a youth without regrets.

Kataoka previously thought he had done quite well; the only issue that bothered him was the team's record.

But even this issue did not shake Kataoka's choice.

Today, it was Zhang Han who taught him a lesson instead.

The past Kataoka focused too much on the future, somewhat neglecting the present.

Although he made hard training a slogan every day, in some important choices, he still leaned towards the players' future.

Such a choice cannot be said to be wrong.

But isn't there a better way to handle it? A more reasonable way to handle it?

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