30 30: First Encounter

This was Chris' current situation, having endured the painful experiences of high school baseball.

However, no matter how you looked at it, when Eijun saw Chris in that moment, he couldn't forget the emotions and inspiration that Chris had brought not only to Eijun but also to the many spectators in the original story.

Chris was a resilient and formidable man.

This first encounter had already filled Eijun's eyes with excitement and enthusiasm, causing the other four people present to display expressions of curiosity.

"Furuya, Sawamura, starting today, you two officially join the Seidou pitching practice. Your training workload will be twice that of others, so give it your best effort," said Takashima Rei, pushing up her glasses with a light smile.

"Yes," Eijun and Furuya replied in unison. Furuya's voice remained steady, while Eijun's tone conveyed excitement both in words and between the lines.

This left Takashima Rei increasingly puzzled, as if this matter alone had made the young man so elated.

"Furuya, it's safe to say that you'll be participating in the next Kanto Tournament. You'll be training one-on-one with Miyuki-kun. In addition to your pitching practice, make sure to remember all the signals and cues," Takashima Rei said with a smile, addressing Furuya, who was nearby.

Those words caused a slight change in Eijun's expression, and a faint hint of envy briefly flickered in his pupils before quickly disappearing.

However, this subtle reaction didn't go unnoticed by Chris, who had been observing Eijun all along.

Miyuki and Furuya's gazes also met at that moment.

After maintaining a composed demeanor, Furuya displayed a respectful expression, slightly lowering his head.

With a tone of deference, he said, "Yes, I understand. I will follow Miyuki-senpai's instructions."

"Hey, hey, why so polite today? By the way, Rei-san, besides his fastball and power, this kid has nothing else to offer. His control is a mess. Are you seriously considering letting this guy play in the Kanto Tournament?" Miyuki chuckled and, with a scrutinizing look up and down at Furuya, jokingly added with a hint of disdain.

"I've always been like this," Furuya replied calmly.

"You've already caught his pitches, haven't you? Well, never mind. The decision to put Furuya out there was made by the coach. So, Miyuki-kun, guide him well," Takashima Rei said with a knowing smile, addressing Miyuki.

"Yes, yes, I'll do my best," Miyuki shrugged, giving Furuya a meaningful look and chuckling.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Senpai," Furuya said earnestly, bowing his head once again.

It must be said that Furuya's attitude change began that evening.

On that night, after seeing Miyuki easily catch his pitches, Furuya not only felt the correctness of his presence in this place but also a strong desire to learn more from Miyuki.

"In addition, Eijun, practice with this senior, Chris-senpai from the third year, and learn more about pitcher-catcher coordination. Thank you for your help, Chris," Takashima Rei said, with most of the previous sentence directed towards Eijun.

In the following sentence, Takashima Rei turned her head towards Chris, whose face remained calm with lifeless eyes, and said, "I'm Chris Yu, a third-year student. Please guide us, Sawamura-kun."

"I'm looking forward to it, Chris-senpai. Please teach me!" Eijun bowed slightly, his tone incredibly respectful, amidst the surprised glances of those around them.

Shortly after, he raised his head, and his eyes sparkled with a different gleam.

It was impossible for Eijun not to be excited.

In the original story, in his past life, Chris had brought immense inspiration to Diamond A fans. Chris was practically a god to many.

As the most significant presence on Eijun's path to becoming the ace of Seido High School, Eijun couldn't contain his excitement when meeting Chris.

Eijun's demeanor was one of reverence and admiration.

Furthermore, Chris was momentarily taken aback.

That radiant and dazzling countenance made a complex expression briefly cross Chris's eyes.

In Eijun, he saw a reflection of his own past self.

"So, let's get started right away. Grab a ball, and let's head to the bullpen," Chris said decisively, a man of few words who didn't like wasting time.

After a brief introduction, he motioned for Eijun to follow.

"Yes!" Eijun replied loudly.

Afterward, Eijun nodded slightly to Miyuki and the others before jogging behind Chris, heading toward the bullpen near the baseball field.

Eijun was well aware that at this moment, Chris probably intended to assess his skills firsthand.

When it came to guiding and teaching pitchers, Eijun had always believed that Chris was on par with Miyuki, and from certain angles, he held Chris in even higher regard.

Once they reached the bullpen, Chris turned around, and his eyes, devoid of luster, scanned Eijun.

This dim gaze momentarily stirred complex emotions within Eijun.

The invincible catcher from junior high, whose brilliant high school career hadn't even begun, had been forced to leave the game due to a shoulder injury.

For a young boy with dreams of baseball, this was undoubtedly a massive blow.

To someone like Eijun, who was both familiar with Chris's past and held deep respect for him, this was a significant source of regret and sadness.

What was even more admirable was that despite his experiences, Chris had never given up on his baseball dreams.

He remained unwavering, continuing to stay with the Seido High School baseball team, not only for his own perseverance but also to create lasting memories with his teammates.

This kind of determination and courage further deepened Eijun's admiration.

"Sawamura-kun, what are you thinking?" Suddenly, Chris's calm voice broke into Eijun's thoughts.

Eijun quickly snapped out of it, feeling a bit embarrassed as he scratched the back of his head and smiled. "Sorry, Chris-senpai, I got a little lost in thought there."

"What's on your mind? Are you envious that Furuya gets to play in the game? Do you want to join the first string?" Chris seemed to have misunderstood Eijun's thoughts, assuming it was because Takashima Rei had just mentioned that Furuya could participate in the Kanto Tournament while Eijun hadn't even made the first string.

"No, it's not about not making the first string. It's clear that I haven't earned the coach's recognition yet. But I believe in myself, and I'm determined to join the first string one day. My goal is to earn everyone's approval, shoulder their expectations, and stand on that pitcher's mound!" Eijun's words clearly surprised Chris. Looking at the determined gleam in Eijun's eyes, Chris suddenly felt something deep within him stir, a faintly familiar sensation.

For a moment, Chris's expression softened ever so slightly.