[365] Training and Daily Life

Chapter 365: Training and Daily Life

"Hey, hey, hey, Furuya-kun! I said, Furuya-kun!"

"Hmm?"

Furuya seemed to have been daydreaming. He blinked in confusion at Eijun, wondering why he was being called so loudly.

Seeing Furuya's innocent expression, Eijun didn't even know what to say.

What a simple-minded kid…

But still—

"Ahem, Furuya-kun, class has already started."

Eijun cleared his throat and pointed ahead. Furuya turned his head and was met with the sight of their Japanese teacher standing at the podium, smiling at him with a kind yet unmistakably knowing expression.

It was only at this moment that Furuya seemed to fully snap back to reality.

He stood up, bowed slightly to the teacher, and apologized, "Sorry."

Then, he turned back to Eijun and said something that nearly made Eijun lose his mind.

"I'll come back at lunch break."

And with that, the simple-minded Furuya left Eijun's classroom and returned to his own.

Watching Furuya walk away, the corner of Eijun's mouth twitched slightly.

My god, you're coming back at lunch too?

Forget it, forget it. If I can't provoke him, I can at least run away. No, I must run away the moment class ends!

With that thought in mind, Eijun made his plans.

"Alright, class, open your textbooks to page sixty. Last time, we covered…."

...

After a full day of regular classes, the Seidou High School baseball field was already packed.

Over a hundred baseball club members, assistant coaches, and the two leading figures of the coaching staff had gathered.

In Japan, student club activities are taken seriously in over 90% of schools, except for a few that focus solely on academics.

Even among those elite academic schools, club activities are still encouraged, akin to the philosophy of holistic education—balancing academics, morality, sports, and the arts.

For a private school like Seidou, this emphasis was even stronger.

Not to mention the baseball club—any student activity that was deemed positive and beneficial for youth development was supported by the school. And if a club achieved significant results, the support only increased.

Seidou's baseball club was the prime example of this. As the school's most prestigious and nationally recognized team, it was highly regarded at every level—from the board of directors to the individual subject teachers.

Nobody would make things difficult for the baseball team members, especially those on the First String.

After all, the teachers understood that these First String players were future professional prospects. At the very least, they could secure university recommendations through baseball.

For them, academic studies were more of a supplement than a priority.

Thus, it was common for teachers to be lenient with these players, sometimes even offering slight accommodations.

"Outfielders! Where's your voice? Did you skip lunch or what? Move it! Run faster!"

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the baseball field was alive with energy.

Seidou's baseball club members were diligently following the training menu set by the coaching staff, with assistant coaches supervising and assisting.

Meanwhile, the two titans of the coaching staff—Head Coach Kataoka and Coach Ochiai—stood solemnly near the dugout, quietly observing the players' training.

"Wow, they added a few more batting cages. The setup looks even more impressive now."

Standing behind the two coaches, Club Manager Ota watched the free batting practice with a smile.

Ever since Seidou had secured a dominant victory over Teito High, he hadn't stopped smiling.

Anyone who saw him these days was met with a cheerful expression.

"This was Coach Ochiai's suggestion, wasn't it?"

Beside him, Takashima Rei adjusted her glasses and spoke calmly.

"Yeah, the players enjoy practicing their batting, and our school has always been known for its strong offense. Adding more outdoor batting areas not only enhances training but also allows our many pitchers to participate in live pitching practice. It's a win-win situation."

Ochiai stroked his mustache with a satisfied look.

"I've been thinking a lot about training lately."

Somehow, Ochiai seemed unusually energetic these days.

Before, he had only paid special attention to a few select players. But now, he was focusing on the entire team.

Did something happen to make him change?

Ota found this shift somewhat strange but intriguing.

Over the past month, Ochiai's presence and influence had undergone a noticeable shift.

"Oh, and Coach Kataoka, regarding the team integration training and the player assignments we discussed last night—have you made a decision?"

As Ochiai observed the players training on the field, a thought seemed to strike him suddenly, prompting him to bring up the topic with Kataoka.

"Hmm, let's proceed according to your recommendations."

A contemplative glint flashed in Kataoka's eyes, but after a brief moment of thought, he nodded in agreement.

Upon hearing Kataoka's response, a faint, satisfied smile curled at the corners of Ochiai's lips.

Individualized and Team-Oriented Training.

This was the most distinct training philosophy Ochiai had introduced since joining Seidou High School.

At first glance, it might seem like a form of preferential treatment.

But in reality, it was simply tailoring the training to each player's needs.

Differences in skill levels, natural talent, and individual playing styles inevitably meant that, beyond the fundamental training, each player required a personalized approach for advanced development.

Of course, the overarching structure of training remained the same.

For example, batting training could be broadly divided into three main categories:

1. Physical conditioning

2. Technical refinement

3. Power development and, most importantly, power control

These fundamental aspects were the same for everyone.

However, the specific details varied greatly. Take Maezono Kenta and Yamaguchi Ken, for example—both were classified as power hitters, yet their training approaches were vastly different.

Maezono needed training focused on refining his batting techniques to fully utilize his raw power.

Yamaguchi, on the other hand, required training on controlling the release of his power, ensuring it was properly directed for consistent results.

The same principle applied to other players.

The three core pitchers each had distinct styles, which meant their bullpen training programs also had to be customized accordingly.

This was the result of Ochiai's meticulous month-long preparation—a comprehensive training plan tailored to every starting player in Seidou's roster. Naturally, there was also a broader training plan for the entire baseball club.

The goal was to enhance both the team's overall cohesion and individual player development.

Particularly in the batting lineup—its strength had to be elevated.

Because, to put it bluntly, Seidou High School's pitching rotation was already among the top three in the entire country.