<56> Interview

Chapter 56: Interview

When the members of the Seido High School baseball team received the news, they all had expressions of disbelief.

"An interview?"

Everyone found it hard to understand this outcome.

Let alone the news conference.

When it was confirmed that a press conference would be held, the expressions on Miyuki and the others' faces were as if they had seen a ghost.

"This doesn't seem like something our coach would do. Did he eat something bad and is he still digesting it?"

"I told you about that food from yesterday…"

Captain Tetsuya Yuki, seeing that the chaos was escalating among the team, immediately put a stop to the commotion.

"This is also a great opportunity for experience. Everyone must cherish it."

Although the captain said this, the players familiar with their coach's personality still found it difficult to accept.

The upperclassmen's reactions also confused the first-year players who had come to help out.

"Isn't getting an interview a good thing?"

The first to voice this question was Sawamura.

Back in his middle school days, he had led his teammates in forming a baseball team. During that time, they dreamed of their team achieving great success and making it to the national stage.

In their dreams, they also imagined the scene when they finally reached the national level, with reporters eagerly waiting to interview them.

They envisioned themselves as confident figures before the reporters, becoming the center of attention for everyone.

Currently, although the Seido High School baseball team had yet to make it to Koshien, they were still quite a distance from the beautiful vision Sawamura had in mind.

However, the Kanto tournament was certainly no ordinary competition.

Plus, the enthusiastic interest of reporters made it all the more confusing…

Sawamura really couldn't understand why their coach was so resistant to this event.

"Maybe the coach doesn't want the reporters to affect everyone's mindset?"

Kanemaru, who had previously played for a prestigious junior high team that had even made it to the national semifinals, shared his thoughts.

He had experienced similar situations before.

Although their team was ultimately eliminated by their opponent, it was undeniable that the members had indeed been influenced after being interviewed by the press.

"Hey, what do you guys know…"

As the younger members discussed, Kuramochi, listening nearby, chuckled and shook his head, rejecting their speculations.

"Isn't it like that?"

Kanemaru asked, puzzled.

"You guys previously played for either a prestigious junior high team or created your own little team. In front of Seido, none of that means anything."

Kuramochi smiled bitterly and asked, "Do you even know what a top national team really is?"

Hearing the term, Sawamura felt a surge of adrenaline within him. But to be honest, he didn't quite understand what those words truly meant.

"A top national powerhouse team, as the name implies, refers to the most elite high school teams in the country. Even if this team hasn't made it to Koshien for several consecutive years, and even if many people see them as having fallen from grace, everyone who understands baseball still knows them. Whenever such teams perform outstandingly on the field, they attract substantial attention. Seido is one of those powerhouses!"

As he finished, Kuramochi couldn't hide the pride swelling in his heart.

"Wow—"

"Wow—"

In front of Kuramochi stood four first-year players, completely confused.

To put it plainly, they hadn't fully understood what Kuramochi was trying to express. Yet, that didn't stop them from feeling that what he said was very impressive.

So, they had joined such an incredible team?

"When did you come over?"

Looking at Furuya, who had quietly joined the team, Kuramochi asked in puzzlement.

"I feel like what you said is very helpful for me," Furuya replied.

Accepting interviews?

Furuya wasn't bragging; he knew in his gut that he would definitely be one of the main characters, if not the main character.

How should he respond when reporters asked him questions?

For example, why did he choose to join Seido?

Although Furuya had his own reasons for doing so, that reason wouldn't convince reporters. He certainly couldn't say that he had crossed over into a two-dimensional world!

Those reporters would probably send him off to a mad scientist's lab for dissection!

After hearing Kuramochi's explanation, Furuya naturally formulated a plan in his mind.

Why did he choose Seido?

At the press conference, reporters unsurprisingly posed this question.

Coach Kataoka and the other players present also turned their attention toward Furuya.

To be honest, they were just as curious about this question.

Given the potential Furuya had shown, he could easily choose a better team. The tape he had brought would be valued by any powerhouse.

"Seido is my ideal choice. My goal for the future is to go professional. Although Seido High School's baseball team hasn't done well in recent years, the players they cultivate have always been in high demand by various professional teams. I believe that by joining Seido, I can become stronger!"

Furuya expressed his well-thought-out reasoning confidently and without a hint of hesitation.

Both Coach Kataoka and Director Oota's faces flushed slightly.

Furuya's statement was undoubtedly the best validation of their hard work.

Since the team had failed to make it to Koshien, the doubts about their capabilities had never ceased.

The reporters were clearly very satisfied with this response.

They also felt that aside from not being able to reach Koshien, the Seido High School baseball team didn't have many other issues.

"Is that the only reason?"

"In addition, there's another very important reason, and that is upperclassman Miyuki. When I was in middle school, I read a magazine called 'Baseball Kingdom,' which featured Miyuki-senpai…"

Furuya didn't shy away from the question and directly shared his thoughts.

The reporters' eyes immediately lit up.

The real highlight of the interview had arrived as expected.

They eagerly watched Furuya, listening to his story.

Does it matter how well Furuya tells the story?

Not at all.

They could fill in the story's details themselves.

The tale of traveling all the way to Tokyo in search of a partner was bound to be electrifying.

Once written, such an article would surely attract readers.

In this way, after pitching just two games and four innings in the Kanto tournament, Furuya skyrocketed to fame.

His reputation as a "monster" spread throughout the whole Kanto region, and even across the entire country…

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