"Ah, I've missed another good prospect."
Nitta Yukizo shook his head as he tidied up the living room.
This was his first year as the supervisor of the Komadai Fujimaki High School baseball team. With his experience in Koshien, he was eager to lead the team to the tournament this year. However, the school had never made it to Koshien in its history, so Nitta's first step was to implement reforms! He aimed to replace the older players and inject fresh energy into the team.
At his age, it was unrealistic for him to run around looking for players every day by train. So, he set his sights on Hokkaido.
And Zhou Hui was one of his targets!
Unfortunately, Zhou Hui did not fulfill his expectations and didn't even attend the tryouts at Komadai Fujimaki.
But that was his choice, and Nitta had no right to interfere.
By the time Zhou Hui came out, it was already 7 PM. His father was about to get off work, so Zhou Hui hurried home.
Zhou Hui's family lived in a modest little loft, and they were renting the place. Most of his father's monthly salary went toward paying the mortgage. After paying the mortgage, there was barely enough left for the daily expenses of the three of them.
This was why they had chosen to have only one child—having more would be unaffordable and would only cause suffering for the children.
If Zhou Hui hadn't excelled in baseball and received offers from many prestigious schools, he might not even have been able to afford high school and would have had to drop out to work.
As Zhou Hui approached his home, he noticed a white sedan parked in the yard.
He felt puzzled; this car didn't belong to them. Given their financial situation, they certainly couldn't afford a sedan. The only vehicle they had was a motorcycle that his father used for commuting.
"Could it be that we have guests?" Zhou Hui wondered, half-convinced, as he walked inside.
Since moving from China to Japan, Zhou Hui's family had lost contact with their relatives back home. They had no friends in Japan, aside from Zhou Hui's teammates and his supervisor.
"Welcome back," Zhou Hui said as he opened the door, taking off his shoes and stepping inside. He was curious about who the guest might be.
"You're back!" Zhou Hui's kind mother came out to greet him. "Hurry in! We have a guest who has been waiting for you for a long time."
"Oh, I see," Zhou Hui replied, quickening his pace to avoid being rude.
Once inside, he didn't pay much attention to the guest's appearance and sat down at the table.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Zhou Hui said, straightening himself before looking up at the guest.
The moment he saw her, he froze.
How is it her again? This was already her third visit—she was quite persistent!
The guest was a stunning woman with a great figure, wearing glasses, sporting ear piercings, and dressed in a stylish suit with stockings. In terms of looks, she was definitely exceptional.
"Ms. Takashima, long time no see," Zhou Hui greeted her, recognizing her immediately. He was already familiar with her.
This woman was the vice president of the Seido High School baseball team and the daughter of the chairman. However, she didn't hold her position due to her connections; her sharp insights and keen eye for talent allowed her to manage many high-profile players effectively.
This was why she had risen to the position of vice president of the baseball team.
Moreover, she was still very young, embodying the type of person who was both talented and ambitious. The current players at Seido High School were all scouted by her, including the main catcher, Miyuki Kazuya, and the main shortstop, Kuramochi Youichi.
Describing her as having a "unique vision" would not be an exaggeration.
This time, she had set her sights on Zhou Hui, proving that he had immense potential and was a very capable player.
Otherwise, Ms. Takashima wouldn't have chosen to visit three times.
"Ms. Takashima, please have something to eat first. When my dad gets back, you can stay for dinner before you leave," Zhou Hui's mother said, placing a plate of snacks in front of her.
Since she had come all the way from West Tokyo, it was only right for Zhou Hui's mother to extend her hospitality.
"No need for dinner. I'm here again because I hope Zhou Hui can join us at Seido High School," Ms. Takashima replied.
Previously, Zhou Hui hadn't made a decision about which high school to join, so he hadn't given her a definitive answer. She had thought her enthusiasm would fade, but it turned out she was quite stubborn.
Her third visit to the Zhou household was solely to recruit Zhou Hui.
"Alright, take your time chatting," Zhou Hui's mother said as she headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
As she walked past Zhou Hui, she nudged him with her elbow. "Make sure to seize this opportunity; don't let her come all this way for nothing."
With that, Zhou Hui's mother left the room, leaving only Ms. Takashima and Zhou Hui.
Ms. Takashima began to look around. Although this was not her first visit to Zhou Hui's home, she couldn't help but glance around again.
Zhou Hui's room was small, but it clearly reflected his passion for baseball and his impressive skills.
Trophies of various sizes were lined up on his desk, including those for being the batting champion and home run king.
On the walls hung posters of Major League superstars, along with championship banners and photos of him leading his team to victory.
In the corner, his glove and bat were neatly placed. The entire room was filled with a strong baseball "atmosphere."
"Ms. Takashima, do you have to look around every time you visit?" Zhou Hui asked, a bit amused.
He was still unsure of her true intentions for being there.
Ms. Takashima realized she had been a bit too absorbed in her surroundings. As the vice president of the baseball team, she genuinely enjoyed being in places with a strong baseball vibe.
"Why are you here this time?" Zhou Hui asked, feigning ignorance.
Although he knew Ms. Takashima always had one goal in mind, he couldn't help but ask.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm here for you, an extraordinary talent! With school starting soon, I want to know what your plans are for high school. Do you have a school in mind?"
"Not yet. This is a big decision, and I feel I need to think it through carefully."
"But once this opportunity passes, it won't come again. Are you really not considering Seido High School?"