(Continued)

After that, every day after waking up and before going to sleep, I would only do two things, one was to stay in front of the phone and wait for news, and the other was to pray to God that the child's operation would go well.

The days passed, and in a blink of an eye, it was almost the end of the year, what happened to the child's surgery? I wanted to call him, but I was afraid to get bad news, maybe ...... The worst thought had already flashed through my mind, but it was quickly dispelled.

I remembered that on the day he left, his expression was full of confidence, this confidence was not faked, obviously he was very unconfident not long ago. Although he didn't have time to ask what was going on, his intuition told me that it must be the Nanri family's child Shikiichi who gave him hope because their relationship was so good. I heard that after finishing elementary school, Shikiichi is going to Japan, and his Japanese home seems to be in Hyogo. It would be nice if next year, they would meet again in a foreign country and continue to be good friends......

***

It was the day after Christmas, just in time for the weekend, and I wanted to go to sleep after washing up in the morning. Just then, the ringing of my phone dispelled my drowsiness. When I saw that it was a call from abroad, my hands trembled - it seemed that the day had come. Is it good news or bad news waiting for me on the other end of the phone? At this point, I even wish it was a harassing phone call.

I picked up my phone and carefully pressed the answer button.

"Hello ......"

"Dad, it's me, I'm a little ......"

When I heard the familiar voice, my heart beat faster, and my heart seemed to be beating out of my throat, and I couldn't say anything.

"I want to tell you that my surgery has been successful!"

I couldn't believe my ears, took a deep breath and slowly asked, "Really?" ”

"It's true! The doctor in Kamibeppu is really amazing, and the surgery went very smoothly! If there are no problems after another week, I will be discharged! He also said excitedly, "I'm sorry, Dad, I only called you at this time, you must have been worried for a long time, right?" ”

In an instant, tears poured out of my eyes. I choked up and said, "No, no...... It's good if the surgery is successful......"

"Dad, I really want to play baseball," he said, "and let me stay here and play baseball until I'm fully recovered!" ”

"Good, good! Of course! But you also have to cooperate with the doctor's treatment......" I said, "If I have time, I'll come and watch your game!" ”

After hanging up the phone, I collapsed on the floor. To this day, I firmly believe that the decision to let him go to Japan for medical treatment could not have been more correct.

***

At that time, although mobile phones and the Internet had begun to become popular, there were also communication apps such as QQ and Skype. However, the mother and son must be living in Japan very poorly, so he can only email me when he has the opportunity to use the school's public computer.

Xiaoqi: Dad, how are you doing? Guess who I saw at school a while ago? It's a small one! It's the Nanshiichi who always played with me when I was in elementary school! I only knew that he was in Japan, but I never thought I would be able to study in the same school as him! I'm so happy, I guess that's fate. He now plays in the school's softball club, but I would prefer him to play in youth baseball so that our long-cherished wish to play together will come true! By the way, I was also watching this year's Beijing Olympics, but I didn't expect the South Korean team to win the gold medal in the end. Although the Chinese team only won one game, it was already very good. But unfortunately, baseball will not be an Olympic sport soon, and I don't know if it will return in the future.

Small: Dad, we've finished our last game in the youth league, and it's a bit of a pity that we didn't win the national championship. Let me introduce you to you, the person standing between me and Koichi in the photo is Daisuke Nikaido, and I mentioned to you before that he was the first friend I met in the youth baseball team. Last year, I had a bit of trouble in the baseball club, but thanks to his help, we had the opportunity to play together. Daisuke High School is going to Akashi Chaofeng to study, and that's the king of Hyogo Prefecture! As for me, of course, I can only go to Chengfeng High School, after all, I have already agreed with Principal Nakano before. But fortunately, Xiaoyi also wants to go to Chengfeng High School with me. Maybe in the near future, we will have a battle with Akashi Chaofeng, where Daisuke is located. When the time comes, Dad, it would be nice if you could come to the scene and cheer us on.

And just like that, the kid went to high school. Thanks to the direct funding from Principal Nakano, the communication between us was much more real-time, and we were even able to make video calls via Skype.

"Dad, the schedule for this year's Summer Hyogo Tournament has been decided, and we are not in the same district as Akashi Chaofu, so if we play against them, we will have to wait at least until the fifth round of the tournament starting on July 22nd. I know you're very busy over there, but if you have the chance, I'd like you to come and see our game. ”

"Okay, but don't forget that you're still a patient, and rehabilitation comes first."

I originally thought that he should be satisfied, baseball or something just as an ordinary hobby, after all, Chengfeng High School is not a famous baseball school. But I didn't expect that Chengfeng High School would really go all the way to the quarterfinals, and really face Akashi Chaofeng, so I could only fulfill my promise and take leave to go to Japan to watch his game, and the final result surprised me even more.

【Contest over!】 1 to 0! The first-grade pitcher Dong Guo finished the pitch and Chengfeng High School entered the finals for the first time! King Akashi Super Wind Hate Semifinals! 】

Little did I know that I had witnessed a miracle – they had picked off last year's national champion, and the MVP of this game was the little one! Later, Chengfeng High School won the semifinals and finals one after another, and marched into Koshien with their heads held high. I used to follow high school baseball in Japan, and I knew how difficult it was to get into Koshien under such a cruel format, but my son did it!

My son has grown up to such an extent that I am a little scared from the bottom of my heart. Strange, it's something to be happy about, why do I feel scared?

In fact, at that time, I seemed to have a terrible premonition as if I was predicting the future. Xiaoqi may really have a surprising talent in playing baseball, but relying on talent alone, he can't have such a strong strength. I'm afraid he's put in unimaginable effort behind his back, and this will make him summon the Grim Reaper again......

That day, I learned that his surgery had been successful. But if I had answered the call one second earlier or one second late, would I have received a different message? It may sound idealistic, but I still feel that way. If everything could really be done all over again, if he wasn't given the chance to touch baseball in the first place, would the outcome change? Would that end be better?