"Walk with me?" Dong Kiyokoku turned his head and gestured towards the embankment, and after Yuki nodded in agreement, they walked towards the steps of the embankment.

"I heard from the superintendent, when you first took over as captain, you went to ask for your resignation?" Dong Qingguo said as he walked: "It's been half a year now, how do you feel?" ”

"I... I still feel like I'm not doing well enough..."

"But the overseer said he didn't expect me to lead a team of many people, and then he said I just had to lead everyone with my performance."

"Haha!" Dong Qingguo smiled and looked at the junior next to him: "When we were moving towards the top of the country, the overseer asked me who I thought was suitable for the next captain——"

"The overseer was the right person to look for, but I decided to recommend you."

"Because Chris's talent is not available to everyone, but hard work is visible to everyone."

"Tetsuya, the strength you have gained with your hard work is enough to convince everyone... You just need to lead everyone forward with your own efforts and performance. ”

Tetsuya Yuki nodded vigorously after listening: "I know, I will work harder in the future." ”

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself, it's not good if you get injured while you're practicing."

Tetsuya Yuuki nodded again to indicate that he understood.

They kept walking and chatting along the embankment, and when it was completely dark, the headlights on the pitch were turned on, illuminating the field and reflecting many figures practicing silently.

Dong Qingguo stopped, looked at the members who were practicing in the night, and after being silent for a long time, he said, "Definitely... Be sure to take them to the top we haven't reached! Tetsuya!! ”

"Hmm!" Nodding, Tetsuya Yuuki said in a calm tone. "Yes! Everyone has been working towards this goal!! ”

……

On March 18th, there was also a departure ceremony before the Seido Wild Ball Club stepped on the school bus to Nishinomiya City.

The departure ceremony was attended by not only those affiliated with Tokyo Metropolitan Koyaren and Seido High School, but also Seido supporters and local residents.

At the departure ceremony, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tokyo Tsunaya Ren, Principal Mori, Coach Kataoka, and Captain Yuuki delivered speeches in turn, and Superintendent Kataoka said, "Although I am used to Koshien, I hope you will have the courage to fight... Thank you for your support!! ”

Captain Yuuki said, "I won't forget that everyone is cheering for me, and I want to do my best to aim for national domination." ”

Subsequently, representatives of the parents' association presented flowers to Superintendent Kataoka and captain Tetsuya Yuuki.

The contestants boarded the school bus for departure and headed for Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture. Each of the people who saw them off was holding a letter that read: "Please dominate the country!" ”

Interviews with contestants:

Q: How do you feel about the opponent being decided?

Tetsuya Yuuki: I heard that the opponent was very strong, so I was very interested.

Yagami Yagami: I feel more motivated.

Q: How do you want to play as a player?

Tetsuya Yuuki: We've already experienced it once at Koshien (Chunjia), so we wanted to make the most of our tournament experience.

Yagami Yagami: I want to give it my all.

……

At 9:00 a.m. on March 22, 36 high school players who had won the right to play in Koshien through the General Selection Group (30), Jingu Group (2), 21st Century Group (3), and Nozomi Group (1) gathered at the Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya City to participate in the opening ceremony of the Commemoration of the Selection of High School Wild Ball Tournament.

This is an important competition second only to the National College Wild Ball Tournament, and it is also the first competitive stage in the new year.

Nearly 700 teenagers lined up in the cold spring breeze to stand on the black soil of Koshien and listen to the speeches of the representatives of the organizers of the conference.

Cheng Gong Ming, who was standing in the Daocheng Industrial team, looked sideways at the team next to Qingdao several times, and was not honest until he was poked in the back a few times by the captain standing behind him.

At the same time, Tianjiu Guangsheng, a junior in the city university, also set his eyes on Qingdao and Daocheng Industry, and only after being stopped by the senior next to him did he take his eyes back.

At 9:51, after the official end of the opening ceremony, the players of each school withdrew from the court in turn.