After taking home the piece of cloth with the serial number printed on it, Tetsu Nishino's mother quickly sewed the jersey.

Tetsu Nishino's mother was very happy and even suggested that in the future, the back number should be removed from the jersey, framed in a photo frame, and placed in a conspicuous place at home.

"Mom, this is too exaggerated..." Tetsu Nishino wondered if this was too grand.

"What? My son is so outstanding, why can't he hang it up for guests to see? Besides, I have framed your previous club jerseys for you!"

"How can the baseball club be an exception!"

"Okay." Tetsu Nishino couldn't help but agreed.

Tetsu Nishino's father also chimed in, "Then we won't work tomorrow and go watch our son's game."

He also knows that No. 2 is the number chosen by the baseball team, and there is no reason why his son should not play.

Tetsu Nishino didn't say much this time, because growing up, as long as he had a chance to play in club competitions, no matter how busy he was, his parents would accompany him.

"Son, perform well tomorrow!" Tetsu Nishino's father encouraged.

"Yeah, I know."

night.

in the room.

Nishino Tetsu was lying on the bed unable to sleep, looking at a poster on the wall in trance.

It was a scene from a high school baseball game, although he didn't know which game it was.

In the poster, the focus of sight extends from the catcher's back to the entire stadium, and the number behind the catcher is No. 2.

As soon as Tetsu Nishino saw this photo, his eyes were attracted, and he was immersed in the majestic sense of location.

This is a view that only a catcher can experience!

So he printed the photos into posters and pasted them on the wall of his room to motivate himself, hoping that he would eventually get the number that represented the catcher.

It's just that he didn't expect this day to come so quickly, so fast that he didn't even feel it.

According to his knowledge, there are basically no players who become regular catchers in their first year of high school.

Those who can become regular catchers in the first grade are either because their seniors were injured, or they have been practicing catchers since childhood and have been famous for a long time.

He is probably the first person to become a full-time catcher as a beginner.

How much do Director Higashi and Tsuji-senpai expect from me?

Nishino Tetsu sighed inwardly.

He was touched and stressed at the same time by this heavy expectation.

He didn't expect that he held such an important position in Higashi Takuji and Tsuji Hiroki's hearts, that they were even willing to make such a surprising decision to train him.

Also, will she see it too?

See me on the field.

Picking up the phone and reading the short but heart-warming message "I'll do it tomorrow, daddy!", his anxiety disappeared a lot.

After thinking about it, he exited the conversation interface, pulled down his friends list, and clicked on Tsuji Hiroki's Line avatar.

Tetsu Nishino: Tsuji-senpai, thank you.

After a while.

Tsuji Hiroki: Ha, it’s my first time to start as a catcher in an official game. The task is very difficult. Go to bed early.

Tetsu Nishino: Yes, I understand, and I will guide my seniors in their pitching and fielding.

Tsuji Hiroki: Don’t put too much psychological pressure on us. We won’t blame you no matter what the outcome is, let alone the opponent is Matsusaka Sho.

Nishino Tetsu: Yes, senior, I hope to show you what you taught me!

Tsuji Hiroki: Well, go to bed early, have a good rest, and don't be too nervous.

...

After chatting with the respected senior Hiroki Tsuji, Tetsu Nishino closed his eyes.

However.

2 o'clock in the evening.

Nishino Tetsu suddenly sat up from the bed and turned on the light with dark circles under his eyes.

Damn it, what's going on?

Can't sleep...

After lying down, Tetsu Nishino's mind was filled with tomorrow's game.

How to match the ball, how to guide the pitcher, how to deceive the batter, and how to adjust the fielding.

The more I think about it, the more energetic my brain becomes, and I can't sleep no matter what.

With two dark circles under his eyes, Tetsu Nishino went to the bathroom.

When he returned to his room, he threw himself on the bed, thinking that he would fall asleep quickly. If he didn't fall asleep now, he might not be able to get up tomorrow, and even if he could get up, he would be in a very bad state of mind.

It seems that I am not ready to take over the position of catcher even once.

Nishino Tetsu thought with a wry smile.

Staring at the ceiling in a daze, he turned to look at the ironed jersey next to him, reached out to take the jersey, lifted it up and unfolded it.

The piece of fabric on the back of the jersey has the word "2" sewn on it.

Lying on the bed and watching silently, Tetsu Nishino couldn't help but think.

Am I really ready to wear this number?

............

"Well..."

Tetsu Nishino woke up, opened his eyes, and saw that the time was only around 5 o'clock in the morning.

After moving his body, he found that he had fallen asleep at some point during the night, with the jersey covering him as a quilt.

Fortunately, he usually sleeps in a better position and did not wrinkle the jersey.

However, he woke up a little early, and his parents hadn't gotten up yet. He didn't want to wake his parents who had a rare break, so he quietly went to wash up and then returned to his room.

"Sitting like this is a waste of time."

So Tetsu Nishino got up and took out a roll of opaque white tape from the drawer, and taped home plate and two strike zones on the floor of the room.

Seeing that he had done a good job, he smiled and thought that he could practice in the room in the future.

"If no one is on base, it's like this..."

Squatting behind the posted home plate, Tetsu Nishino kept imagining the game scene and practicing it over and over again.

Get up.

Squat down.

catch the ball.

Pass the ball.

Constantly practicing various technical movements, over and over again.

In the early morning, the street is quiet.

The clear sun gradually rose, and the sunlight shined into the room through the light mist, gently shining on the devoted young man.

"Xiao Zhe, come down and have breakfast."

Nishino Tetsu's mother shouted warningly from downstairs.

"Well, I understand, I'll come right away."

Just as he was thinking about the effect of using an outside slider against left-handed hitters, Tetsu Nishino came out of his selfless practice and answered quickly.

When he looked at the time, it was already past 6 o'clock. Unknowingly, he had been practicing for almost an hour.

After organizing all the things and putting them in his bag, Tetsu Nishino went downstairs, finished breakfast and rushed to school.

White Mountain High School Baseball Field.

Kato Monamei was counting people one by one, while Moriyama Aoi was counting and sorting supplies.

After everyone was ready, they got on the bus one by one and set off for Matsusaka City, located in the central part of Mie Prefecture.

It just so happens that Hakusan Town and Matsusaka City are separated by a town, so the journey on the road won't take much time.

Originally, it was logical that it would be best for the game to be held at a neutral venue, but Matsusaka Sho High School happened to own a professional baseball field, so Mie Prefecture Takano Ren negotiated with them whether the game could be held at Matsusaka Sho High School.

Higashi Takuji thought about it and agreed. After all, the baseball field of Matsusaka Commercial High School is often borrowed to hold prefectural competitions. The facilities are first-class and it would be good to play there.

"Set off!"
Chapter completed!