Half a month seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, and April had arrived, marking the start of the school year for high schools in West Tokyo. This was a time Zhou Hui had been eagerly anticipating.
Just thinking about experiencing the intensity of high school baseball made him feel excited. The stronger the opponents, the better; only by facing formidable challengers could he unleash his true potential.
Early in the morning, Zhou Hui packed his belongings, ready to head to Seido High School in West Tokyo. This time, he chose to take the Shinkansen.
The Shinkansen would take him from Hokkaido to West Tokyo, and if he departed at 8 AM, he wouldn't arrive until at least 5 PM. The travel expenses were fully covered by Seido High School. Although he could have opted for a flight, he preferred the Shinkansen.
Having been a frugal child all his life, he also appreciated the beautiful scenery along the way. Since moving to Japan, Zhou Hui's activities had been limited to Hokkaido. Even when traveling with his team for games, he hadn't ventured far.
He had yet to experience the sights of a foreign land.
"Huihui, remember to work hard in this new place and not to let others down," his father said, patting him on the shoulder.
Due to work commitments, Zhou Hui's father couldn't accompany him to the train station this time. He didn't know when they would see each other again and had many things he wanted to say to Zhou Hui.
"I know, Dad. Just wait for me to win the Koshien championship!" Zhou Hui replied confidently.
"Good, good! My son is the best!" His father cheered, even though he didn't fully understand what Koshien was, but he knew it was a significant stage that Zhou Hui longed for.
"Remember to eat well in West Tokyo, go to bed on time, dress warmly, and call home every night. Make sure to let us know when you arrive safely, and absolutely no smoking or drinking," his mother chimed in, starting to nag.
This was likely a mother's instinct, always worrying about her child.
"Okay, okay, I got it, Mom. I'm leaving now," Zhou Hui said, dragging his suitcase out the door.
He felt more curious than anxious about the new environment.
"Looks like it will be a long time before we see Huihui again," his father said, shaking his head as he watched Zhou Hui leave.
Although Zhou Hui was a "little rascal" in his eyes, he was still his son. Suddenly sending him off to such a faraway place was a source of concern.
Once outside, Zhou Hui quickly hailed a taxi to the train station. He would board the train at Hakodate Station and get off at Tokyo Station, then take a taxi to Seido High School.
The journey was long and somewhat complicated. After arriving at Hakodate, Zhou Hui skillfully put on his headphones, ready to take the Shinkansen to Tokyo.
He timed it perfectly; just as he settled into his seat, the train doors closed.
Sitting next to him was a boy of similar age, looking a bit dazed and carrying several bags. Despite his dazed appearance, he had a great physique. He looked slender but tall, making him the ideal build for a baseball pitcher. Such pitchers are typically known for their fastballs, and their physique gives them a natural advantage.
Soon, the Shinkansen to Tokyo departed, and Zhou Hui adjusted his headphones, gazing out the window. He had planned to listen to music while enjoying the beautiful scenery he had never seen before.
Resting his chin on his hand, Zhou Hui began to admire the view outside. However, after just over an hour, he felt a heavy weight on his shoulder, as if something was leaning against him.
This sensation persisted for about ten minutes. At first, Zhou Hui didn't pay much attention, thinking it was just an unintentional act by someone else. But as time went on, he began to feel that something was off.
Turning his head, he saw that the boy sitting next to him had fallen asleep, leaning against his shoulder. He looked peaceful, breathing evenly, making Zhou Hui hesitant to wake him.
Zhou Hui glanced at the boy's luggage and noticed a baseball glove resting on top. The glove looked quite worn, indicating that the boy trained hard and had a serious attitude toward baseball.
It seemed that, like him, this boy was also a passionate baseball player. Given their similar ages, Zhou Hui thought he might be a newly recruited player from some high school.
"Looks like he's a pitcher too," Zhou Hui muttered to himself, glancing at the boy's glove.
To an outsider, baseball gloves might all look the same, but professional players can discern the details that indicate which position the glove is meant for. Zhou Hui recognized it immediately.
"Wait a minute," Zhou Hui caught a glimpse of a small paper in the boy's hand and widened his eyes.
It was an acceptance letter from Seido High School!
Zhou Hui also saw the boy's name: Furuya Satoru, from Tomakomai Junior High.
"He's from my school? And the name Furuya Satoru sounds familiar," Zhou Hui thought, feeling an increasing sense of connection.
Not only were they seated next to each other, but they were also from the same school. However, he was not a special enrollment student like Zhou Hui.
This year, Seido High School had eight special enrollment spots for baseball, and Zhou Hui occupied one of them. The boy leaning on his shoulder might become a close friend or a rival competing for a spot on the team.
Zhou Hui initially thought the boy would wake up after another hour, as he didn't believe anyone could sleep so soundly on a train.
But to his astonishment, the boy slept all the way to Tokyo Station!
Indeed, he had fallen asleep an hour after departing from Hakodate and remained asleep until they reached Tokyo Station!
Zhou Hui's shoulder was numb!
"Wake up, we're in Tokyo," Zhou Hui said, shaking Furuya Satoru awake as the train came to a stop.
Furuya stirred from his deep sleep, clearly still groggy, his eyes a bit dazed.
"Uh?" he mumbled, perfectly matching his sleepy appearance.
Rubbing his eyes and stretching, Furuya picked up his luggage, ready to disembark.
Zhou Hui stood up, massaging his sore shoulder, and they both walked off the train together.