Early April—the season when cherry blossoms danced across the skies of Tokyo, painting the city in shades of pink and white. It was one of the most breathtaking times of the year, and also the start of a new academic term for high schools all over Japan.
Seidō High School, a prestigious private school in West Tokyo, was renowned throughout the country for one thing above all—baseball. Here, the sport wasn't just a game. It was a way of life.
At the school's main gate, a sixteen-year-old boy stood still, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Dressed in the standard navy Seidō uniform and carrying a backpack, he soaked in the view beyond the gate—an expansive training ground buzzing with players and energy.
His name was Liu Yong. A name that stood out in this land, undeniably Chinese. That's because he was Chinese. More than that—he was an exchange student.
No. To be even more precise… Liu Yong wasn't just from another country—he was from another world.
In his previous life, there was no Seidō High School. No genius catcher named Miyuki Kazuya. No "ace of the diamond." But when he awoke in this version of Japan and saw those familiar names—Seidō, Inajitsu, Teitō—it hit him like a fastball to the chest.
This was the world of that one manga. That story. The one created by the so-called "step-dad" of baseball manga. A fictional world brought to life.
And Liu Yong, a self-proclaimed pseudo-fan with more enthusiasm than skill, was inside it.
It was almost too good to be true. As a kid, he had followed that manga religiously—watching a certain foolish protagonist rise through the ranks, powered by sheer grit and love for the game. That story had lit a fire in his heart. Even if he didn't fully understand the sport, he knew one thing: he wanted to be a part of it.
So he trained. Not as a pitcher—he lacked the raw velocity and signature breaking balls. His form always felt a little… off. Instead, he set his sights on becoming a powerful batter. He trained the only way he knew how: by swinging his bat a thousand times a day. Rain or shine, sore or not.
And now—he was here.
"Seidō… Miyuki… Eijun… I'm finally here!" Liu Yong clenched his fists, heart pounding. "This time, I won't let you have any regrets!"
With determination in his steps, he headed for the school's staff office to complete his transfer paperwork.
"You're Liu Yong, right?" a middle-aged teacher with glasses greeted him inside. "I already spoke with your father. Don't worry—we've informed the baseball club's president. You can join them directly. Whether you stay on or make the regulars... that's up to you."
"Yes, Mr. Yamanaka! Thank you very much!" Liu Yong bowed deeply. In this new country, where respect and hierarchy were part of the culture, he knew adapting was key.
"If you ever run into trouble living on your own in Japan, come find me," Mr. Yamanaka added kindly. "Let's head to your classroom first. Your dorm assignment has been handled."
"Yes, thank you again!" Liu Yong repeated, bowing once more. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Or in this case, Japan.
When they arrived at the classroom, Mr. Yamanaka cleared his throat. "Ahem. Everyone, we have a new transfer student joining us today. He's from China."
Liu Yong stepped in, calm and confident. "Hello everyone, I'm Liu Yong from China. I hope we can get along!"
As he introduced himself, his eyes scanned the room—and two familiar faces made his heart skip a beat. A tall, stoic boy with black hair and piercing eyes. And beside him, a smaller boy with soft pink hair partially covering his gaze.
Furuya Satoru. Kominato Haruichi.
Liu Yong's lips curled into a satisfied smile. So I didn't land in Eijun's class… but this? This is still pretty amazing.
Classes were, to put it kindly, easy.
Having been a university student in his previous life, Liu Yong had no problem keeping up with high school-level material—except maybe in Japanese language and history. Speaking the language fluently didn't mean he could analyze ancient poetry or memorize the intricate lineage of shogun dynasties.
(To be fair, if you dropped a fluent foreigner into a Chinese language class back home, they'd struggle too.)
As the day dragged on, Liu Yong familiarized himself with his new classmates. Furuya and Kominato were just as he remembered them—quiet, a little distant, but unmistakably themselves. He didn't force any interactions. There was time. Baseball would bring them together soon enough.
After school, Liu Yong made his way to the Seidō dormitories, specifically the Qingxin Dorm—home to the baseball club members. The facilities were top-notch, practically professional.
Unlike scholarship athletes like Miyuki Kazuya, who had their fees covered, Liu Yong had entered through the regular admissions route. But that didn't matter—his family back in China was well-off and supportive. His parents had always doted on him, and when he asked to study in Japan to pursue baseball, they agreed without hesitation. His mother cried a little, but they processed the paperwork without delay.
He finally found the right door. A note in hand, he looked at the nameplate—and his eyes widened.
His smile grew.
"To think I'd end up sharing a room with him… the next two years are going to be something else."
He opened the door with confidence and called out,
"Hello, seniors! I'm Liu Yong, the new guy! I look forward to learning from you all!"