However, his expression changed after. "Well, enjoy the game tonight. Maybe we'll see each other again in 3 years, if I'm still Head Coach by then that is." Coach Boone said with a grin, holding out his hand.
"Ah, thanks coach!" Ken said, gripping the outstretched hand.
"You guys stop slacking, we have an important game tonight." He stated before leaving the bullpen, followed by the guy who was trailing behind him before.
Once the coach left, things were silent for a little while until Masaru came over to Ken and nudged him. "So you haven't lost your touch I see." He said with a grin.
"Ah haha I guess not…" Ken replied nervously. This was one of his biggest idols Ma-kun talking to him so casually, even with his Dauntless trait active, he might not be able to hold his cool.
"Last I heard, you were going through a bit of a slump. Don't worry, it happens to the best of us." He said casually, "What's even more great is that you're in America! Most Japanese choose to remain in Japan."
These words were said in Japanese, making Ken feel a little more at ease. "I've always wanted to make it to the Majors, so the best chance is to go to an American college." Ken replied.
"What are you guys talking about?" Alex asked, wrapping his arm around Ken's shoulders.
Masaru smiled, "I was just saying he made the right choice coming to America to chase the Majors. As long as he keeps up his form, there's no way he won't be drafted."
"Heh, no kidding. If I had known you were a monster like this I wouldn't have invited you." Alex replied cheekily.
"Um, excusa me. I can take photo?" Ai's sweet voice and broken English spoke up from the sideline, holding her phone up.
"Ah sure thing. Make sure you get my good side though." Alex responded, turning himself and Ken towards her.
Ken dreaded photos, but he was happy to be getting one with Masaru.
'I wish this guy would leave… He's ruining my photo with Ma-kun' Ken thought, shooting Alex a glare.
"Say cheese."
Ai snapped many photos of the 3 standing on the mound in the Yanks bullpen. These would be a priceless treasure for both her and Ken before he made it to the majors.
"Why don't you go up too, I'll take a photo of you all together." The unassuming pitching coach from earlier approached Ai and offered to take her phone.
"Sank you!" She said, bowing a few times before swiftly heading over to the mound.
They then took a few photos together before Garrett Sanchez and a few other pitchers joined in. Eventually, the whole bullpen lined up for the photo, surprising both Ken and Ai.
"Send those photos to me through LINE" Masaru said to Ai. "I will be able to tell everyone I met Ken before he was famous." He said with a chuckle.
"Eh?" Ken blinked a few times, not expecting one of his idols to say such words. Today was like a dream come true, and it all sparked from the guy on his right interrupting a sweet moment between him and Ai.
'I guess I can forgive him…' Ken thought. However, the smell of body odor wafted into his nose from the guy's armpits, almost causing him to reel backwards.
"Alright, we've had enough fun, its time for us to get some warm-ups in. Have a seat by the side and I'll get Chuck to take you to the VIP suite before the game starts." Alex said, patting Ken on the back.
Meanwhile, Coach Boone had already returned to the lockers by now. He had been silent for the walk back, muttering to himself every now and then.
"Coach, why do you look like you swallowed a fly?"
"Don't even ask…" He replied, not even acknowledging the 6'7 beast in front of him. Coach Boone walked past and went straight to his office, not even addressing his follower who had been behind him all this while.
"Coach… The starting lineup for the game was meant to be released 30 minutes ago." The guy said, looking a little nervous.
"Damn it. Just send them the last line up." He said, waving the guy off.
"But coach, the staff said Stanton should be fine to play today. Should I leave him off the line up?"
Coach Boone took of his hat and ruffled his hair in frustration, "Damn it Boyle, you just do the line up today. Can't you see I'm busy right now?"
The one he called Boyle flinched before nodding like a pecking chicken and leaving the office. It wasn't often that Coach Boone was this annoyed about something, so he should have known to leave the guy alone.
It was just that he had people from the media constantly asking him to release the line up.
Back in the office, the Head Coach calmed himself down after a few minutes. He opened up his laptop and searched for Ken's name. He hadn't gotten the last name, so he had to work for a little while before finding it.
He was taken to the Perfect Game website and onto Ken's profile. It was there that he got to learn that Ken was the number 1 rated High School recruit for 2019. There were also articles about him deciding to join Columbia, a team who had struggled in recent years.
"Why did he choose Columbia of all places? Scratch that, why didn't he declare for the draft instead of High School?" Coach Boone was utterly confused.
Of course since he had no background, he wouldn't know Ken's reasoning. In addition to wanting to stay near Ai's College, Ken wanted to net the most amount of benefits from the system missions as possible.
He believed that if he went straight to the majors, he would be missing out on possible College missions and rewards that would help him in the long run. This wasn't a guess either, since Mika had confirmed this information.
But since the coach was in the dark, he could only lament his misfortune, "Such a shame…"