Baseball: A Two-Way Player-Chapter 588 - 143: One Generation Will Grow Old, But There Will Always Be Someone Younger

As he spoke, Akiyama Koji's voice gradually became choked with emotion, and even his eldest daughter beside him began to sob; Lin Guanglai simply stood there silently listening to this man's heartfelt words, sensing the great regret and profound longing veiled within them.

Another bout of silence followed, broken only by the sound of rain hitting the leaves outside the window.

"Guanglai, I've grown old. My years as a supervisor have given me much, but I've also lost more..." Akiyama Koji took a deep breath, speaking in a rather calm tone, "I will no longer engage in any work related to baseball from now on. My era officially ends today, which is an inevitable law."

"But you are different!" Akiyama Koji's voice suddenly raised much higher, revealing undeniable severity in his words, just like the countless days and nights over the past two years when he spoke to Lin Guanglai, "You are still young, your future is bright, and there are infinite possibilities!"

He reached out and grabbed Lin Guanglai's arm, the force in his palm making Lin Guanglai feel a slight twinge of pain.

"I have watched you transform from a rough stone into a dazzling gem... Your talent is the most astonishing I've ever seen, even Ichiro and Matsui cannot compare—I speak not only of physical talent but also of here," he pointed to his chest with his other hand, "Your will, your calmness, your competitive spirit are the true foundational elements of becoming a great player."

Akiyama Koji's eyes were blazing, emotions surging from them: "Never, never waste this talent! Do not be satisfied with what you have achieved here in Japan! The stage here has become too small for you!"

"I also watched your game against the Major League All-Star team, Guanglai, tell me honestly, after confronting top players like Harper, Altuve, and Pujols, don't you wish to go across the ocean to face those players every day, refining and honing yourself until you become the greatest player in the world, and even in the history of baseball... cough cough!"

The huge emotional fluctuations caused Akiyama Koji to cough violently a few times, his complexion turning a bit pale; yet, he grasped Lin Guanglai's hand with even more strength.

"Do you know what my greatest regret in life is, Guanglai? Besides missing so much time with my family, my biggest regret is not having had the courage to at least take a look at the Major League during the year I became Japan's top outfielder!"

"Go, Guanglai! Take your damned, envy-inducing talent to the world's stage! Go to the highest stage in the world and face those Major League monsters head-on! Show the world that Asia can produce players like you! Let the world see what true Dual Swordsmanship is!"

"For me, and for those who couldn't go or failed, go see the view from the top!"

At the end of his words, tears finally flowed from this man who had been strong all his life: within those tears were longing for his late wife and an earnest plea to entrust all his unfinished dreams and hopes to the young man before him.

Lin Guanglai supported Supervisor Akiyama with his hand, standing upright; he watched his mentor's tear-filled, haggard appearance, feeling as though an invisible hand had tightly gripped his heart, pulling it painfully. He did not cry, but his eyes were slightly red.

Looking directly at the supervisor's deeply hollowed eyes, Lin Guanglai firmly nodded in front of him, promising resolutely:

"I will, supervisor—I promise that I will definitely go to the Major League in the future; I will stand on that highest stage, I will let the world witness firsthand what kind of player you have cultivated!"

Akiyama Koji just looked at Lin Guanglai, gazing at the undisputed determination in his eyes, at the vibrant aura exuding from him, as if he were seeing his younger self. Finally, a heartfelt smile appeared on his pale and weary face.

He reached out, gently patting Lin Guanglai's shoulder, indicating he was alright; seeing this, Lin Guanglai again bowed to him and then turned and entered the hall.

The rain outside continued to fall, but soon, the sky would clear, perhaps even a rainbow would appear after the rain.

An era is slowly coming to a close, but a brand new era is slowly unfolding.

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"Dear viewers, after a long half-year offseason, professional baseball is back! Welcome to today's 2015 Nippon Professional Baseball season preview program. The first to mention, of course, is last season's Pacific League champion and Japan's Number One, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks..."

"After the prestigious Akiyama Koji bravely stepped down, Seibu's legendary lefty Kodama Komei has taken over the championship team's helm as the new supervisor— for Supervisor Kodama, coaching such a team is a recognition of him, but the accompanying pressure is equally enormous: after all, during the offseason, SoftBank not only retained last season's championship lineup but also spent a fortune signing the returning 'Dice-K' Matsusaka Daisuke, with total investment already exceeding 5 billion. The team's new season's goal is singular: to replicate last year's success and claim all the laurels!"