Chương 76: Catherine and Baseball
"Catherine, what... hmm?" Xinyi's voice trailed off as she spotted her assistant engrossed in her phone. Xinyi moved closer, curiosity piqued, and glanced over Catherine's shoulder. A short video played on the screen, showing Furuya in the middle of a baseball game.
"You have videos of him?" Xinyi's eyebrow arched.
Catherine, slightly startled, paused the video and turned around. "Yes... I did mention I'd keep an eye on him, Lady Xinyi. So far, it looks like his heart is set on baseball, not you."
Xinyi's eyes narrowed, suspicion lingering. "Then show me what you've found."
Catherine nodded, flipping through her phone. She displayed a series of pictures and videos of Furuya practicing with his team, along with random snapshots of him and Yasushi hanging out. There were also numerous notes, filled with odd details about Furuya that Xinyi had never known.
Xinyi studied the images, the videos, and the meticulous entries. Each snippet of Furuya's life, each frame of him swinging the bat or laughing with Yasushi, painted a picture far different from what she had imagined.
"Isn't this... a bit much?" Xinyi asked, her voice edged with unease. She had conducted background checks before, but the volume of information this time dwarfed anything she'd encountered previously.
"I wanted to be thorough," Catherine replied without hesitation, her gaze steady on Xinyi's.
Xinyi studied Catherine for a moment, then asked, "Do you like him?"
Catherine's face flushed crimson almost instantly, but she shook her head in a frantic denial. "No. I don't. Why would I like someone so... stupid and athletic and friendly and—" Her words tumbled out, spilling over with unintended praise for Furuya. As she trailed off, she noticed Xinyi's knowing grin.
"W-w-what about you, Lady Xinyi!? Don't you like Yasushi?" Catherine blurted out, her voice rising in a mix of panic and embarrassment.
"Hmm? Well, yes, I like him," Xinyi replied, her tone casual. "But he's with Jingliu now, so there's nothing I can do about that. It doesn't mean we can't be friends." She tilted her head, genuinely puzzled by Catherine's question. "Anyway, we came up with an idea for the Halloween event. I'd love to hear your thoughts."
"Ah... um... sure," Catherine responded, her confusion evident. She had expected Xinyi to be more affected by the situation with Yasushi, but it seemed to roll off her without much impact.
As they delved into the event plans, Catherine couldn't help but notice Xinyi occasionally glancing at her phone, fingers tapping out quick messages. Curious but not wanting to pry, she assumed Xinyi was chatting with friends back in China and let it slide.
+-+
"I like it! And I'm fine with Jingliu being the goddess too. If anyone has any objections, speak now or we move forward!" Senbarisu declared, her voice ringing with excitement as she slapped the whiteboard behind her for emphasis.
The next day came quickly. After lunch, they gathered again to brainstorm more about the Halloween event. Ideas flowed, mostly building on Jingliu's initial concept. Everyone contributed, refining and expanding her vision.
"How will we make it look authentic?" a female student asked, her voice cutting through the chatter. "There are different ways artists depict the goddess Hakufubuki. Which design should we choose? And we're only working with the classroom space, so we need to consider that."
A few heads nodded in agreement, the challenge of limited space weighing on their minds.
"Since we've decided on this idea," Senbarisu responded confidently, "the rest of the planning is up to us. I'll supervise, and if you need supplies, I'll make sure we get them." Her assurance seemed to lift the room, and the students began discussing the details with renewed energy.
+-+
"How about... a baseball man? A walking, moving baseball bat with fangs?" Furuya suggested as Yasushi's group made their way back to the antique shop "Kaze no Yume," in search of more items for their Halloween event.
"That's ridiculous," Xinyi said, shaking her head.
"How? It's... good!" Furuya defended, a hint of desperation in his voice.
"How is a baseball bat an antique when it's still in use?" Xinyi shot back, her words making Furuya falter, his enthusiasm visibly deflated.
Yasushi cleared his throat and spoke up. "There are two main factors that make something an antique," he began, his voice calm and measured. "First, age. Generally, an antique is an object that's at least a hundred years old. This age threshold separates antiques from vintage items, which are typically twenty to ninety-nine years old."
He paused, allowing the information to sink in before continuing. "Second, value. Antiques aren't just old objects; their worth increases due to age, rarity, historical significance, or aesthetic appeal."
Xinyi listened, her skepticism wavering slightly as Yasushi went on.
"Condition also matters," he added. "Antiques are often in good condition considering their age. This doesn't mean they are perfect, but they should be functional and free from major damage."
Furuya nodded slowly, beginning to grasp the nuances.
"Then there's provenance," Yasushi said, his eyes brightening. "An antique's history and origin can add to its value. Documentation about the maker or previous owners makes the piece more desirable to collectors."
He concluded, "So, to be considered an antique, an object needs to be at least a century old, hold some special value, and be in decent condition."
Yasushi smiled at Furuya, his eyes reflecting a hint of amusement. "It's entirely possible for a baseball bat to be an antique," he said, his tone reassuring. "You just need certain conditions. First, it should be at least 100 years old. Baseball has been around since the mid-1800s, so there are bats that meet this age criterion."
Furuya's curiosity piqued, and Yasushi continued, "Second, it must have value. This could stem from the bat's rarity, its connection to a famous player or historical event, or simply its age and good condition."
"For instance," Yasushi went on, "a bat used by a legendary player from the early 1900s would likely be considered a valuable antique. Even a bat without a significant historical connection, if well-preserved and from the late 19th or early 20th century, could hold considerable value for collectors."
Xinyi leaned in slightly, her interest now evident.
"Several factors can add to a baseball bat's value as an antique," Yasushi explained. "The type of wood, for example. Early bats were made from a variety of woods like hickory or even pine, which are less common today. A bat made from such a wood could be more appealing to collectors."
He pointed out another detail. "Distinctive design features also matter. Bat designs have evolved over time. An antique bat with an unusual knob or handle shape could be particularly valuable."
"And manufacturer markings," Yasushi added, "If the bat has a logo or stamp from a long-defunct company, it could be highly collectible."
Yasushi's explanation was thorough, drawing in the group with each detail. "So, if you have an old baseball bat, it's worth researching its history and condition. There are resources online, or you could consult with a sports memorabilia expert," he concluded, leaving Furuya thoughtful and Xinyi visibly impressed.
"Man… where the hell did you learn all of this? I mean, I'm grateful you had my back, but jeez," Furuya said, scratching the back of his head, his voice tinged with nervous disbelief.
Yasushi looked at Jingliu and chuckled, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Jingliu's interested in antiques, so I did a bit of research. Plus, knowing you and your love for baseball, I figured you'd try to incorporate it if given the chance," he explained, his tone casual but earnest.
Furuya laughed, giving Yasushi a hearty pat on the shoulder. "Hmm-hmm, as expected of my best friend, you know me all too well! Now then, I'll try and find a baseball bat that meets those criteria. If I do, we can probably add it, right? Or maybe even find an old famous player associated with that bat. That wouldn't be bad, right?" he asked, excitement sparking in his eyes.
"It's doable," Laura replied, nodding in agreement. "Just research a famous player, find out about their bat, and cosplay it for the event."
"Three for three!" Furuya exclaimed, turning to Jingliu, who sighed but gave a silent nod of approval. "Four for four!" he cheered, then looked at Xinyi, his eyes pleading.
Xinyi rolled her eyes but smiled. "Fine, jeez, you're so persistent at times. I'll agree to it, but make sure you run it by Senbarisu and the others. They might not be on board yet."
"Nice!" Furuya shouted, thrusting his fist into the air in triumph.
In the background, the owner of "Kaze no Yume" chuckled at their antics, a smile of genuine happiness spreading across his face. The increase in visitors and sales to his store was a welcome change, thanks to their lively presence.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
Haruki_Murakami
Haruki_Murakami "A fo ben, bid bont." -Welsh proverb
"He who would be a leader, let him be a bridge."
Meaning: This proverb emphasizes that true leadership involves being supportive and facilitating connections, suggesting that leaders should help others and create pathways for success.
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