Ace of Diamond: Return of the Pitcher

"Demon King!"

"Demon King!!"

"Demon King!!!"

When Sawamura Eijun took the pitcher's mound at Seidou High School, all the supporters of Seidou High School in Jingu Stadium, including Sawamura's personal fan club, went absolutely wild.

They shouted Sawamura's nickname with hoarse voices, and the sound of tens of thousands of people gathered together had become a sonic weapon.

The score on the field was still 5:2, with the mighty Seidou High School trailing by three points.

It seemed like nothing had changed, but as soon as Sawamura stepped onto the field, everything felt different.

In the stands, among the Second and Third String players.

Takuma pushed up his small glasses and said with admiration, "As expected of Sawamura-senpai!"

There was a hint of excitement in his tone.

Among all the star players in high school baseball, only Sawamura had this level of fame.

"As long as Sawamura-senpai is on the field, there's no doubt that Seidou will win this game."

The other freshmen around him whispered in agreement.

"You can't say that. That guy hasn't stepped up yet."

Blond-haired Okumura saw things more clearly.

His gaze was fixed on the Seidou High's bench, more specifically, on Miyuki Kazuya.

They had seen before how scary is Sawamura's pitching.

'Although Ono-senpai is good, he couldn't catch all of Sawamura-senpai's pitches.' still remembering his 'defeat', Okumura thought about the difference between Ono and Miyuki.

Sawamura's effectiveness will be reduced somewhat.

'What kind of power could he show on the mound?'

'That was still unknown...'

Okumura watched the game on the field, his eyes becoming more focused and thoughtful.

On the other side, back in the dugout, Nishiyama felt like all the energy had been drained from his body. Since he had started playing baseball, he had never felt this depressed.

'I was completely no match for the opponent!'

Yakushi High School's strength was clear to Nishiyama long before the game started.

But he had thought he could handle it.

Unexpectedly, when the actual game started, it was a completely different story. The terrifying power of Yakushi High School was like a nightmare, clinging to him, impossible to shake off.

'Especially Todoroki Raichi!'

Even though Nishiyama had once faced off against amazing players before, he had never felt this powerless.

What he couldn't understand even more was the ball that got hit out earlier.

He had been 100% sure that he could take care of his opponent. But in the end, his opponent turned the tables and took care of him instead...

It would have been acceptable if a star player from Yakushi High School had hit it, but no, it was a little-known third-year player.

'It was so frustrating.'

Just as Nishiyama was deep in thought, rubbing the small mustache on his chin, Ochiai had somehow come up to him.

While stroking his chin, Ochiai carefully explained.

"High school baseball scary is that you can't see it if you're not facing it on the field. Just watching game footage doesn't reveal a lot of things."

"Of course, that's not to say paying attention to details is wrong. It's a good habit. But to truly make that habit work, you need some kind of catalyst."

"For example, experience! Experience is the only true test of skill, and it applies just as much in baseball."

Ochiai briefly explained, then turned his gaze to the pitcher's mound.

"And you have now experienced the depth of high school baseball this will be a valuable asset for you."

"Now, watch how Seidou's Ace handles this situation. Maybe you'll learn something really useful."

Nishiyama nodded and too looked at the mound.

On the Mound.

Sawamura looked almost indifferent, glancing at the runner on first base with his 'Demon Eyes'.

He paid no attention to anything else and focused only on the game.

After being stared down by Sawamura, the runner seemed to lose all sense of direction.

He just stood there, frozen.

After controlling the runner with his eyes, Sawamura shifted his stance and threw the ball in his hand.

"STRIKE!"

"STRIKE!!"

"STRIKE! BATTER OUT!!!"

Three Outs, Offense and Defense Exchange

After Sawamura Eijun replaced Nishiyama on the pitcher's mound, he easily secured the final Out. It was like a samurai wielding his treasured Katana—he stepped up and cut down the opponent in a single Iaidou.

Such a clean and efficient action, with a hint of chilling resolve.

In the stands, supporters of Seidou High and fans of Sawamura Eijun gazed at him with a mixture of confusion and admiration.

"As expected of the Demon King!"

"His presence truly is something else."

In the dugout. 

After Sawamura finished pitching, Nishiyama lost all interest in watching the game. He lifted his head to look at the sky.

Above him, a few white clouds drifted by.

What a beautiful clear sky and a springtime landscape.

The view was splendid, but Nishiyama had no mood to appreciate it.

His thoughts could not settle for a long time.

Since he started learning baseball, this was the first time Nishiyama had experienced such a crushing defeat. In the past, he always thought of himself as very talented.

He never expected to be so far from the mark.

The star players from Yakushi High School weren't much older than him—at most, they were a year his senpai. Their skill was already making him feel helpless.

Even the third-year players, who had previously seemed like mere side characters, had now become terrifyingly strong…

'Why?' 

This question kept circling in Nishiyama's mind.

"Not reconciled?" 

Miyuki appeared next to Nishiyama without him noticing and directly asked.

Nishiyama looked at him, astonished.

Nishiyama's emotions were quite complicated. He didn't even know how to respond to Miyuki.

Although he just wanted some peace and didn't feel like talking to anyone, the coaches and captain of Seidou High School were all taking on the role of mentors.

They patiently explained things to Nishiyama, comforting him.

Although Nishiyama felt that he didn't need this, that he wouldn't be brought down by such a small setback...

Still, he deeply appreciated it.

The Game Continues! On the bottom of the Third Inning

A particularly interesting scene unfolded now. The Seidou players, preparing to bat, were full of energy.

On the pitcher's mound stood Sawamura, which made the players from Seidou High feel incredibly relieved. They no longer had to worry about conceding runs.

All they needed to focus on now was how to recover the three run.

But unfortunately in the literal meaning, Seidou experienced firsthand what it meant that luck is also a part of strength In the following inning.

Ping!

After a few pitches, Kuramochi seized the opportunity and hit the ball straight out.

The pitch wasn't slow, and its quality was high, but he made good contact with it and hit it.

Ordinarily, it should have been very promising for a hit.

But this excellent hit was suddenly blocked.

Snap!

The outfielder and Captain, Hirahata, who had previously been unknown, now seemed to transform into a star player, blocking Seidou's hopes of recovering the score.

He dove, confidently caught the ball in his mitt, and made the play.

The entire process was so fast and terrifying that it left Seidou's players with no chance to react.

In the Dugout of Seidou High

Coach Kataoka, wearing sunglasses, furrowed his brow.

This was not a good sign. In baseball, luck played a significant role.

'A ball hit in the same situation could result in entirely different outcomes…'

Just like now, Seidou had been hopeful of recovering a large number of runs in this inning.

But due to bad luck, they tripped up.

'This will also impact the team's morale.'

The players might feel out of sync as if even the heavens were against them…

Such negative emotions would certainly affect their performance.

'Kominato!'

At this point, Kataoka could only pin his hopes on the next batter.

Kominato Haruichi was an excellent batter, and he still hoped he could turn things around.

But the result was equally mind-blowing.

Though Kominato played it well, the ball was soaring straight over the third baseman's head…

At that moment, Raichi made an incredible out-of-the-world leap.

Raichi's entire body was at least a meter above the ground, his arms fully extended. Almost like he was launched by a catapult.

He made an impossible play, catching the ball.

"Keha-ha-haa!"

Raichi, having caught the ball, looked absolutely ecstatic, laughing out loud…

In Seidou's dugout, all the players seemed to have been choked at the same time.

If Kuramochi's hit had been a fluke, this play by Raichi was absolutely no accident.

Koshien's experience had not only evolved Yakushi High School's lineup but also significantly strengthened their defense.

That brilliant defensive play could not be explained by luck alone…Right?

Without sufficient skill, it would have been impossible to stop the ball.

"Todoroki-san is really a doer. I heard they played nearly a hundred practice games. I thought it was exaggerated, but it turns out it was true!" 

In the Seidou High dugout, Coach Ochiai, stroking his chin, sighed.

The most effective way to help players grow quickly is through competition.

Yakushi High School had taken this path, constantly challenging the top teams in the country…

Though they had suffered many defeats at the start, gradually their players began to gain experience.

And the most terrifying part was that these players had a wealth of game experience.

'They played far too many games…'

Three Outs, Offense and Defense Exchange.

In the bottom of the third inning, Seidou High returned without success.

Not only were they trailing, but the players' fighting spirit had also decreased significantly…

"Don't be discouraged!"

In Seidou High's dugout, Sawamura Eijun kept clapping his hands and looking at his teammates.

Once he had everyone's attention, he spoke.

"The other side are also desperate to keep the advantage. There's no need to worry about them. They won't score again. Our task is simple: find their weaknesses and recover the score. Heaven won't stay blind forever…"

Sawamura's tone was calm, and his demeanor was relaxed.

He spoke so well, and his words stirred the players' spirits.

"First of all, let's get these three Outs!" 

The game resumed, and once Sawamura stepped onto the mound, he spread his arms wide.

"BALLS WILL COME FLYING!! EVERYONE AT THE BACK PLEASE TAKE CARE OF ME!!"

Hearing this long-awaited line, the Seidou players naturally responded with enthusiasm!

Fans and spectators in the stands waved anything they could!

They also sensed that the climax of the game was about to arrive!

"LET THEM HIT!"

"WE'LL STOP THEM!"

"KING SEIDOU!!!"

"SAWAMURA, IT'S UP TO YOU…"

"SAWAMURA!!!"

"SEIDOU!!"

"SHOW THEM WHAT YOU HAVE!!!"

Everyone around was cheering for Sawamura from their own position.

For Sawamura himself, it was impossible to hear what others were saying in this sea of tens of thousands of people.

But that didn't matter. He didn't need to think about it too much. All he had to do was focus on defeating the opponent in front of him.

He had already dealt with Yakushi High School's sixth batter. Now, all he needed to do was handle the rest of their lower-order hitters.

'Very good…'

For Sawamura, there was no pressure.

He gripped the ball firmly with all five fingers, took his stance, and threw it steadily.

Whrroosh!

The ball was like a laser, crossing the strike zone in an instant.

Yakushi's batters weren't ordinary either. As the ball flew toward them, they swung their bats fiercely, trying to hit it.

But it wasn't so easy.

When the small ball approached, it suddenly dropped.

Ping!

Though the batter barely made contact with the ball, it wasn't a clean hit.

The small ball fell in front of him and landed right in Sawamura's mitt.

After catching the ball, Sawamura immediately threw it to first base.

"OUT!"

The batter was immediately called Out.

"ONE OUT!!"

Sawamura shouted excitedly on the mound for his teammates.

"ONE OUT!"

"YOU ARE DOING GREAT!!"

"TAKE THEM DOING LIKE THAT!!"

"PITCH TO CONTACT!"

His teammates responded with the same excitement. Clearly in a high spirit with their Ace taking the lead.

In Yakushi's dugout.

Todoroki Raizou's face turned dark.

He hadn't expected that Sawamura would grow so quickly.

'By now, he could freely adjust his pitching rhythm.'

That skill alone was enough to make any pitcher a high-level pitcher.

And for Sawamura, with his unique characteristics—if he could control his pitching rhythm, his overall strength would become even more terrifying.

Just like now.

Even with half of Seidou's substitutes, he still showed excellent skill.

"What a tough guy!"

It's hard to say whether it's fortunate or unfortunate that his 'moron son' was born in the same era as Sawamura Eijun.

Now, he could only hope for the showdown between Sawamura and his "moron son"...

'Without his partner Miyuki, Sawamura seemed like a warrior with a rusty weapon.'

'Many of his powerful pitches couldn't be used…'

In this sense, his 'moron son' might actually have a better chance.

…

T/N: As always, Thank you all for reading!!

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