Diamond No Ace: Echoes Of The Ace

Chapter 7: The Decision (1)

Azuma, gripping his bat tightly, smirked as he resumed his taunts. "Hey, kid. If you're going to apologize, now's your chance. Once you step on that mound, there's no turning back."

Eijun glared at him, his voice low and deliberate. "Who do you think you are? Acting all high and mighty? I'd say the one with no escape is you."

Slowly, he raised his head, eyes blazing with defiance, and shouted, "And don't come crying to me if you get hit by one of my pitches!"

His face twisted in a snarl, eyebrows furrowed and teeth bared, looking every bit like a cat bristling in anger.

His antics left Miyuki laughing uncontrollably, clutching his stomach.

Even Azuma began to doubt if he should have agreed to this duel—it felt like he was bullying a little kid, which, in fairness, he was.

Despite the chaotic start, the moment Eijun stepped onto the mound, he became unnaturally calm.

He kicked the dirt on the mound, carefully packing it down until it felt just right beneath his feet.

Fixing his gaze on the catcher at home plate, he took a deep breath.

The battle was about to begin.

Eijun saw Miyuki's signal and raised his right leg high.

Just as he was about to release the ball, a wave of pressure surged from home plate.

---No! He's going to hit it!

The thought overwhelmed him, and instinctively, he adjusted his wrist at the last second.

The ball sank sharply, bouncing before it reached the plate.

"What's this? Are you scared already?" Azuma sneered loudly, his laughter echoing across the field.

But Miyuki's eyes sparkled with interest.

This wasn't just a wild pitch.

It was as if Eijun's instincts told him the ball would be hit, so he altered its trajectory mid-throw.

But can an ordinary person even do that?

Intrigued, Miyuki jogged up to the mound.

"That last pitch—you changed it on purpose, didn't you? Did you twist your wrist or fingers? Are you hurt anywhere?"

"No, I just… felt like it was going to be hit, so I adjusted," Eijun admitted reluctantly.

"Oh? Funny thing—Azuma-senpai loves pitches like that. I actually wanted him to hit it to help you relax. Didn't expect that outcome, though. Haha!" Miyuki laughed, his grin unapologetic.

"You—" Eijun bristled, his anger bubbling to the surface. "You deliberately called a pitch you knew he'd like? You wanted me to get hit to relax?"

His fists clenched as he glared at Miyuki.

"This might not be an official game, and I might not even want to pitch here, but once I'm on the mound, I don't take it lightly. I'm not some clueless country bumpkin for you to toy with! I'm serious about taking him out! But to you, this is all just some game. It's not funny—not to me."

The tension on the mound was palpable, and everyone nearby felt it.

Takashima grew concerned.

Her plan to let Eijun experience Seidou's strength and lure him in seemed to be backfiring, thanks to Miyuki's playful approach.

Miyuki, sensing the distrust and hostility from Eijun, softened his tone. "Sorry, looks like I went too far. I'll make it up to you."

He placed a hand over Eijun's chest and met his gaze seriously. "I admire you, you know. From now on, let's face this monster together. The best pitches are a collaboration between pitcher and catcher. Trust me, and I'll bring out your full potential. Just aim for my glove—we'll become the best battery out there."

With that, Miyuki returned to home plate, leaving Eijun staring after him.

---What a strange guy… But he's right. Pitching and catching go hand in hand. I guess I'll have to trust him for now.

...

In the next few pitches, Eijun focused entirely on throwing his best fastballs.

Whether it was Azuma's towering presence or Miyuki's steadying influence, Eijun's spirit seemed to infuse each pitch.

One by one, the balls cut through the air, and Azuma, the supposed "monster," swung and missed repeatedly.

For the final pitch, Eijun aimed inside, right at the batter's belt.

Azuma swung with incredible speed and precision, the bat slicing through the air with force.

But the ball broke unexpectedly at the last moment.

The bat barely grazed it, and instead of flying into the outfield, the ball dribbled weakly toward the ground near third base.

The ball spun violently, ricocheting toward the mound with incredible speed.

With no fielders in position to catch it, Azuma seemed destined for a hit. But then, a white blur streaked off the mound.

Eijun sprinted down from the pitcher's mound, dove forward, and scooped the ball into his glove just before it could pass.

The momentum sent him rolling across the dirt, but he clung to the ball tightly against his chest.

Springing to his feet, he instinctively hurled it toward first base, where a surprised senior caught it and stepped on the bag.

The field fell silent for a moment before erupting in murmurs of astonishment.

Eijun dusted himself off, standing tall and defiant, his heart pounding from the intensity of the play.

For the first time, he felt the thrill of competing at Seidou's level.

This would be the moment that set his fate in motion.

The people around were stunned, staring at the scrappy kid who had just thrown himself into the play. It took a while before anyone found their voice.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Did you hurt yourself? Let us check."

Eijun seemed oblivious to the concerned voices around him.

In that fleeting moment when the ball had been hit, his body had moved instinctively—to field the ball and secure the out at first.

He stared at his dirt-covered uniform, feeling a wave of dizziness.

Above him, the bright blue sky spun, and the muffled voices of those around him faded into the background.

His legs gave out, and instead of falling to the ground, he collapsed into an incredibly firm embrace.

He could distinctly feel strong hands supporting his waist. It was unmistakably a person, not the ground.

...

When Eijun opened his eyes again, he found himself lying in Seidou's baseball medical room. "Huh? What happened? Ugh, it hurts…"

"You shouldn't move around so much yet."

"WAAAH!" Eijun jumped at the sudden voice and turned to see a tall, handsome upperclassman with soft curls, sharp features, and gentle eyes standing beside him.

"That fall didn't cause any major injuries thanks to your flexibility and good physical condition, but it's still going to hurt. You should rest for a bit. Would you like some water?"

Still dazed, Eijun could only nod. The senior poured him a glass of water and handed it over.

"Ah, Sawamura-kun, you're awake!" Takashima Rei walked in, relieved to see him sitting up.

She had been worried sick about him, guilt-ridden for allowing him to get hurt during his visit. "Do you feel any discomfort? Be sure to tell us if anything feels off."

She turned to the upperclassman. "Thank you, Chris, for looking after him."

"It's no trouble at all," Chris replied, gathering his belongings to leave.

Just before walking out the door, he stopped and turned around. "That last ball—you shouldn't have gone for it. A pitcher should take care of themselves. But still… that was a beautiful pitch. A truly impressive game."

With the sunlight streaming in behind him, Chris seemed almost ethereal, glowing with warmth and kindness.

Eijun, overwhelmed by the senior's sincerity, felt tears welling up in his eyes.

"Chris-senpai," he called out impulsively, "you should take care of yourself too!"

Chris froze at the unexpected words but didn't turn around.

Instead, he gave a quiet, low acknowledgment before leaving.

Takashima watched the interaction, bewildered by the strange dynamic unfolding before her. A faint idea began to take shape in her mind.

...

"How are you feeling now, Sawamura-kun?" Takashima asked, noticing Eijun wiping away tears. She assumed it was from the pain, feeling guilty once again.

"I'm fine now!" Eijun exclaimed, perking up almost immediately. "My grandpa always says I'm tough as nails. This is nothing!"

Takashima, though relieved, couldn't resist the urge to tease him. Adjusting her glasses, she remarked flatly, "Well, you should still be careful. After all, getting princess-carried to the medical room isn't exactly a badge of honor."

Eijun froze, his face turning bright red. "P-princess carry?!" He buried his face in the blanket, muttering the words over and over again, mortified.

...

Eijun spent the rest of the afternoon recovering, even receiving a large meal brought to him by the "angelic" Chris-senpai.

The meal consisted of three bowls piled high with rice and dishes, supposedly a reward from the team for his effort.

However, staring at the mountain of food, Eijun felt only deep resentment and an overwhelming urge to vomit.

While eating, Eijun learned that Chris Takigawa Yuu, the senior who had looked after him, was a second-year and Seidou's current main catcher.

Compared to Miyuki, Chris seemed far more dependable—an observation Eijun was quick to voice.

"That shady glasses guy," Eijun grumbled, recounting how Miyuki had tricked him into throwing a pitch Azuma loved to hit, "doesn't know how to encourage pitchers at all! My catcher back home, Shin, always comforts me when I'm nervous or upset and trusts me completely. But that guy? I didn't feel even a shred of warmth or trust from him. There's no way he's popular with pitchers!"

Somewhere on the field, a certain "proud prince" sneezed loudly.

Chris listened intently to Eijun's complaints, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Curious about Eijun's observations, he began to reflect on Miyuki's approach.

Eijun, seeing Chris lost in thought, quietly resumed eating, though three bowls of rice proved to be an insurmountable challenge.

...

Eijun initially planned to head home alone, but under Takashima's watchful and worried gaze, he obediently waited for her by the school gates.

"Sawamura-kun, you've seen Seidou today, so I hope you'll think carefully about your decision. Choosing Seidou will be the right choice for you."

Sitting on the train, Eijun stared out at Tokyo's retreating cityscape.

His reflection in the window showed his tightly clenched fists.

His thoughts spun chaotically, replaying the terrifying seniors, the absurd meal portions, and the mortifying princess carry.

There's no way I'm going to Seidou!!!

As the train lights flickered across the glass, Eijun's flushed cheeks were unmistakable in the reflection.

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