Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 216: The Perfect Form in Seihou's Battle

Top of the 7th inning, Seihou High's attack.

Batting fourth, third baseman, Sano Shuuzou.

With a towering physique, a menacing aura, and a ferocious grin, Seihou's cleanup hitter, Sano Shuuzou, stepped into the batter's box.

Wielding his fearsome metal bat and exuding the presence of an absolute ruler of the field, he drew every pair of eyes in the stadium.

His sheer presence commanded respect, and an involuntary sense of awe filled the hearts of all who watched him.

This natural-born star hitter always had a way of capturing attention.

Standing on the pitcher's mound, Eijun bore the full brunt of Sano's intimidating presence.

Deep down, he understood that this was Sano at his peak, his perfect form.

Having experienced one at-bat and fully adjusted to Eijun's pitching style, Sano was now the most dangerous version of himself—a batter who could adapt and strike fear into any pitcher.

In that moment, Eijun couldn't help but marvel.

In the original storyline, Narumiya Mei had managed to strike out this monstrous batter three times in a row.

That level of skill was truly something to aspire to.

For Eijun, even achieving the strikeout in the first at-bat had required every ounce of effort, along with a bit of luck.

To replicate Narumiya's feat seemed almost impossible for his current self.

Both left-handed pitchers.

Both with similar traits.

Yet the gap between Eijun and Narumiya's level of mastery was still significant.

"Go for it, Shuuzou!"

"This is your moment, Sano!"

"Shuuzou, charge! I know you can do it!"

"Sano, hit one out of the park for us!"

...

"Bring it on, Sawamura Eijun! Throw me that pitch again. I swear I'll crush it! No—no matter what pitch you throw, this time, this time, I'll smash it out of the park!"

Sano's crimson-glowing eyes and overwhelming aura exuded a dual sensation—a chilling coldness intertwined with a searing heat.

His stance in the batter's box was aggressively imposing, striking a primal fear and admiration in those who observed him.

The audience collectively swallowed, captivated by the tension.

This showdown would determine Seihou High's fate.

Would they find a glimmer of hope for a comeback, or would they fall into despair?

...

"What terrifying focus... It's as if he's pouring his entire being into this moment. Though I hate to admit it, this level of concentration surpasses even Zono-senpai's," someone murmured.

"But our ace isn't one to back down."

Miyuki glanced at the figure on the mound—a slightly hunched posture, golden light faintly shimmering in his determined eyes, exuding a natural aura of confidence.

Eijun stood poised, and Miyuki's lips curled into a slight smile.

...

"!!!"

The first pitch.

Since the opponent has made his intentions so clear, there's no reason to hold back.

An inside fastball—let's make this our opening salvo!

A fiery determination flickered in Eijun's eyes.

This is it.

This is how it should be, Miyuki-senpai. You truly understand a pitcher's desires. You're the best catcher there is.

With a powerful exhale and intense focus on his fingertips, Eijun's energy surged.

The clash of wills reached its peak.

"Whoosh!"

The ball blazed through the air, heading straight for the batter's box like a shining bullet.

...

An inside pitch!

Sano's eyes widened, locking onto the ball's trajectory with sharp precision.

Boom!

His foot stomped down, kicking up a cloud of dust as he displayed the dominance of a true champion.

Swish!

The powerful swing of the bat sent a thunderous crack through the air, almost like a sonic boom echoing across the field.

The trajectory of the ball, slicing through the air, carried an icy chill that made Miyuki's expression shift slightly.

The blur of the ball and the swing of the bat intersected in a flash.

"PING!!"

A deafening sound exploded from the collision, followed by the sharp vibration and the ball shooting out as a streak of white light.

"Whoosh."

Eijun whipped his head around, watching the ball soar further than he'd anticipated.

"Bang!"

The ball struck the outer railing of the left-field stands with a heavy impact, producing another loud crash.

Eijun's heart tightened as his left hand clenched into a fist.

His tightly pressed lips and serious expression revealed his tension.

The ball had traveled farther than he'd expected.

"Foul ball."

Even though it was a foul, the sheer distance and speed of the hit were astonishing.

The discomfort Sano had experienced in the first at-bat, due to Sawamura's unorthodox pitching style and delivery, had been entirely overcome.

What a terrifying batter, Eijun thought, gritting his teeth.

...

"Ohhhhhhh!?"

The crowd erupted in astonished gasps.

It wasn't just the distance but also the speed of the swing and the ball's flight that left them in awe.

The ball had traveled too fast for most spectators to process.

To react so quickly to such a tricky pitch…

The second at-bat is much harder than the first, Eijun thought.

Honestly, with no one on base, intentionally walking him might not be a bad option.

But Miyuki, observing Eijun's determined expression and resolute stance, dismissed the idea.

This kid wouldn't agree to it, Miyuki thought with a smirk.

Of course, walking Sano was only a fleeting thought for Miyuki.

Not only would Eijun never agree, but the situation didn't warrant such a move yet.

As a strong-willed catcher, Miyuki wouldn't make that choice so easily.

...

Second pitch.

It would be another inside fastball, this time aimed low.

If it went outside the strike zone, that was fine too.

Eijun nodded lightly.

"Whoosh."

Another streak of white light shot toward the plate.

"Pop!"

"Ball."

...

Third pitch.

This time, the target was slightly higher.

"Whoosh."

"Swish."

"Ping!"

"Bang!"

"Foul ball."

...

Next pitch.

A high fastball on the outer corner.

Aim it here, Sawamura, Miyuki instructed.

"Whoosh."

"Ping!"

"Bang!"

"Foul ball."

A high fastball on the outer corner. Aim it there, Sawamura.

"Whoosh."

"Ping!"

"Bang!"

"Foul ball!"

The batter ignored clear balls, refusing to swing.

But the moment a pitch came slightly inside, his bat moved like lightning, striking with an almost instinctive precision.

...

What terrifying focus, Miyuki thought, observing Sano's unwavering gaze, locked onto Eijun like a predator watching its prey.

With a subtle flick of his fingers, Miyuki signaled the next pitch.

Aim here. We've got the count advantage. Keep attacking relentlessly.

Eijun nodded solemnly, his face resolute.

...

Bring it on, bring it on, bring it on! Throw your best pitch at me. Let's settle this with your most trusted weapon!

"Whoosh."

"Ping!!"

Another deafening impact echoed across the field.

"Bang!"

"Foul ball!"

...

What's wrong, first-year ace?

Sano's eyes burned with intensity.

Aren't you Seidou's ace pitcher? Are you scared? Let's settle this, you cowardly brat. Stop running away!

With menacing eyes and a bat twirling menacingly in his hands, Sano openly taunted Eijun, leaving no room to hide his provocations.

On the field, players communicate through their pitches and swings, and Sano was using his aura to pressure Eijun relentlessly.

...

The monstrous batter in his perfect form was a terrifying sight, a force of nature that made even the bravest hesitate.

Eijun took a sharp breath, exhaling slowly.

"Hiss... whoooo..."

His vertical pupils narrowed, and his left hand clenched tighter around the ball.

...

This guy...

I absolutely, absolutely, ABSOLUTELY won't lose to him!

A roar echoed in Eijun's mind.

This was the resolve of Seidou's ace—a will to face any challenge head-on, no matter how daunting.

------------------

If you want to read 10 advance chapters ahead.

Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Leonzky