Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 299: The Prodigy's Spectacular Performance in the Finals

A clean and sharp outside fastball.

As the dull sound of impact echoed, Miyuki's expression turned gravely serious.

This first-year pitcher was no ordinary player—Miyuki's inner thoughts at that moment were crystal clear.

"Wow, so this is Komadai's power pitcher?"

"151 km/h… looks like he has solid velocity and stable control."

"Yeah, he seems a lot more consistent than Seidou's Furuya so far, especially with his control."

"No wonder Coach Nitta trusts him as their key relief pitcher."

"Absolutely. With this level of skill, and more importantly, that calm demeanor—he really doesn't seem like a first-year. Lately, every year, there's been an outstanding first-year player making a name for themselves at Nationals, especially pitchers."

"Now, the question is, how well can this first-year handle Seidou's lineup?"

Hongou's sharp debut pitch—calm on the surface but brimming with aggressive intent—immediately captured the audience's attention. For Seidou, it set off the highest level of caution.

Even Coach Kataoka, noticing Hongou's speed and accuracy, gave a clear directive: Masuko at first base was to avoid taking any unnecessary risks.

Masuko's build was ill-suited for stealing bases, and with Hongou's fastball, a failed steal could spell disaster.

"Understood," Masuko nodded, retreating closer to the first base bag, barely taking any lead.

The second pitch came, still targeting the outside corner, but this time aimed higher.

Catcher Kanemoto made full use of Hongou's excellent control, placing the ball in precise, tricky spots.

With his velocity and pinpoint accuracy, more than 90% of batters would find it incredibly difficult to even make a swing at such edge-of-the-zone pitches.

And for the remaining 10%, it wasn't as simple as just deciding to swing.

"Whoosh!"

Hongou's arm whipped forward with explosive power, his body moving like a coiled spring releasing tension. In an instant, a piercing beam of light shot through the air, roaring like thunder.

The blistering fastball tore toward home plate with a devastating presence, accompanied by the sharp crack of a sonic boom and a dazzling glint of cold steel.

"This pitch…!?"

Behind the plate, Kanemoto's pupils contracted sharply, his expression shifting to one of dismay. Hongou, you reckless guy…!

But there was no time to adjust now. The ball blazed toward home plate, rapidly closing the gap.

In the batter's box, Miyuki planted his left foot firmly and swung the bat with forceful precision.

"Swish—"

PING!

The loud impact reverberated across the field.

The ball wobbled and vibrated erratically against the bat. Miyuki, gripping his metal bat tightly, felt the sharp vibrations travel up his arms.

His expression shifted subtly—he had prepared meticulously, yet the sheer power and movement of this pitch had exceeded his expectations.

Even more troubling was his misjudgment of the pitch's trajectory.

No, it wasn't a mistake in judgment. The pitch itself had behaved unusually, thrown by an unpredictable talent.

"Thud!"

The slight misalignment in his swing caused the ball to ricochet weakly off the bat, bouncing high into the air.

Damn it…!

Miyuki's pupils narrowed as a flicker of frustration crossed his face.

The ball hit the ground hard with a resounding bang, a missed opportunity that reflected the immense challenge posed by Hongou's exceptional pitching.

A sharp step back by Komadai Fujimaki's third baseman allowed him to intercept the ball just before it rebounded past the baseline.

"Whoosh!"

The ball was swiftly thrown to second base.

"Pop!"

And then immediately to first base.

"Pop!"

"Out!"

"Double play! Three outs! Change of sides!"

In just two pitches, Hongou managed to eliminate Masuko on base and Miyuki at bat, bringing an abrupt end to Seidou High's offensive threat.

Simple. Brutal. Efficient.

"Wow! Just two fastballs, and Komadai Fujimaki has turned the tide again! First-year Hongou pulls off a double play, securing three outs! The sides switch!"

"Well done, Masamune!"

"Ha, I knew you could do it!"

"Keep it up! The rest is all on you, Hongou!"

"Show Seidou what a true powerhouse fastball is!"

"Masamune, you've got this!"

The announcer's energetic commentary and the thunderous cheers from Komadai Fujimaki's supporters slightly dampened the previously heated atmosphere on Seidou's side.

Damn it, Miyuki thought, frustrated. I underestimated the power of his fastball and the precision of his control. To place the ball in such a refined spot…

As the teams switched sides, Miyuki glanced back at Hongou's figure with a mix of regret and unwillingness.

If only I had adjusted my swing by just a fraction, or taken a different angle for more leverage… the outcome could've been entirely different. But there's no "if" in baseball.

...

Komadai Fujimaki Dugout

"Are you angry at something?" Coach Nitta asked calmly, his brow furrowing as he looked at Hongou walking back to the dugout.

The other senior players, who were about to cheer and congratulate Hongou, froze in their tracks, their smiles fading as they fell silent.

"No," Hongou replied in his usual indifferent tone.

"Hmph, good. There are still three innings left. You must not allow even a single run. I don't care what you're thinking, but on the field, you prioritize the team above all else. Understood?" Nitta's voice was calm but carried a sharp edge.

Hongou's right hand clenched slightly.

"Yes, I understand," he finally replied, his voice steady but soft.

...

Seidou Dugout

"Those two pitches…"

When Miyuki returned to the dugout, the entire Seidou team, including Eijun, Kuramochi, and the others, turned their attention to him, awaiting his analysis.

Coach Kataoka broke the silence, speaking in his usual composed tone. "Fast, precise, and difficult to hit."

Miyuki pressed his lips together, his expression somber. "Exactly. His pitches are incredibly stable, and it's hard to find an opening to swing effectively."

"I see. For the next three innings, we should abandon chasing tricky pitches. The game is nearing its end, and the umpire's strike zone judgment will become stricter. There's no need to take unnecessary risks. Half-hearted swings will only embolden the opposition. We're leading right now; there's no reason to rush," Kataoka instructed firmly.

With a score of 3-1, Seidou held a solid advantage.

For the final three innings, Kataoka opted for a cautious strategy, emphasizing both defense and calculated offense.

At this critical stage, any mistake could be disastrous.

Even a coach as aggressive as Kataoka couldn't help but prioritize stability over ambition as the game neared its conclusion.

"Yes, sir!" Eijun, Miyuki, and the others nodded in unison, fully understanding the coach's intent.

However, another issue loomed.

Eijun's performance was visibly declining—his fastball, movement, and control had all noticeably dropped.

The defensive pressure for the next three innings would likely surpass the intensity of the previous six.

Seidou's players braced themselves, knowing the challenge ahead would test their limits.

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

If you want to read 10 advance chapters ahead.

Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Leonzky