Diamond No Ace: The Strongest Hitter

Chapter 116: Big Guy Finds a New Dream

"Feels so nostalgic! Has it really been a year already?" Sawamura said, gazing at the villa in front of him.

"Yeah! Time flies. The three years of junior high will be over before you know it."

"We still have high sch—" Sawamura stopped mid-sentence, recalling what Sendo had said before about not playing baseball in high school.

"Alright, everyone! Go put your luggage away and tidy up quickly. Then we're heading out to buy groceries!" Sendo shouted, avoiding the topic altogether.

"Sen-chan, will Fumino-san be staying here too?" Kondou asked shyly.

"Oh? Don't tell me you have a crush on Fumino?" Sendo teased, wearing an expression that screamed,

"Ah, the age of first loves!"

"N-no! A... absolutely not!" Kondou stammered in embarrassment.

"Maybe I just want another girl here for company," Wakana quickly interjected, afraid Kondou might accidentally spill something he shouldn't.

She knew Fumino hadn't planned on confessing just yet.

"That makes sense. Alright, I'll call her," Sendo said, immediately shifting his focus.

"You all go finish tidying up!" With that, Sendo stepped outside to make the call.

"Kondou, be more careful! Honestly," Wakana scolded softly after Sendo left.

Most of the others understood what Wakana was referring to—except for a certain airhead.

(You know who I mean! Imagine a small arrow above Sawamura's head labeled "Airhead Extraordinaire.")

"Sorry, I almost messed up. That was close! But is it really okay to keep this from Sen-chan? Those two sure have it tough! Sen-chan's so perfect, yet so clueless about this kind of stuff!"

"Maybe it's because he's never thought about it that way. Honestly, I think what he just said earlier was sincere," Wakana said, showing her usual perceptiveness.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I mean, if you did like Fumino, he'd totally support you."

"Stop! I don't!"

"What are you two whispering about?" Sawamura suddenly appeared behind them, speaking in his usual calm tone.

"Eijun! Don't scare us like that!" Wakana jumped.

"Oh, I just came over to see if you needed help." At this moment, Sawamura was in full airhead mode.

"No need! We'll be right there!"

"Okay!" Sawamura said before walking off.

"Not telling Ei-chan either?"

"That guy's mouth isn't exactly reliable. He often blurts things out without thinking!"

"Haha, true!"

"Alright, let's go help out!"

"Got it!"

...

Since the villa hadn't been used much in the past year, there was plenty of work to do: cleaning dust, airing out bedding, washing dishes, tidying up the field, and checking the equipment.

Once Sendo picked up Fumino, everyone worked together until evening.

Afterward, they went to the supermarket to buy ingredients, and that night, Sendo showed off his cooking skills, preparing a feast.

While he helped Fumino with her studies, others headed to the batting cage for some long-overdue practice.

The first day passed busily, and Sendo, feeling lazy, didn't join the training.

(At this point, no one knew Sendo was planning to join the team.)

...

The Second Day

The next morning, everyone followed Sendo's training schedule.

The intensity was light to start with, focusing on adaptation.

5 AM: Wake up, run, eat breakfast, and rest for 30 minutes.

Morning session: Warm-ups, batting practice, bunting drills, and defensive training.

Afternoon session: Full-field defensive drills and anaerobic base-running sprints.

Sendo also began introducing new roles:

"Shin, join them for outfield drills! You'll be training as both a catcher and an outfielder from now on."

"Got it!" Shin, trusting Sendo's judgment completely, didn't question the decision.

As the day progressed, the team was slowly adjusting to the rhythm of the camp.

Just as Sendo was considering wrapping up the day's activities, a familiar figure appeared at the gate.

"Why is that old man here?!" Sendo muttered, spotting Coach Nakani, who looked disheveled and travel-worn.

Before Sendo could greet him, Coach Nakani sprinted over at full speed and grabbed Sendo by both shoulders.

"Huh?" Sendo, bewildered, could only manage a confused sound.

"Is it true? Are you really going to play baseball again?" Before Sendo could respond, Coach Nakani, overflowing with excitement, began shaking him like a rag doll.

"Let go! You're gonna make me pass out!" Sendo protested between jolts.

Realizing his overreaction, Coach Nakani let go but remained so ecstatic he looked like he might burst with joy.

"Who told you that?" Sendo asked.

"Mitani mentioned it when he called me yesterday! And you didn't tell me yourself?!" Coach Nakani extended his hands menacingly as if ready to shake Sendo again.

"I was planning to tell you in person, but you came rushing over anyway. Not much of a difference!"

"It makes a huge difference! Do you know how long I've waited for this day?"

"Alright, alright, I get it. My bad!" Sendo relented.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team stood frozen in shock.

"So that's why he wanted me to practice outfield!" Shin murmured, his excitement barely contained.

"I'll say this now: I'm only playing through junior high."

"That's fine! You'll fall in love with baseball before you know it!" Coach Nakani declared confidently.

"Did you come all this way just for that?"

"Of course! This is huge!" Coach Nakani's giddy energy reminded Sendo of a basketball bouncing repeatedly.

(Though, considering his weight, that comparison might be a bit harsh.)

At that moment, Coach Nakani looked like a man who had rediscovered his dream.

"Let's not disrupt their training. We'll talk over there!" Coach Nakani said, pulling Sendo aside.

"Alright, finish up here. Run 20 laps around the field, then you're done!" Sendo shouted back to the team as he was dragged away.

"Got it!"

...

A few seconds later:

"WHAT?! Sendo's joining us to play baseball?!" Sawamura yelled, his delayed reaction earning groans from the others.

"Too slow," Aoki muttered, poking fun at Sawamura's reflexes.

...

"So, tell me! What's going on?" Coach Nakani, now calm after his excitement, asked curiously.

"It's those idiots..." Sendo began explaining the team's antics, the events of the match against Tokugawa, and the aftermath of their loss.

"No wonder! I didn't expect something like this to happen in a junior high game. That's baseball for you," Coach Nakani said with a sigh.

"Yeah, baseball can be terrifying. Honestly, that was the first time I realized how insignificant individual ability can feel in a sport like this," Sendo admitted.

"Scared, are you?"

"Not a chance! In a team sport like this, you just have to do your part. At the very least, as a batter, defeating the pitcher in a one-on-one duel is one of the few ways an individual can truly change the course of a game. I look forward to those kinds of showdowns, where the outcome is uncertain until the very last moment." Sendo's expression was filled with eager anticipation.

"I see! That's the Sendo I know. The stronger the opponent, the better your performance. Facing tough competitors makes you feel alive—that's always been my impression of you."

"You've even said it yourself: being unbeatable is lonely!"

"Ugh, can we not bring up that cringe-worthy line?" Sendo winced, embarrassed by his past middle schooler-level bravado.

"Ha! I don't think it's cringe at all!"

"Huh?"

"You underestimate your own physical talent. Your body is practically perfect for any sport. It's like a masterpiece crafted by the gods themselves! In the future—maybe in a few years, or even decades—you might truly experience that 'loneliness of invincibility.'"

Sendo was speechless, thinking to himself, Is he praising me or mocking me? Should I call him my personal hype man now?

"So, while your skills are still developing, enjoy these battles where you're evenly matched or even the underdog," Coach Nakani teased, lightening the mood.

Sendo's eyes darted to the side, clearly uninterested in the conversation.

"Alright, do you have any specific training plans?" Coach Nakani asked.

"Batting practice!" Sendo answered without hesitation.

"I see..." Coach Nakani looked slightly disappointed but quickly regained his enthusiasm.

"Yesterday, Mitani came to me with an idea. How about facing a 'live pitching machine'?"

"Wait, you don't mean—"

"Exactly what you're thinking! How about it? It's a great opportunity, right?"

"Not really. Their ace has a terrible personality and loves teasing me," Sendo said bluntly.

"Oh? Sounds like you're at that age!"

"#!"

"Ha! Just kidding! So, what do you think? It's a win-win. For her, it's a rare chance to face a batter of your level. And for you, high-quality pitches will help you adjust to game conditions faster. Unless she loses confidence, of course."

"Alright, I'll give it a try..." Sendo started, but before he could finish, Coach Nakani interrupted with a slap to his chest, guaranteeing, "Leave it to me!"

Sendo's eye twitched at the sight of Coach Nakani's jiggling belly.

"Coach, you really should lose some weight. Otherwise, you'll end up with high blood pressure or worse."

"Brat! This is not fat; it's... fullness!" Coach Nakani snapped but quickly softened. "Alright, alright, I'll keep an eye on it."

"By the way, congrats on maintaining your championship streak this summer. How's the new team shaping up? Think you can defend the title next year?"

"Hard to say. With baseball, you never know until you play."

"Still as cautious as ever, huh?"

"Of course! How else would I survive?" Coach Nakani replied with a laugh.

"Fair enough!"

"Anyway, I'll head back now and make the arrangements. Mitani won't dare defy me, and this is a good opportunity for everyone involved. But I'll have to consult with her about it—don't want to break her spirit."

"No worries. Ozawa is a strong person."

"Good to know! I'm off!" With that, Coach Nakani strode out.

"What a remarkable man... so decisive!" Sendo shook his head, then returned to the team.

...

"Is it true? Sendo, is it really true?!" Sawamura bounced around excitedly, badgering Sendo with questions.

"Ugh! Shut up already!" Sendo snapped.

Despite the reprimand, Sawamura beamed with a bright, innocent smile. He wasn't even asking for confirmation—just basking in joy.

Seeing Sawamura's happy-go-lucky demeanor, Sendo's patience ran out.

"You've finally been moved by my sincerity, huh? This is the day I've been waiting for since elementary school!" Sawamura started rambling.

"STOP!!" Sendo's anger erupted, his frustration reaching its peak.

"Ahhh! Stop!" Sawamura cried as Sendo taught him a "lesson."

...

That night, Sawamura was so drained he couldn't lift his spirits.

"My whole body aches... even my bones feel soft," he groaned.

In his free time, Sendo had dabbled in random hobbies, including massage techniques.

So after pummeling Sawamura, he gave him a full-body massage.

The process was anything but pleasant, but the result left Sawamura feeling simultaneously tortured and rejuvenated.

Collapsed on the ground like a boneless.

His pitifully adorable state had the whole team laughing non-stop that night.

One thing was clear to everyone: don't mess with Sendo.

His methods were terrifying—he could hurt you while making you feel better at the same time.

Even Sawamura, with his short memory, would likely think twice before provoking him again.

Although... knowing Sawamura, he might eventually come back, asking Sendo for another massage.

After all, the pain was worth the relief that followed.

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