Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 290: Clash of Titans - Dominance vs. Aggression

"Ping!"

The crisp sound of the ball hitting the ground and the subsequent flash of white light left everyone in Seidou High's dugout, including Coach Kataoka, visibly shaken.

This error allowed Akito, who initially could only advance to third base, to seize the opportunity and dash home.

By the time Jun Isashiki retrieved the ball, Akito had successfully crossed home plate.

Simultaneously, Kanemoto advanced to third base. The umpire's shout resonated through the field, shocking Shirasu, who had just stood up, his face displaying disbelief and guilt.

"Safe!"

"What a play! Komadai Fujimaki High School, in the top of the fifth inning, capitalized on back-to-back hits from their fourth and fifth batters, combined with a misjudgment by Seidou's outfielder, to reclaim a run. The score now stands, with no outs and a runner on third base. Komadai Fujimaki is in an excellent position to either tie the game or take the lead!"

The enthusiastic commentary echoed across the stadium, accompanied by the collective gasps of the audience.

In stark contrast, Seidou High's players wore helpless expressions.

Although they had braced themselves for the possibility of conceding runs, the suddenness of the situation caught them off guard.

The most troubling aspect? There were still no outs.

In the dugout, Coach Kataoka's face grew solemn.

Among Seidou's players, none looked more upset than Shirasu, the right fielder.

He knew that if he had prioritized blocking the ball with his body rather than attempting a bold play, the opposition might have advanced to third base at most.

But instead, his error had cost them a run.

Frustrated, Shirasu pounded the ground with his fist.

Yet no amount of regret could erase the "1" now glowing on the scoreboard or Kanemoto's presence on third base.

With no outs, Komadai Fujimaki High School launched a full-scale offensive against Eijun.

A runner on third with no outs was a daunting challenge.

"Eijun-kun..." In Seidou's cheering section, Haruno clasped her hands together, concern evident in her eyes as she gazed at Eijun on the field.

Not far from her, Eijun's parents and Wakana watched nervously, their attention fixed on the pitcher's mound.

In such a high-stakes game, where one or two runs could decide the outcome, spectators often felt more anxious than the players themselves.

Seidou High's cheering section and dugout erupted with even louder cheers, trying to rally their team.

Of course, Komadai Fujimaki High School's momentum was just as strong—if not stronger. After all, they were now in a commanding position on the field.

"Ohhhhhhhhhh!"

"Great hit, Kanemoto!"

"That's the way! Now's our time to counterattack!"

"Go for it!!!"

Fueled by this fervent energy, the next batter stepped onto the field, exuding an aura of intimidation.

"Batting sixth, pitcher, Kumo."

Kid, are you mentally prepared?

With a determined expression and a hint of menace, Kumo gripped his metal bat and strode confidently to the batter's box. His sharp gaze revealed his fierce resolve.

On the pitcher's mound, Eijun took a deep breath.

To be honest, his previous pitch had indeed been a mistake. However, he hadn't expected it to cost them a run. Luck really hadn't been on their side today.

"Sawamura." Behind the plate, Miyuki, with a serious expression, subtly shook his index finger.

Eijun nodded calmly. The lost run was already in the past.

No matter how much you think about it, it's futile. Right now, the most important thing is to stop them here.

Seeing that Eijun didn't show any signs of breaking down, Miyuki let out a small sigh of relief.

If Eijun's mental state collapsed here, Seidou High would truly be in deep trouble.

Fortunately, it hadn't reached that point yet.

It was just one run. Seidou High still held the lead.

They hadn't realistically expected to hold onto a two-run lead all the way to the end of the game—it was always going to be a tough battle.

"Infield, be alert for bunts. Third base, keep an eye on the runner. Prevent them from forcing a run," Miyuki calmly instructed the Seidou infielders from behind home plate.

Ryousuke and Kuramochi nodded with solemn expressions.

"Now then, how will Seidou respond to Komadai Fujimaki's relentless pressure after conceding a run? With a runner on third, will Komadai Fujimaki seize this opportunity again!?"

"!!!"

Come on, come on, let's see it, kid. Show me how much grit you really have!

The batter, Kumo, exuded a ferocious aura, his expression like that of a wild beast. Even from a distance, Eijun could feel it clearly.

"First pitch, inside fastball. Sawamura, don't miss your mark. At the very least, we need to dominate them in terms of momentum," Miyuki signaled with a slight movement of his fingers.

Miyuki called for an aggressive pitch sequence without hesitation.

Even in a situation like this, retreating was never his style.

To put it bluntly, he wouldn't back down even if he hit a wall. To put it more positively, he was resolute in sticking to his convictions.

Any strong player, after all, has unshakable beliefs and a distinctive style.

This wasn't just Miyuki's decision; it was also a reflection of Eijun's will as a pitcher.

"Whoosh!"

Eijun's steps pushed off the mound, his arm swinging forward. In that instant, a streak of light flew from his left hand.

The blazing white ball rocketed toward home plate, drawing a sharp reaction from Kumo in the batter's box.

Instinctively, Kumo widened his stance.

"Swish!"

His arm swung forcefully, the bat slicing through the air toward the incoming pitch.

"Ping!"

The sharp sound of contact rang out.

Kumo gritted his teeth.

The inside fastball had been far tougher than he anticipated.

With his bat angled low and power focused on a single point, he swung with all his might.

The ball was deflected off the bat.

"Whoosh!"

"Thud!"

But Kumo hadn't caught the sweet spot of the ball. The hit was weak, and the ball went spinning foul, landing just outside the third-base line.

"Foul ball!" the umpire declared.

A glimmer of wariness flickered in Kumo's eyes.

Even this pitch, with diminished velocity, had such ferocity. What would this pitcher be like at full strength?

And to think, he's just a first-year! Kumo couldn't help but ponder this in his mind.

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