Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 314: Two Weeks

After returning to Seidou High School, under the leadership of Coach Kataoka and the hands-on guidance of the third-year seniors, the Seidou baseball team quickly returned to its disciplined routine.

Everyone seemed to have forgotten the glory of their championship victory, immersing themselves entirely in training.

Especially those second-string players with hopes of making the first string or even securing starting positions—they trained with exceptional determination, each striving to impress Coach Kataoka.

Amid this intense training atmosphere, time passed quickly, and September arrived.

As schools reopened and summer break ended, the crowds that had gathered to watch Seidou began to thin out.

But, of course, the Seidou team remained unaffected.

They knew exactly what needed to be done and when.

With less than two weeks before the preliminaries began, the groupings for the tournament were announced.

As expected, Seidou's bracket was exactly the same as in the original storyline.

Yes, including the infamous third-game match against that coach with the stubborn attitude.

This time, however, things wouldn't unfold like the original.

There'd be no early leads given to their opponents.

All three games would end in shutouts!

As he looked over the grouping chart, Eijun's eyes flashed with a peculiar light. He silently vowed in his heart to rewrite this chapter of history.

...

Seidou High School, Dormitory, Cafeteria

Today, the cafeteria was filled with a heavy, tense atmosphere. Most people wore solemn expressions as they ate their meals.

Aside from Eijun, Miyuki, and Furuya, the other players' faces reflected a mix of nervousness, excitement, anticipation, and eagerness.

The reason?

Yesterday, Coach Kataoka announced that the final 13 players for the first string would be revealed today.

Being September, the roster had to be finalized immediately—there was no room for delay.

"This atmosphere sure feels intense..."

Eijun glanced around, shaking his head slightly as he muttered to himself. It wasn't an exaggeration—this kind of tension was typical during roster reshuffles in prestigious baseball schools like Seidou.

After all, everyone shared the same dream and had dedicated the best years of their lives to it. Now that the time to reap the rewards had come, it was only natural for emotions to run high.

Eijun understood this sentiment deeply—though his thoughts were more rooted in his experiences from his previous life.

"Heh, what's the matter? Curious too?"

Miyuki sat down beside Eijun with his tray, adjusting his glasses with a sly smile.

"Well, yeah, a little. After all, the Autumn Tournament is about to start, so Coach Kataoka can't afford to delay things. I'm curious to see what decisions he and Coach Ochiai will make."

Even though Eijun already knew the lineup, he played along. After all, this Seidou team had a different fate compared to his past life. Ochiai, now fully integrated, wasn't someone observing the team for months before joining.

There was always the possibility of slight changes to the lineup due to a "butterfly effect." Eijun wouldn't be surprised if things deviated from the original course.

Regardless, Seidou's roster was made up of hardworking, capable players—whoever made the cut, it would make sense.

"Ochiai, huh..."

Miyuki's lips curved into a faintly mysterious smile, and his gaze seemed to wander slightly.

"What's that look for, Captain?" Eijun teased.

"Thoughts? What thoughts? Wait—how'd you know I'm the captain now?"

Miyuki shot Eijun a puzzled look.

"Oh? Did Kuramochi tell you?"

After Eijun finished speaking, Miyuki showed a look of realization, answering the question himself.

"Heh, no need for Kuramochi-senpai to tell me, huh? I figured it out myself. Yesterday, the coach called you, and Kuramochi-senpai, right? At this critical time, what else could it be for? It's obviously about selecting the team captain. Since today they'll announce the final first-string roster, the captain and vice-captains must also be decided.

"Maezono-senpai definitely isn't suited for captain — whether it's his seniority, personality, or leadership ability. As for Kuramochi-senpai, well, it's not impossible, but if you're in the mix, it's likely you were chosen. Besides, the team's captain selection also considers recommendations from the previous captain, right? I remember chatting with Yuuki-senpai about this before. He seemed to think you were a great fit for the role. So…"

Eijun took a sip of his miso soup with a satisfied grin before continuing.

"Heh, I didn't expect you to be this observant."

Miyuki looked at Eijun like he'd just discovered a rare creature, giving him a once-over. It wasn't until Eijun felt slightly creeped out that Miyuki clicked his tongue in amusement.

Eijun rolled his eyes in response.

What's so special about being observant? It was just logical reasoning.

"Man, being captain isn't an easy job." Miyuki shook his head, showing a rare troubled expression, his brow furrowed.

"Oh? It's rare to see our star catcher looking so troubled." Eijun leaned closer like he'd found some juicy gossip, grinning.

"Hmph, when I retire next year, I'll make sure to recommend you as captain. Then you'll know what it's like when the tables turn," Miyuki said with a smirk, his tone light but meaningful.

"Haha, next year is a long way off, Captain."

Eijun laughed it off, unfazed. If he did become captain next year, that would be a problem for future Eijun. No need to worry about it now. His focus was on the present, as it should be.

Miyuki shot him an annoyed glance.

"What's wrong? Did the coach give you a tough assignment?"

Eijun asked as he chewed on another bite of food, genuinely surprised to see Miyuki still looking concerned. After all, it was rare to see Miyuki not acting carefree. Even on the field, his serious expressions usually didn't last long.

This was, after all, the true essence of Miyuki Kazuya — Seidou High's "Savior."

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

If you want to read 10 advance chapters ahead.

Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Leonzky