Diamond No Ace: The Monster

Chapter 212: The Perfect Baseball Star, Furuya!

The white baseball soared high into the sky.

The ball traveled over a hundred meters before finally landing in the stands of Jingu Stadium's deep outfield.

"It... it went out!!!"

The commentator for today's game was practically tearing his vocal cords.

Yet, even his voice couldn't overpower the deafening cheers from the Seidou High supporters in the stands.

"Seidou!!"

"Furuya!!!"

Like a tidal wave, the electrifying atmosphere spread throughout Jingu Stadium.

Sawamura's childhood friends stared around in disbelief.

The home run itself was already shocking enough.

But what truly stunned them was the overwhelming reaction from the fans at the scene.

They could hardly imagine how a mere high school baseball player could garner such an immense following.

"Incredible, this is unbelievable!!"

"Just who is this guy?!"

Faced with their questions, Wakana's gaze carried a hint of fascination.

But her interest wasn't fixated on the dazzling figure of Furuya standing on the field.

Instead, her attention was drawn to the boy at the front of Seidou's dugout, passionately waving his arms.

"So that's Furuya!"

Unlike the others, Wakana had heard this name before, and it had left a deep impression on her.

It was from the messages Sawamura had sent her.

Along with his experiences on the Seidou baseball team, almost every message ended with a recurring statement—

"Defeat Furuya and become the new ace!!"

That had essentially become Sawamura Eijun's ultimate goal.

This was the first time Wakana had seen Furuya in person.

And the raw power he displayed left her completely awestruck.

"So this is the legendary Furuya… And Eijun has to compete with someone like him every single day?"

A storm of emotions surged within Wakana's heart.

For the first time, she truly realized what kind of life her childhood friend was leading now.

A soft smile formed on her lips.

"You must be living such a fulfilling life, Eijun!"

Was her childhood friend truly living a fulfilling life?

No one could answer that question for Wakana.

But one thing was certain—Seidou High's baseball team was experiencing an incredible moment.

With Furuya's explosive grand slam, the scoreboard instantly shifted.

The original score had been 5-2, with Seidou leading by three runs.

But with this bases-loaded home run, they secured four more runs in a single play.

The score now stood at 9-2.

The gap between the teams had suddenly widened to seven runs.

It was now the top of the seventh inning.

This was why the commentator had shouted so fervently—because this home run was effectively the game-ending blow.

With their lead extending to seven runs, Seidou High School had now met the conditions for an early victory.

"Their opponent is Sensen, one of the top four teams in West Tokyo!!"

In the stands, Seidou's die-hard supporters were in a frenzy, their excitement bursting from within.

For them, nothing could be more exhilarating than the scene unfolding before their eyes.

Pure euphoria coursed through their veins.

Back in Seidou's dugout, the players returned with bright smiles on their faces.

Throughout the game, they had maintained firm control, never once letting go of their advantage.

But they had to admit—their opponents weren't weak.

Especially their ace, the "Little Giant" Maki.

His pitching had given Seidou's batters plenty of trouble.

So much so that they had been forced to adjust their strategies mid-game.

But now, all of that was in the past.

Seidou High had completely defended their honor as champions.

And when they caught sight of Inashiro Industrial's players in the stands, who had paused in their tracks instead of leaving immediately…

They could practically imagine the looks of shock on their faces.

Satisfying.

The feeling spread through every fiber of their being.

Coach Kataoka, known for his strict nature, was visibly pleased as he nodded at his returning players.

"Well done!!"

For someone like him to say that—Seidou's players were honestly stunned.

It was clear that their performance had been exceptional.

Otherwise, their coach would never have shown such an expression.

And then there was Ota, the team's manager.

His eyes had practically turned into crescents as he grinned from ear to ear.

"Keep it up! Victory is in our grasp! Hehehe..."

When Furuya finally returned to the dugout, his teammates all gave him a thumbs-up.

One thing was undeniable—

His power and performance were absolutely breathtaking.

He had stepped into the batter's box four times.

Even though he had made two mistakes in between, everyone understood.

After all, Maki's skill was undeniable.

Even Seidou's batters had struggled against him. If they hadn't, they wouldn't have gone so many innings without adding runs to the scoreboard.

But in his first at-bat, and with that final, monstrous home run…

Furuya had already cemented himself as the game's best hitter.

And to think—batting wasn't even his main role.

His true job was Seidou's ace pitcher.

Yet even as a "part-time" batter, he still dominated!

Even the upperclassmen could do nothing but raise their thumbs in admiration.

"Unbelievable!"

"You always manage to surprise us, huh?"

Hearing their praise, Furuya's heart swelled with joy.

That home run had just confirmed what he had always believed—

His approach had been right all along.

If he continued progressing like this, there was a real chance that Furuya's batting could also reach monster-level status!

After the team finished celebrating, Coach Kataoka specifically called Furuya over.

"How did that last at-bat feel?"

"It felt amazing! Like I put all my strength into that swing!"

Kataoka nodded.

"I noticed that you switched to the largest metal bat. Did you feel like you were always just a little short?"

Hearing this, Furuya secretly admired his coach's keen observation.

As expected of Coach Kataoka—he notices everything!

"That's right! In my second and third at-bats, I always felt like I was just a bit off. So, for my last at-bat, I decided to go all-in with the biggest bat. Since I have plenty of power, even if I don't hit the sweet spot, I can still send the ball flying!"

There was a hint of pride in his voice.

His performance on the field today was nothing short of brilliant.

But to his surprise, Coach Kataoka's expression remained deadly serious.

"Your logic isn't wrong, and your execution was decisive. But as an observer, I don't believe your home run happened simply because of the bat size."

Huh?

Furuya blinked in confusion.

If it wasn't because of the bigger bat, then how did he hit that home run?

"I can't say for sure what changed, but I noticed something. In your second and third at-bats, there was hesitation. Maybe you weren't aware of it mentally, but your body's movements told the truth. Your swings weren't smooth."

Kataoka's tone was sharp and precise.

"But in your final at-bat, your swing was fluid—completely natural and effortless! That's the difference. You should focus on this and work on refining your batting habits."

Even at the professional level, pitchers usually had designated pinch hitters.

But if Furuya could truly excel at batting…

He wouldn't need one.

He had the potential to break the norm and become one of the brightest stars in professional baseball.

Kataoka loved baseball, but he loved coaching even more.

High school baseball had an atmosphere he cherished—something that the professional leagues, with their politics and business entanglements, simply couldn't match.

That was why he never had any interest in going pro himself.

But he would never stop his players from taking that path.

Especially someone like Furuya.

Kataoka truly wished to see the day his prized disciple became a superstar.

"Keep pushing forward, kid!"

In the stands, Fujio from Baseball Kingdom magazine had the same thoughts.

"Furuya's talent is simply extraordinary. If he develops properly, his future in this sport will be limitless!"

"He could even become the ultimate baseball idol!"

Hearing her senior's words, Akiko nodded in agreement.

Even though Furuya wasn't exactly her type—

(After all, he didn't wear glasses, and she had a thing for megane boys…)

Even though Akiko had her preferences, she had to admit something—

The two megane-kun she admired were undoubtedly strong and exceptional.

But when it came to future potential in professional baseball, Furuya had a far greater chance of achieving greatness.

His raw talent was simply undeniable.

Seidou High's offensive surge was finally halted by a high fly ball.

With that, the game moved into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Without a moment of hesitation, Coach Kataoka sent Sawamura to the mound.

Fujio, the senior journalist from Baseball Kingdom magazine, had predicted this perfectly.

Seidou's sheer dominance as a team gave its players incredible confidence.

This strength allowed Coach Kataoka the freedom to cultivate young talent however he pleased.

Like now—he didn't even hesitate before sending Sawamura back out.

Would this first-year rookie possibly ruin the golden opportunity Seidou had created?

Could he extend the game by a couple of innings?

Of course, it was possible.

But Coach Kataoka was willing to take that risk.

And so was Seidou High School.

Up in the stands, Narumiya Mei, who was about to leave to prepare for his own game, paused and glanced toward the mound.

Seeing Sawamura take the hill once again, he shook his head with a sigh.

"That lucky brat."

It wasn't just his thought.

Many people shared the same sentiment.

Behind him, Haruichi nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, he's lucky. But players like him… they tend to grow fast."

Getting real game experience as a first-year was already rare.

But Sawamura wasn't just getting any experience—he was being entrusted with crucial moments.

Combine that with his natural talent, and it was no surprise that even the elites of Inashiro Industrial saw him as a player with an almost "cheat-like" future.

If everything went smoothly, and they met in the finals—

Then this Sawamura would undoubtedly be a key figure they'd have to watch out for.

"Watch me!"

With unwavering confidence, Sawamura declared his intent before stepping onto the mound.

"Go for it!"

Furuya encouraged him.

The rest of Seidou's players followed suit.

"Just don't embarrass yourself—give it your all."

"Even if they hit you, don't worry. You've got reliable seniors behind you."

If this were a novel focused on Sawamura Eijun,

his final three outs would certainly receive a dramatic spotlight—

A sequence that would drive Sen泉 High into complete despair.

But for Seidou's teammates, this scene was nothing new.

They had seen it time and time again.

Sure, Sawamura wasn't as reliable as Furuya.

Strictly speaking, their pitching abilities weren't even on the same level.

But Seidou's rookie pitcher was still formidable.

As long as he played to his strengths and delivered a steady performance, he could overpower any opponent just the same.

"Pop!"

"Strike!"

"Out!"

"Out!!"

"Three outs! The game is over!!!"

The moment the game officially ended, Sawamura was the first to jump up.

His eyes shone with pure joy.

"A perfect finish!!!"

As Seidou High's relief pitcher, this was the first time he had stayed on the mound until the very end.

This experience would become an invaluable asset, something that would help shape his future.

And one day, this very experience would fuel his transformation.

"SEIDOU!!"

"In the West Tokyo semifinals, Seidou High faced off against Sensen High in a grueling seven-inning battle! And in the end, the victorious team is the reigning powerhouse—Seidou High School!!!"

"Final score, 9-2…!"

As the announcer's voice echoed through the stadium, the semifinals had officially come to an end.

The players from Sensen High, especially their third-year seniors, stood in stunned silence.

Their eyes were vacant.

They didn't even feel like crying.

Because in today's game—they had given it their all.

Yet, the final result was still so merciless.

9-2. A premature ending.

"Is this the true dominance of the Three Kings of West Tokyo?"

Sensen High's coach slowly pushed himself to his feet.

Once again, the outcome was the same as before.

They had fallen just one step short of reaching the finals.

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

If you want to read 20 chapters advanced.

Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Shu_21