Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 246: Heated Discussions and Popularity

For Furuya, the problems are as vast as the ocean.

Setting aside the less critical issues, two major problems remain his most fatal weaknesses: stamina and control.

These two limitations heavily restrict his current performance.

Against strong batting lineups, Furuya might only survive until the second round of the lineup, if even that.

In most cases, he likely wouldn't make it through the second round.

And these problems are not something that can be resolved in a short period.

As for Eijun himself, while he may not have major issues, smaller ones persist.

That said, it's not entirely accurate to say there are no major problems either.

His biggest challenge lies in his lack of experience—things like stamina management, handling unexpected situations on the field, and controlling the pace of his pitches.

These are areas where Miyuki and Chris are guiding him and Furuya step by step.

Although he's learning quickly, adapting will still take time.

Moreover, during this summer, Eijun has effectively been the team's ace pitcher.

The number of innings he has pitched far exceeds those of the other three pitchers.

Such a heavy workload isn't something that can be recovered from with just a day or two of rest.

This latent fatigue will inevitably impact his performance to some degree.

The analysis may not be entirely accurate, but it's close.

For Seidou High, there is indeed a challenge in how they manage their pitchers. Particularly with Eijun, determining the extent to which he should be used is a significant issue.

If Eijun were a third-year ace at this point—or even just a second-year ace—this problem wouldn't exist.

The solution would be simple: build the defensive strategy entirely around him.

But the issue is that Eijun is only a first-year player.

Leaving aside skill level and other considerations, let's look at a simple fact: How many official high school games has Eijun experienced?

How much time has he had to build chemistry with the core players of the team?

How strong is their sense of mutual understanding?

These are practical and pressing issues that cannot be ignored.

Even seemingly minor details can reveal many problems.

It's true that Coach Kataoka has made some questionable decisions regarding the use of pitchers.

However, even if you replaced him with another coach, there's no guarantee they would handle it any better.

Was Coach Kataoka unaware of Tanba's issues?

Was he oblivious to Furuya's current shortcomings?

Does he not understand when a relief pitcher should be used?

No, he knows. He understands all of it.

But for anyone, making the right choice every single time at critical moments is impossible. Even saints would falter, let alone an ordinary human being.

Eijun's arrival seems to have compensated for Seidou High's weakness in the pitching lineup.

He has filled in the missing piece of the puzzle.

Yet, being immature, not strong enough, and far from perfect, he remains a raw gem—radiant and dazzling but still unpolished and far from being a finished masterpiece.

Eijun himself is fully aware of this.

He knows the road ahead is still long, and there is a mountain of work he needs to do.

"My own shortcomings, huh?" Eijun clenched his fist, his pupils reflecting a faint glimmer of determination.

"Phew..." Eijun exhaled softly, gathering his belongings before leaving the meeting room.

He had come here today specifically to review footage of his previous games, reflecting on his personal performance.

However, after unexpectedly reading the news and listening to analyses from industry insiders, as well as comparisons to other ace pitchers from rival teams, Eijun once again gained a clearer understanding of both his strengths and shortcomings.

Two crucial games were looming on the horizon.

Perhaps the time was too short to make significant changes, but Eijun resolved to do everything within his power to improve himself.

The semifinals against Osaka Kiryuu High School and the finals against the formidable Komadai Fujimaki lay ahead.

Eijun was determined to give his all. This summer, he vowed not to leave behind any regrets, not to shed tears of remorse.

If there was to be only one undefeated team this summer, Eijun hoped it would be Seidou High. On the grand stage of the Koshien finals, under the vast expanse of Hanshin Koshien Stadium, he wanted nothing more than to hear those exhilarating words:

"Congratulations, Seidou High School!!!"

For this one phrase, not just Eijun, but every player on Seidou's roster was prepared to give everything they had.

This summer of youth was a blazing one—a summer meant to etch their legend into history.

...

"The Top Four Emerge: A Summer of Fierce Showdowns"

"Tokyo's King—Can They Dominate the Summer?"

"The Northern Powerhouse: The Dark Horse of This Summer"

"Runners-up vs. Tokyo's Kings: A Clash of Titans—Who Will Triumph?"

"Heartbreaking Defeat: Hanada East's Ace Sheds Tears Over His Shortcomings"

"Only the Championship Matters: Coach Matsumoto Declares Osaka Kiryuu's Quest for the Crown"

"Silent Giants: The Northern Powerhouse, Osaka's Elite, and Tokyo's King—Four Teams, One Champion, and the Hottest Summer Yet!"

As the Koshien tournament entered its final stages with the semifinals and finals, the atmosphere in Hyogo Prefecture's Nishinomiya City and Hanshin Koshien Stadium reached its peak.

The media buzzed with discussions, clubs and organizations followed the games closely, and interviews flooded every sports magazine.

Meanwhile, fans fervently supported their teams.

Outside the hotels where the four powerhouse teams stayed, crowds of fans gathered daily.

Seidou High's accommodations were no exception.

During his downtime after regular training sessions, Eijun could see groups of passionate fans through his hotel window, some shouting his name, others holding signs with his name written on them.

For a brief moment, Eijun felt like a celebrity.

This was the magic of Hanshin Koshien in Japan—not just a sanctuary of dreams and aspirations, but a grand stage where players could shine across the entire nation.

For a young athlete, it was inevitable to feel a momentary thrill.

However, such feelings were fleeting.

Eijun quickly refocused, knowing what he needed to do and what truly mattered.

The adoration of the fans and heated discussions were fleeting clouds.

In the world of competitive sports, only the championship defines everything.

Past glories and transient applause would fade with time. Only the sole championship-winning team would be remembered by all.

On this point, the resolve of all four teams was the same.

External distractions could no longer sway them.

Their gaze remained fixed forward, their focus singular.

That one ultimate goal was their driving force.

Even though Eijun was fully aware of his weaknesses and imperfections, he was determined to fight for that one and only championship for his team.

For the third-year seniors he had always deeply admired, both in the past and the present, Eijun wanted to leave them with a summer memory free of any regrets.

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