Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 284: The Dashing Senior in the Finals

"Hmm."

Iguchi Gakuto was never the type of aggressive pitcher.

In this regard, he perfectly fit Komadai Fujimaki's relief pitching strategy.

As an ace pitcher, he had the skills, a calm demeanor, and excellent tactical execution abilities.

Overall, he was a player any coach could trust wholeheartedly.

When Kanemoto decided on a more cautious pitch selection strategy, Iguchi didn't insist on taking a direct approach. Instead, he nodded in agreement with his partner's choice. This was Komadai Fujimaki High School's ace pitcher—Iguchi Gakuto.

Whoosh.

The sharp, low trajectory of the pitch appeared to skim the edge of the strike zone but subtly veered off.

With a calm gaze, Yuuki quickly locked onto the ball's path.

Normally, Yuuki would let such a pitch pass without swinging.

However, this time, his approach was uncharacteristic.

He stepped forward swiftly and, under Kanemoto's surprised gaze, swung his metal bat with incredible speed.

Swish.

The fierce swing carried an icy chill that sent shivers down Kanemoto's spine.

Ping!

A sharp crack echoed through the field.

Whoosh.

A flash of light streaked through the sky.

Bang!

"Foul ball!"

"He swung at that pitch?!"

Kanemoto's brows furrowed as an unpleasant expression spread across his face.

Was this guy planning to swing at every pitch?

That would be outright disrespectful!

Doubt, confusion, and a hint of irritation flickered through Kanemoto's mind.

He glanced at Yuuki in the batter's box, who still wore a calm and composed expression, making it hard to guess what he was planning.

After just one pitch, it was too early to draw any conclusions.

Kanemoto's eyes narrowed as his fingers signaled the next pitch—a slider.

It wouldn't enter the strike zone, instead staying in a tricky area before breaking away at the end.

This pitch was meant to probe the batter's intentions.

A bit risky, but it should work.

As Kanemoto gave the signal, Iguchi on the mound silently nodded in agreement.

Neither of them noticed the faint glimmer in Yuuki's eyes.

His grip on the bat subtly shifted, shortening his hold slightly.

Whoosh.

As Kanemoto refocused, Iguchi was already in motion.

His arm swung, and the pitch shone white as it streaked toward the plate.

Swish.

The swinging bat mirrored Kanemoto's wide-eyed realization and the sudden change in his expression.

Ping!

A perfectly timed and precise hit.

Though some power was sacrificed, the accuracy of the swing reached its peak.

Timing, trajectory, and angle—Yuuki captured it all flawlessly.

The crack of the hit was exhilarating, and Yuuki's figure leapt into motion.

Whoosh.

The ball blazed through the sky like a flash of white light, defying the expectations of Komadai Fujimaki's pitcher-catcher duo.

"Left field!"

Kanemoto shot to his feet, shouting toward left field.

Thud.

Even the fastest fielding couldn't catch up to Yuuki's incredible swing at that moment.

The ball quickly soared over the infield, landing in left field beyond the reach of Komadai Fujimaki's left fielder. It hit the ground with a resounding thud.

"Ohhhhh! The final slider was precisely captured by Seidou's cleanup hitter, Yuuki Tetsuya! A long hit to left field! Seidou High now has a runner on second base and another prime scoring opportunity!"

"What a perfect hit!"

"From posture to timing to the angle of the swing, it was flawless. Seidou's cleanup hitter is incredible!"

"He almost got a hit in his last at-bat, but this time it was sheer dominance."

"No outs, runner on second, and the next batters all have the potential for big hits. Wow, Seidou is in a fantastic position now."

"Komadai Fujimaki might need to consider a pitching change."

"I think it's about time."

After the leadoff double, Seidou's dugout erupted in cheers.

Standing ready with his bat, Eijun cracked a slight smile.

The captain was indeed the captain.

In Eijun's eyes, none of Komadai Fujimaki's four pitchers could truly suppress Yuuki.

Maybe they could scrape by on luck during the first round of the lineup, but by the second?

Ha! Did they think they were Narumiya Mei?

Hongou Masamune was still in his developmental stage.

He might be able to put up a fight, but to suppress Yuuki? Maybe in another year.

With a powerful hit, Yuuki stood on second base with a calm expression, raising his right hand in a victory pose, quietly asserting his presence.

Who's next?!

The majesty of Seidou's cleanup hitter weighed heavily on Komadai Fujimaki's pitcher-catcher duo.

In the Komadai Fujimaki dugout, Coach Nitta frowned slightly, a contemplative look crossing his face.

Beside him, the assistant coach quietly spoke.

"Coach?"

Without needing further explanation, Coach Nitta understood the suggestion: a pitching change.

However, now wasn't the best time for it.

With only a runner on second and the remaining batters not as threatening, the situation was still manageable—a 50-50 scenario at best.

After a few seconds of thought, Nitta lightly waved his hand.

"For now, leave it to Kanemoto and Iguchi. But send someone to the bullpen and have them get ready."

"Yes," the assistant coach replied softly and quickly dispatched someone to relay the message to the bullpen.

"Now batting, fifth in the lineup, third baseman, Masuko-kun."

"Go, Masuko-senpai! Let's see a big hit! Bring another run home!"

"Masuko-senpai, we're counting on you!"

"Fifth batter, time to shine!"

"Masuko! Masuko! Masuko!!!"

As Masuko Tooru stepped onto the field with his imposing frame, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. His commanding presence brought immense pressure to the opposing team.

Glancing back at Coach Kataoka, Masuko received a small nod in return, understanding the signal.

Whoosh.

The ball zipped toward the plate. With Seidou holding the advantage, there was no need to rush.

From the dugout, Coach Kataoka gave steady instructions, and Masuko surprised everyone with an unexpected bunt.

Ping.

The ball bounced sharply.

Komadai Fujimaki's infielders were momentarily stunned by the move.

If not for their quick reactions, this could have easily resulted in chaos—a near-disastrous error.

Whoosh.

Snap.

"Out!"

Despite their swift handling, Masuko was retired, but Yuuki successfully advanced to third base.

With one out and a runner on third, Seidou High's options expanded dramatically, allowing for a variety of tactical plays.

In contrast, Komadai Fujimaki found themselves once again at a critical crossroads, needing to make tough decisions.

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