Ace of Diamond: Return of the Pitcher

The total score was 1:0, and the mighty Seidou High School was trailing by one point from the very beginning of the game.

This setback was a huge blow to Seidou High School.

They hadn't played a game like this in a long time. To be honest, the players were struggling to adjust.

Naturally, the Seidou High School baseball team didn't intend to give up so easily.

Coach Kataoka was there, advising them that their opponent had come well-prepared, having already studied Seidou's previous tactics thoroughly.

This wasn't news. If they hadn't done so, how could Seidou High School have suffered such a significant setback?

After summarizing their mistakes, Coach Kataoka provided a strategy.

"We can't go on like this. We'll just be led by the nose. From now on, everyone should focus on showcasing their strengths. Forget about the previous tactics. Use your individual abilities to defeat the opponent!"

No one expected that, after a long pause, Coach Kataoka would suggest such an approach.

On the surface, it seemed like a bad idea.

But after giving it some thought, it could actually be quite effective.

Sawamura gave a thoughtful glance and then, to his amusement, noticed coach Ochiai, who was smugly stroking his chin.

If his guess was correct, this idea should have come from coach Ochiai.

Not that Coach Kataoka lacked the intelligence to devise such tactics, but their experiences were different, which meant they had learned very different approaches.

To put it simply, Coach Kataoka wasn't the type to rely solely on individual player strength to overwhelm the opponent.

Seidou High School had been known for teamwork, but their opponent had done a thorough job of analyzing Seidou's playbook. If they didn't come up with something new, they'd have no way to counter them.

The strength of this strategy lay in the fact that it flipped the script.

Seidou High School had previously been a perfect, unified team, making it easier for the opponent to spot their weaknesses.

But now, the team was shifting to one that emphasized individual players' abilities, creating a strange and unpredictable lineup.

The tactics prepared by Hakuryu High School might no longer be effective.

This was a good thing. It was strong.

Of course, an excellent strategy didn't necessarily guarantee excellent performance from the players.

To win, they would still have to take risks.

After all, no victory came without sacrifice.

"Therefore, when it's time to take risks, go for it boldly!"

The first to step into the Batter's Box was Kuramochi, his eyes flashing with provocation.

If we're talking about being rebellious, the top player in Seidou High School would definitely be Kuramochi. In Sawamura's words, he was a delinquent!

Even if Coach Kataoka hadn't given orders, Kuramochi would likely come up with some wild idea on his own.

Now that Coach Kataoka had completely entrusted play to the players, Kuramochi was even more uncontrollable.

Kuramochi's eyes were locked on Ouno Shintarou on the mound, carefully searching for any flaws.

His body was tense, as though ready to pounce.

This gave Hakuryu High School's players an immediate sense of caution.

They all focused their attention on the engine of Seidou's offense.

Just moments ago, they had used the same tactic to score. Naturally, they didn't want to let the same thing happen again to them.

They absolutely couldn't allow Kuramochi to reach the base.

This wasn't just the will of one player from Hakuryu High School; it was the will of all of them.

This game was already a stroke of luck for them. They managed to score in the first inning against Seidou High School.

It was a good omen!

They certainly didn't want that omen to disappear.

So, they had to stop Kuramochi.

"His average time to reach base is 4.38 seconds! Even among our team, he ranks in the top three."

In the Hakuryu High School dugout, Coach Sasaki calmly held a stopwatch.

Kuramochi's statistics had been thoroughly drilled into his mind.

Seidou High School had a number of players worth paying attention to, and Kuramochi was one of them.

If Kuramochi reached base, it would put tremendous pressure on Hakuryu's defense.

So, Coach Sasaki couldn't afford to let him do as he pleased.

He had to find a way to stop him and prevent Seidou from making a comeback.

Thinking of this, Coach Sasaki's gaze darkened. He then decisively signaled his players.

Upon receiving the signal, Hakuryu High School's players immediately sprang into action.

Their infielders moved forward by several meters, and their outfielders closed in as well.

This left Kuramochi wide-eyed in disbelief.

Although the opponent always took some measures when he was up to bat, it was the first time that Hakuryu High School had made such a thorough move.

Their entire defensive lineup had shifted forward, tightening the infield.

The outfield appeared vast and open.

But what good was that?

Kuramochi didn't have much power for long hits. There was no way he could make a clean long hit under these conditions.

The change in the field caught the attention of both Miyuki and Sawamura.

"A thorough preparation!"

They hadn't expected Hakuryu High School to completely adjust their defense based on Kuramochi's style.

"Can't be helped. When you're the King, you attract attention!"

Sawamura wasn't at all surprised.

Given the current situation, he was actually expecting it.

At this point, all the teams viewed Seidou High School as their primary target. However, for most teams, defeating Seidou wasn't their immediate goal because they still had smaller targets to focus on.

First, they had to get through their regional qualifiers before thinking about anything beyond that.

Of course, there were some powerhouse teams who didn't need to worry about smaller goals.

Take Hakuryu High School, for instance.

They were the undisputed champions of Gunma Prefecture, with a position so secure it even surpassed Seidou High School's in Tokyo.

Although Tokyo's top teams were numerous, Hakuryu High School had fewer challengers in their own region.

This was why Hakuryu's focus from the beginning had always been on defeating Seidou High School.

It wasn't surprising that they had tailored such a strategy specifically for Seidou.

At this, Miyuki sighed.

It was clear that Seidou had become so strong that everyone had to adjust their tactics accordingly.

"I wonder how Kuramochi will handle this?" Miyuki mused.

Sawamura shook his head.

"Don't worry. That guy never plays by the rules. Let him battle Hakuryu High School. It won't hurt!"

If they win, that's perfect.

Even if they lose, there's no real loss. It'll only help them understand Hakuryu's strategy better.

Miyuki looked at Sawamura in surprise.

He had expected Sawamura to lose his temper after the Run was lost.

After all, Sawamura wasn't the type to take the beating down.

So, Miyuki was certain Sawamura wouldn't let it go easily.

But now, Sawamura appeared surprisingly calm. He didn't seem upset at all.

"You've really matured!" Miyuki said with genuine praise.

At 17 years old, Sawamura felt a little embarrassed being complimented like that.

"You're the same!" he retorted.

The two of them exchanged compliments in a particularly lively manner.

On the sidelines, Maezono rolled his eyes.

These shameless guys were driving him crazy.

After years of playing baseball, Maezono had seen many shameless players, but none like Sawamura and Miyuki. Only their skill could back up such audacity!

The game continued.

Pushed into a corner, Kuramochi seemed at a loss.

With the defense so close, he couldn't even attempt a bunt.

At this point, he had no choice but to go all out and take a risk.

Kuramochi raised his bat high.

He had to admit that Hakuryu High School had thoroughly researched his tactics. But they had overlooked one thing—since becoming a third-year player, Kuramochi hadn't been idle.

'I'm not just about bunting!'

He glared fiercely at his opponent as if preparing to deliver a fatal blow.

Hakuryu's players understood what he meant.

They quickly adjusted their positions again!

The outfielders moved back slightly, filling some of the vast gap in the outfield.

Kuramochi was frustrated beyond belief.

The opponent seemed to have figured out all of his options. Their preparations were meticulous, leaving him with no room to break through.

'These damn guys!'

This frustration was evident on Kuramochi's face.

The players from Hakuryu High School were undeniably cunning.

It was as though they had prepared for everything!

In the dugout of Hakuryu High School, Coach Sasaki kept glancing at the stopwatch in his hand.

He was not at all surprised to see Kuramochi being forced into such a predicament.

From a long time ago, Hakuryu High School had meticulously prepared for their match against Seidou High School.

For this purpose, they devised numerous strategies and tactics.

What was happening now was just one of them.

When there's a clear gap in strength between two teams, the underdog's only chance to turn the tables lies in preparing more thoroughly than their opponent.

The saying "the early bird catches the worm" captures this logic perfectly.

The players of Hakuryu High School adhered to this principle, which allowed them to achieve the current situation.

Kuramochi was pushed into a corner with no options left and, in the end, had no choice but to take a desperate risk.

If the opponent believed he had no chance of hitting a long ball, he would prove them wrong by sending the ball flying for everyone at Hakuryu High School to see.

With his bat raised high, Kuramochi's muscles tensed as he resolved himself. The moment that baseball came flying, he would strike without hesitation.

Come on!

Kuramochi was eagerly anticipating the showdown.

The Hakuryu High School pitcher did not keep him waiting for long.

With a cold expression, Ouno Shintarou decisively delivered the pitch.

Whoosh!

Ouno Shintarou's pitching speed was decent, but from Kuramochi's perspective, it wasn't fast enough.

'Perfect!'

Seeing the baseball approaching, Kuramochi swung with all his might.

He struck the ball fiercely, sending it flying high into the air.

Ping!

The ball soared into the sky after being hit, displaying the strength of Kuramochi's all-out swing.

Unfortunately, it didn't travel far.

In the outfield.

Hakuryu High School's center fielder, Mima, effortlessly caught the high fly ball.

Snap!

"OUT!"

One Out, no runners on base.

The spectators in the stands sighed at the scene before them.

They had never imagined the match would unfold this way.

It appeared that the host team, Hakuryu High School, was far from being as powerless as they had initially thought.

They were proving themselves capable of going toe-to-toe with Seidou High School.

This added an element of suspense to the game.

Everyone's eyes remained glued to the field, hoping to witness something extraordinary.

Kominato Haruichi, Seidou High School's second batter, stepped into the Batter's Box.

He crossed paths with the departing Kuramochi.

Kuramochi hesitated for a moment but decided to share the insights he had gathered with Kominato Haruichi.

"Their breaking balls are sharp!"

Although his own Out left him dissatisfied, Kuramochi had to admit that Ouno Shintarou's pitching was exceptional.

His breaking ball was more surprising than what Kuramochi anticipated.

Haruichi gave a noncommittal nod before stepping into the Batter's Box, adopting a bunt stance immediately.

Haruichi's precise batting technique made this an unusual move, hinting at other possibilities.

Hakuryu High School's players were well aware of this.

Nevertheless, they had to adjust their defense accordingly.

In no time, a brand-new defensive formation was in place.

It was entirely different from their setup against Kuramochi and tailored specifically for Kominato Haruichi.

"So thorough in their preparations!"

This wasn't the first time Miyuki had made such a remark, but this time, his tone was even more severe.

'This is no longer funny.'

He hadn't expected Hakuryu High School to be so extreme.

They had devised defensive strategies for every main batter in Seidou High School's lineup.

From Seidou's perspective, this was unimaginable.

Though such situations had occurred before, they were usually executed by teams relying on overall defense combined with a central figure who acted as their leader and soul.

This allowed them to execute their strategies flawlessly.

But Hakuryu High School wasn't that kind of team. Their players were traditional in style, like those from other powerhouse teams, relying on their own skills while incorporating elements like tactics and defensive techniques.

That was the hallmark of elite teams.

But Hakuryu High School was entirely different now. Their defense philosophy was unlike anything seen before.

This departure from tradition posed a real challenge for Seidou High School's players, who suffered several setbacks.

First, Kuramochi Youichi was shut Out.

Then, Kominato Haruichi, despite his superb batting skills, was also Out.

His Out was even more peculiar than Kuramochi's.

After making contact with a slash bunt, the ball landed directly in front of the infielder.

Without hesitation, the infielder picked it up and threw it to first base.

"OUT!!"

Two Outs, no runners on base.

The score remained 1–0, with Hakuryu High School leading by one run.

Judging from the current situation, Seidou High School was clearly in a very passive position.

They had conceded a run in the first inning and showed no offensive strength in their batting.

There was no trace of their typical dominance.

Even Seidou High School's devoted supporters hesitated to cheer fervently.

Not even the presence of their Ace, Sawamura Eijun, in the Batter's Box, could significantly shift the tide.

Many spectators started rooting for Hakuryu High School, hoping they would take a bold gamble and secure ultimate victory.

However, Sawamura Eijun had a different perspective.

Though he acknowledged Hakuryu High School's outstanding performance, he remained confident in the superior skills of his team.

He raised his bat and gently waved it.

This subtle motion made the bat appear larger and distracted Hakuryu High School's pitcher.

Ouno Shintarou frowned.

He knew Sawamura wasn't an ordinary opponent. Therefore, he concentrated fully on figuring out how to counter this formidable adversary.

Sawamura was unlike any player Ouno had faced before.

Sawamura possessed everything Ouno aspired to achieve.

The emotion lingered, driving Ouno Shintarou to chase Sawamura's shadow relentlessly.

He believed that with continuous effort, he would one day surpass Sawamura.

But just as he thought he was catching up, he realized that Sawamura had moved even farther ahead.

This realization was a crushing blow to Ouno.

It was difficult for him to accept.

A conversation with his coach earlier had enlightened him. Ouno realized his aspiration was misplaced.

After all, people are different, and a pitcher's true value lies in what they bring to their team.

With this new understanding, Ouno focused on teamwork.

While he still believed he wasn't as skilled as Sawamura, he felt confident enough to challenge him within Hakuryu High School's cohesive system.

'Come on! Let's see what the 'Great Demon King' Sawamura Eijun is truly capable of!'

Ouno poured all his energy into the pitch.

Having successfully retired Kuramochi and Kominato, Ouno's confidence was soaring.

He firmly believed that through sheer effort and teamwork, he could conquer Sawamura.

Ouno's pitch hurtled towards Sawamura with ferocious speed, giving him almost no time to react. The baseball reached Sawamura in an instant, seemingly catching him off guard.

He didn't even swing his bat, watching as the ball zipped past and into the catcher's Mitt.

Snap!

"STRIKE!"

The crowd erupted with excitement.

Everyone had assumed Ouno wouldn't dare confront Sawamura directly, perhaps opting for a Walk instead.

But Hakuryu High School's players were determined to face Sawamura head-on.

They aimed to crush Seidou High School through sheer force.

This audacious approach lit the fire in the audience, fueling their adrenaline.

"This was what a championship game should look like!"

"This is exhilarating!"

"I am glad I decided to watch it live."

This was the kind of scene that should be seen in a final.

Otherwise, if Seidou and the opposing team kept deflecting each other's challenges, the game would have become more of a stalemate, but certainly not as thrilling as it is now.

Even Owada Akiko from Baseball Kingdom Magazine was extremely surprised at this moment.

"I never expected the players from Hakuryu High School to have such courage, directly confronting Seidou's player head-on..."

"If Hakuryu High School's pitcher can successfully deal with Seidou, it will be a huge blow for them."

It wouldn't be surprising if they took control of the game.

However, if the ball is hit out, all the momentum Hakuryu High School had built up would be lost.

'This is a high-stakes gamble!'

Even Fujio felt deeply moved by the courage of Hakuryu High School's players.

But that's all it is...

Before this gamble, shouldn't they have first scouted Seidou's abilities?

Fujio was relatively more confident in batter standing in the Batter's Box.

In fact, Sawamura had never disappointed his expectations.

Whoosh!

Just as the second ball was thrown, Sawamura suddenly entered the Zone.

Now, he could somewhat control this state, no longer needing to build up momentum like before.

In this state, Sawamura could clearly see how the ball would behave before it even reached him.

The ball, thrown at a low course, should have some level of break.

Because of the fast spin, Sawamura could not be sure what the exact break would be.

But it didn't matter—he only needed to know the ball would change.

Uncertain about the exact change, Sawamura's only chance was to hit the ball before the break occurred.

He took a step forward, moving his entire body forward by two stances.

Then his body twisted like a spring and released.

Buzzzzzzzz!

With the help of his flexible body, Seidou maximized his hitting power.

Watching the approaching ball, he struck it without hesitation.

PAAANNGGG!!!!

The baseball, after being hit, blasted far like a mouse chased by a dog, speeding toward the outfield.

The ball flew straight to the back of the field.

Mima's body bolted forward like an arc of lightning.

He was about to catch it, but then he stepped on the fence, propelling his body into the air.

It looked like he was going to intercept the ball.

Pak!

The ball hit his mitt and flew out of the field.

"OU-OUT! OF THE PAAAARKK!!!!!"

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!!"

"OOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!!"

"AWESOMEE!!!!"

This sequence of events left the audience in awe.

"The Great Demon King Didn't Sit Idle!!! After Falling Behind By One Run, He Used His Bat To Get His Revenge!!"

Just like that, both teams were back to square one.

The score was tied 1:1.

Seidou High School's performance was astonishing.

Originally, people thought that the reigning champions, Seidou High, would struggle in the first innings.

But they were wrong.

With Sawamura's powerful skills leading the way, they managed to tie the score.

This time, they didn't rely on their usual team coordination, but rather on Seidou's personal strength to score.

"The retaliation was quick!"

Though Sasaki was young, his baseball IQ was not low. He quickly figured out what had happened.

Clearly, Seidou High School's baseball team had come well-prepared.

Their strategy was both surprising and admirable.

In such a critical situation, they fully trusted the players' power.

"As expected of the champions!" Akiko's eyes was full of stars.

Fujio nodded beside her.

"Although this strategy doesn't seem like the usual tactic of Seidou High School! It seems that Coach Kataoka and Coach Ochiai already had their own plans."

If they hadn't anticipated everything beforehand, they could never have achieved this.

"Seidou High School has changed their tactics!"

Upon realizing this, the mood of Hakuryu High School darkened.

They knew exactly what this meant.

It meant that all their previous preparations seemed to have lost their effectiveness.

Seidou High School had been reborn from the ashes!

But they were now faced with even tougher challenges.

Especially since their carefully prepared strategies seemed useless as Seidou High changed their tactics and tempo.

"Don't be discouraged, we've only tied the game. The previous confrontations show that our offense still works."

Sasaki comforted himself and his teammates with these words.

What he said was true—previous tactics had indeed shown some effect.

The game continued. There were two outs, and no one was on base.

It was time for Seidou High's fourth batter.

Miyuki Kazuya!

…

T/N: Well, That's it for now!

As always, Thank you all for reading guys!

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