Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 380: Ugumori's Opening

"This team will continuously press on the attack. They might even resort to high-risk, aggressive tactics at any moment. The key is to keep the pitches low and, most importantly, maintain control. Understood?"

On the field, in front of the pitcher's mound, Miyuki spoke sternly to Furuya.

If this had been Eijun or Kawakami, Miyuki wouldn't have been as cautious.

Those two were reliable—well, except for Kawakami's occasional mental lapses.

Whether it was Eijun as the ace or Kawakami as the senior second-year, Miyuki never had to worry too much.

But Furuya was a different story. In Miyuki's eyes, Furuya was still like a child. While undeniably gifted, he was the kind of player who needed constant oversight to avoid trouble.

"Got it," Furuya replied seriously, nodding his head.

"The first pitch is the most crucial. Don't go all out; you don't need to unleash your full power. This team's lineup can be handled with about seventy percent of your strength. This is a great opportunity to refine your control. If you want to surpass that guy, this is your best stepping stone."

Miyuki patted Furuya's chest with his glove and spoke with a knowing smile.

"Yes."

A simple child at heart, Furuya's inner drive and motivation were instantly ignited by Miyuki's words.

The burning determination in his eyes and the powerful energy he exuded brought a satisfied grin to Miyuki's face.

Yup, in this respect, Furuya was much easier to handle than Eijun. At least he listened and wasn't so hard to persuade.

"Alright, go for it!"

"The top of the first inning, Ugumori High is at bat. Leading off, their center fielder, Kondou."

"Stay focused, Furuya. Take them down one at a time."

"Come on, Furuya! You can do it. Let's get them out quickly!"

"Power pitcher, keep it up!"

As soon as the umpire officially started the game, Seidou's side erupted in a burst of fervent cheers that filled the stadium.

"What an incredible cheering section."

"Well, that's Seidou for you, the reigning champs."

"We can't let ourselves be overshadowed, Daiki."

"Show them your spirit. Don't let them outdo us, Kondou."

"Get a hit!"

On Ugumori's side, though their stands were sparsely filled, the bench made up for it. Their determined shouts made their resolve crystal clear.

This pitcher may have improved a lot since Koshien, but his weaknesses are obvious—poor control, uneven rhythm, and, seemingly, a fragile mental state. He's grown since the summer, but those flaws don't disappear overnight.

Using the release techniques we practiced, aim for the low pitches and strike.

Standing in the batter's box, Kondou Daiki recalled Nao Matsubara's words before the game. Taking a deep breath, he tightened his grip on the bat and focused intently on Furuya on the mound.

"Positioned so far back?"

Miyuki's eyes narrowed as a calculating glint flashed through them.

"So they do have some brains after all."

"!"

In that case, let's show them what we've got.

A glint of cold determination flashed in Miyuki's eyes.

His fingers shifted subtly beneath the glove.

"Boom!"

The moment of delivery.

A dazzling streak of light.

As the powerful arm whipped forward, a thunderous roar filled the air, and a blazing fastball surged straight down the middle.

The violent sonic boom erupted as the pitch streaked toward the plate, causing Kondou's pupils to contract in an instant. Instinctively, unable to fully control his hands, he swung at the blinding white flash that seemed ready to swallow him whole.

The bat lashed out.

The ball shot forward.

"Thud!"

A sharper, more intense sound rang out.

Kondou's face registered shock.

"Strike!"

This guy—he was told not to go full throttle.

Miyuki shot a disgruntled glance toward Furuya, then tossed the ball back to him.

"Oh! This is it! This is what I wanted to see!"

"It's still a bit raw, but this is the kind of pressure I'm talking about."

"That sound, that speed—it's exhilarating."

"Every time I see it, I get pumped up all over again."

"Great pitch! Awesome job, Furuya. Keep it up!"

"Strike them all out in a row!"

No matter the era, velocity is every pitcher's ultimate romance. For a power pitcher like Furuya, his lightning-fast fastballs were a visual spectacle.

It was as if his first pitch had single-handedly won over the entire audience.

Even on Ugumori's side, both Nao and Seiichi were visibly moved.

Watching from afar or on a screen couldn't compare to experiencing this direct, visceral impact at the ballpark.

Seidou's monstrous power pitcher—Furuya Satoru.

The sheer intimidation from that one pitch was almost tangible, as if it had come alive.

Kondou Daiki, standing in the batter's box, swallowed nervously. The ball was nothing like the ones he'd faced from machines—it was a completely different beast.

The second pitch: an outside fastball.

"Shoo!"

Another blinding flash.

Furuya's arm snapped down again.

Here it comes.

This time, Kondou was ready. His eyes widened, immediately locking onto the faint trace of the pitch. As the high-speed ball entered his vision, he adjusted his stance and raised his arms, lifting his bat into position.

Then he swung down hard.

"Whoosh!"

The angle and placement of his swing were precise.

But unfortunately for him, Miyuki's lips curled into a faint smile.

You completely misjudged the timing.

"Thud!"

The brilliant flash of the ball streaked past.

Before Kondou's bat could connect, the ball had already arrived at home plate. Miyuki easily snatched it into his mitt.

"Strike two!"

How can it be this fast?

In the dugout, Nao clenched his left hand, his expression turning grim.

They had already given this pitcher plenty of credit.

But even now…

"Shoo!"

"Thud!"

"Strike three! Batter out!"

They had still underestimated his velocity.

Just three straightforward outside fastballs.

The raw power was undeniable.

Every pitch landed in the same spot.

Ugumori's leadoff hitter, Kondou, couldn't muster any resistance.

A three-pitch strikeout. Out!

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