Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 362: That One Glance in the Crowd

"Clap, clap, clap, clap!"

As the game concluded, a wave of applause erupted from the stands. Though the final few innings had turned into a one-sided domination by Seidou over Teito, the first four innings had still been a solid matchup.

A clash between powerhouse teams, showcasing the high-level competition expected at this stage.

But it was a shame—Teito High's ace, Mukai, was still too inexperienced, and their batting lineup never fully displayed its potential. If even one of these two factors had put more pressure on Seidou, the outcome may have still been in Seidou's favor, but it wouldn't have been this easy.

...

"We'll have a long break before our next competition."

Mukai forced back the tears welling in his eyes, pushing himself to maintain a calm tone.

But even he didn't realize his voice was trembling slightly.

"Yeah, and by the time that break is over, we'll come back stronger."

Kengo patted Mukai's shoulder firmly.

"This time, I wasn't strong enough. But next time—next time, I will defeat that guy."

Mukai clenched his fist, his voice filled with unwavering determination.

The burning resolve of Teito's ace was clear.

"Taiyou..."

"Mukai-kun..."

His teammates smiled at him, sensing his unyielding spirit.

From the dugout, Coach Okamoto's gaze softened.

Yes, this is the ace I personally chose.

"Hurry up and pack your things. Losing this badly today—hmph, when we get back, your training will be doubled! Understood?!"

"OH!!"

The perennial powerhouse, Teito High—perhaps this crushing defeat would mark the start of their rebirth.

For Mukai, today's experience would surely become fuel for his growth.

...

As the game ended, spectators began trickling out of the stands.

But the discussions about the match were far from over.

For the average baseball fan, today's game had been beyond expectations.

Regardless of whether they supported Seidou or Teito, the result left everyone stunned.

Seidou was far stronger than they had imagined.

Especially their ace—Eijun Sawamura.

"Two-way player" had once been a half-joking remark.

But today, batting third in the lineup, Eijun had not only fulfilled but excelled in his role as a slugger.

Now, no one would ever doubt his abilities again.

The true Ace of this era—

The "Ace Of Diamond."

...

"I never expected Teito High to lose by a mercy rule..."

Near the stands, as the spectators gradually exited, two journalists from Baseball Kingdom Magazine remained.

Akiko snapped a few more pictures, her voice filled with disbelief.

Even though she had favored Seidou from the start, even she hadn't expected such a dominant victory.

Especially in the fourth and fifth innings, when Seidou scored six runs in a flash.

That was an absurdly devastating score gap.

For a powerhouse like Teito High, this wasn't just a loss—it was a crushing defeat.

"The moment Mukai-kun was completely broken in the fourth inning, the game was already over."

Fujio shook his head, sighing.

He could clearly see how severe this loss was for Teito's young ace.

But this was more than just a blow—

It was a test.

Fujio could say with certainty:

If Mukai could overcome today's loss—

Then his future would shine even brighter.

But if he let this defeat break him...

Then this stage would never belong to him again.

"Yeah, ever since summer, Sawamura-kun has been advancing step by step, constantly exceeding expectations while making people look forward to what's next. I really want to see just how far he'll go in the future."

Akiko gazed at the Seidou dugout, watching Eijun laughing and chatting with his teammates, a soft smile appearing on her face.

"This era belongs to Sawamura-kun."

Fujio spoke with firm conviction.

"Huh? Fujio-senpai, you think that highly of him?"

"Alright, let's go. The game is over, and we still have a lot of reports to write. Now that the rain has stopped, we should head out."

Ignoring Akiko's surprise, Fujio adjusted his cap and took the lead in leaving.

"Hey, wait for me, Fujio-senpai!"

Hurriedly packing up her equipment, Akiko jogged to catch up, the two of them blending into the departing crowd.

...

As the spectators dispersed, Seidou's players also finished packing their gear and gathered outside the stadium, preparing to board the bus back to school.

Just as Eijun was about to step onto the bus—

A fleeting glance over his shoulder caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance.

A soft yellow silhouette entered his vision.

That figure wasn't unfamiliar to him at all.

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, forming a subtle but confident arc.

"Just like in the original timeline, you still came to watch this game, huh?"

"Little wolf pup, I'm looking forward to seeing you next year."

Muttering to himself, Eijun took one last deep look at the figure before stepping onto the bus.

...

At that very moment, not far away—

Okumura instinctively shifted his gaze in Eijun's direction.

His eyes flickered with a brief but undeniable feeling—one that could only be described as stirred anticipation.

"Huh? Okumura? Don't tell me you're already thinking about introducing yourself to your future senpai?"

Seto, noticing his friend's pause and gaze locked on Seidou's team bus, teased him with a grin.

Okumura simply shook his head lightly, keeping his thoughts to himself.

But in that instant, in this very space, he couldn't shake the feeling that the eyes on him just now—

Had belonged to the "Ace Of Diamond."

And strangely, much like the clearing sky after the rain, his mood felt a little lighter.

"It's nothing. Let's go."

His voice was as calm as ever, but there was a noticeable ease to it, one that didn't escape Seto's keen ear.

For a brief moment, Seto was taken aback—then, a faint, knowing smile formed on his lips.

"Alright!"

...

The wheel of fate had begun to turn.

Carried by the gentle wind, where it would stop—

Only the heavens could decide.

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