Diamond No Ace: The Strongest Hitter

Chapter 127: Time Is Running Out

"Yeah! Wouldn't that just expose my plan to ambush? Hmm!" Sawamura said, slamming his left fist into his right hand after hearing Aoki's words.

"Phew!" Everyone sighed in relief upon hearing this.

"Then I'll just say I heard it from Furuhashi-san!" Sawamura added.

"Can't you just drop the whole locked-door issue? Don't you see Furuhashi-san's face is already turning dark?" Everyone silently screamed in despair.

"No way! Sen-chan would still get suspicious!"

"Is that so?"

"Yes! Absolutely!" Everyone nodded furiously.

"Ei-chan, it's better to forget about this morning's incident. Sen-chan is smart; he'll figure it out quickly. It's too dangerous!" Aoki quickly interrupted as Sawamura looked like he was about to say something.

"Yeah, you're right!" Sawamura shivered slightly, recalling everything that happened last night under Aoki's meaningful gaze.

The locked-door issue was finally swept under the rug, thanks to Sendo's imposing presence, but the matter of Fumino still needed to be resolved!

That was the real challenge. What if Sawamura accidentally let it slip someday?

Everyone racked their brains for a solution, and in the end, it was Aoki's sharp thinking that saved the day.

"Ei-chan! Also, don't tell Sen-chan that Furuhashi-san went into his room!"

"Huh? Why not?"

"You were actually planning to say it? Come on!" Everyone inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why? Well, think about it. Sen-chan loves sleeping in, right?"

"That's right! He's a lazy bum! A total slacker!" Sawamura angrily exclaimed with narrowed eyes.

"Exactly. Someone like him would never forgive anyone who disturbs his sleep. Could you bear to see Furuhashi-san suffer Sen-chan's wrath?" Aoki exaggerated dramatically.

Fumino immediately put on a pitiful expression, looking at Sawamura with pleading eyes.

"As expected of the 'Sleeping Princess of the Literary Forest,'" everyone silently applauded Fumino's swift expression change.

"I understand! I understand everything! Don't worry. Keeping others' secrets is a principle I live by!" Sawamura declared earnestly, leaving everyone speechless yet relieved.

With Sawamura's formal assurance, there was no doubt he wouldn't spill the beans.

However, his overly empathetic expression made everyone reflect on how Sawamura's long-standing knack for chaos was so hilariously predictable.

When Sendo finally woke up, it was already past 9 a.m.

Yawning as he strolled onto the field, he found everyone else already drenched in sweat from practice.

"Good morning!" Sendo greeted groggily.

"You lazy bum! It's almost noon! Do you even know that, you jerk?" Sawamura shouted angrily.

"It's 9:46. Don't worry; I've had breakfast!"

"Who asked about your breakfast?"

"Huh? Then what are you asking about?"

"Ughhh!"

"Alright, Sawamura, time for your run!" Everyone managed to coax Sawamura away.

In reality, Sendo's timing was deliberate.

The first hour of practice focused on conditioning, batting drills, and bunting—things everyone could handle without him.

Sendo had no interest in those grueling sessions.

The core training began at 10 a.m., focusing on defensive drills and base-running strategies, including stealing, hit-and-run plays, and coordinated attacks.

Sendo participated as the pitcher for the defensive side.

Sendo had always emphasized the importance of mastering small-ball tactics, even if they avoided overly complex strategies.

Recently, they had also started implementing tactics to disrupt opposing pitchers, drain their stamina, and pile on base runners for scoring opportunities.

Yesterday's game demonstrated the effectiveness of these tactics. If not for shaking Fukasawa's confidence and coordination early on, the opposing team might have put up a better fight.

Instead, they were completely overwhelmed.

Since last year's loss, the team had been motivated to train harder than ever, with hours of tireless batting practice.

Sendo had to constantly monitor them to prevent overexertion and injuries.

With only ten players, Akagii's team was like a precious treasure.

A single major injury could significantly weaken their lineup, yet their small size fostered a uniquely joyful and relaxed atmosphere.

Several times, Sendo found himself nearly lost in this carefree environment.

Sometimes, he wished time could stop here forever—attending school, practicing together, fighting battles, and sharing victories. Nothing could compare to these happy days.

But time was moving forward.

They were now second-years, with only two semesters left before third year.

The summer tournament was their final shot.

After that, Sendo would retire, and the others would join their high school baseball teams, while Sawamura would head off to Tokyo.

Whether he followed his original path to Seidou or a butterfly effect caused by Sendo led him to Yura, their paths would inevitably diverge.

Once that final summer ended, it would be nearly impossible to gather everyone to play baseball again.

Sendo could never ask Sawamura to stay—he was destined to shine in professional baseball, graduating high school, joining the pros, and eventually making waves in the major leagues.

Sendo couldn't let selfishness hold back such a bright future.

Unlike Sendo, Sawamura had little outside of baseball. Asking him to be a salaryman or take over the family farm? It just didn't fit him.

By 10 a.m., it was time to start practice.

The training was tough, but being with his teammates brought joy.

And the countdown had begun.

"This summer, we will make it to Nationals!" Sendo declared firmly as he stepped onto the field.

Unbeknownst to him, his mindset had shifted. Helping his teammates reach Nationals was no longer just their dream—it had become his own.

...

"It's starting!!!"

"Yeah!!!"

Standing on the pitcher's mound, Sendo exuded an aura of effortless grace.

"First scenario: one out, runners on first and third!"

"Bring it on!" shouted Kondou at the batter's box, along with Ohno on third base and Aoki on first.

"Let him hit it!" said the outfielders standing behind Sendo, ready to field.

Meanwhile, two girls on the sidelines cheered enthusiastically.

In that moment, the atmosphere was electric, making Sendo wish once again that time could stop here.

With this thought, Sendo raised his arms to the side.

He uses a sidearm pitching style, relying on explosive full-body strength.

Stepping forward in sync with his arm motion, he released the ball!

"Steal!" came the alert from third base.

"Force the score!"

"These guys…" Sendo didn't flinch or adjust his trajectory.

Pop!

"Strike!" The pitch landed beautifully on the low outside corner.

Ohno, who had bolted for home, returned to third base, and Kondou pulled back his bat.

"Sen-chan! How did you know it was a fake steal?" Ohno shouted from third.

"Kondou's gaze wasn't steady or serious enough," Sendo replied calmly.

"Seriously? You could tell just from that?" Kondou muttered, speechless.

"To deceive your opponent, you have to convince yourself first. Let's try again!"

"Bring it on!!!"

...

At Akagi Junior High, the team continued their relentless baseball training, day after day.

Meanwhile, Coach Daimon detailed the events of their crushing defeat to Coach Nakani. Nakani, in turn, chuckled and relayed the information to other coaches.

Tomorrow's opponent would be Akadou Junior High, one of the remaining four teams with genuine strength, aside from Seiwa.

Akadou is the school of the Yuuki brothers, though they are part of Kokubun's Senior baseball team.

Yuuki Masashi, for instance, is fully focused on professional baseball and wouldn't participate in softball.

The next day's game started with Akadou seemingly prepared, but they still struggled against Sawamura's pitching.

Despite accessing insider information about Akagi's lineup from a "traitor," Akadou barely managed to neutralize Akagi's top three batters, exposing a clear gap in overall team strength.

In the second inning, Akadou's struggles persisted. Sendo earned a walk and turned the inning into a nightmare with his baserunning.

Though Sendo's stealing technique wasn't polished, his outstanding athletic ability and sharp instincts made his movements precise and unstoppable.

This allowed Sawamura to execute a perfect bunt, securing the score.

From that point, Akagi took control of the game.

Their second rotation through the lineup saw a flurry of base hits.

Once runners reached base, Akagi's offense became exponentially more potent, with flawless execution of fake and real steals, leading to three consecutive runs and sealing the game's outcome.

In the following days, Akagi faced two other schools, completely dominating them in what turned into one-sided matches.

After the first game, Coach Nakani realized he had underestimated Akagi's team chemistry and skill.

Their relentless base-running strategy, combined with Sendo's ability to clear the bases, resulted in devastatingly effective tactics.

After a day of rest, Akagi would face their old rival, Seiwa Junior High.

Like Akagi, Seiwa had undergone significant changes.

With last year's ace battery, Ishihara and Morishita, having graduated, the new Seiwa lineup had seamlessly adapted.

Even during the previous summer, Morishita was not their true ace, as the ace role had already transitioned to another player.

Despite Akagi's impressive performance, Coach Nakani believed that without Sendo, Akagi was evenly matched with Seiwa, if not slightly weaker.

This matchup promised to be an exciting game. Afterward, Akagi would participate in a three-day training camp with Sakura Girls' University, providing an invaluable opportunity for improvement.

Facing a high-caliber pitcher like Ozawa would challenge Akagi's batting lineup, while their defense would test Sawamura's state of form.

With Sawamura's rising pitch speed and peculiar delivery, it would be exceptionally difficult for the girls, especially with collegiate-level wooden bats.

Sendo, however, found these recent games tedious.

Besides his first at-bat, he had been intentionally walked in every plate appearance, even with the bases loaded.

This showcased the opposition's extreme caution toward him.

It was understandable—allowing Sendo to swing could mean a heart-stopping home run.

...

In the blink of an eye, the summer was nearing its end.

Today marked the practice match against Seiwa.

The night before, Sendo gave Sawamura another massage. This time, however, it wasn't punitive but purely to help him relax.

Sawamura was utterly delighted, a stark contrast to his initial resistance.

This shift demonstrated how much Sendo valued this match. He knew his senior wouldn't let them claim victory so easily.

...

"Yo! Long time no see, Sendo-kun!"

"Takei-san!"

"Hello!!!"

"Let's have a good match today!" Coach Takei said seriously.

"A good match?… Takei-san, sure! I'd love to face off against your ace!" Sendo replied, testing the waters.

"Don't even think about it! Let me make it clear now—I'm still going to intentionally walk you every at-bat!"

"As expected," Sendo sighed inwardly.

This was inevitable.

To avoid conceding too many runs, walking the strongest batter was a logical strategy.

After all, Akagi lacked other consistently reliable power hitters.

Sawamura's precise bunting was already a rare asset for securing runs.

However, with the bases loaded, the decision to walk would depend on the situation and the number of outs.

If there were too few outs, walking Sendo could backfire significantly.

The sixth batter, Omura, posed a lurking threat, and the subsequent batters could still capitalize with small-ball tactics to extend the lead.

In such cases, walking Sendo with minimal outs could result in a cascade of runs, making it an unwise gamble.

...

After some warm-up drills, the game officially began!

Akagi was up to bat first, with Seiwa defending.

---

"So that guy is Seiwa's ace, Fujiwara? And he's only a first-year? Let's observe him for now. But if there's a good pitch, I won't hesitate!" thought Ohno, Akagi's leadoff hitter. With his wealth of experience, Ohno was a batter they could rely on.

However:

Pop!

"Strike!" A precise pitch on the outside corner.

"Great control! And the velocity must be around 120 km/h? Wait, this guy's in his first year?"

Pop!

"Ball!" Another pitch on the outer edge.

"Almost swung at that! His control is ridiculous, damn it!"

Third pitch:

"A pitch right down the middle?"

Crack!

"Slider!" The ball rolled slowly toward the second baseman.

Pop!

"Out!"

...

"Good control alone is something we can handle, thanks to my training. But adding effective breaking pitches to disrupt us makes it much harder to hit."

"Judging by this, we might not score until the second or even the final rotation through the lineup. However, if they can't break through the connection between me and Eijun, we'll hold the advantage. Even a single run could mean a decisive lead."

"The key will be whether their lineup can score against Eijun."

Watching Ohno's first at-bat, Sendo mentally outlined the tone of the game.