Diamond No Ace: The Strongest Hitter

Chapter 216: Declaration of Victory

"Seidou!"

"Tetsu-san!"

"Kataoka-san!"

"Sendo-kun!"

"This year, we definitely have to make it to Koshien!"

"If you say so, then we can go for sure!"

"We'll definitely be back!"

Upon returning to their bench, Seidou received a tremendous cheer from their supporters.

"Hahaha!" Sawamura laughed heartily without any sense of self-awareness.

"Don't get too carried away, Sawamura!"

"It was just a fluke!"

"Thank you all for your support!"

"Thank you very much!"

After expressing their gratitude to the audience, the match was officially over, and everyone began to pack their bags.

A minor commotion occurred on the bench as Sawamura declared his ambition to become the man known as the 'Precision Machine,' which drew merciless ridicule from several teammates.

However, their antics were interrupted by the entering team from Ichidaisan High.

The tournament structure was a bit odd, as Seidou advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Akikawa.

However, in the subsequent match between Ichidaisan and Yakushi, the winner would also enter the top sixteen, meaning both teams had to face a back-to-back schedule similar to the NBA.

Fortunately, the opponent that followed was not particularly strong.

"The first to reach the quarterfinals!" The coach of Ichidaisan tipped his hat slightly in respect.

His English was still quite amusing.

Kataoka responded with the same gesture.

The main players from both teams exchanged fierce glances.

Sendo noticed a particular player who was staring at him, and he seemed to not be one of the primary players.

Manaka also focused on Sendo for a moment; he had been deeply impressed by Sendo during the spring tournament.

After the recent match, he noticed that Sendo had made significant progress, prompting him to give him a long look.

However, no matter how many people watched him, Sendo remained himself, unaffected by others' gaze; he continued to do as he pleased.

All of Seidou gathered in the stands to watch this match.

Aside from Sendo, the upperclassmen were likely more focused on Ichidaisan High!

Indeed, Ichidaisan was a true formidable opponent with an offensive strength rivaling Seidou's lineup from the original series, and defensively, they had Manaka's presence.

Don't underestimate Manaka; according to the first volume's formula book, his defensive capability ranked just after Narumiya, in second place, followed by Tate Hiromi, and shockingly, the third-year backup pitcher from Inashiro.

"Make sure you observe Ichidaisan's lineup closely! Unlike a lineup that relies solely on You Shunshin!" Amidst the cheers from the Ichidaisan supporters, Miyuki called out to the first-year pitchers.

This shows how everyone perceives this match.

"Is… Ichidaisan really that strong?" Sawamura glanced over and couldn't help but ask Haruichi beside him.

"They're very strong! After all, they're a school that reached the selection rounds! Didn't we play against them in the spring tournament?"

Kawakami perked up his ears to listen, as he too was unsure about Ichidaisan's situation.

"I… didn't stay at the field to watch! What about the other team, Yakushi?"

Then it was time for Chris's notebook to make its debut.

"They're an ultra-aggressive team that has never used bunting even once. They won their first match convincingly! Ever since they switched coaches last spring, their team's strength has been steadily increasing. You can't underestimate their scoring ability when fully unleashed! But overall, Ichidaisan is still stronger."

"Oh?"

"What's up?"

"What about Yakushi's cleanup hitter? What's his name? Ray… Rayshi?

"It's Raichi Todoroki!"

Sendo, who had been listening to their chatter, was left speechless by Sawamura.

Chris noticed that the main hitters of the Yakushi had all changed.

Miyuki reminded everyone that the player manual stated they were all freshmen and casually mentioned that the coach's last name was also Todoroki.

"It looks like it's a big strategy left for Ichidaisan High School, right? We should consider ourselves lucky, even if we don't know what's going to happen next."

Whether Ichidaisan wins or Yakushi does not matter much now!

"That cleanup hitter must be the coach's son, right? He looks like a secret weapon!" This was a cue to remind the folks of the coach's son being part of the team, making sure everyone paid attention to the Yakush.

The match unfolded much like in the original story, with Ichidaisan coming out strong right away, showcasing the intensity of their batting lineup.

Miyuki made comparisons with Seidou's batting order to serve as a reminder for the dual pitchers.

With the continuous scoring from Ichidaisan, the seniors began to let their guard down regarding Yakushi.

"Smash!"

A powerful hit from a Ichidaisan first-year was forcibly stopped by Raichi, abruptly halting their offensive momentum.

"It's that guy!" Sawamura recognized the cleanup hitter immediately.

What followed was a pitching disaster, leading to a comical outburst from the teammates.

Haruichi and Kuramochi both felt a sense of déjà vu and simultaneously turned their attention to that monkey-like hitter.

Sawamura couldn't help but laugh at Raichi.

"Hey, Eijun, isn't that your kind?" Sendo chimed in.

"What do you mean 'kind'? You jerk!" Sawamura snapped back.

As the game intensified, Raichi's home run dramatically changed the match's dynamics.

At that moment, all the seniors from Sendo couldn't help but glance at Sendo. They saw hints of Sendo in Raichi, which shocked them.

"Wait, does this mean we now have two Sendo-level hitters in the same generation?" Jun asked.

"Jun-san! I'm not a measurement unit! Besides, I should be stronger!" Sendo retorted.

"Is that so? Can you hit a slider right down the middle then? This isn't the spring version of you dealing with spring fatigue!" Jun-san teased.

"…!" Sendo fell silent.

Maybe everyone sensed Sendo's growth, while he himself remained unaware.

Others couldn't tell how much stronger he had become; it was only when he recognized his own strength that things would become clear.

Now the seniors regarded Raichi as a second Sendo-level hitter.

...

Later, while eating a banana, Sendo watched a small angel-like player who resembled a monkey.

Suddenly, Sendo's eyes widened.

"Wait! I'm eating a banana, and he's eating a banana... That makes me a monkey too, right?" With that thought, he stuffed the whole banana into his mouth.

Chris openly stated in front of everyone that Raichi and Sendo were similar types of hitters, capable of crushing a pitcher's confidence with a single powerful hit.

Then they saw Raichi and his father getting into it on the bench.

"Is this for real? The coach is actually fighting with a player on the bench!"

"Is this okay?"

"What kind of team is this? These guys!" The senior exchanged knowing glances.

"What a rude bunch when it comes to the team's BOSS! I'd better teach them some manners!" Sawamura fumed.

"You're in no position to say that!" both Sendo and Kuramochi chimed in.

"And you're not either!" Miyuki joined in on poking fun at Sendo.

"Honestly, our team is a bunch of troublemakers!" Miyuki added with exaggerated flair.

"Yeah!" Chris replied with a smile.

"But they're also a reliable bunch," he silently concluded.

Although they were reluctant to admit it, both catchers had to acknowledge that the situation was starting to tilt in favor of Yakushi.

As in the original story, when Manaka returned to the mound, a strong line drive from a batter struck him directly.

Although he managed to hold on against Raichi with sheer willpower, he ended up injured and had to leave the game.

Since Ichidaisan had already used up three pitchers to allow Manaka to regain his composure, they were now out of reliable pitching options.

Ultimately, their strategy collapsed, resulting in a walk-off hit that reversed their lead.

"Hey! Ichidaisan lost!" Sawamura couldn't help but exclaim.

Not just Sawamura, but everyone except Sendo had expressions of disbelief.

"Impressive, right?" Haruichi chimed in, unsure of what to say.

"He's still not qualified to bat fourth! His performance is inconsistent," one of the teammates remarked.

"It's great that everyone came to watch this match!" another added.

"Ah! BO…BOSS!"

Coach Kataoka had no time to spare for Sawamura.

He exchanged a glance with Chris, intent on quickly analyzing Yakushi's information.

Miyuki observed Raichi's swinging speed, once again reminded of his younger teammate.

On their way back, the first-year quartet found themselves lost.

Why four of them?

Sendo wasn't directionally challenged, but he was so lazy that if he was with someone, he wouldn't look at the route, just follow along.

So when Haruichi and Furuya pointed in different directions, Sendo was completely confused.

As they headed back, they accidentally overheard a conversation between Raichi and his father.

Hearing their dismissive remarks, Sendo felt a surge of anger.

Even though he knew Raichi meant no harm and that it was all his father's fault.

Sawamura barked like a puppy wanting to bite someone, while Haruichi held him back, and Furuya, suffering from heatstroke, lagged behind.

"Sendo-kun!"

At this moment, Sendo slipped away quietly. Haruichi realized too late to chase after him when he saw his retreating figure.

"This summer, Yakushi won't have a chance to compete against Inashiro!"

"Oh?" The Raichi father-son duo turned to see Sendo in his Seidou uniform.

"Who are you?" Raichi's father, Raizou, was momentarily taken aback. He wasn't completely ignorant of Sendo, but before he could respond, Sendo spoke up first.

"Nice to meet you! I'm Sendo Akira, the center fielder for Seidou! Please remember this name well!"

"Did you just say that?" Raichi's father asked, clearing his ears.

"That's right!"

"In baseball, anything can happen. So it's best not to speak too soon… did you hear that?" Raichi's father finally reacted after being caught off guard by Sendo's sudden appearance.

"Then let's prove it in the upcoming match!" Sendo replied with a gentle smile, choosing not to dwell on the matter and walked away.

"Oh!!! So cool!" Raichi exclaimed, watching Sendo's figure disappear.

"Yeah! Very cool!" Raichi's father reluctantly acknowledged his son's judgment.

"He's not just cool; this guy is the real deal… His gaze is like a black hole capable of swallowing everything, and that gentle expression sends chills down my spine. How can there be someone so formidable in Japan?" Even though he hadn't watched Seidou's match or seen any footage, he instinctively sensed that this kid was not to be underestimated.

"Let's go!" Back with his team, Sendo didn't pause, speaking in a soft yet authoritative tone.

This moment marked a clear sign; Sendo already knew how to get back.

"Okay!" When Sawamura saw Sendo leave, he calmed down. Having known Sendo for so many years, Sawamura recognized when he was angry and behaved like a well-trained puppy.

Even Haruichi was momentarily taken aback by Sendo's imposing presence, which pulled him and Furuya, who had shown admiration in his eyes, back to reality.

Sendo was that kind of person; when provoked, he would assert his incredible strength to make them remember it, not out of a desire to show off – he had no interest in that.

Thus emerged a scene akin to a declaration of victory.

As the four returned, just as the seniors were about to give them a thorough scolding, they noticed Sendo's unusual demeanor following his polite apology and decided against saying anything.

"Yakushi!" The bus drove away as Sendo whispered.

Inside the vehicle, a rare glint of fierce determination appeared in the depths of Sendo's eyes. The usually gentle Sendo was starting to think about teaching Yakushi a lesson.

...

The next day, the dual pitchers began running to blow off steam, ignoring the warnings from Miyuki.

There's still a long way to go in the next round of matches; the Yakushi have one more game before facing Seidou, so there's a bit longer for rest.

Haruichi couldn't help but share what happened yesterday with his seniors, the veteran hitters erupted in anger.

However, after hearing the bold declarations made by that guy, the seniors found Sendo much more likable.

The aura of Yuuki was almost enough to ignite the entire stadium.

At that moment, Furuya finally couldn't take the heat and sought refuge in the shade.

"Yuuki!"

"Hmm?"

"Isashiki!"

"Hmm?"

"Masuko!"

"Hmm?"

"Sendo!"

"Hmm?" Sendo didn't expect he had something coming as well!

"Could we have a practical hitting match against you guys for the next three days before the game? I want to find that real-game feeling!"

"Hehe! You want to challenge us? That's quite the boldness! I like that! But we won't be going easy on you, especially these two!" Jun-san pointed at Sendo and Yuuki.

One is naturally oblivious, while the other doesn't know what taking it easy means at all.

After Tanba prepared himself mentally, he began the same practical training as Sendo had before.

Tanba also had to endure the same grueling experience, but unlike Sendo, his capacity to handle it was lower.

Just how brutal was the first day?

Jun-san effortlessly got a single with a hit and run without any signals, showcasing the team's cooperation, while also making sure to give the juniors a stylish lesson.

Then Yuuki hit a three-run homer, and after everyone, including Kuramochi and Miyuki, managed to cheer Tanba up for a moment, Sendo quickly followed with a bloop home run...

Sendo's hit was like a response, identical to the line drive that shook Raichi the day before.

Such home runs are the most destructive to one's psychological confidence.

Tanba sensed an impending disaster after Yuuki's hit, and Sendo delivered the final blow.

The practical training was inevitably forced to stop.

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