Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 232: The True Ikuei of the Ikuei Battle

The infield ground ball.

Fortunately, Yuuki's sharp reflexes allowed him to barely step on second base in time.

If not, this play could have easily resulted in a double play.

It was nearly inevitable that Masuko would have been out as well.

His powerful swing, while redirecting the ball slightly, made it challenging for the infielders to handle.

Even so, Yuuki barely avoided getting out.

One out, runner on second.

Though they managed to advance the runner, the atmosphere remained tense.

From a more optimistic perspective, a single to the outfield could score the runner in scoring position—assuming they could even manage an outfield hit.

It seemed like Seidou High's rhythm hadn't been disrupted, but keen observers could see otherwise.

The pacing of this inning was uncharacteristically sluggish and unsettling, completely at odds with Seidou's typically dominant playstyle.

If they didn't find a way to break through this situation, their early-game advantage would soon be snatched away by Ikuei High.

"Batting sixth, catcher, Miyuki-kun."

This was troubling.

It was unexpected that their opponents would adopt such a strategy—a mix of confusion and precise action.

Miyuki stepped into the batter's box, tapping his bat lightly on home plate.

At second base, Yuuki crouched slightly, his expression stern as he fixated on the pitcher's mound, glaring at Sato.

A suffocating atmosphere filled the air, one that Seidou High certainly didn't want to face.

This was a deadlock.

"!!!"

On the field, players are the ones who fight.

At any given moment, there's no such thing as a fixed choice.

Whoosh.

Ping.

Thud.

"Foul!"

Style? Ikuei High has never been bound by such a thing.

Whoosh.

Pop.

"Ball."

If one had to define it, their style was simply this: pursue victory by any reasonable means necessary. That was Ikuei High's true identity.

Whoosh.

Pop.

"Strike!"

Aggressive offense? Balanced play? Stability? Pitcher's duel? Slugfest? Surprise attacks? Defensive counterattacks?

No. Ikuei High would never limit themselves to one specific style. A truly strong team is one that can adapt and use all strategies available to secure victory.

Whoosh.

Pop.

"Strike! Batter out!"

The dazzling interplay of light and shadow.

Even in seemingly balanced or disadvantageous situations, Sato managed to strike out Miyuki on four pitches.

In the dugout, Coach Natsume narrowed his eyes with a faint smile.

"So this is the kind of team they are?"

As Miyuki returned to the dugout, the frustration was evident as he gripped his bat tightly, a glimmer of determination flashing in his eyes.

In the on-deck circle, Eijun's eyes widened as he watched.

In the dugout, Chris and Coach Kataoka subconsciously clenched their fists, frowning deeply.

This sudden shift in style?

"I see now. No wonder there was such a sense of incongruity." Perhaps this is how other strong teams have fallen to them in the past. Such a terrifying Ikuei High—a formidable team led by a fearsome coach.

In this moment, Eijun's inner alarms blared at maximum intensity.

It was now clear to him where that earlier feeling of unease had come from. Ikuei High's strength lay in their balance and exceptional execution of tactics.

Now, many pieces of the puzzle fell into place.

This team wasn't just a consistently steady and defensive powerhouse.

Rather, it was a team capable of endless variety, one that appeared stable only until the right moment to adjust and strike.

A true powerhouse led by a terrifying coach!

Why did Ichidaisan lose, and why did Inashiro Industrial win?

Eijun already had a clear idea in his heart.

Whoosh.

Pop.

"Strike!"

"Damn it." Eijun frowned as his bat swung and missed. This team's margin for error was simply too high—far too high.

Whoosh.

Ping.

Thud.

"Foul!"

The defensive positioning and movements of the infielders made it hard for Eijun to find a good pitch to hit.

The few swings he forced were fouls.

Was this the kind of defense that restricted the batter's hitting angles?

Whoosh.

Pop.

"Strike! Batter out! Three outs! Change of sides!"

Another outside pitch.

Eijun hesitated and watched as the ball zipped into the catcher's mitt without swinging.

A called strikeout.

"I underestimated you, Ikuei High!" Eijun gritted his teeth, reluctantly carrying his bat as he walked off the field.

"The final pitch was an outside pitch that resulted in a called strikeout. Seidou High couldn't capitalize on the runner in scoring position. Ikuei High remains in the lead!"

"Ikuei! Ikuei! Ikuei!"

"Well done, Sato!"

"Haha! Not bad, kid. You're doing great!"

In Ikuei's dugout on the first-base side:

"Good! Keep this momentum up," Coach Natsume said passionately. "Seidou might be slightly stronger overall, but we've already seized control of the game. They've probably realized it too. But all we need to do is stick to our usual rhythm: normal batting, normal defense, and using the right tactics at the right time. I've done everything I can. Now, it's up to you guys on the field. Fight for yourselves!"

"Yes, sir!" Ikuei's players responded loudly in unison.

On the other side, in Seidou's dugout:

The players' expressions were solemn.

"This is a bit different from what we anticipated," Chris said calmly.

"Any team that makes it to the top eight is strong, but I didn't expect it to be like this," Miyuki said with a smile as he put on his catcher's gear.

"Hmph." Jun Isashiki scowled silently, but his clenched fists revealed his frustration.

"Yuuki?" Coach Kataoka turned his gaze to Yuuki with a calm tone.

"We can handle it," Yuuki said succinctly.

The confidence in his words instantly uplifted Seidou's team. He was the rock-solid anchor of the squad.

"Ha! That's a reliable answer, Yuuki," Ryousuke said with a grin.

"As expected from our captain."

"Ooga!"

"No matter what kind of team they are, the players' abilities don't change. Remember this well. All we need to do is stick to our style and crush them with our strength!"

"Yes, sir!"

"And Sawamura," Coach Kataoka said, suddenly turning to Eijun. "Be ready to take the mound at any moment. When the time comes, I expect you to step up immediately. Do you understand?"

Though it was still early in the game, Kataoka's direct mention of a potential pitching change sent ripples through the dugout.

The four pitchers on the roster all reacted differently.

Especially the ace, Tanba, who instinctively clenched his right fist tightly.

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