Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 312: The Candidates

The baseball field was bustling with energy.

The third-year seniors, except for a few who had personal matters to attend to, were all on the field, individually mentoring their first- and second-year juniors, passing down as much of their skills and experience as possible.

For example, Yuuki was guiding Maezono on the nuances of first-base defense. Masuko was working with Asou and Kanemaru, while the Kominato brothers needed no special mention as they carried on their usual dynamic.

Miyuki was in the bullpen with Ono, catching pitches from Furuya and Kawakami.

Meanwhile, out in the outfield, the booming voice of the spirited and boisterous Jun Isashiki was impossible to miss, his energetic shouts drawing smiles from the spectators watching from the sidelines.

In the dugout, Coach Kataoka and Coach Ochiai observed the players' training with intent. With the regional preliminaries approaching, finalizing the new roster was a top priority. Both coaches needed to carefully evaluate and discuss their options.

While Eijun's trajectory had deviated from the original storyline, earning even Ochiai's admiration, many other players had developed similarly to their original paths.

This divergence and overlap would likely be a point of contention between the two coaches.

In particular, the batting order and positions of players like Maezono Kenta, Haruichi Kominato, and Shirasu had been contentious even in the original timeline. How these decisions would play out in this new context remained to be seen.

...

At the Other End of the Field

Having endured significant fatigue during the Koshien tournament, Eijun had not yet returned to full training mode in the days following their return from Hyogo Prefecture.

Unlike Furuya and Kawakami, who were already pitching in the bullpen and participating in fielding and batting practice, Eijun was off to the side of the field, engaged in light, restorative exercises.

This type of basic training allowed him to maintain his physical condition while gradually alleviating fatigue.

For Eijun, this approach was critical.

Burning out during the summer tournament only to underperform in the Autumn Tournament was a fate that had befallen many ace pitchers in prominent teams.

While Eijun had made significant progress during the summer tournament—particularly in mastering his Numbers pitches—he understood that rushing further development could lead to setbacks.

Whether refining his repertoire of pitches or achieving greater control over his signature five-seam fastball, he knew patience was key.

Overloading his body now would only cause more harm than good.

What lingered most vividly in Eijun's mind, however, was the memory of a rival pitcher—a determined prodigy from the northern region.

After their game had ended, with tears streaming down his face yet with an unwavering expression of resolve, the boy had spoken to Eijun:

"Next time, I will defeat you."

With a teammate constantly pushing to catch up, a proud rival in the same region, and a worthy opponent from afar watching him with intent, Eijun could not afford to let his guard down.

As Chris assisted Eijun with his recovery training, he noticed Eijun's humble and grounded attitude upon returning from the tournament.

There was no trace of arrogance or complacency—just a quiet determination.

This brought a warm smile to Chris's face.

To have sharp talent but also the ability to remain composed and disciplined—this combination made Eijun a true asset to any prestigious high school team.

Eijun, at this moment, was showcasing his most mature and steady side.

"Alright, today, follow the items on Sheet B, do four more sets for each, and then rest. In the evening, you can throw some pitches, but keep it under thirty." Chris said with a faint smile as he watched Eijun finish a set of exercises.

"Yes, Chris-senpai, I understand."

Eijun took the towel Chris handed him and wiped the sweat from his forehead, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

The goal for the next few days was clear: loosen up and recover. The main tournament was still far off, and even the regional qualifiers were about two weeks away. There was no need to rush. For Eijun, the priority was to get his body and mind into the best condition.

After all, if history hadn't changed, Seidou's opponent in the first round of the main tournament would be none other than Teito High.

A powerhouse team that also made it to Koshien this summer, led by their ace and their cleanup-hitting captain, known for his resilience despite his "lightning rod" bad luck.

Teito High's batting lineup, defense, and overall strength ranked among the top ten teams nationwide.

Facing such a formidable opponent, Seidou could not afford to be out of form.

A loss wouldn't be out of the question, and in the original story, they had come dangerously close to being knocked out.

Of course, in this timeline, many things had changed, and Eijun couldn't be sure that Teito would still be their opponent in the first round.

Nevertheless, preparing for any possibility was always a wise choice.

...

"Although the Autumn Tournament is just around the corner, there's no need to rush. The main tournament is still a month away. The regional qualifiers are usually less intense and give teams time to adjust. Take it slow. As the team's ace, I want you to lead the team well," Chris said, gently patting Eijun's head with a smile.

Although the jersey numbers and first-string lineup hadn't been officially announced yet, it was almost certain that Eijun would take the ace position.

Unless Coach Kataoka lost his mind, there was no way he would give the ace number to anyone else.

In terms of skill, mentality, presence within the team, trust from his teammates, and contributions during the summer tournament, Eijun had left Furuya and Kawakami far behind.

Even Ochiai, who had high hopes for Furuya's future, wouldn't argue against Eijun being the team's ace. His position was set in stone.

It was only a matter of time and formal announcement. This fact was clear to everyone at Seidou, including Eijun himself. In truth, it was likely acknowledged by baseball fans across the nation as well.

"Yes, I understand, Chris-senpai." Eijun nodded.

But as the regional qualifiers were brought up, memories of the original storyline crept into Eijun's mind—the disastrous three games of the qualifiers.

Facing public high schools, they had still managed to fall behind early in the games, clawing their way back to victory only after much struggle.

What a mess.

In the original story, Coach Kataoka had unleashed a storm of fury on the team, scolding them until they felt utterly miserable.

But this time, such a situation would not occur under any circumstances.

A king must carry the dignity of a king!

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Sorry for the late upload, but I set the time to February 1, and Webnovel changed it to March 1. What the heck?

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