Ace of Diamond: Return of the Pitcher

"Which one is the one called Senzo Shiki?"

Kuramochi gazed at the Tobuyasu High School team but couldn't find anyone who matched Watanabe's description.

However, since everyone was wearing their baseball uniforms and caps, it was possible that he couldn't distinguish them at first.

A few of his friends around him heard the question and also began to look.

The players of Tobuyasu High School were all physically gifted. Each one looked tall and robust, very muscular.

It was not easy to pick out a 188 cm player from among them…

'Wait, is it…?'

"That guy, he's not even on the opposing team right now," Sawamura said directly.

After all, this was the only reasonable explanation.

"But in such an important game today, where could their Ace be if he's not on the team?"

Sawamura was about to spread his hands in a gesture indicating he didn't know.

Then he saw a flamboyant figure—this guy was talking and laughing with two girls, one on each side.

They were walking through the door toward the field.

"Here they come!" Sawamura nodded.

All the players turned their eyes to follow Sawamura's gaze.

The May weather still had a bit of coolness to it.

A man in a checkered shirt, leather shoes, and sunglasses, with a beautiful girl on each side, was walking toward them.

With how close they were interacting, it is clear that they are more than 'friends'.

Such a playboy, the baseball team had only seen in manga.

This was the first time they encountered one in real life.

There were quite a few people in their school talking about girlfriends, but with how busy the baseball kids are, they barely have time to study for their classes, much less have time for their romantic life.

However, to see someone BRAGGING like that in public—was something they'd never seen.

"This guy is just inhuman!"

"Scumbag!"

"Do this guy think less of the high school baseball?! How can your swing and throw be sharp with all of these distractions?!"

"You have to cultivate the heart as much as you cultivate the body! If you keep indulging yourself in distractions, you will lose track of the right path! Your throw will be shaky and your swing will waver!!"

"How can you stand in the field with such a fickle heart!!"

"I teach this guy what it means to devote your youth to baseball!"

One by one, the players' jealo-I mean Love for Baseball begins to burn fiercely and righteously, protesting against Senzo, who was clearly flaunting his 'popularity'.

As they expressed their anger, they were about to trample Senzo into the mud.

The players in Seidou's baseball club worked so hard just to be able to step onto the field. They barely had time to rest, let alone date.

No girlfriend would be willing to wait by their side.

No small surprises in daily life, no company during holidays...

Such boyfriends and girlfriends, unless the girl had lost her mind, would never choose these baseball players.

Therefore, most of Seidou High School's baseball players lived like monks.

Although Seidou's baseball club was not like a military camp, their situation was quite similar. They didn't have time to find girlfriends, but that didn't mean they didn't want to.

Especially when they saw others with girlfriends, it was hard for their hearts to be at peace.

Now, in front of them, stood someone who not only had a girlfriend but could also embrace two at once.

The players in Seidou's baseball club were already furious.

Senzo whispered something to the two girls and they too whispered back, then he let them go and returned to his team.

This scene made all the male players' eyes shoot flames.

"Why are you only showing up now?"

"It's too late for warm-ups; go change into your game uniform!"

Seeing Senzo arrive, the Coach of Tobuyasu High School seemed greatly relieved and quickly urged him to change clothes.

Once Senzo finished changing, he excitedly ran over to Seidou's baseball team.

He was 188 cm tall, and with the cleats, he was at least 1.9 meters tall.

While the players in Seidou's baseball club were not short, most of them were only around 1.7 to 1.8 meters.

When Senzo came over, he still stood out among them.

Not just him, the players from Tobuyasu High School were generally much taller than those of Seidou's baseball team.

"You must be Sawamura-kun, it's a pleasure to meet you!"

Senzo smiled and walked up to Sawamura, extending his hand.

Sawamura Eijun was only about 1.75 meters tall, nearly 10 centimeters shorter than Senzo, almost half a head shorter.

When shaking hands, Sawamura had to look up.

This was a perfectly proportioned face.

Like Leonardo da Vinci when he was young, this face could be used as a template for sculptures.

Now, this handsome face was full of smiles, making it hard to feel anything negative about him.

Sawamura extended his hand to shake and smiled back.

"I feel the same, it's a pleasure."

Outside the stadium, a reporter immediately snapped a photo of this scene.

Noticing this out of the corner of his eye, Senzo smiled and nodded.

Sawamura also glanced at the scene and smiled even more gently.

"I still want to get on the report, don't mind."

Although he didn't know what kind of atmosphere the opponent was trying to create, it was probably for profit.

It's not easy for anyone in this world. Ordinary people have their own troubles, and those who aren't ordinary have their own issues too.

For someone as young as Senzo to get to this point, he surely had his own approach.

Sawamura didn't mind indulging him. The two shook hands.

During the handshake, Sawamura lowered his voice and said.

"You didn't tell the reporters that today's game is definitely a win, right?"

"How could I? I'm not an idiot!"

They both smiled, seeming to get along very well.

After exchanging pleasantries, Senzo returned to his team.

"How was your conversation with that guy just now?"

Miyuki also approached and asked.

Sawamura shook his head with a wry smile.

He really didn't know how to answer his partner.

Thousands of words in his heart finally turned into one sentence.

"This opponent is probably not simple."

Miyuki nodded in agreement.

Although it seemed that the opponent had many flaws, their Ace pitcher had arrived late, and his behavior so far was not what an Ace should do.

Yet, their players on the other side seemed unbothered by it.

'This was very interesting.'

Were the players of Tobuyasu High School all fools? How could they wait for a playboy?

On the other side, the coach of Tobuyasu High School was also asking his Ace.

"How did you find that Demon King?"

"Terrible!"

At this moment, Senzo no longer had his casual demeanor.

His eyes seemed to be shining brightly.

"PLEASED TO PLAY WITH YOU!"

"PLEASED TO PLAY WITH YOU!!"

After some simple greetings, the game between the two teams officially began.

As the home team, Tobuyasu High School would attack first.

Sawamura and the others began their defensive play.

Tobuyasu High School, the home team, didn't seem to have much of a home advantage.

The fans observing the game mostly maintained a neutral stance. This made the players from Seidou's baseball team feel very relaxed.

Usually, playing away against other elite teams carries a lot of pressure.

"Tobuyasu High School's quality is really good," 

Kanemaru casually remarked from the bench.

"You're pretty laid-back, aren't you? Didn't you already get excluded from the starting lineup?" 

Takatsu, sitting next to him, asked flatly.

Kanemaru felt like an arrow had been driven deep into his chest. 

'Takatsu really had a knack for hitting where it hurt! '

But to be fair, he couldn't entirely blame Takatsu, since it was Kanemaru who had first provoked him.

This incident occurred two days ago when Takatsu was just approved to join the first team.

As a peer of the same age, Kanemaru thought it was very necessary to congratulate him, so he excitedly ran over and extended his hand. 

"You brat, you finally made it to the first team!" 

When Kanemaru said this, he didn't feel anything special. He simply thought he was congratulating his friend for making it to the first team.

However, he hadn't considered their different positions. 

After hearing his words, Takatsu's face flushed red. 

"Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty? You've only been on the first team for a few days and now you think you're a Senpai? You should worry about your position more." 

These words felt like a harsh slap to Kanemaru's face.

At the time, Kanemaru was furious and complained to his friend, Toujou. 

However, Toujou replied that it was entirely Kanemaru's fault. 

"Why?" 

Kanemaru, of course, wasn't happy and nearly jumped up. 

Toujou, however, calmly shook his head and explained, 

"Have you thought about the effort Takatsu put in to make it to the first team? Your words essentially denied all of his hard work." 

Only then did Kanemaru realize. 

No wonder Takatsu's expression had been so unpleasant. Anyone's efforts would be disrespected if they were denied. 

At that moment, he realized all he needed to say was "congratulations." 

Instead, he added unnecessary comments and unknowingly created an enemy for himself. Now, Takatsu had switched to rival mode.

In today's match, Kanemaru had indeed been excluded from the starting lineup. 

This was a very dangerous sign, implying that his position was likely being replaced by Higasa. 

In the current first-team lineup, the two most unstable positions were held by Kanemaru.

In this practice match, Seidou's baseball team sent out their full main squad, but Kanemaru wasn't among the starters. 

This, in itself, was a dangerous sign. 

Kanemaru's inability to secure a starting position in such an important practice match showed that his status had declined compared to before, and his situation was quite awkward.

Takatsu's words really cut deep. 

While the two were talking, the match on the field had already begun.

The players from Tobuyasu High School were all of very high quality. This is the advantage of being a sports powerhouse—they don't lack excellent recruits. 

Many of their players came from primary and middle schools, not to mention the strong recruits they'd gathered from around the country. 

Even if the opponent was Furuya, the legendary pitcher, these players wouldn't be intimidated in the slightest. 

They weren't afraid of a rookie like Furuya. 

So when the players from Tobuyasu High School took the field, they were all full of fighting spirit. 

Their eyes burned with fierce determination as they focused on Furuya. 

Although facing this guy didn't have the same thrilling feeling as facing the legendary Sawamura, in the end, he was still the fastest pitcher in high school.

Facing such a pitcher was very exciting. If they managed to hit his pitches, it would make their names known to the world.

With this mindset, the players walked up to the Batter's Box, their eyes burning with desire, as though they wanted to devour their opponent alive. 

A player named Hayashi was the first to step up to the Batter's Box. 

Once there, he locked his sharp eyes on Furuya, who stood on the mound. 

'His pitching speed reached 157 km/h.' (97 mph)

Everyone had practiced against pitching machines that simulated that speed. 

It left a deep impression on them.

In the blink of an eye, the white ball would appear right in front of them. 

Even with that terrifying velocity, half the players could barely make contact with the ball. 

They couldn't react in time. 

Now, they were about to face a real pitcher.

None of them were calm, and Hayashi was no exception. 

While nervous, he was also filled with anticipation. 

Playing against Seidou always got the blood pumping, and the rewards didn't match the effort at all. 

Hayashi couldn't resist such temptation. His eyes were completely bloodshot. 

He looked at Furuya, not as a formidable opponent, but like a bag of gold coins. 

If he could beat Furuya, all of this would be his. 

'All of it.' 

'Bring it on!'

Just as his fighting spirit reached its peak, 

Furuya on the mound finally made his move. 

He took his stance and threw the white ball with immense power. 

Roaar! 

The moment the ball was released, it felt like the sky was falling. 

The ball whistled through the air, heading straight for the strike zone like a raging monster.

Hayashi, once full of energy, was now frozen in the Batter's Box. 

Just moments ago, he thought he was fully prepared for this pitch. 

But once he saw the ball coming, he realized his preparation was useless. 

The pitch was simply too fast. 

It was like a pillar of light, striking before anyone could react.

'Was it really that fast?'

Previously, they had simulated this speed with pitching machines, and though they didn't hit often, they could still manage to make contact. 

But when facing Furuya's real pitching, they realized that real-life pitches were in an entirely different league. 

The ball seemed alive.

Roaar! 

Boom!!

Once the switch was flipped, Furuya transformed into a demonic pitcher. 

"STRIKE!" 

"STRIKE!!" 

"STRIKE! BATTER OUT!!!" 

With almost no resistance, Hayashi was struck out. 

In Tobuyasu's dugout, all the players and their coach exchanged uneasy looks. 

Under the shadow of the great Demon King Sawamura Eijun, Seidou still had a pitcher like Furuya? 

They didn't even know what to say anymore.

…

T/N: That's it for now!

Btw, This Volume AND The Next Volume are Completed in Pater0n!!

https://www.patre0n.com/ColdColt

There are +150 Chapters there.

Anyway, Thank you all for reading!!

Have a good day people!