Ace of Diamond: Return of the Pitcher

Sawamura needed only four pitches to secure three Outs.

The entire process might sound long, but in reality, it only took a few minutes.

While waiting for Sawamura and the Senpais to return to their dugout and prepare for their turn to bat, the freshmen still wore dazed expressions.

'Is this it?'

'It's over already!'

They hadn't had enough time to mentally prepare, and the offense was already finished. Could some kind-hearted Senpai please explain to them what exactly just happened?

The rookie stars who had been giving them advice were all frowning, their faces dark with frustration.

After a long pause, Yui Kaoru finally said with a bitter smile.

"As expected of Sawamura-senpai, he completely took control of the game."

"This was obvious from the start, wasn't it?"

"The most important thing now is to see how much strength we can display under these circumstances."

These guys were talking about a good game, but the freshmen who were about to go up to defend were all feeling downhearted.

For some reason, they all had a foreboding sense of doom in their hearts.

On the other side, in the Senpais' dugout.

In stark contrast to the bewildered freshmen, the eyes of everyone in the Senpai team were burning with bloodlust.

Sawamura stood in the center of the crowd, organizing the next phase of their offensive strategy.

"You've all seen the situation on the other side. They're very prone to collapse. All we need to do is score a few runs at the beginning, and their breakdown will be right around the corner. But the more this is the case, the more careful we need to be. We can't waste this hard-earned opportunity!"

The surrounding teammates immediately reassured Sawamura.

"Don't worry, we'll do exactly as you say!"

"We'll make sure they don't get any chances…"

Sawamura nodded.

"Next, it's our turn to go all-out with the offense! Don't worry about them stopping us. The key is to get the ball into the field and secure a single.

Don't aim for a home run or a long hit to the outfield; those just give them the chance to play us around.

What we need to do is simple—advance to the next base, no matter how we do it. Little by little, we'll build an advantage.

It's like rolling a snowball. Eventually, that snowball will grow so huge, it'll crush them…"

The teammates showed full confidence in Sawamura's words.

Over the past year, Sawamura had earned the trust and recognition of everyone on the Seidou baseball team through his actions and skills.

This trust wasn't limited to just the first-string players—his reputation was high among the second and third-string teams as well.

"However, if they manage to hold us off with their defense, we'll be in a passive position," said Kariba, analyzing the situation calmly.

He was the only one present who had faced the freshmen in the previous game and knew just how good they could be.

Sawamura, however, shook his head indifferently.

"If that happens, it just means the freshmen did well. No matter how embarrassing it is, we won't be worse than the other team, right? They've had their fair share of scoreless innings. If we don't score, that's just normal."

After all, the previous team was mainly the main force of the second-string and some Senpais from the third, while Sawamura's team was half of the second-string bench players and the rest from the third string.

Hearing Sawamura's words, everyone felt greatly relieved.

Although his words weren't particularly flattering, they were undeniably true—no matter how poorly they performed, they wouldn't look worse than the second-string main players.

Takatsu and the others were sitting in the dugout, listening to Sawamura's unrestrained criticism of them, their faces full of bitterness.

"Can we just sit quietly while you're talking about us like that?" they said, clearly displeased.

Sawamura glanced at his teammates with indifference.

"If you performed poorly, do you think it's my fault?"

Indeed, it wasn't.

The previous team players' faces turned as red as ripe apples. They were left speechless by Sawamura's blunt remarks.

And then, the offense began.

The freshmen took their time, finishing their defensive arrangements.

Apart from the pitcher, Haruyama, who seemed to have a bit of fighting spirit, the others looked quite disheartened.

Some of them were showing excitement, clearly eager to get onto the field, especially to play with Sawamura, fulfilling many of their dreams.

But others were completely out of their depth.

Their minds were still stuck on what had just happened minutes ago.

It had been their turn to bat, yet their offensive effort hadn't even had a chance to fully show before it was suddenly over.

Sawamura squinted his eyes, watching his younger teammates with a cold glint in his gaze.

To him, these freshmen weren't even juniors anymore, just a bunch of lambs waiting to be slaughtered.

The most amusing part was that the lambs didn't even know what was coming, still smiling foolishly at Sawamura.

Even the rookie stars in the dugout were nearly shouting their throats sore at this point.

The players on the field were still not fully in the game.

Most of them looked as innocent as lambs.

Ping!

The first batter came up and immediately pulled all the freshmen back to reality.

The ball was struck and flew to the second baseman.

The freshmen's second baseman clearly had received a lot of training in middle school, as he reacted instinctively.

His body moved, but he just watched helplessly as the ball flew past him.

Even though his body tried to react, it was too late to intercept the ball.

His reaction was like someone clapping their hands in front of his face—just an involuntary blink of the eye.

Having a reaction didn't mean he was capable of stopping the ball.

After the ball flew past, the batter naturally ran to first base.

"Already?"

Haruyama, standing on the pitcher's mound, looked shocked.

He had expected the Senpais' offense to be fast, but not this fast—fast enough that they couldn't even react in time.

'And the Senpai's swing was powerful!'

Haruyama was confident in his pitching, with a velocity of about 130 km/h and decent control…

But he never imagined that the ball would be hit.

"130 km/h(80 mph) is just basic for the Seidou's baseball team," Sawamura had said.

Not only the first-string but even many of the second and third-string players could do it.

The freshmen, with their middle school baseball training still in their minds, were completely outclassed.

The gap in training, experience, mindset, and individual skills between the freshmen and the second- and third-string players was enormous.

Before entering Seidou, the freshmen were already far apart in ability. Even after a month here, the gap had only widened.

Those freshmen with notable middle school achievements didn't need to be mentioned.

The majority of the newcomers were no match for the second- and third-string Senpais.

Even if they might lag behind against baseball prodigies, they were more than capable of handling average freshmen.

One after another, the second and third batters secured base hits.

Three consecutive hits!

This clean and efficient start made all the Senpais feel elated.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't that they had made a mistake in their earlier training. It was just that the freshmen were so strange.

As for themselves, they had indeed improved.

On the pitcher's mound, Haruyama hadn't managed to secure a single Out yet.

The pressure from the Senpais was so overwhelming that he was panting.

He had only just stepped onto the mound.

'Is the gap really that big?'

Nishiyama, Asada, Kuki, and others…

The freshmen pitchers weren't new to the mound, but none of them had ever been in such a pitiful situation.

They couldn't get any Outs.

The team they were facing didn't feel like second-string backups at all but rather a group of super monsters.

With such opponents standing before Haruyama, it felt like facing a group of giants he was powerless to stop.

"They're too strong! So strong!!!"

The heavy pressure nearly suffocated him.

The fourth batter from the Senpai team stepped up.

Of course, that person was Sawamura.

Sawamura assumed his usual batting stance, standing neither too forward nor too backward, holding his bat high, his wrist slightly swaying, making the bat swing in sync.

To Haruyama, the bat in Sawamura's hands looked enormous.

Normally, a bat would only be two or three times thicker than a rolling pin. But Sawamura's bat looked as wide as a frying pan.

It seemed like he could hit any ball, no matter what.

If the bases weren't loaded with no Outs…

Haruyama really wanted to Walk Sawamura, but given the situation, that wasn't an option.

He couldn't just load the bases; that would completely destroy their momentum.

It seemed like the only choice was to face Sawamura head-on.

And that was fine!

For all the freshmen, having a direct confrontation with the "demon king" Sawamura was an exciting experience.

Haruyama, also a freshman, was filled with excitement, and he threw the ball with passion.

Whoosh!

The ball shot out, speeding towards Sawamura.

It was faster than any of his previous pitches.

This young man didn't back down from the immense pressure. If anything, it seemed to fuel his determination.

There was no doubt that he had passed the first hurdle and overcome the fear in his heart.

Unfortunately, the outcome after passing that first hurdle was not very pretty.

"So slow!"

Watching the slow-moving ball come toward him, Sawamura's eyes flashed with a hint of impatience.

Since entering high school, he has encountered all kinds of opponents. A ball with a speed of only 130 km/h, with no special characteristics, was nothing extraordinary.

To Sawamura, this ball was no different from a still target.

He raised his bat high and swung it with full force.

Ping!

The ball made contact and shot into the air like a comet.

Crash!

It then crashed heavily into the outfield fence.

After the ball hit the fence, it still had considerable momentum, lifting the net high before it dropped back down.

A Grand Slam with Bases Loaded!

On the Batter's Box, Sawamura smiled, showing a faint smirk.

Although bullying the first-year students isn't exactly something glorious, hitting a grand slam with the bases loaded still made him very happy.

After all, such a grand slam isn't just about skill; it also requires a bit of luck.

And today, his luck was quite good.

"Just as expected from Sawamura!"

"No kidding, do you think the nickname 'Demon King' is given for no reason?"

"I kind of feel sorry for these new first-years."

"There's no helping it. This is how Seidou works! How could Coach Kataoka just stand by and let these new students show off on the field?"

The fans outside the field had already seen through it all.

On the other hand, the new first-year players had blank expressions, staring at the suddenly increased score with disbelief on their faces.

20:6

Although it was a new round of the game, the score was still tracked. This was something both the upperclassmen and new first-years agreed on.

Originally, the freshmen had already put up a pretty good score, one of the best performances seen in recent years.

But just like that, in the blink of an eye, history was rewritten.

They had a feeling that after this game ended, the final score would be something they couldn't accept.

'How could he be this strong?'

On the pitcher's mound, Haruyama had begun to question his life.

Although other upperclassmen had also been hit by their pitches, one could still tell from the trajectory of their hits.

At the very least, Haruyama was clear that if it wasn't for a teammate's mistake, they had a chance to secure an Out just now.

This showed that his pitching still had some effect on the upperclassmen.

But when it came to Sawamura, that was a whole different story.

His pitches had absolutely no effect on Sawamura. Any pitch that landed in the strike zone was guaranteed to be hit.

This was the batting power of the Demon King. 

This was the man who set the home run record at Koshien.

When people hear the nickname "Demon King," they might first think of his pitching.

But anyone who knows even a little about Sawamura's abilities would realize that he's not just a pitcher.

His batting talent is also exceptional. (Sawamura: Well about that…)

"A Super Last Boss!"

In the freshmen's dugout, Several super rookies were deeply shocked.

Their eyes were firmly locked on the field, watching Sawamura walking the bases.

Their hearts burned with immense fighting spirit.

With their strength and experience, they weren't scared by Sawamura's bat swing. They still hoped for a chance to play.

"Looks like we'll be up soon," Nishiyama muttered.

When he said this, he deliberately lowered his voice.

The few friends around him furrowed their brows and glanced at him, but no one spoke up.

Actually, they all shared the same thoughts.

If the game continued in this direction, they might be called to play soon.

"Hit it out!"

"Don't give them a chance to breathe."

"Keep up the momentum and attack!"

In the upperclassmen's dugout, everyone seemed to have activated their demon mode, as they pushed their teammates on to continue their ruthless assault.

It was as if they weren't satisfied with the current situation and wanted to push the freshmen into the mud.

This wasn't just about the orientation game, it was also because of the previous games where the upperclassmen had lost some pride.

The freshmen's performance had been outstanding.

Now that they had a chance to turn the situation around, the upperclassmen were naturally even more excited.

Nothing motivates people more than revenge.

For the current upperclassmen, their state was all about revenge.

They wanted to get back at these freshmen and show them that the upperclassmen weren't to be messed with.

The fifth batter was the catcher, Kariba. Originally, he was ranked sixth or seventh in the second team lineup, known for his solid batting skills.

Now, in the second team's substitute roster, he was naturally one of the key hitters.

This was unquestionable.

"Sawamura has already activated crushing mode. As his partner, how could I not support him?"

Just after being hit by the grand slam, Haruyama was now at his weakest mentally.

In other words, this was the best time to strike him down.

With that thought, Kariba raised his bat high.

Whoosh!

The ball came right on cue.

After Sawamura's grand slam, Haruyama's pitching seemed a bit shaky.

This pitch didn't seem to have much force, nor was it fast.

'Was it a mistake or a trap?'

Two thoughts appeared in Kariba's mind.

In such a situation, the chance of either outcome wasn't low.

What should he do?

'Haruyama wasn't particularly a powerful pitcher and hadn't heard much about him before. His presence wasn't very strong.'

'How likely was it for such a pitcher to set a high-level trap?'

'In terms of probability, it should be ridiculously low.'

'This meant the pitch was likely a mistake.'

After being hit by Sawamura's grand slam, it was highly probable that the pitcher's mindset was affected.

Even if the pitcher had a naturally strong character, the impression of that grand slam would linger in his mind like a demon.

Mentally speaking, this would leave a mental shadow.

That shadow could be big or small, but it would almost certainly exist...

The thoughts appeared in Kariba's mind like a photo suddenly flashing on his phone.

In the end, he gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus, and swung the bat at the approaching ball.

Ping!

The ball was hit high into the air.

Because Kariba's mind was so scattered, he couldn't put his full strength into the swing.

He watched as the ball flew straight to the third baseman.

'Oh no!'

Kariba even opened his mouth wide from shock.

He could already imagine what would happen.

He would be caught by the third baseman.

"Third baseman!"

Haruyama said, his voice filled with relief.

After being hit repeatedly, he was starting to get used to it.

But now, this ball gave him hope—a hope to secure an Out.

The freshman third baseman watched the ball fly toward him.

He knew exactly what to do. 

With a small leap, he should be able to catch the ball easily.

But his body felt like it was weighed down by lead, unable to move.

Heavy!

Each step felt like it required immense effort.

His peripheral vision caught sight of the upperclassmen's dugout.

Those upperclassmen weren't the friendly Senpais anymore. They had turned into demons with sharp fangs.

It felt like they would swallow him whole.

"Ah!"

The immense mental pressure caused the third baseman to break down.

Although he forced himself to jump up and try to catch the ball, he missed it and could only watch as it flew past.

The two upperclassmen, Toujou and Kanemaru, exchanged a knowing glance.

They understood what these freshmen were feeling. They had felt the same way during last year's orientation game.

That feeling of being stuck in quicksand, where every move took all your strength.

"The freshmen's momentum is gone!"

"Or maybe they were scared by the upperclassmen's momentum?"

Either way, it meant the same thing.

The freshmen's collapse in this round was inevitable.

"SAFE!"

Kariba made it to first base.

Logically, after surviving, he should have stayed still.

But Kariba had no such intention. He passed first base and headed straight for second.

That ball had flown past the third baseman, which was a typical route for a long hit.

Taking advantage of that, Kariba rushed all the way to third base.

When he reached third base, the opposing throw was already coming in.

The freshmen from Seidou High School trained well in baseball fundamentals and reacted quickly despite being stunned at the beginning.

"Don't underestimate us…"

The freshman outfielder threw the ball back.

Realizing the danger, Kariba slid into the base.

He jumped too early, sliding a full meter and a half.

When his hand finally touched the base, his arm was scraped a bit.

Such a dramatic scene left the freshman third baseman stunned.

He stared at Kariba, a seemingly unknown Senpai with buck teeth.

"Are you okay?"

"Do you still have time to worry about me? If you don't focus on your next play, you're done for."

"We won't show mercy. We won't give up a single spot to you guys for the first team!"

At this moment, Kariba was exceptionally cool.

All the freshmen on the field were deeply shaken by his presence.

They couldn't understand why these backup second- and third-team players worked so hard.

Even if they win, what difference does it make?

The available spots for the first team will only be given to the main second-team players.

The backups and the rest have absolutely no chance.

But why then did they still push themselves so hard?

Their confusion had no answers.

The offense continued, and the upperclassmen's attack didn't stop.

Sawamura hit his second home run.

A three-run home run!

Just in this inning alone, he had hit two home runs, scoring seven points.

The other upperclassmen were also contributing, and with their combined efforts, the upperclassmen team scored 15 points in just the first inning.

The batting order went around twice before the inning ended.

After the final Out was made, the score was 15-0 in favor of the upperclassmen.

After securing the final out, Haruyama, the pitcher, collapsed from exhaustion.

In this inning alone, he had thrown nearly 50 pitches.

This wasn't the total number of pitches for the entire game—this was just for this single inning.

The continuous pitching had completely drained the little guy of all his energy.

When he returned to the dugout, he collapsed flat on the ground, lying there helplessly.

The other players who had been on the field with him didn't fare much better.

One by one, they were all gasping for breath and struggling to continue the game.

...