Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, the characters go with their respective creators of diamond no ace and I do not claim ownership of the characters or the world. English is not my first language so I do apologize for spelling/grammatical errors, Thank you!

Chapter 2

Eijun looked astonished, as he saw Tohru gave him a sign for an 4 seam out high pitch. Ehhh… are they serious here, though based from Tohru's expression he was not joking. He turned to look at their captain and he seems pretty much serious as well. He grips the ball tight, then nodded as agreement to Tohru's sign. He fixed his feet positioning in the mound, as he did his windup and threw his out high directly towards Tohru mitt, making Daiki flinch as if he was about to hit the ball.

"That is a strike you do realize that right…" Tohru remarked, since the fastball landed directly on Tohru's mitt where it was position within the plate strike zone, thus earning a glare from their captain.

Eijun was starting to feel his heart beat rising, at the same time his adrenaline pumping, as he watched their captain move his bat a few times as if acting to swing, and Tohru remaining in his crouching position, giving him a sign for his 3 spin fast ball. That fastball was slower compared to his other fastball, and without his cleats he doubt he could throw it in a decent speed to avoid a home run, however that is one of his unique pitches since he can actually shackle the batter using that pitch since normally it would be considered a grounder pitch, making him smile. He fixed his grip, did his windup then threw the ball directly towards the mitt, however before it even reached the plate, Daiki easily hit it but it flew directly towards the foul line. Eijun heard Daiki clicking his tongue as he returned to his batting position. Eijun looked at Tohru smiling, as he noticed that the catcher was sitting a little outward obviously making the direction of the pitch, if hit would move towards the foul line. Eijun watched as Tohru gave him a sign for his 5 spin ball pitch, where he easily nodded. This pitch is faster, however due to the release and rotation axis, it is considered as a power ball that focuses on jamming batters. It is most likely the same with his rising fastball pitch, a unique pitch. He did his windup and threw the fastball, letting it land directly towards Tohru's mitt, and Daiki not swinging at all.

"You do realize that is a strike out now right?" Tohru poked fun of their captain as he easily showed the ball received from the pitcher, earning a scowl from the latter.

Eijun smile grew wider, as he watched Tohru mock their captain, even though it was just a relax game, he could feel his senses being revived. His frustration and disappointment upon arriving from his Koshien tournament disappeared. He could still feel his adrenaline pumping as he slowly walk towards his seniors smiling. "So I actually strike out the cap?" Eijun asked smiling widely, upon getting close to his two seniors.

"I believe so…" Tohru answered also smiling as he stood up and dusted his pants. He looked at Eijun wide smile, and noticed that the gloomy atmosphere around the pitcher since he came back from his Koshien game has disappeared.

"Ugh… I will give this to you two, as a present for failing to play in the Koshien game…" Daiki informs all somber.

"Ehhhh" Eijun look puzzled while Tohru sighed. He sometimes wondered if their captain could be quite insensitive sometimes.

"You know Sawamura, during the last game your batters were not able to touch that Komadai pitcher right?" Daiki asked suddenly serious looking straight at Sawamura.

Eijun flinch, he knew that some of the players of BJ were present in the game; he nodded unable to answer as he could remember that in that particular game, he has no contribution at all making him feel bad.

"Do you feel the frustration and resentment watching on the sidelines?" Daiki added, making Tohru totally scowl now.

"Oi… Daiki…" Tohru immediately stood in front of the captain totally blocking him from Eijun view. He knew that their captain has a rough attitude, however going for a kid and his pitcher was going overboard.

"Yes… I only watched on the bullpen, I sense I could not enter that game. Furuya was in full control of the mound and I don't have any space on it." Eijun answered, looking down unaware of the tension rising from Tohru.

Daiki raised an eyebrow looking at Tohru as the catcher stood in front of him, practically glaring at him. "Well you know Sawamura, those power pitchers could be taken down with the batting that you have been working on with us" Daiki informed practically ignoring Tohru's tense behavior.

"Huh…" Eijun looked up, and then move around from Tohru to look at their captain all serious.

"You have been working on your batting swing since you have been with BJ right, well it is more like if you don't work on it, I doubt the coach would let you play since he is quite obsessive of offense." Daiki scratched his head, taking a step back to have space between him and Tohru, since the latter seems he was ready to actually punch him now. "You just need someone to tell you where to bat. It is the pin point batting you have been working on since the holiday break. It is pretty much close to how you control your pitches. You are good with ball control right, thus you just need to have someone guide you in terms of batting angles" Daiki explained. "So… in other words, being the ace does not limit you just on the mound but also in batting and the dugout. Do not be discouraged in what happened in the Koshien tournament. It is not like you actually showed them what you can really do after all"

Tohru and Eijun jaw drop. Of all the people within BJ that would try to make Eijun feel better, the captain's name is the last person on the list. Since they both know about the rough attitude and short temper that the captain have, cheering or motivating someone was the last of his agenda's.

"Why are you both looking at me like that?" Daiki felt embarrassed all of a sudden looking at Eijun and Tohru expression.

Eijun wanted to cry, he suddenly feel delighted, knowing that there are people who actually cares for him. "Thank you… cap…" Eijun answered raising his head trying to stop the tears from flowing down.

"You are starting to be a cry baby Sawamura…" Daiki teased, though he was still embarrassed as he watched the young pitcher loose his composure. He was also a player in Koshien back in his high school days and he have a feeling it would be best not to inform Sawamura, that he was a graduate of Komadai. Honestly, he was annoyed with how the Seido team performed during the Koshien tournament, especially their team ace, it makes him want to practically put that ace pitcher on his place, though it could be considered as childish. He would prefer Sawamura variety pitching compared to a power ball pitcher.

"Well I guess, we can use this experience as a stepping stone to get stronger in the future… and while we are at it… Daiki why don't you get dinner with us… we are celebrating for Eijun's return anyways." Tohru said while he put his arm around Eijun and guided him to walk out the field.

"Owhhh… really… sweet… I missed your wife's cooking" Daiki excitedly answered as he started to follow the catcher.

Eijun was still trying hard to compose himself as he was led towards the exit of the field by Tohru. He never thought that he was this disappointed in regards to the Koshien games, he fisted his pitching hand as they entered the elevator, he looked up and looked at both Tohru and their captain with eyes glowing with resoluteness. "I won't lose to anyone anymore… I don't intend to be a second rate pitcher. I want to take that mound and own it. I refuse to be taken as a second choice, and be ignored. I will take every single batter out with my pitches, I will be the Ace pitcher that would be the backbone of the team," he declared full of determination.

Tohru smiled widely; of course no one can pick himself up as fast as Sawamura Eijun. That what made him one of the best pitchers he had ever worked with. "You are never a second choice, for us anyways, just don't rush things… go at it carefully, you don't need to run towards your goal. Enjoy the view, the experience you had during your Koshien tournament would add as fuel for you to further strive to be the pitcher you want to."

Eijun determination was charged, having the best catcher inform him that he was not a second choice was a big relief. He wanted to perform well, and this time he does not intend to stop and keep moving forward in full speed. "Tohru sempai… Do you think we can work on controlling my fastball speed next time on the bullpen?" Eijun asked.

"Hmmmm… yeah we can work on that… well first I want to see how you and Tadano's battery would work. He improved since the last time he caught for you…" Tohru answered.

"Really… I cannot wait…" Eijun smiled widely, as he could imagine how Itsuki could be able to catch his sinking and rising fastballs now.

"Yeah… that kid seems to be doing good these days" Daiki informs thinking deeply as he look at Eijun seriously, "speaking of pitching… Sawamura… you need to take extra work on your batting if you want to keep playing pitcher. That Tadano kid is a better batter than you…" he teased.

"Wait… what?"

"Tohru here practically focused on batting this past few practice games, letting that catcher kid do his job…" Daiki added, trying to pretend to be all serious.

"Ehhhhh… I swear I will do double training with batting too" Eijun promised, however the two players laughed, making Eijun realized they were just teasing him, which made him suck in air and looking embarrassed. He was annoyed the moment they exited the elevator door and move back in Yukime's apartment. They all had a fun dinner, making Eijun feel contented after returning back from Osaka. Tohru decided to drive Eijun back to Seido with his wife at the same time, since it was already getting late, and they don't want Eijun get in trouble.

"You know Eijun… I think it would be fine to start using your fastballs in some of your high school games…" Tohru mentioned carefully, glancing from time to time towards Eijun in the back seat as he drove back to Seido.

Eijun turn to look at Tohru surprised. "Ehhh… I thought I am not allowed to use them in any official games or practices with Seido?"

"Yes… well I just thought… if you would want to be the ace of your team, against a monster pitcher like that ace pitcher of yours, you might need every arsenal you have to get that title"

Eijun looked out the window, fisting his pitching hand. It is not that he does not want to throw his improve fastball pitches, however throwing it just so he can prove something to Furuya is not really sitting well to him. He wanted to gain the ace position using the methods he learned directly from Seido, not from BJ, because for some reason he felt like he was cheating. "It is ok Tohru sempai… I can take on Furuya without your fastball pitches, I intend to take that position using my own strength" Eijun answered determined.

"Owhhh…" Tohru smiled, he never thought that Eijun would remember that those fastballs were actually thought by him, thus it would make sense why he would think it does not belong to him. "But you know Eijun, those fastball pitches would not be as effective if I am the one throwing them, compare if you are doing it. You already made those fastballs your own… so I think it would not be bad to show it once in a while…"

"I made them mine?" Eijun asked, turning to Tohru looking surprised.

"Yeah… you have a natural moving fastball pitches, means your pitches have their own life in them. Those rising and sinking pitches together with your other fastball pitches have a natural movement on the plate, which has made them more effective, that is something only you can do. I can never throw moving pitches as naturally as you can, and I highly doubt your ace pitcher can too." Tohru smiled imagining Eijun throwing some of those pitches for the first time to him.

Eijun smiled and looked forward as he noticed they were getting close to his dorm. "Thank you Tohru sempai… however I think I will wait for sister Yukime… I want her to see me using those pitches first in an official game… sorry for being selfish" as he rubbed the back of his neck, becoming all shy of a sudden.

"Hmmmm… no… it is fine… I am actually quite happy you would prefer to let the doc see your pitches before showing it to your team. Well I guess we have more time to polish it then." As Tohru slowly stop close to his dorms, but not that close that the other players would notice them.

"Thank you Tohru sempai… Good night sister Nina" Eijun answered as he opened the car door and stepped out. Nina smiled and waved at him, she was just observing and being quiet during the whole drive.

"Owhhh… by the way Eijun…" Tohru called out sliding his window down, and making Eijun stop and turn to look at him confused.

"You should start calling me by my first name… I think it is only fine since I have been using your first name too, plus we are battery partners, so I guess it is a sign of acknowledgment for the both of us"

Eijun was astonished, he never noticed that Tohru sempai was already using his first name, and what did he just say? He acknowledges him as his battery partner? Tohru was one of the best catchers he know, yet he acknowledge him. That was so surprising he does not really know how to answer. "You acknowledge me Tohru sempai?" he asked, making sure he was not dreaming at all. He could hear Nina's giggle on the passenger side.

Tohru laughed seeing Eijun stupefy reaction. Of course it was no surprise since based from his own experience, having your catcher recognize you as a battery partner is the most rewarding thing a pitcher can have from his catcher. And he did noticed, that is something Eijun has been striving to earn from their Seido catcher captain too. "Why would I not acknowledge you Eijun? I have been with you since the promotional game, I saw your growth and improvement, plus I know how dedicated you are every time I receive your pitches"

Eijun suddenly feel delighted, he had never thought that someone as remarkable as Tohru Hero would actually appreciate his pitching and performance despite his mishap in the Koshien stadium. "Thank you… Hero sempai…" Eijun answered sincerely as he bowed down.

"Well you better get back inside, the last thing we need is you getting sick. Our own season is about to begin soon, so you better get rest up, so we can squeeze as many practice as we can in your schedule. I want to also work on your battery with Tadano ok…" Tohru ordered.

"Yes sir!" Eijun agreed. He was getting excited and at the same time looking forward to the battery with Itsuki. He waved his hand as he watched Tohru's car backed up and move towards the direction it came from.

"Yo… Sawamura… who was that?" Kuramochi asked curiously. He was just passing by the dorm entrance when he saw Eijun bowing down at the same time looking all cheerful as he waved back at the vehicle that just left.

Eijun wince the moment he heard Kuramochi sempai at his back. Of all the people who could have seen him, it has to be his senior roommate. He put on his most dubious smile, as he turns to look at Kuramochi, "Huh… Kuramochi sempai what you doing out here?" he asked acting as normal as he could.

Kuramochi seeing Eijun expression made his forehead wrinkle, "owhhhh so you are not all gloomy now huh…" Kuramochi ignored Eijun's question, but instead commented on his attitude after they left Koshien. Well he cannot blame him, since he knew Eijun had never had the chance to redeem himself after his mistake in Koshien.

"Ehhh… I am never gloomy…" Eijun retorted as he move pass Kuramochi heading towards the dorm.

"Uhhuh…" Kuramochi simply answered, as he watched Eijun's back moving away from him. He could not shake the feeling that somehow Sawamura was changing little by little, and he was not sure if it was a good or bad thing at the moment.