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.

Chapter 3

Eijun was back home, he realized that the moment he noticed the loud and serious atmosphere around the BJ facility. The players are all focused on training most likely preparing for the opening of the season. The team has one last practice game scheduled however it seems that both him and Itsuki won't be able to join that game since the spring tournament would be ongoing. The practice he is attending today would seem to be the last time he could be able to practice with the regular players of BJ and it seems that this is also the time that he and Itsuki would be practicing their battery. He looked at the watch near the dug out and noticed it was almost eight in the evening, normally he would still be in Seido, however after the first year introductions, he was able to sneak out after the afternoon practice to attend his last practice with the BJ regulars. He and Itsuki did a quick bullpen practice with Tohru monitoring them, when they both arrive that afternoon after their respective practice with their high school team. After the bullpen session, they were informed by head coach Mihashi Shoji that they would be having a inter squad game, and Itsuki and Eijun would be going with the reserved players against the regular line up.

"Yo Sawamura you ready for the game?" Maki asked as he approached the pitcher near the dugout.

As Eijun looked at Maki, he was getting nervous since this is his first scrimmage he would be doing within BJ. Normally he would be with the regular players, since Tohru is the only person who can actually use all his pitches, bust since the coach want to see Itsuki's improvement, he was paired up with the other catcher instead. "I think so… I never thought I would go against you guys…" he answered solemnly making Maki grin widely.

"Well don't sweat it if we hit your pitches for home runs ok… it is just preparing for the pre-season game" Maki informs tapping his head with his mitt.

"Maki sempai… please don't make Eijun stressed about this…" Itsuki intervene as he approached the two.

"Yeah yeah… good luck kids… don't let us have a lot of homeruns ok" as Maki wink at them and move towards the other side of the field.

"You ok?" Itsuki asked as he turned to look at Eijun. He was worried Eijun would be tense and stiff against the regulars of a pro team, however he noticed Eijun was smiling widely looking at Maki's back as the batter walk away from them.

"We are not going to lose against them Itsuki… I hope you're ready to catch my pitches…" Eijun turn to look at Itsuki grinning wide.

Itsuki smiled as well, when he first saw Eijun ever since he got back from his Koshien game, he was like all happy informing him about their new first years, however their coach Shoji banned them from talking about anything related to their high school team. In the quick bullpen session they had, he noticed Eijun fastball pitches have more power and weight on them, plus he also showed him his breaking balls which actually surprised him. He was able to work with the four seam, two seam, and the old cutter, however with the new cutter, he was not able to catch it thus Tohru decided not to use that breaking ball. His changeup has also change a bit, but the main point of this practice was to determine the capability of him as a catcher and the affectivity of Eijun's fastballs against the regular batting team. "I am quite ready for your pitches, just make sure to not fall face down on the mound this time ok…" Itsuki teased.

"Oi…" Eijun blushed upon remembering his Koshien mistake.

"Ok… listen up…" Shoji called out all the players and the few coaching staff around the field. Some of the coaching staffs are acting as referees during the game. "This will be a short 5 inning game, I don't intend to go for a full nine innings unless needed. I don't care what would be scores; I just want to see the condition of each player. You do realize that we don't need any injuries, however I don't also want to have this game not taken seriously since this would determine your lineup on the season. I will not be coaching any team, thus I would want to see how the catcher will call out the plays." Shoji inform the people around seriously and then he turned to look at both Itsuki and Eijun who was standing close to one another. "I expect great things from the both of you… so I do not want any of you holding back. Show your seniors what is the future of BJ look like…"

Eijun smiled and yelled out "Yes sir!" while Itsuki nodded as agreement.

In the game Eijun would be batting nine, while Itsuki would be batting third and at the first inning they were on offense. As Itsuki watched Sagato, he could remember how sharp his fastballs were, but the one they need to watch are his slider and curveball. "I think it would be best to immediately target his fastballs" Itsuki commented in their team dugout as he watched Sagato and Tohru warming up in the field. "If we could break Sagato sempai rhythm, we won't lose in terms of batting power against the regulars"

"Owhhhhh…" Eijun together with Asano and the other relived players answered in bewilderment, and looked at Itsuki amazed. The young catcher was not playing around, and it seems he was not fazed they would be going against one of the league's top 5 catchers and strategist Tohru Hero.

Itsuki heard the unanimous tone of amazement behind his back, that he immediately turned looking embarrassed. "I am sorry… I thought you guys were thinking the same or something…" He immediately apologized.

"What are you saying kid… as of now senior or junior does not matter in this game, you are our catcher, means you would be coaching us entirely. Plus I want to see captain Daiki's face when we beat their team…" Asano answered smiling widely.

"Yeah… I so agree…" Eijun answered enthusiastically for his own good. He was getting excited, and going against the best batters would show him how far he has gone.

"Ok let us win this!" the players yelled in the dugout making the opposing team turn to them.

"It seems the other team is fired up for this match huh…" Towa noticed as he was looking the cheerful atmosphere in the other dug out, in the other hand there dugout seems to be a bit tense which made him sigh. "Hey cap… do you think I can change with the other team?" he added turning to look at Daiki who was looking annoyed as usual.

"Oi… Don't you dare Towa… I wanted to go to that team first!" Daiki complained, earning a bat tapping his head. "What the hell…" as he turned he saw Miro looking straight at him terrifyingly. "I am sorry…" Daiki apologized immediately as he move towards the back part of the dugout.

The other players sigh; they have known the captain and co-captain have been friends since there high school days and it is only Miro who could actually control Daiki's aggressive tendencies. "They would be hitting us hard… so I think it would be best to start aggressive. Sagato you need to not hold back against them. It is only five innings thus go all out. This game will be our game understood…" Miro ordered.

"Yes sir!" the team answered unanimously. Though Towa and Maki turn to look at the other dugout where Eijun was making his usual stupid remarks making the other players laugh, on the other hand their dugout was full of old people who are serious and dreadful. "I still want to be on that team…" Towa murmured. "Same..." Maki answered looking longingly at the cheerful atmosphere on the other dugout.

Tohru laughed lightly as he saw the grim atmosphere on their dugout. "Well Sawamura has tendencies to make his surrounding happy and lighter… it is not like we are not in different teams you know" He remarked, however the other players just looked at him with frustrated expressions. "We'll let us get this game going so we can all be one big happy family again…" he commented instead as he move back to the field.

Since the start of the first inning, the first two batters were easily strike out by Sagato, and now it is Itsuki's turn. He move to the batter's box nervous, however he does not want to let the pitcher of the other team settle in a rhythm, since he knew that the reason why Sagato never become the ace pitcher is because he is weak when it comes to field pressure, thus all he need to do is pressure the pitcher. He lifted his bat, and positioned it for a hard hit. Since Eijun was out during his Koshien game, he practiced with BJ almost every day with their coach Kunimoto's blessing too. He was able to improve his catching and batting too, well the batting was more intense since the head coach Shoji was quite obsessive with it. As he watched the pitcher do his wind up, he took a deep breath in and step forward, the moment he noticed the pitcher releasing the ball. CLANK! Could be heard on the field as Itsuki's bat made a hard contact to pitch sending it out near left field, Itsuki immediately took a dash to first base, however before he could even try to score on second base, the ball was immediately passed to second making him stop on his tracks. Dang it… I really need to work on my running… Itsuki complained as he looked out the outfielders.

"Nice try kid!" Mitobe called out grinning and waving at him.

Itsuki shook his head, of course he was playing against pro players, this indicates that the power and relay within the team could not be compared to high school games.

"Don't worry to much… you guys might actually score a run now…"

Itsuki froze, and then turn to look at Daiki who was staying in first base. "What do you mean captain?"

"The next batter is Asano right? That guy is a hard hitter…" Daiki casually answered Itsuki's question.

Itsuki turn to the next batter, and as Asano was standing in the batter box, he could sense a different pressure from him compared to the first two batters. He was getting ready to run for any hit made, however he was stunned when Tohru just stood up, and move away outside of the plate. He was letting Asano walk as he keeps asking for balls.

"Tohru that jerk…" Daiki complained

Itsuki sighed as well, of course since Tohru was the catcher for the other team, he knew how weak Sagato sempai was when it comes to hard hitters. After the 4th ball, Itsuki move to second base and Asano moved to first obviously annoyed as well as he noticed he was complaining to Daiki. Well technically, it is a strategy to let the clean-up batter be walked, but it could only mean that they are confident they could take out the next batter. As Itsuki watched the 5th batter step in, Tohru positioned his mitt to the side of the plate and made use of Sagato effective slider and curveball easily striking out the 5th batter. Itsuki sighed, that was the third out, it was there turn on defense, as he watched Tohru smiling brightly and praising Sagato's pitches. I want to show him I change… he thought as he walked back to their dugout.

"Hahahaha… that was too bad Asano sempai… I guess it is my time for me to save the day!" Eijun said cheerfully making the other player laugh at his remark.

"Don't sweat it Sawamura… we can score next inning, just focus on pitching" Asano answered.

"Don't worry I won't let them score as well!" Eijun confidently answered, making Itsuki look at him surprised. Does he not realize how strong the BJ regular batters are? But as he watched Eijun gleeful demeanor, there was a determined look in his eyes, it seems he was serious that he intends to strike out the batters. He smiled as he stood up after putting on his catching gear. If Eijun was serious in taking out the batters, then he would need to support him with all his got.

"Then how about we greet them with our battery?" Itsuki asked as he move close to Eijun raising his own mitt.

Eijun smiled, "You're on… partner!" Eijun answered as he tap Itsuki's mitt and run towards the mound. The other players were all surprised seeing how the core of their defense looks so confident going against their regular line up.

"I strongly hope you guys are not all talk…" Daiki commented as he step in the batter box.

"I would be pitching aggressively, so please back me up!" Eijun yelled on top of his lungs on the mound making the other fielders answered cheerfully as well.

Itsuki look at Daiki seriously, he took a deep breath as he look at Sawamura on top of the mound, and then he smiled, after hearing Sawamura's usual catchphrase, he could sense his nerves calming down. "I hope you are ready for this captain…"

Daiki heard Itsuki's comment making him wrinkled his forehead. As he looked at Eijun, he noticed the seriousness on the pitchers expression. Owhhh… this is interesting… let us see what you can do… he thought smiling. He lifted his bat, gripping the handle hard, ready to swing the moment Sawamura throw the ball out.

Eijun observe the tension and pressure their captain is emitting on the batter's box. At first, he never understood why their captain was the first batter considering with his power, he could easily be the clean-up, however he understood after attending a few of their practice games. It seems their captain is a fast runner, aggressive in base stealing, but the worst part is that he could actually destroy a pitcher rhythm even before the game begins. He took a deep breath as he watched Itsuki's 4 seam sign and moving his mitt to the out low of the plate. He smiled, well someone seems to be aggressive today… he nodded as agreement. He can go all out since this game would only be five innings, he grip the ball tightly, did his windup raising his knee high as he transfer his strength from his legs up to his fingertips upon releasing the ball.

Daiki instinctively swing the bat, however the moment it hit, it was sent to the ground where the first baseman easily catches the ball and stepping on the first base earning them their first out. Was I just jammed… by the kid? Daiki was surprised he looked at Eijun astonished as the pitcher raised his hands yelling one out.

"Nice try cap… better luck next time…" Maki interjected as Daiki passed him. He was going to tease him more, but he noticed Daiki was actually smiling which was surprising because normally if the captain is taken out, the mood of the latter will be bad. As he step in the batter box, he noticed Eijun looking serious and was focus on his catcher, making Maki feel goose bumps up his arms.

Eijun watched Itsuki gave a sign for his in high fastball, he nodded as agreement then did his windup and released the ball sailing it directly to Itsuki's mitt, as he watched Maki swing the bat and missed.

"Strike!" Shoji yelled making Maki irritated in the tone their coach was using. It seems the latter was enjoying this.

Eijun saw Itsuki give a sign for another in high pitch, however this time it was his 4 seam, making him grin. If Maki sempai gets mad after this… I am so saying I was just following your call Itsuki… Eijun thought as he nodded as agreement. He did his windup and threw his four seamer directly passing Maki's chest area, landing directly on Itsuki's mitt.

Maki was unable to swing as he was surprised when the ball was sailing directly towards him, he thought he was gonna get hit too. "Strike!" Shoji yelled again, making him more irritated. The hell when did his pitches become like this, and it was strike, it was close to the side of the plate… Maki thought annoyingly.

Eijun saw Itsuki giving a sign for his changeup, which made him smile widely. Yep… Maki sempai would be so pissed at you… Eijun thought as he nodded, and threw his changeup. Since Maki was expecting for another fastball, he swing completely missing the timing and the ball landing directly towards Itsuki's mitt. "Strike! Batter out!" Shoji yelled loudly as if he was proud that the batter was taken out. Maki glared at their coach who was acting as the umpire, then turn to look at Eijun before moving back to the dugout.

"Two outs!" Eijun yelled. As he turn to look at the batter box, he noticed the tension rising. It was the start of their cleanup crew, and Towa was up to bat. He looked at Itsuki still being serious, as he gave a sign for his rising fastball. He took a deep breath, did his windup and threw his rising ball with all his strength.

Itsuki watched the batter swing the bat hard and as the bat take the hit on the ball it automatically pop up heading towards the right fielder, where it was easily caught. He sighed, his gamble paid off, that was their third out. He asked Eijun to throw the ball as hard as he could since the BJ batters are aware of Eijun pitch speed thus there is a high chance that the rising pitch could be easily taken out the field, however since Eijun rapid improvement and adding the control of the speed of the ball, then it would be more difficult for the batters to hit making him smile. "Out! Change!" Shoji yelled, seeming pleased in regards to the result of the first inning.