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

A/N: I am so sorry guys for the very late update, my health has not been cooperating with me lately thus i went on a extended long break. But i hope to get back on my regular uploading schedule. Please do not get tired of reading, the summer games are not yet here, and I have a lot in store, Anyways thank you everyone, and stay safe!

Chapter 11

Head coach Mihashi Shoji was closely watching Eijun on top of the mound as the latter was doing his wind up and throws a fastball directly landing on Tohrus's mitt with no space to spare. "Strike!" the umpire yelled loudly, where the crowd cheers were booming within the loud Tokyo dome. "Masato…" Shoji called out, as he was still focused on their pitcher seeing him nodding in agreement most probably for the sign made by Tohru.

"Yes coach?" Masato asked as he steps near the head coach.

"Can you check something for me…" Shoji commented still not looking at his assistant staff but on the field.

Masato did not answered but look out the field as well, as he watch Eijun threw his 2 seam resulting to a swing and miss by the batter. "Strike!" the umpire yelled yet again.

Shoji did not mind that Masato did not answer his remark, but instead continued with his request, "could you check regulations for me…"

"To see if Sawamura could play pro earlier than expected?" Masato finished his boss remark making Shoji turn to him and a few of the players in the dugout look towards their direction.

Shoji laugh lightly, of course it was already expected that is what he was gonna ask for, after all they have never had a pitcher like Sawamura before, even after he had become the head coach of Black Jaguars for the past ten years in the pro league. "I know Yukime could be against it… she tends to be quite over protective with Sawamura… however… there is no harm in checking…"

"I think this would be the best time to see if you could do something about it coach…" Asano remarked unable to keep his thoughts for himself.

"What do you mean?" Masato asked curiously as he looked at Asano leaning on the railings watching Sawamura grinning on top of the mound. They were already on the second batter, and it seems it would be another strike out.

"Well since the doc is not around at the moment, thus whatever we, you or others decide what to do with Sawamura, the doc won't be able to do anything about it. I mean… common look at it this way Masato san, the doc is like thousands of miles away, heck she is in another country, if we want to do something involving Sawamura, this is the only chance we could get without her trying to cut all of our heads off…" Asano explained looking serious.

The other players nodded in agreement, as they do understand how one of the owners of their team is very protective of the young pitcher. "I agree… but once the doctor found out about this we can all loose our jobs…" Masato inform seriously. He needs to make the players understand, that going against one of the owners of the team or moving without their specific approval or knowledge could be detrimental.

"I am well aware of such results" Shoji answered watching the field closely as they heard another strike call by the umpire. It was already two strike outs, and now they are on the 3rd batter, and as he observed Sawamura standing on the mound, shining brightly, he could feel within his gut that it was worth it. If no one was able to risk it for this young pitcher, then he would not hold back, he would risk everything he has for the young pitcher, as he slightly grip his right leg, he clearly remembers what it felts like to lose everything one day. "You don't have to involve the other players with this, if in case things turn sour just say it was me," then he turn to look at Masato smiling while the latter was looking straight at him anxiously. "I know what it feels like to lose everything in a single mistake. Thus I want to grab every opportunity that would present itself"

"And you believe that kid is an opportunity?" Masato asked seriously.

"No… I think that kid is hope" as Shoji smiled widely hearing the yell of the umpire for another strike. He was still focus on Eijun pitching and shining brightly on top of the mound. The other players including Masato were unable to answer back as they could clearly see the resolve in their head coach face.

They were already on the third batter, yet Eijun is still not feeling tired. He could still clearly feel the sensation on his fingertips, his breathing is still calm, and he was not sweating that bad. Eijun could feel he was still in tip top condition, most probably due to the fact he started on the fifth inning, or perhaps it is because he is not feeling that much pressured than before. As he focus towards his catcher, he saw the sign for his sinking pitch where he nodded in agreement. He took a deep breath in, did his wind up and threw his sinking pitch, as the ball sailed towards the plate, the batter made a swing however due to the trajectory of the pitch, it was suddenly grounded directly towards the mound back to Eijun being able to catch it easily and throwing it to first base taking their 3rd out.

"Nice one Sawamura!" Daiki commented as he tap the pitchers head.

"Thank you cap…" Eijun answered smiling. It was only one inning left, and as they approach the dugout for some reason, he does not want to leave the game just yet.

"Ok… we are back on offense!" Maki yelled out all excited as he prepares to get his bat, failing to notice an eerie atmosphere within the dugout.

"You did well Sawamura, get some rest for the final inning…" Shoji commended smiling.

Eijun nodded in agreement, however he did notice that the dugout seems kind of off while he looks around and notice the sudden serious faces of the players including Asano who was usually all smiles when they get back from the field. "Eh… ahm is something going on?" he asked unable to stop his curiosity.

"Huh… what do you mean?" Daiki asked innocently, who also seems to be oblivious in the awkward silence of the dugout when they got back from the field. He was putting on his batting gloves and at the same time passing the bat to Eijun since it was his turn to bat yet again.

"Ehhh… But cap… why is everyone suddenly quiet?"

Tohru including the other players from the field all went silent, and turn towards the players on the dug out as if just recently noticing the awkward silence pointed out by the young pitcher. "Since you mentioned it, is something going on?" Tohru asked curiously, though from the conflicted expression of Masato, he would be guessing that their coach might have asked or remarked something that could pretty much give them problems in the future.

"No such thing" Shoji easily answered, as he turned towards Eijun who was turn to bat. "You can choose to do a bunt or whatever you are comfortable with. We are leading anyways, and most likely be getting a score soon, so you can also just relax and prepare for the last inning."

Eijun looked at their coach seriously and then nod in agreement. He was not sure what was really going on, however their coach seems to still be happy. He took the bat that Daiki was handing him then move back to field towards the batter's box.

The moment that Eijun was out of earshot on the dugout and back to the field, Masato release a deep sigh then scratched his head as if a sign of defeat. "I understand coach, I will look into it thoroughly" He finally answered, where the players within the dugout seems to relax the moment they heard those words.

"Thank you…" Shoji sincerely answered as he watched Eijun on the batter box not swinging on the first pitch and getting a strike call.

Maki looked around confused, though he did not bother to ask what was going on since he knew he would find out sooner or later after the game. He watched as Daiki was seriously looking at the pitcher doing his windup and striking out Eijun again in his next pitch. "They seem to be throwing more breaking balls." Maki commented near their coach.

"It is fine, this is the last inning they won't have the chance to take on offense on the ninth inning." Shoji turn to look at Tohru who was fixing his batting gloves. "Make sure to end it on our next defense, don't let them get on any base."

Tohru raised his eyebrows seeing their coach serious orders. He turn to look at Eijun who was striked out and was heading back to the dugout. "I understand coach, we will finish this game." He answered seriously.

"Ugh… I think they keep throwing breaking balls" Eijun complained the moment he got near the dugout.

Maki laughed lightly as he started to move towards the next batter position. "Breaking balls are nothing to our captain," and as if on cue the loud sound of the ball hitting the bat was heard. Eijun turn around and watched as the ball sailed high and went out towards the bleachers of the Tokyo stadium earning them another homerun.

"And that is our insurance, get some water in your system" Tohru commented as he tap Eijun to get in the dugout and get hydrated.

Eijun smiled brightly as he nod in agreement. As he walked in the dugout, he noticed the earlier eerie atmosphere dissipated, though Masato seems tired all of a sudden as the latter was sitting and looking at the field. He went to get a cup of drink and sat beside Masato who obviously flinch when he got near. "Masato san are you ok?" he curiously asked, as he can see that the latter is trying to avoid looking at him.

Masato smiled as he noticed Eijun curious tone. Normally he would have talk to the pitcher seriously about what are his plans in the future. However, based from what he had observe during the months he was with the young pitcher, Eijun tends to work on brawn compared to brains, which make his work more complicated. "Say Eijun, have you talked to the doc lately?" Masato asked more on the cautious side, he needs to know if the pitcher has an open communication with Yukime.

"Owh… not often… the last time we talked was before the spring tournament when she wished me luck and asked if I want to join the Tokyo invitation game" Eijun answered easily as he turn to look out the field and notice Maki was able to get on a base and Tohru was at bat.

"I heard about that, I think there was a US team invited right?" Towa commented as he was removing his batting gloves. He was taken out during his turn to bat however they have successfully move Maki to second base.

"Now that you mention it… why did you not join Sawamura?" Masato asked as he finally looked at Eijun.

"Ahm…" Eijun acted embarrassed as he scratched his head. "Captain Miyuki was invited and Narumiya Mei, so I guess you can say I want to focus on improving my current pitches than try to go head to head with powerful pitchers"

"But you are a strong pitcher Sawamura" Asano commented looking confused why the young pitcher does not seem to want to compete with west Tokyo's strongest pitcher.

Eijun blushed for a bit hearing that he was a strong pitcher, honestly he does not think he was that much of a strong pitcher, however he do know he was not weak. "Thank you Asano sempai" he answered sincerely still embarrassed. Being around this people seems to be more calming to him compared when he is around with Seido, it make him feel that he always need to wear a strong pitcher bravado in order to just be noticed in the team, but with BJ it was fine with them as he is.

"Well if you don't want to join the Tokyo invitation that the doc set up means your summer preparation would be packed huh," Towa inquired looking curious of the young pitcher schedule.

"Towa don't… Eijun would need to prepare for his summer tournament, plus we are already in season after this game" Shoji looked at Towa sensing that his player would probably try to rope Sawamura to join them in the season games, which is pretty much not allowed.

Eijun was about to ask what Towa mean when he noticed that Maki and Tohru were returning back to the dugout and the latter seemed annoyed. Eh… what happened? he asked confused, he was focus towards answering Masato in terms of the Tokyo invitation that he did not noticed how his seniors were taken out.

Masato laughed lightly as he noticed Eijun confused expression looking at Maki and Tohru returning to the dugout and talking to their coach. "The pitcher threw his cutter to jam Tohru where the ball sailed directly to third, and since Maki was focus on trying to get a run, he got tagged out, and of course Tohru as well"

"Ehhhh…." Eijun turn at Masato amazed how he knew what happened on the field considering he was talking to him.

"It is called multi-tasking kid… I am the assistant coach after all" Masato clearly answered Eijun thoughts as he noticed the surprised and amazement reaction on the Sawamura's face.

"OK! Listen up!" Shoji called out his team, where the players all turn towards there coach who was serious. "We are entering the last inning. We only have a 2 run lead, I don't want to give them any chance to get back in track, we have momentum right now… so I guess you guys can say, It is time for the Jaguar to go for the kill!"

"Yes sir!" the team answered in unison, where Eijun also answered with the whole team. As the regulars move back towards the field, Eijun could feel that he is about to wake up from a good dream and the moment he was about to pass by the coach, he could clearly see the acknowledgement and proudness on his eyes.

"Do not stop Sawamura, this is your spring finals game that you were not able to attend, so go wreak havoc in the field"

Eijun grin widely as he heard his coach remarks and jog towards the mound as he could clearly hear the fans within the stadium were pretty much cheering for them. It was so loud, and as he looked at the batter in front of him, he was not scared or pressured at all. The momentum was with their team, and at the moment he was in peak condition. He focuses towards Tohru who asked for his 4 seam inside pitch where he nodded in agreement. He took a deep breath in and out, did his windup and threw his 4 seam with full force inside making the batter fail to swing. "Strike!" the umpire yelled.