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: Guys! oh my gosh I'm so excited for this chapter since I had so much fun working on it too... but some might not like it the way I do though, but please don't hate me for it. (sad) But this is only the beginning since the summer tourney is about to begin and now it is time to put our Seido hats and cheer for the team! Please do leave comments or reviews of what you think? (wink wink)
Chapter 14
It was exam week, and Eijun was in there classroom talking to Furuya when Kanemaru noticed that three of their classmates were watching Eijun closely. "Hey guys, why are you looking at Sawamura like you are gonna eat him alive?" Kanemaru asked as he moves towards them.
"Owh… Kanemaru…" Hachi, one of his classmates answered turning to look at him for a bit as if to acknowledge his presence.
"What's up? You guys good for the exams?" Kanemaru asked again, as he still notices they were still looking at Sawamura as if analyzing him.
"Yeah we good" answered one of them not interested in the question.
"Hey Kanemaru… have you seen the central season standing lately?" Hachi asked, as he turns to look at Kanemaru.
"Owh you mean this season baseball games, not yet… we are preparing for the summer tournament so I have not seen it yet, why?" Kanemaru asked curiously, he knew a few of their classmates were baseball fans after all since they also watch their games.
"Well Red Hawks are still pretty much leading, followed by the Silver Titans, but what is surprising is that the Black Jaguars are within the top three this season" inform one of his classmates.
"Ahhh… well the BJ team is one of the top offensive team in the league, it is not like unusual for them to perform in any seasons" Kanemaru interjected, though he do watch baseball season games, he never bothered to watch BJ games since they often don't have a good reputation going around.
"Yeah… it's just that… have Sawamura ever mentioned to you anything about pro leagues recently?" one of them inquired looking at Kanemaru seriously.
"Huh… Sawamura? Pro league?" Kanemaru turn to look at Sawamura who was now talking to one of his girl classmates in terms of a manga she was reading, making him wrinkled his forehead. "No… I don't think he even knows what pro league is" he answered uncaringly. He noticed that those three classmates turn to look at each other, making him more curious. "Hey hey… what is going on? Do you guys know something about Sawamura that I don't?" he asked again.
"Well you see Kanemaru, recently during the off season practice games, BJ has gain quite a big popularity through baseball fans, and that is due to their new ace" Hachi started to explain, which made Kanemaru raise an eyebrow.
"BJ's new ace, I though their ace move to Fukuoka Golden Eagles?" Kanemaru asked.
"Yeah, BJ's old ace did move to the eagles, but that is not the guy we are talking about. Recently from what we heard, that ace started to show up first during a promotional game against the White Knights"
Kanemaru look confused, he did hear about the promotional games and practice games for the pro off season team, however he does not understand why people would still watch those games considering it was still just practice games and not the seasonal games. It is not like the tickets were free in the first place plus it was not cheap either. "I still don't understand what is the connection with Sawamura?" he asked still confused.
"Ugh… let us explain first Kanemaru…" one of them looked dead serious as he seem to be wary of Eijun hearing them, making Kanemaru more curious now. "They said that this new ace started showing up during practice games after beating the White Knights second string in the first promotional game, and that is like what a few months where the previous unvalued team started gaining traction not just from baseball media but through fans as well"
"And that is not all, BJ was dominating their practice games, only losing a few games with close gap in the score, and this new ace is young and loud too… like someone we all know" as Hachi turn to look at Sawamura who seems to be intently talking to one of their classmates in relation to the manga she was reading.
"Uhhuh… but that information does not prove anything though…" Kanemaru answered still looking confused why his classmates think's Sawamura is the new BJ ace.
"The thing is Kanemaru, when the season started the ace that is quite popular never showed up, not a single game even if they were losing, he never came, plus he was not even in the dugout. Don't you think that BJ has a hidden ace, and that ace is Sawamura?"
Kanemaru almost burst into laughter in the ridiculous remark and opinion of his classmates. "Ok wait wait… let me get this straight… you guys think that BJ has a hidden ace and you all think it is Sawamura because he is loud and young?" Kanemaru asked seriously trying hard not to laugh.
Hachi and two of his classmates were obviously embarrassed with their opinion of that matter, and seeing Kanemaru trying hard not to laugh was even making them more uncomfortable. "Look… we do know it sounds ridiculous…"
"Sound ridiculous…are you guys for real? It is beyond absurd..." Kanemaru was now starting to laugh with his classmates' obvious embarrassed expression.
"Ugh… look Kanemaru we do know it is kind of laughable, and honestly I am not sure my self, that is until I saw Sawamura's Hakuryu article and watched your practice games, especially with your recent win against Seiho the other day, Sawamura was shining like a freaking ace on that mound you know" Hachi pointed out, seriously.
"Well that is true… his performance against the power house teams during our golden week and practice games was phenomenal, but to think he would be the hidden ace of a pro league team… and that team will be none other than the well infamous BJ… don't you guys think it is kind of a big stretch?" Kanemaru asked, as if their idea was beyond comical. "I would most likely give you guys a benefit of the doubt if you said any other team, but BJ… the bad boys of the baseball league would eat Sawamura alive with his kind of personality."
His three classmates, went all quiet and turn to look at Sawamura who was now being loud and complaining to Furuya who was now holding the manga that one of their classmates were previously holding. Seeming like they totally understood what Kanemaru was telling making them sigh in defeat and at the same completely realize how absurd their idea could be. In the Japan baseball league, Black Jaguar was recognized as the bad boys of the league, common for making trouble and not shying away from scandal after scandal, and if Sawamura would be it that team, they could all imagine him being roasted alive, with his loud, bright, stupid and annoying personality.
"Plus if it is the pro league now a day we have news, TV exposure, camera… I doubt you have not seen who that hidden ace is" Kanemaru inquired.
"Yeah… but that is the thing Kanemaru, there is no picture of the new ace… all we know is his name, like the whole media has been hushed in regards to that new ace pitcher" Hachi explained looking defeated.
"Seriously… well that is surprising" Kanemaru turn to look at Sawamura who was still arguing with Furuya.
"I know… and recently the day after your spring tournament game, when you guys lost… I remember you guys were given an off right? My younger brother went with my parents to watch a practice game of BJ and RH, how I wished I was the one who actually came with them, and he said that new ace pitcher was on fire… he practically gave no runs upon entering on the 5th inning with the defending Central League Champions and only gave out one hit imagine that, a single hit against the Red Hawks… and the most intriguing part is that when the camera tries to zoom in at the pitcher it gets pixelated like they were hiding who that ace pitcher is"
"Hmmm… so what is the name of the new ace pitcher?" Kanemaru asked seriously.
"Ahm… I think it was Ei Samuwara" one of his classmates answered.
"Well the name could not be the real name… but for it to be Sawamura" As all four of them turn to look at Sawamura who was laughing loudly and ridiculously on his sit, it made them feel that their guess would be deadly wrong. All of them sighed at the same time, making them feel their suspicion of Sawamura being the hidden ace of Tokyo Black Jaguars might lean towards the wrong end of the rope. Kanemaru sighed deeper, damn it why did I suddenly got curious about this he thought as he could not even imagine Sawamura wearing a black uniform. "Fine… there is no harm in asking him, but I am saying to you guys to not expect anything"
All three of his classmates turn at him all expectantly. "Thank you Kanemaru… we will not be hoping, we are just curious"
"Yeah yeah… we will see how that goes" Kanemaru nonchalantly answered still in disbelief he would be asking Sawamura a very unbelievable question making him sigh deeply and at the same time wondered if he would be regretting it in the future. He was on that thought when their homeroom teacher came in, forcing him to return back to his chair.
"Shinji you seem to be thinking something deep" Toujou asked as they were walking towards the field, exam week was over, and they were gathering to receive their jersey numbers.
"Yeah… well I kind of need to ask something to Sawamura" Kanemaru answered as he was searching for Sawamura in the field where a few of the team players were starting to gather. It has been a few days since the talk with Hachi and his other classmates, and he was seriously contemplating if he should ask Sawamura the question that has started to bug him as well.
"Owh… and you did not ask while we were in school or in the dorms?" Toujou was curious, normally Kanemaru would inform him of his thoughts, but this time he was going straight to Sawamura.
"Yeah… well it is not me who wanted to ask, I was asked to ask him sort of…"then Kanemaru notice Eijun was near the dug out with Furuya and Haruichi still being loud as usual still rubbing the idea that he beat Furuya in their Japanese History test. "Yo Sawamura!" Kanemaru called out, where Eijun turned to him smiling brightly.
"Kanemaru… I beat Furuya!" Eijun informs repeatedly earning a light laugh from Haruichi and a sigh from Furuya.
"Yeah yeah and I have told you time and time again stop rubbing it in considering the score that you got, anyways I want to ask you something…" Kanemaru started.
"Huh? What's up?" Eijun look bewildered, while Haruichi turn to look at Toujou who just shrug indicating he has no idea what Kanemaru question will be.
"Do you know of BJ?" Kanemaru asked seriously, where the other players surrounding them turn towards their direction.
Eijun pause for a beat, looking at Kanemaru seriously. "Huh…"
"I am asking you, do you know of BJ?" Kanemaru asked again watching Eijun closely.
"Of course I do! What do you think of me…" Eijun answered looking offended, "Isn't that the guy that usually turn on music sounds… like those guys who make amazing sounds in parties or clubs" he confidently answered earning a sigh and dumbfounded look from the people around them.
Ugh…. Of course… what did I expect from Sawamura Kanemaru thought as he put his palm on his forehead. Toujou lightly laughed, while Kuramochi who was not far from them put Eijun on a choke hold.
"Stupidmura… that is not what he was asking…" Kuramochi informs in between greeted teeth as he put Eijun in a chokehold.
"Ehhhh… Mochi sempai… I give up… I give up!" Eijun taps Kuramochi's arms as if giving a sign of surrender.
"Ahm… Eijun… I think what you mean is a club DJ, Kanemaru is talking about BJ" Haruichi explained as Kurmochi released Eijun from his hold.
Eijun was kneeling down, trying to get his breathing back… " Huh… is there a difference between the two…" he acted as if he does not know.
Toujou laughed lightly seeing Eijun bewildered expression, "yes… DJ are those people who actually plays music for events, while BJ is short for Tokyo Black Jaguars, a pro Japan Baseball League team" he further explained.
"Owh…" as Eijun stood up, he started to tap his pants that got a bit of dust when he kneeled down after getting away from Kuramochi's choke hold. He was starting too seriously freak out and have cold sweats running behind his back, as he pretended to remove dust from his pants looking down, avoiding the gaze of his team mates. Oh my god… Oh my god… what did I do to give them any hint… have they heard me talking with Tohru sempai… did someone saw me… his mind was panicking, he need to figure out how to get out of this mess and fast. "So what about BJ?" he asked casually still avoiding his team gaze and pretending to dust his pants.
"Yeah… what about that disfavored team?" Kuramochi also got curious to Kanemaru's question not noticing Eijun flinching in his remark.
"Nothing… forget about it Kuramochi sempai… some of my classmates got this really stupid idea on their head…" Kanemaru informs as if the whole idea was a stupid thing.
"Ahhh…" Kuramochi nodded.
"Kuramochi sempai… what do you mean by disfavored team?" Eijun asked seriously as he looks at Kuramochi.
"Huh… did you not know… well I guess you won't have an idea anyways… Tokyo Black Jaguars is described as the pro league trouble makers, I heard the members of that team were all gang members and not really baseball players" Kuramochi explained.
"Yeah… I also heard that their captain actually punch someone sending that person to the hospital with severe injuries" Haruichi added.
"Well from what I know is that team is full of good looking delinquents who really cannot play baseball and are just their for display"
Eijun was fisting his hands; he was holding himself back to not make a comment in how his Seido team is bad mouthing his Black Jaguar team. Of course he cannot just correct them that those are all baseless rumors since he himself were not aware of how horrible the reputation of his BJ team is, as he continue to hear bad remarks continuously. Plus he would totally blew his cover if he gives the slightest hint of trying to defend his team. When he was about to reach his limit, and was about to defend the team, he suddenly heard Miyuki sempai butting in the discussion.
"I don't think they are that bad though… they won't be included in the best offensive teams in the league if they are just full of bad people who cannot play, plus they are being coached by a previous major league player Mihashi Shoji, that person is the real deal when it comes to baseball" Miyuki informs as he was listening closely to his team mates discussion.
"Cap…" Eijun's eyes were twinkling as if he was his savior looking at Miyuki making the latter look surprised.
"Ehhh… what is wrong with you?" Miyuki look surprised in regards to Eijun's reaction.
"True… well pro league is still far from our goals… we need to finish the summer tournament first" Zono exclaimed earning a nod from his other teams mates.
"The coach is here!" Nabe called out as he noticed coach Kataoka including the other coaching staff approaching the field. They all lined up as they prepare themselves to get the jersey numbers. None of the players notice Eijun's change in demeanor or the glim in his eyes as he move towards his position in the line.