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: Hello everyone! Sorry for the late upload, however I was in a inner conflict for this part, since I wanted to show the difference between a high school baseball team and a pro league team, that pretty much includes drama, management and those stuff. Please don't hate me for this, and don't stop reading, I promise it is just part of the flow... Thank you and stay healthy everyone! Peace out!

Chapter 15

"Sawamura sempai, where are you going?" Asada asked suspiciously as he noticed Eijun zipping up his Seido jacket. It was after dinner, and their seniors were still doing their late practice, the other day, the regulars just received their jersey number and at the moment they also have a new ace in the name of Sawamura Eijun. Asada could remember his senior's expression and happy face in the cafeteria too when the managers were trying to sew the number on his uniform. They still have two days before the opening ceremony of the summer tournament, thus practice was in full swing. Though Asada could clearly notice, Sawamura does not seem to be going out for a run or for pitching practice either.

"I am just getting a bit of fresh air, could you cover for me a bit Asada if Kuramochi sempai came back and asked about me?" Eijun was grinning while asking his kohai a favor.

"I don't mind sempai, but where are you going?" Asada asked again, there are times where Sawamura sempai demeanor change from being all cheerful and then serious. This is one of those situations and instances where he found it surprising when his senior was acting like a real senior.

"Just going out for a walk out the field, I will be back so just cover for me ok…" Sawamura waved his hand, as he moved out of the dorm room and closing the door, avoiding Asada's observing gaze and at the same time his further questions. He was excited, it has been a month since he personally last saw Tohru sempai, thus when he got a message saying they should celebrate the moment he let him know he got the ace number he was more than ecstatic. He wanted to see his senior catcher, plus he also wanted to see his new born son, he found out from sister Nina that she gave birth a few days ago to a healthy baby boy. As he walked through the shadows of the Seido dorm, avoiding any players that are still currently doing their personal practice, he noticed Tohru's vehicle parked on the road thus he jog towards the car. "Hero sempai!" Eijun greeted the moment he opened the door.

"Yo… Eijun been a while" Tohru greeted as he wave him to get in quick.

Eijun beamed brightly as he got in the car at the same time fixing his seatbelt as a habit from riding with Yukime. "I heard from captain Daiki that everyone is on a winning streak lately"

Tohru laughed lightly as he started the vehicle and started driving. "I guess,.. if we keep this up we can be a contender for the central league championship hopefully. But today is not about us, Congratulations in finally getting that ace number Eijun" it was obvious from Tohru's tone that he was proud and happy as he ruffled Sawamura's head in reaching his goal of being the ace.

Eijun laughed a bit, as he tries to fix his ruined hair. He wanted to be presentable to sister Nina afterall. "Hehehe… Thank you sempai… do you want to see it? I am wearing it today" Eijun eagerly answered trying to zip his Seido jacket down.

"Hahaha… perhaps later, I just need to get something in the apartment real quick then we can go straight home to celebrate you achievement" Tohru commented as he slowly parked his car not far from the BJ facility entrance. That was when Eijun noticed they were in front of the BJ facility "Stay in the car for a while ok… I will be back real quick" as Tohru took out his keys and move out of the car in a swift manner.

Eijun wrinkled his forehead that was strange, normally Hero sempai would tell him to wait in the lobby instead of remaining inside the vehicle considering that the lobby was just in front of the car park plus it has a vending machine too. As he remembered the vending machine, he suddenly felt thirsty. He slip his arm in his pocket to check for some change, and when he notice he had enough he went out of the vehicle and went straight towards the lobby entrance. The moment he got in, he noticed their captain, Daiki standing in front of the machine drinking a bottle of water. "Good evening cap!" Eijun greeted. He saw their captain Daiki turning to look at him, however for some reason, the captain demeanor and expression seems to be somber.

"Owh… it is you Sawamura… been a while" Daiki commented blandly like he was not pleased seeing Sawamura at the moment, then turn to drink the whole bottle of water he was holding and throwing it on the trash nearby the machine.

Eijun could sense something was off with the captain. Usually their captain is glad when he is around, but at the moment the other person seems to be not in a good mood. "Ahm, cap is everything good?" he asked tentatively.

"Hmmm… yeah everything is good..." Daiki answered shortly not looking at Sawamura and pretended to be stretching instead.

Eijun could sense the depressing atmosphere around their captain, and he does not like it thus he decided to cheer him up instead. "Hey cap… look… I got the ace number!" as he zips his Seido jacket down and turning around showing the big number one on his Seido jersey. Eijun could see the shadowy expression on their captain face turn darker, and he could clearly see how the latter wrinkled his forehead seemingly not pleased with the news, "I see, so you finally got what you wanted huh… You and Miro are the same; I guess you can just push us aside now right? Since you guys have more options now". Eijun got more confused as he heard his captain irritated tone. Though he had heard that tone a few times, he was never the person on the receiving end, and this is the first time he is experiencing it. "Huh… cap… I don't know what you mean?" Eijun asked nervously, he was starting to get anxious in regards to their captain change in demeanor towards him. He could clearly hear a light laugh coming from their captain as Daiki was closely looking at him straight on his eyes with a resentful glow.

"What I mean… you don't even care what I mean right kid, since you already got what you wanted, and then I guess you are done with this team right?" Daiki said mockingly, making Eijun feel irritated, he was about to comment when he froze towards the next statement of their captain. "You know kid… it is not like you deserve that ace number, you remember you mentioned your ace pitcher getting injured, so you being an ace is just merely a temporary replacement for the team." Daiki watched as Eijun expression from confusion turn to hurt, yet he did not stop from what he wanted to say, "With a pitching like that in the Koshien tournament, of course it is already assumable that Furuya Satory is a monster and the real ace pitcher of Seido. Your coaching staffs are already aware of that, there is no better ace pitcher than him, however he got injured, so it is only normal to just let another pitcher temporarily carry that number to not burden a healing pitcher. It is not like they have high expectations from you"

Eijun was now getting vexed towards their captain's words. He could feel his heart started to beat intently at the same time he is bewildered in the sudden change of their captain attitude towards him. Right now, he has no idea who is the man standing infront of him, because this was not the captain he knew and respected. Daiki sempai was never mean nor rude to him and he had always cheered him on and supported him either in or off the field, but now the man standing and talking to him was totally not the person he knew. This person was a complete stranger to him.

"What is going on here? Sawamura what are you doing here?" Miro asked as he entered the lobby upon hearing conflicting tone of voices, plus he wanted to check on Daiki who never returned from batting practice. As he looked at Sawamura, he could clearly see the discomfort in his eyes, and when he turn to Daiki he could see irritation. "What the hell did you do Koji?" Miro asked towards Daiki scowling as he move closer to their captain.

"Ehhh… wait… Miro sempai…" Eijun sensed the tension between the two the moment they look at each other. what do I do Eijun was panicking turning from Miro and Daiki at the same time.

"Why do you care… you going to be gone right… I guess the same goes with the kid since you guys have better options now right… unlike us that are nothing but mere trash…" Daiki taunted.

Miro grabbed Daiki's shirt giving a threatening look "If you are fucking with me right now… don't let the kid be involve in this…"

"Ehhhh wait wait... cap… Miro sempai!" Eijun was totally confused, as he tries to get in between his two seniors who are taller and more buffed than him. "Let us all relax for abit! And talk!" Eijun was yelling now, as he tries to separate his two seniors with no avail.

"Oi… Sawamura what are you doing?" Maki asked curiously as he was walking in, he could hear Eijun's distressed tone.

"Maki sempai! Help!" Eijun pleaded the moment he saw Maki walking in from the field.

Maki's instincts kick in the moment he saw Eijun's panic face, Miro holding Daiki's shirt and at the same time the glare that are showing in there faces. "The hell what are you guys doing?" he run in between the two, trying to pry their co-captain away from their captain.

"Ask Daiki… he said something mean to the kid…" Miro answered as he released Daiki and pushed him away.

"Huh!" Maki was totally confused, that was when the other team players came waltzing in the lobby.

"Something mean? Don't make me laugh Miro… since you and the kid are leaving us all hanging dry now… why not be honest… right Sawamura… since you are Seido's ace now… right" Daiki commented annoyingly.

Eijun look confused, he does not know what was totally going, and seeing the angry look from both his seniors is making him more baffled. "Owh… so you are the ace now huh kid, congrats…" he heard Maki saying it however he noticed that he does not seem happy with the news as he stood in between his captain and co-captain. And as Eijun turn to look at the other players who walk in, they all stood quiet and avoided his gaze.

"Yeah… he is the ace now… now he can finally go have a greener pasture in life" Daiki added sarcastically.

"Screw you!" Miro shouted as he tries to lunge towards Daiki. That was when all hell broke loose, Eijun stood stiff as he saw Miro tries to grab their captain, but Towa and Kaneki sempai were much faster that they were able to grab their co-captain and move him away from Daiki who was shouting curses. Maki was also holding Daiki so the other person would not try to get a hold of Miro who was also shouting profanities.

"What is going in here?" Tohru asked the moment he came out of the elevator, and saw Eijun standing stiff in between grown up men who are now acting like teenagers in a rumble.

"Ugh… dang it… Tohru just take Sawamura and leave… we can handle this" Maki shouted as he was holding Daiki and trying to push him away.

Tohru hold Eijun's shoulders as he pushed him lightly towards the exit of the lobby. The moment they got out of the building, and walked towards the car, they could clearly hear the shouting from their teammates, making Tohru sigh deeply and turn to look at Eijun who seems surprised and stun in the turn of events. "You ok?" he asked tentatively the moment they got inside the vehicle and he started the car engine. He wanted to get out of their fast, before things go downhill.

Eijun turn to look at Tohru who seems relax in the turn of events in the lobby, "I don't know… Hero sempai… what is going on?" he asked, everything around him tur gray. The happy early start of his late evening had drastically turned haywire. This was the first time he saw the team in a chaotic state.

Tohru sigh as he focuses on the road, hearing Eijun's question. "Well… it seems that Daiki and Miro are in a little dispute" he explained.

"That does not seem a bit of little… especially how captain was strange… towards me too…" Eijun answered softly as he looked down in his hands. He could clearly remember how Daiki called him out as not deserving to be the ace, and honestly speaking it hurt badly.

"Eijun… don't mind whatever the captain told you, you are already aware that Daiki has a crass attitude, plus he is not himself right now, so I apologize in his behalf and the whole team too" Tohru said as he noticed Eijun depressed state.

"Why did the captain and co-captain argue?" Eijun asked curiously, he knew how tight the relationship their captain and co-captain have. As he could remember they were friends since childhood days, so seeing them cursing and trying to hurt one another was a big surprise to him. Eijun could clearly hear the deep sigh that Tohru released, and at the same time when he turn to look at his senior he could noticed the distressed look on his face.

"After our win this morning, you know there is always an interview session right," Tohru started where he noticed Eijun slightly nodding his head, "well one of the reporters asked Miro something in terms of a proposal contract with another team, in which Daiki was not aware off. Well to be honest none of us knew about it except a few of the coaching staff."

"Huh… Miro sempai would be leaving the team?" Eijun asked in a panic, he remembered when he first joined the team, the previous ace pitcher also left the team in a not good state.

Tohru laughed lightly as he remembered the tension on the interview that morning after they won their game, "No he will not leave the team yet Eijun, we are on a season, and Miro has a contract with the team, but it seem to rubbed Daiki in the wrong way, and as you have guessed before things settle down, things had started to escalate. Daiki refuse to listen to reason at the moment, and with his attitude he has been lashing out with a few of the other members too" Tohru informs in a sad tone, as he made a turn, and enter a gated property. "I am sorry for whatever he told you Eijun, I am sure he does not mean it… it is just that I don't think he is thinking at the moment…"

Eijun looked at his hands, he could remember how their captain Daiki was on games, and how he would raise his hand for a fist bump every other homerun when he got back in the dugout. The bright atmosphere around the team whenever their captain and co-captain starts joking at one another in the field made him relax, and now in this kind of stained ambience, he was not sure how he could handle it.

"Don't worry about those old man Eijun, they are grown up adults… they can fix their issues," Tohru reassured him as he noticed Eijun was not moving out of the passenger sit.

Eijun turn to look back at Tohru who was now standing outside of the driver's door, looking at him worried. He took a deep breath to get his bearing back. Honestly he does not know what to do with his captain, or co-captain, but he need to believe what ever his catcher said that everything will be ok. The moment he got out of the vehicle he could hear the loud calls of children running towards his direction.

"Brother Eijun!" a young girl and boy running towards his direction mostly around the age of three smiling brightly as they try to tackle Eijun down with a big hug.

"Aya, Aki, I missed the both of you!" Eijun beamed brightly he hugged back Tohru's twins.

"Eijun… welcome home!" Nina greeted Sawamura as she was standing in front of a Japanese like sliding door, obviously holding a small child carefully in her arms.

"Sister Nina!" Eijun greeted as he released the twins and move towards Nina. He slowly move a bit closer as Nina bend down to show Eijun a young child.

"Eijun meet Eita Tohru…" Nina introduced the newborn to Eijun who was clearly sleeping, and not bothered in the happenings around the world.

Eijun flinch upon hearing the name, smiling wide then turn to look at Tohru who was shaking his head, and moving inside pushing the other two children in. "Don't start… I tried to retaliate however I lost…" as he made his case, making Eijun grin wider. "Owh… Hero sempai I knew you love me…" he teased making Nina laugh following Tohru inside. "I cannot believe you actually name him close after me!" Eijun still was pleased as he kept on pestering Tohru who was obviously trying to ignore him as he led him towards a room. "Yeah yeah… Eijun I want you to behave yourself ok, since we would be celebrating with the whole family" and as Tohru mentioned the whole family, he slide open a door making Eijun froze on the spot.

The room was well lit, however upon entry Eijun could notice that he was like entering a mafia den, where an old man was sitting alone in the top middle of the room, and the other member where on the side. "Ehhh… Hero sempai…" Eijun asked slowly as he move closer to Tohru, who the latter just bowed down and sit seiza style.

"You must be Eijun…" an old man sitting on top of the middle of the room called him. "Come here… I want to see you closer…"

Eijun turn to look at Tohru who was still avoiding his gaze, as he slowly walks in the center of the room. He was getting nervous since he was obviously being observe by the people around the room as he got closer towards the stiff old man. Upon coming close, he notice the old man motioning for him to sit, as he turn to Tohru one last time, he notice the latter was still avoiding his gaze, though there was a bit of smile. He took a deep breath as he also sit down seiza style, and focus on the old man infront of him. He was way different compared to his grandfather, the old man infront of him has a dignified and commanding aura. He swallowed his nervousness, as bowed down introducing himself, "Good evening sir, my name is Sawamura Eijun…"

The old man looked at Eijun closely, as if observing him, "Uhhuh… I heard, but I also heard you became the ace of the Seido baseball team" he inquired seriously.

"Ahm… yes sir…" as Eijun zip his jacket down and slowly turn to show his ace number jersey. He could clearly hear the sound of amazement within the room, making him more nervous, however the next thing that happened was surreal for him he was stunned.

"Hahahahahaha… I cannot believe my great grand child is an ace of Seido high! I am so proud of you!" The old man cheered loudly as he moved closer and patted Eijun on the back. "You should drink! We need to celebrate!" he added as he pushed a glass of sake towards Eijun, making the latter look stunned and disbelief to the sudden change of demeanor of the old man.

"Grand father… Eijun is still under age, and he is still in highschool thus he could not drink…" one of the people sitting close beside the old man answered. As Eijun turn to look at him he could notice, he was similar to Yukime neesan in a sort of way.

"Shush Yuuta… as of right now Eijun is part of the Harashi… thus he is family! Let us celebrate!" the old man yelled, and as if on cue the whole room erupted in cheers, and food and drinks suddenly came flooding in, stunning Eijun stiff on his spot as he tries to avoid the drink being pushed to him. "Common… Eijun you cannot let your grandfather sit hear hanging" the old man keep on pushing, until Eijun noticed the young man who was similar to Yukime came in and held the old man easily slightly pushing him towards the other direction, "Eijun forgive our grandfather Harashi Goji, he rarely get a timeout from home, plus we rarely have this kind of gatherings thus the turmoil".

Eijun was amazed, to call the cheers and celebration vibe within the room turmoil was pretty much an understatement. He was about to asked something however he suddenly notices Tohru quietly leaving the room, unnoticed.