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 17

Eijun is standing a bit far from the field, as he watched a few of his Seido teammates having their own practice, he was standing away that no other players would notice he was even there. He had finished his evening run, and had already taken his bath after dinner. It has been a few days since he last talked with Hero sempai, and after his chaotic opening being Seido's ace, he could barely message anything back to his senior catcher though the latter still congratulated him for passing the first and second round of the summer tournament. Eijun took a deep sigh as he look out towards the fields, he could clearly remember the time when Furuya confidently mentioned that he would be connecting the game for them, thus making him kind of envious and at the same time motivated. Even if I am the one who got the ace number, it does not mean I have defeated Furuya or could be able to take his share of pitching, that goes without saying the same with Nori sempai or Kaneda, he blew out air as if trying to pull out all his negative thoughts. He pulled out his phone and scan his messages, he could clearly see a lot of messages and encouragement from his BJ team, including Tohru, however the one lacking message was none other than their captain, making him feel dejected for a bit. I wonder if the Daiki sempai is doing good now? He thought to himself, as he had a flashback of the events that had change his whole baseball life.

"You are from Seido right, the southpaw pitcher?" Eijun could clearly remember how a woman likely talker than miss Rei stood just behind him, obviously catching her breath. "I need your help, I need you to pitch for us like right now…" Those are the words that made him smile towards himself, if he had not just followed an unknown woman, he would never had the chance to actually have the glimpse of a world outside of Seido baseball. "The hell… you mean you just let the doc drag you out here and you have no idea who she is or who we are?" as Eijun could clearly remember seeing his BJ senior Maki having a wide grin on his face saying those words, back then he was nervous getting drag by Yukime, yet at the same time that was the best decision he had made in his life. "Just keep your shoulders warm kid, let us handle the rest!" Those were the first words his BJ captain told him, the very first time they met. Eijun fisted his free hand, as he could remember the wide smile from their captain back then, compared to when they last saw each other in the BJ facility when he told him he was a temporary replacement of the real ace, the smile back then was no more instead their was animosity and bitterness in his face. "The pitchers job is on the defense, you are our shield, it's a batter job to handle offense, so we make sure the shield would not break from the pressure of the other team". Those words had help him face the pressure of powerfull batters, since he know that despite him giving up runs, the team would make up for it with their bats. With the BJ team, he was not worried in giving up runs, which made him wonder why he was so stressed out in terms of giving up runs in his Seido team. It is not that the team has asked him to take on that stress though, however he think that is what a ace pitcher job, and he took that responsibility on his own. Eijun focus towards the field again, as he sat on the stairs overlooking the field, watching a few of the members doing their swing practice and fielding. "What do you mean you… it is we kid not you, we will win this game that includes you" Eijun again remember the statement of their BJ captain the first time he was on the field, after giving up a hit and almost in a state of panic in the mound, back then he just wanted to let the team win, yet they have included him in the team considering they all just recently met for the first time. "Attending Seido was a good thing; however I do believe he could do more. Seido has a strict discipline in terms of training there players, but they have a lot of players, thus I personally believe that the training staff could not be able to personally adhere to every single player personal growth. That is why, if it would be fine with you, I would like to personally take Eijun under my care?" Those are the words that had change his entire baseball year, as Eijun slowly loosen his grip and turn to look at his phone screen, "Anyways… you don't really have to memorize them all, but I guess you already know a few of us huh…" he could still remember the cheerfulness of being introduced to the whole BJ team within those times, and at the same time the start of his intense training with the team starting with his form and his fastball pitches development.

"Ahh… yeah… well it is kind of a last minute thing. So what about it? Do you want to pitch? Actually scratch that… Sawamura I need you to pitch in today's game" He clearly recalled the call he got from their coach Shoji in regards to the impromptu game. Their coach Shoji tone back then was leaning more in an order, however it was giving of a different vibe, that he was someone essential to the team and could not be replaced. The game however resulted to a loss due to Tohru leaving and him grabbing Tadano Itsuki as a main catcher despite his team having no idea or clue of the catcher. Though the game resulted on a loss, it was one of most thrilling games he has played, "Then I suggest trust the arsenal of your pitcher, if his pitches are that simple then we would have Towa catching for him instead, but it is not that simple; show us what kind of battery the both of you can make…" he could still clearly hear the reprimanding tone from their co-captain Miro to Itsuki when their battery was not working out during the first inning of the game, and Itsuki's comment "Go for it Ace!". Thought their were some hiccups along the away, that game has prove to show how far he has gone on terms of depending on his battery partner and at the same time present the things that he needs to work on for further improvements. After the game, he could clearly recollect the expression of his team mates and their coach seeing Yukime totally mad, and arguing with them. Looking back those time he had a bit of an argument with her in terms of letting Itsuki join his practice and at the same time being able to keep playing with Black Jaguars. The ace of Black Jaguars huh… Eijun thought solemnly as he could see his seniors faces on the field, and he totally remember the smiling face of his cather who is none other than Tohru Hero placing his mitt in the dead center of the plate.

He sighed as he press the call button of a certain number in his phone. "Brother Yuuta?" Eijun asked the moment he heard an answer on the other line.

"Yo! Eijun… how you doing? Congratulations in winning your first and second games for your summer tournament" Yuuta voice seems cheerful on the other line the moment he heard Eijun's voice.

"Thank you… though I was not much help to the team during those times" Eijun answered sadly as he focus his gaze towards the field. Eijun could hear a light laughter on the line as if what he said was something funny.

"You should not sweat it, Shoji and Hero did mention watching you play in your high school games are refreshing, at first I had no idea what they ment, but after personally seeing your first game… it was definitely refreshing"

Eijun got flustered, wait what does he mean personally "ehhhh… brother Yuuta did you… by any chance watched my first game?" Eijun was nervous, this was a big news for him considering he did not perform well during his first game plus he was benched in the 4th inning due to his performance.

Yuuta laughed loudly on the other line, as he could imagine Eijun's flustered face upon learning he was present in his first game. He looked up and saw his secretary handing in some more paper works. He was currently in his office, though it was evening, it was not that late for him to return home, thus he was surprised when he saw Eijun's name registering on his phone screen. "It is my younger brother first game being the ace… and since my sister Yukime is not around it is only natural for me to attend the game on her behalf" he answered cheerfully making him smile wider as he stood up from his sit waving to his secretary to move out of the room and he move towards the wide office window.

Eijun sag from embarassement on his sit upon hearing the confirmation that Yuuta was indeed present on the first game. "Ugh… that game was pretty much horrible… I feel heavy, I barely gotten any sleep too… my pitches were horrible, I could not connect it… if the coach did not put me out, I might have ended our third years dream" Eijun commented as he recalled how he felt standing on that mound.

"That is true… compare how you pitched during your practice games, that game was quite horrible, though it was refreshing to see… you are just human Eijun, there are times when everything is not going according to the way you want it, that is why in baseball you have reserves to cover for it so that you won't have to shoulder every single thing"

Eijun grip his phone tighter as he listen to Yuuta's words on the other line. "I understand, when I was on the dugout during our second game, and when Furuya said that he would be connecting the game and successfully did it, I totally understood that even though I was able to get the ace number, it does not indicate that I am a totally better pitcher than him, nor do I have the capability to do their share of pitching" as Eijun recalled Furuya's performance and at the same time informing him confidently that he would be connecting their games thus he does not need to worry. Though it makes him feel a bit frustrated. "It actually kind of hit me real hard, makes me wonder if I am fitted to be the ace for this team…"

"Hmmm… are you saying you are having doubts with your own ability as being the ace? Or are you saying you are not satisfied you were chosen as the ace?" Yuuta asked seriously. It was hard for him to gauge Eijun's demeanor considering he could not see the young pitcher.

"No… I mean Seido is such a strong team, as I watch my seniors take over the game, and I watched Furuya in his peak condition. I suddenly felt like I don't know… frustrated with my performance probably or perhaps disappointed with myself" Eijun answered honestly. There are times when he would reach a certain dark part of his thinking that he tends to avoid at all cost, thus he acts as loud and straightforward as he is.

"Eijun… you deserve that ace number, and that other pitcher said he connected it right, you mentioned something like that, then than would only mean you have another chance to redeem yourself, not just as the ace of Seido, but the ace that you have wanted to be…" Yuuta's tone was light, as if encouraging him more and at the same time challenging him.

Eijun exhaled deeper as he turn to focus back towards the field, "Brother Yuuta…" thought their was bit of a long pause, the other person did not answer and just waited for whatever he was gonna say, which made Eijun glad that he was not being rushed in terms of recollecting his thoughts. "I want to take that exam…" he answered softly, finally getting his resolve.

"I see… I would make some calls then, I strongly recommend you just focus on your summer games, and show what the real Sawamura Eijun ace pitcher of Seido is made off" Yuuta further encourage, making Eijun smile deeply. The both of them talk for a bit more over trivial things, before finally ending the call. And this time Eijun feel a bit lighter, perhaps it was because he finally was able to remove one thing out of his chest, and that is the decision if he would want to officially form a batter with Tohru sempai. Now that is done and over with, he can start focusing on continuously showing what he can actually do in his other games.

"Sawamura sempai!"

Eijun flinch upon hearing his name and turn to only see Okumura and Seto walking towards his direction. "Miyuki sempai is looking for you… I think it is in regards to our schedule considering we would be watching Inashiro and Sankou's games" Okumura informs seriously looking intently as his senior. He was looking for the pitcher for a while now, and he found it weird that his usual loud and annoying senior is sitting in the shadows of the baseball field, alone all quite.

"Owhhhh… wolf boy, I mean Okumura… yeah… I totally forgot about that…" As Eijun stood up and dusted his pants. "We cannot let the high and mighty captain wait for us right!" Eijun cheered loudly as he started walking back to the dorms.

"Ehhh… Do you think sempai is going to be ok?" Seto asked Koshu all serious, as they followed their senior back towards the dorms.

"I honestly I don't know… he is a guy I cannot understand…" Koshu answered begrudgingly.