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 18

Tohru was watching along the sidelines of the Seido field. As he looked around he noticed that Seido has quite an alumnus and a lot of spectator seemingly watching them in their practice. It was the day after their win in the quarter finals against Sankou, and he was astonished when he had watched Eijun's pitching performance during that game. It has been a while since he had last catch for Eijun, and now as he watched the young pitcher on the field doing fielding practice, he cannot seem to remove his uneasiness and at the same time eagerness to be able to catch for the young pitcher again. Now Seido is preparing to fight for the finals against Inashiro, and it seems they are doing extremely good in their fielding practice. His eyes led him towards the catcher as he clearly saw the moment Seido's main catcher was able to catch the ball, and throw it directly over the mound towards second base easily. Tohru flinched the moment he heard a wistle of approval not far behind his back, as he turn he saw Maki and Daiki walking towards his direction, making him wrinkled his forehead. "That is some fast arm throw their…" Tohru could clearly hear the apprasing tone from Maki towards the Seido catcher, making him feel annoyed. "What are you guys doing here?" as he turned to look back towards the field and watched the players move around, though his focus was still towards Seido's main catcher and captain, Miyuki Kazuya.

"I have a lot of free time remember, I am suspended for a single game due to arguing with the umpire call last game… so I wanted to see and congratulate the kid. Have you seen how wicked he was on his quarter finals game, that was superb pitching, to bad I was not present on that game to watch it personally" Maki could clearly remember the excitement he felt watching the game on TV, and best part it was not just him but almost all of the players and staff of BJ was present watching the game making their meeting room look like a movie house with loud cheers. "Which make me ask the same question, what are the both of you doing here?" he asked back, he remembered when he parked his car on Seido's parking area, he saw Tohru's vehicle, and at the same time Daiki's big bike parking in one of the vacant space.

"I asked the coach for a break today for a quick check up of my arm" Tohru explained, then as if on cue both he and Maki turn to look at Daiki that for some reason was all too quiet which was weird for him, and at the same time trying to avoid both of their gazes. "Does the coach know you are here captain? You do realize we have a game on going right now…" he added.

Daiki wince on the remark, yet still avoiding Maki and Tohru's look as he focus towards the field, and saw Sawamura standing in left field. "He will figure it out when I am not present during the roll call of the players" he casually remarked making both Maki and Tohru sigh. It is not like this is the first time for their captain in skipping a season game anyways thus their coach could figure out again.

"Hmmm… I guess… but I am guessing you are here because of what happened before between you and Eijun? Are you here to apologize?" Tohru casually inquired, obviously noticing the flinching of there captain and at the same time avoiding the topic.

"What about you? This is not the hospital… why are you really here Tohru?" Daiki asked trying to change the topic of discussion.

Maki groan as he could imagine his coach face the moment two of his main players are a no show in todays game, at the same time remembering the events that happened in the BJ facitliy before, however he was also curious what was their main catcher doing in Seido and obviously looking out not to Sawamura but seem to be more focus towards Seido's main catcher. "Oi… don't tell me you feel intimidated by an incoming catcher Tohru? I could remember the displeasure you had when Sawamura accidentally throw one of his pro pitches to that kid catcher" Maki asked surprised.

"Next season would be a war of strategies… there are quite a lot of talented catcher joining the next season game. I heard Harada Masatoshi would be the regular catcher for Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters after staying in the bench for two whole seasons, plus there is also the incoming Takigawa Chris Yu. I am not sure which team he would be joining in, though it seems he came out of injury and is healing properly, and now the incoming well famed Miyuki Kazuya" as Tohru informs his team mates, the displeasure was quite obvious based from his tone alone, not including his annoyed expression.

"Owhhh… isn't that Takigawa guy Sawamura's senior and mentor? I head him saying that before" as Maki tries to recall a conversation he had with the young pitcher when he found out he had yips before.

"Are you by any chance feeling threatened by the incoming catchers, Tohru?" Daiki asked again, though he was not looking at the catcher and only focusing on the fielding practice of Seido, his tone was quite serious.

"I don't know honestly, but one thing is for sure, I don't intend to hand over Eijun to any of them. He is my pitcher, since he will be my strength on the field, at the same time I will make him the best pitcher in the league, I will not hand over this position I have worked my ass off for years over to some newbies" Tohru declared all determined as he looked out towards Miyuki Kazuya's way unpleasantly.

Maki wrinkled his forehead; he could pretty much guess that Tohru was jealous of the other catchers, considering his weakness aside at the same time ever since they had Sawamura take the pitcher position regularly with the team, they had fun fielding, plus the defense was suddenly present. The kid has wicked tempo within the field connecting to their defense and offense. Now, Black Jaguars was no longer categorized as a team that have no defense since they have started with fielding work out in order to support their young ace. However as he turn to look at both his teammates, he feel a bit frustrated. "Why do the both of you come out in public not wearing any discuise?" he asked annoyingly, considering both Daiki and Tohru were both famous NPB players.

Both Daiki and Tohru turn to look at Maki who was wearing a hooded gray sweat shirt considering it was summer and a black cap with dark shades. From afar he seems to be the nerdy type of person who was forced to go out. Tohru on another hand is dressed like a good looking guy next door, wearing simple jeans, snicker and a white undershit covered by a unbutton polo shirt. While Daiki on another hand was projecting the bad boy vibe wearing a rugged black street wear with dark shades to totally finish off the bad boy projection. "It is not like anyone would dare come close to us" Daiki nonchalantly declared turning back his attention towards the practicing highchoolers on the field. Tohru laughed lightly on the remark as he too focused back towards the field.

"Ughhh… If I have known this would happen, I should have dressed up as well. Look here, I am like the jock among the group of good looking friends, the other one is the good looking smart guy, while the other is the bad boy good looking guy…" Maki ranted.

Tohru smiled on the description of Maki, "You do realize I am happily married right"

"Yeah… that did not stop women from coming either way…" Maki annoyingly answered. "Why is it I am not as popular like the both of you… I am good looking too?" he added as he started to feel displeased with the situation.

"That is because you are to focus in hiding the fact you play in NPB" Daiki answered uninterested making Maki more irritated.

"I don't hide it, I just don't like the media… especially when it comes to the team…" All three of them sigh in agreement as they could all remember that the media is not pretty much happy with their team and thus create unbelievable stories just so they can get some stories published, and since BJ is not a team that tends to correct rumors, their reputation in the league is quite sour.

"What are you guys doing here?" a voice inquired from behind, making the three players flinch in the sudden inquiry. As the three turn, they saw Sawamura standing with a confused and surprised expression on his face.

"Yo Sawamura… been a while!" Maki greeted innocently as he move towards Eijun.

Eijun looked doubtful to his three seniors. When he was on the field, he noticed a group of female spectators talking about a group of good looking guys who seems to be players of a NBP team, but was not sure which team, so out of curiousity, he turn to check and was dumbstruck the moment he recognized not just Hero sempai, but Maki and his captain Daiki watching the field. Though they are a bit far towards where the other spectators were gathered, the three of them tend to be eye catching. As soon as his turn on the field practice was done, he immediately moved towards their direction making sure none of the players could notice him. And now, he was more than sure that it was indeed his three BJ seniors standing in the flesh infront of him.

"We just came to give support to your next game Eijun…" Tohru informs as he could see the doubtful look on the young pitcher.

Eijun eyes focused towards his BJ captain who was not moving, nor making an attempt to talk standing a bit behind Tohru. He fisted his hand as he could clearly remember the confrontation that happened in the BJ facility. "Daiki sempai… can I ask you a question?" Eijun asked looking seriously straight towards his eyes.

"Ehhh…" Daiki was surprised in regards to the seriousness of the young pitcher's tone. Both Maki and Tohru wrinkled their forehead and turn to look at Daiki and then Sawamura.

"Let us move to a different location then, I think we are starting to get some attention…" Maki interjected as he noticed a few onlookers glancing towards their direction.

Eijun nodded in agreement, as he started to move back towards the dorm direction. Since they are having fielding practice, he guessed there would be no players loitering around the dorm at that time of the day. Eijun only stop near the bench close to the vending machine outside of the indoor gym, he slowly move towards the vending maching as he turn to look at his three seniors, now he was nervous. Back on the field, he was moving in adrenaline as he panic seeing his three BJ seniors in his school, but now that he has calmed down, he was starting to have cold sweats. "Ahm… what do you like to drink sempai?" Eijun casually asked, unsure how to open the conversation.

Tohru smiled as he motioned for Eijun to just sit on the bench and he looked at the vending machine. "I remember in my school they have a lot like this…" he casually said making Maki furrow and moved closer to him. "Yeah… Japan has a lot of this just so you know" as Maki decided to put in some coins he got out of his pocket. Maki carelessly handed Eijun a can of orange juice, while he passed a can of coke to their captain who was leaning over the wall facing the bench where Eijun was sitting. Tohru just took a can of coffee while Maki was also holding a can of coke. "So? What are you guys gonna talk about?" Maki asked plainly earning a glare from Tohru.

Eijun was looking down on his hands, he was not sure how to start, and it has been a while since he has faced his captain. "Ahm…"

"Sawamura… I am sorry…" Daiki took a deep sigh before saying those words, making Tohru and Maki turn towards his direction in bewilderment. This was a first after all, normally their captain don't apologize despite things being his fault, he just don't seem to care, but now he was sincerely apologizing to their pitcher making them look astonished and surprised beyond reasons.

"Huh?" Eijun looked surprised as well as he turn to gape at their captain.

"I mean… I am sorry for whatever I said in the BJ facility. It was not my intention, and you just came in a really bad timing, but that is not enough excuse for me to act the way I did. So… I sincerely apologize for what happened" as Daiki bowed down making Eijun stood up immediately, obviously in a state of panic.

"Ehhhh… Captain… it is ok… I totally forgot about that anyways…" Eijun exclaimed as he tries to make Daiki stand upright. "Plus that is not what I wanted to talk about…" he added making Daiki furrow his forehead and look at the young pitcher seriously, as if asking what he ment. "I mean… I just wanted to ask… what does it mean to go pro?"

All three players look at Eijun dumbfounded. "Huh…" Maki was confused. While Tohru just raised an eyebrow, and Daiki look at the young pitcher seriously trying to figure out what the real question is.

"I mean… I ahhh..." As Eijun tries to look away feeling a bit embarrassed. He took a deep sigh, then move back to his sit and then focus towards his BJ captain who was also looking at him seriously. "Last night, after our win against Sankou, I wanted to swing my bat with Miyuki sempai, however when I saw him with Furuya, he mentioned that he wanted to go pro. I don't know what got into me the moment he said that, but that was the first time I actually saw Miyuki sempai being frank, though I am not the one he choose to reveal his true intentions. At first, I just wanted to keep playing with this team and I totally understand that if we had lost with Sankou then everything will be over including my battery with Miyuki sempai. But I kind of feel frustrated, there are a lot of stronger pitchers, I should know that very well considering I have played with you guys, but I cannot seem to keep my thoughts and emotions in check, thus I want to know what does it mean to go pro?" Eijun asked seriously looking straight towards his captain Daiki's eyes. Eijun had failed to notice Tohru wincing and the expression of displeasure the moment he mentioned Miyuki Kazuya's name nor the fact in regards towards the intention of his Seido captain planning on going pro.