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 23

"You seem proud of you pitcher Shoji"

Shoji turned the moment he heard those words and smiled the moment he recognize the person in a brown suite walking up close to him. They were on the upper stand, overlooking the whole field. "It is rare to see you watching a highschool game Anzai" coach Mihashi Shoji commented as he turns his gaze back towards the field.

The other person gave a light laugh as if he gave a joke. "I am not the only one here Shoji… Hori and a few of the pro coaches and managers are here as well, somewhere… I did notice Harashi in the VIP sit a while back before coming down here."

"Owh… I guess I should be worried of the fact that not just you, the head coach of White Knights is actually here watching my ace but with the other coaches as well. I never knew that every team in pro league is cutting cost in scouting funds" Shoji commented mockingly making Anzai laugh on his remark.

"You cannot blame them, ever since you have that kid in your team, your team has gain momentum on your off season practice games, and now with your season performance I think your team would qualify for the playoffs this season. Honestly that is a pitcher we have zero data on, much less ever heard of until recently." Anzai informs as he noticed Seido's ace going towards his coach, as if showing his hands. "So that is his pin point batting huh… I am amazed he can actually do that… only a few batters can actually use that kind of batting form"

"I guess, though his angle is a bit off by 10 degree for Narumiya's changeup" Mihashi commented yet he smiled on the thought he was still able to hit it off the field. It was the same with Sagato pitch, he was off in the angle for a bit yet he was able to hit it out the field. "I wonder how his hand is doing… his using a steel bath… if he cannot pitch after this inning, Seido would loose…"

"Hmmm… I heard you and Seido's head coach go a long way… does he know your helping the kid that is why he made him the Ace instead of Furuya Satoru this summer?" Anzai asked curiously.

Mihashi forehead wrinkled as if annoyed of the thought, "Sawamura is a better pitcher than Furuya Satoru honestly speaking, he should have been the ace even before, but that damn Tesshin is just a pain in the neck, I cannot even describe it… and no he has no idea that I am working on one of his students… if he did I would have drop by his school and probably gave him an earful in how he treats my pitcher…"

"Owhhh… and yet you always drop by Inashiro… what is this kind of development…" Anzai smiled as he watched the beginning of the bottom of the 5th inning as the well famed Furuya Satoru taking up the mound yet again despite 2 lost runs.

"Kunimoto is aware we are working with Tadano, though he still does not give special attention to my relieve catcher" Shoji complained sighing as he notice Furuya steping up the mound.

"I had to wonder what you and Yukime were thinking when you decided to get a catcher from a different school. Honestly speaking I think that Miyuki Kazuya is a more suitable catcher for your pitcher Shoji." Anzai commented as he turn to check on Inashiro's dugout who seems to be having a quick meeting. "Not to be mean or anything Shoji but I think Tohru's era is already over, and you would need a better catcher who can pull out the best of your pitcher, and I think that is not Inashiro's catcher"

Shoji slightly glimpse towards Inashiro's dugout that seems to be having a quick huddle before the start of the bottom of the 5th inning. "Tadano was not my first choice, at that time it was my pitcher who choose that catcher, and Miyuki Kazuya huh… I guess he does have the potential to be a good catcher… but then again… if he was that great, he should have known how incredible my pitcher is in the first place…" as Shoji focus towards Seido's catcher, who was obviously stretching. He ignored Anzai's remark in regards to Tohru's condition, because he knew deep inside that statement cannot be more close to the truth in regards to how NPB league has become more competitive lately.

Anzai laughed hearing Shoji's remark in regards to the Seido catcher. He had noticed ever since he watched the second promotional game, that the BJ coach seems to be quite obsessed with Seido's ace. Honestly speaking he was curious as well, that is why he decided to personally watch the game. And now standing and personally spectating BJ's young pitcher the second time round is actually fascinating. Even though the person was in the dugout, he was way to loud to not be noticed and at the same time how he carried himself in the top of the 5th inning, that is was a well played game based from his standpoint, both dugouts were not aware of the players decision to actually make a long hit instead of a bunt. "Well I do hope he pitch in the next inning, it would be to bad if he cannot show his skills despite his spectators" Anzai commented meaningfully making Shoji sigh deeply. He knew who the spectators he was pertaining about after all and most of them are all in the NPB league.

"If Narumiya followed Tadano's call in the first place, I highly doubt Eijun could be able to hit that pitch, then the momentum should have stayed with Inashiro." Tohru remarked as he watched the Inashiro team move back to their dugout for their offense.

"Hahahahahaha… Sawamura actually got a freaking homerun from Narumiya Mei!" Maki laugh it out loud as if making fun of the Inashiro pitcher. Getting a few attention from the people surrounding them.

"Maki would you stop… you are an adult for crying out loud!" Asano reprimanded him as if embarrassed of his colleague. Though the other players were all smiling proudly of there young ace, ignoring the weird stares they are gaining from the few spectators.

"True… I guess that is where the immaturity of Inashiro's ace pitcher comes in. Narumiya Mei is indeed a good pitcher, however his attitude kind of reminds of Daiki when he started the league, he acts like his the goddamn king. Eijun on another hand seems to finally understand his real role in a baseball game huh…" Miro commented seriously towards Tohru as they watched Seido's team jogging in for their defense.

"I guess… but Narumiya was surprised with the pressure that Eijun brought in the batters box…" Tohru commented as he remembered Eijun's seriousness and pressure in the batters box before the home run.

"He was like a real BJ batter now… eating the pitcher alive… This is so fun… where the hell is the captain… he would be so proud of Sawamura right now!" Towa remarked so proud of the homerun that was just made.

"Yeah… he would most probably be yelling his lungs out by now…" Asano answered while Miro sigh as he again look back at his phone with no response. He had message Daiki a few times, sending a play by play scenario of the game, yet the latter did not respond not even once.

"Don't mind him Miro… Daiki is probably around here somewhere… he did apologize to Eijun and gave him some pep talk if you can call it that…" Tohru informs seeing Miro's annoyed expression while checking on his phone. The latter nodded in agreement as he focuses back towards the field.

"Sorry coach…" Itsuki apologize the moment they got back on the dugout. He noticed Mei threw his mitt at the back of the dugout as if annoyed, though he was not talking making it more troublesome. "I should have known the moment Eijun stood in a wider stance" as he fisted his hands tightly, looking down.

Coach Kunimoto looked at Itsuki, then to Mei who was all quiet and walked towards the back of the dugout as if to get something to drink. "So that was Sawamura's pin point batting… it is indeed troublesome now… so I am guessing the changeup could no longer be used against him?" he asked quietly looking all serious towards Itsuki.

Itsuki sigh on the thought, Narumiya's changeup, new cutter, and curve ball all drop in almost the same angle towards the plate, making him feel like he would getting a headache. "It is not just the changeup, the cutter and curveball all drop close to that bottom angle. I am guessing he is still pretty much guessing the correct angle and since he was not put in the fifth inning" and as Itsuki wants to prove a point he glance back towards Furuya who was again back on the mound. "I would pretty much guess Eijun's hand are swelling right now due to the wrong angle, however he already have a general idea of the angle drop of those pitches, thus the only thing that could probably work is Mei's fastball… however…" and Itsuki stop talking as if thinking deeply.

"The problem is Narumiya's superb ball control. Since Sawamura already knew Narumiya has good control, he can just pick a good spot on the plate and swing it…" Coach Kunimoto finished Itsuki's thought making the latter sigh again. Coach Kunimoto looked towards Seido's dugout however he can no longer spot the loud pitcher. He knew the moment that Yukime informed him about Sawamura and the fact that she was personally training him,he immediately acknowledge that the pitcher was no longer the same pitcher he met a year ago. He wanted Narumiya to be under Yukime as well however the latter seem more found of Sawamura's moving fastball pitches compare to Narumiya's style of pitching, and now not just in pitching but with Mihashi's guidance, the pitcher had also improve in batting. It seems they indeed have created a superb player ready for pro league. He looked at his team who were all quiet and was watching him closely for instructions. "This does not change anything… we would still win this game… we just have to score some points again…" Coach Kunimoto seriously commented on his team, making the players smile and nod in agreement. Shirakawa was turn to bat, as he pass by their coach, "stay aggressive… don't give them time to breathe…" Coach Kunimoto ordered making the latter grin evilly.

Itsuki was also removing his catching gear getting to ready to bat, when he noticed Coach Kunimoto's somber expression, "Tadano… if you are unsure… you can just walk him… you don't have to guess what he would do next. Right now… he is going in full throttle, and the last thing I would need is a player like him who no longer listen to his coaching team and started to think on his own, because that is more troublesome." Despite the order, Itsuki notice the hidden message in between making him nod in agreement but not everyone was on agreement with the order of there coach.

"Ehhhhhh! Walk him? Are we talking about that loud mouth of a pitcher? Are you serious? We can handle that Sawamura!" Mei shouted as if he was annoyed that there coach was actually advising on letting Sawamura Eijun walk.

"Mei san…" Itsuki looked troubled as he could see Narumiya's defiance towards there coach at the same time the confusion and the rising tension within the dugout from the other players. He wanted to explain that the coach decision was a sound judgement considering how Eijun was playing, plus in the way he held himself in the batters box, he doubt he was listening to his Seido team at the moment. However if he tries to explain, he would need to also inform them about the fact he was trained by pro league trainers and he is his side battery partner which was so complicated at the moment.

"Then… why did you decline Tadano's sign if you were sure you could handle him?" Coach Kunimoto answered seriously; though his tone was soft there was an edge to it.

"Huh… it was a fluke! Do you think that bunt master can just bat like that in a single year!" Narumiya argued again, though coach Kunimoto's expression did not change.

"Sawamura Eijun is a strong player, I would like to let everyone know that right now… that fact could not be contested by anyone, I have informed time and time again to not underestimate Seido since last year that also include Seido's ace, right now none of you have seen what he is really capable of." As coach Kunimot sigh deeply and turn to look back towards the field watching Shirakawa closely. " He is not the same person you all know from the last summer game or the fall tournament either. Or do you want to have a repeat of the last fall tournament Mei?" then coach Kunimoto turn to look at Narumiya seriously making the latter step back as if he was hit.

Itsuki looked around the dugout, he knew why the coach was warry of Eijun since he knew about the BJ training but the worst part of that is he knew he was under Yukime's guidance, she was after all a friend of there coach and colleague from a long time ago. And Yukime is well known as a top rated trainer in baseball pro league. He took a deep breath as he grab his bat. "Don't worry Mei… we will score some runs…" Itsuki confidently commented gaining the attention on the dugout. He smiled and move towards the next batter position. Right now only one person could contest with Eijun in terms of batting and that is none other but him. This is an all out war after all… he thought grinning as he intend to not hold back as well.