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 25

It was the start of the 6th inning, and Seido is on offense. Coach Ochiai was watching Furuya and Sawamura closely as the two pitchers are talking with happy expresions. The momentum is with neither team at the moment, what we coaching staff need to be careful of is in regards to changing our pitcher he thought gravely as he looked back towards the field, he could still clearly see Inashiro's ace pretty much has control over the game so far.

It was Kominato's turn to bat, and he could clearly hear Sawamura's cheer on the Seido dugout. "Go destroy them Haruichi!" Eijun yelled as hard as he could, making Kominato smile. Honestly he was quite surprised upon seeing Eijun's sudden change in his batting form in the previous inning but definetly bewildered when that said person who they all knew was just the bunt master had hit a homerun from none other than Narumiya Mei. He was his friend afterall, yet at this moment he cannot remove that feeling that Eijun was no longer the same Eijun that he knew, and that his friend was deeply hinding something from him, worse from the whole team. He sigh deeply, trying to clear his mind as he watched Narumiya throw his fastball, he tried to make a hit, however due to the direction of the pitch, it was suddenly grounded where third base had easily got the ball and threw it directly to first base before he was even able to reach it.

"It is fine Kominato… we almost had it!" inform the first base coach as he passed him, making Haruichi nod, but his focus was more on Inashiro's catcher.

For some reason he felt like the direction and pitch sequence that the Inashiro's battery are making tend to be different to every batter which kind of irritated him, after all he was gotten out with a single pitch and at the same time it would be difficult to determine the pitch sequence and game calling if the battery was adjusting depending on the batters. Honestly that kind of strategy is common for the pro league but difficult for highschoolers thus it only proves that Narumiya has the ability to go pro.

"Not bad Haruichi… we can go at it next time!" Eijun cheered the moment Kominato came near the dug out.

He smiled at Eijun seeing how there ace seems to ease the tension within the dugout. "Thank you Eijun, it is just that… I felt like Inashiro's catcher is changing his game calling now and then, but I am not sure yet…" he answered as he look back towards the field and watch Shirasu sempai move towards the batters box.

"Owhhh… you mean Itsuki… yeah he tends to memorize every batter's characteristics so when it is time for the game, he tends to make this sudden changes in his game calling for every batters." Eijun started explaining making Haruichi turn towards there ace with wide eye.

Wait… what did he just say? His brain was working over time the moment he heard what Eijun just said. "Ahm… what do you mean he make sudden changes?" he asked tentatively, unsure how to process the information that Sawamura blurted out.

"Hmmmm… let us say for example with Kuramochi sempai, he usually asked for either the new cutter mostly towards the outward part of the plate and some fastballs falling either in the lower part of the plate in order to ground it if in case it got hit." Eijun was so serious on his explanation he had not noticed a few eyes were on him, including Kuramochi who had his mouth wide open bewildered. "And as for you, for the past 4 innings, he asked mostly for fastballs and a few cutter and curve ball fully utilizing the lower part regions of the plate. It made it hard for your form to have a decent hit, and there is a high tendency it would also result to grounded balls."

Haruichi was definitely baffled as he looked at Eijun. Who was this person standing next to him, he had known Sawamura since there first year but this is the first time he was hearing a very intellectual and a senseful comment observation on baseball from none other that Sawamura Eijun. If the homerun was not the indication that Sawamura has change, then definitely this had just sealed the deal.

"SA – WA – MU- RA!" Kuramochi was not just surprised on what he is hearing from there current ace, but was annoyed him more is that fact that the said ace had not shared such useful information on the early part of the game.

"Huh?" Eijun was confused the moment he heard his name from his senior who was now looking at him intently and was obviously trying hard not to do a choke hold in the dug out. "Ehhhh… what is wrong Kuramochi sempai?" he asked curiously, making the other person face morph more into frustration.

"Ahm… you see… Eijun… I ahh…" Haruichi tries to explain as he move in between his senior and his friend who seems to be unaware of what is really going on.

"Have you never though about sharing such valuable information to your teammates?" Kuramochi was speaking low making the people in the dug out turn towards there direction now.

"Huh… what information?" Eijun asked bewildered unaware of why his senior was out to murder him. Was he not cheering loudly like he used to? Are they still upset about his hands? He did say he was already ok, though it was a still bit numb, however he thinks he can still pitch.

"Ehhh… Eijun… the information about the Inashiro's catcher…" Haruichi slowly informs making Sawamura wrinkle his forehead as if trying to remember what he just said.

"What Kuramochi sempai is saying is that, it would have been nice if you have informed us about the Inashiro's catcher tendency in terms of his game calling earlier in the game, as what you have explained with Kominato, Sawamura" Tojou remarked as he had also over heard the conversation between Sawamura and Kominato.

"Ehhhh… I said that?" Eijun asked unsure.

"What the hell Sawamura! You just did a few seconds ago!" Kuramochi yelled obviously furious now. "And when did you start calling Inashiro's catcher on his first name?"

"Huh… I thought that is what everyone calls him?" Eijun answered nervously. He was sweating buckets now, he cannot believe he made another slip. Not just by the name, but also with Itsuki's habit of his game calling. Dang it… I need to figure out how to get out from this… he was having an inner turmoil unsure how to get out in the mess he had just made.

"I don't think I heard anyone called the Inashiro's catcher by his first name though, except for Narumiya of course…" Okumura commented making Eijun flinch.

Why the hell are our first years so damn smart and observant. Itsuki help… I kind of messed up… bad… really bad…. Eijun was having an inner conflict yet he was making sure to keep a straight face. "Really… strange, I thought that is what everyone calls him, was that his first name, I never knew that at all…" Eijun acted dumb however it was obvious his teammates were not falling for it this time round. Before Kominato or Kuramochi could even bombard with more questions, they all heard there coach spoke seriously.

"I think that is enough… we have more pressing matters. Now that we knew that the catcher is indeed changing his game calling based on the batter, we can obviously make adjustments. Yui… send a message to Miyuki" Coach Kataoka called out there first year who hurriedly run towards there coach, obviously going to relay the said information to their captain who was patiently waiting in the next batter position.

Eijun sigh in relief the moment Haruichi and Kuramochi had backed off in pressuring him, though there observing gaze towards his direction did not falter making him shiver. I cannot believe I messed up… the hell… this is harder than it looks. I wonder how Itsuki acts around his team without getting caught. Dang it… he was contemplating when he noticed there third batter, Shirasu sempai was striked out with only three pitches. He watched Narumiya closely as Inashiro's ace was standing proudly on top of the mound. Damn it… he really is a good pitcher… at the same time he notice a sudden tension the moment there captain Miyuki Kazuya step on the batters box. Well this is going to be interesting… how will you fair now my dear battery partner… Eijun smiled on the thought as he watched there captain serious look on the batter box.

Itsuki felt something was off the moment he notice that a messenger was sent over to whisper something on Seido's captain, and for some reason he also kind of overheard his name over the Seido dugout making him give a quick look at Sawamura who was grinning. Did he inform his team something, or was that just my imagination. He though closely as he turned his gaze back to Narumiya who was seriously looking back at him. A true king… he smiled on the thought as he position himself for Narumiya's changeup. He could clearly see Narumiya smiling and nodding at the same time. As the changeup was thrown, Itsuki noticed that the Seido's captain did not flinch nor try to swing on the pitch. "Ball!" as the umpire called out, he took a deep sigh. He noticed Mei wrinkled his forehead though he was still keeping a serious look on his face. I guess Eijun did inform them about my game calling, I guess I need to switch it up. As he move a bit closer to the plate, normally it would be risky, however with Mei's superb ball control, this would be no problem. He gave a sign for Mei's cutter a bit in the inner low part of the plate, just barely on the outside, where the latter nodded in agreement. As the pitch was thrown he saw Miyuki made the swing for the pitch, but the bat was abit high thus totally missing the ball and landing directly on Tadano's mitt. "Strike!" the umpired called out. Now the real battle begins… he thought gravely, as he again move back for a bit, and asking for another cutter, this time in the outer low region of the plate. Mei nodded in agreement, and had thrown the pitch with complete accuracy directly landing on his mitt. "Strike!" the umpire yelled again. He could sense that Miyuki took a deep breath in and out as if trying to remove the tension from his body. Tadano carefully positioned his mitt in the dead center of the plate, asking for his fastball where Narumiya grinned widely. He watched as Mei did his windup and threw the fastball, but this time Miyuki's bat has connected, and it had sailed pass Narumiya's head. "Throw at first!" Tadano yelled as there center fielder was able to catch the bounced pitch. However due to the long hit, Miyuki had safely secured first base. Damn it… I completely thought Mei could jam him… he thought gravely as he looked towards first base annoyed.

"Itsuki!" Narumiya yelled as he noticed his catcher's frustrated look.

Tadano turn to look at Mei the moment he heard his name, and of course there ace just smiled widely as he showed a 2 out sign. I guess… we just need to take out there 5th batter as usual… he sigh, as he sat bat on his crouching position. Hmmm let us see… for this batter… I guess this would do… as he positioned his mit in the inside upper region of the plate.

Narumiya grin widely as he saw Itsuki's sign. Even though Kazuya was able to take on first base on there third match up, that is as far as he can go, since his catcher wants to end the inning with a single pitch. He nod in agreement, as he did his windup and threw his fastball directly towards Tadano's mitt. He watched as Seido's 5th batter Maezono tried to hit for the pitch, however due to the tight corner he was unable to swing in full force thus jamming the pitch directly sailing back to the pitcher. "Out! Change…" the umpire yelled, making Narumiya's smile brighter as he made a quick glimpse towards Kazuya who was seriously looking back at him as well.

"How many pitches has Furuya thrown?" Coach Kataoka asked seriously. While Miyuki was still on the batter box going against Inashiro's ace.

"Owhhh… ahm he had 88 pitches at the end of the 5th inning." Umemoto answered seriously.

"I think it would be best to let Furuya handle this inning again, he is in good rhythm" Coach Ochiai informs seriously, though Kataoka turn to look towards Sawamura who was cheering loudly towards the team captain on the field. "Sawamura is indeed the ace, however it is not a guarantee that his pitches would not be affected with that kind of aggressive batting nor the fact if is hands are really in good condition right now. I highly recommend to let Furuya handle this game, we need to be very careful on this… if we made a mistake in the changing of pitcher it would result to our lost" Coach Ochiai added.

Coach Kataoka is well aware that the crucial point of this game on there end, is the time they would need to make a pitcher switch. Normally with how the game is flowing and with how Furuya is pitching, he is the most viable option in this crucial moment, however he cannot remove that gut feeling that he needs to put Sawamura in the mound and give this opportunity to the ace he had chosen despite the drawback that there is a possibility that Sawamura's pitching hand is not in a good condition after the last inning home run he made. Sawamura had proven to be an exceptional pitcher both in mind and body, he had recovered from his pit falls, stumble and has came out stronger than ever. He do not want to let this opportunity just pass by without giving there ace the chance to actually experience it, Sawamura was after all the reason why Seido is not yet being left behind in terms of momentum. He could feel deep in his gut that Sawamura would need to be the one to seal the deal in terms of there ticket to Summer Koshien. He took a deep breath as he turn to look at his coaching staff seriously, "I am well aware in regards to the circumstances that we have right now, and at the same time it might be detrimental if we indeed made a mistake… however I would take full responsibility in what I am about to do… at the same time I no longer want to hesitate especially in regards to the boys who are playing the field right now." As Kataoka could remember the hesitance he had during the spring tournament when he had let Furuya pitch despite the condition of his pitches. "For the bottom of this inning, we will go with Sawamura" he informed in full determination.