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: Ok guys! heads up! I totally enjoy rewriting this part of the story... Totally love it... hope everyone would like it too. Peace out and Stay safe everyone!

Chapter 31

It was already two outs, and all they need is a single out in order for the inning to end, yet right now Eijun could feel that he does not want to end the inning without actually doing something extreme. And who could be the best person to show that extremeness than none other than his BJ battery partner making his smile grew wider. Hi… Itsuki… Eijun thought sheepishly as he could see the death glare that his BJ catcher was giving him. He slightly raised his mitt hiding his snicker thought Kuramochi notice Sawamura's demeanor making the latter wrinkle his forehead as confusion. Eijun did his breathing exercise as he turn his attention back towards his captain who was looking at him seriously.

Ok… let us do this Sawamura… I want to see what this guy is up too… As Miyuki took a quick glimpse towards Inashiro's dugout, he could see that coach Kunimoto's expression did not change at all. He positioned his mitt for an in high pitch and gave a sign for his 4 seamer, near the chest area of the batter. He look at Eijun nodding in agreement, and drop the rosin bag. He saw as Eijun did his pitching wind up however what surprised Miyuki was the course of the pitch. The moment that Eijun had released the ball it sailed on the opposite side of the direction he wanted, plus it was way to wide totally missing the whole plate and if not for his fast reflexes it might have sailed pass the umpire behind him. "Ball!" the umpire called making Miyuki release an air of relief that he was able to catch that wild pitch. What the hell… what is going on? He turn his gaze back towards Sawamura as he threw the ball back, yet he could not notice anything amiss with his pitcher. Miyuki could clearly see that Sawamura raised his pitching hand as if apologizing for the pitch thrown. He wrinkled his forehead as he crouched back down in his catcher position, and this time asked for a splitter just to reset his pitcher rhythm. Again, he saw Eijun nod in agreement, and do his windup yet the moment that Sawamura released the ball it sailed on the far side of the plate again totally missing the direction of the course he wanted. "Ball!" the umpire called. Miyuki was flabbergasted, what was wrong with his pitcher. Both of the pitches he asked were totally off course as if like Sawamura was intentionally throwing the pitches out of the baseball plate. He intently look at Sawamura where the latter raised his pitching hand yet again as if apologizing. He was already debating to take a time out, however he noticed that Tadano seems quite surprised with how Sawamura was pitching as well. "Sawamura relax!" Miyuki yelled as he threw the ball again, where he saw Eijun nod eagerly. But honestly speaking he was not sure what was going on as well, because as he look at Sawamura he was not stiff or tense at all, more like he was kind of doing something stupid and intentional as well.

"Let him hit Sawamura we got you!" Maezono yelled.

"It is ok Eijun… we got your back!" Haruichi added.

"Two outs Sawamura… stop tensing up!" Kuramochi yelled, though as he was closely watching Sawamura, for some reason it seems their pitcher seem relax and excited for some reason. He was way to slack considering two pitches were already thrown off course.

"We got this Sawamura!" Kanemaru called out as well as he closely watched Inashiro's catcher position his bat again.

Eijun was smiling inwardly as he heard all the encouragement from his teammates. As he return his gaze back towards his captain, he could clearly notice a inspective look as if asking him what was going on. Honestly he was no longer surprised the moment Miyuki sempai was able to catch his wide pitch, he was after all expecting him to catch that pitch or else they would be totally in trouble. Eijun took a deep breath in and out as he return his look towards Itsuki who was obviously studying him. I wonder how he would react to this… Eijun thought inwardly laughing in his thoughts. He watched as Miyuki gave him the sign for his moving fastball where he just nod in agreement. He did his usual windup and released the ball but instead of targeting his catcher's mitt he targeted the far end portion of the plate, not that wide enough for his catcher to fail to catch it. And as if on cue, Miyuki easily catches the wide pitch yet again. "Ball!" he could clearly hear the umpire yell. This was the third ball and he could clearly hear the dis appointment from the crowd and there Seido bench.

"What the hell is going on? he totally lost control?" Yui asked confused as they watched Sawamura throw his third ball to Inashiro's third batter.

"I don't know… he was in good condition a while back" Okumura answered as he was intently looking at Sawamura.

"I think this is a bad decision…" Coach Ochiai remarked as he could clearly see Sawamura losing his control, yet coach Kataoka did not flinch nor move his piercing gaze to his center line.

"Ball! Walk…" the umpired yelled making Tadano drop his bat and jog towards the first base totally confused. What the hell is going on Eijun… your control was good… you seem to be ok… Itsuki thought gravely as he look at Eijun closely. The moment that the 4th pitch was thrown, it was again way outside of the baseball plate resulting for a walk. He immediately notice Miyuki asking for a time out as he jog towards the mound most likely to check in regards to Eijun's condition. As Itsuki step in securely on 1st base, he look up towards the batter's box where there clean up was up to bat and that is none other than Yamaoka. At the same time he cannot help but look up the bleachers where he noticed there BJ captain have move sits and now he could clearly see that WK catcher was on his previous sit. This is getting confusing as the game continues… Itsuki thought gravely as he could clearly see that captain Daiki was not focused on them at all but talking to the WK ace pitcher instead. As he turn his gaze back towards Eijun he suddenly became stiff noticing his pitchers demeanor, they may not be battery partners for that long, but he had studied Eijun really hard in order not to be the weak link in regards to BJ's center line, and right now he knew deep in his gut, his BJ pitcher was up to something.

"What the hell is going on? Is your hand hurting?" Miyuki asked seriously as he raise his mitt up his mouth to hide it from the people on the field. He also noticed that Sawamura did the same thing.

"Sorry cap… I thought I felt something on the first pitch… but I think it was just my imagination… hehehehe" Eijun laughed dumbly as he raised his pitching hand as if showing that everything was ok.

"Are you sure it was nothing… all your pitches suddenly went of course… it is as if you…" Miyuki commented but before he could finish his statement Sawamura immediately answered back.

"Nahhh. I am good cap… sorry about that… that won't happen again… I guess we just need to focus on the batter. Tadano is not a fast runner so I am sure you can tag him out if in case he goes for a base." Eijun confidently informs, making Miyuki wrinkle his forehead.

"I see… then you better tell me if anything is amiss do you understand…" Miyuki ordered.

"Yes captain sir!" At the same time Eijun made a salute as if making it look like he was obedient to there captain.

Miyuki feel uneasy about something, as he look at Eijun's dumb smile, he could sense something was not right with their ace. He took a deep sigh, as he slowly jog back towards the catcher's position turning his back to Sawamura where he did not notice a creepy smile forming in Eijun's lips. Though Miyuki was unable to see the hidden smile, Maezono and Ituski noticed it since both person standing on first base were watching Sawamura closely. Maezono seems confused however Itsuki suddenly felt annoyed. He clearly saw Eijun did a quick look on first base with the creepy smile that was plastered on his face. He… that jerk… he intentionally made me walk… the hell… I was not expecting that… Itsuki thought gravely as he immediately turn to look out towards Inashiro's dugout holding his elbow. Of all the strategies of BJ to use on me… he goes for this… I cannot believe you Eijun… wait till I get back on you… Itsuki was really irked with the tactic that his BJ partner used, but honestly it was a valid and great strategy. It was just that he was not expecting it to be used against him. In BJ, he could remember coach Mihashi totally grilled into them the different strategies that BJ could utilize within the field, plus he had given a complete green light in regards to game decision in the field, thus making it easier for players to make sudden adjustments on game calls and plays. That is also the reason why in BJ they have so many signs. He sighed as he noticed coach Kunimoto understood his sign, and started giving instructions to the players in the dugout.

"It is interesting how your pitcher walked your catcher Daiki…" Kohata commented as he watched Itsuki slowly jogging towards first base.

"Huh… walk? Ugh… I was under the impression he was gunning for a strike out" Daiki answered unimpressed. He was after all waiting for a heated battle between there pitcher and reserved catcher. Even though Tadano was only a backup catcher, he was starting to train hard in batting and honestly he was a better batter compared to Sawamura who depends on pin point batting unlike Tadano's flexible batting style.

"Hahahaha… I was thinking the same thing too…" Sagara added earning a sigh from his other teammates.

"I think it is the most logical strategy" Takahashi informs while looking intently at Sawamura and Seido's catcher talking on top of the mound.

"Logical?" Daiki looked at his seat mate confused.

"Agreed… well since they are battery partners, Inashiro's catcher has at least 70-80% percent chance to take a long hit from Seido's ace. So in order to minimize such percentage outcome, Seido's ace just decided to walk him and focus on Inashiro's clean up" Kohata answered as he did not remove his gaze towards the young ace.

"Plus isn't it that Inashiro catcher a better batter than your ace… so I guess it makes total sense for him to be walked. Though it also indicates that Seido's ace totally plan to strike out Inashiro's cleanup unless they want to have traffic on the field" Higashi commented earning a quick nod from Kohata.

"Ugh… Sawamura can handle that kind of batter. He had faced much worse batter than that guy…" Daiki confidently answered. Earning a light laugh from a few WK players since they all knew that was true considering the performance the young ace did in the promotional games there teams played.

"Hahahahaha… I can't anymore… this game is the best… I cannot believe I am enjoying a high school baseball game!" Maki was really laughing hard as he totally saw Tadano was walked by Sawamura.

"Maki… stop… people are already turning this way… if they recognize us… I am throwing you the vultures" Towa said reprimanding his friend, plus he was sure that a few media people had already notice them, since they are BJ after all, so he would not feel sorry to put Maki out to them if his team mate refuse to behave himself.

"Owhhh… common man… look at our Sawamura… he is all grown up now…" Maki still inform proudly.

The other players all seem to be pleased with the outcome, since it would indicate that there ace pitcher was already maturing and starting to look at the game in a bigger picture. Normally having a strong batter be walked was not a mundane strategy, but high school pitchers tend to loose there rhythm afterwards. But with Sawamura, the sole reason that Tadano was walked because the latter knew about his pitches so it was the most logical strategy. Tohru did notice the perplexed face of Tadano the moment he got to first base, making him feel bad for their relieve catcher, thus he plans to talk to him after the game.

"Sawamura seems to be serious in this game to do that to Tadano…" Miro unable to stop himself from commenting on the outcome of the game.

"Well it is after all a ticket for the Summer Koshien… I won't be surprised if he started using his fastball pitches as well…" Tohru answered seriously.

"Koshien huh…" Miro smiled as he totally understood the motivation that there young ace have in winning this game.

"He intentionally walked him…" Coach Kunimoto informs earning a surprised look from his players.

"Huh… wait what? You mean Seido wanted to walk Itsuki and not Riku?" Mei asked confused.

"I don't think it was Seido's decision to walk him Mei…" Shirakawa answered as he noticed the baffled look of Kazuya when receiving all the wide pitches plus an immediate timeout the moment Itsuki was walked.

"Yeah… I think that decision was totally on Seido's ace… There dug out did not even give any sign a while back…" Carlos added.

"What? What is that loud mouth thinking! I don't get him at all…" Mei complained.

"The thing that is puzzling is that all of those wide pitches all landed in a single spot… it is as if he made sure that Kazuya could actually be able to catch those pitches." Carlos informs earning a bewildered look from Mei and the other players in the dugout.

"Since when did Itsuki become a batter that pitchers avoid?" Mei asked totally mystified.

"I am not sure… but he was still walked…" Shirakawa answered curtly making him look at Seido ace puzzled.

Coach Kunimoto could clearly hear the confusion from his players, yet he just took a deep sigh, as he gave a sign to target any high pitches that would be thrown regardless it be a fastball or breaking ball, where Yamaoka tap his baseball hat as acknowledgement of his orders. He also gave a sign for Itsuki to try to make a steal though he doubt the latter can do it considering Sawamura has his back toss. He smiled as he looked at Seido's ace standing proudly on top of the mound. Making your battery walk is a good strategy Sawamura… normally that decision would fall under the coaches… but she probably made you train to make clutch play decisions on your own. Well BJ is quite well known for playing clutch baseball play, which is how they were trained after all. They are not called the bad boys of NPB for nothing. As coach Kunimoto sigh deeply doing a quick look towards the audience bleachers as if looking at someone intently up in the VIP rooms.

Miyuki notice that Inashiro's coach gave a sign, most likely informing on what the runner needs to do. As he look out towards first base, he could clearly see that Tadano was moving out of first base, but it was not that much of a lead to worry about. What he was worried about is Sawamura's condition. He took a deep breath in as he position his mitt in a outlow position of the plate where Eijun nod in agreement. He closely observe as Eijun did his windup and threw his moving fastball directly towards the outlow position of the plate directly landing on his mitt yet again with no space to spare. "Strike!" the umpire yelled yet Yamaoka did not try to go for the swing. "Nice pitch Sawamura!" Miyuki yelled as he threw the ball back towards his pitcher. He fixed his mitt again as he seems to feel confusion bubbling in his gut. Sawamura's pitch back then was on point. Considering it was a moving fastball, it was still within the plate. It was like the wild pitches against Inashiro's third batter did not happen at all. He took a deep sigh as he position his mitt for a in high pitch where Sawamura nod in agreement. He watched as Eijun did his windup and threw the in high fastball, though Yamaoka made a swing for the inhigh pitch the timing was a bit late thus totally missing the ball and instead landing directly towards Miyuki's mitt. "Strike!" the umpire called out.

"You got this Sawamura!" Nabe yelled in the bleacher.

"Just one more Sawamura sempai!" Asada added.

"Go Sawamura!" cheered by Seido's second string on the bleachers.

Eijun could clearly hear the cheers from the bleachers, but for some reason his only focus was towards his captain. Inashiro's 4th batter did not make a swing on the low pitch but instead target there high pitch thus it seems they were totally targeting his high balls. He look closely at Miyuki when he noticed the latter seriously look and position his mitt on dead center giving him a sign for his number 5. His changeup. This was the first time they were going to throw his change up in the game and they were going to throw it to none other than Inashiro's 4th batter. You know cap Narumiya would totally kill me for this right… he thought grinning as he did a quick nod in regards to the sign given.

Miyuki smiled upon noticing Sawamura's grin. I am definitely sure he would be so pissed about it… but this is the best way to totally end Inashiro's momentum. Plus I love it when Mei is totally off his cool. Just don't think of anything, clear your mind and swing your arm… Miyuki thought as if informing Eijun what to do using only his eyes. And Sawamura did not fail, he watched as his pitcher did his windup, and threw Narumiya Mei's winning shot the change up. Miyuki was already expecting that Yamaoka was targeting a fastball thus the moment the pitch was thrown the latter made a swing totally having the timing off making the ball land directly towards Miyuki's mitt with ease. "Strike! Batter out! Change!" the umpire informs. At the same time the crowd goes wild as it was the first time that Seido's ace threw his changeup in today's game, plus it is like considered as a challenge towards Narumiya Mei whose signature winning shot was none other than the change up.

"What the hell… the guy did not just do what he did!" Mei was already fuming in anger the moment Itsuki got back in the dugout. Mei was already running out his mouth with tirade against Seido's ace. Well he was pretty much expecting it considering the pitch that was thrown to there cleanup striking him out was none other than Mei's winning pitch – the change up. Itsuki turn to look at Seido's dugout specifically to their captain catcher. That really is an aggressive and devil way of game calling… that guy is totally insane. Itsuki thought as he started to put on his catching gear totally being quiet, thinking deeply. The other players all turn to look at Itsuki where the latter seem to be unaware of it. Normally, Itsuki would start talking to Mei to calm him down before starting the 8th inning, but now he had just gone all quiet which was weird. On Itsuki's end, he could start to feel a bit of envy for Seido's catcher since he knew in his gut, that he can never make that kind of devilish call thus making him realize more what he lacks in being a catcher.

"Oi… Itsuki you listening to me!" Mei yelled out as he noticed that Itsuki did not even bother to stop him or calm him down for the first time.

"Huh… ahhh… yes Mei san…" Itsuki lied as he stood up and started to move out of the dug out.

"Ehhh… you sure you heard what I just said?" Mei asked seriously totally calming down now.

"Hmmm… yes Mei san… we just need to make sure to give them no runs…" Itsuki answered as he totally ignores the observing gaze of his teammates and started to walked towards the catchers position, disregarding the comments of his other teammates in regards to the end of their offense on the 7th inning. The moment Itsuki crouched down on his position; he was already doing his breathing exercise. I need to get myself together… I cannot mess this up for Mei san… we will win this game… Itsuki was on that line of thought when he noticed that the next Seido batter was up. As he looked up he froze on the spot as it was none other than Eijun giving the usual wide smile he always knew. Well what the hell…