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 32

It was the start of the 8th inning, two more innings and with a tied game. Tadano could feel the pressure of being the main catcher of a defending champion team at the same time of the great King pitcher Narumiya Mei. He looked at Narumiya closely as he could see the annoyed look of his pitcher, and as he glance back to the Inashiro dugout he saw coach Kunimoto nod once as if reminding him the plan when it comes to Sawamura being in the batter box. The other players within the field might not know, but he knew that Sawamura is a batter that they could no longer just ignore, especially that he was figuring out Mei's change up angle drop. He took a deep sigh as if solidifying his resolve on the play they were about to do with Seido's Ace. He slowly put his mitt up extending it outside of the plate, where he could see Mei annoyance flaring more yet he did not decline, most probably it was because of their coach's order.

Eijun could see the annoyed look on Narumiya's face as the latter did his windup and just threw the ball towards Itsuki with no effort at all. "Ball!" as the umpire yelled, Eijun slightly glimpse towards Itsuki who was obviously avoiding his gaze and just threw the ball towards Narumiya. He clicks his tongue as if perplexed with the strategy that the Inashiro's battery is doing against him. Eijun could feel a bit of irritation bubbling in his gut. Seriously he was not even deemed a strong batter in BJ yet Itsuki has decided to walk him, and the pitcher was none other than Narumiya Mei. Eijun did not flinch nor move his batting stance as he watched Mei threw the ball again outside of the plate. "Ball two!" the umpire yelled again, and Eijun was starting to hear the disappointed response from the crowd.

"Ehhh… are they walking Sawamura?"Tojou was surprised seeing that Narumiya threw two of his pitches outside of the plate.

"Since when did Sawamura become a batter that Narumiya avoid?" Kanemaru was confused, as well as the other players of the Seido dugout, however Miyuki did not comment on anything and watched Eijun closely. He knew something was up ever since the first homerun of Sawamura, then when he started pitching, but now this was the sure deal. It seems something is going on between Sawamura and Inashiro's catcher since he knew Mei for so long that is quite impossible that he would decide to walk Sawamura without declining the call. He was adamant in getting a long talk with Sawamura once the game is over.

"This is interesting… so your catcher decide to walk Seido's ace… don't you think that is cowardly?" Takahashi commented yet Daiki refused to answer as he was closely looking at the two BJ young players.

"I don't think it cowardly, in baseball walking a strong batter is pretty much a good strategy." Sagara commented.

"Yeah… but since when did that kid become a batter to be walked, honestly speaking in there line up that kid is pretty much a ninth batter, heck he could barely even hit a clean hit against us on our promo games" as Higashi added pointing towards Daiki as if informing whose line up he was pertaining about, though Daiki still refuse to talk and was closely looking at their center line while obviously clenching his fist.

"That catcher kid is only a reliever catcher for their team Kona," Kohata answering Higashi's remark, while slightly looking at Daiki's demeanor. "Though it does seem there captain over here does not agree with the plan of walking there young ace, I could pretty much guess it goes the same with the batter."

"Huh… what do you mean Kyoya?" Takahashi asked confused.

"You have not seen how those two play since you were not in the second promotional game Taiga, but I am sure Seido's ace is not happy being walked considering he knows he is not a batter that needed to be walked. When those two were battery partners, it was clear that BJ young ace was influencing there relieve catcher, pulling him to be confident enough to make aggressive calls. It was fun and refreshing seeing Sagara and the others unable to have a clean hit." Kohata smiled remembering the promotional game. "But as a batter, BJ's ace is lacking, and those two being battery partners tend to cover each other, I remember that catcher kid was able to get at least a single hit able to get on base and that Seido ace is good at bunting. But now being in opposite team, that catcher needs to figure out and believe that his current pitcher is capable of striking out his BJ partner." Kohata answered grinning as he notice Daiki glaring at him upon his remark.

Eijun sighed again, as he noticed that Itsuki stood up this time obviously moving away from the plate. It was already 2 balls, now it was more than obvious that they plan to make him walk, and he was not having it. "You should trust the arsenal of your pitcher" Eijun quietly commented without looking at Itsuki, though he knew that the umpire and Itsuki heard it clearly. After all he did not say it just for himself to hear. He notice when Itsuki flinch on the side comment, and it was good thing the umpire did not call him out on it and decided to just ignore his remark.

Itsuki clearly heard Eijun's remark, making him remember the first time he and Eijun were battery partners. Back then he was unsure and their BJ vice-captain called him out on it too. But right now he was with none other than Narumiya Mei, they have been battery partners since Masa sempai had graduated, and back then after the fall tournament he even confidently told Mei to not go down to his level of play, but instead he would catch up with him. He fisted his hand as he turn to look at Eijun who was standing in the batter's box obviously trying to be oblivious upon the comment. He felt like he was slap on the face really hard, since he always inform Eijun that Mei was a better pitcher than him, yet he was obviously not confident enough to prove it and letting Sawamura walk was a low blow to that comment. He took a deep sigh and slowly did his breathing exercise. He knew since the start of the inning Mei was already mad, and if they walk Sawamura now, he was sure Mei's rhythm would fall apart. Mei was in good condition and he does not want that to disappear. He took another deep sigh, as he slowly move back to his catcher's position. He knew that the umpire was also observing him, since Eijun's comment was not as silent as he wanted it to be. Eijun… thank you for waking me up… but I do hope you wont regret this… he smiled as he positioned he mitt for a in high and gave the sign for a fastball close to Sawamura's chest.

Narumiya was a bit surprised seeing Itsuki's call. Ehhh… I though we were going to walk him as per the coach orders? Mei though starting to grin widely, as he does not plan to decline Itsuki's current call and even nod in agreement. Hehehehe… since when did you become the guy going against the coach orders huh Itsuki… As Mei did his windup and threw the ball with deadly accuracy towards Itsuki's mitt. The sound of ball landing on the mitt could be heard loudly at the same time a 148km/h speed was put on the score board, making the audience erupt in loud cheers. "Strike!" the umpire yelled, yet it was overshadowed by the loud cheers of the audience and Inashiro's dugout.

"Nice pitch Mei san!" Itsuki yelled as he threw the ball back. He noticed Eijun was looking at him, hiding a smile, making him grin in response. "Mei is not a pitcher you can take on…" Itsuki said softly making Eijun hidden smile grew wider, as he noticed that his BJ partner return back to his batting position. Ok… Mei… let us go with a curve… Itsuki gave a sign as he position his mitt and seeing Mei nodding eagerly smiling widely. As the ball was thrown, he noticed that Eijun was able to hit the pitch though it was sent towards the foul line. "Foul!" the umpire yelled, making Itsuki breath out. That was a long hit… but we are ok… 2 balls 1 strike… we can do this Mei… as Itsuki gazed at Mei seriously.

Mei was surprised seeing Itsuki's serious look. This was a very new feeling to him. He had known that his catcher as an annoying kohai, or more like a puppy trying to please him in every corner of the field. But now, the person in front of him is a different guy, especially with the aggressive calls. As Mei look at Sawamura, he noticed that the intense gaze that is being given to him is sending him chills of excitement. Honestly he was surprised with the long foul hit considering the difficult angle drop of his curve, yet Seido's ace was able to touch his pitch. This is giving me the thrill I am craving for… as he smiled and nod at Itsuki's outside fastball call. We have this in the bag Itsuki…

Itsuki smiled seeing Mei's confidence. I know you can do this Mei… now let us strike him out! As he watched Mei do his wind up and threw an out low fastball, he noticed Eijun's bat was still able to reach the ball though it was again put into the foul line. "Foul!" the umpire yelled again. Now it was 2 balls and 2 strikes, the count was still in their favor as he did a quick look in Eijun's stance. Damn… he is getting more focus as the game continuous… however with Mei… as Itsuki look back at Mei who was also looking intense as if the battle of the two aces are on its climax. Itsuki smiled as he positioned his mitt in the lower portion of the plate. Let us take him out with this Mei…

Mei smiled seeing his favorite sign. Well for Seido's ace, it was more than enough, after all he wants to prove that when it comes to pitching he was still the king. He nods in agreement as he took in his deep breath. He did his windup and threw his favorite pitch – the changeup.

Itsuki noticed Eijun almost made a swing but he was able to stop himself from actually swinging the bat where the ball landed directly on his mitt, "Ball!" the umpire yelled. He tries to motion that the batter made a swing and it could be noticed that Eijun's body made a bit of movement obviously going for a swing but the umpire shook his head and inform that the bat was not moved from being raised, making Itsuki sigh.

"The hell is this intense Ace battle…" Kuramochi was astonished as he was looking at Eijun intensely. Since when did that Sawamura able to stop a swing like that. I was sure he was about to swing as well… damn good thing he did not move the bat or he would be out.

"Since when did Sawamura able to handle the pressure of Narumiya san?" Kanemaru asked confused as all the players of Seido were already standing up looking out towards the field.

Coach Ochiai was dumbfounded, as he was looking at Sawamura, and Coach Kataoka was not commenting at all as he could hear the confused reaction from his players in regards to Sawamura's batting. His stance… his batting style… he reminds me of Shoji… it's impossible… Coach Kataoka was already in deep thought as he was closely observing Sawamura's every movement.

"It is a full count now… I was guessing there battery was planning to take Sawamura out on that changeup…" Miyuki commented.

"Yeah… I am guessing the same thing… good thing Eijun was able to stop himself from making that swing, considering he has been swinging hard today." Kominato answered.

Damn it… That was close… if I have put all my force on that swing, I'll be dead by now. Eijun thought bitterly. He was already sweating hard, and it was a good thing that he did not made a swing on that last pitch. He felt his grip on the bat was moving thus he did not made a hard swing, and was already ready to be strike out, but he was glad the pitch was a changeup. I got lucky… damn it… he is so cool… that changeup was so difficult to hit, I wonder if cap could hit that pitch… he thought inwardly as he fix his grip on his bat and went back to his batting position. Eijun took a deep breath in as he look back towards the mound and notice Narumiya's death glare. 3Balls – 2 strikes… he already threw an outside pitch and his changeup, then I guess it would be either a fastball or his new pitch. Eijun was thinking deeply as he remembered Tohru's teaching when it comes to having a full count game scenario. "So let us say you have 3 balls 2 strikes… going against Sagato… when will you make a swing?" Tohru asked Eijun seriously as he was fixing Eijun's batting stance. They were doing there batting practice, and Coach Shoji was intensively observing them. "Ahm… since my swing speed is not that fast yet, I need to swing a count earlier before the pitch is released in the middle of the plate?" Eijun asked carefully. Tohru laughed a bit seeing Eijun tense answer. "Ignore coach… he won't eat you…" Tohru said at the same time gesturing towards there coach direction. "Yeah… Sawamura ignore that old man… if I were you just don't swing at all and will handle the rest!" Maki teased making Eijun grin. "Hmp… unless he wants to be benched for the rest of his baseball career…. Then I dare him not to swing…" Coach Shoji answered threateningly, making the other players in the batting rig laugh. "Ehhh… but coach…" Eijun complained as he immediately look at Tohru as if asking for help. "Hahaha… it is good Sawamura…"As Tohru tap Eijun's head. "Remember if the count is full, all you need to do is swing in the upper region of the plate. You don't have to think whatever pitch would be thrown. Just swing as hard as you can and let your batters handle the rest after" Tohru answered smiling pointing towards his teammates who were all smiling widely as if saying he could mess up any time, and they would handle the rest. Eijun grip his bat chocking its handle as he raised it higher than normal. I know I am not with BJ right now… But I know cap can hit that damn changeup… Eijun thought as he did a quick glimpse towards Seido's dugout smiling and saw Miyuki's confused and surprised look the moment there eyes meet.

A/N: Hello everyone! I miss you guys! I noticed I have been apologizing a lot, (sad) but I hope this would be the last. I was not able to update recently due to our family having a long vacation and my grandparents forbid technology (sigh) but honestly it was refreshing and depressing at the same time. I miss everyone, and being able to check here. Anyways I plan to surprise everyone and hope that you wont stop reading this and let us all cheer for our favorite pitcher! Stay safe everyone~ and I am back ;)