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. English is not my first language so I do apologize for spelling/grammatical errors, Thank you!

Chapter 38

"That was an intense inning for both Seido and Inashiro" Miro commented getting Tohru's attention away from the field, as the players of Inashiro was already moving out into the field.

"Blah… the one intense thing is that Seido fielder… like common… he hit that wall face flat… like seriously" Maki informed in an amused tone, making the other BJ players amazed with Seido's left fielder play.

"I did notice during the game, that Sawamura threw his three spin fastball to their Seido catcher… I guess that is the result of that long timeout a while back, I wonder what else…." But as Miro was thinking deeply looking out towards the field, he notices the displeased look from Tohru. "You don't seem happy about this inning, Tohru?" he asked, making the other players turn towards their catcher's sit.

"Ehh…" Tohru was a bit taken back from their co-captains remark that he started to look away from the gazes of this teammates.

"Tohru are you ok?" Towa asked seriously. He had a feeling what is going on in Tohru's head right now, especially the fact that he knew how quite possessive their main catcher is with their young ace Sawamura. Aside from the fact that Sawamura had just thrown his three spin fastball, one of Tohru's fastball that he taught to their young ace.

"It is nothing… I am just wondering how Itsuki would be handling this final inning. They only need a single run to go to extra innings…" Tohru explained as he tries to change the conversion and look out the field instead, directly towards Tadano who was in the catcher's position.

"Uhhuh… do you try to say that to yourself in this whole game?" Maki asked teasingly.

"Maki… stop…" Towa tries to reprimand his friend, making the other players sigh in defeat as they all knew how much of a bully prankster Maki is.

"Huh… what… I am just stating a fact you know!" Complained the latter, making Tohru sigh deeper.

"You do realize Maki, if Tadano lost in this game against Sawamura, you would be treating Towa and Sagato for a whole month, considering only those two had bet that Eijun would win against him" Tohru commented making Maki pale, as he realized the current betting that is going within the BJ players.

"Inashiro loosing is not connected to Tadano and Sawamura's bet!" Maki complained as the other players laughed in his nervous outbreak and kept teasing his other teammates, at the same time Tohru look out towards Seido's dugout looking for the loud ace pitcher.

"That was underhanded Tohru…" Miro whispered making sure that Tohru was the only one who could hear his remark.

"I don't like how the game is progressing, Miro… Eijun is BJ's ace pitcher… his our pitcher" Tohru remarked bitterly as he saw Miyuki moving towards the railings of Seido's dugout to watch Inashiro's offense, as the same time Furuya moving up to bat in turn of Seido's left fielder who hit the wall.

"Your possessiveness towards Sawamura is understandable Tohru, especially with his style and variety of pitches had help cover your own weakness… but you see Tohru… he is not exclusively with BJ, he has yet signed a contract aside from the fact that his still underage to go pro. Don't you think you are unintentionally slowing his improvement or worse disrupting his future career ?"

Tohru did not comment on Miro's remark. Honestly, his possessiveness towards Sawamura's pitching is also scaring him considering as a catcher, he need to be able to cater to any pitcher on the field. But ever since he had met Sawamura in the first promotional game, he wanted to be the only person who could be able to catch his pitches, not as a catcher, but as a fellow pitcher. That long timeout at the same time the intense pressure that had buildup with Seido's catcher and Eijun, did not sit well with him, and what bothered him more is how well Eijun had started performing with his pitches, including the three spin fastball, which had totally bothered him, not because it was grounded, but the fact that Seido's catcher had asked Eijun to throw it, in a difficult plate angle. Eijun… what other pitches have you informed your Seido captain… Tohru thought uneasily, totally zoning out his teammates around him, at the same time not noticing Miro's worried look towards him. Tohru is now solely focused towards the game, watching Eijun's pitches made him remember his time being a pitcher, at the same time his longing to step on that mound and compete with the young pitcher of the ace position.

Top of the ninth and final inning, Seido was leading with a 4-3 run lead and Inashiro only needs a single run to go to extra innings or get two runs to win the game. However in order to keep Seido from getting any more runs, they need to do a strike out and that is what Mei intends to do. He was looking seriously at Itsuki and could notice the seriousness in his catcher's eyes, as Seido's 6th batter, Furuya was stepping in the batter's box. Mei took in deep breaths in as he could notice Itsuki placing this mitt in the batter's chest area. I never really bothered with it Itsuki, but ever since before the summer league game starts, your catching style has change. I did ask the coach whenever I notice you don't go back to the dorms when practice is over, but he just brushed it off, did you by any chance had practice outside of Inashiro… or perhaps you just started to change without anyone noticing. Mei thought as he nod in agreement and did his windup to throw his first pitch, an inside fastball directly landing on Itsuki's mitt with no space to spare.

"Strike!" as the umpire yelled, Itsuki smiled. That pitch was amazing… Itsuki thought as he easily threw the ball back towards Narumiya. "Nice pitch Mei san!" he called out at the same time notice the serious look that his pitcher was showing him. I don't need to hesitate… This is the last inning… as Itsuki did a quick look towards Seido's dugout and notice Eijun looking closely towards the mound. I have always told you that Narumiya Mei is the best pitcher, so this time… Eijun… I want you to see how good he really is, you won't have the chance to step on the batter's box anymore… Itsuki smile grew wider as he gave the sign for the next pitch.

Mei notice the slight glimpse that Ituski gave towards Seido's dugout that made him wrinkled his forehead, at the same time the smile behind the catchers mask. Huh… so you really are hiding something from me Itsuki… Mei thought suspiciously as he nod in agreement for the next pitch at the same time did his windup. A changeup in the outer region of the plate was thrown for the second pitch, and as he threw the pitch, he could clearly see Seido's 6th batter Furuya make a swing, however due the difficulty of the angle drop at the same time the timing of the swing, Furuya was not able to make a hit resulting to a swing and miss. "Strike!" the umpire called out making Inashiro's dugout and fans erupt in loud cheers.

"That was a nice pitch Mei san…"

"Now let us finish this Narumiya!"

The count was now two strikes no balls, and Furuya does not intend to go down without a fight. He took in deep breaths as he seriously look out towards Narumiya making sure he grip his bat tightly. He watched as Narumiya throw his third pitch at the same time making a hard swing, but as he was expecting a fastball, his swing timing is off again, since the third pitch was another changeup where it totally miss the ball resulting for another swing and miss at the same time the ball landing directly towards Itsuki's mitt. "Strike! Batter out!" the umpire called out, making the cheers for Inashiro's ace pitcher louder than usual. "Tsk…" Furuya was frustrated with the miss swing, and as he looks back towards the mound, he could notice that Narumiya was like looking down on him. A true king of the mound making him more frustrated and fisting his hand as he walk back towards the dugout.

"Mei-san nice trow!"

"Okay! Nice pitch Mei san…" Itsuki called out as he threw the ball back towards Mei. This is what Mei's change up really is, the strongest pitch there is…Itsuki thought happily as he could clearly see Mei's concentration on the inning. I wont falter anymore… I know you can do this Mei… Itsuki took in deep breaths as he look towards the Inashiro dugout noticing coach Kunitomo looking closely at him.

Mei watched Furuya seriously as he walked back towards Seido dugout, and noticed that he whispered something to Seido's next batter. Hmp… you guys won't get any more runs from me… Mei thought seriously as he grip the rosin in his pitching hand harder. I gave up to much run for this game already… this is the end of you guys… at the same time as he look back towards Itsuki he notice a different kind of look, a serious yet thrilling kind of look, Owhh… now… now… this is interesting… as Mei smiled widely, ignoring the wild cheers in the stadium.

"Good one Furuya!" Higasa greeted Furuya upon returning back from the field.

"You will get him next time Furuya…" Kominato added, making Furuya nod once as agreement.

"Nice batting Furuya!" Eijun remarked making Furuya turn toward's Eijun and notice that he was holding a cup of water that is being handed towards him.

"Thank you… I think Narumiya has level up his pitching…" Furuya commented as he accepted Sawamura's cup of water.

"Hmmm… yeah I guess… he threw two changeup to take you out" Eijun agreed as he turn his gaze back towards the mound and notice Narumiya's serious concentration.

"You need to be careful Eijun, I think the last inning would be hard for you…" Furuya informed at the same time they both heard the umpire calling out a "Strike" call for the first pitch. "Aside from his pitching… their catcher has started putting his mitt towards the difficult areas of the plate, making it harder to actually make a decent hit."

Eijun sighed as he turn to look at Furuya seriously, at the same time returning his gaze back towards the fields, mainly towards Inashiro's catcher. "Furuya… I kind of have a favor to ask…" Eijun asked quietly, making Furuya wrinkled his forehead out of curiosity yet he did not declined Sawamura's request. Eijun could clearly see the moment Narumiya threw his second pitch against Tojou at the same time the pitch breaking in a sharp upward motion jamming Tojou's bat when he made the swing sending it directly towards third's base. "When it's Itsu… I mean Inashiro's catcher turn to bat, could you move a bit close to the wall in left field. Don't worry it would not be out of the fence, but just close enough to the wall and just put your mitt up, I will make sure to send the ball directly to you and when it is Narumiya's turn to bat… could you move towards near the foul line. Just close enough but not on top of the foul line… Like stand directly in line with the second post bleachers" Eijun informed as he return his gaze back towards Furuya who was looking at him confused.

"Huh? What do you mean Ei…" Furuya was about to ask, however he was cut off by Sawamura serious look.

"You see.. it would be quite difficult if this game go into extra innings, at the same time we will be going against Inashiro's first year pitcher which we barely had any idea in how his pitch course would be like, so I think it is a bad idea if this game move past this inning." While Eijun look out towards Inashiro's dugout and focus towards the tall first year pitcher who was smiling widely as they cheer for Narumiya. "I would be guessing as well that Asou sempai won't be back in left field, and you would be put in that spot, well considering you did bat for him on his turn… You see Furuya… I don't intend to lose today… so I want to stop Inashiro's attack on our turn" Eijun explained seriously.

Furuya was speechless at the same time confused with Eijun's request. This is the first time he is seeing this side of Sawamura who was serious at the same time giving precise sensible instructions for the game. His instincts wanted to ask more questions, however due to Sawamura's serious look he was unable to voice out his confusion and just nod in agreement to Sawamura instructions. "I understand…" Furuya could clearly see Eijun's bright smile upon his agreement at the same time hearing his usual remarks.

"Ok! It is time to defend like our life depends on it!" Eijun shouted loudly in the dugout, where most of his teammates flinch from the loud voice of his that had echoed inside the dugout thus earning complains .

"What the hell Sawamura! It is still Kanemaru's turn to bat!" Kuramochi complained at the same time they all heard a "Strike!" call from the umpire.

"Hahahaha… Kanemaru would be taken out Kuramochi sempai… so it will be our turn!" Eijun laughed stupidly as he moved out towards the dugout.

"Stupidmura don't jinx it!" Yamaguchi complained but as if on cue, Kanemaru was taken out with a grounded ball towards first base.

"Hahahahahaha…. Told you sempai… Narumiya is on top of his game! Let us go conquer the kings!" Sawamura laughed out loud making Miyuki sigh as he could notice Sawamura extra eagerness to go back out towards the field.

"Sawamura!" Coach Kataoka called out making Eijun stopping his stupid laugh and immediately turn towards their coach who was standing on the steps of the dugout.

"Yes boss!" Eijun answered eagerly, making the other player in the dugout a bit nervous of the seriousness.

"Finish it…" Coach Kataoka informed making Sawamura's smile brighter in response.

"Sure thing boss!" Eijun answered eagerly at the same time giving a salute and jog back towards the mound.

"Miyuki… Don't ease up on your calling, utilize the whole plate, with Sawamura's pitching, he could easily target the course you wanted at the same time… " Kataoka turn towards Miyuki who was slowly moving up the field. "He is on his top form, I think you already understand that, Miyuki…"

Miyuki nod in full agreement since he knew what their coach meant with Sawamura's pitching. As he started moving up towards the catcher's position, he could notice in the side of his eye that Sawamura was looking towards the Inashiro dugout with a hidden smile. Hmmm… this is interesting…

"Don't ease up… we are on the final stage of the game… don't let Inashiro get any runs!" Kataoka ordered towards his fielders. At the same time they answered "Yes sir!"

A/N: Hello everyone! I would be apologizing for not being able to update regularly despite me promising to some that i would go back to my regular updates. First off, I got sick and then after I needed to catch up with university since I had a lot of absences being sick and lastly (honestly) I wanted to see what will happen in the manga (q-q) since i am rewriting the whole thing anyways, I kind of wanted to know how our favorite author would end the game. But then again, their updates are so long... that i just became impatient (=_=). So I just decided to go with my original ending of the game. This will be so much fun... Thank you everyone for staying to read this part. Hehehe... Stay safe and healthy everyone! love you all!