Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 317: The King Sets Sail

"No. 2, Catcher, Miyuki Kazuya."

"Yes!"

After Eijun received his jersey number and returned to the lineup, Coach Kataoka continued announcing the rest of the team's numbers.

Miyuki, rarely seen with a solemn expression, stepped forward and took the jersey number from Coach Kataoka.

After all, this was a significant moment for the team, one where no trace of frivolity was appropriate.

The position of starting catcher remained firmly secured by the genius catcher Miyuki.

Starting from this fall, he would also take on the roles of team captain and cleanup hitter, becoming an irreplaceable part of the new lineup.

He was even more vital than Eijun in some ways.

After all, the team still had Eijun's rival, Furuya Satoru, whose talent was on par with Eijun's. If Furuya grew to his full potential, he might even threaten or replace Eijun's role.

However, Ono could never replace Miyuki's position.

In this new team, Miyuki was undoubtedly the key figure.

"No. 3, First Baseman, Maezono Kenta."

"Yes!"

The second-year player Maezono Kenta, who had been eagerly anticipating this moment, couldn't hide his delight when Coach Kataoka called his name.

He quickly stepped forward, hands trembling slightly as he accepted his jersey.

"You'll need to work even harder. Don't disappoint the expectations placed on you." Coach Kataoka's stern expression emphasized the importance of the task ahead.

Maezono was a player Coach Kataoka held in high regard, but his weaknesses were equally apparent. The coach believed it was necessary to push him further.

It wasn't that Coach Kataoka feared being proven wrong in the future but rather that he sincerely hoped his chosen players would fully realize their potential and avoid any regrets during their high school careers.

For every player, Coach Kataoka gave his all in training and guidance.

"Yes!" Maezono recognized the encouragement and admonition in Kataoka's words, responding with a serious expression and a firm voice.

"No. 4, Second Baseman, Kominato Haruichi."

"Yes!"

After spending the summer as a substitute, Haruichi finally earned a starting jersey for this fall. While a number didn't guarantee a starting position, its significance couldn't be ignored.

Haruichi, with his usual bashful demeanor, blushed slightly as he strode forward and took his jersey from Coach Kataoka.

"Believe in yourself. You can do even better," Coach Kataoka encouraged, patting Haruichi's shoulder.

"Yes, Coach! I'll do my best," Haruichi responded firmly.

"No. 5, Third Baseman, Higasa Shoji."

"Yes."

"No. 6, Shortstop, Kuramochi Yoichi."

"Yes."

"... ..."

"No. 11, Pitcher, Furuya Satoru."

"Yes."

When Furuya's name was called, he maintained his usual calm demeanor, stepping forward to accept the jersey number that previously belonged to Eijun.

This was a natural progression. Since Eijun had taken on the role of ace, it made sense for Furuya's number to move up accordingly.

Kawakami retained the No. 10 jersey, unchanged since last fall.

"Keep pushing yourself. You can become a top-tier pitcher too."

"Yes."

"No. 13..."

The selection and jersey distribution for the first-string lineup were exactly the same as in the original. The starting positions remained mostly fixed.

After Coach Kataoka announced the numbers, Eijun silently nodded to himself. For now, this was indeed Seidou High School's best possible lineup.

Although there might still be some room for debate regarding a few starting positions, the overall setup was unlikely to change much.

"Ten days — less than two weeks until the autumn tournament preliminaries begin. The group brackets have already been released. While none of the three opposing schools are strong teams, I will not tolerate anyone being careless. If anyone dares to let their guard down, they won't stay on the first string. Got it?"

Coach Kataoka's gaze swept sternly across the 20 first-string players.

"Yes!"

Satisfied with their attitude and morale, Kataoka gave a slight nod. He then shifted his gaze toward Ochiai, who slowly opened his narrowed eyes and shook his head gently. Kataoka nodded in understanding before turning his attention to Miyuki.

"Next, let's hear a speech from the new captain."

Takashima Rei adjusted her glasses and smiled faintly as she directed her gaze toward Miyuki. The entire Seidou team followed suit, turning their attention to him.

Miyuki scratched his head awkwardly, stepped forward, and stood before everyone, his hands clasped behind his back. After a brief pause, he said sheepishly:

"Uh... so, um, what should a captain say in a speech?"

He scratched the back of his head, glancing awkwardly at Takashima Rei and Ota.

The spectators immediately burst into familiar smiles.

Ah, Miyuki Kazuya — still the same as ever.

Kuramochi, Eijun, and even Shirasu shook their heads, amused by the familiar scene.

"Just greet everyone and say a few words," Ota advised hurriedly, embodying the classic "eager eunuch" archetype when the emperor remained unbothered.

"Ahem."

After clearing his throat, Miyuki began seriously:

"Well, I haven't fully gathered my thoughts yet, but I'll keep it simple."

"This summer, we not only avenged past losses and made it to Koshien, but we also won the championship, becoming national champions. This summer will probably be one of the most unforgettable moments of my life. That championship banner, symbolizing standing at the pinnacle of countless powerful teams across the country, brings us endless glory — but it also comes with immense responsibility and duty."

"We won, but that was just one victory. We can celebrate this success, but we must not dwell on past glories. I will never forget the regret of not reaching Koshien for six years. Even after winning this championship, that memory remains vivid. We absolutely cannot let this glory be a one-time thing. We must never fall back into those difficult days."

Miyuki spoke with unprecedented seriousness, his solemn expression radiating the responsibility of a true captain.

His heartfelt words resonated deeply with Eijun, Kuramochi, Shirasu, and even Coach Kataoka, all of whom adopted similarly solemn expressions.

"Moreover, we've seen just how terrifying and brutal baseball can be."

"If we work hard, we must seek results."

"We must have an insatiable desire for victory."

"If we dominated the nation this time, then next time, we must defend our glory once again."

"Since we've stood at the summit and seen the breathtaking view, how could we possibly give it up to anyone else?"

"Ohhhhhh!"

It sounded like both a promise and an oath.

Looking at Miyuki's resolute figure standing tall, Eijun, Kuramochi, Furuya, and others all revealed knowing smiles.

Not far away, the third-year seniors — Yuuki Tetsuya, Isashiki Jun, and Kominato Ryousuke — wore different but equally meaningful smiles.

Yes, the view from the top was truly extraordinary.

How could they let anyone else take it?

That beauty was something they were determined to keep for themselves.

"Who are we?"

"The King — Seidou!"

"Glory will always belong to us, the King Seidou!"

"Ohhhhhhh!!!"

In the golden autumn season, a new team with a renewed spirit set forth once again.

The king was ready to rise anew!