Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 507: Changes in the Starting Lineup

"No problem!"

Eijun agreed without hesitation.

He wasn't the impulsive type to begin with. Sure, he might get caught up in the heat of the moment on the mound, but this—this was the final. He wasn't about to gamble away his professional future.

"Hmph, you little punk," Kuramochi huffed.

Seeing that Kuramochi had reluctantly accepted the situation, a soft smile appeared on Eijun's face.

"Thank you, Kuramochi-senpai… thanks for letting me be selfish."

"Hmph!"

Kuramochi still looked clearly frustrated.

But he had to admit—if they lost Eijun, Seidou's chances in tomorrow's final would drop drastically. So even if he knew Eijun was just putting on a brave face, even if he knew this was the wrong choice…

He couldn't stop him.

"Alright, alright, it's about time to rest. Let's head back to the dorms, Kuramochi-senpai."

With a mix of reluctance and concern, the two returned together to their dorm.

Unbeknownst to them…

In the shadows around a corner, a pink-haired figure stood silently. His clenched fists, the wind stirring his bangs, and the determined look in his eyes all spoke of one thing:

"Win… We must win. In tomorrow's final—Narumiya Mei, we will crush you!!"

With determined steps, he walked off with his own silent vow.

...

The Next Morning

As the first rays of sunlight illuminated the earth, Seidou's baseball team was already wide awake and lively.

Their final pre-game morning training had begun.

Of course, it wasn't intense—just enough light exercise to keep their bodies warm and responsive.

"Huff… ha…"

Jogging slow laps around the field, Eijun gently stretched his body while soaking in the morning light.

He tested the condition of his left arm.

It felt… better than yesterday.

Still, pitching wasn't about brute force—it was about precision. Even the slightest discomfort in the fingers or stiffness in the arm could throw off his control.

The chances of a wild pitch or misfire would increase.

For now, he was okay.

But once the game started… there were no guarantees.

He had to stay sharp. Extra sharp.

Eijun drew in a long breath, exhaling slowly.

Determination gleamed in his eyes.

Compared to the pain Miyuki had endured in the original timeline, his current state was far better. If Miyuki could push through that—then so could he.

Clenching his fist, Eijun made a silent vow to himself.

"Yo, Mr. Ace. Warming up already? That fired up for the game?"

From nearby came Miyuki's teasing voice. He was joined by Maezono, Kuramochi, Haruichi, Shirasu, and a few others.

All of them were out doing their own warmups.

"Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited," Eijun grinned. "After all, this is my long-awaited rematch with Narumiya-senpai since summer."

"Man, you sound like a kid before a field trip," Miyuki laughed.

"Hehe."

Eijun chuckled sheepishly.

"How's it feel?"

While everyone else was busy stretching, Kuramochi subtly sidled up to Eijun and asked in a low voice.

"I'm good. Really, nothing to worry about, Kuramochi-senpai."

Kuramochi gave him a skeptical glare full of doubt… but didn't press further.

"Hmph. If you've made your decision, then stick with it. Make it through to the end, Ace!!"

"I will, Kuramochi-senpai!"

Eijun nodded firmly, his tone filled with resolve.

After the light warmups ended, the team regrouped in the cafeteria for breakfast.

And following that… came the customary pre-game strategy meeting.

The twenty members of Seidou's First String sat upright, focused and serious. Coach Kataoka, Coach Ochiai, Takashima Rei, and Director Ota all stood at the front.

"What needed to be said about this team was covered yesterday," Coach Kataoka began, his voice calm but laced with authority. "This Inashiro Industrial lineup is in no way weaker than they were in the summer. Especially their ace, Narumiya Mei. While their first-year catcher might be our breakthrough point, that doesn't mean we can underestimate Narumiya. Understood?!"

"Yes, sir!!"

Eijun, Miyuki, Kuramochi, and the rest responded loudly and in unison.

"Now," Kataoka continued, "we'll announce today's starting lineup. Narumiya isn't the type of pitcher you can overpower with brute strength alone. What we need is finesse—smart hitting, versatile offense, continuous pressure. So there will be some adjustments to the batting order."

At that, the room grew even more serious.

Everyone's attention sharpened, especially those in the third base, outfield, and mound positions.

Even Maezono, who manned first base, looked tense—his performance in the semifinals had been, frankly, disappointing. It wouldn't be a surprise if he was pulled from the starting lineup.

In Seidou, under Coach Kataoka, the rule was absolute: the ones in form get the start. Performance determined playing time. No exceptions.

"One-hole, shortstop—Kuramochi."

"Yes!" Kuramochi responded clearly and immediately.

"Two-hole, right fielder—Shirasu."

"Yes!"

That announcement made everyone blink in surprise. Shirasu in the two-spot? His usual role was further down the lineup.

Why was the upper order being reshuffled like this?

Even Haruichi, sitting lower down the table, looked momentarily surprised. But then a certain possibility seemed to dawn on him—and others, too, began to glance toward him with odd expressions.

"Three-hole, second baseman—Kominato."

A cleanup hitter!

So that was it. Seidou was putting the first-year Haruichi in the three-hole in the championship final.

Every eye in the room turned toward him—some with surprise, others with silent approval, even a few with quiet respect. A few second-years looked conflicted, but no one objected.

Eijun turned his head, ready to tease Haruichi—he figured the normally shy boy must be bright red by now.

But then—

"Yes!"

A loud, clear voice rang out.

Haruchi stood at attention, shoulders squared, back straight, his tone filled with unwavering resolve. That sudden show of confidence stunned everyone.

Even Eijun blinked.

He looked at Haruichi again.

Somehow, he seemed different today.

"Whoa… did the three-hole really flip a switch in him or what?" Eijun rubbed his chin, mentally reevaluating the small but steady infielder beside him.

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