Diamond no Ace: My Sharingan

Zhou Hao stood firmly on second base.

Two outs. Runner on second.

"Keep up the pressure! Crush them completely!"

"Let them see the true strength of one of Japan's top teams!"

The fans in the stands were fired up.

They had long heard of Seidou High's fearsome batting lineup. Now, they wanted proof.

And Seidou delivered.

The strength of a national powerhouse wasn't just talk—it was fact.

"Batting eighth, center fielder, number eight—Isashiki Jun!"

Among the three sophomore regulars besides Chris, the catcher, and Yuki, the first baseman, Jun Isashiki was the last.

While his batting wasn't quite on par with his third-year counterparts, his defense was exceptional.

As a center fielder, his speed and throwing arm were top-tier. Many balls that seemed destined to drop were stopped thanks to him.

Taking all that into account, the team gave him a starting spot.

Standing in the batter's box, surrounded by cheers, Isashiki felt a surge of pride.

"Just one hit. No matter what, I'll get it this time."

With Zhou Hao already on second, even a slow grounder might get the job done.

As long as it landed in fair territory, there was a strong chance Zhou Hao would make it home.

"Hang in there—I'll get you back."

Just as those words left his lips—

Whoosh!

The white ball came speeding in.

Isashiki, known for his aggressive swings, didn't hesitate.

Crack!

The ball bounced hard off the bat.

Thud!

But the second baseman for Hachioji High was ready. He fielded it cleanly and fired it to first.

"Out!"

Three outs. Inning over. The teams switched sides.

At the end of the top of the second inning, Seidou had scored only a single run.

The fans, though hopeful, weren't blind.

They had wished for a dominant win—an overwhelming show of power from Seidou.

But this opponent… they were stronger than expected.

No matter how hard Seidou pushed, the Hachioji team didn't crack.

If not for Zhou Hao's incredible hit earlier, they might not have scored at all.

"Weren't these Hachioji guys supposed to be academic elites?"

As students from a prestigious high school, their main focus was academics.

That much was clear.

But their performance on the field was turning heads.

Seidou was no ordinary team. Though they hadn't reached Koshien in recent years, their strength was undeniable.

Even the other elite teams always treated them as equals.

Seidou had taken down giants before. Their reputation was well-earned.

So… how was Hachioji keeping up?

The fans couldn't understand.

Bottom of the second inning. Hachioji's core lineup stepped up to bat.

Some expected them to capitalize and take control.

But on the mound—Yoshida exploded.

Seidou's ace entered the zone, and when that happened, few could touch him.

Compared to Seidou's lower-order batters, Hachioji's cleanup hitters were clearly outmatched.

How could they deal with Yoshida?

"Out!"

"Out!"

"Strikeout!"

Three up, three down. Just like that, Seidou shut them out.

The swift and decisive defense caught Hachioji off guard.

Yes, they had allowed one run earlier—but this clean sweep restored their confidence.

When the players returned to the dugout, they began discussing counter-strategies.

But what they didn't expect—was how fast everything moved.

They barely had time to sit, to sip water, to catch their breath.

They were already back on the field.

The Hachioji coach stared at his players, concerned.

"We're only in the third inning…"

In fact, they had played just two innings.

Yet his players already looked worn out.

Meanwhile, Seidou…

Despite scoring just one run, they looked sharp. Energized.

No signs of fatigue.

In the stands, a camera panned across the field, capturing every moment.

One viewer, wearing the uniform of a city high school baseball team, muttered to himself:

"This is the difference that training makes."

Hachioji's players had clearly worked hard. A team without dedication wouldn't have made it this far.

But still…

There was a gap.

Hachioji had effort.

Seidou had discipline.

These Seidou players— they shed more sweat, more tears, more hours than anyone else.

Across the nation, few could match their workload.

How could Hachioji possibly keep up?

"Unless they tie the game before Seidou attacks again, this match is already over."

Top of the third inning. Seidou was back on offense.

Everyone was optimistic—it was the turn of their first and second batters.

But the result?

Three up, three down again.

Hachioji's pitcher, Yamamoto Nakagami, had clearly shifted gears and was pitching seriously now.

Bottom of the third. Yoshida continued his dominant streak, striking out two more batters.

Three outs. The sides switched again.

And just like that, the game progressed to the fifth inning.

The scoreboard still read: 1–0.

Seidou had given it their all, but the opponent wouldn't budge.

Top of the fifth inning.

Leading off again was their leadoff batter—his third time at bat.

On the mound, Yamamoto Nakagami gritted his teeth.

"I can still hold on!"

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POWER STONE!!!

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