Diamond No Ace: The Strongest Hitter

Chapter 204: The Beginning

After Tanba's injury, the pressure within the team skyrocketed, creating an oppressive atmosphere that made it hard to breathe.

That evening, Tanba stayed at the hospital for further examinations and didn't return. Even the most diligent seniors had no energy to practice.

In contrast, Sendo went out with a bat that night.

While everyone else was downcast, he stood alone, swinging his bat in solitude, simulating scenarios in his mind.

No one would have expected that among the first-years—who still hadn't fully grasped the gravity of the situation—it was the usually lazy Sendo who first sparked a fighting spirit, refusing to accept defeat.

The next day, the sky was unusually gloomy, further weighing on everyone's heavy hearts. To top it off, it was the day of the drawing ceremony.

"Still thinking about Tanba-senpai?" During a break, Fumino initiated a conversation with the quiet Sendo, who was gazing out the window.

"You're just so kind! On the surface, you act like you don't care about anything, but inside, you're hurting so much!"

"Maybe. Do I really look so depressed that I need comforting?" Sendo replied.

Fumino shook her head. "If you were someone who could be that easily defeated, you wouldn't be the Sendo I know! No matter the situation, you're always calm. By now, I'm sure you've already figured out what you can do and what you just need to trust in."

"But when you're sad, I still hope you'll talk about it. Staying calm and feeling sad don't contradict each other. I don't want to see you hurting!" Fumino, with her slightly airheaded nature, hugged Sendo's arm.

"Seriously, where do you see me being sad?" Sendo, half helpless and half resigned, habitually placed his hand on her head.

"You're not, but I can feel it."

"Now I suddenly feel like swinging the bat," he muttered.

Their candid conversation made everyone else nearby jealous. Still, given the timing, no one dared interrupt them.

By the time school ended, it was already pouring outside. The baseball team moved into the indoor practice field, while the managers like Fumino headed straight home.

"Wow! So many schools are participating!" Sawamura exclaimed as he stared at the newly released match schedule.

"Tokyo is already divided into East and West districts, so this isn't too bad. Nationwide, there are regions with even fiercer competition!" Haruichi explained.

The most intense area, though, had to be Osaka.

But that was only because Sawamura's generation hadn't fully risen yet.

In the coming years, West Tokyo would become the fiercest battleground, with four teams strong enough to reach the final four at Koshien competing for just one spot.

"There are five games before the finals," Furuya said, pointing at the match schedule.

The only ones truly energized were the first- and second-years. The third-years still carried their heavy mood.

Sendo held a copy of the match schedule as well. Honestly, he had forgotten most of the matchups from his previous life, only remembering that the strong opponents were just a handful.

The early rounds all looked the same to him. Apart from Maimon West High in the opening match, none of the lesser-known schools triggered any memories.

As a seeded team, Seidou wouldn't play until the third round. If Maimon West wanted to face Seidou, they'd have to win two matches first.

...

When Coach Kataoka gathered the team, he gave an update on Tanba's injury and specifically called out Kawakami, Furuya, and Sawamura, emphasizing the need for them to step up and contribute to the team during this critical time.

As a language teacher, a few words from him were enough to unite everyone.

The pitching duo was handed over entirely to Chris, who adjusted their training focus to prioritize defense and control due to the unexpected situation. This would ensure they could be fully prepared for official matches.

Meanwhile, Sendo committed to an additional 100 practice swings daily.

Though the number might seem small, he truly wasn't slacking this time. Each swing was paired with a mental simulation of a pitch, allowing him to visualize and respond to real game scenarios.

This advanced method of practice was rare, previously only seen in players like Raichi and others.

Sendo's routine was straightforward, but some of his teammates weren't so lucky, as final exams were approaching. Even Sendo found himself dragged out of his naps by Fumino for tutoring.

Sawamura, who had spent most of the semester sleeping through classes, now faced textbooks as if they were written in another language.

He couldn't even grasp basic concepts, with his knowledge level still stuck in elementary school.

Though middle school tutoring sessions hadn't helped much, Sawamura wasn't in immediate academic danger.

However, Seidou High was also an academically focused school. Failing meant having to retake exams, which would cut into practice time.

Fortunately, Japan's passing threshold was the class average divided by two, which allowed some flexibility.

This grading system also helped gauge actual learning outcomes rather than penalizing students with overly difficult exams.

Kanemaru generously offered to help Sawamura with his studies, unaware of the daunting task he'd taken on.

Meanwhile, Furuya struggled in silence, unable to ask for help due to his introverted nature.

In Japan, people rarely offer unsolicited help, fearing they might hurt someone's pride unless they know the person well enough to recognize unspoken needs.

As a result, even Haruichi didn't step in to assist Furuya, who eventually resorted to avoiding reality altogether.

Sendo, preoccupied with his own challenges, had no time to deal with their issues. High school coursework in Japan was notoriously challenging, even including topics like calculus typically taught in college elsewhere.

However, the first-year syllabus only touched on the basics.

Recently, Yuuki and Jun-san had been moved to the indoor practice field for pitching, so Sendo hadn't seen much of them.

Training sessions now focused more on fundamental skills like batting and defense, with a reduced workload to help players recover from the intense camp.

Both Sawamura and Furuya had made significant progress recently. Though Sendo himself had improved a lot, he didn't fully realize it, as it's often hard to notice your own growth. Without the fatigue from camp, the regular training routine felt much easier, a sign of his increased stamina.

As a starter, Sendo was also involved in choosing the team's cheering songs. Though his preferred song was already taken, he selected a classic tune, unaware it was the same choice as Harada's.

The brass band often practiced on the field, and whenever Sendo heard his chosen song, he felt an exhilarating surge of energy.

The cheerleading squad's outfits were also particularly eye-catching, causing him to steal a few extra glances—until Fumino caught him staring, leaving him flustered.

With finals over, Fumino scored an impressive 80+ in math, a testament to Sendo's years of tutoring.

Sawamura barely passed with 30s across the board, avoiding red marks by a slim margin and even shedding tears of joy over his 40-point "high score."

Meanwhile, Sendo maintained his spot at the top of the class, much to the amazement of his teachers and peers. His habit of sleeping through classes yet acing exams continued to leave everyone in disbelief.

This all marked the arrival of summer. On the day exam results were announced, the summer tournament jersey numbers were also revealed.

"Now we'll assign jersey numbers. When your name is called, come forward to collect your jersey."

"First, jersey number one: Tanba Koichiro!"

Tanba stood frozen in place until Coach Kataoka called him again.

"Don't worry, just focus on recovering fully."

As Tanba returned, his teammates teased him about his shaved head, which he had cut as a joke but ended up taking seriously. His bald head became an irresistible target, with even Yuuki sneaking in a quick touch.

"Let's continue!" Coach Kataoka interrupted, bringing everyone back to order.

"Number two: Miyuki Kazuya!"

"Yes!"

"Number three: Yuuki Tetsuya!"

"Yes, coach!"

...

"Number 7! Isashiki Jun!"

"Yosh! Let's go!!!"

"Number 8! Sendo Akira!"

"Here!"

"Number 9! Shirasu Kenjiro!"

"I'll do my best!"

Shirasu's response was endearingly earnest. After all, he had managed to beat out Sakai for the final numbered jersey, relegating Sakai to jersey number 13.

Meanwhile, Furuya wasn't spared, as Coach Kataoka used his lackluster academics as a reason to motivate him further.

...

"The record-keeping responsibilities are in your hands, Chris!"

"Understood!" Chris-senpai's warm and reliable expression never wavered.

Finally, Coach Kataoka expressed gratitude to the managers for their continuous dedication.

The jersey assignment ceremony at Seidou High wasn't just a formality—it was also a rallying cry for the upcoming battles.

As Coach Kataoka closed with, "Everything we do is for this summer!", the team's spirits surged with fiery determination.

Yet, Kataoka seemed unsatisfied with the current level of energy.

"Alright! Just like we've always done!"

"Yes, sir!" Yuuki Tetsuya promptly responded, gathering everyone into a circle.

"Are we really doing this cliché chant again?" Sendo silently griped to himself, even as he prepared to join in.

"Tanba, take it easy this time!" Pure-hearted Isashiki Jun reminded him with care.

"And you, Sendo, speak louder!"

"...!"

"WHO ARE WE?!"

"THE KINGS OF SEIDOU!!!"

"WHO HAS SWEATED THE MOST?!"

"SEIDOU!!!"

"WHO HAS SHED THE MOST TEARS?!"

"SEIDOU!!!"

"ARE WE READY FOR BATTLE?!"

"YEAH!!!"

At this point, even Sendo, who had been merely mouthing along, found himself swept up in the moment and shouted with genuine enthusiasm.

Recent events had weighed heavily on Sendo, and his naturally calm and composed demeanor meant he had bottled up a lot of stress. But with each chant, the tension within him began to dissolve.

"With the honor of our school in our hearts, there is only one goal: to become the champions of the nation! LET'S GO!!!"

"YEAH!!!"

With this final release of emotion, Sendo felt a heavy cloud lift from his chest.

Koshien? He wasn't entirely sure what that place held.

National champions? The goal sounded grand, but it wasn't Sendo's true purpose.

For him, it was simple—he hated the feeling of losing.

And that was more than enough to push him forward.

...

The summer tournament had finally begun.

Officially titled The National High School Baseball Championship – East and West Tokyo Tournament, the competition kicked off with no matches scheduled on the first day. Yet, the stands were still packed with spectators.

A total of 260 schools from East and West Tokyo were participating, with the aim of surviving the grueling three-week elimination rounds and ultimately returning to the iconic Meiji Jingu Stadium for the final showdown.

The opening ceremony was fairly straightforward, resembling the Olympics.

Schools entered the stadium one by one, followed by the champions of last year's East and West Tokyo tournaments returning their victory flags.

Representatives from both championship teams led the ceremonial oath. After a few brief speeches, the ceremony concluded, though the long procession of schools entering the field made it feel like an eternity.

The weather that day was unbearably hot, the kind that could sap energy out of anyone. Furuya actually passed out from the heat and had to be carried away by Sawamura.

...

After the ceremony, while preparing to leave the stadium, Seidou once again crossed paths with Inashiro Industrial.

Narumiya Mei, hiding behind Harada, peeked out cautiously.

Seidou's upperclassmen seemed to have regained their spirits, while Sawamura, ever clueless about discretion, openly called Narumiya a "spy from Inashiro," much to everyone's amusement.

...

"Harada-san, what's wrong?"

After meeting Seidou, Harada was deep in thought while sitting on the bus. Narumiya leaned over, curious.

"It's nothing. That guy, Sendou… I feel like I've seen him somewhere before. Watching him on video doesn't trigger anything, but seeing him in person—it feels so familiar. It happened last time, and today again."

"So, did you figure it out?"

"Not a clue. Someone of his caliber—if we'd met before, there's no way I wouldn't remember."

"Well, if you can't remember, just ask him when you get the chance."

"Fair point."

At the same time, a nearly identical conversation unfolded on Seidou's side between Sawamura and Sendo.

The next time these two teams would meet would likely be in the final match of the tournament.

Seidou's bracket was far from easy. They were guaranteed to face tough opponents, and advancing to the finals would require them to endure multiple grueling battles.

For Seidou, this could be both a blessing and a curse.

The downside was obvious—this was a single-elimination tournament. One bad game, and their summer would end abruptly.

The upside? This was a golden opportunity for Seidou's roster, which featured four first-years, three of whom—Sawamura, Furuya, and Sendo—would play crucial roles in the summer tournament.

Their growth during these challenging matches could significantly raise the team's ceiling.

If everything went as expected, these consecutive tough battles would lead to rapid development for the trio.

In the original timeline, both Sawamura and Furuya were vastly different players by the end of the summer compared to when it began.

Actual matches were always the fastest way to grow.

And the ones who benefited most from this kind of learning were the first-years, who had only recently been exposed to the intensity and ruthlessness of high school baseball.

Compared to the spring tournament or even the Kanto regionals, the summer competition was on an entirely different level in terms of intensity and stakes.

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