Diamond No Ace: Life As Sawamura Eijun

Chapter 269: The Enemy, Komadai Fujimaki

After finishing their game and packing their belongings, the Seidou High team didn't leave the stadium.

Instead, led by Takashima Rei, they moved to the designated stands to watch the next semifinal.

This match was of great significance to Seidou High, as the winner would be their opponent in the finals two days later.

Naturally, most believed the winner would be Komadai Fujimaki.

Yamamori Academy's chances of victory were slim.

This wasn't meant as an insult or a dismissal of Yamamori Academy but rather a realistic acknowledgment of the disparity in strength.

Whether in terms of pitching depth or batting power, Yamamori Academy was a tier below Komadai Fujimaki.

Although predictions leaned heavily toward Komadai Fujimaki, the final outcome wouldn't be clear until the game ended.

What if Yamamori Academy had an extraordinary day, with their lineup performing above expectations and managing to defeat Komadai Fujimaki?

Anything could happen in baseball.

More importantly, regardless of who won, Seidou High had to watch the match carefully.

Some aspects of a team's defense or offense couldn't be fully understood from recorded footage—it required live observation.

This was especially true for Komadai Fujimaki's four pitchers.

Seidou's batting lineup needed to familiarize themselves with the traits and strengths of each pitcher.

If they faced Komadai Fujimaki in the finals, understanding their pitching rotation strategy would be crucial for devising countermeasures.

"Let's see how capable you are now, Masamune Hongou," Eijun murmured, standing in the stands. His calm gaze carried a hint of burning determination as he watched Masamune Hongou warm up on the field.

Beside him, Furuya also focused his attention on Hongou.

Both players, coincidentally and simultaneously, directed their gazes toward the same target.

It wasn't a coincidence, though. Hongou was also a first-year player, and the previous game footage had revealed his extraordinary skills.

Furuya's interest in Hongou stemmed from several factors.

First, they both hailed from Hokkaido.

Second, they were similar types of pitchers.

Third, Hongou's current level of skill was something Furuya couldn't yet reach.

While Furuya had Eijun as a competitor within the team, Hongou stood as a rival outside of it.

For Eijun, the focus was even more direct.

He knew exactly what role Hongou would play in the future.

Among the batters of his generation, Raichi of Yakushi High was his greatest rival.

Among pitchers, it was Hongou, along with the rising Furuya.

While Furuya was a teammate, making their rivalry less direct, Hongou was different.

Whether it was two days from now or in the coming years, Hongou would remain a formidable opponent deserving of Eijun's utmost attention.

"Top of the first inning, Yamamori Academy's offense. Leadoff batter..."

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd and after the two teams completed their pregame warmups, the second semifinal, Komadai Fujimaki vs. Yamamori Academy, officially began.

"As expected, the starting pitcher is their third-year ace, Gakuto Iguchi," Chris said softly, making notes on the game.

"A third-year ace with a fastball around 140 km/h. His key pitch is the slider. He specializes in corner pitches, using the slider to finish off batters after getting ahead in the count," Miyuki added, his sharp eyes fixed on the field as Iguchi quickly retired Yamamori's leadoff batter.

"Pay close attention, Sawamura, Furuya," Miyuki continued. "This ace from Komadai has control similar to yours, Sawamura, but he excels at pinpointing pitches just on the edge of the strike zone. His pitching style is risky—it can easily be called a ball—but his mastery lies in slightly raising his arm angle to release the ball higher. From the umpire's perspective, it looks like a borderline high strike. Coupled with the catcher's perfect framing and clear sound of the catch, it's often called a strike, even though it's actually a tricky low pitch that's hard for batters to react to. This strategy requires flawless coordination between pitcher and catcher."

Chris and Miyuki pointed at the battery of Komadai Fujimaki on the field while explaining to Eijun and Furuya beside him.

"Got it," the two replied with slight nods.

A control-focused pitcher wasn't exactly rare, but one with such a unique style was exceptional.

This pitcher seemed like the third standout talent beyond You Shunshin and that arrogant ace from Teito.

"Whoosh!"

"Pop!"

"Strike! Batter out! Three outs! Change sides!"

In no time, the inning ended with a defensive display that gave Yamamori Academy absolutely no chance in the first inning.

"What a terrifying pitcher," Eijun murmured.

Meanwhile, on the stands, Seidou's players, including Yuuki and Coach Kataoka, wore serious expressions.

Just this ace pitcher alone was on par with Kiryuu High's ace, Tachi.

While he might lack Tachi's uniqueness, this pitcher wasn't someone who could be easily overcome in a short time.

And that was the real problem.

Komadai Fujimaki didn't have a super high-school-level ace, but they had four top-tier pitchers, while Seidou had, at best, one and two developing pitchers.

If Seidou couldn't find a way to counter this ace quickly, Komadai Fujimaki's rotation strategy would likely see a new pitcher by the third cycle through the lineup.

This would make it extremely difficult for Seidou to adjust to their pitching.

Watching the Komadai Fujimaki players dominate the field, the entire Seidou team, along with Coach Kataoka and Takashima Rei, became increasingly solemn.

As the game progressed, everything unfolded as expected.

Komadai Fujimaki controlled the tempo effortlessly.

In the fifth inning, they switched to another third-year pitcher, Sano Kumo, a power pitcher with a 145 km/h fastball.

While his control wasn't exceptional, his aggressive style left Yamamori's batters struggling.

Finally, in the ninth inning, first-year Masamune Hongou stepped onto the mound, eliminating the last three batters with ease.

Komadai Fujimaki secured a decisive 6–1 victory over Yamamori Academy, advancing to the finals.

They would face Seidou High on the grandest stage of the summer.

In the end, only one team would emerge victorious.

Only one opponent remained for Seidou—the northern powerhouse, Komadai Fujimaki!

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