Diamond No Ace: The Monster

Chapter 151: The Two Aces!

"Does the Seidou High School Baseball Team really get this kind of treatment?"

Owada asked in surprise.

On the baseball field of the Seidou High School team, nearly every player was sweating profusely.

Even during a major tournament, they hadn't reduced the intensity of their training.

Even the players not on the first-string team showed no signs of slacking.

They were either doing independent training or assisting the main team, with none of them idle.

The sweat dripping from their foreheads was as big as soybeans, and their hair was already drenched.

Under the sun's rays, faint white steam rose from their heads.

Their training uniforms clung tightly to their backs, soaked through in large patches.

When the Seidou High School Baseball Team shouted their collective slogan, they could proudly declare, "Seidou sweats the most!" And it wasn't just self-praise; they truly embodied this with their actions.

Yet, in this intense atmosphere, Furuya sat leisurely on a bench, holding a slice of watermelon in one hand and an ice-cold cola in the other.

Taking a bite of watermelon and a sip of cola, he looked as relaxed as could be, standing in stark contrast to the hardworking players around him.

This scene left Owada Akiko, who was already working and earning her own money, practically drooling with envy.

Back in her high school days, she had been part of a club herself, but she had never seen anyone enjoy treatment like this in a club activity.

Unable to understand, Akiko naturally turned her gaze to her senior, Fujio, thinking his extensive experience might shed some light.

To her surprise, Fujio wore the same astonished expression.

"What's going on here?"

The arrival of the two reporters caught Furuya off guard.

Since he aimed to go pro in the future, maintaining a good public image was crucial.

If these reporters captured him in this state and published it in Baseball Kingdom magazine, Furuya didn't even want to imagine how fans who didn't know him well would perceive him.

Trying to calm himself, he took another sip of cola and spoke up.

"No photos allowed!" he warned.

"Don't worry, Furuya-kun," Fujio reassured him. "We're not some tabloid. Every report we publish is approved by the individuals involved."

Fujio, being a seasoned journalist, quickly adjusted to the unexpected situation and used it to build rapport with Furuya.

"I'm just curious, Furuya-kun—why aren't you training with everyone else?"

Fujio's eyes gleamed with curiosity. While he had claimed earlier that he wasn't interested in entertainment gossip, it didn't mean he wasn't intrigued.

"That's a team secret!"

Since he had already been spotted, Furuya didn't bother to put on a facade. He casually explained.

"A secret, huh? Well, it sure looks like a pleasant one," Akiko remarked with a tinge of jealousy.

Back in her club days, she had endured plenty of hardships. Treatment like Furuya's was something she couldn't even imagine back then.

Hearing her comment, Furuya smiled and offered her a slice of watermelon. "Want some?"

The infamous "Monster" youth personally offering her watermelon?

This gesture immediately made Akiko, who had been full of complaints about Furuya moments ago, feel a bit embarrassed.

"Oh, no, that's not what I meant!" she stammered.

Watching his assistant suddenly turn into a bashful young girl, Fujio could only shake his head helplessly.

It seemed that getting any useful information from Furuya wouldn't be an easy task.

While Furuya sat there eating watermelon and drinking cola, the rest of the Seidou High School baseball team showed no objection whatsoever.

They acted as if it were completely normal.

This alone spoke volumes—Furuya wasn't lying. It really was a secret of the Seidou High School Baseball Team.

With this realization, Fujio shifted his attention to the other players on the team.

He was confident that the secret wasn't something only Furuya knew.

The rest of the Seidou team likely knew about it too. Otherwise, they wouldn't have reacted so nonchalantly.

"Let's try interviewing the others," Fujio suggested.

"Senior, isn't Furuya-kun the most important one to interview?" Owada Akiko asked in confusion, quickly following after him.

According to their initial plan, interviewing Furuya, the team's explosive ace, was the main objective. As long as they could get any information about him, even if they glossed over the rest of the team, the trip would still be worthwhile.

Akiko couldn't understand why her senior would give up such a big lead to go after smaller, less important ones.

Once they were far enough from Furuya, Fujio explained to his junior, "Furuya-kun is tight-lipped. Considering his personality, it's unlikely we'll get anything solid from him."

"But even if the odds are slim, shouldn't we at least try? If we don't get any information about Furuya-kun, the magazine's sales will definitely suffer. And that means my paycheck and your bonus…"

Akiko's concerns were evident.

Having recently started working, she wasn't financially stable yet, and next month's paycheck would directly impact her quality of life.

Fujio understood her worries well. Seeing the anxiety in her eyes, he felt a twinge of guilt.

"Getting firsthand information from an interview subject is, of course, ideal," Fujio began. This was the best-case scenario for any journalist.

"But no one can guarantee that we'll always get to interview the person we want. What if something goes wrong?"

"Then what do we do?" Akiko asked, puzzled by the hypothetical.

"That's where experience comes in," Fujio explained. "If we can't get firsthand information from the subject, we turn to their friends or family. By interviewing them, we can often uncover details about the person. Sometimes, the information we get from them is just as valuable, if not more so. Friends and family provide a different perspective on the subject."

After this long explanation, Fujio paused to catch his breath, giving Akiko a moment to digest his words.

"Senior, you're amazing!"

"It's just experience," Fujio replied, though he clearly enjoyed the admiration.

In this atmosphere, he couldn't resist adding, "These alternative perspectives can be just as intriguing to readers, sometimes even more so."

This was one of the reasons why Baseball Kingdom magazine consistently achieved high sales. In addition to having capable reporters, the magazine's staff often approached stories from unique angles, offering fresh perspectives that caught readers' attention.

At this moment, Owada Akiko found herself almost mesmerized by her seemingly ordinary-looking senior.

As the two headed off to interview other players, Furuya finished his special treatment.

Returning to the bullpen, he resumed his pitching practice.

Boom!

The white baseball shot out like a cannonball, the thunderous sound leaving everyone on the field in awe.

Just as they were leaving the bullpen, Owada Akiko and Fujio both turned around in shock.

Their eyes were filled with confusion and disbelief.

"How can this be?"

Initially, they had assumed Furuya wasn't practicing today due to some special circumstances.

Fujio even speculated that Seidou High School's baseball team might be facing a stroke of bad luck.

After all, their former ace, Tanba, had encountered misfortune before.

Although Seidou's die-hard supporters didn't want to entertain the idea, they couldn't deny that their team seemed to be plagued by bad luck.

Fujio had even considered the possibility that something might have happened to Furuya as well.

If it were any other player, it might not have been a big deal.

Seidou High had an exceptionally deep roster, and while losing one or two core players would impact their overall strength, it wouldn't be devastating.

But if something happened to Furuya, it would be a completely different story.

At this stage, there was simply no one on Seidou's team who could replace Furuya.

Even if they brought back their former ace, Tanba, and restored him to his peak form, it wouldn't be enough.

Furuya had become utterly irreplaceable.

Now, however, it seemed their earlier worries were unfounded.

The morale of Seidou High's baseball team was at an all-time high.

And as for Furuya, his performance in the bullpen was nothing short of spectacular. He looked as strong as an ox, his energy and condition leaving no room for concern.

Worrying about his health had been entirely unnecessary.

With their doubts dispelled, Fujio decided not to press the other players for information about Furuya.

Had he done so, his experienced ears might have picked up some valuable clues from their responses.

"Let's move on to the next stop," Fujio said.

After spending nearly two hours with the Seidou High baseball team, Fujio didn't feel entirely satisfied with their findings.

They had gathered quite a bit of information about Furuya, some of which was very useful.

For example, details about his background in junior high, his identity as a player, and his journey from Hokkaido to Tokyo—all of these were worth reporting.

Such reporting, however, didn't satisfy Fujio.

As a veteran journalist for Baseball Kingdom magazine, Fujio had high standards for his work.

Furuya's popularity was so immense that many details about him had already been unearthed by other reporters.

These reporters naturally published their findings, and over time, Furuya's image in the public's mind had become well-defined.

People were familiar with many aspects of his story, and continuing to report on the same topics simply wouldn't be compelling anymore.

"We're going to Akikawa! Since we couldn't find satisfactory answers at Seidou, we'll change our approach," Fujio decided.

While others were busy analyzing Furuya, Fujio chose to avoid the crowded narrative and instead focused on Seidou's next matchup.

Without delay, the two reporters drove to Akikawa High.

When they arrived, they were surprised to find no other reporters present.

Despite being one of the top 16 teams in West Tokyo, Akikawa High's baseball team had failed to attract any media attention.

This wasn't just a matter of the reporters' choices—it was closely tied to Meikou's previous performances.

Up to this point, Akikawa High's displayed strength hadn't been enough to warrant significant attention.

The two reporters soon met Akikawa High's coach, a seemingly kind and approachable individual.

Despite his friendly demeanor, the coach firmly declined the interview, explaining that his players were entirely focused on preparing for their next game and had no time for media interactions.

"Is the schedule really that tight?" Akiko asked in confusion.

"This is all Shunshin's idea," the coach replied.

Mentioning his prized player seemed to unlock a floodgate, as the coach began speaking enthusiastically.

"Our team is relatively weak, so if we want to beat stronger opponents, we have to give 120% effort!"

"What about Shunshin-kun?"

"He's pitching right now," the coach said proudly.

You Shunshin was on the mound, practicing by pitching against his teammates.

He explicitly told them the exact spots where he intended to throw the ball before facing off against the batters.

"Does Shunshin-kun always train like this?"

"For Shunshin, every pitch carries his full dedication," the coach said with pride. "It's thanks to him that our team has been completely transformed!"

"Completely different from Furuya-kun at Seidou," Akiko muttered under her breath.

At Akikawa, their ace pitcher poured his heart and soul into every pitch, even during practice.

In stark contrast, at Seidou, Furuya was seen lounging with watermelon and cola while his teammates trained relentlessly.

The difference between the two aces was striking.

"This gives us our story!" Fujio declared confidently.

"Talent vs. Hard Work: Who Will Prevail?"

Fujio's article was published the day before the match and created a huge sensation.

However, before either team's players could catch wind of the buzz, they were already on the field, face-to-face in their highly anticipated game.

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