Chapter 1: Am I Eijun!?
October, a season of golden hues, even though summer has passed. The lingering warmth of summer still lingers in the air.
In Nagano Prefecture, located in central Honshu, Japan, nestled between the Kansai and Kanto regions, it is known as one of Japan's eight major inland prefectures. At this time of year, Nagano's weather still carries the heat of summer. As dusk settles over the land, the golden atmosphere becomes even more intense.
In a residential home in Nagano Prefecture, a young man sits on the corridor of the backyard, staring at the scene before him with a look of dazed contemplation. His eyes reflect a mix of wry smiles, confusion, and even a hint of excitement.
Perhaps the young man himself cannot fully explain his current feelings.
"Nagano Prefecture, Sawamura Eijun..." he murmurs softly. "Have I actually become Sawamura Eijun...?"
A hint of bewilderment crosses his face. Just 24 hours ago, he had been a model high school student living under the red flag, but after a casual afternoon break, he found himself in this extremely unfamiliar yet strangely familiar place.
"Is this a transmigration?" He gives a bitter smile, his expression a mix of helpless amusement.
Should he feel lucky that he's a couple of years younger and has become somewhat more handsome? The young man looks at his hands and then at his reflection in a nearby mirror, his lips curling into a faintly bitter smile.
When he used to read novels, he often hoped he might one day travel to another world and become a historical figure or the protagonist of an anime. Back then, he loudly declared slogans like "No regrets in this life for entering the world of anime; may I be born into the 2D world in the next life."
However, when the actual moment of crossing over came, he found himself not just bewildered, but profoundly so. It wasn't just the uncertainty of the unknown, but also a worry about his previous life (or at least what he considered his previous life).
What was his original body like? What about his family? Was it a case of dimensional travel, or had his soul switched places with Eijun Sawamura's? Did his soul enter Eijun Sawamura's body while Eijun Sawamura's soul entered his world?
"Sigh…" The young man couldn't help but let out a low sigh. The thought of his parents, classmates, and everything from his previous life filled him with deep anxiety, even fear.
Here, everything is different: the environment, the family, his past, and his future... It's all so overwhelming.
"The only thing to be thankful for is that this world is, at least, a peaceful anime world. It's a world I'm somewhat familiar with, isn't it?"
As he gazed at the distant glow of the evening sky, he silently reflected.
"Diamond no Ace, Eijun Sawamura."
A world of anime he knows well, a protagonist he likes, cares about, and supports—a passionate, reckless, and persistent young man. This familiarity somewhat eased his fear, though it was only a small comfort. After all, it's a familiar world and a normal one, which could be considered a blessing in disguise.
Moreover, he had always had a strong interest in baseball and a bit of amateur experience as well, so this world seemed relatively friendly to him.
"Since I'm here, I might as well settle in," the young man whispered to himself.
He had no other choice—returning to his original world was not an option. If he couldn't go back, he would have to face the reality of living here. Confusion, fear, and unease were natural reactions for an ordinary teenager suddenly thrust into such a world.
However, what he needed now was to suppress these emotions, to calm himself, even if only with effort, and to think carefully about what he should do, what choices he should make, and how he should approach everything in this new world.
After much contemplation, he realized he had only one option: no matter whether it was good or bad, it was the only choice he had.
"From today on, I am Eijun Sawamura, truly Eijun Sawamura," he said inwardly, clenching his right hand into a fist with determination.
He was deeply concerned about his original world, his parents, and everything he left behind. But ultimately, his goal was to survive, to live meaningfully, and perhaps to find a way back in the future.
This was the only option available to the young man—now Eijun Sawamura.
"I have no other choice, do I?" Eijun Sawamura muttered, his head bowed in resignation. According to the memories left in this body and his understanding of the original world, this time should be just after the summer tournament of his middle school years, when Sawamura had lost and was invited by Takashima Rei to visit Tokyo and observe at Seidou High School, meeting Miyuki Kazuya for the first time and teaming up with him as pitcher and catcher.
Upon returning, Sawamura fell into a period of confusion and indecision, torn between staying in Nagano with his friends and joining Seidou to have Miyuki catch his pitches and truly pursue his dream of reaching Koshien.
Given the timeline, it fits that Sawamura would have visited Seidou in October of this year. According to the original story, when Azuma first met Sawamura and then saw him again after graduation, he remarked on how much he had changed after ten months.
"Probably went to Seidou yesterday and got replaced by my soul today after waking up," Eijun mused inwardly.
In Japan, high school begins in late March or early April. Since it was now October, he had about seven months to get acquainted with everything.
The next seven months were crucial. If he intended to join that prestigious team, he needed to make the most of this time to enhance his training. He could not afford to repeat the same mistakes as in the original story. It was essential to start changing himself from this moment on.
A determined glint appeared in Eijun Sawamura's eyes.
"Alright, starting today, I'll give it my all!"