Chapter 121: Eijun and Haruichi
Sensen High School isn't considered a true powerhouse. In West Tokyo, it's more of a second-tier team. However, their fundamental training is solid, and their overall strength shouldn't be underestimated.
But...
The strength of Inashiro Industrial is even more terrifying.
Considering the progress of the tournament and the players' fatigue levels, allowing Eijun, currently in top form, to rest his arm a bit during the semifinals and save his full strength for the game against Inashiro seems like the best decision.
Of course, he shouldn't completely rest, as it's important to maintain game readiness.
Therefore, having Eijun play in left field and subbing him out later is the ideal plan.
It's clear that Coach Kataoka values Eijun's role in the team highly.
From this perspective, Eijun is effectively the ace pitcher in everything but the number on his jersey.
Coach Kataoka was carefully considering a major plan for the Inashiro game, placing the burden of the finals squarely on Eijun's shoulders.
To some, this might seem like an unbelievable decision — entrusting the final of the regional summer tournament to a first-year pitcher.
However, anyone who's been closely watching Eijun's performance since his enrollment wouldn't be too surprised by Coach Kataoka's choice.
That said, it's not as though Eijun will be entirely held out of the semifinal. It's merely a precaution.
If something unexpected happens during the semifinals, Eijun will have to pitch regardless.
After all, there's no point in thinking about the finals if they don't win the semis.
Meanwhile, after leaving the cafeteria, Eijun couldn't help but feel restless and unsettled.
"Haruichi."
"Huh? What's up, Eijun-kun?" Haruichi, who was walking ahead of Eijun, stopped and turned around, a look of confusion on his face.
"Want to practice some pitching with me? My arm's feeling a bit itchy," Eijun said with a smile.
"Huh? Sure," Haruichi hesitated for a moment, but then quickly nodded in agreement.
Since they had a game today and the meeting had just ended, it was already close to 9 PM.
Most of the team had gone to the baths or were resting in their dorms.
Seidou High's training regimen is rigorous, and the players work hard, but when it's time to rest, they follow the necessary training plans to ensure recovery.
Especially during tournament season, maintaining peak condition is something every player must prioritize.
Naturally, this meant that the indoor training facility was mostly empty.
In the vast space, only Eijun and Haruichi were there, casually throwing and catching.
Eijun wasn't practicing seriously—he just wanted to feel the ball in his hand, as if that would bring him a sense of calm.
Haruichi didn't know why Eijun suddenly wanted to play catch, but being the good-natured person he was, he never refused small requests like this.
After all, it wasn't too much trouble. Moreover, Haruichi and Eijun had grown quite close over time.
Whoosh
Pop
Whoosh
Pop
In the quiet training facility, the only sounds were the ball being thrown and caught between the two.
"Eijun-kun, is something on your mind?" Haruichi finally spoke up after about ten minutes of tossing the ball back and forth.
"Hmm, I suppose," Eijun replied, a bit surprised by the question, but he nodded slightly.
"I feel kind of lost," Eijun said, not really sure why he voiced it out loud. It was as if the words came out on their own, almost involuntarily.
It was a strange sense of anxiety creeping up, a feeling of emptiness in his heart—especially after today's game.
Seeing Raichi's tearful, defeated expression triggered memories in Eijun's mind, bringing back scenes of the third-year seniors crying in the original story.
Whenever he thought of that moment, a wave of unease swept through him.
"Confused?" Haruichi, momentarily distracted by Eijun's words, missed the ball that bounced off his glove and rolled to the corner of the training field.
Haruichi hadn't expected Eijun to say something like that at this moment.
Initially, he thought Eijun might have been struggling with his pitching or feeling regret about not starting in tomorrow's game.
But instead, Eijun gave an entirely different answer, leaving Haruichi unsure of how to respond.
"Hey, Haruichi, I had a dream. In the finals, we lost. The seniors were devastated, and we were powerless. If that really happens, what will we…?" Eijun's eyes seemed vacant, his voice barely a whisper as he spoke those words.
His hands trembled slightly, and there was a faint glimmer of fear in his eyes.
This fear came out of nowhere.
Eijun had always believed he was brought into this world with a mission — to rewrite the regrets of the original story and create an even greater legacy.
He believed in himself, moving forward step by step. Yet, deep down, there was a part of him filled with contradictions.
He wasn't the same Eijun from the original story.
He thought more, worried more. Often, thinking ahead meant being thorough and careful.
But at certain moments, overthinking could be more of a hindrance than a help.
He was optimistic, driven, and straightforward, yet also had moments of fear.
The current Eijun carried both the original Eijun's traits and the personality from his previous life.
For anyone who had read the original story, the image of the final game, where they were defeated at the last moment, remained unforgettable.
The expressions of the third-year seniors, Jun Isashiki's tears, and Captain Tetsu's pained but resilient face were scenes deeply etched into the hearts of every Ace of Diamond fan.
As the finals approached, the worries buried deep in Eijun's heart grew larger and larger.
Today, Yakushi High School's defeat and Raichi's powerless, tearful face served as the trigger that brought all these emotions to the surface.
Eijun couldn't help but wonder: what if the final turns out just like in the original story? What if nothing changes?
Despite having lived two lives, the fact remained that Eijun was still just a teenager — both in mind and body.
It seemed unreasonable, yet it made perfect sense.
Eijun's words left Haruichi speechless.
After all, how do you respond to a dream about losing in the finals? Haruichi found himself unable to express what he was feeling.
The indoor training field fell into silence, and it was unclear how much time had passed — perhaps only a moment, or perhaps much longer.
"Eijun, can't you just stay the way you are?" A clear voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Huh?" Eijun's vacant expression shifted, revealing a hint of surprise.
"We just need to do what we can, right? No one knows what the future holds, but if we try our hardest and give it our all, I think that's enough. We're not fighting alone anymore. We just need to keep moving forward, one step at a time. Don't you agree, Eijun-kun?"
Eijun stared at Haruichi in a daze.
At that moment, Haruichi's face held an unprecedented determination, and the eyes barely visible under his bangs reflected his inner resolve.
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