Diamond Ace's Passionate Swing

The scorching sun baked the earth, and the cicadas chirped incessantly, a seemingly endless cacophony.

On the Seido High School baseball field, the players stood in neat rows, their clothes soaked with sweat, yet no one uttered a single complaint.

"Now we'll start distributing the jersey numbers. People whose names are called, come and get yours in order."

Coach Kataoka's deep and powerful voice echoed in everyone's ears.

The team members held their breath, their eyes fixed on the small white bag in the coach's hand.

"First up is number 1..."

Coach Kataoka paused, his gaze falling on a figure in the front row of the team.

"Lin Xiao".

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, stepped forward, and accepted the jersey that carried both honor and responsibility with both hands.

"It's finally here, the ace's jersey number!"

Lin Xiao's heart was pounding violently, as if it were about to burst out of his chest.

"I will not let this trust down."

He clenched his fist silently, his eyes resolute.

"Lin Xiao, this summer, the team's fate is in your hands."

Coach Kataoka patted Lin Xiao on the shoulder, his tone full of trust and expectation.

"You must use your pitching to lead us to victory, to Koshien Stadium, and to dominate the nation!"

"yes!"

Lin Xiao's voice was loud and clear, resounding with conviction.

Not far away, Koichiro Tanba quietly watched this scene.

His face showed no resentment or jealousy, but rather a sense of relief.

"Lin Xiao... is definitely more suited to be the ace pitcher than me..."

Danbo thought to himself silently.

"His strength, his spirit, and his desire for victory... far surpass mine."

"The coach's choice was correct."

Danbo's gaze softened.

"I will do everything I can to support him."

"Let's continue."

Coach Kataoka's voice rang out again, interrupting Tanba's thoughts.

"Number 2, Miyuki Kazuya."

"Yes."

Miyuki responded crisply and took the jersey.

"Number 3, Tetsuya Yuki."

"Yes, I will follow your instructions."

Tetsuya Yuki's voice was deep and steady, and every step he took was incredibly solid.

"No. 4, Kominato Ryosuke."

"Yes."

Ryosuke Kominato's voice is crisp and melodious, just like his playing style—agile and graceful.

"Number 5, Masuko Toru."

"Yes."

Masuko Toru's voice was deep and powerful.

"Number 6, Kuramochi Yoichi."

"Thanks!"

Kuramochi Yoichi's voice carried a hint of playfulness, and his steps were light and quick.

"No. 7, Koichiro Tanba."

"Yes."

Danbo's voice was calm and firm, his gaze deep.

"Number 8, Jun Izashiki."

"yes!!"

Jun Isashiki's voice was high-pitched and full of fighting spirit, like a burning flame.

"No. 9, Ichiro Sakai."

"Yes."

Ichiro Sakai's voice is calm and reliable.

"No. 10, Hakushu Kenjiro."

"I will try my best."

Although Kenjiro Shirasu's voice wasn't loud, it conveyed a tenacious spirit of never giving up.

"No. 11, Kenshi Kawakami."

"Yes."

Kenji Kawakami's voice sounded slightly tense, but his eyes were firm.

"Number 12, Furuya Akira."

Coach Kataoka paused for a moment, as if he was thinking about something.

"Do your best on the makeup exam."

"Make-up exam..."

Satoru Furuya muttered to himself, a bewildered look on his face.

The team members around him whispered among themselves.

"Did that guy get number 12...?"

"It was only the 18th in the spring, but its status has skyrocketed."

"Number 13, Keisuke Miyauchi."

"Yes."

Keisuke Miyauchi's voice was loud and clear.

……

"Number 19, Kominato Haruichi."

Coach Kataoka called out one name after another, and jerseys were distributed one by one.

"Next up is the final number 20."

Coach Kataoka paused again, his gaze sweeping across the entire field.

All eyes were on Sawamura.

"Sawamura..."

Lin Xiao silently repeated the name in his heart.

"Sawamura..."

As soon as Coach Kataoka spoke, Eijun Sawamura eagerly responded loudly.

"yes!!!"

"You answered very quickly."

Coach Kataoka couldn't help but laugh.

"Thank you so much."

Sawamura Eijun rubbed his hands together excitedly, his face full of anticipation.

"That idiot answered before the name was even finished being called."

Kuramochi said with a laugh.

"My stomach hurts so much."

Miyuki Kazuya clutched his stomach, his face contorted in pain.

"Heh, as expected of Sawamura."

Lin Xiao couldn't help but laugh.

"Great, I got the jersey number."

Sawamura jumped up excitedly.

"Even though I'm only in double digits now, one day I'll definitely get an ace jersey!"

He held up his jersey high, loudly proclaiming his goal.

"As for the recorder... Chris, I'll leave it to you."

Coach Kataoka looked at Chris.

"OK."

Chris's voice was gentle yet firm.

"And then there are the managers."

Coach Kataoka turned to the managers.

"Thanks so much for your help."

"The uniform for the competition?"

Coach Kataoka pointed to the box next to him.

"We also ask that you, as members of the team, stand in the audience and cheer for us alongside the players."

"Ah, Takako-senpai is crying."

A manager said in a low voice.

"I didn't cry."

Takako vehemently denied it, but her eyes were already red-rimmed.

"I know, I understand how you feel."

Another manager gently patted Takako on the shoulder.

"It's so noisy."

"It was almost a sob," Takako said.

"I think everyone knows that there is no turning back in high school baseball."

Coach Kataoka's voice turned serious again.

"Every day's hard work, the sweat and tears shed, are all for this summer!"

His gaze swept over each team member, his eyes filled with determination and resolve.

Not far away, the school's board members stood there, intending to say something encouraging, but seeing the solemn atmosphere, they didn't know how to begin.

"I wanted to come and encourage them, but it's really hard to go in given the atmosphere."

The director muttered something under his breath.

"Okay, let's do it the same way as before."

Coach Kataoka's voice broke the silence.

"Yes."

Yuki Tetsuya responded.

"Hey, how do you do it again?"

Sawamura Eijun looked completely bewildered.

"Lin Xiao, speak louder! You're the ace now!"

Tetsuya Yuki reminded him.

Who are we?

Tetsuya Yuki led the shouting.

"King Qingdao!"

The team members shouted in unison, their voices deafening.

Who sweated the most?

Tetsuya Yuki continued to ask.

"Seido!"

The team members' voices grew even louder.

Who shed the most tears?

"Seido!"

"Are you ready for battle?"

Tetsuya Yuki's voice became higher-pitched.

"Ready!"

The team members' voices seemed to shake the sky.

"We will keep the glory of our school in our hearts, and we have only one goal."

Tetsuya Yuki's voice was full of determination and confidence.

"Conquer the nation! Go for it!"

Tetsuya Yuki raised his fist.

"come on!"

The team members shouted in unison, their voices resounding through the sky.