Ace of Diamond: Return of the Pitcher

In the afternoon, the sun was abundant, spilling through the window of the Coach's office and filling the entire room with a golden light.

This scene looked very warm and fitting for the current season.

Spring returns to the earth, and all things come back to life.

But Ota, sitting in the office, had no mind to enjoy this comfortable atmosphere. He looked at Kataoka with a very unpleasant expression, as if he saw something strange on Kataoka's face.

"What's wrong?"

Takashima Rei and Ochiai, who had just entered the room, exchanged surprised glances.

They too noticed the strange atmosphere in the office and asked blankly.

"The Coach said that there will be an Orientation Match tomorrow afternoon!"

Tomorrow is Monday, and the Orientation Match in the afternoon meant that all practice for the day would be canceled.

Only preparations for the Orientation Match.

This was simply unbelievable!

If Seidou High School had failed to reach the Kanto Tournament, or if they had been eliminated early in the Spring Tournament, Coach Kataoka's decision would have been understandable…

After all, there would be plenty of time to calmly make preparations.

But now, it was already the end of April, and May was just around the corner. The Kanto Tournament starts in mid-May, and there are only about two weeks left until it begins.

Seidou High School was actually under a lot of pressure in the coming training period. During this time, there would be intelligence gathering, analysis of opponents, and team integration.

Time was running out.

Where did Coach Kataoka get the leisure to have the players participate in an Orientation Match?

Even if the results of the competition were good and some promising players were selected, so what?

Could it be that Coach Kataoka could make major adjustments to the team members in the next two weeks?

"Although there are indeed many good prospects among the freshmen, and there are also notable players in the second-string team, isn't the timing a bit too tight?"

Ochiai stroked the small mustache on his chin and spoke directly.

Ota nodded while listening.

He felt the same way.

Orientation Matches are typically held after the Spring Tournament or after the Kanto Tournament but before the Summer Tournament.

During this period, there is plenty of time to train. The new players can also be carefully developed…

"Diamonds are polished. If you don't give them a chance, even the best diamonds are just rough stones. Ordinary and unremarkable. Last year, we relied on the Orientation Match to select players capable of taking on major roles. Perhaps this year, we will have some good prospects as well."

Coach Kataoka also had his own plan.

To put it bluntly, he had tasted the sweetness of it last year. A single Sawamura Eijun-kun had directly brought a transformative change to Seidou High School.

If it hadn't been for Sawamura's joining, it would have been uncertain whether Seidou High School would even participate in the Spring Koshien last summer.

'Let alone be the Champions?'

This year was hailed as the greatest harvest year in Seidou High School's history. Coach Kataoka, who enjoyed developing new players, saw them as a huge treasure trove.

It would be difficult for Coach Kataoka to ignore such a massive treasure and remain unmoved.

"The timing still doesn't seem right…"

Coach Ochiai also had his own views.

He thought that even if they could find new players, it would still be hard for them to replace the current main players of Seidou High School.

There was really no need for such a move!

"Do you think I believe there is too much time to spare?"

Coach Kataoka looked at the three of them in front of him.

After Ota, Coach Ochiai, and Vice-president Takashima exchanged glances, no one spoke.

But their silence expressed their opinions.

"I have never felt like I had enough time. On the contrary, the time we have left is very limited. It's already May, and the Summer Tournament begins in early July! That means we only have two months left!"

Two months!

In Coach Kataoka's view, it was never about the Kanto Tournament, but about the scorching summer.

Before the third-year players graduate, that will be the best graduation gift for them.

Those words caused a tremor in the hearts of Ochiai and the others.

They hadn't really thought about it before, but now that they thought about it, it seemed true.

Time was really running out.

If they waited for the Kanto Tournament to finish and then started the Orientation Match again…

There would only be one month left for the freshmen at Seidou High School.

Even if they were all prodigies, there was no way for Coach Kataoka to train them to the level where they could play in the tournament.

"If that's the case, let's start!"

Coach Ochiai was not one to hesitate, so he nodded and said.

"I also support the Coach's decision."

Takashima Rei also stood by Kataoka.

The two of them put Ota in a very awkward position. How did he end up as the villain in this situation?

Not to mention that he hadn't said anything about this matter—he couldn't exactly go back on it now.

"I'll go inform the players."

Such an important matter had to be communicated to the players in advance.

The evening celebration feast hadn't started yet, and everyone had not yet fully relaxed to enjoy the joy brought by their victory.

Then the news came in.

"Tomorrow afternoon, there will be an Orientation Match!"

"What?"

"Is it really so sudden?"

All the players in Seidou High School's baseball club were in a tense mood.

The delicious food that had looked so appetizing earlier now lost its original flavor.

Honestly, it was hard to enjoy food in such an atmosphere.

The freshmen were glaring at the second- and third-string Senpais, one by one.

The Senpais all had similarly displeased expressions.

Though they had known this day would come, when it actually arrived, their feelings were still very complicated.

In fact, it wasn't just Coach Kataoka who realized this, but the third-year players were even more aware.

On the surface, third-year players could play until the end of the summer tournament.

But that applied only to the main players. For the second-string and third-string players, it wasn't the same situation at all.

In this Orientation Match, if no player could be promoted to the second string, that unofficially would actually mark the end of their high school baseball career.

However, before the summer tournament starts, the first-string roster will be adjusted. But such adjustments are limited to the second-string players. It has nothing to do with the third-string players.

This means that if you don't make it into the second string after this Orientation Match, you have no chance of playing in the Summer Championship.

This was especially crucial for third-year players.

For third-year players who were not selected for the second-string, it was essentially an early retirement. Even if Coach Kataoka was strict, he wouldn't force these third-year players to continue training.

After all, these players also needed to plan for their future. Occasionally exercising was fine, but they needed to spend most of their time studying and trying to get into a good university…

After three years of hard work in high school, everything will depend on this final shot.

For many third-year players, this was their last chance to fight.

So they were all full of murderous intent and couldn't care less about the delicious food in front of them.

If it were a freshman from previous years, most immature players wouldn't be aware of these matters.

Thus, in general, in Orientation Matches, freshmen would be ruthlessly beaten.

The difference in mentality, drive, and strength between the two sides was just too great…

It was no surprise that freshmen would fall apart.

But this year was clearly different. There were too many mature freshmen, and there were many good prospects.

These guys were all holding back their skills, eager to showcase their strength!

At the same time, they had plans for the future and understood the significance of this game. They wouldn't have the same mindset as the third-year players, where not being selected for the second string meant retiring.

They had no intention of retiring…

What lay before them was a path full of thorns.

Though it seemed extremely difficult, once they pushed through, the road ahead would be smooth.

One group wanted to stay, another group wanted to rise.

The confrontation between them couldn't be suppressed.

The smell of gunpowder filled the air.

In such an atmosphere, the first-string players of Seidou High School became a side character.

They understood the thoughts of both sides very well and respected both sides' opinions. There was nothing to say. They could only act as side characters.

This might be the first time that the first-string players at Seidou High School had such low screen time.

Sawamura silently picked at his food, trying not to say a word.

He too was trying to lower his presence.

To be honest, this showdown had nothing to do with Sawamura. Last year, he had been a freshman as well and understood the thoughts of the freshmen very well.

Moreover, seeing the strength of this new generation, he couldn't help but feel worried for the Senpais.

After all, Sawamura was now a second-year student. His position had changed, and he was no longer a freshman looking to improve.

He was now an 'old man' maintaining his dignity.

From the perspective of the Senpais, of course, they wanted to give the freshmen a solid blow.

But it didn't look like it would be that easy.

Even without the memories of his past life, just what the freshmen had shown in training so far was quite shocking.

Players like Yui Kaoru, Okumura, Takuma, Hirota, Matsumoto, Kagami, and Kuki Youhei…

If you put these freshmen together as a team, and find a good leader, even playing against the second-string players…

They might actually have a chance of winning.

Trying to suppress the freshmen with the old-timers wasn't going to be that easy.

After all, the senpai players who had enough qualifications were already promoted to the first string.

The remaining ones, though hardworking, had serious talent issues.

And this year's freshmen were exactly the group who lacked nothing in talent.

Shaking his head, Sawamura pushed these scattered thoughts aside.

He refocused on his food.

No matter what, this was a fight that didn't concern him.

So he decided not to worry about it, but just to focus on the food in front of him.

For that what is important now.

…

T/N: My man got his priorities straight. (Nodding wisely)