Diamond No Ace: The Strongest Hitter

Chapter 170: Play It Safe for Now

Seeing that he couldn't make it in time, Sendo silently jogged back to left field.

While he might slack off during practice, slacking during games was out of the question.

He wasn't like Miyuki, that reckless show-off, who dared to take it easy even in official matches.

However, Sendo felt a strange discomfort throughout his body—a peculiar sensation, like being bitten by a venomous snake, leaving him cold and uneasy.

But with the game in progress, there was no time to dwell on it. He focused on limiting distractions while preparing for the next defensive play.

After all, with runners on base, a single double could tie the game.

Sendo vaguely remembered that in the anime, Seidou had a significant lead in the opening innings.

Why was the score so close now?

He couldn't recall the exact details and didn't dwell on it, but he was indeed mistaken.

Originally, in the story, the scores for the first two innings were:

Seidou: 4 runs in the 1st inning, 3 runs in the 2nd inning

Ichidaisan: 2 runs in the 1st inning, 3 runs in the 2nd inning

The score was 7–5, a two-run difference.

Now, however, the scores were:

Seidou: 5 runs in the 1st inning, 2 runs in the 2nd inning

Ichidaisan: 2 runs in the 1st inning, 4 runs in the 2nd inning

The score stood at 7–6, a one-run difference.

The psychological impact of a one-run lead compared to two was significant, so it wasn't surprising that Sendo misremembered.

He had a vague recollection of the story, but detailed scores weren't something he had paid much attention to, even after watching that part more than 20 times in his previous life.

"Not good... Tanba's mindset has collapsed. It's going to be tough to guide him. Catchers have such a hard job—so mentally exhausting and prone to injury," Sendo thought, casting a glance at Miyuki as he talked to Tanba.

A faint sense of schadenfreude flickered in his heart, though he couldn't fully explain why.

Still, seeing the usually composed Miyuki flustered brought Sendo a sense of satisfaction.

As the pitcher and catcher finalized their signals, Sendo pushed aside his thoughts, lowering his center of gravity like a crouching tiger, ready to pounce at any moment.

What Sendo didn't realize was that Coach Kataoka, who had entrusted Miyuki with the game's direction, had been keeping a sharp eye on him ever since his earlier sprint to the right-field gap.

This piercing gaze was what made Sendo feel cold and uneasy.

By the time Tanba began his pitching motion, the uneasiness had passed.

He threw an outside ball, slightly off target, and both runners on first and third began running as the batter swung.

It was all for naught.

Just like in the original story, Miyuki's strong arm made short work of the runner at first base, ending the inning with a strikeout-throw-out double play.

From the stands, Haruno marveled at Miyuki's throw, and even Fumino nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Coach Tahara of Ichidaisan seethed with resentment, still bitter about Miyuki choosing Seidou.

Coach Kataoka, however, raised an eyebrow—not at Miyuki's play, but at Sendo.

He had noticed that as soon as Tanba released the ball, Sendo had already straightened up, signaling his rapid judgment and reaction speed.

Every time Kataoka discovered another of Sendo's hidden talents, he couldn't help but curse inwardly at how the boy wasted his potential with his lazy habits.

Both Sendo and Miyuki were labeled as "problem children" by Kataoka—two reckless players who would take time to mold.

"Four walks creating a crisis, then throwing easy-to-hit pitches... Tanba, what have you been doing these past two years?" Coach Kataoka reprimanded Tanba as soon as he returned to the dugout.

Tanba wasn't injured and didn't have control issues, but his fragile mentality meant he would alternate between wild pitches and easily hittable ones whenever he lost confidence—a frustrating inconsistency for any coach.

To no one's surprise, Coach Kataoka announced, "Kawakami, you'll pitch the next inning!"

"Yes, sir!" Kawakami responded promptly.

"Before their pitcher regains his composure, take them down in one go! Let's end this game in this inning!" Kataoka commanded, determined not to let the opponent catch up.

With six runs allowed in just two innings, Tanba's continued presence on the mound was untenable.

Seidou's powerful offense had given them a significant lead, and allowing it to slip away was unacceptable.

Kataoka resolved to capitalize on their momentum before the opposing pitcher could recover.

Initially planning to speak with Sendo, Kataoka reconsidered, deciding it was better to let the first-year lead off the inning without added pressure.

If his words caused Sendo to falter and allowed the opposing pitcher to regain confidence, it could backfire spectacularly.

Sendo noticed Kataoka glancing his way, seemingly about to say something but ultimately staying silent.

Confused, Sendo thought, "Am I being left to fend for myself?"

Though tempted to ask, he decided against it. Kataoka's imposing presence was enough to keep him obedient. Taking his bat, Sendo stepped up to the plate.

"The seventh batter, left fielder, Sendo-kun!"

Since entering high school, Sendo had felt his overwhelming advantage from middle school slipping away.

Facing high school-level breaking balls in this game further confirmed his realization.

Even an off-form ace was formidable, so what would Narumiya Mei be like?

Still, Sendo knew he had time to grow.

High school baseball offered opportunities for rapid improvement before the summer tournament.

Adapting to the speed and rhythm of high school games, combined with formal training and the experience of summer competition, would undoubtedly push him forward.

But for now, Sendo focused on the present.

Glancing at the next batter, Shirasu, he recognized that while Shirasu wasn't at his future peak yet, he was already a well-rounded player with more batting power than Kuramochi, making him a reliable upper-lineup hitter.

Sendo deliberated whether to trust his senior to follow up.

Having always carried his teams, relying on others felt unfamiliar.

But he also understood that aiming for a home run at this level was highly challenging.

"Alright, if it doesn't feel right, I'll play it safe first," Sendo decided, settling into his batting stance.

From the opposing dugout, Shimizu observed Sendo in the batter's box, analyzing his strengths.

"This batter's long reach and bat length give him a big advantage on outside pitches. However, his stance is slightly further back, so it's unclear how effective he'll be against inside pitches," Shimizu thought, preparing for the duel.

The first-inning home run had left a deep impression.

That pitch, though a fastball, had caught the defense off guard thanks to Sendo's stance, long arms, and extended bat.

However, it wasn't an easy pitch to hit.

If it had been Yuuki at bat, he wouldn't have even swung at it—and if he had, he'd likely have been out.

Different physical traits lead to different outcomes, and once the catcher calmed down, things wouldn't be as easy for Sendo.

What truly worried Shimizu, though, was Manaka's mental state.

While the last pitch he threw in the previous inning had been near his peak form, could he maintain his composure against this batter?

Then—

Pop!

"Ball!"

"Hey! That's way too dangerous!" Jun yelled, ready to demand justice for Sendo.

The pitch was an inside ball, dangerously close to Sendo, despite his back-footed stance.

If he had been standing further forward in the batter's box, it would have hit him.

The pitch startled Sendo, forcing him to lean back to avoid it.

Shimizu sighed.

Was Manaka's previous peak moment just a fluke?

Or was he too fixated on this particular batter?

Either way, he had no choice but to move forward. Walking a first-year wasn't an option, nor could he afford to throw an easy fastball into the strike zone.

Manaka, however, had begun reflecting on his actions, realizing he was becoming a liability to the team. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

"The second pitch! Here it comes!"

Pop!

"Ball!"

The umpire ruled the second pitch a ball, but Shimizu was surprisingly pleased.

It was a high-speed slider on the inside corner—not quite Manaka's peak form but close enough.

It was even better than his condition before Miyuki's home run earlier.

The pitch startled Sendo again.

Having already dodged the earlier fastball, he reflexively stepped back, his instincts taking over.

"So this is what a hardball feels like? Eijun didn't seem scared at all… Damn it! … But this is interesting!"

Rather than succumbing to fear, Sendo felt a surge of competitiveness.

Licking his lips, he revealed a spark of fighting spirit.

There was no way he would accept being less brave than Sawamura.

"Nice pitch! It's got power!" Shimizu encouraged Manaka while also noting Sendo's earlier hesitation.

"This kid… he's still just a first-year, afraid of inside pitches!"

But Sendo's contrary reaction misled Shimizu once again.

"Another inside pitch!"

Ping!

"Foul!"

Shimizu's faint smile was immediately wiped away as Sendo confidently swung at the pitch, sending it foul.

This was the third time Sendo had surprised him, though thankfully it wasn't another home run—just a poorly hit foul ball.

Shimizu began doubting his own judgment.

Why did this first-year no longer seem afraid?

Was this some kind of supernatural force at play?

Sendo, on the other hand, felt relieved. "That breaking ball was so hard to hit—I was nearly out!"

Despite his lack of experience, Sendo's instincts allowed him to distinguish between good and bad pitches during the match.

On the fourth pitch—

"Damn! Another miss!" Shimizu lamented as he realized the pitch was off-target.

Ping!

"Foul!"

"???"

To his astonishment, Sendo swung at the bad pitch, resulting in another foul ball.

Suddenly, the count was 2-2, and Shimizu felt the tide turning in their favor.

Coach Tahara, however, noticed something in Sendo's frustrated expression.

Drawing on his experience, he quickly identified what was happening.

Sendo's talent was undeniable, but his inexperience made him vulnerable to being baited into swinging at deceptive pitches.

With a signal, Tahara instructed the battery to throw pitches that appeared borderline but stayed outside the strike zone.

Meanwhile, Sendo, frustrated at being backed into a corner, took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the bat.

The fifth pitch was ready.

Whoosh!

"Hmm?"

As the ball left Manaka's hand, Sendo realized it was another outside pitch.

Before stepping into the box, he had already decided to play it safe.

If cornered, he would aim for a grounder toward third base, relying on his speed to get on base.

Given his position as the leadoff hitter, his primary goal was to ensure he reached base.

While he lacked the skill for bunting, he knew he could aim for a rolling grounder.

Though not ideal, it was a calculated risk.

Sendo swung at the outside pitch, sending it into fair territory.

While the ball didn't land in an optimal spot, it wasn't a problem.

"Ku! Ku! Ku! Ku!"

To everyone's shock—including first baseman, who was momentarily stunned—Sendo sprinted to first base like a lightning bolt.

"Safe!"

Even the umpire was momentarily stunned. Watching Sendo's speed firsthand, he couldn't help but think, "Kid, you should be running track, not playing baseball. What a waste of talent!"

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