Diamond Ace: Another Story of Sawamura

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"pain..."

It was really a bit unexpected, tears flowed down in one breath along with the stinging pain, Rongchun covered his left eye where the stone fell, and turned around to avoid the wind.

"Woo..."

Along with the sound of the wind, there was also a small suppressed sob...

Sounds so fragile...

He looked towards the path that was more familiar to him than the dam he had walked along.

Why did this voice suddenly make my heart tighten...

This road that I am so familiar with is still the same as before, with no one visiting it because it is dirty and smelly.

But the summer nights will still be filled with beautiful moonlight, and the winter should still be filled with pure white snow...

Just behind the warehouse, a few minutes’ walk away is the garbage disposal station, your own secret base...

A thin figure huddled beside the trash can, the buzzing of flies and the squeaking of mice echoing in his ears.

He ignored all these and just kept sobbing.

The distance between the two was only a few steps, so close that the small figure noticed the person coming and only then did he choke and raise his head.

The moonlight shines on it at the right time...

At this moment, a feeling of powerlessness spread over the air. Rong Chun's face turned pale instantly and he almost collapsed to the ground. He could only squat and look him in the eye, giving a self-deprecating smile.

"Ouch..."

The humming sound that had been echoing in my ears again...

So similar...

Just like myself back then...

The child, who had been discovered crying secretly and was at a loss, was stunned after seeing the endless sadness in the eyes of the person in front of him.

"I thought... I had gotten over it a long time ago, but... why am I still so sad now..."

"you..."

As the other person's words came out, Eijun stepped forward and hugged him in his arms.

"Wow! What are you doing!"

Anyone would be scared if suddenly hugged by a stranger. The young Qiu'er began to struggle in panic.

"You are a filthy underage person! I am going to scream!"

Even on a summer night, this little body looked cold because it was only wearing a thin short-sleeved shirt.

"I always hope to be discovered and comforted..."

Eijun seemed not to feel the struggle in his arms and trembled slightly.

"You must want to be expected and pushed forward..."

"..." As if the words hit deep into his heart, Qiu'er slowly stopped struggling.

"I'll stay with you."

At this moment, tears flowed out like a spring, and he just subconsciously wanted to shrink himself and bite his lower lip hard.

"you're lying..."

"I'm not lying to you." Rongchun answered affirmatively, letting go of the little child who was crying non-stop, and holding his face to face him.

"I will!"

"..." The extremely firm words and serious expression of the man in front of him made Qiu'er miraculously let down his guard against this stranger.

I will. I will stand up with you and face it with you. I will help you when no one else can.

Because I heard your voice and saw myself...

I won't let you become like me...

This evening...

Only the flies, stars and moon accompanied them tirelessly, and they talked and listened together...

Until the world falls silent...

Eijun sent the sleeping child to Room 5, then returned to the court, looking at the place where the moon set, quietly waiting for the sun to rise.

This place, which is full of my three years of youth, should be a place that I miss, filled with immaturity, willfulness...

At that time, Rong Chun thought that he should have no regrets, but now when he thinks about it, he is confused...

The warmth coming from behind him was slower than the time it took for the sun to shine on his back. This was the feeling he had always longed for, but had never experienced such warmth before...

Eijun blinked his eyes in an interfering manner, and looked at the players who were doing morning training, and coach Kataoka who was still doing the same thing.

After so many years, he has never left Seidou and has always served as the general manager of Seidou's baseball team. He has also become a famous manager who has led Seidou to Koshien many times.

"The supervisor... looks a little older..."

He was not quite the same as the majestic figure in my memory. Although he still looked intimidating without even getting angry, there was a more kind look between his eyebrows.

A few days had passed since the preliminary and final rounds, and most of the third-year contestants had already moved out of the dormitories.

The new team has already started running. After all, this is the opportunity that the sophomores have been waiting for for a long time. They are all eyeing the positions that will be vacant after the third-year students retire.

Only a few people are still in a slump, and that child is one of them...

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As if there was not enough time, except for the necessary meals and rest, the players kept honing themselves tirelessly.

Even the afterglow of the setting sun cannot compare to the light in those children's eyes and their thirst for victory.

"That person...has been sitting here since before our morning training started!"

"From no one sitting there to no one sitting there..."

"Let's go have dinner quickly..." After urging the lagging players to hurry up, Kataoka also looked at the person sitting on the edge of the court.

In fact, Kataoka had noticed that person a long time ago. Although he looked like a stranger, Kataoka had an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

"..." Rongchun looked at the supervisor with amusement, stood up, patted his butt, and walked towards him.

The supervisor wanted to come up and say hello several times during the process, but now he keeps staring at me. Is he still wondering who this person is?

"Supervisor..." Eijun walked in front of Supervisor Kataoka, took off his hat and mask under the supervisor's puzzled gaze, and chuckled, "It's been a long time since we last met."

Kataoka was shocked to see the changed man in front of him, unable to hide the joy... and sorrow in his heart...

"...Sawamura!"

Ever since the accident happened to Sawamura's family, he disappeared from the public eye without a trace and no one could find him.

Kataoka could only turn his joy and sorrow into action now, hugging Sawamura tightly, "Do you know how worried we were about you, bastard!"

"..." Rongchun didn't expect the supervisor's reaction to be so big. He froze for a moment and reached out to support the supervisor, "I'm sorry..."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two sat down in the rest area, but Rong Chun did not elaborate on his situation, only saying that he was traveling around.

"The final... I went to watch..."

"The contestants have tried very hard..." There was no trace of disappointment in the contestants in Kataoka's tone, but rather pride in them.

"..." Rongchun nodded in silence, because he saw that every player fought very hard...

So, what a shame the result is.

Rongchun couldn't say such words, he knew that the people who cared most about the results were still the contestants.

"Sawamura..."

"Supervision..."

You two started talking and stopped at the same time, and looking at each other who was hesitant to speak and let you speak first, you two couldn't help laughing at the same time.

"Hahaha... Supervisor, let's talk first!"

"Ah..." Kataoka stopped laughing and chuckled, "The kids on the team should like you very much. Would you like to meet them?"

"With pleasure!" Rong Chun smiled broadly, not minding at all that he showed up like this even though he was nowhere to be found in the outside world.

"They will be very happy."

"I hope so..." Rongchun put on his hat and stood up to follow the supervisor. The two of them walked towards the dormitory together.

"..." During the middle of the conversation, Eijun asked what he was about to say, "The freshman pitcher who came on in the eighth inning..."

"You care about him a lot..." Kataoka looked at Eijun with a little surprise.

"A bit..."

"..." Seeing the worry on Eijun's face, Kataoka curled his lips unconsciously and walked forward to open the cafeteria door, "He should be here too."

"Supervision..."

The arrival of the supervisor and another person who had never been seen before attracted the players' attention. Everyone stopped eating and looked towards the door.

"Supervisor...what's the matter?"

Seeing that everyone looked a little nervous, Kataoka wanted to say that it was no big deal, but seeing their curious looks, he just said it directly.

"This is your senior who hasn't been to school for a long time since you graduated. It's a rare opportunity for him to come. If you have any questions, feel free to ask him."

"..."Eijun, the 'senior who hasn't been to school for a long time since graduation', heard the resentment in the supervisor's words.

"Hi..." Eijun took off his hat and nodded to greet the juniors, smiling awkwardly but politely: "My name is Sawamura Eijun, thank you for your guidance."

"Zawa...Mura..."

Looking at that person and repeating that name, all the sounds gradually disappeared, replaced by shocked little expressions.

"Eh!!!"

"Sawamura!"

"Is that Sawamura Eijun?"

"Why are you here!"

“Hahaha…” Looking at those little guys who were too shocked, Rongchun laughed, “They are so energetic!”

"That...that..."

"Can you please help me with my batting stance, Sawamura-senpai?"

"I want to learn how to bunt!"

"Please look at my pitch!"

In shock, the players rushed forward to surround Sawamura and directly pushed out coach Kataoka.

"Wait..." It had been a long time since I had such close contact with such enthusiastic fans, and Rongjun hurriedly blocked them.

"what happened?"

"What happened?"

Everyone in the office heard the cries from the cafeteria. Minister Ota and Takashima Rei hurried over, and Coach Ochiai walked over slowly, only to see the cafeteria in chaos.

The person who was a little troubled by being surrounded and was careful not to knock down the balls, "Don't be so excited..."

"That is..." Minister Ota looked at Supervisor Kataoka who had retreated outside the cafeteria door and gave him an uncertain and puzzled look.

"Sawamura..." After careful identification, Ochiai recognized that this was Sawamura who had disappeared for a long time, and he was stunned.

Takashima Rei couldn't help but tear up, "That's great... You're okay..."

Unexpectedly, the usually intellectual Takashima Rei would lose control of her emotions, and the voices of the team members gradually disappeared again.

"..." Rong Chun naturally noticed it, and patted the balls to signal them, "Let's eat first..."

Takashima Rei's reaction calmed the players down a bit, and they understood Eijun's gesture and sat back in front of their bowls.

"Boss Ohta, Ms. Takashima, Coach Ochiai, it's been a while."

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