Diamond Ace: Another Story of Sawamura

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The hot weather, coupled with the long queues, made the crowd's patience almost break.

Rong Chun was forced to continue retreating, but he didn't expect that a group of people would surround him because of this. Rong Chun, who was surrounded in the middle, felt helpless.

"I..."

Just when Rongchun wanted to explain further, a hand suddenly touched his shoulder from behind. Rongchun frowned and looked at the hand on his shoulder, but at least he resisted the urge to hit it.

"..." If he hit someone now, the situation would be even worse, but the other party was still taking advantage of him and put his arm around his shoulders. Rong Chun made a move to break free, and then he heard that person's voice ringing in his ears.

"I found you! What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry! He's my companion. We got separated. I was waiting here for him to come over. I didn't mean to cut in line. We're already going back."

"..." Rong Chun silently let the other party pull him out of the encirclement and retreated to the back of the team, "Thank you for your help, otherwise I feel like I would be beaten up."

"It's nothing. The person you're looking for should go in first. You've been waiting in line for a long time!"

The other smiled brightly and lamented the length of the queue, and Eijun smiled, "With a commotion like that, they'll find it soon enough."

"Really? Isn't it hot wearing a hat and a mask?"

"I'm used to it."

"Really... By the way, my name is Tian Jiu Guang Sheng, what's your name?"

"......" This familiar face, the familiar name, coupled with the nonchalant tone, Rongchun looked at the yellow-headed man he had never seen before, "Is he from the baseball club of the city's third high school?"

"Hey! You know me? Are you from the baseball club?"

"I've seen your games." He was just the talkative baseball guy in his previous life, not the out-and-out delinquent he is now.

"Which school are you from? You haven't even told me your name yet!"

"Sage of Light!"

“…” Rongchun looked at the girl who was walking towards him angrily, silently took a few steps back, and gave up the seat next to Tianjiu.

"What are you doing? We'll have to wait in line for a long time again!"

"Don't be angry, Yumi-chan~" Tian Jiu Guang Sheng quickly comforted his girlfriend, "Let's come again tomorrow, there will be fewer people tomorrow."

"We have been queuing since this morning and haven't even had lunch yet!"

"..." Looking at the couple who seemed to be about to quarrel, Rongchun stood aside in silence, raising his hand to signal the "security guard" who came out to check the situation because of the commotion.

Then, in full view of everyone, Eijun was invited into the hall by the doorman and Alice's maids.

As a thank you for helping him, Rongchun let Tianjiu and his wife cut in line for free.

Looking at his girlfriend who was looking around happily, Tian Jiu Guang Sheng exclaimed: "I didn't expect you to be so awesome! Could you be the boss here?"

"..." Rongchun just shook his head to indicate no, and then left the room, "I wish you two a pleasant afternoon tea time."

Rong Chun searched the garden for a long time but couldn't find the person he was looking for. Other people also said that they hadn't seen those two people for a long time.

Looking at the acrobats practicing on the stage for the theater's opening performance, Rong Chun didn't listen to what the playwright next to him said. He just chatted with the theater planning engineer for a while and then left.

Not surprisingly, he was intercepted by Takashima Rei when he came home late, and then scolded in public.

He managed to escape Takashima's lecture by distributing the small gifts he brought back specially to everyone.

"This is... the admission coin to the Magic Land Theater!"

"A lot of people have been talking about this place recently. My sister is really looking forward to its opening, but it's a reservation-only place and I can't make a reservation at all."

"Ah, I've seen the photos. They're magical."

"Sawamura, how come you have so many admission coins? This place shouldn't be open to the public yet!"

"I know the boss there..." Rong Chun's words indicated that this was a gift from the boss.

"Oh!"

"You actually know such an amazing person."

"It seems like you had a lot of fun today." Supervisor Kataoka, who had arrived at some point, stood behind Eijun and asked.

"..." He thought that his mentality had reached the point where he was as stable as an old dog, but that oppressive face always made it difficult for Rong Chun to resist, "Yes..."

"Yeah." Kataoka responded casually without saying anything else, "Everyone gather at the indoor training ground after dinner."

The cafeteria, which had been a bit noisy, became quiet and even tense after the supervisor left.

The summer competition is about to begin. Today's Heishi Hall competition is the last game of the second team. The candidates who will be promoted to the first team should be announced at the upcoming gathering.

Chris felt a little worried when he saw Rongchun showing no reaction or expression.

Qingdao's pitching staff is weak, but its strength is strong, it has rich baseball knowledge, and its defense is also good. Moreover, it is a freshman, so Rongjun has a promising future and his chances of being promoted to the first team are the greatest.

Chris doesn't ask him to have a competitive spirit, but the kid really has no desire to play. Chris thinks it wouldn't be surprising if the kid suddenly says he doesn't want to play baseball anymore one day.

"..." Rong Chun, who was eating silently, noticed Chris's gaze, but he didn't know how to respond to Chris.

He has no competitive mentality because his experiences in his previous life have deeply influenced him.

What professional baseball lacks the most is talent, and this is even more so in the major leagues. It can be said that you can get whatever you want, and the wisest choice is to understand your position.

The original passion had long been worn away by the hardships of nearly ten years.

Currently, the only thing that keeps him going in baseball is probably playing baseball with his seniors again.

In any case, the time to announce the results has arrived. In the brightly lit indoor training ground, hanging on the wall is Qingdao's supreme goal: to dominate the country.

More than ninety people gathered with serious expressions. In such a tense atmosphere, Supervisor Kataoka, Takashima Rei and Minister Ota walked to the front of the team with firm steps.

"Now let's announce the candidates for promotion to the first corps!"

"Based on the practice matches so far, I have already decided on the candidates for promotion to the first team."

"Those who are selected must have the awareness of representing the school... For those who are not selected, I hope you can do your best to assist the first army in the month before summer."

All the contestants' hearts were pounding at Kataoka's solemn words, and they looked at the supervisor nervously, hoping that they would be the ones he mentioned would be promoted to the first team.

"Those promoted to the first team are third-year Takigawa Chris Yuu, first-year Kominato Haruichi... and first-year Sawamura Eijun, and above."

As the competition came to an end, the contestants who were not selected all frowned sadly, and some even had red eyes with tears in them.

The players who were confirmed to be selected also felt bad, especially the third-year players. This was their last summer competition, and not being selected was equivalent to quitting high school baseball.

"There are a total of 20 players selected to take part in this summer competition. In order to prepare for tomorrow's practice, we will disband today. The third-year students who were not selected please stay..."

After the group was disbanded, the others gradually left the training ground. Eijun looked at the third-year students who were left behind, then followed the group and left.

"In the past two years... you have really worked hard." Looking at these children who bowed their heads and whom he had brought up, "The fierce competition for the starting position and the rigorous training... I believe you must be very unwilling in your hearts..."

"But you never gave up... You've been following me and practicing until now..." Kataoka's voice gradually became low and emotional, and he bowed deeply to the third-year players, "From now on... please be proud of this!"

The supervisor's actions and words that still expressed pride in them made the tears they had been holding back burst out, and their resentment and pain overflowed together.

Their summer ended at this moment.

Hearing the cries of his seniors, Eijun blinked his dry eyes and left the training ground entrance.

It was still a sleepless night. In the darkness, Rongchun stared at the ceiling with his eyes open.

The lack of vision would amplify the body's other senses. Rong Chun could clearly hear his own steady heartbeat. He had been in this state for who knows how many nights.

Lying there with nothing to do made him feel a little irritated. Finally, he got up reluctantly and tiptoed out of bed.

"Where are you going again?"

"..." This was the first time that Kuramochi-senpai called him when he got up in the middle of the night. Eijun looked at Kuramochi's bed and said, "Nothing, I just want to go out for a walk."

"You are such a restless kid. Let's go for a walk with you. Come back and rest after a walk, okay?"

"Ugh." Saying this, Senior Zengzi in the next bed also stood up.

"Um..."

Rongchun thinks that he is lucky. Even after going through so much, he still has a soft heart.

Even though my personality has become so strange, the people around me are still the same as before.

It is because the people around him are all gentle that he does not fall into depravity.

The three of them walked slowly outside the field. After walking two laps, Kuramochi chose to run, while Masuko practiced swinging the bat and Eijun sat on the sidelines to rest.

The wind blew across his face, causing his bangs to fall down, and Rong Chun stared at his phone in a daze.

"Why are you staring at your phone?"

"..." Looking at Kuramochi-senpai who had fallen on the lawn to rest, Eijun said softly, "I'm waiting for Yi's message."

"Yi? Is she the twin sister?"

"...Um."

"It's only a few hours now. She'll get back to you when she sees it in the morning."

"...Um."

"You actually have such a beautiful lady chatting with you! I'm so jealous!"

"I told you that we are not in that kind of relationship anymore!"

"How dare you talk back!"

"Huh?" The quiet stadium suddenly became noisy. Masuko stopped swinging the bat, looked at Kuramochi and Eijun who were in a mess on the lawn, smiled lightly, and continued to practice swinging the bat.

As for the three of them lying on the sidelines, they welcomed the third graders who came to clean up the venue early in the morning.

The trio who didn't take care of their bodies were scolded by Takashima Rei who received the complaint, and were ignored by supervisor Katagang.

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