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Diamond no Ace: Coach, I Want to Be a Batter, Not a Pitcher!

Chapter 198: The Silent Narumiya Mei · Nov 12, 2026

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Chapter List (248)

Page number / 5

151 Chapter 151: Seido’s Specialty — Brothers Home Run 2026-11-12
152 Chapter 152: The Match Ends — New Record 2026-11-12
153 Chapter 153: Before the Finals! Slider Evolution 2026-11-12
154 Chapter 154: The Showdown Before the Finals 2026-11-12
155 Chapter 155: The Post-Finals Debriefing Meeting 2026-11-12
156 Chapter 156: The Strategies of Both Sides 2026-11-12
157 Chapter 157: The Legend of Seido 2026-11-12
158 Chapter 158: The Shock of the Fatty Senior 2026-11-12
159 Chapter 159: Head-On Confrontation! Overwhelming Suppression 2026-11-12
160 Chapter 160: Don’t Be Selfish! Let’s Shoulder This Together 2026-11-12
161 Chapter 161: The Final! Seido vs. Inashiro 2026-11-12
162 Chapter 162: King vs. King: A Fiery Opening 2026-11-12
163 Chapter 163: Mutual Recognition 2026-11-12
164 Chapter 164: Seido’s Relentless Offense! Inashiro Under Pressure! 2026-11-12
165 Chapter 165: Last Year’s Grudge! An Eye for an Eye! 2026-11-12
166 Chapter 166: A 150 km/h Two-Seam! A Shocking Opening 2026-11-12
167 Chapter 167: An Overwhelming Strikeout!!! 2026-11-12
168 Chapter 168: The Shock of the Cutter! Shirakawa’s Fury 2026-11-12
169 Chapter 169: Cutter Establishes Authority! Three Consecutive Strikeouts to Open the Game 2026-11-12
170 Chapter 170: Complaints from Two Catchers 2026-11-12
171 Chapter 171: Inashiro’s Cleanup Batter 2026-11-12
172 Chapter 172: The Man Who Got Outs Complains About Everyone Else Striking Out 2026-11-12
173 Chapter 173: Untitled 2026-11-12
174 Chapter 174: The Resolve Behind a Single Hit 2026-11-12
175 Chapter 175: Defensive Mistake 2026-11-12
176 Chapter 176: Inashiro’s Counterattack 2026-11-12
177 Chapter 177: A Unique Approach 2026-11-12
178 Chapter 178: A Chain of Mistakes 2026-11-12
179 Chapter 179: Shirakawa’s Resentment 2026-11-12
180 Chapter 180: Untitled 2026-11-12
181 Chapter 181: Kominato Leaves the Game Due to Injury 2026-11-12
182 Chapter 182: The Little Brother Opens His Eyes! 2026-11-12
183 Chapter 183: The Best Way to Motivate Furuya 2026-11-12
184 Chapter 184: A Friendly Reminder 2026-11-12
185 Chapter 185: Narumiya Mei’s Winning Pitch 2026-11-12
186 Chapter 186: Narumiya’s Evolution 2026-11-12
187 Chapter 187: The Fallen Emperor Refuses to Yield 2026-11-12
188 Chapter 188: Inashiro’s Captain 2026-11-12
189 Chapter 189: Three-Pitch Strikeout — Narumiya Mei 2026-11-12
190 Chapter 190: Inashiro’s Counterattack 2026-11-12
191 Chapter 191: Using the Rules to His Advantage 2026-11-12
192 Chapter 192: Gradually Unsealing 2026-11-12
193 Chapter 193: The Two Aces Dominate 2026-11-12
194 Chapter 194: The Final Inning 2026-11-12
195 Chapter 195: The Quick Forkball Shocks the Entire Stadium! 2026-11-12
196 Chapter 196: Happy Graduation 2026-11-12
197 Chapter 197: Summer Continues 2026-11-12
198 Chapter 198: The Silent Narumiya Mei 2026-11-12
199 Chapter 199: Gold-Level Home Run 2026-11-12
200 Chapter 200: The Eve of the Koshien Battle 2026-11-12

”Of course, throwing a complete-game shutout against Inashiro is impressive.”

”Keeping every batter off the bases would have been even more spectacular.”

Ushijima paused before continuing.

”But if I injure my fingers because of it, then none of that is worth it.”

He looked at Narumiya Mei.

”Even if we exhausted everything to defeat you today, what then?”

”There is still Koshien.”

”There are still games waiting for us.”

”We can’t afford to win one battle while sacrificing the entire war.”

”That’s why, no matter how effective the Forkball is, it should only be used when absolutely necessary.”

The Inashiro players fell silent.

They couldn’t refute his logic.

As for Narumiya Mei, he felt even more irritated.

Not because Ushijima was wrong.

But because he sounded far too mature.

Far too calm.

Far too much like a veteran instead of a first-year.

Looking at the frustrated Narumiya, Ushijima suddenly sighed.

”Narumiya.”

”What now?” Narumiya snapped.

”Have you noticed the biggest problem facing Inashiro?”

The question caught everyone off guard.

Narumiya frowned.

”What problem?”

Ushijima’s gaze shifted toward Harada.

”Harada-senpai is graduating.”

The atmosphere instantly became heavy.

”When he leaves...”

”Who will catch for you?”

The entire Inashiro lineup froze.

Even the Seidou players looked surprised.

Only Harada remained silent.

Ushijima continued.

”To put it another way...”

”Among Inashiro’s current first-string players, is there a catcher capable of controlling you?”

The words hit like a hammer.

Narumiya’s expression changed.

Carlos.

Shirakawa.

Yamaoka.

Everyone’s faces became serious.

Miyuki’s eyes narrowed.

Among everyone present, he understood Ushijima’s meaning most clearly.

A great pitcher needed a great catcher.

Especially a pitcher like Narumiya Mei.

Someone talented.

Proud.

Emotional.

Aggressive.

Without a catcher capable of controlling his rhythm and mindset, his strengths could easily become weaknesses.

A battery wasn’t simply a pitcher throwing and a catcher receiving.

The catcher guided the game.

Controlled the tempo.

Stabilized the pitcher.

Without that balance, even the strongest ace could lose control.

And right now—

Inashiro’s biggest problem was obvious.

After Harada graduated, who could fill that role?

Seeing everyone’s silence, Ushijima continued.

”That’s why I hesitated earlier.”

”Before striking out Yoshizawa-senpai.”

”I considered intentionally walking him.”

Everyone looked at him again.

”I wanted Harada-senpai to have one final at-bat.”

”I wanted to face him one last time.”

The Inashiro players stared at him.

”Because among all the catchers I’ve faced...”

Ushijima pointed at Miyuki.

”Besides this annoying guy...”

Miyuki’s eye twitched immediately.

”...Harada-senpai is the only catcher capable of truly controlling Narumiya.”

The entire Inashiro lineup fell silent.

Not a single person could deny it.

”I wanted to give him a proper farewell.”

”A final showdown.”

”But in the end, I couldn’t do it.”

The reason had already been explained earlier.

The dreams of Seidou’s third-years came first.

No personal feelings could outweigh that.

Then Ushijima turned around.

His back faced Narumiya.

His next words pierced directly into Inashiro’s future.

”After today...”

”For the time being, Inashiro is no longer a threat to Seidou.”

Silence.

Nobody interrupted him.

”Over the next year, there are only three ways Inashiro can challenge us again.”

He raised one finger.

”First.”

”Find a catcher capable of replacing Harada-senpai.”

A second finger.

”Second.”

”Narumiya changes.”

The ace of Inashiro stiffened.

”You stop acting only for yourself.”

”You stop insisting on throwing only the pitches you want.”

”You become a true ace.”

”A true senior.”

”A leader capable of carrying an entire team.”

A third finger.

”Third.”

”I get injured.”

The blunt honesty left everyone speechless.

Ushijima lowered his hand.

”If none of those three things happen...”

”Inashiro won’t be able to threaten Seidou.”

After speaking, he simply walked away.

Leaving behind complete silence.

Nobody laughed.

Nobody argued.

Because everyone knew there was truth in his words.

Harada watched Ushijima’s departing figure.

Then he glanced at Narumiya.

For once, the usually noisy ace said nothing.

His head was lowered.

His fists were clenched.

And he was thinking.

Really thinking.

Yoshizawa suddenly laughed.

”I finally understand.”

”Why Seidou trusts that first-year so much.”

Hirai nodded.

”Even when facing opponents, he points out their weaknesses.”

”Not to mock them.”

”Not to show off.”

Yoshizawa finished the sentence.

”But because he wants stronger opponents.”

”A real challenge.”

Harada smiled.

”Exactly.”

”He isn’t obsessed with winning easy games.”

”He wants worthy battles.”

The Inashiro captain looked at Carlos, Shirakawa, Yamaoka, and the others.

The second-years understood as well.

The moment Harada graduated, everything would change.

And the future Ushijima described was already approaching.

Meanwhile, above the Seidou dugout...

”YUKI!”

”ISASHIKI!”

”KOMINATO!”

Azuma Kiyokuni and the former Seidou players waved excitedly.

The current third-years immediately waved back.

Their smiles were brighter than ever.

Then Azuma looked toward Ushijima.

”Ushijima!”

”Thank you.”

The former captain’s voice was sincere.

Without Ushijima, their dream would have ended a year ago.

Now, at last, someone had carried it forward.

Ushijima simply smiled and waved.

No words were necessary.

Nearby, his mother looked at him proudly.

”You did well, Xiao Jie.”

A rare warmth appeared on Ushijima’s face.

”I’ll clean up first.”

”Then I’ll come find you.”

Afterward, Seidou returned to the dugout to pack up.

The atmosphere was completely different from before.

Every player wore a smile.

Every face was filled with relief.

They had survived.

Their summer would continue.

Even Coach Kataoka approached Ushijima personally.

”You worked hard.”

The usually stern coach spoke with genuine gratitude.

Ushijima scratched his head.

”It was only what I was supposed to do.”

Coach Kataoka laughed softly.

Only what he was supposed to do?

A complete-game shutout against Inashiro.

Leading Seidou back to Koshien.

If that was merely doing his job, then his standards were frighteningly high.

After cleaning up, the Seidou players finally left the dugout.

However, before Ushijima could reunite with his family, a swarm of reporters surrounded him.

It wasn’t surprising.

This was the West Tokyo Final.

More than forty thousand spectators had witnessed the game live.

Media outlets from across the country had gathered.

Professional scouts were present.

Even several professional players had come to watch.

And after today’s performance—

Nobody could ignore Ushijima Wakatoshi anymore.

A pitcher who possessed:

A Four-Seam Fastball.

A Two-Seam Fastball.

A Cutter.

A Sinker.

A Shootball.

A Forkball.

Six different weapons.

More terrifyingly, every one of them could exceed 150 km/h.

His command was still imperfect.

But he was only a first-year.

He still had years to develop.

As long as injuries stayed away, everyone present understood one thing.

The monster standing before them today...

Would one day become a name fought over by professional teams across Japan.

And perhaps—

By teams beyond Japan as well.

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