Ace of Diamond, Volume 26

This volume is Volume 26 of the original series of Yūji Terajima's high school baseball manga Ace of Diamond (Tongli Traditional Chinese edition, published in 2012). The story picks up after the reorganization of the Seido High School baseball team: the autumn tournament officially begins, and the new-look Seido baseball team once again sets its sights on Koshien. Pitcher Eijun Sawamura is struggling with his poor form, while fellow pitcher Furuya Satoru, determined to become the true ace, turns in one impressive performance after another, and the gap between the two is constantly widened during games. Although Sawamura acknowledges his own weakness, he always holds on to the stubborn thought that he does not want to lose to Furuya, and this volume centers on whether he can seize a turning point and regain his form. With meticulous, realistic brushwork, the work depicts high school baseball training, intra-team competition, and regional tournaments; it portrays both the rivalry and growth between pitchers and the process of a team rebuilding trust and starting anew after a generational change. Readers can feel the tense rhythm of game innings and see the boys gritting their teeth and persevering through setbacks; it is suitable for readers who love passionate sports manga to keep following.