The Catcher's fiancé

| PROLOGUE | EDITED

Disclaimer: Diamond no Ace belongs to Yuji Terajima and all individuals who contributed to its creation. Certain elements of the plot in this story are inspired by the original work.

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“Daddy! Where did you meet Mommy?” the little girl asked, her bright eyes filled with curiosity.

Both parents shared a glance, a surprised yet fond look passing between them, before their faces softened into gentle smiles.

“Where? Where? Where!” the little girl pressed, her small feet bouncing with impatience.

The father chuckled, his heart melting at the sight of his daughter’s eagerness.

“We met at a baseball tournament, sweetie,” the father said softly, looking over at his wife. “It was one of those hot, summer days. I was watching the game when I first laid eyes on your mom. She was out there on the pitcher’s mound, standing tall and encouraging her team. I couldn’t stop looking at her.”

The girl, still wide-eyed, stared up at her father, noting how his face seemed to glow as he spoke about her mother. There was a softness in his voice that she didn’t often hear.

The mother laughed, nudging him playfully with her elbow. “You’re so silly,” she teased, a loving smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

The little girl bounced on her toes, still grinning. “I want to meet someone who will love me like you two love each other!” she declared, her voice full of innocence and longing.

Her father’s smile deepened as he placed a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll always be here for you, honey. You’ll meet someone one day who will love you just as much as we love each other.”

The mother nodded, adding, “And when that day comes, we’ll be right by your side,

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Hana’s heart swelled with pride as she stood at the edge of the field. Today was an important day—it was her first official day as the manager and the first aider of the baseball team with the guidance of her father.

As the daughter of a well-respected physician, Hana had spent her life learning medicine. She had watched her father carefully care for his patients, always with a gentle smile and steady hands. Hana had followed her father around the clinic, assisting wherever she could, and when she wasn’t with her father, she studied medical books. However, since she is still young, she just assists her father and other medical professionals. And currently, she is helping his father with the baseball team near her father's clinic, applying what she had learned to help them stay healthy and strong.

She wore a sundress under a white lab coat, her first aid kit slung over her shoulder. It was an unusual combination, but she loved it. This was her new role.

The boys had been practicing hard, but there was one pressing issue—they still didn’t have a catcher. Everyone had been avoiding the position, thinking it would make them not stand out too much, but Hana knew better. The catcher was a crucial role, and they needed someone who was strong, reliable, and capable. She was watching closely, trying to figure out who might be the right fit.

And then, just as she was beginning to lose hope, she heard a voice.

“Me! I’ll do it! I’ll be the catcher!”

A boy, shorter than most of the others, his glasses slightly askew and his cap cocked to one side, raised his hand with a grin.

Hana froze, her heart skipping a beat. There was something about him. His presence, his confidence, even in such a simple offer, made her feel a strange warmth spread through her chest. He’s the one, she thought to herself, her pulse quickening.