SAFE!
YEAH!
AKAIWA!
YAY!
YEAH, WE WON!
AWESOME!!
Oh, really...they won even though they're weaklings.
Yes, they won even though they're weak.
So I'll be continuing my article series.
Ah, they're still just hanging on by a thread.
It's not a thread; they've still got the whole bolt of fabric!
Haha, give it up!
The next opponent is the famous Dougaku, right?
Yes, it's Dougaku. So what?
Well, I suppose that's quite fitting for their last opponent.
Their last opponent is many games ahead yet!
DON'T SWING LATE!
THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN BEAT DOUGAKU LIKE THIS!
LET'S TAKE DOUGAKU DOWN!
WE'LL KICK THE CRAP OUT OF THOSE DOUGAKU BASTARDS!
This is the first time since I joined that I've seen so much spirit in the baseball team!
It was their first win in...
Well... as far back as I can remember anyway.
What's wrong?
I'm sorry...
I was remembering yesterday's game again
To think they'd actually win...
You doubted them?
I believe in them with my whole heart now.
You totally doubted them.
You are the best coach ever.
To think that such a coach won't be here next year...
I... I...
You're killing our morale!
In the 2nd game
If we played normally, Dougaku would win and we would lose.
Then what should we do?
We'll just play irregular baseball.
No, what we need to do is not allow Dougaku play regular baseball.
What does "regular baseball" mean to Dougaku, you ask?
Baseball as you'd usually imagine it.
As a strong team, they have a clear-cut idea of what baseball should be like.
Unlike us, they can play normal baseball.
And it's that image we can attack.
If we can make our opponents think
"Huh, that's strange." Then the game is ours.
That is where our kind of baseball starts!
When they pause to tilt their heads in confusion, that's when we will strike!
You got it? Take that self-centered image the champion schools are holding
And force them to play our kind of ball!
YES, SIR!
Yowakutemo Katemasu Even if we're weak, we can win
Aoshi-sensei and the clumsy high school baseball team's high hopes
Subs by SpaceCase ?*??(???)????
(This show is brought to you by the generous people at Softbank, Nissay, Kao,
Suzuki, Try Home Tutors, and Ajinomoto)
Okadome-san?
You've already improved your time; what are you so worried about?
It's...
Expected.
Expected?
I've already proven my speed in the game against Takemiya, right?
So...in the next game with Dougaku, they'll totally have me marked.
I wonder...
Shut it.
I can't be just "fast."
I have to be so fast, they'll never have imagined anything like it before.
Even though "image" is just one word, there are many types 'images' of the same thing.
For example, I try to imagine what insults Tarumi-san will hurl at me before they come.
What are you talking about?
What I mean is, the "irregular baseball" image we're creating
was spawned from Dougaku's image of baseball.
Aha, I see... You're surprisingly...
Masami! Masami! Hey~ I'm talking to you!
I wonder if you could please be quiet?
But Masami is ignoring me!
Why can't you understand? I'm in the middle of a game right now!
It's lunchtime.
Yeah, right now. But in two days we'll be playing a game at this time.
So I need to get my internal clock ready for that!
So, even when you don't have a game you're going to be like this?
Well, if we keep winning anyway.
Then hurry up and lose!
DON'T EVEN JOKE ABOUT THAT!!
YOU STUPID GIRL!!
Stop it! She's my...girlfriend, okay?
I'm sorry.
Oh no.
You made her cry.
This is all you guys' fault!
Hey...
What does your brother think of playing Jotoku?
Nothing in particular
He must be excited at finally facing Shirao, but
as always, he's still just angry at me
But the one who taught you to play baseball was your brother, right?
Yes.
Then shouldn't he be happy you got better, Mitsuyasu-kun?
Yeah...no...
My brother wants me to just focus on studying.
Ah, really. Well, I'm an only child so I can't really understand...
Ah...
But I suppose I was kind of like an annoying little siser to someone.
Akaiwa-san?
He didn't teach me baseball, though.
I was actually better than him.
Hey, longhair!
That's the first time the baseball team has had that much fighting spirit.
Please have a look!
Yeah!
Nice ball!
Kimiyasu-kun, you're in pretty good form now, aren't you.
Practice is no substitute for experience on the field, right?
High school kids grow up so fast, you can't look away for even a second!
There you go.
Thank you.
Do your best!
It'd be nice if they had their guard down, though
Dougaku, I mean.
Have you, a Jotoku supporter,
mistaken this place for a public park?
Goodness, no! Actually, I'm with Takemiya right now.
Well, anyway.
It's not like we have anything to hide from Jotoku.
You don't have any kind of strategy to win against Jotoku?
I suppose the only problem we have right now is how to raise
their rock-bottom motivation.
Nice ball!
They don't look like they're low on motivation to me.
The only thing they're thinking about now
Is that there's only one player worth their time.
Basically, they're ignoring everyone but Shirao.
It seems like they'll only take on champions.
Seems so.
I bet they're definitely
So, they're hoping to get a flawless win
A victory that'll go off without a hitch.
But think about it.
Perfection is surprisingly fragile.
I mean, if there's even the tiniest flaw it's no longer perfect.
Basically, to ruin that perfection
Is to ruin their victory.
Exactly.
There are going to be a lot of changes in the batting lineup for this Dougaku game.
Number one, Kashiyama -Yes, sir.
Number two, Mitsuyasu -Yes, sir
Number three, Shikata -Yes, sir.
Number four, Shirao -Yes, sir.
Number five,Akaiwa -Yes, sir.
Number six, Iseda -Yes, sir.
Number seven, Okadome -Yes, sir.
Number eight, Ushimaru -Yes, sir.
Number nine, Ebato -Yes, sir.
That is all. -Coach
Isn't this batting order...
unexpectedly normal?
You sayin' me being in the bottom is normal?! -I mean, because Shirao-san is batting cleanup.
If you think that, then Dougaku will also think that.
Seeing Shirao batting cleanup, they'll think this is a normal batting lineup.
Then, the bottom of the lineup
Will also look like the normal bottom of the lineup.
But actually, the guys in the bottom of our lineup have a high batting average.
If the bottom of the lineup of a third-rate school can get hits,
Dougaku will be wondering what the heck is going on. I'll say this many times:
They're high schoolers like you.
Failure means depression and self-doubt. Of course they'll be sucked into our plan.
Because, like you, they are high schoolers.
But more than that, to Dougaku - who are dreaming of a perfect victory
Even the tiniest mistake is counted as a huge failure.
Meaning we should spread negativity in their minds.
Plant even the tiniest seeds of confusion.
Fill them with uncertainty! So... who shall we start with?
That is...
Their ace, Yoshinaga.
Niichan? -Sorry, but it's your big brother.
He doesn't see any of you except Shirao as competition.
In his mind, Jotoku is
Shirao and his Jolly Gang.
Therefore, Shirao:
Yes, sir.
Break their focus every time you're in the batter's box!
Yes, sir!
The rest of you: Every time Yoshinaga thinks he can relax, you pounce on that chance!
That is where all strike at once.
If we can set off a chain reaction of confusion, we can win!
YES, SIR!
They're all fired up!
And so it looks like we can take on the champion schools without fear.
What do you think?
Do you feel like sticking around longer now?
I'd love for you to come out to our game tomorrow.
It's one of the few games I have left as a coach of the team.
If that's so, I think I'll decline.
Please come.
No, no no... I think I'll wait to come cheer you on
until summer of next year.
Huh?
An unusual play for a pitcher?
Yeah, I want to psych out the Dougaku players with my pitching, too.
In that case, we don't really need any tricks.
You're the kind of pitcher who doesn't really get shaken up when people get hits off you.
A pitcher who keeps calm even when people keep hitting the ball?
That's weird enough on its own.
That's true.
Is there something for a catcher, then?
Hm?
Ah, how about where you keep talking away at the batter?
Ah, the catcher chatter tactic. -Yeah, yeah!
That happens a lot, though.
No, for usual high school students it's a deviation value of over 70.
That's unusual, too, then.
Then we'll go with that!
No way!
I can't talk to people I don't know.
Whaaaaat?!
OK, that's no good. We'll look for another...
Man up!
Ah! Someone's here.
Y-Yo!
How's it going?
Who's that? -No idea...
Uh... hey.
What're you doing?
Ugh! You're just weirding them out!
"What're you doing?" You can tell just by looking at them!
You fail as a human being. -You guys told me to do it!
Hey, longhair!
What the hell are you doing?! -Sorry!
We're not screwing around here! Do it right! This is riding on you!
What's going on?
Are you causing trouble at such an important time?!
No, you idiots.
We're practicing.
Huh?
Practicing what?
Hey!
We'll show you when it's done. Get ready, Ushimaru.
What? You guys aren't practicing yet?
WOAH! -KAMEZAWA!
I'm only gonna say this once, so you'd all better listen up.
Sadly, tomorrow is the day we deliver our factory's products.
I repeat, tomorrow is delivery day.
So I can't come to cheer you on. Therefore, today!
I have come, on the eve of the Dougaku game, to give courage to those I see before me drowning in fear.
We're not scared.
Zip it til I finish!
In the Takemiya game, you guys were
completely different from the guys I knew.
You've improved by leaps and bounds.
Thank you.
People are only focusing on Dougaku, but
As Coach says, you are the main characters in this story.
Fight with pride. The way you are now,
You can totally win!
Yeah!
I CAN'T HEAR YOU!
YEAH!!!
There are so many things you can do if you try but
For us, everything absolutely necessary has been finished.
Tomorrow, think only about catching the balls you absolutely can catch
And swinging with all your might.
That is all.
THANK YOU!
So the secret mission Ushimaru and I are working on...
Because you guys are near us in the lineup, you're probably going to be involved, too.
A mission?
Let's decide on a sign for it.
Secret signals?
Us?
Everyone~
It's a pre-game fine tuning!
Mom!
Kunitomo!
Er, well...
Our season is already finished, so...
I thought I might be of some use to you guys.
Thanks for coming!
It's my pleasure.
(Take 'em down! Doutou Gakuin! The weak can win! We're gonna prove it!)
May I get a pre-game comment from you, Coach?
Coming up against a strong hitter really makes you nervous.
But in my experience
A batter who's bluffing isn't that scary.
Why?
Well, that's...
Hey, Yuzu...Tarumi!
He gets all nervous when you talk, so be cut it out!
it doesn't matter. I already asked anyway.
Ah...for example, if you think your opponent is expecting a curveball,
and you're able to get that curveball by him, it boosts your confidence.
Ah, I see...
And what's scary?
A batter that takes on every ball thrown at him.
Intuition or like... they decide in that instant to swing with all their might.
In Jotoku, a batter like Shirao is scary.
You get the feeling he'll hit it no matter what you throw at him,
It really wears you out mentally.
As expected, it all comes down to you. We're counting on you, Shirao!
Leave it to me!
Alright, let's get started.
I'm number one in the lineup, so I should go first.
Hey, Kashiyama! These kinda things should start with the 3rd years!
It doesn't matter what order you go in! Geez...
Okay.
Thank you.
Please write a good article for us.
Those guys seem to be looking forward to it.
It'd be nice if it weren't the last one.
I didn't mean it like that...
I know.
Although, even if it does end up like that
I plan to keep following Jotoku baseball.
I have lots more chances to write, and there are still so many quotes I haven't used yet!
("High Return & No Risk!")
("Don't be late!")
"I will get it" "Baseball is all about I can, I will!"
"Decide for the sake of the other person; for your own role."
"Have pride in your weak selves
not half-heartedly, but strongly!"
"Think of the field as a place to experiment."
"Think about what each of you can't do"
"And what you need to do to be able to do it."
"First make a hypothesis and then test it out."
"In terms of both quality and quantity, we'll make a comprehensive practice schedule that addresses our weaknesses."
"The fact that even though we're weak, we can win - aren't we going to show them together?"
("You can win even if you're weak!")
"YEAH! WE WON!"
"Amazing!" "Awesome!"
Are these your own personal philosophy?
No way.
It's just stuff that came out of my mouth
When I was with those guys.
Kashiyama-kun! Straight Slash! -Straight Slash!
Straight Slash!
Woah!
Yes! -True to form!
Next! -Yes!
Good luck, Akaiwa-kun!
Show Yuzu-Tarumi your cool side!
What?!
What the heck is "Yuzu-Tarumi"?
Because, he always says your name like that~
Huh?? -"Yuzu...Tarumi!" Like that.
I do not say that.
SHUT UP AND HIT
YUZU-TARUMI! -I SAID, I DO NOT SAY IT LIKE THAT!
Go, go Yuzu-Tarumi! -Yuzu-Tarumi!
That's what I'm talking about!
HELL YEAH!
Yay!
Did you see that? Did you that?! Hey, did you see?!
Aren't I awesome? -What's your batting nickname?
Trust Your Instincts.
"I didn't think you'd still be on the field."
"I mean, you're no different than you were back then."
"Why are you here, wearing that uniform?"
To play baseball.
("96th Annual All Japan High School Baseball Championship Kanagawa Tournament")
Let's have a good game!
Ah! Kaede-san!
Oh, morning! -Good morning!
Wow, they're really going for the Gold, aren't they?
Well, they're practicing for the first game in the series.
Scoring a ton of runs early on and getting the game called
Well, that might sound like asking too much against a Goliath opponent like them
But this is our kind of baseball. You got it?
Chances will definitely come to you.
If you grab hold of one of them, don't let go even if it kills you.
Throw Dougaku off their rhythm!
Someone, somewhere will pop a hole in their defense! YES, SIR!
We will win!
WIN!
YEAH!
BOW!
LET'S HAVE A FAIR GAME!
Alright, let's go!
So, it's started.
LET'S GO, JOTOKU!
Just relax and go, Kimiyasu!
"Top of the first inning, Doutou Gakuin"
"First up to bat, 2nd baseman, Matsuyama-kun"
PLAY BALL!
Wow, just like that...
The ball going in the strike zone is proof Akaiwa is calm.
?Hurray, hurray Dougaku!?
Throw home!
That's good! That's good! Just focus on the plays you can make!
"Bottom of the first inning, batting first for Odawara Shirotoku High School
2nd baseman, Kashiyama-kun"
Just keep loose and bat like you always do!
Yes, sir! I'll be fine!
I was playing this game at this time yesterday and the day before, after all!
....what?
What is he talking about?
STRIKE ONE!
Alright! -STRIKE THREE!
STRIKE THREE! -Good job,you went down swinging!
You went down swinging!
STRIKE THREE!
Wow... Yoshinaga-kun is really good.
No, Everyone in Jotoku is swinging well, too.
Ebato? What about your catcher's chatter?
Oh, yeah
"Top of the 2nd inning, Doutou Gakuin, Batting 5th catcher, Saijo-kun"
H-How are you feeling?
What's it to you?
Sorry.
"In the second inning Doutou Gakuin added 5 points, so the score is now 11-0."
"It's now Odawara Jotoku High School's turn at bat."
That's a big enough lead to light the fire in their bellies, Tamo-kun!
"Bottom of the 2nd, Batting 4th for Odawara Jotoku High School,
Third baseman, Shirao-kun."
PLAY BALL!
Ah, their first meeting.
STRIKE ONE!
FOUL!
STRIKE THREE!
YES!!
Ah, damn it! Even Shirao can't get a hit.
You can hit it. He's all relaxed now after shutting me down.
"Batting 5th, Pitcher, Akaiwa-kun."
Okay!
STRIKE ONE!
STRIKE THREE! -Yes!
You call that relaxed?!
STRIKE THREE! -Yeah!
We don't have time to be wasting our strength on such weak opponents.
Let's finish this by the 5th inning~! YES, SIR!
?Hurray, hurray Dougaku!?
A grand slam adds four more runs....
15-0
"Bottom of the third inning, Batting 7th, Center fielder, Okadome-kun"
Okadome!
Get a hit, Okadome-kun! -Nail it, Okadome!
Bust it outta here, Okadome!
Fight!
Left left left, forward forward forward
YES!
HELL YEAH!
NICE! -YEAH!
Yeah! We finally got on base!
Keep it going, Ushimaru-kun!
First, first!
SAFE! -Yeah!
Yeah!
"Batting 9th, Catcher, Ebato-kun"
"Catcher, Ebato-kun"
THERE'S NO MATCH FOR ME!
NOBODY BEATS YOU!
Wasn't he supposed to be marked?
Left!
NICE BATTING!
Yay!
Yeah! -You did good!
The bottom of the lineup is totally blowing it up like we planned.
This is where we let loose. THIS IS IT!
Keep it going, Kashiyama!
Straight Slash!
Go to second! Go to second!
HE'S OUT!
So close! -They're good.
We're good like this.
We're pretty far off from what Dougaku imagined would happen.
Let's keep shaking them up!
Shock their socks off! -OK, let's go!
?Hurray, hurray Dougaku!?
"Top of the 4th inning, Batting 5th"
"For Doutou Gakuin, Catcher, Saijo-kun"
?
W-What?
Ebato-kun?
Yeah thanks.
Huh?
Play ball!
Uh-oh...
HE'S OUT! -YEAH!
Yeah!
Idiot! Don't get all out of sorts just because of English!
Alright, our first shutdown inning!
Is this really the time to be excited? Top of the 4th, 15 to 1
If it keeps on like this, the game is gonna get called. -Don't worry. We'll definitely catch up.
"Batting 3rd, 1st baseman, Shikata-kun..."
Look at that! Mitsuyasu's taking such a huge lead
"First baseman, Shikata-kun"
But that jerk Yoshinaga is totally just ignoring him.
STRIKE THREE!
Don't they see anyone but Shirao as competition?
"Bottom of the 4th inning, batting 5th for Odawara Jotoku High School,"
"Akaiwa-kun gets a double and brings one run in."
"The score now stands at 15 to 2, coming into the top of the fifth inning with Doutoku at bat."
This is where they really have to have a strong defense.
We can't let the gap get any wider than this.
Kimi-chan~
Leave it to me, Yuzuko!
STRIKE THREE!
Alright! You're amazing, Kimiyasu! You really held 'em off!
Yeah, but this inning they have to get at least 4 runs...
or the game will be called.
"Bottom of the 5th inning, Batting 8th, Left-fielder Ushimaru-kun."
Being so behind only makes you want to catch up all the more.
We've just gotta get fired up to close the gap!
Just think of this tight spot as a chance. -Yes, sir!
Alright, get out there! -Yeah!
First!
HE'S OUT! -Blast it, Ebato!
Ebato-kun!
Throw to first!
SAFE! -Yeah!
Nice batting! Keep it going, Kashiyama!
FIRST, FIRST!
All right!
Yeah.
Keep it going, Mitsuyasu!! Mitsuyasu! -Let's go, Pendulum Boy!
Yeah! -Keep it up, Mitsuyasu!
Go, Pendulum Boy!
Shikata.
Yes?
Point your finger at me.
Okay.
Good luck.
Geez, you could at least hold his hand...
I'll do my best!
"Batting third, first baseman, Shikata-kun"
"First, Shikata-kun!"
Ahh! HIT BY PITCH!
Oww... -You did well, Shikata!
Leave the rest to me.
Nice dead ball, Shikata! -Guts! Nice guts!
"Third, Shirao-kun."
Shirao! We're counting on you!
Please, Shirao-san!
Shirao-san, please get a hit!
This is it.
This is it...
This is it, Yoshinaga.
STRIKE ONE!
STRIKE TWO!
Hit it.
YESSSS!!!
OH YEAH! -WHOO!
OK!
Shirao, Yay!
"With 4th batter Shirao-kun's grand slam, 4 runs are added."
"At the end of the fifth inning, Doutou Gakuin leads 15 to 6."
"Odawara Jotoku High School has avoided a called game."
Why are you getting all bent out of shape by their reversed batting order?!
Sorry!
Look at their pitcher!
His face is totally serene even though we've gotten so many hits off him!
Don't make me have to praise a pitcher like him!
YES, SIR!
?Hurray, hurray Dougaku!?
Wait a sec, are we okay being this behind?
If we want to make it to the 8th, we need 3 runs this inning.
Ugh, it's always like that...
We can't relax even for a second
It all comes down to Shirao-kun.
Did you guys hear that? Make sure Shirao gets his chance at bat!
Nice work. -Next is Okadome, huh.
Good luck! -You just keep it up after me!
Rally, Okadome!
Concentrate, concentrate!
Coach, Ebato-kun...
FIRST!
Ah, he fell down!
Ushimaru-kun!
HOTBOX!!!! Get him! Get him! Get him!
Throw home! Throw home!
SAFE! -YEAH!
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!
Awesome! -So that's what that thing was about.
Huh? What the heck was that just now?
They were totally messing with Dougaku.
Those brats...
He fell down on purpose.
Alright! Two more runs! -We can do it!
Get them or die trying!
STRIKE THREE!
SAFE!
"Two outs with bases loaded, and it's 4th batter, Shirao-kun.
"If Shirao-kun can get a hit"
"They'll be able to avoid a called game once again."
We're in a good place right now.
Fight~! -Please, Shirao-kun...
What an amazing game
Ah!
HE'S OUT!
THAT'S THE GAME!
Coach...
In the very end...
Yoshinaga acknowledged not just Shirao,
but all of us as competition.
GOOD GAME!
Thank you!
Do you remember?
Three months ago
I went to Dougaku
And bowed down to beg them to let us hit.
But today was different.
Today, even though we didn't beg them
They let us hit so many times, didn't they.
They were desperate to not let you get a hit.
But you hit.
Again and again.
Until the very end
We played with pride
And we played baseball our way.
You may have lost the game
But you didn't allow it to go the way Dougaku imagined.
That's why, next time for sure
Next time, win.
You have to win.
Today
Everyone really tried their hardest.
Meeting adjourned.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!