While watching the television, keep the room bright, and don't sit too close to the TV, okay?
Go through!
It went through!
Yes!
Safe!
Summer’s storm rocks the night sky
Your frightened figure, cast blue by the summer rain
Frozen for a moment under the meaningless umbrella
Then through the crowd, we dash off into the rain
Our hands together, gripping onto the plastic umbrella handle
Our fingers tighten when the clouds start to rumble
Here with you, showering in the rain, washing away those summer days
Washing away from my heart, the sand of memories that have long gathered
Here you are, showering in the rain, perhaps reminiscing those of the past days?
Falling on our umbrella, that summer rain
This isn't the first time...
You've lost a run to someone.
Doesn't matter how many times it's been, it'll always stink.
Out!
6-4-3, double play!
Is Oikawa trying to recover his pride?!
All his pitches went straight in the middle!
And that one just now was 150 kmph!
A 150 ball is that fast?
Ah... You are the only one who hasn't seen your pitches...
From the batter box...
Strike 3!
Another breaking pitch!
Under catcher Akaishi's lead,
Bottom of the 7th, Ryuou's attack has already suffered 2 outs!
And now, 4th batter, Mishima!
Are You Enjoying This?
A walk is fine at this point, right?
Yeah?
Ball!
Yeah!
He's going for it.
For what?
Strike!
Here it is again! 156 kmph!
He promised, this morning...
...To show me a 160 kmph pitch.
Strike 3!
He could lie without blinking since he was a kid.
Well...
Mishima missed! Strikeout! A strikeout!
The crowd's in an uproar!
The fastball that even Mishima missed,
Was a phenomenal 158 kmph pitch!
Aoba likes...
Someone that can pitch a 160 kmph fastball.
No way...
Is that number for real?
You just shocked the whole Japan.
Oh...
Can I reach 160...?
Feel like trying to beat that speed, Oikawa?
Let's just play baseball...
Strike 3!
Yes!
Spirits are high!
Ace Oikawa dished out 3 strikeouts this inning yet again!
Only 2 hits in 8 innings! One of which ended up being a run.
Ryuou is currently behind, with only the 8th and 9th innings to attack!
6 more outs, and we win, right?
Yeah...
Oh, hey...
Huh?
Uh... No, nothing...
I just remembered!
Last year we were behind 1 run near the end too,
But we caught up and went to extra innings...
And then, got our win...
And?
2nd baseman!
Uh wait, center fielder...
That image is important.
I see.
1st base!
Out!
With a runner on 2nd to tie the score, Oikawa is now at bat!
According to Coach Terada, he'd be the cleanup if he weren't the catcher.
His batting skills and competitiveness are both at the top of his team.
He is the perfect batter for the occasion!
I just remembered too.
Last summer...
My liner to the pitcher at the score earning moment,
Was the winning hit!
Safe!
That was close...
Your swing has gotten better since last year.
Strikeout! 3 outs!
Runner left on base! No game tying run!
Yeah!
Damn dangerous pitches this guy throws...
North Tokyo final, bottom of the 8th!
Seishu Academy is still 1 run ahead!
If this keeps up, you won't get your turn, Mishima...
That's not the image...
...I have in mind.
Image is important, you know.
The final round of battle is about to start!
3rd batter, 3rd baseman, Nakanishi-kun.
Show them what you're made of, Nakanishi!
Caught! It's been caught!
A fantastic catch by 3rd baseman Mishima!
A definite long drive had it not been caught!
And considering 4th batter Azuma is next,
That would have been the worst situation for Ryuou to be in!
The North Tokyo final match is in its bottom 9th inning!
With 1 run behind, Ryuou begins its final attack!
The crucial moment is starting.
Just 3 more outs.
Yep!
We are in the lead, right?
It's already the 9th, right?
There's no where to go!
Right fielder caught it in foul ground, and 1 out!
Ryuou's 1st attacker couldn't get on base!
Strike!
What an impressive 2nd grader.
He's swinging without the fear of being struck out.
Souma became the 1st batter despite being a 2nd grader.
However, he's had no good performance so far.
I don't remember Souma ever getting 3 strikeouts.
Strike 2!
And another strike, no where to run!
Bat it out, Souma!
He's fast enough to make it, even with a infield grounder.
It escaped! Going by the right line!
Safe!
Yes!
A double! A double!
He's definitely the guy to lead the team next year.
We don't care about next year right now!
It seems the game won't simply end like this!
1 out, runner on 2nd! A hit for a game tying chance!
Strike 3!
2nd batter Kishi's been struck out!
2 outs! 2 outs!
Just one more...
Just one more! Just one more!
Damn this guy...
At least feel the pressure a little.
A win gets you to Koshien, you know.
Was Kou-chan always like that?
Nope.
He used to be just like me: easily shaken, lacking in composure.
This is Waka-chan's personality.
Alright!
Out!
Akaishi's pass resulted in a tag out at the 2nd base!
With 3 outs, bottom of the 9th ends!
However, with a 1-1 tie,
The game continues!
Catch up, get into extra innings...
And then take the win, right?
1-1, no wins yet!
North Tokyo final goes into extra innings!
Seishu's Azuma! Ryuou's Mishima! Both sides start the inning with their 4th!
What a miracle... 2 batters as good as Mishima, in the same year...
Kitamura. If they let Azuma walk,
You don't have to go straight on against Mishima either, alright?
He's gonna face Azuma for sure.
So I'll in turn face Mishima.
That is, if he believes in his own 4th.
Strike!
Seems like he does...
That's Spring's number one for ya.
Just have fun, Yuuhei!
Thank you...
You don't need a megaphone with a voice like that...
I'll never let you get a home run!
I'll never let you...
...Get a home run!
Yes!
"Yes" my ass!
Safe!
A triple!
Despite Ryuou's brilliant passes, Azuma slid onto the base in the nick of time!
Yeah!
Normally calm even to home runs, Azuma now clenches his fist in triumph!
AKAISHI
No outs, runner on 3rd! Extra inning 10, Seishu's grabbed a winning chance!
A hit means the end! Be it outfield fly, squeeze,
Wild pitch, passed ball, error, or balk! Anything and it's all over!
Top of the 10th, Seishu on offense with no outs, runner on 3rd!
This is a dire moment for Ryuou, who aims to dominate both Spring and Summer Koshien!
In the batting box, we have 5th, Captain Akaishi who batted the 1st run!
And 6th, Kitamura to follow in Seishu's lineup!
Alright!
The game's ours!
Yeah!
Calm down, calm down...
They're empty...
What are?
1st and 2nd bases...
Ball 4!
A no-out, loaded base strategy!
With all the bases filled, Ryuou chose to duke it out with batters 7 8 and 9!
A loaded base strategy...
Our chance just got better, right?
Yeah. Mess up and we'd gain a lot of runs.
But if he doesn't, we won't even get the run we could have gotten.
Alright! Let's do this!
Despite how he appears,
He's actually quite popular in the team.
Yes!
I can see why.
3 outs, change!
In this dire moment, not to mention no hits,
There wasn't an outfield fly, squeeze, wild pitch, passed ball, error, or even a balk!
After their close escape, Ryuou starts the bottom of 10th with Mishima!
This is the best scenario for Ryuou, and the worst for Seishu!
You gotta strike him out.
Ryuou will gain great momentum if he gets on base.
To stop their drive, we gotta stop them from the start.
Easy for you to say...
The way you are today, you can do it.
I don't know what happened, but you can do it now.
Agreed.
The way you are today, you can do it.
Bottom of the 10th, Ryuou on offense.
4th batter, 3rd baseman, Mishima-kun.
Strike!
Who could have expected this speed at this stage?!
That's kinda unfair... Always when I'm up...
That's the fate of being the 4th.
That's right!
A little! Just a little to the left!
Another 10 centimeters...
And our dream to go to Koshien...
Would have gone poof...
2 strikes.
The way you're today, you'll be fine.
Out!
He caught it!
A blazing liner stopped by Azuma's spectacular catch!
1 out.
That was so close...
I get tired just watching them...
Mountain climbing's way more relaxing compared to this.
Shishido's struck out too!
That's the end of the 10th! The match remains completely unpredictable!
Strike 3!
Right in the middle, and then sunk! What a sharp drop at that stage!
Dammit. I haven't had one good hit the whole day.
You are the one he wants on the least.
In a sense, he worries more about you then he does Azuma.
I see.
How impressive for Oikawa. The guy gets it.
Alright. Just wait till next time!
Don't forget. That's your best trait.
Finally, bottom of 11th. Ryuou on offense!
They get 1 run and it's all over, huh?
Are you enjoy this, Aoba?
Go say something nice to Kou when this is over.
If they win, sure...
Just go, right after.
Strike 3!
Nishiyama struck out with a missed swing!
The 11th inning ends with no bases reached.
The game goes into the 12th inning with 1-1 still!
Out!
After Azuma's walk, Akaishi attempted to send him further!
But it resulted in a double play! Now 2 outs, 0 runners!
6th batter, pitcher, Kitamura-kun.
Bat it out, Kou!
Wanna swing a few?
Nice batting!
Gimme a bike ride to swimming school, alright?
Pathetic.
Momiji would love some sashimi!
“The one you love rarely loves you back”
To your words, I could only nod “right, right”
My heart is all yours, yet yours is with her
“Let’s do our best”, you said
But what should I do, tell me
A way to get you to notice me
Tell me you love me, love me, love me
Look into my eyes and tell me
Even if you think it’s just a rehearsal
Kisses, arm pillows, hugs, everything
Won’t you try them all with me??
And just like that, fall in love with me
Preview
* SPOILERS AHEAD *
"I'm the pitcher, and you're the catcher", right?
Yeah. Inside the sold out Koshien.
When the game's over, go give Tsukishima Aoba a big hug.
Didn't I tell you that I absolutely hate you?!
Yeah. I know.
Cross Game Finale:
More Than Anyone Else in the World...
I've always, always hated you.
Sub Smith - 2010.03.21