While watching the television, keep the room bright, and don't sit too close to the TV, okay?
H-home run!
Top of the 12th, 2 outs, no runners, a hit by pitcher Kitamura,
A home run all the way to the center field screen!!
One magnificent and precious run!
Seishu is one step closer to Koshien!
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 accumulated
Here you are, showering in the rain, perhaps reminiscing those of the past days?
Falling on our umbrella, that summer rain
One run behind, it's now Ryuou Academy's turn!
Bottom of the 12th, with 1st batter Souma at bat.
If they don't score here, their dream of Spring and Summer domination,
And their 4 time Koshien streak will both end!
More Than Anyone Else in the World
And Seishu'll be going to Koshien for the very 1st time!
My goodness, Kuruma-san,
What a fantastic home run by Kitamura.
Indeed.
Right after a double play by Captain Akaishi too.
Oikawa only let his guard down thanks to your double play.
Remember to say that when they do the star interview.
Also, remember I was the one that got you into baseball.
Did I teach you the Yamanotesen game?
How should I know?!
I don't really have anything to add...
And you?
When the game's over, give Tsukishima Aoba a hug with all your strength.
Don't be stupid. She's gonna slap you with all her strength.
Right, Akaishi?
Right, Nakanishi?
Eh?
Bottom of the 12th, Ryuou Academy on offense, with 1st batter, Souma-kun.
Show me a good dream, Kitamura.
We'll win!
I feel like we will, at least...
Koshien...
This really feels like a dream...
3rd base line!
C-caught by Nakanishi!
A long pass to 1st base!
Just in time! Out!
Yes! Dieting worked!
Yo, former class 5-2 team captain Nakanishi.
Don't forget to mention it during the interview.
This is no dream! This is real!
1 out! Kitamura suppressed their lead-off batter!
But that was finally one good hit after seven tries.
Once we catch up, this game will be ours.
100% guaranteed.
Yeah.
Ball!
2 more, I'll show you just how tough...
...They'll be!
Ball!
Yes. Stay calm.
Start going for strikes, Kitamura!
Dead center!
The weakened pitch got batted out!
Right over the 2nd baseman!
Yeah!
Don't ask me if I'm tired.
Don't tell me you aren't.
Can I use it all up?
All my strength, in this inning.
Either way, if we don't win this inning, we won't win at all.
So give it all you've got.
Akaishi.
I'm the pitcher, and you're the catcher, right?
Inside the sold out Koshien.
Now, Ryuou has 1 out and 1 runner for the tie!
In the batting box, we have 3rd batter, 1st baseman, Nakadai!
And in the on-deck circle is 4th batter Mishima!
Mishima's getting a walk if the runner moves on with a sacrificial, right?
100% guaranteed.
But...
You're thinking, what if it's 2 outs, runner on 1st,
Or 1 out, runners on 1st and 2nd...
...Right?
A double play is the worst that could happen.
A productive out with an infield grounder is bad too.
Other than those, anything's fine, Nakadai!
Strike 3!
Struck out on 3 misses!
2 outs! 2 outs!
2 outs, runner on 1st... Is that still okay?
I guess...
Just one more! Just one more!
What an uproar it has caused!
Mishima! Mishima!
People are standing and shouting from both 1st and 3rd base stands!
Oh boy. This isn't the way to ask for a walk...
Is a lie alright?
Sure.
Strike!
Don't hold back.
This was bound to happen from the start.
So let's duke it out, for one last time.
Last for whom?
Who knows.
Not knowing is what makes it so fun.
Ball!
Does that guy know how many pitches he's thrown?
He can still stand there because he doesn't.
Don't hold back, huh?
We can win! If we can catch up, we can win!
Foul!
A speeding hit along the 1st baseline, just a bit off!
And that one was another 158 kmph!
He might really pitch a 160 ball...
That's not gonna happen...
Ball!
A full count!
Will this be the game ending pitch?!
Ball 4!
So after all that, it's still just a walk, huh?
Has Mishima ever let a risky ball go by on a full count?
He doesn't trust umpires that much.
They didn't show the speed of that pitch...
It's not like they'd show it for every pitch.
That was the fastest one today, wasn't it...?
We can't really tell from here.
Didn't he promise, to show you a 160 kmph pitch?
I told you, that guy-
Is a lie... Alright?
Strike!
The outcome...
Is already clear.
Right when you watched it pass without a swing.
I'll get to Koshien,
Pitch a 160 kmph,
And...
I love Tsukishima Aoba the most!
Game over!
12th inning, 2 - 1!
Seishu Academy advances into Koshien for the 1st time ever!
This is the best team Ryuou's ever had.
So we lost...
If there's a rematch, we can win for sure.
Ryuou can definitely win 2 out of 3 too.
That kind of thinking doesn't work for the summer games. Right, Mishima?
We can definitely win 3 out of 4 too.
You guys are no doubt the best team Ryuou has ever had.
Yeah!
Kitamura-kun! You're amazing!
I'm so happy!
Everyone... Is in tears...
I was thinking of something, so I kinda got detached from the moment.
Congrats on getting married, brother-in-law.
Here comes my wedding!
Time to send in that marriage registration!
Did you hear a shout just now?
Nope. I didn't hear anything at all.
We sang the the school song.
And, dashed to the cheering stands.
Victory speech.
Taking photos for the media.
And then,
Awaiting after our 12 hard fought innings, was a grand closing ceremony.
Can I drop dead now, Azuma?
No. You still have a task to finish.
Hug Tsukishima Aoba with all your strength, remember?
Like I said, she's gonna slap you with all her strength if you do that.
Right, Akaishi?
Right, Nakanishi?
See?!
Didn't I tell you that I absolutely hate you?!
Yeah, I know...
Probably...
More than anyone else in the world.
I've always, always...
Is a lie alright?
Hated you!
Sure.
I know.
Wh-what's going on?
Only two people can make her cry like that.
Wakaba, and Kou-chan.
Bravo! Kitamura! Seishu to Represent North Tokyo
Have you finished packing, Aoba?
More or less...
More or less, huh?
Start packing already!
Didn't you all agree to meet at the station?
No worries, no worries. I've got plenty of time.
Did you go see Akane-chan?
Of course. She's making a good recovery.
She might even come to the match if she gets well enough.
I see. That's good to hear.
Wanna eat something before you leave?
I'm fine.
Off mountain climbing for a while. - Mizuki
Hey, Nomo!
Don't sit on that paper!
Kou is amazing. He's been on the papers everyday after getting into Koshien.
The center of attention.
Just wait.
The real thing is just starting.
Time to go, Waka-chan.
To Koshien.
Dad, I'm going now.
Take care.
Say hi to the guys.
Ah, you were here?
I figured we'd decide on the place for the wedding first.
Right, dad?
Hey, don't call me that!
Bye now! See you at Koshien!
Welcome.
Where are the others?
They went to see Akane-chan first.
You're being lazy?
I went yesterday-
What's with that attitude?!
What about it?
I'll act polite when there are others around, Kitamura-senpai.
Over here.
You should hand her the flowers.
Yes!
Ah.
The guys wanted to come see you before leaving for Koshien, so...
The guys?
Seriously...
You're gonna lose all the pretty girls around you, if all you care for is your guy friends.
Don't worry.
I don't have that many...
Important guy friends.
Already left?
Meeting at the station?
No one told me...
Knowing you though, you can probably get it settled with one swing even if you're cornered.
Thank goodness.
Akane-san's surgery went so well.
Told you, Wakaba would protect her.
But it sure is amazing.
What?
They say everyone has 3 look-alikes in the world...
But the world is so big, you could hardly meet one.
Then Wakaba must have guided Akane-chan to us, because she had something to tell us.
To tell us?
You know how she goes sometimes,
"If Wakaba were here, she'd definitely say this."
When she said that, both her tone and her expression were just like Wakaba's.
What did she say?
"Talk more about me with Aoba!"
People only truly pass away when they are forgotten.
Anything else?
Yeah, this and that. You?
Yeah, this and that.
Talk more about Wakaba-san.
Lots and lots, with Kitamura-kun.
This place's owner is a fan of mine apparently.
He asked for my autograph a while ago.
Oh, really?
Okay then, time to go meet everyone.
Thanks for the treat, Kitamura-senpai.
Oh shoot! I forgot something!
Okay! Thanks for waiting.
Hey, wasn't that the first photo of just the two of us?
W-was it?
That's pretty special. I'm gonna go ask for a copy.
The train's coming! C'mon!
We aren't in that much of a rush.
C'mon, c'mon!
Sheesh.
Why do we always end up doing the same thing...
Please make an extra copy for me!
You and Kou-chan are so alike...
Sheesh.
How long are we gonna hold hands?
Why don't you let go if you don't like it?
Understood.
Ah...
He had seen through it all...
Through the despairing loss of Waka-chan,
Through the happy memories,
Through all my stubbornness,
All my lies...
He had, for a long time...
What a hateful guy.
The most hateful person...
In the whole world...
Clover, a perennial plant of the Fabaceae family.
A four-leaf clover is said to bring happiness...
Sub Smith - 2010.03.28