There's still snow even though it's the end of March.
Really, snow? Where?
Oh, wow! You're right! Dad, can you stop the car?
Watch Your Footing
Seiha, you have to put on a jacket! You'll get another fever.
I'm okay, Mom!
It's so cold!
It's really snow!
Here, Bro! I made a snowball!
Try throwing it, Seiha.
There's a bird on that branch up there.
I think that's a varied tit.
Okay, let's go then. It's getting late.
Seiha, did you aim that throw?
The bird. Did you aim for it?
No, because I didn't want to hit it.
-Then did you aim for the branch? -Yup!
I'm glad you weren't the one who threw the snowball.
Because you can hit anything you want.
-You could've killed the bird. -Seiha, Takumi! Come on!
Strike!
Okayama Prefecture Welcome to Nitta
I've heard it so many times
It's not going to work out
That nothing will change
Even if I pretended not to listen
I knew it all, I learnt this from you
That it's not a failure, even if it is
When I thrust my feelings upon the drifting clouds
The quiet melodies push my back
Because the sky is so vast and free
I decided I wouldn't cry no more
Bro, we made it to Grandpa's house!
Takumi, good to see you.
Seiha, it's your grandfather.
This is our first time meeting, Seiha.
What's so funny?
Because you're like the spirit of this plum tree!
A plum spirit? Well, I'm not sure how to take that.
How do you like your room?
-I'm going to go for a run. -Right now?
Okay, it might be good for you to see what's around here.
Do you see that building up there? That's Nitta Higashi Junior High.
I know. Their baseball team is not that good.
You looked them up?
Is it a problem for you that they're not good?
No.
But you won't be able to make it to national tournaments...
...if you're struggling at the district tournaments.
We will.
I'd rather have them say we won because I was on the team...
...instead of it being expected all along.
I mean, the White Tigers weren't much of a team either...
...but we made it to the Chugoku regional tournament.
Although we lost in the semi-finals.
Going out for a jog?
Grandpa, I want to ask you something.
About how to heat a bath? You need experience.
Can you teach me your breaking ball?
Breaking ball? Like a curve ball?
Curve ball, and a sinker if possible.
What are you going to do learning a sinker at 12 or 13?
You'll just damage your elbow.
A good pitcher doesn't throw a half-assed breaking ball.
I can't stand having people throw pitches I can't throw myself.
What kind of nonsense is that?
It shouldn't matter to you what other pitchers pitch.
I don't care about the logic.
I'm not planning on using a sinker in a game.
Don't underestimate baseball.
You just want to be able to throw it? You fool!
How much strain do you think you're going to be putting on this elbow...
...to learn how to throw a sinker?
Instead of learning how to throw a mediocre sinker now...
...just wait until your body fully develops enough to pitch halfway decently.
Now, go on and start your run.
Take a right after the gate.
There's a shrine after you cross the bridge.
That should be a perfect distance for a run.
Strike.
Nice form!
I went fishing and a man came down from the shrine. I saw it.
You can fish around here?
They're bluegills.
Hey, Go. Let's go.
It's getting dark.
All right. Do you want to come fishing with us next time?
I'm not that interested in fishing.
Are you only interested in baseball?
You're Takumi Harada, aren't you? From the White Tigers?
Am I really that famous?
I suppose. Our team actually made it to the prefecture tournament last year.
Last year?
Coach said this pitcher Harada is old man Ioka's grandson.
We saw one of your games from the Chugoku tournament.
You said you made it to the prefectural tournament last year.
Yeah, with the Nitta Stars.
So are you going to be in junior high this year?
Obviously! I graduated elementary school just fine.
-We'll see you later. -Bye. Go!
You want a ride?
No, I'm good. I'll run.
What's your name? I know it's Go, but what's your last name?
Oh, Nagakura. I live pretty close.
Also your mom and my mom were classmates.
I can't wait to see you pitch.
Right by the batter?
I only saw it from a distance...
...but your ball didn't lose any speed when it got to the plate.
Of course not.
I bet batters have trouble when a ball like that comes in low.
If they go to swing for it.
And if they don't swing for it?
They get struck out.
You want me to throw to you?
You're a catcher, right? You want to try taking my pitch?
You'll really throw one to me?!
Yeah, sure. Only if you can catch it.
Oh, don't you worry about that.
So I'll come by tomorrow morning. That okay?
All our furniture is getting here tomorrow. I'll be busy in the morning.
I'll help! I'm pretty strong, so I know I'll be useful.
All right! Don't forget!
You were out late. We've already had dinner.
Bro, it's sukiyaki! Hurry up!
You were out for quite a while.
The whole trip should've barely been five kilometers.
Well, he'd been in a car for several hours today.
Even Takumi would get exhausted after that.
Dad. Do you really believe that?
Believe what?
Do you really think I was late because I got tired?
Is that not the case?
Takumi, what is with your attitude?
Everyone is trying to have a pleasant meal.
You're free to sulk, but try being more consi--
Makiko, that's enough.
Thank you for watching.
You were talking with somebody, weren't you?
Right? You met someone along the way and started talking.
I met some weird guy. His name was Go Nagakura.
You met Go? His family runs Nagakura Hospital.
Makiko, he's the son of your good friend Setsuko Ishioka.
Oh, that's right! She had a son the same age as Takumi. What was he like?
He said he'll come here tomorrow.
Hey, Harada! I've come to help!
-Maki, long time no see! -Secchan!
Thank you for coming!
Make sure you put on gloves first.
-You don't want to injure your fingers. -I don't need you mothering me.
Don't give me orders.
They say your catcher is like your wife.
I'm just worried about you.
That's only if we're in a battery together.
Of course we're going to be!
I don't know if you can actually take my pitches.
I know they're fast.
Could you take this next?
Wait, Harada, you haven't heard old man Ioka's Koshien story?
I'm not interested.
It seems like "I'm not interested" is your favorite phrase or something.
Are you really not interested in the Koshien?
-I am. -Then why not hear your grandpa's story?
The only interest in the Koshien I have...
...is to pitch on that mound.
I'm not interested in hearing about someone who's been there.
You sure live up to being his grandson. You both say the same thing.
What do you mean?
One time I begged old man Ioka to tell me all about the Koshien.
Then he told me to imagine myself playing baseball there.
And so was little Go able to picture himself playing in the Koshien?
Honestly, it didn't really click with me until a little while ago.
What do you mean a little while ago? So you're saying it clicks now?
Oh, for sure! After I saw your pitches at the prefectural tournament...
...and then you moved here to Nitta!
And you're going to join a battery with me! After I imagined that, it all came together!
Thank you so much for your help today.
Wow, so these are bluegills? Thanks, Go!
We're all finished, Harada.
I've been ready.
Okay, let's do it!
Go.
-We should go. -What?
No way, Mom! This is the whole reason I came over for.
But it's already three o'clock.
You can play together tomorrow.
-We're not playing around. -But you don't have time now.
Cram school doesn't start till five.
-Don't worry, I'll make it in time. -Go!
Cram school?
Yeah, three days a week. It sucks.
Don't forget to study.
All right, let's do it.
We'll start easy with a little catch.
-You ready? -Yeah.
All right, I'm sitting.
One more!
Harada, are you taking this seriously?
I need time to warm up.
I figured as much.
Anybody could throw a pitch like that.
Seiha!
Go get my cleats!
If Pitcher Harada is going to get serious...
...then Catcher Nagakura has to do the same.
Well....
I didn't know Catcher Nagakura had his own personal equipment.
Must be nice to be rich.
Cut it out!
You were the one who said anybody could pitch like me.
Yeah, when you're not throwing seriously.
It's the truth, ain't it?
What does how rich or how poor my family is...
...have anything to do with baseball?
Let's play baseball, Harada.
Fine.
Bro.
All right.
If you throw another weak ass pitch, I'm punching you in the face.
Harada, throw what I signal you!
-Signal? -Straight down the middle.
Don't drop it.
If there was a runner at first, he definitely would've stolen second.
Oh, I didn't know you planned on letting people on base.
Well, there might be one or two every game.
You see that, Harada! I got it!
-Looks like it. -Pretty good, huh?
You're a catcher.
Your job is to catch the pitcher's pitch. It's nothing to brag about.
But it only took five pitches.
I caught it on the fifth pitch.
That's true.
Hey, come on, let's keep this pace up!
Go, you were awesome.
I want to play baseball too.
Here, I'll give this to you.
-Really? -Yeah.
Thanks!
-Seiha. -Yeah?
How did you know?
How did you know that I met someone during my run last night?
I mean...
...the only reason you would be out so late running...
...would be either you got hurt or you were talking to somebody.
You didn't look hurt when you got back.
And you had this happy look on your face.
Wow, you're like a little Japanese Sherlock Holmes.
I want to play baseball too. I'm going to join a team.
-Are you serious about that? -Yeah!
I want to throw the ball like you.
You won't be able to.
Your body won't be able to keep up.
-Mom wouldn't-- -Mom's got nothing to do with it!
I want to beat you.
The ball feels warm in my hands.
Out for a run?
-Yeah. -I had a thought yesterday.
I think Seiha's fine.
What about Seiha is fine?
-His eyes. -His eyes?
His eyes when he was watching you and Go play catch.
They were good.
They had a sparkle to them.
Kids with eyes like that get good.
Seiha can't.
He's a frail kid. There's no way he can play baseball.
Baseball is to be enjoyed.
What's the point of baseball if you're not having fun?
Just remember Go's face from yesterday.
He looked like he was having fun, wasn't he?
Even Seiha.
They will get better.
Grandpa, you were watching us?
Yeah, I watched you.
I'll be back.
I saw you running, the white ball sparkling
Following a parabola, disappearing into distant memories
You turn as you fade away, I run after you
I dream of hearing the cheers in the stadium
I continue to call out your name, ever since that fun day
I love you, That was probably the day before eternity
If spring comes tomorrow
I will come find you
Do you remember the place
Where the rain turned to sunshine and time stood still?