-That was a solid hit. -You can hit off that pitcher.
-Yeah? -Yeah.
They're still kids.
You look pretty unhappy there, captain.
You really think Harada can be hit off that easily, Shun?
Sorry.
But I'm going to gobble up your pretty princess.
What?
I don't think your princess is going to last until your next at bat.
Shun, cut it out!
-Can't hit over there. -Three outs, change sides!
-Everyone, remember that. -Yes, sir.
Shugo, your princess is done for.
He'll be lucky to last until next inning.
He's way too fragile.
And how can you tell that?
How can you not, idiot?
In other words...
...you're only thinking about that date you had with the princess.
That's why you can't tell anything.
Is Nitta Higashi really that bad of a team?
Don't ask me such a basic question so seriously.
Nitta's not bad.
But that battery is an issue.
The princess and the big catcher.
You couldn't do much worse.
Jono, don't get tricked by the speed. Just try to get a piece of it.
-I know you'll be able to hit it. -Yes, sir.
All right.
Shun, is he having an off day?
Why are you worrying about the opposing pitcher's condition during our game?
Like I said...
...it's the battery, not the princess that's the problem.
What do you mean?
I'm not surprised.
You wouldn't understand.
Good one, Hagi!
All right.
He's mentally a mess right now.
He has no idea what he needs to throw.
But we still can't hit a home run.
Our batters are barely able to get singles. That's quite the princess.
So why is the princess getting hit off of?
You're a batter, unlike the princess.
Unfortunately, your princess is a pitcher.
Pitchers can't do anything when they don't have a catcher to catch.
Shun, just tell me. Why--
Just concentrate on the game.
Ball four.
See, Ikebe walked. That was four balls.
How could a guy with such great ball control...
...not be able to throw a single strike?
Your princess is on life support.
They're changing out their whole battery?
Shugo, Kaionji is coaching with way more composure than you.
Wow, that really hit you hard.
It was the first time I've ever met someone like him.
But this might be it.
At the very least, your princess is gonna need some time to return to the mound.
-Is that what you think? -100 percent for sure.
Guys like him are stupid fragile.
Three outs, change sides.
-We're changing sides. -What, why?
Mr. Sakiyama grounded out to the shortstop.
They got a double play.
Damn it, what are we gonna do?
You're going to have to bat next inning.
-What do you mean? -They pulled the princess out.
I figured your heart won't be in it.
You're not gonna ask for a pinch hitter, are you?
Hey, screw you!
What the hell are you boys doing?
Oh, crap! We're busted!
What do you mean, sir? We're just playing a game, coach.
Don't give me that! The school never gave you permission for this!
You think you can just put this game together on your own?
But, coach, it's Sunday.
This is our own personal time.
Don't give me that personal time excuse when you're wearing Yokote's uniform!
Excuse me.
My name is Tomura.
I coach for Nitta Higashi.
-Do you think we can continue? -Doubt it.
Game's a forfeit.
Looks like our coach is real pissed off.
I can't believe this is happening. We're having such a good game.
Sorry about this. I'll try talking to Coach.
Don't waste your time. Besides, look how scared everyone is.
That's it for today.
Well, I'm sorry for all the trouble we've caused you.
So, what are we doing after this?
Our Kadowaki here hasn't had his fill.
He can't sleep because he dreams about his beloved princess every night.
Don't you feel sorry for him?
Shun, cut it out!
Kaionji, I know you don't want to just leave things like this.
-Have another game with us. -But--
It was fun, getting to play a team we wanted to, not one the school picked.
Yeah, it was.
So let's do this again. We don't need to hurry.
We can wait until after our exams.
Okay, I think we'd all like that.
We have a deal!
-But there's one condition. -One condition?
You have to promise to let the princess take the mound.
You mean Harada?
Kaionji, could you look the other way for me for a second?
Please.
Okay.
Why did we lose?
Go, it's Mr. Kadowaki.
Harada.
Yes?
Don't give me that!
Are you screwing with me?
After all that big talk you did!
What the hell was that?
Do you understand that you just got dragged off that mound?
Mr. Kadowaki, you can't do this to our teammate!
You think you won because you managed to strike one of us out once?
Do you even know how pathetic you were out there today?
I do.
Nagakura, was it?
I'm Mizugaki.
How long have you known the princess here?
We met this past March.
So it's only been six months?
Then I guess you wouldn't know how to get along yet.
Mr. Mizugaki, do you remember what you said in the batter's box?
What? Did I say something?
You told me I couldn't catch for him.
What did you mean by that?
I meant exactly that. You're not fit to be the princess's catcher.
You're just dragging him down.
With someone like the princess, you need a catcher that can go toe to toe.
When you've got one like you who's desperately trying to keep up...
...it'll eventually fall apart.
And look where that got you today.
If you two stay a battery, you'll only destroy yourselves.
And as for me, Nagakura...
...I've been playing baseball with this Kadowaki wonder kid for years.
Hurry up, you two! We're leaving.
Shugo, come on, we're done here.
Sorry, Princess. Pitch to us again sometime.
As long as you're not too scared to.
-Let's go. -Nagakura.
You don't have to run. Hang back here.
-The rest of you go running. -Yes, sir.
Sit down. I'll throw to you.
I'm not holding back.
-How was that? -Yes.
I think they're powerful throws.
-And what about in comparison? -What?
I'm asking you how it was compared to his pitches.
To Takumi?
Coach, you throw like a fielder. I can't really compare it to Takumi.
Okay, that's all then.
I'll have him throw at 70 percent then.
That's what I'll tell him when he's finished his test.
I'll tell him to learn how to pitch around their batting at 70 percent.
Then someone other than you can still catch for him.
Are you going to tell Takumi not to throw his hardest?
If I don't, he won't be able to get back on the mound.
-I don't think Takumi would agree to that. -No?
He might ask me to let him back on the mound, actually.
He hasn't been doing a lot of pitching practice in the month since that game.
I think Harada might be at his limit.
If you can't be his catcher...
...I'm still going to get him to pitch.
His 70 percent should be effective enough against most teams.
Nagakura. You want to quit?
It wouldn't be too late.
No matter how hard you work or how much you struggle...
...Harada probably won't help you.
-You don't understand. -What?
You don't understand anything, coach.
I...
I'm sorry, I said too much.
Your decision to quit is your own to make.
Takumi, phone for you.
They sounded busy.
What's that mean?
-Hello? -It's me.
-Who is this? -It's Mr. Yoshisada.
The handsome and cool Mr. Yoshisada.
I'll be over at your house soon. See you then.
Apparently, we're getting some unwelcome company.
-Is Go coming? -No.
I miss Go.
-Shut up. -Don't you feel lonely, Takumi?
I've got some big news today.
Then please keep it short.
And don't lay down on my bed.
The captain asked me if I wanted to play catcher.
So, what did you answer?
I told him no way.
I mean, from a baseball standpoint, I understand that I'm the last hope.
Well, I don't!
It has to be Go! Why are they even talking to you?
Hey, I don't want to catch for Harada either.
Besides, playing catcher's so boring. And you're going up and down all game.
Also, having to hide my beautiful face behind a mask is such a crime.
Don't tell me you said all this to Captain Nonomura.
I turned down the captain and coach very clearly.
I can't believe you said all that to Otomurai. You're so stupid.
But in another sense, I'm impressed.
Harada. It's Go.
Go.
Takumi.
Is Yoshisada going to catch for you?
Idiot!
Why didn't you say anything?
Did you forget Japanese or something?
You could've told him you wanted to play baseball with him, idiot!
Not that I care...
Only the princess can say he won that game.
Harada?
Yeah. I mean, the princess definitely beat Kadowaki.
That's really something.
Whatever happens after, he still has that.
Mizugaki, did you say something to Nagakura?
What? Has he been too busy moping around to come to practice or something?
He's been going to practice, but he doesn't even try to catch for Harada.
I think that's fine.
I'm sure the princess is too scared to get back on the mound anyway.
No, Harada's fine.
But there's no point if Nagakura isn't catching for him.
What? The princess is still pitching?
I'm talking about Nagakura right now.
Why do you keep talking about Harada?
Before the game even began...
...Kadowaki looked really insecure.
I don't think he even realized it himself...
...but he questioned himself if he could hit the ball.
Caught me by surprise.
I was curious to learn more about the guy who could rattle Kadowaki like that.
And then I see his princess just standing on the mound...
...looking like it's just another day at the park.
The battle was over before he even threw out the first pitch.
A second showdown would've ended with the same result.
So that's why you messed with Nagakura to break up the battery.
Now, that's hardly a fair accusation.
It was pretty clear that Nagakura was barely hanging on.
Anyway, forget about your battery. I just wanted to make sure one last time.
We want to do this as soon as we can after the exams.
We'll need an adult to reserve a field for us.
I'll talk to our coach about that.
Really? You can trust him?
I think we can.
Well, our coach almost burst a blood vessel from our little game earlier.
-Sorry for all the trouble. -For who?
You don't gotta worry about Shugo.
He's got his scholarship.
Mizugaki, do you...?
Do you hate Kadowaki or something?
Where do you come off saying that?
Why would I...?
It just seemed that way.
Sorry.
Whatever. Later.
Shun? Where are you?
-Where do you think? -Nitta?
Ding, ding, ding, correct! How did you know?
What are you doing there?
I met up with Kaionji to talk about our rematch.
-Is it going to happen? -For sure.
I'm not gonna screw it up like you did.
I'll set the perfect stage for you.
It's going to be the last game I'll get to play with you after all.
Huh? What are you talking about?
Well, the thing is...
-What exactly were you thinking? -Shugo?!
Why the hell are you here?
I got a hunch when I heard you left early this morning.
Go, you have visitors.
-For me? -Yes, it's Mr. Harada.
-Takumi's here? -No, it's Seiha.
And Mr. Sawaguchi and the others too.
Go, I brought you some potatoes!
-Potatoes? -It was so weird!
When I came to bring you these potatoes...
...I saw all of them pacing in front of your house.
So then we all came in together.
Go, we came to get you.
Go, let's play!
-Play? Play what? -Baseball!
-Baseball? -Come on, Go!
Harada's waiting for you at the park.
Harada seriously can't do anything. Couldn't even come to get you. Pathetic.
Harada, you seriously can't do anything.
What are you, some kind of prince?
Can you really get through life with so little life skills?
You should've been the one to go to Nagakura's.
I mean, I don't really get why Nagakura's been so mopey.
Hey, are you even listening? Look, it's fine to be cool.
But Nagakura's your friend, right?
He's not a friend.
Harada!
How could you just say that so casually?
So what? Is he just some sort of catching machine to you then?
You'll just toss him aside if he can't do that?
I mean, he doesn't look at me as a friend either.
Oh, God. Could you have said anything more sad?
Guess who.
Jeez, what a grip.
But a princess shouldn't be so violent.
-Mr. Mizugaki. -What's up!
Could you stop calling me a princess?
Yeah, I'm the only one who gets to tease Harada.
You guys back off!
Well now, what is this Kurinosuke we've got here?
You should treat your senpais with respect.
Guys from other schools can't be your senpai. They're just geezers.
This guy is starting to piss me off.
What's so funny?
Oh, I just never imagined I'd meet someone here...
...who could keep up with your mouth.
-I'm Yoshisada. -You'll be Kurinosuke.
We just stopped by the Harada household.
They told us he was here, so we came by to see how the princess was doing.
How's Nitta Higashi's battery doing?
I want another shot in the spring.
You mean a game?
Yes.
We're doing it again. That okay?
The summer peak came and went
That's what the weather report said
But it still feels like the city is restless
The evening bells of 5PM
Resonate inside my heart today
Clouding me with something convenient like "destiny"
It's the final fireworks of the year
I will remember them many years from now
Are you here? You're probably not
I'm sure you're not
Will I be able to say it if I see you?
I close my eyes and dream