Takumi!
Why didn't you throw the same pitch?!
I did.
Don't lie to me! He couldn't hit a home run off that pitch!
Did you hold back because you didn't think I could catch it?!
Why do I have to worry about your catching?
Then how did he hit it?!
That's pretty harsh.
But I guess I feel the same way too.
That fourth pitch. Was that a serious pitch?
Mr. Kadowaki, please face us in a exhibition game!
Please give us another chance!
Hey, Kadowaki, would you consider an exhibition game?
Could you request for one on your end?
I'll strike you out next time.
What did you say?
Next time, I won't get hit.
Not by anybody.
Are you saying you're going to pitch a perfect game against us?
Yes.
Please.
Kaionji, what's with these guys?
Are Nitta freshman all little punks like them?
No, these two are special.
Alright, I don't know what I can do...
...but I'll try.
Really?! Thank you!
I'll call later for more details.
I don't care what issues you may have.
- Harada. - Yes?
Why did you hold back on your fourth pitch against Kadowaki?
You thought Nagakura couldn't catch it, didn't you?
Were you afraid you might hurt him?
Either way, I bet Nagakura is shocked.
He got betrayed by you.
Why couldn't you trust Nagakura?
He would've done anything he had to in order to stop that ball.
And then he would've caught the next one without a doubt.
You couldn't think to believe in him like that?
You really are a kid.
You don't know the basics of baseball.
Kaionji.
This one's gonna be real trouble.
He doesn't understand anything.
I didn't think he was this stupid.
- Yo. - Hey.
You couldn't do anything against a junior high kid?
No way.
It's true. That's not something I'd joke about.
So, now what?
There's no way they'd let us have an exhibition game against Nitta.
You think?
The school would never sign off.
What if we just played it on our own?
Leave the schools out of it.
We'll just gather up...
...and play a game on our own.
Shugo...
Are you being serious?
- Deadly serious. - Yeah, but Shugo...
...you think we can really just play a pickup game on our own?
I guess it's never been done before.
I'll take responsibility.
Please, Shun.
Back me up on this.
I mean, it's not like it's cigarettes or booze...
...so I mean, it shouldn't be a big deal.
Shugo.
I bet that was your first time.
Have you ever wanted to do something so bad you'd go against the school?
I bet you've never done something this stupid before, have you?
Shun.
I'm Yokote's number five.
I wanna meet the guy who's made our Shugo Kadowaki so goo-goo eyed.
He's the first person who's ever drawn you out like this.
How could I not be interested?
I'm getting all excited here cuz I want a go at him too.
It sounds dirty when you say it.
I bet he's a real looker.
You can meet him in that batter's box yourself.
It'll be your first time experiencing that too.
Seiha.
I'm not going to sleep in your room with you anymore, got it?
I know. My fever's already down.
Then hurry up and go back to your own room.
Takumi, did you have a fight with Go?
Why do you ask that?
Because I can tell.
You seemed hurt the last time you had a fight with Go.
It'll be okay, Takumi.
What will?
Go told me something before.
He said "Your brother won't lose to anybody."
I think Go really likes you.
So I'm sure if you say you're sorry, he'll forgive you.
There's a phone call for you, Takumi.
- Is it Go? - No.
It sounded like a cute girl.
Hello?
Harada, it's me.
I just got a call from Kadowaki.
He said to be ready because there's definitely going to be a game.
Seems like there's a good chance it's going to happen.
I just wanted to let you know. That's all.
- Captain. - Hm?
Um, have you called Go too?
Yeah, I just called Nagakura earlier.
- Did he say anything. - No.
But he sounded really excited about playing this game.
- Oh, Harada. - Yes?
Don't really dwell on what the coach said.
A worried battery isn't much good.
Honestly? They only get in the way.
Well, talk to you later.
I'll go put the phone back for you.
Takumi?
Get down here, Go.
Go!
Where are you going this late?
Oh.
Are you going with Takumi?
Go, your mom's talking to you.
You idiot! You're just...
Dammit, you humiliated me.
Why aren't you fighting back?!
You're way bigger than me!
You think I could ever beat you in a real fight?
Coward! You can't talk big unless you're gripping a ball?!
I've had enough of your crap! Stop screwing around!
I'm not screwing around!
I've never screwed around when it comes to you.
What am I to you?
Some catcher you can't pitch to without holding back?!
Dammit.
How did you look at me when you threw that fourth pitch?
What kind of catcher gets pitied by his pitcher!
The real person I should be fighting...
...isn't Yokote or the principal! It's you!
Just you watch.
I'm not going to lose to you.
I'm never letting you pity me.
I'm going to make you see that I'm the best catcher for you.
You're going to be sorry.
Just remember that, Takumi.
I will.
Oh look, Mr. Higashitani.
Look what happened to our great Harada.
His poor face is ruined.
It's a shame. I mean, it's one thing if it were just Yoshisada's face.
Wait, what's that supposed to mean?
I'm just as good looking as Harada.
I'm at least in the top five hottest guys at Nitta Higashi.
Who the hell would rank you in the top five?
Shut up!
Who did this to you?
Was it Otomurai?
- An elephant. - Elephant?
We keep an elephant.
And he had a little fit.
An elephant, you say?
One the great Harada keeps at home?
Kadowaki.
So that's Yokote's Kadowaki, Harada?
Kaionji. How about the last Sunday of the month?
- Huh? - Our game.
You're going to request a game for us?
I was told we couldn't go through the school. But we'll still do it.
Harada.
I made sure to tell them.
That there's a first year who said he'd throw a perfect game against us.
They all want a shot at you.
That's why we're doing this. Our schools got nothing to do with this.
What do you mean?
Come Sunday...
...if it's just a bunch of kids getting together...
... to play baseball, we don't need any pesky permission.
Oh, I didn't think of that!
I've come here to get your okay.
So? You in?
Of course! I owe you, Kadowaki!
Hey, you'll be sorry if you keep talking like that.
Harada.
Yes.
I hope you're ready to take responsibility for your big talk.
I won't accept any weak pitching.
You'd better not let us down.
Of course.
So. Don't come crying to us if we crush your big future star.
Hey, don't get cocky.
And don't go crying to your mom when we beat you.
It'll affect your exams.
We'll play where we met yesterday.
You come to us.
In exchange, we'll arrange for the umps and everything.
Copy that.
Sorry to have interrupted your practice.
Hey, Kadowaki. How did you get all the way here?
I ran. It was just the right distance.
He ran all the way here from Yokote?
Yeah.
Coach. Could we start scrimmaging tomorrow to prepare for our game?
- You do that. I'll leave it to you. - Yes, sir.
The problem is our battery. What do you want to do?
Harada, Nagakura.
You're on the white team.
You'll get to face us regulars, and we won't go easy.
Yes, sir.
"Yokote Baseball Park"
Hey. You watching your girlfriend?
Yokoteni Junior High Nitta Higashi Junior High
- Shugo, is that him? - Yeah.
I see. That's quite the princess.
What?
I was wondering who this kid Kadowaki was raving over was...
...and he's just a skinny kid.
Everyone's a skinny kid compared to you.
What's that?
Go do some practice swings in front of the bench to scare that pitcher.
Is that really necessary?
Just do it.
He's leveling the mound.
That freshman doesn't seem to be fazed that he's pitching against Yokoteni.
So he's not even nervous?
That's some balls.
Let's crush him then, before it's too late.
I'm talking about your girlfriend.
He's pretty, but he's got a bad attitude.
- You really think we can crush him? - Easily.
Jouno. Hagi.
Study that pitcher hard.
He's going to be an issue for us before long.
Yes, sir.
Play ball!
Strike three! Change sides!
- Hagi. - Yes, sir?
The only batter we need to worry about on Nitta is Kaionji, number four.
They're mostly a defensive team.
Just stay loose.
Ball four.
Change sides.
Yokoteni 0 Nitta Higashi 0
It's your date with your beloved princess. Go have fun.
- Nagakura, good to see you again. - Yes, sir.
- That pitch is coming, right? - Of course.
Can you catch it?
I will.
Play.
Strike one!
Strike three! You're out!
Well, even you can get struck out by a lucky fluke once in a while.
That wasn't a fluke.
You guys need to get it together.
Hey, just let him throw it.
Give me the same pitch he threw to Kadowaki.
Or was that just a fluke?
He needs a new catcher though.
What?
Could you catch the ball if he throws it even faster?
- No, right? - What are you saying?
Look how troubled your princess is.
You're not giving him any signs, you're not in position.
The poor thing.
He's so lost, he doesn't know what to do.
Batter, no talking in the box.
I'm sorry, sir!
Play on.
Go.
That's getting through.
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