I want another shot in the spring.
You mean a game?
Yes.
We're doing it again. That okay?
I need to settle the score with you...
...or I won't be able to graduate junior high baseball.
I won't lose to anyone.
That's why we'll play.
But you better be in your best form.
I won't accept what happened last time again.
Okay.
Takumi!
Go's here!
Yo!
-Let's play, Takumi! -What?
We made a promise to Go and the others.
I can pitch, can't I?
What are you talking about?
Well, now. Is this the princess' little brother?
He's so cute!
Do you want to play with us?
Come on, join us!
Do you want to play too, mister?
Mister? Are you talking to me?
-He called you mister, Shugo! -Stop laughing, Shun!
Takumi....
You....
Go, catch for me, okay?
Seiha?
Remember? You promised!
You said you'd catch if I pitched!
Okay.
That mister over there said he'd play too.
Hold on there, Shorty.
Give me a break, will you?
I'm only two years older than your brother.
Seriously?
The princess' little brother doesn't disappoint!
I'll play first baseman.
Harada, why don't you go somewhere in the outfield?
Takumi, have you ever just played baseball for the fun of it before?
Don't think so.
Kurinosuke, you better be ready!
You've got a line drive coming your way!
Bring it!
Shun, don't take this so seriously.
Ready?
Good one, Harada's little brother!
All right!
That's an out.
We call that a fly, Mr. Mizugaki.
Oh, my God, why is this Kurinosuke so annoying?
What is Kaionji teaching these kids?
Stop fake crying. Jeez.
But he's not bad.
-You talking about Kurinosuke? -No, the little shorty.
He's throwing the ball nice and low.
Nagakura, you need to work on your form when you catch fly balls.
You have to look more graceful.
Yeah, yeah. Please teach me when we get back to practice.
What? Please teach you?
Are you playing catcher again?
All right.
I'm up.
You can do it, mister!
Seiha.
Be sure you grip the center of the ball.
You can do it, mister!
Shut up, Shun.
That wasn't me, that was Kurinosuke!
You're both the same. All right, listen up.
I'll show you how to hit a low and slow pitch.
Okay!
Get it, Takumi!
Out!
Yeah!
Too bad.
No way, I was safe.
Oh, Shugo.
Your sliding is so bad because you're so used to hitting homers.
I should've made it with that hit.
I can't believe they stopped me.
The princess is no joke.
Beating him is gonna be sweet.
-Nagakura. -Yes?
You'd better have Harada ready by spring.
Make sure you get him in his top condition.
Then I'm going to make him cry on that mound.
Remember that.
I don't think it's possible.
To defeat Takumi?
To make him cry on the mound.
I don't think anybody could do that.
Jeez, you're worse than Shugo.
Whatever.
Just be ready.
See! I threw it well, didn't I?
Yeah.
That was a good throw.
Takumi....
I....
Good morning.
It's snowing.
Came early this year.
Go has to be Harada's catcher.
I'm so glad.
You say the same thing every day. You've gotta stop.
Well, it's what I really think. You're with me, right, Higashi?
Sawa's right.
He had me worried for a second, but Go pulled through.
He knows exactly what he needs to do.
Now that Nitta Higashi's battery is back together, let's get cracking!
You know, Sawaguchi, Higashitani...
...you both should worry more about getting a starter's spot than our battery.
I'm so busy with all the practice I have to do as the starting third baseman.
Who's a starter now? Stop making things up.
Are you stupid? Everyone's saying it.
That the genius Yoshisada is the best man for third baseman.
Nobody says that!
I don't want to grow older.
You shouldn't be saying that until you hit 20.
But we'll be seniors next summer...
...which means we have to quit baseball and focus on studying for the exams.
I really don't want that. I wish I could play baseball forever.
Then do it. You can play in high school.
But we're having fun now.
You're way too inflexible.
Spread your legs more.
Takumi.
The captain wants you.
Let's go.
Yo. It feels like it's been a long time.
Mr. Kaionji!
You finished your exam?
Finally.
So, Nonomura.
Could I borrow these two for a second?
Of course.
I'll go lead our next drills then.
Gather up!
He's really settling in as captain.
He was a good choice.
Yes.
The last Sunday in March.
Keep it free.
-Mr. Kaionji, does that mean? -Yeah.
Our game with Yokote.
We might have graduated already...
...but we'll go with the same members as before.
That won't be a problem, will it?
We won't crumble like we did before.
Please tell them that.
You guys better not back down.
Sorry for interrupting your practice.
-Kaionji. -Yes.
You wanna get into the batter's box?
-What? -I mean, you've come all this way.
I figured you'd want to feel what it's like to hit the ball again.
But I haven't done any real practicing in a while.
I know you.
I'm sure you at least swung a bat every day.
Yes, sir.
I'll let you hit a real ball.
It'll wake you up.
-Are you ready? -Yes.
Nagakura, that's enough.
I'm ready now.
Mr. Kaionji, get ready.
He's not going off course on purpose, is he?
Then why isn't he getting it in the strike zone? Are you in the right position?
Takumi.
Thank you very much!
Nonomura, why don't we give all the starters a chance to hit off of Harada?
Yes, sir.
Right side!
Coach.
What was that?
You mean Harada or Nagakura?
Both of them.
The way Harada's pitches were veering....
I thought there was a chance.
Getting you into the batter's box....
Turns out he's pretty simple to understand.
What are you talking about?
How can someone who was so good at ball control...
...not be able to throw strikes now?
-Besides-- -Just when you think a strike is coming...
...it packed a real punch.
Nobody would be able to easily hit off that.
And Nagakura was acting strange too.
Wouldn't you normally walk to the mound if the pitches were so off course?
I actually talked to Nonomura about this.
I told him I'd get you in that batter's box if you turned up.
I wanted to see whether or not that battery could actually be used.
What do you mean?
You knew that Nagakura had a moment of doubt, didn't you?
But the day all the finals were over and the club activities started up...
...he took up the mitt and set himself up.
I mean at first, I was thinking it was about time.
But then now something with Harada was wrong.
You mean the veering?
I was honestly surprised too.
That Harada can't control his own pitches.
I mean, they're not all bad.
Sometimes he gets some good ones in.
And his pitches....
Are stronger than anything he's thrown before.
Yeah.
In other words, Harada and Nagakura aren't doing well as a battery.
Is that what it means?
I suppose it does.
What could be the cause?
I don't know.
That's why I got you in the batter's box.
So how are they?
What's different about them?
Tell me what you're thinking.
Coach, has this really been giving you trouble?
Of course.
Forget Nagakura, where else am I going to put Harada?
He's only got value on the mound.
It'd be a waste not to use him.
Harada.
Maybe he hasn't been able to get his pitches under control yet.
You're saying that his pitches suddenly got so strong...
...that even he can't get them under control yet?
I'm just guessing.
Kaionji, you're really something.
I just stood there in the batter's box.
They're the ones who are amazing.
He's the one who drew out Harada's potential.
Harada's able to throw all out because Nagakura is his catcher.
Kadowaki.
Yo, Kaionji, long time no see.
I keep telling you.
Stop hanging the towel around your neck. You look like an old man.
Who cares? What are you two doing together?
Kaionji kept pestering me about a date.
So we went and had lunch.
You could've called me too.
Instead, you texted me to meet you here immediately.
It's just something that might've been too much for you to handle.
What do you mean by that?
You really don't want to know.
You might get a heart attack from your jealousy.
Isn't there any better way you could bring this up with him?
I just said that I got to experience Harada's pitches from the batter's box again.
He said he can't throw strikes.
Who can't throw strikes?
Who do you think we're talking about right now?
Your princess, obviously.
What do you mean?
But I got chills.
They might not go as far as you, Kadowaki, but I get my fair share of hits.
I choked up on the bat and really tried to hit it.
You didn't even graze it?
It wasn't the kind of pitch I'm ever going to be able to hit.
But it just left me feeling frustrated.
Why couldn't I even hit it?
So you just wanted someone to complain to.
Shugo, go ahead and get mad at him.
He came here just to complain to us.
He thinks we'd understand his frustration.
Could he underestimate us any more?
That's not it. I honestly thought that Nagakura and Harada were both amazing.
They were throwing and catching like it was nothing.
It's hard for me to admit, but just for a moment...
...I felt this hatred for them.
That's the honest truth.
How old are you again?
You're 15, 16 and still with the self-loathing?
Grow up already.
You and Shugo are both idiots.
Stop trying to act so cool.
Hey, that's going too far.
If I don't, I can't get it through to you guys, right?
The princess keeps getting the best of you...
...because you're always posing as the cool athlete.
You both seem fake.
The princess is a wicked witch.
So go ahead and hate him.
How many times have you killed him in your dreams already?
I haven't killed him.
Then did you beat him up?
Or was it more of a naughty dream?
Shun!
I'm getting real tired of your mouth.
Oh, you're actually mad. Is it because I was right?
You really fell for him hard, huh?
Are you making fun of me?
It pisses me off watching you.
Hey, Shugo.
Just be honest.
You dreamed about it right?
Does he strike you out in your own dreams too?
Are you really that scared of the princess?
Screw you.
Stop it, Kadowaki!
Shugo, that's assault.
Yokote's Kadowaki assaulted and injured a teammate.
Wouldn't that jeopardize your scholarship?
Stop it! Why are you trying to provoke him?
What are you trying to say?
Nothing.
I just thought I'd show you that the thing you're desperately trying to protect...
...can all get taken away with one little fight.
Getting in to a prestigious school.
Doing well at the Koshien.
Is that all you're working your ass off in baseball for, idiot?
I never said that!
You didn't have to.
Losing to the princess scares you.
If you lose, you'll lose your confidence.
That's what you're scared of, isn't it?
Stop talking like you know anything.
The reason why you can't beat the princess...
...isn't because he's better.
The princess is still unknown.
There's no expectations or fanfare for him.
He's not carrying anything needless like that.
It's just baseball.
Just enjoy the game, play by play.
That's all there is to it.
Stop it, Kadowaki!
Trying to act cool like an idiot.
The reason you're struggling so much...
...is because you're playing the part of the almighty Kadowaki who's never lost.
Shugo.
Mizugaki! That's enough! Stop talking.
Kadowaki, you should leave.
Kneel.
If you don't want me to tell anybody that you hit me...
...you'll kneel on the ground and apologize.
-Mizugaki! -You know...
...I've always wanted to make you kneel in front of me.
This whole time, I've felt that.
I bet you never even noticed, did you?
Shugo, I'll tell you one last thing.
The reason why you've fallen so hard for the princess...
...is because you think he'll strip away all that needless crap you're carrying.
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