It's a nice day today.
That reminds me, Sawaguchi was complaining.
He doesn't want to be a senior...
...or have to retire from the team.
What about you? You think about stuff like that?
There's no point thinking about the future.
I see. It's pretty normal to think about.
Didn't you say you wanted to go to the Koshien tournament?
A year ago, I did.
But I can't even think about that now.
I'm too tired.
Just thinking about being stuck with you in high school is all I can handle.
Go. Why did you come back?
Why did you think to be my catcher again?
Do you want to be friends with me or something?
What's the reason you put those mitts on?
Takumi...
The pitch you threw Mr. Kaionji...
...was that...?
Grandpa, this rice is funny.
Takumi, the rice cooker is broken. The rice isn't cooked.
Grandpa, did you not put enough water in?
Don't be stupid.
Then you pressed the wrong button.
You probably hit "warm" instead of "cook."
Would you mind not telling your mother about this?
-What is it? -Hush money.
I'll go buy some take out with it and do some shopping.
Seiha, make a shopping list.
Okay! We need bread and strawberries. I want some hot dogs too!
-Why are you staring at me? -I was just impressed.
You're sounding very capable.
Did you think I couldn't do anything but play baseball?
It was meant as a compliment.
It's not that you can't do anything...
...you've just never tried to do anything else.
I don't need anything else.
Takumi, don't be a person chosen by baseball.
Be a person who chooses baseball.
What does that mean?
Do you know what's out there in the world?
You have no idea what you can and can't do, do you?
Once you know that, and if you still want to play baseball...
...then you can say you chose it yourself.
Hey, should we get milk and ramen too?
It's okay, Grandpa. Takumi's not mad.
That right? I thought I might've crossed a line again.
-But that was really cool, Grandpa. -It was cool?
Yeah! You're the coolest when you're talking about baseball with Takumi.
Shun. There's something I want to ask you.
What is it?
Do you really think that I can't beat Harada?
Are you stupid? Your weakness is that naivety of yours.
It doesn't matter what I think.
You should learn from the princess. He only believes in himself.
But you're the only one who knows all my faults...
...and still believes in me.
I never believed in you.
I mean, who's gonna believe in someone who punched them in the face?
Shun, I heard you turned down the sports scholarship.
Where did you hear that from?
Was it my mom? I bet she went to complain to your mom.
You could get in anywhere you wanted.
So why did pick a school without a baseball team?
Because I don't want to play baseball in high school too.
Then what are you going to do? Soccer?
-Nothing. -Nothing?
You're going to spend three years doing nothing?
That's right. I'm planning on just hanging around and doing nothing.
That sounds pretty rough.
Maybe.
Do you really hate baseball that much?
No. I don't hate it. I still love it.
Does it hurt?
Of course it hurts!
I'd like to meet the guy who's fine after getting hit by a huge oaf like you.
Sorry about that.
Apologizing isn't going to help it hurt any less.
You violent types are such trouble.
You're the only person I've ever felt like hitting.
Shun, why?
You provoked me.
It was different than usual. You really pushed me.
You wanted me to hit you, didn't you?
But why...?
You got me.
Shugo. You're not as dumb as I thought you were.
Harada.
I didn't know you were so popular.
-The flowers. -Stupid.
These are from Nonomura, not a girl.
It's customary for the new captain to give flowers to the former one.
I didn't know that.
Everyone clapped for us.
You and Yoshisada were the only ones not there.
Yoshisada wasn't there either?
Apparently he fell asleep during the ceremony, so he was getting yelled at.
That's so like him, huh?
It sure is.
-Are you serious? -What?
About the upcoming game.
Are you thinking I wouldn't be throwing it seriously?
No.
Then why ask me that?
I just had a thought.
Harada, have you ever been serious about anything?
That made you angry, didn't it?
You thought that you would've punched me if I weren't your senpai.
I didn't. I'll listen to what you have to say.
-What do you think about Kadowaki? -Mr. Kadowaki?
Do you think he's a great batter or something?
Yes.
-Is that all? -What else is there?
Harada, you'll lose.
You mean he'll hit off of me?
I can't really express it well...
...but I think you and Nagakura could stand to be a little more afraid.
I mean, you can't win if you don't.
-Scared of Mr. Kadowaki? -That's right.
He's really serious about this.
You want me to fear him because he's serious?
Harada, be scared. Kadowaki is going to really come after you this game.
He's not thinking about winning or losing. He's only coming for you.
I can't be scared.
What good is a pitcher that's afraid of a batter?
Logically, yes.
I'm a pitcher. That's why I won't lose to anybody.
-Got rejected, huh? -Coach.
You got totally rejected there, Kaionji.
There was something I had to say to Harada, but I had trouble expressing it.
It wouldn't have helped anyway.
-No? -What did he say?
He said I'm a pitcher, so I won't lose to anybody. Honestly.
Is that something a normal 13-year-old says?
What should I do?
You already warned Harada. That's enough.
You don't need to do any more.
I honestly think it's amazing.
-What is? -You.
Me? Not Harada?
Don't bring him up. He's just a conceited little brat.
But he's a natural born pitcher...
Mr. Tomura. You have a phone call.
I leave Harada and Nagakura in your hands. Do what you want.
What's wrong? I'm leaving the whole battery to you. Does that not satisfy you?
No, it's....
You promised Kadowaki that Harada would pitch, didn't you?
So I'll leave the battery under your care until the game.
I won't butt in.
-Yes? -Hello, Mizugaki.
Oh, is that you, Kaionji?
I told him he was going to lose.
I told Harada that he was going to lose.
That he couldn't beat Kadowaki.
-That's something. -What do you think? Don't you agree?
What's the point of telling him that before the game?
I believe that whoever wants it more is the one who wins the baseball game.
There's no way Kadowaki doesn't want to win this more.
That's true. Kadowaki only has one goal.
He knows how to focus, that's for sure.
But I still think we can win.
I mean, I want to win. I'd rather win if we're doing this.
And I think we have a chance.
Well, good for you.
I'm thinking about changing Harada.
Maybe I can change the team so they're able to compete with Yokote. Right?
What? I don't understand half of what you're saying.
Well....
Coach entrusted the battery to me.
So I'm going to do what I can. We still have a week. That's enough time, right?
What are you going on about?
To be honest, I'm a little worried.
I wasn't sure if I had the ability to do this.
So I wondered what you might do.
-That's why I called. -Me?
Well, I feel better.
It feels good when you talk your issues out with others.
-Bye. -Hold on.
Is that really the only reason you called me? To feel better?
Just tell me what you want to say.
Are you just bragging that the coach entrusted you with them?
It's a warning.
I'd say it's my declaration of war against Shunji Mizugaki.
-Maybe that's old. There's no way we're losing.
I thought you'd say that. That's why I called.
You have Kadowaki, I have our battery. We each have our weapons.
You just got chills, didn't you? Let's do this.
We'll make this the best game ever.
Look....
Harada getting hit off of, or Kadowaki striking out.
Which would you rather see?
-Both. -Mizugaki.
Shut up.
Don't talk to me like you know me.
That's the Mizugaki I know. I'm looking forward to what you do. See you.
Gather up.
I want to be in our top condition for our game.
Officially, it's just an exhibition game.
But this is our game. One we made happen.
That's the type of game we can end things on. I'm really excited about it all.
But this is just the senior's point of view.
We're thankful for all of you underclassmen's help.
We should've done this earlier, but....
I don't think you gotta worry about it.
I'm just here because it sounds like more fun than regular practice.
How's it different from regular practice?
We get to choose our own drills, right?
I bet you like that you have less work to do, Coach.
-Idiot! -But practice is fun.
Mr. Kaionji, that's how we feel.
We're here to help and have fun.
Takumi.
You were pitching for the batters all day.
Why are you holding back?
You don't need to throw all out today? I can see it on your face.
-See what? -You're hungry.
-You haven't been yourself lately. -How so?
I've been waiting for you to tell me to catch for you because you want to throw.
So why haven't you?
It's not like you.
Harada.
We need you to pitch. Nonomura.
Get the underclassmen to defend.
Strike.
Strike, you're out.
-Nagakura. -Yes?
Could someone catch it other than you?
-Nonomura. -Yes.
-Why don't you field some balls for them. -Yes, sir.
Mr. Kaionji. What did you mean by that?
-I meant just that. -What?
I asked you if someone other than you could catch Harada's pitches.
No, I don't think so.
Even with practice?
-Not in time for our game against Yokote. -That's a composed answer, Nagakura.
Are you trying to make me panic?
Look, could you play catcher if Harada's not pitching to you?
Of course. I could catch for anyone.
You could catch for anyone?
Let me ask you again.
Could you still play with the same feeling with a different pitcher?
That's.... Well....
I didn't think so.
-No. -Sorry for being so hard on you.
-If that's all, I should.... -What about Harada?
Could Harada still pitch if you're not the catcher?
Captain.
I hope he can.
That's what a real pitcher is.
-That's just theory. -Nagakura.
You have to be more free, or you won't be able to continue baseball.
Let's go. Harada said he'd give you a ride on his bike.
-I heard you're giving me a ride. -No, I'm getting in back.
What? So I'm pedaling?
Go.
What were you talking about with Mr. Kaionji?
What did you stop for?
-Mr. Kadowaki sure is amazing. -Yeah, as I batter, I guess.
Not just as a batter. I mean, he's already on a national level.
But he's going out of his way to play a no name team.
-Isn't that amazing? -I don't know.
You really don't know?
Do you think it's a given that Mr. Kadowaki would be worried?
I don't think anything of it.
Could you pitch if I weren't your catcher?
-I could. -I see.
Everyone keeps asking me that, but it's got nothing to do with anything.
Nothing really does matter to you, does it?
-That's not it. -It is.
I don't care if you're not my catcher.
You can borrow my bike. Just ride it home.
Thanks.
If someone can catch my pitches as well as you can...
...then I've got no problem throwing to them.
I know.
So I'm not with you because you're a catcher.
If they're good enough, I don't care who my catcher is.
You don't care, huh?
-I think I've just realized something. -What?
You've never caught a ball thrown by Takumi Harada.
That's right.
You're the only person who can never catch your own ball.
-What kind of nonsense is that? -It's a pity.
You'll never know something vital.
I'm the only one who knows that feeling when you catch that ball.
I'm not giving that up. Not to anyone.
Go.
I want to try to climb a tree once our game is over.
-Tree? What tree? -The big one by Sawaguchi's.
Tree climbing is pretty hard, you know. Later.
The summer peak came and went
Thatâ€™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 â€œdestinyâ€
Itâ€™s the final fireworks of the year
I will remember them many years from now
Are you here? Youâ€™re probably not
Iâ€™m sure youâ€™re not
Will I be able to say it if I see you?
I close my eyes and dream