It must be true that stupid attracts stupid.
Well, I think it's time to go hunting for elite, preppy boys.
It feels so great to make idiots like them cry.
Get 'em!
Knock it flying!
Thanks for the food!
I'll see you later.
I'm one of the last to finish again.
Asada!
Once you're eating, let's play some catch!
That'll warm us up for afternoon practice.
Y-Yes, sir. I'll be there.
Okay, I'll wait right here!
Huh? But that makes it harder to eat...
What's going on?
Is Sawamura roping a first-year into practicing with him?
The first-year rooming with us hasn't been feeling well,
so he's trying to cheer him up.
Cheer him up?
Instead of "I can't," say "I can't yet!"
Just say that when you feel ready to quit!
That's what I've always done and will continue to do!
They said that on TV yesterday.
The only enemy is inside yourself!
You need to crawl up from here!
Knock it off.
Your idiotic shouting has made me lose my appetite.
I feel sick.
Huh?
Even though he eats slowly, he finishes everything.
We don't need any cheap encouragement.
We're fighting in our own way.
Could you please leave? I'm tired of looking at you, Senpai.
T-Tired of looking at me?
Leave?
Wh-Wh-What's your problem?!
You're a first-year, right? Yeah, a first-year!
Tell me your class, name, and your roll number!
Koshu Okumura. I play catcher.
Don't you remember being in the bullpen with me?
Are you only interested in first-years if they have a spot on the bench?
I-I remember seeing you.
And it doesn't matter what class I'm in.
What a cocky first-year!
See you later, Asada.
Y-Yes, sir.
Kanemaru!
Kanemaru, are you here?!
Shut up!
Listen and tell me what you think!
It's all your fault!
I didn't say anything yet!
Damn, I don't want to hear it.
A first-year was just mouthing off to me in the cafeteria!
Calm down!
I'm done!
I finished in three bites, Senpai!
Let's go!
Go where?!
To play catch...
That was scary, but I think I did the right thing.
I've never seen anyone talk like that to a senior.
Oh, right. Catch.
Meiji Jingu Secondary Stadium
A screwball!
It could have gone anywhere if he'd hit it.
It's the top of the eighth, with two outs and runners on first and third.
A solid hit could tie the game!
Umemiya-senpai!
Get us a hit!
Let's finish this, Taiyo-san!
Ume-nii!
Yeah, no one hates giving up as much as me.
Don't back down! Bring it on!
I'm not backing down!
If we trip up now, we won't stand a chance at nationals!
Foul!
He threw an inside pitch to Umemiya!
That's way too risky!
He did it on purpose! Now he's got two strikes!
Will he throw his screwball next?
Another inside pitch!
He was going for the third strike!
He's feeling really gutsy!
This is...
the tenacity of the guy who takes the mound for Teito.
He doesn't show any openings.
His pitching technique is well-polished.
I know that look.
The eyes of someone who puts everything into their pitches to win.
Let me crush your resolve and pride.
Instead of letting my opponent intimidate me with their bark,
I'll gladly take the bite.
Remember! What was all that training for?
Bring it. Come on.
What was all that practice for?
I don't like the look in your eyes.
Come on, bring it!
Do you think you can beat me?!
Yeah!
Parking Meter
He really said that?
I wish I'd have been there.
It's no laughing matter, Captain!
I heard he's rooming with you!
And he's a catcher, too!
I seem to recall you insulting Azuma-senpai.
What goes around comes around.
History repeats itself.
He's gonna play pro ball with a body like that?
Impossible!
Look at his belly!
He looks like an old man!
Sawamura, stop!
I bet he's at least forty years old!
There's no way he's in high school!
Wh-Who in the world...
is making fun of my cute belly?
This is nothing like that!
I was trying to pump up my roommate Asada!
Insulting?
This is fun!
No, it's not!
Well, everyone has some things that get them mad.
You probably got on his nerves somehow without realizing it.
I think I did, too.
Well, don't be so impatient.
If you do as he says, you'll definitely be able to improve.
No way!
I don't want to pair up with someone so unmotivated!
Why is he still on the team?
If he doesn't like to practice, he should just quit.
What you said just now...
I can't let it slide.
What is it?
Maybe I did say something like that...
in this same room!
I know it was a folly of youth,
but I'm so ashamed of my first-year self!
I want to get in a time machine and set him straight!
What did you do?
Shut up! You have a dark past, too!
I'll tell you about it later.
That's not necessary!
Sawamura.
You can worry about first-years if you want, but you need to get ready yourself.
Our game tomorrow is against Kasuga First, a powerhouse school from the east division.
I'll deal with Okumura.
Don't make any more trouble while we're in the tournament.
Thanks to a fine play by the second baseman, they couldn't catch up.
The eighth inning ended up deciding the game.
Teito defeated Ugumori 3–0.
Mukai's doing well this tournament.
He must've trained hard in the off season.
The game only took an hour and a half.
Then, for the second game,
we wanted to see how Kokaidai Sugata would fare against
Inashiro with their new former pro ball coach.
Carlos led off with a home run and Yamaoka brought in two more runs,
effectively crushing their ace, Yamada.
Unable to recover, they gave up seven runs in the first inning.
Sugata tried to counterattack,
but they could only score two runs against Hirano.
When the game was called in the seventh inning, the score was 11–2.
Inashiro has advanced to the semifinals while letting their ace, Narumiya, rest.
Carlos is hitting well.
So Teito will play Inashiro in the semifinals.
It's another battle between pitchers.
Kasuga First High's ace, whom we face tomorrow,
was the relief pitcher last fall,
but has performed well as the ace this tournament.
His slider is impressive,
but I think his new killer forkball is what has helped him up his game.
From relief to the ace...
It's worth noting that they have several fast left-handed hitters.
The defense will need to watch for infield hits, hit-and-runs, and bunts.
Be ready for a variety of offensive plays.
Pitchers and catchers, report to the coaches' office.
We'll review tomorrow's rotation.
Yes, sir!
Yes, boss!
As for tomorrow's starting lineup...
April 20th
Meiji Jingu Secondary Stadium
Tokyo High School Baseball Tournament Third Base Side First Base Side Game 1 10:00 Start Time Kasuga First – Seido Game 2 12:30 Start Time Niougakusha Ootsuki – Ichidai Third
Tokyo Spring Tournament Quarterfinals Seido – Kasuga First (West Tokyo) (East Tokyo)
It's the quarterfinals of the Tokyo spring tournament.
Seido versus Kasuga First.
Kasuga
Seido
Top of the second inning
There are two outs with a runner on first base.
They didn't start Furuya.
It's their lefty, Sawamura.
Kasuga was probably expecting Furuya and was caught off-guard.
Furuya had a poor start last game. Maybe he's not in good form.
Maybe he burned out at Koshien Stadium.
But they have that sidewinder, Kawakami,
so they have no lack of pitchers.
I can hardly believe they were hurting for pitchers last year!
I'm going to start Sawamura for tomorrow's game.
They have a lot of left-handed batters and they swing hard.
Sawamura is the best choice.
Furuya will still pitch in the second half.
Be sure you're ready.
Will I start in left field?
No, you'll stay on the bench.
I want you to focus on pitching.
He's rested up from the Invitational,
but his pitching has seemed strained since coming back from Koshien Stadium.
He does fine in the bullpen.
If we win tomorrow, the semifinals and finals will be back-to-back.
Our goal is to win a national title.
I expect you to win not only the Kanto tournament,
but every game we play.
Forget about your jersey number and your order in the rotation.
Show me what you can accomplish as a team!
Yes, sir!
My shoulder feels relaxed, and the sensation in my fingers is fine.
What's more, he let me start in a game he expects us to win.
I want to live up to the boss's expectations.
You're pitching well, Sawamura.
You think so, too?
You've got a solid rhythm.
Want to mix in some numbers?
Just a few.
He got the first three batters out.
Sawamura-senpai is looking good.
It's a shame he's the relief pitcher.
Telling one of the main pitchers to leave was a bad idea.
I just hope it doesn't blow up when the other players hear about it.
If only I'd been there.
His pitching is so free, as always.
I wish we had been able to play catch.
It's the bottom of the second inning.
There is one out and no runners on base.
Isn't this guy a first-year?
Batting seventh, left fielder...
Wearing #19, in his first at-bat after making the starting lineup...
He struck out with a swing that awed the stands.
Next.
Kasuga
Seido
It's the quarterfinals of the Tokyo spring tournament.
Seido is up against Kasuga First!
It's a great game between powerhouses from the east and west!
It's a quiet start to the game, with both pitchers settled in from the get-go.
Yeah!
Kasuga First is looking to get their momentum going
against Seido High School's southpaw Eijun Sawamura.
Which team will seize control of the game?
Two outs! Two outs!
Once more!
Was that a two-seamer?
Maybe a slider? I couldn't tell.
Was that a changeup?
But it sank, right?
Can that pitcher throw a forkball?
What was that?
I don't know how it broke like that.
An inside pitch for strike three!
That's three outs!
Those pitches were quite effective.
Throwing them in a real game...
Nothing surprises me anymore.
Weren't those awesome?
Not too bad.
After getting on base from a walk, Kuramochi manages to steal!
Train, train, running along!
Batting second, center fielder, Tojo-kun.
This is no time to think about getting to play pitcher again.
There's no guarantee I can keep the position I have!
A comebacker!
The second-base runner advances to third!
The throw to first is too late!
I want that first run!
Batting third, second baseman, Kominato-kun.
We got this batter out last time,
but he knew how to hit the slider.
Their cleanup bats next,
so it would be best to avoid a squeeze play and strike him out.
They'll run on a ground ball, infielders!
Swing through, Takuya!
Throwing a forkball with a runner on third...
The Kasuga First High battery is making their move.
I think his new killer forkball is what has helped him up his game.
The pitch that made him the ace.
Essentially, their battery's lifeline.
Hiding behind the slider, their real ultimate pitch.
Here comes another forkball.
It goes to left field!
Nice one, Haruichi!
Seido High School is the first to step on home plate!
That was a nice hit.
It's tough facing a batter like that right before the cleanup.
There are still no outs, and runners are on first and second!
Up to bat is Seido's power hitter!
"Debut"
"Debut."
Pick a pitch!
Okay, how will the dice roll today?
That's not all. I can do more.
That day, I was more...
They aren't going to let things end like this, either!
Here, take a drink!
Whose side are you on?
What will decide this game?
Are you a prophet?
Yep!
And he looks so smug!
Rumble
On the next episode of Ace of the Diamond Act II:
"Where You Look."
Next Time
"Where You Look"
Let's win the national title!
Color illustration / Yuji Terajima