We're officially in the club, huh?
Still, I'm perfectly content just playing catch like this though.
Yeah. I guess so.
"Staff Room"
Sign-up forms?
"Sign-up Form" Sign-up forms?
"Sign-up Form" I'll keep these until an advisor is chosen.
"Sign-up Form" Thank you.
I'm sure you know, but the club was on hiatus after last year's scandal.
Yeah. But isn't the club active again?
What about the older students?
Oh, well, most of them quit.
However...
Hmm?
"Pitch 2: Let's Play Baseball Together"
I handed in the sign-up forms!
Ooh!
Now we're officially in the baseball club!
Yup!
Sure are!
Hmm? You're wearing uniforms!
How cool! Is that yours from middle school?
That's right!
I love it! This look...! This texture...!
Cut it out, Yoshino!
But, it's so cute!
Hey, Ibuki! We've gotta buy some too!
I-I guess.
Aww... Why isn't anyone coming?
Like who?
Upperclassmen.
Oh, well, most of them quit.
However...
Hmm?
There's two 2nd-years who registered, so the club wouldn't get disbanded.
I see...
I thought they might come yell at us for using the field after the ceremony.
The baseball club wasn't recruiting that day either, right?
Maybe they don't wanna play anymore.
I'm not so sure about that.
Yomi! Throw as hard as you can once you've warmed up!
Okay!
I think I'm good now!
All right! Come on!
Whoa!
Pretty impressive.
Nice pitch!
Yomi?
Excuse me! Are you upperclassmen?
We've been waiting for you!
You're wrong.
We can't help you.
Sorry.
Something wrong?
No...
They weren't upperclassmen?
Ms. Fujii?
Yup. She's our new advisor.
It's official now? That's great!
Yup! And she said she'll swing by for a visit after she's all caught up!
It's starting to feel like a real club!
It's all coming together, yeah?
Huh? Someone's there...
You're right. And they're in uniforms...
Are they upperclassmen?
--Huh? --Hmm?
Hello! Are you upperclassmen?
Nah!
Hello. We're both 1st years.
I thought for sure...
So, what middle schools did you go to?
We both went to Minami Sagami.
Yeah? We're practically neighbors! We went to Kouyou Daisakura!
Wow, that's close!
Minami Sagami... They played in prefecturals!
They've gotta be pretty good!
What position?! What's your name?!
Wh-Wha...?
Sumire Fujita. I played second base.
Ryo Kawasaki. Shortstop.
We've got a rover?!
That's promising!
Yeah, it is!
Eep!
Eek!
Mm-mmm! Now that's what I call some nice thighs!
So much muscle!
Huh?
What?
Hey, Yoshino!
Oh? You're twins?
Yup!
First one's I've seen!
Since Yoshino is manager, we've got five players now?
Don't forget the upperclassmen who stayed to keep the club alive.
And it's not too late for more 1st years to join, so we might keep growing!
That's true.
Hey!
Someone hit some fungoes!
Hey, Ryo! Quit stomping all over the infield!
Aww. And someone went through the trouble of raking it...
Didn't the club scandal have something to do with violence?
--If the upperclassmen see us, we might get paddled on the butt!
--Hey! Hurry up! --If the upperclassmen see us, we might get paddled on the butt!
Eek!
If the club got in trouble already, I doubt they'd do something like that.
I hope not.
But instead, they'll make us do 100 push-ups and squats.
Eek!
Hurry up! Hurry up!
Fine, whatever.
Sumire's risking it too?
We're all in trouble at this point anyways.
In that case, I'll hit a couple!
Jeez, Yoshino too?
You know how to hit fungoes?
Just a bit from playing around.
Yeah?
Bring it on!
Here it comes!
D-Dang it! Throw gentler next time!
Wow. That was good.
Right? Wish you were me?
Huh? Are you kidding? I'm talking about her hitting.
Wha...?!
Next one's coming to Sumire!
Gotcha!
You can tell they play.
Sure can! Their movements are good!
Your fielding is so graceful and boring!
But I'm the one who got the out.
Mmm?
You don't have to dive to stop the ball.
You just wanna stand out. So sad.
Say what?!
--Those two were teammates, right? --What? The truth hurts, doesn't it?
For starters, the error was all her fault!
Yeah, I can't catch. Sue me.
She's just an amateur. Don't expect her to catch a fastball.
I'm just an amateur! Sue me!
Learn how to play as part of a team.
And hold back all my talent? You can't spell "team" without "me"!
We might be better without you.
--It looks like six new students joined the club. --Say what?!
Just like I thought! Those two are pretty good!
Here goes!
Mine!
Wha...?!
That was coming right at me!
It was easier for a shortstop to throw it to first.
In that case, catch it normally?
What's wrong with playing flashy?!
Hey, Tama?
Do those two not get along?
I wouldn't say that.
Look, you skinned your knee doing all those silly plays!
Relax, this is nothing!
Enough. Come on, I'll patch you up.
Aww, jeez! I'm fine!
See?
Uh-huh.
It is you two, isn't it?
You're the upperclassmen that signed up, so the club wouldn't disband.
Also, you've been taking care of the field.
You're wrong.
All of us officially joined the baseball club.
It's a pleasure to be on the team!
I'm telling you, you're wrong!
We're not like you guys.
We didn't join the club just to screw around.
Say what?!
Calm down.
Rei, you've said too much.
Sorry. I'm a 2nd year, Risa Fujiwara. This is Rei Okada.
Rei Okada!
The center fielder from Ogishima Girls' that excels at everything!
There's nothing she can't do!
The baseball club here used to be really strong.
They even went to nationals once!
Yeah. But they accomplished nothing in recent years.
Harsh training and pecking order became the name of the game.
And eventually, it got out of hand.
We were banned from scrimmages, disciplined, and put on hiatus.
After that, everyone quit or transferred, leaving just the two of us in the club.
There's no reason to stay anymore.
We've been playing in other leagues since we couldn't play here.
Otherwise, we couldn't compete in college. And we don't intend to stop.
You guys can put together a team of new students.
Risa, let's go.
Right.
Wait!
Wanna see if you can hit my pitch?
Huh?
Wanna see if you can hit my pitch?
Huh?
Just think of it as passing on the torch.
Oh, but we're not gonna go easy on you. Right, Tama?
Huh? S-Sure...
All right. If that's all it is.
Our first matchup is against a team regular, huh?
I think you'll do just fine with that pitch of Yomi's.
Sorry to keep you.
All right! Go take the outfield!
Okay!
Risa too, please.
Sure!
Huh?
Why did I get center field?
If I land a hit in the outfield, I win.
Anything else and it counts as your win.
That's so generous of you!
I've faced lots of good batters, and this person's no different.
Let's keep her in check and give Yomi some confidence.
Strike!
No reaction to the fastball.
Not even the slightest reaction.
It's like she's saying, "Don't bore me with a fastball."
Pitch "that."
Yeah!
Strike two!
Yes!
Whoa, awesome!
Who knew she could throw that?!
That's no ordinary curveball.
Still, I saw the path it takes.
Next time, I'll hit it!
So close!
B-Ball!
Not gonna swing, huh?
No, I just couldn't reach it.
Some umps would call that a strike.
I'm thinking too much about that pitch.
Rei!
What?
How about we say the loser has to do whatever the winner wants?
Huh?
Oh my. She's making a bet out of it since she's ahead!
That's cheap...
Make her take back what she said about us screwing around!
And make her apologize!
Fine.
Woohoo!
You better not be a sore loser!
Okay!
Jeez... Why is she enjoying this so much?
In middle school, she never had a catcher who could stop that pitch.
She's so happy to pitch now, she just can't help it.
I see.
Looks like some 1st years joined.
Yeah.
Now we can quit without regrets.
The thing is...
Hmm?
Doesn't it look like they're having fun?
It feels like forever since I've seen people enjoying baseball.
So happy, she can't help it, huh?
They didn't just save the club.
It's been half a year since anyone played,
yet the field and equipment are in perfect shape.
They're the ones who did it.
The truth is, you still wanna play baseball!
Of course, I wanna play. And yet, why did I say they were screwing around?
You know those two are still in the club?
Didn't it get in trouble for violence? Scary!
Every day of practice was brutal.
And everyone teased us for staying in the club.
So seeing them have so much fun must've made me envious.
This is the chance I've been waiting for.
I'll win...
...because I wanna play!
For real!
Huh?! Wh-Why did it have to come my way?!
Nice hustle!
You impressed me!
All I did was fall over.
Aww! She totally hit it.
Yomi...
She sure is amazing.
Though, defense is where Rei truly shines.
So basically, that hit just now...
If it was me, I would've caught it.
It's a fly ball to center. It's your win.
Huh?
That's a nice pitch.
I'm sorry for saying you guys were screwing around earlier.
It's fine.
Anyways, if you're saying that we won,
will you keep your promise and do what I say?
Huh?
She's not gonna tell me to get lost, is she?
What is it?
Yeah, um...
Will you play baseball together with us?!
I've always been here waiting for you guys to show up.
Ever since the day we played after the entrance ceremony.
So, please!
If possible, I want you to be captain!
Rei?
Right.
Sure! Okay!
Just so you know, I won't go easy on you!
Woohoo!
That's more like it!
The Shin Koshigaya Baseball Club is officially back in business!
Yeah!
By the way, Tama...
What?
She hit my pitch.
Uh, yeah...
This means my special pitch isn't actually special at all!
Uh! Th-That's not true! It was a fly ball to center!
Who else wants to hit?!
Me!
Me! Me!
Me too!
Wha...?!
Strike three!
Yeah!
See? Just like I said! Rei's just amazing.
You know how you practiced after the entrance ceremony?
Yeah?
Rei was watching the whole time! She couldn't wait to meet you!
Can you keep your mouth shut?
Which means you saw Yomi's pitch...
I might've scouted you a bit.
It wasn't your first time seeing it! Thank goodness!
See? Just like I said! Your pitch is legit!
Throw it again!
--I'll hit it next time!
--Um... --I'll hit it next time!
I take it this is the baseball club?
Yeah.
Could you be... our advisor?
Ms. Fujii.
I knew it!
We've got an advisor now!
Hello, everyone! I'm glad to see you're practicing all on your own!
That really impressed me!
Thank goodness! She seems kind!
Starting today, I'll be lending you a hand.
Let's work together and do our best!
Yeah!
"Next Episode: Take Me With You"