Chapter 23

[Based on translation by pukiban aka narwhaltorte]

SUMMARY:

In the stands, Hanai Mama shows Izumi Mama that her son is on TV. The other mothers don't see why she is embarrassed, as they think her son looks cool, though his mother does not agree as she has seen what he is like at home. The mothers discuss setting their tape recorder timers at home. Izumi Mama was asked by her older son to record the game as he lives in another prefecture and can't watch it. Mihashi Mama is embarrassed when told that the pitcher is the player that gets recorded the most, at first because she is worried her son will get another nosebleed, but then also because he seems to be getting hit more today. Hamada reminds everyone not to be discouraged about the team being behind, as they have not even gotten a chance to score points yet. Mihashi Mama is heartened, and when Hamada asks the girls to cheer especially loud since Bijou is an all boys school, she does her best.

Standing in the batter's box, Izumi notes that though Bijou has three pitchers, the first, Takenouchi, is still the real ace. If they are able to tire him out enough to get him off the mound, then that puts the game more in Nishiura's favor. Izumi hits his first pitch, but it pops up and is caught. The catcher Takeshi notes that when batting right-handed, Izumi tends to hit just right of center, and that though he can make a ball go far if it rolls, if he hits it up, he can't make it through the outfield. Takeshi had signaled for the ball to be high to make sure Izumi could not hit the ball low.

In the dugout, Tajima asks Izumi if he was nervous, and Izumi says that he was not. Izumi thinks to himself that even relaxation will not increase his batting power, and knows that he must keep the ball down to do any good.

In the game, Takeshi notes that as Sakaeguchi, who is next up to bat, has up till now done nothing but bunts, so they have no data on him. Takeshi throws fastballs at Sakaeguchi. Sakaeguchi watches his first pitch, but notes that Tosei's pitcher was better, and on the second is able to make a clean hit towards center, making it to first base.

Suyama bunts to advance Sakaeguchi and is out. Takii thinks their choice odd as Tajima has only been able to get a runner home from second base once.

With two outs and a runner on second, Tajima comes up to bat. Takeshi notes that though Tajima may be a very good player, his hitting distance is still about the same as Izumi's and they will use the same strategy to get him out. Tajima notices the outfielders are coming forward, and remembers they did the same at Izumi's at-bat. Realizing that they may be doing this specifically for batters of their stature, Tajima realizes they are trying to make him hit an outfield fly. Knowing this will mean the pitch will be high, Tajima aims his hit higher and is able to make a good, low hit to right field.

As Sakaeguchi gets to third base, Nishihiro tells him to keep going and advance to home as the ball is still in the outfield. From home, Takeshi calls for the right fielder to throw the ball home. Sakaeguchi is out at home. Nishihiro is shocked the right fielder has such a good arm. Tajima notes that the right fielder is Miyata, the former catcher, so this is probably why. Noting that Nishiura was unable to score even one point, Tajima wonders if they should be worried.

Abe is getting some pointers from Momokan before he goes back out to defend. He wants to see how the bottom of their lineup reacts to the breaking balls, and to try out the curveball (which he has not yet used in this game) before having to face their better batters again. Momokan stops Abe and asks if he'd like her to give signs instead of him. Abe asks her to let him keep doing it.

Still remembering the cold of Abe's hands, Mihashi worries that something is wrong. He thinks if Abe can't do this, then neither can he. Hanai says encouraging things to Mihashi, and Mihashi resolves that he simply has to stop them from scoring and they will get points their next at bat. He's sure Abe must be fine, and so that means he (Mihashi) will be, too.

The right fielder Miyata is being congratulated by his teammates on getting the ball back home. Takeshi notes to himself that the reason he even told the right fielder to throw back home was that he know it was Miyata and that Miyata could do it. Takeshi feels bad that he cannot match up to Miyata, but tries to tell himself to have confidence. Another teammate comes up to Takeshi and quietly reminds him not to play in such a risky nearly-breaking-the-rules way, standing over the base as he did. He thinks the coach might replace him if he keeps playing this way, something apparently discussed in their third match.

Mihashi pitches a slider, but the batter doesn't swing. Abe then calls for the curve ball, on the inside where the batter does not tend to hit. Seeing the ball is on the inside, the batter hits it, though the Nishiura defense is able to get the ball back to first and for an out.

On the mound, Mihashi reminds himself what batters he is facing and where in the strike zone they like to hit, and actually seems to succeed in remembering, albeit unsurely. The current batter, Kurata, likes to hit on the inside.

Abe signs for a curveball on the outside. The batter hits it and gets on base. Abe is disturbed that two batters in a row have hit the curveball.

The ninth batter is the pitcher Takenouchi, who is not a very good hitter. He shows a bunt, and Abe decides to go with the fastball from the start, and signals to Mihashi. Mihashi begins to pitch, and the man on first steals second. Momokan is worried, as the runner was not very fast. Abe simply did not react fast enough. Abe knows this, and looking tired and rattled, he notes that choosing pitches is not his only job, and that he needs to watch out for Mihashi, too, as Mihashi is not considering anything else and simply doing as Abe signals.

Bijou's batter signals that he was thrown a fastball. Takii notes that they were thrown a fastball when the second batter bunted as well. Mihashi keeps throwing fastballs, and when the batter attempts to bunt, it pops up and he is out.

With a runner on second, two outs, and Bijou is back at the top of their lineup. Abe is nervous and tries to calm himself. Abe notes that at his first at-bat this batter went for a ball that was on the outside rather than the inside where he usually likes it, but figures this was simply because the batter was waiting for a shoot. So, Abe asks for a curveball to the outside. The batter gets a good hit, and Bijou scores their 4th point.

Catcher Takeshi, the runner who just made it home, looks up to Roka and notes that he has still not been given a “signal.” He thinks that as long as they have a good point spread, he can still keep playing “baseball.”

The second batter is up, and Abe knows he has already used the fastball on him, but he cannot think of anything else to do. They throw three fastballs. The batter watches the first two even though they are both strikes, then swings at the last and misses, for the third out.

Mihashi notices that the last pitch on the outside was the only one the last batter swung at. Knowing he usually doesn't try to deal with this sort of thing, Mihashi still goes to check the data sheet to see if he is what he remembers is true. Looking, he confirms that the batters are hitting the pitches on the opposite side from the one they usually prefer. Mihashi wonders if this is a coincidence but worries it is not, as then Abe's pitch calling will not be effective, and they will have no use for a pitcher who's attraction is his ability to follow Abe's directions. Still, Mihashi is also worried that things will continue as they have been and that this information might be more useful the sooner he says it.

Abe and Momokan are having a discussion and are interrupted by Mihashi in complete tears. Mihashi tries to talk to Abe, but Abe is furious that Mihashi is crying for no reason, and says he cannot understand what he is saying. Tajima translates Mihashi's stuttered words that the batters are hitting on opposite sides. Abe goes over the hitting patterns again in this light, and confirms Mihashi's statement. He then gets angry at Mihashi again for crying, as the news Mihashi has given them is not something to cry about. He tells Mihashi that because of him, they may now actually be able to do something.