Manga Chapter 45

[Based on translation by narwhaltortellini]

SUMMARY:

Coming up to bat, Mizutani notes that the infield is in their usual positions, but that the outfielders are far forward. Mizutani realizes that he hasn't even once hit the ball very far. Momokan makes him watch the first pitch. He gets a high fastball like Izumi and Tajima. Momokan notes that usually in those cases, the next pitch was exactly the same and tells Mizutan to aim for that. Izumi yells at Mizutani to make the ball roll to the side, which reminds Mizutani of being tickled on his sides, causing him to be less tense and actually make a good hit.

Coming up to bat, Mihashi thinks on how when Momokan said that the other team was able to read "our battery's pitch calling", what that really means is Abe's pitch calling, as Mihashi isn't any help to Abe at all in that area, putting a lot of strain on Abe. Mihashi is told to bunt, and Abe tries to yell to him to watch out for his fingers. Mihashi mishears him and thinks that Abe is telling him it's impossible for him to make the bunt, but resolves that he can. Abe gets frustrated, and Izumi thinks to himself how irritating it is that Abe assumes Mihashi is an idiot who can't watch out for himself.

Takeshi changes his pitch choice to avoid hitting Mihashi who is hanging over the plate. Mihashi thinks to himself they have to gain back the lead so that Abe will not feel responsible for their current bad situation. Mihashi's bunted ball lands in front of the pitcher. As Mihashi runs to first and Mizutani to second, Takeshi calls for the ball to be thrown to second. Mizutani makes it in time so that both he and Mihashi are safe. In the stands, Roka is furious that Takeshi made a bad decision and let both Mihashi and Mizutani off safely. Kazuki tells Roka that he thought the former catcher Miyata had good decision making skills. On the field, Takeshi thinks to himself that his decision making does not match up to Miyata. He reminds himself that there is no need to panic, as he usually doesn't get a "sign" as long as there is at least a two point lead.

Coming up to bat, Izumi is told to bunt. Takeshi isn't expecting a bunt from Izumi with runners. Izumi notices that and figures they are hoping for a double play with their field positions, realizing the reason for the bunt and resolving to make it good. Izumi's sac bunt advances Mihashi and Mizutani to second and third. Mizutani thinks that Izumi is really skilled.

Takii notes that Nishiura used squeeze plays against Tosei and tells Takeshi to watch out for one. Momokan knows the other team must be watching for a squeeze and decides against using one. She figures they will try to get ahead in the count by throwing a strike first and tells Sakaeguchi to go for it. Sakaeguchi thinks he might get a shoot since he hasn't been given one before. A shoot is indeed pitched, and he hits it towards third where Mizutani is. To everyone's surprise, Nishihiro yells at Mizutani to go, but it turns out Nishihiro was right to do so, as Nishihiro had simply noticed sooner than everyone else that the ball was going to get past the infielders. Mizutani makes it home for the first point. In the stands, Hanai's sisters ask why they aren't singing the school song when they get a point, and Hanai's mom reminds them that they are all first years and don't know the song yet.

Suyama comes up to bat with one out and runners on first and second. As Bijou is focused on getting an out, they allow Suyama to bunt and advance the runners to second and third. Tajima then comes up to bat. Takeshi thinks about how irritating it is that Nishiura has gotten so far despite being all first years, and that Tajima is the only really special player on the team. He thinks that to beat Nishiura they need to get a hold on Tajima and mentally prays to the pitcher to do well on this one for his sake and the pitchers after him.

They pitch a fastball, and Tajima swings and misses since he has not yet seen the pitcher's fastball this game. Next they throw an offspeed pitch and Tajima watches it and gets a strike. The third pitch he swings at and fouls, noting it was a shoot. He notes that the only pitch they haven't given him is a slider, and waits for one expectantly. Tajima is surprised when he sees the pitch come, and doesn't swing, getting his third strike.

On their way back to the dugout, Takeshi praises the pitcher highly saying even a pro would have trouble hitting so perfectly the spot he set up. Takeshi is glad they were able to keep Nishiura to one point and looks up at Roka questioningly to make sure things are still ok. In the stands, Kazuki is curious about Takeshi's look.

Momokan asks Tajima what pitches he got. Tajima tells her he got a fastball, offspeed pitch, shoot, and slider. Momokan asks Tajima to confirm he was able to see the pitches well, and he says yes.

In the stands, Kazuki asks Roka why he made Kurata the catcher instead of Miyata. Roka says Kurata was better and Kazuki asks him to explain what he means by that. Roka doesn't answer, frustrated by his batters getting out. Kazuki notes it's the fourth in a row since the last inning. He asks what sort of plan Roka made from the info he and Riou gave, but Roka won't tell him. Kazuki tries asking what kind of personality the catcher he chose has, but Roka says he's just normal like everyone else on the team. Kazuki brings up how Kurata keeps looking up at Roka and semi-jokingly suggests perhaps Roka is giving signs from the stands. Roka gets angry at his silly accusations and tells him to leave as it doesn't concern him anymore since Tosei lost. Bijou's third batter gets out, and Kazuki excuses himself.

Abe wonders if he's getting a little too hasty, as after two innings of no hits Bijou might change their strategy. Abe asks Mihashi if he's ok since he's been throwing more than usual, and Mihashi says he wants to win so he is ok. Abe wonders if Mihashi particularly wants to win today, and asks if it is because that will put them in the best eight. Mihashi becomes unable to answer, and Abe figures that is a "yes." Abe tells him if he wants to win he needs to watch out for himself, like not looming over the base while bunting, as pitchers need to be particularly wary of anyone looking to play dirty.

Mihashi and Hanai's eyes meet and both turn away nervously. Hanai is embarrassed he turned away and makes himself turn back. He tells Mihashi he will score in this inning for sure. Mihashi thinks to himself that he really wants to win, and the tells Hanai that if Hanai can manage to score then they will be able to win, which makes Hanai feel very pressured. Tajima comes up to Hanai and tells him to pull the ball, saying that he should have the power to do it, making Hanai blush.