Manga Chapter 49

[based translation by narwhaltortellini]

In the dugout as Tajima suits up, Momokan tells him to try to memorize the current game data for the third and fourth batters. The umpire tells them to hurry up. As Tajima heads out to the field, Momokan tells him she will give him signs as to whether the pitch should be a strike or ball, but since he is closer to the batter she will let him decide what kind of pitch to give besides that.

On the field, Mihashi explains to the team that Abe sprained his knee but is all right. Tajima comes onto the field and double checks the pitch signs with Mihashi. He asks for Mihashi's hand, and finds that rather than Mihashi, he is the nervous one. He notes it is too bad he has only ever had practice matches with Hanai and Oki, and never Mihashi. He admits he's not very confident as a catcher, and says he will not be able to manage like Abe, but that he will do his best. Mihashi tells Tajima that he should rely on Mihashi, then. Tajima stares at him for a moment, but then enthusiastically says that he will. As the team readies to play, Mihashi notes that even Tajima can feel nervous. He thinks to himself that if Abe isn't there, then the whole team needs to try even harder.

With one out and runners still on first and third, Bijou's third batter, Yano, comes up to bat. Momokan signals for a ball. Tajima notes Yano had an at bat with a runner on third in the fifth inning, at which he hit a sac fly on the first pitch, so the caution makes sense. He has Mihashi pitch a low fastball on the outside, but as he does so, the man on first base begins to run and steals second. Takii notes Tajima handled catching and throwing the low pitch well, but says that though Tajima is talented, reflexes aren't all there is to being a catcher.

Mihashi pitches another ball, which the batter watches go by just as he did with the first pitch. Momokan asks for a strike. Takii wonders if the two balls were intentional or if Mihashi is falling apart a bit. Tajima predicts Bijou is wondering just that, and figures they plan to wait on the next pitch as well. He has Mihashi pitch a strike high on the inside to see if the batter will react, which he again does not.

Tajima takes a moment to admire Mihashi's control, which he is surprised to find is just as accurate in game as out in the bullpen. He notes the ball still has no power, however, and that Abe's lead is all that's keeping Mihashi afloat.

Yano gets orders to swing if it's a strike as Tajima gets orders to throw a strike. Tajima can't read Yano's body language but figures if it were him he'd swing at the next pitch. He asks for a low “fast” ball in the strike zone. Mihashi throws, but gets a ball, angering Momokan. With the count at 1-3, they naturally get orders for another strike. Tajima asks for another low “fast” ball, which again ends up a ball. The batter walks, loading the bases just before the cleanup Wada comes up to bat.

In the dugout, Abe is horrified about the walk. Momokan tells him if he keeps making those faces she is going to have to send him to the hospital. The medic reassures them that if he rests well, he should be fine in three weeks. Remembering his promise to Mihashi to not get hurt, Abe thinks three weeks is too long. He vows to eat and sleep voraciously and heal in two. As the med leaves, the Nishiura mothers ask Abe's mom how her son is.

As Wada comes up to bad, Mihashi consoles himself that the full speed pitch just doesn't make it in sometimes, and that is to be expected. He remembers a bit troubledly that Abe made allowances in his lead for that, but then drives the thoughts out of his mind and reminds himself that Tajima is his catcher now. He resolves that if Tajima asks for a full speed pitch, then he should be able to make it a strike.

Tajima asks for another “fast” ball, which this time Mihashi manages to keep a strike. Wada watches it go by. Momokan asks for another strike. Wada notes they've been using a lot of fastballs since the seventh inning and he should have no problem hitting it now. Mihashi pitches again and Wada swings and misses, making another strike. Wada notes Mihashi has two speeds for his fastballs, which along with his breaking balls and accuracy does indeed make things hard. On the other hand, it can also be difficult for a catcher to make proper use of, and he figures as a backup Tajima likely isn't very adept at it.

Mihashi pitches another “fast” ball, which Wada fouls. Tajima notes the swing had little power and seemed more a test to make contact. Mihashi pitches a ball next, which Wada does not swing at. He pitches a curve ball next, also a ball. In the stands, Hamada worries all the balls mean that Mihashi may be falling apart. Momokan asks for a strike, and Tajma signals for a full speed pitch. The pitch ends up a ball, which Wada does not swing at. Tajima tells Mihashi it was a nice pitch, and Mihashi notes that even when he pitches badly Tajima still praises him.

Takii decides Mihashi may not be falling apart and that they just seem to be fishing around with a lot of balls. Wada figures with the count at 2-3 they've got to throw a strike, so it will be a fastball. Even a fly will make a point, but Wada wants a home run. Mihashi notes that when he is on the mound, the team calls out to him and cheers him on. He thinks to himself that's how baseball normally is, and that he should work to be someone the team can depend on, as aces normally are, even if Abe is not there.

Mihashi pitches. Wada swings, but the pitch is a shoot, contrary to his expectations. He hits, but the ball flies toward Sakaeguchi who stops it with his chest. The ball is thrown to first, making Bijou another out, however the third runner makes it home, bringing Bijou to seven points.

Tajima notes that even if a point was scored, they still did well considering the situation. To Tajima's surprise, Mihashi calls out to Sakaeguchi and Oki that they did well. Mihashi notes that even without Abe they were able to make an out. Tajima comes up to Mihashi to ask him what pitches have been tried and hit on the fifth batter, and Mihashi tells him, thrilled that he is able to help.

As he returns to the dugout, Wada is asked by a teammate to watch Momokan's signs. He is told that she looks to be giving the lead for the pitches.

Bijou's fifth batter, Miyata, comes up to bat. Tajima remembers from what Mihashi has told him that Miyata has only ever hit balls on the inside. Tajima has Mihashi throw a low slider, which Miyata does not swing at, making a strike. They next throw a fastball low on the inside that is a ball, which Miyata does not swing at. Tajima notes two of the pitches Miyata hit were high on the inside, and that maybe he is not watching for whether the ball is inside or out. He calls for a pitch high on the inside, and seeing that the ball is high, Miyata swings. But the pitch is a slider and drops more than Miyata expects. The ball is picked up and Miyata is out on first base, making the third out. As Bijou regroups, Wada asks Miyata to tell him what pitches he was given so he can compare it to some notes he's making.

Momokan tells the team all they need to do is make three more points in the next three innings. Tajima says the job is making his brain tired, and Momokan scolds him, saying that if he'd worked his mind harder in the practice games he wouldn't be having such a hard time now. She has him and Mihashi report the pitches for the inning.

The rest of the team crowds around Abe, wondering how he is. Mizutani asks why Abe's leg is up, and Izumi is surprised Mizutani doesn't know about RICE. Abe tells the team not to worry about him and that they should just go out and make sure to hit the ball “for [Abe's] sake.” The team stares for a moment, then bursts out laughing (which it seems was Abe's intention.) Oki feels he shouldn't be laughing, but Abe reassures him that it was not his fault. Abe tells Tajima and Mihashi to come over and study the game data with him so that he can explain it, since just memorizing will do them no good.