Manga Chapter 56

 

Based on summary by Levi (leviosa8) on the LJ Oofuri community.

1. The team's goal. The contents of the notes are revealed. Sakaeguchi wrote the longest one! Nishihiro wrote something that meant "among the best 8 in Koshien." "To win Koshien" was something only Tajima and Mihashi wrote. There is some division among the players as to what the goal should be, given that they are going to aim for it "realistically" so Momokan tells them to think about it until tomorrow. When asked what she wants, she says that she wants to win everything, but it's they who play. She will adjust the training schedule to their goal.

2. There is a parents' meeting today, so they can leave early. It's just past 6:00pm. Chiyo reads Abe's message on Mihashi's phone by accident and takes the chance to suggest Mihashi that he should go today to talk to him. There is a very amusing scene in which others read the message and express their opinion, but they all encourage Mihashi to go. Chiyo knows the way to Abe's house because before moving she lived nearby (they went to the same Jr. High). She gives directions but they sound complicated, so Sakaeguchi offers to guide him. Tajima goes along as well.

3. Abe lives in a house (seems pretty nice and spacious). There's an upstairs, but Abe is resting downstairs with his leg propped up. His younger brother Shun turns out to be an avid Tajima fan. Abe played in the Senior League (organized outside of school, using regulation hard baseballs), while his brother played on the middle school team. That's how Abe knew of Tajima. Abe's parents think it is not good for siblings to play on the same team, so this may thwart the hopes of both Abe and Shun playing together in Nishiura in the future.

4. Talking about Abe's injury, Tajima expresses his frustration about not being able to bat as well as he could because he was too stressed about being catcher. It was too sudden for him to play that game as a catcher, and that prevented him from concentrating as he should have. Then, all things considered, the Newcomer''s tournament is too soon, what if Abe's injury gets worse? No, he vows to do his best from now on as a catcher so that Abe can recover FULLY from his injury and return for the fall tournament.

5. Sakaeguchi has to leave to take care of his younger brother, who is home alone, but the rest stay for dinner (they order a lot of food, Abe because he wants to recover soon, and Tajima encourages him because he wants him restored asap!). Waiting for the food to arrive, Tajima goes out with Shun at his request to teach him how they bat in the Arawakas (Tajima's middle school team), and Mihashi stays with Abe.

6. Abe apologizes for everything: for failing to fulfill his promise of not getting sick or injured, and for telling Mihashi not to shake his head at the start. He was wrong, and he is sorry. Mihashi, in turn, apologizes for having been so weak and for having depended so much on Abe, and tells Abe how good it felt to be trusted by Tajima as a battery. So he asks Abe to please depend more on him. Abe agreeds and exclaims that they shall work together to become stronger! Here's where Mihashi smiles for the first time in front of Abe, and Abe is in shock. Then Mihashi shows him the team's goal's provisional list and explains. Abe says that Momokan, Tajima and Mihashi are "crazy" in the good sense, because they truly aim for Koshien. He wants to be on their side too, and is looking forward to a spartan training menu. Also, Abe reflects on what being injured means and that maybe he was a bit wrong about Haruna as well. It is frustrating not to be able to play, and to fear that an injury will worsen, or return.

7. They eat dinner happily and when Mihashi and Tajima leave, Shun comments on Mihashi's smile, and that he likes him. Abe says something like you haven't known pains(?). Mihashi asks Tajima if he knows the way, and Tajima is all "No problem!" Then Mihashi gets a mail from Kano, telling him that Mihoshi has lost. And it was only 3 games more until Koshien! Tajima says that he should be happy, since Kano is his rival. Mihashi says that he didn't write "to win Koshien" following Tajima, but because his goal is really winning Koshien. (Earlier, when the team asked him, he could only blabber an "I don't know" while thinking that he just wanted to win with this team, but couldn't say it. Nishihiro too wanted to go to their side, but because he did that last awful play, he didn't dare, but he also wants total VICTORY!) Tajima looks at Mihashi and they both go: "RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!?)

8. On the last page you see what every member of the team is doing that evening, while Mihashi thinks how unless it becomes everybody's goal, they will never reach it. Mizutani watching TV; Suyama doing dishes; Hanai running; Oki in bed looking at his glove; Izumi practicing batting; Sakaeguchi seems to be thinking; Nishihiro taking bath with his little sister.