[Based translations by narwhaltortellini and Levi (leviosa8) on the LJ Oofuri community.]

SUMMARY:

Reading the paper slips, the team finds out that everyone wants to make it to Koushien, and Tajima and Mihashi want to be the overall victors at Koushien. Realizing his answer is out of the ordinary, Mihashi almost changes it, but stops when Tajima notices.

Sakaeguchi suggests that they make the goal to “at least” get to Koushien, and that should encompass what everyone wants. The team also talks about other options such as a target number of points or wins, though they decide this is not a good idea. As they talk, Hanai wishes he could take back his answer. He thought he was being bold writing such a goal down, but he wasn't as bold as he thought and now wishes he'd been bolder like Tajima and Mihashi.

Tajima interjects that they should simply make winning Koushien their goal. Mizutani thinks this unrealistic. Tajima thinks a goal is something you have to reach for, and you can't call it a goal if it seems too realistic. Suyama argues that an impossible goal can't really motivate you.

Oki asks Hanai the reason for choosing the goal. Oki concludes that it should be okay for each team member to have their own personal goal, because as long as each makes a goal that will push them to their limit, that will bring the team to its full potential.

Tajima again insists that they won't win Koushien like that, and the argument about realistic versus unrealistic goals resumes. Nishihiro makes no comment, but thinks to himself that he would like to back up Tajima, as he really wanted the goal to be to win Koushien too, but he couldn't bring himself to write it after the game they just had.

Tajima calls on Mihashi to explain his reasoning for writing his goal. The team notes that Mihashi did indeed write the same goal as Tajima, and they listen attentively. Unable to speak his own opinion, Nishihiro encourages Mihashi to speak. Mihashi notes to himself that when he thought, as Tajima told him to, about how far he would like to go with the team, he thought that he would like to keep winning and stay with them as long as possible, and that was why he wrote that goal. But Mihashi decides he must have misunderstood what a goal was, and instead of telling the team, he says he didn't actually think about it enough and that he is sorry.

Izumi then admits that he also didn't really think about it and simply wrote Koushien because it was a dream of his since childhood. He thinks that a real goal is something that takes more time to think of and they should wait till tomorrow to decide. Hanai and Momokan agree. Momokan then warns the team that if they choose a high goal, she will be making them a practice menu to match it. Tajima asks her what her goal is, and she basically says she would like to win Koushien, but that it does not matter, as they are the ones actually playing the game.

Momokan then mentions that practice will be ending early since she has a meeting with the parents' association. It's just past 6:00pm. As the game review commences, Tajima whispers to Mihashi that he is sorry if he was responsible for coercing Mihashi into writing down the goal he did. Mihashi is a bit surprised at the implication.

After practice, Mihashi looks at Abe's message. Hanai surprises him, and as Mihashi flails his phone around, Chiyo accidentally catches a glimpse. The message says, “There are a lot of things we need to talk about.” Chiyo apologizes for seeing the message, but suggests since practice ended early that Mihashi go visit Abe at his home so they can talk. Mihashi does not know where it is, but Chiyo does and offers to draw him a map.

The rest of the team takes glances at Abe's message and look slightly unnerved. They tell Mihashi visiting would be good, since Abe is probably most down of all of them about the events of the day. Mizutani admits he doesn't blame Mihashi for being scared by the message, though, as it seems rather vague and ill-humored. Sakaeguchi offers to come along to help show Mihashi the way since it is a bit difficult, and Tajima comes along as well.

At Abe's house, the three are greeted enthusiastically by Abe's little brother. Shun knows Tajima used to be in the Arakawa Sea Breams in middle school and is excited to meet him as he is on the Kawaguchi Eagles. Mihashi is a little confused, and Sakaeguchi reminds him that while he (Sakaeguchi) and Abe were in the Seniors, Tajima was in the Arakawa Sea Breams, which is a Boy's Team. You can tell the difference, he explains, because Seniors teams only name their teams by location. It seems that Shun is on a Boy's Team instead of in the Seniors league because the Abe parents did not think it good for an older and younger brother to be on a team together.

They find Abe sitting downstairs. Tajima asks how Abe will be for the newcomer's tournament, and Abe says he can make it. Tajima is initially relieved as the game was very hard for him, but then skeptical. Since this is Abe's second time hurting his knee, Tajima and Sakaeguchi think it should take longer to heal properly. Tajima knows it is best if the sprain heals properly without being strained again. Tajima explains that the game was hard for him because he wasn't mentally prepared for doing so much. He was unable to focus properly on hitting, but next time he will make sure to be prepared, so Abe can sit out for the newcomer's tournament and even the fall tournament if necessary, and have time to heal properly.

Shun comes and tells everyone they are ordering out for dinner. Sakaeguchi excuses himself since his little brother is waiting for him, and Tajima and Shun decide on what they want. To everyone's surprise, Abe orders three different meals. Abe explains nutrition is important when your body is healing.

Shun asks Tajima to show him his swing, and the two leave. Abe asks what Mihashi wants to eat, and he wavers between various things indecisively till Abe yells at him and he chooses. Abe calls in the order, and Mihashi watches the TV till the baseball news comes on. Abe finishes the call and throws Mihashi the evening newspaper, saying the scores are in that. As Mihashi looks at it, Abe turns off the tv and brings up his message.

Mihashi apologizes for not answering Abe's message, and says he wanted to talk, too. Abe asks him what about, but when Mihashi is unable to start talking, Abe says he will go first. Abe apologizes for breaking his promise to never get sick or hurt and to catch for every game Mihashi pitched. Mihashi tries to tell Abe that he shouldn't worry about it, as he only made a promise like that because Mihashi was being so pathetic. Abe admits that Mihashi's faith in him made him really happy, and insists that he needs to apologize. Abe then goes on to say that he was wrong to tell Mihashi never to shake his head.

Mihashi brings up that today he did shake his head, and that he actually discussed what to do in the game with Tajima. Mihashi tells Abe how good it felt to be trusted by Tajima as a battery and is amazed that he was actually relied upon, and Abe agrees that it is impressive. Mihashi says that all he's ever done is rely on Abe. He asks Abe to please start relying on him as well. Abe agreeds and exclaims that they shall work together to become stronger!

Mihashi agrees and smiles widely. Abe is in shock and notes that he has never seen Mihashi smile before. He wonders how he could ever have possibly compared Mihasih to Haruna, but then notes that maybe he was wrong about Haruna as well. Abe understands how an injury can inhibit a player later on.

Mihashi remembers to show Abe the notes from the meeting. Abe is surprised Mihashi wants to win Koushien and thinks that he, Tajima, and Momokan are being unrealistic. Still, he would prefer if training were to get tougher anyway, and says that he'll change his goal to match theirs, even if he doesn't really believe in it. Shun and Tajima come in with the food, and they all eat.

As Tajima and Mihasih leave, Abe and Shun follow them out to say goodbye. Abe says he'll be at training camp, so he will see Mihashi then. Mihashi smiles widely again as he says goodbye, and after they leave Shun asks who the other person with Tajima was. He says he had a really nice smile and that he liked him. Abe says something like you don't know how painful it is. Mihashi asks Tajima if he knows the way, and Tajima is all "No problem!"

As Tajima and Mihashi attempt to find their way home, Mihashi gets a message from Kanou saying they lost their game as well, and it was only 3 games more until Koshien, but that their team has decided to aim for victory at Koushien next summer. Tajima thinks it is great they will have rivals.

Mihashi tells Tajima that he did not write down the goal he did because he was coerced by Tajima, but because that was what he really wanted, and Tajima is very happy. Mihashi thinks to himself, however, that this is not enough, and that it must be the goal of the whole team, as it is not something they will be able to accomplish unless everyone aims for it.

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.