Manga Chapter 58

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

This chapter revolves around one day, day 24th. Sunday? (Month of July)

Abe is still resting at home eating lots of meat to recover as soon as possible. He gets frustrated when he heards that Musashino has advanced into the best 8. They used to be a weak team, so he knows they owe it to Haruna. And that makes him want to recover even faster!

Throughout the chapter we see details of what they do in a full day of training, from morning to evening. Including a nap after lunch, an hour of study, the little break in the afternoon and the stop at the convenience stop before going home.

Hamada joins them from 2 pm (and he mentions how Kaji and Ume are late, so they must come and help too). Tajima mocks Hanai because he makes an effort to treat Hamada politely. Apparently, Hamada doesn't have to work in the afternoons until the 29th, and Hanai thinks "The finals?" (maybe Hamada had planned his work hours in case the team made the finals). Hanai then thanks him again for the cheering, because they owe Tosei's victory to them as well. Then they talk about the team, Abe's condition, and their possibilities for newcomer's and fall tournament, and there Hamada comments on how hard it must be for Tajima to play both catcher and cleanup hitter. That leaves Hanai thinking.

Momokan tries everyone out for catcher. They seem to realize the difficulties of such a specialized position, particularly Hanai (who seems very serious about it). On his part, Tajima asks Mihashi who he thinks would be the best. Mihashi responds "Tajima." Tajima says that aside from him, and Mihashi can't respond. Tajima becomes very serious and tells Mihashi that Abe is not going to make it for newcomer's and probably won't make it for fall either. Mihashi looks kind of... blank. Tajima then tells him that it's not just about him playing baseball with Abe. Mihashi reflects on how it's not just Abe and him. He will throw. To Abe, to Tajima or to... somebody else... ::at a loss again:: Tajima then suggest they aim to be a seed in the fall tournament by winning newcomer's. That way, they won't have to face any strong rivals until a bit into the fall tournament, just in time perhaps for Abe's recovery. That REALLY fires Mihashi up. Tajima reminds him that in newcomer's there aren't any seeds, so they might face a strong rival right away. "So you'll have to work hard with ME!" Mihashi "Sure."

While Hamada jokes with a fake hit, Momokan approaches Hanai. He's the best suited to be another catcher. Hanai accepts. But he asks whether Tajima will still be the regular catcher while Abe is injured. Because it is too much pressure for him to be both catcher and cleanup hitter. That's why Hanai thought that he... could be the catcher, the regular. Besides, being the captain it might be also good to control the team and... Momokan replies that she had thought about it too, but her conclusion had been different. She had expected Hanai to ask for the position of cleanup hitter, not the catcher. Then Momokan tells Hanai: "Don't leave Tajima alone, please, captain." And then tells him when to change for catcher practice. Momokan confesses even she is surprised about the invincibility vibe that Tajima gives, and how Hanai finds it natural to put himself below Tajima, which can't be helped at this stage. But she would also like for them to realize that they are only 15-16 years old, that they don't know what will happen from now on, how they all will change. She goes on to think of team formations... Even with all the difficulties, compared to the past, this feels like a dream to her.

Sunny Day Sunday
They seem to be singing a popular song while jumping rope. (Do a search for Youtube video: Sunny Day Sunday by Sentimental Bus.) After practice they go to the convenience store. Mihashi eats in no time and is about to fall asleep (like everybody else). Tajima gives him some home-made dry squid to chew on the way home so that he doesn't fall asleep on his bike. And he then gives some to the rest. Mihashi lasts as far as the entrance of his house, no more. His parents comment on how it was like that around April, and how they worried about it. But Mihashi's face looks so relaxed...

Eating and sleeping well, they manage to move again the following day. Two days pass, and now it's time for the training camp.

Abe is back. He has gained weight (62.1kg) and is a bit taller. After the greetings with the mothers (looks like Abe, Izumi, Oki, Hanai) who are helping and contributing this time, Momokan asks Abe whether he's going to see the doctor today. Then she calls Mihashi. Mihashi is his usual scared self, and Momokan notices Abe's little patience with him. She realizes it's not that they get along bad, but... Momokan decides the two need to build their relationship. She instructs Mihashi to:

1. Go with Abe to the doctor and to help him push his bike on hard slopes and listen to what the doctor tells Abe.
2. The two of them have to take care of breakfast every morning for the team. The parents are taking care of lunch and dinner, but breakfast will be up to them.

Abe argues that he can take care of breakfast himself, since he won't be training that hard and will have plenty of energy left, but Momokan insists that it has to be THE TWO OF THEM.

Abe asks "Why?".

"I want THE TWO OF YOU to work together for a while."

Mihashi: "?? O-O-O..."
Abe:"...OK."

Last line: Hadn't this battery advanced one step forward!? However, Momokan's goal is higher than that!