Manga Chapter 48

[based translation by narwhaltortellini]

As Abe goes up to bat, Mizutani readies himself by accepting a tickle from Izumi and Tajima. Abe notes that Bijou's second pitcher should be easier to get hits off than the third and thinks that they need to hit the ball now and score some points.

Abe gets a strike watching his first pitch, noting it's coming pretty fast. He is then pitched a ball which he lets by. The next pitch he swings at, later reminding himself he can't let himself swing at balls. The next pitch is a ball he lets by, making the count 2-2. He lets the next ball go by as well, disconcerted that he isn't getting to swing. (Meanwhile, Takeshi is glad that Takumi did not hesitate to throw the slider he asked for.) Abe is pitched another ball, and walks to first.

Takumi is frustrated with himself, and Takeshi goes to talk to him. He tells Takumi it's ok his pitching is a little rough around the edges and that it works fine, and Takumi pouts, saying not to call his pitching rough. Nonetheless, both look in somewhat better spirits.

Mizutani comes up to bat. Momokan is worried about their prospects with Mizutani and Mihashi being next to bat. Still, considering Mizutani's batting this game, she tells him to go for a hit again (thinking that if his improvement is because of the tickling, they should do it to all batters). Mizutani hopes to hear “nice batting” once again.

The first pitch is a strike, which Mizutani does not swing at. Mizutani is extremely unnerved by the speed, noting that it can't be more than the machine they practice off of, but is still afraid since pitches from real people are scarier. For the second pitch Mizutani fails to swing again. He tells himself if he does not swing he cannot make a hit, and resolves to “turn on nice batting Mizutani.” He swings at the next pitch (which looks to be a ball), misses and makes the first out.

Mihashi notes the pitches are faster than the last inning. Mizutani tells him with their swing speed he'll need to start swinging the second Takumi pitches in order to hit it. He also reminds him not to let it hit him, since it could break bones. Mihashi thanks him, confusing Mizutani as he sees no reason why he should have. Mihashi thinks to himself Mizutani was nice to worry about him, and that he must do it because Mihashi is of use to the team. He resolves not to get hurt since the team needs him.

Momokan tell Mihashi to bunt. Takeshi hopes Mihashi will avoid the ball if it accidentally comes too close to him. The first pitch is a ball. Momokan thinks Mihashi's stance will make it hard to make the bunt. The next pitch is a strike, but Momokan continues to tell him to bunt, knowing there is no other option. Mihashi makes his bunt, but it is quickly picked up by Bijou and tossed to second base and then to first, making a double play and finishing out the inning.

Oki thinks Mihashi must need some cheering up, and goes to talk to him. To his surprise, Mihashi seems to be fine. In the dugout, Abe yells at him to not leave before drinking some water. Abe thinks to himself that when Bijou's second pitcher is in good condition, scoring off him looks extremely unlikely. Mihashi thinks to himself that he is not upset about doing badly with the bunt because he knows he will be able to get outs off of Bijou, too, with the help of the team and Abe.

In the Bijou dugout, Takumi is happy after getting an out in three. His teammate Yanojun warns him he's getting close to throwing dead balls. Takumi argues with him good naturedly about how Yanojun is too critical of his teammates.

Takeshi remembers Yanojun warning him he'll talk to the coach about his rough playing if he does it again. Takeshi figures the coach must already suspect him and if Yanojun talks he'll get kicked out. Yet if he doesn't listen to Roka he won't be a regular anymore. He figures if he's not going to get to play either way, he may as well not cheat. He guiltily remembers the two other players from opposing teams who he hurt before. He thinks to himself that he will quit baseball, and that his parents will be very sad with all the time and money they put into it for him. Coming up to bat, he hopes he can at least do well this game for the sake of his team.

At the top of the seventh inning, Takeshi, Bijou's eighth batter, comes up to bat. Abe notes that the first batter will probably come up again this inning and has hit a lot off them today. As for Takeshi, Abe notes he hit a curve ball on his first at bat and then popped up a fastball on his second. He has Mihashi pitch a curve ball, which Takeshi almost swings at. Abe tells the umpire that Takeshi swung, but the umpire says there was no swing. Mihashi shakes his head, but Takeshi isn't thrown off, as he figures Abe is still in charge and will still follow certain patterns and not pitch to the inside where he likes it. He hits the next pitch, guessing it will be a slider. He hits to the middle of left field, making it to second base.

Takenouchi comes up to bat next and showing a bunt. The ball pops up and fouls on the first two pitches. On the third, Mihashi pitches a ball which Takenouchi swings at and misses, making one out with Takeshi still on second.

Bijou's first batter comes up to bat. The batter has hit three times already today, so Abe decides to use all fastballs. The batter figures they'll be trying extra hard since they can't hit Takumi's pitches, and predicts Abe's decision, waiting for the fastballs. He lets the first strike by without moving, worrying Abe. Abe wonders if he should throw in a breaking ball, but decides to stay on with the fastballs since no one has ever made one roll. It's the seventh inning, and he figures there's no reason to hold back with the fastball now. As Mihashi pitches again, the batter changes his stance to a bunt. He makes the bunt well, getting Takeshi to third and himself to first.

Abe comes up to Mihashi and tells him to watch out for a squeeze play. He then grabs Mihashi menacingly and tells him if he hesitates to throw back home again he'll kill him. Abe runs back home, and Mihashi tells himself not to hesitate and that Abe won't get hurt. Abe thinks to himself that if there is a squeeze play, he will use his whole body to cover the base and stop the runner.

Abe chooses a far ball for the first pitch, which the batter does not go for. From looking at the batter's stance, Momokan figures a squeeze won't come on the second pitch, either. Abe choses the fast fastball high on the inside. It is a strike, but the man on first is able to steal second while Mihashi is pitching. The count is 1-1, and Takii thinks to himself that the next pitch is when they'll act. Mihashi pitches a far ball, but Takeshi starts running. The batter, however, still manages to hit the ball.

Abe yells at Oki to toss the ball to him. Takeshi notes Abe is in his way as he runs to home. Oki gets the ball and throws to Abe, but his toss is a bit wild, making Abe reach for it as Takeshi slides home. Abe accidentally steps on Takeshi, and the two collide and fall to the ground. The umpire calls that Takeshi is safe. Mihashi picks up the ball and looks to third and first, but the runners are already safe. He then looks to home, shocked to see Abe still on the ground holding his knee.

Tajima runs to Abe and calls for a time out. Abe says he is all right and tries to stand, but collapses immediately. He is asked if he can stand, but he insists he is fine. Looking disturbed, Oki apologizes for his strange throw, but Abe yells, insisting once again that he is fine. Tajima sends Oki off to play catch with the team despite Abe's insistence that there isn't any need. Tajima asks the umpire if they can have time to treat Abe. He gets Mihashi to help carry him to the dugout.

Yanojun comes up to Takeshi. Takeshi immediately tells him it wasn't his fault. Yanojun assures him he knows since he was watching from close by. He is worried that Takeshi is hurt after being stepped on, as Abe's spikes have torn up his arm. He tells Takeshi to go get treated.

The announcers take a look at a replay of Abe and Takeshi's collision. They note that the hit actually wasn't very bad, but that Abe's landing was strange and may have caused a problem. In the stands the parents watch, with Abe's dad explaining that catchers often have to deal with contact, and that he should be fine.

In the dugout, the medic says that Abe looks to have sprained his knee, and with the amount of damage and swelling guesses that this is the second time he has done so. Abe insist that his leg doesn't hurt. Momokan asks Abe if he can stand, and determinedly he does. Momokan observes out loud that Abe is only putting his weight on his uninjured leg. Like the medic, she figures this must be his second time spraining the knee if he cannot even use the leg now. She says moving now will only make it worse, and that he will not be able to squat through the pain, anyway.

Abe pauses for a moment, but then says he can do it. Momokan assures him he cannot, and calls to Tajima to put on the catcher gear. Mizutani will move to third base, and Nishihiro will go into the game as the left fielder. Momokan tells Mihashi to hurry out and start throwing the ball with the team. Chiyo and Shiga start on treatment of Abe's knee.

Mihashi does not move, looking shocked. Momokan yells at him again to get on the field, but as she turns around she sees that Mihashi cannot move because Abe is gripping his wrist. The others in the dugout turn to watch them, but Abe only clenches his teeth and says nothing, his eyes downcast. Eventually, Mihashi looks down at the quivering in Abe's hurt leg as he continues to stand. He tells Abe to sit so his leg can be treated. Abe obeys, and Momokan tells Mihashi they will take care of the treatment, but Abe still does not let go. After a pause, Mihashi tells him he will go make the two next outs. Abe very slowly lets go of his arm. His face inexpressive, Mihashi leaves the dugout thinking to himself that even if Abe is not there, he will make outs.