Battery

-I'm going out for a run. -Okay.

What is it?

Brother, I'm coming with you.

What are you talking about? I'm going to run to the shrine.

Yes, I want to run with you too.

Stop screwing around.

-Go home. -No.

Seiha, I'm not playing around.

That's why I want to run too.

You started baseball in the fourth grade.

I can do it too.

Don't try to compare the two of us.

-Go home and be good. -No!

Fine, do what you want.

You're on your own.

Does it hurt?

See? Baseball just isn't possible for you.

-Really? -Yes.

-Seiha? -Look, there's Mom.

You made her worried.

I can do this!

Seiha?

I think Seiha's fine.

I've heard it so many times

It's not going to work out

That nothing will change

Even if I pretended not to listen

I knew it all, I learnt this from you

That it's not a failure, even if it is

When I thrust my feelings upon the drifting clouds

The quiet melodies push my back

Because the sky is so vast and free

I decided I wouldn't cry no more

Takumi.

What are you doing out so late?

I'm just doing a little running.

Running? Like jogging?

Yes, that's right.

I guess that's pretty obvious.

Go was so excited, saying how amazing Harada is.

This is the first time he's been this excited.

Thanks.

Takumi, I have a favor to ask you.

Could you ask him to quit baseball?

Ask Nagakura?

We agreed he would stop playing baseball when he started junior high.

I thought Go understood that.

But he said he's continuing with baseball.

He's even talking about quitting cram school. I don't know what to do.

So I thought maybe you could convince him.

Why don't you just talk to him? It's got nothing to do with me.

But it does.

The reason why Go wants to suddenly continue baseball

is because of you, Takumi.

He was really happy about being battery-mates with you.

He said it would be crazy not to play baseball when he could play with you.

I have to run to the shrine and back.

Please, talk to Go.

Tell him he's not talented enough to play baseball.

But he is talented.

Nagakura is good enough to be in a battery with me.

Please, don't say that. This is important to me.

I've let him play baseball because

I wanted to give him an outlet for his studying.

But I can't do that now. So please, Takumi...

Lady, baseball isn't something you're allowed to do,

it's something you just do.

-Nagakura? -Can you come down?

Come down for what?

Let's play catch!

I got up a little early today.

I thought about doing some running, and just happened to pass this way.

Do you always carry a mitt when you run?

Ready to get serious?

I can't go all-out right now.

-It's too dark for you to catch. -Okay.

You can go 80 percent.

Seventy percent.

Thank you for your concern.

That means it's almost daybreak. All right, last one.

-Okay. -But this one has to be 100 percent.

Don't blame me if you get hurt because you can't catch it.

Freaking incredible.

I didn't hold back.

How many of these can you throw in a game?

As many as I need.

Well, is that a fact?

All right, well, see you tomorrow. I mean, today.

Grandpa.

Why are you up so early?

When you get old, you wake up with the sun.

You should try to get back to sleep again.

I know.

You're really something.

You can throw the exact pitch you want whenever you feel like.

It's not something you can do with just hard work.

You've been given a real gift.

But baseball won't always go the way you want.

Sometimes, you've got talented individuals

who somehow can't win as a team.

That's just what baseball is.

Losing the game means that you lose too.

I don't really get what you're trying to say.

Weren't you complimenting me?

Well, there's a lot I don't know myself.

When I try to put it into words, it gets all confusing.

Sorry about that.

Takumi, this is your new uniform.

I really don't want to wear such a lame uniform.

-Are you going to be okay? -What do you mean?

Junior high seems tough.

I'm worried if you'll be able to survive with that attitude of yours.

You're actually worried about me? What's happened?

That's what I'm talking about.

And Seiha too.

He went to sleep holding the baseball like it was his treasure.

Is he serious about playing baseball?

-It has nothing to do with me-- -Yes, it does.

Takumi, talk to him.

Tell him to give up baseball.

He's always looked up to you.

Setsuko called too.

She asked you to talk to Go?

She wanted you to get him to give up baseball?

She sounded devastated when she told me you said no.

I don't know about Seiha,

but I know I could never get Nagakura to give up baseball.

It weighs on me too.

Setsuko wants Go to quit baseball because she's thinking about his future.

Won't you consider it too?

You could make it to the Koshien or Jingu with any catcher, can't you?

It has to be Nagakura.

Aren't you being a little overdramatic?

You're not even 13.

How can you be so certain already?

-You're being stupid. -What?

You and Nagakura's mom don't get anything.

Takumi, I'm a little sick of your attitude.

I'm going to the shrine. I promised Nagakura I'd meet him.

Seiha, you don't have to go at it so hard. Try throwing it slow.

That's it.

Kids with eyes like that get good.

-Brother. -Yo, Harada, you came.

Go and I were playing catch with my ball.

I got the ball to reach him.

Yeah, Seiha's got a pretty good arm too.

He might overtake you one day.

Nagakura, you should watch what you say.

What? Why are you so mad?

I'm not mad.

Seiha, go home.