Battery

All right. Bring it, Takumi.

You don't need to bring the ball to me every time, stupid.

That was awesome.

It was like whoosh, bam.

And the ball's in my hand.

Stop being so overly dramatic.

I don't know how to put it.

I just get excited when I think it's coming.

-And then-- -All right, I get it.

But you can't come tell me after every pitch. Hurry up and get back there.

Okay, okay.

-Hey, let's call it a day. -Okay.

You're going to apply to the team tomorrow, right?

Yeah.

Takumi, are you planning on mastering the breaking ball?

My grandpa said something to me before.

He said not to even throw curve balls while I'm pitching with soft balls.

Yeah, fastballs are probably good enough.

It'll be plenty effective for junior-high baseball.

I wouldn't rely on breaking balls, but...

...I'm going to master them when my body's finished developing.

You plan on that too.

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

This is the flavor from his childhood he just described.

It's his mother's kinpira gobo.

Yes. this is it.

What?

I'm applying for the team.

Write your name down where it says "guardian" sometime today.

Wait, hold on. What's with your attitude?

Why are you always giving out orders to people?

I didn't give any orders.

So that's how you ask someone for a favor?

I didn't ask for a favor.

-I decided to join the baseball team. -I know that.

-I would never suggest it to you. -Makiko, just leave it alone.

Why are you so irritated when he's just applying for the team?

You stay out of it, Dad.

He's always like this.

What would you do if I said I was against you joining the baseball team?

It doesn't matter if you're against it.

Yes, of course. I thought you'd say that. But....

Who's the one who has to wash your muddy uniform?

Who has to make you a boxed lunch for your games?

I think it's not unreasonable for you to realize there are people supporting you.

I'm going to master them when my body's finished developing.

You plan on that too.

Maybe I'll just quit baseball.

So then I'd just watch him throw to some new batterymate?

Why did I have to meet a guy like Harada?

You there. Your hook.

Your collar isn't hooked.

-What's your name and class? -Let go of me.

Come with me.

Faculty Room

Takumi Harada? That's a good name.

You've got a good look in your eyes.

Do I? Thank you.

So, what do you have?

In your pocket. I'm asking what's inside it.

A Tokarev.

Answer seriously.

Nice Tokarev.

But you shouldn't bring anything that isn't school-related here.

But it is.

Show me your hand.

Take off your jacket.

You've got good musculature.

How much running do you do?

About 5 or 6 kilometers a day.

And you make sure to stretch.

But you can't throw a breaking ball yet. Is that about right, Harada?

That's about right.

-Who's training you? -Nobody.

You can't tell me you don't have any baseball experience.

I was on a Little League team.

But I did the running on my own.

That's quite an attitude you have for a freshman.

You could show some remorse.

Please, give me back my ball.

All non-scholastic items are confiscated for being against the rules.

Please, give it back. It does matter to me.

So you're applying to the team? You sure took your time.

So you're saying you can have the ball since you're joining the baseball team?

Yes.

Well, that kind of argument's not gonna work here.

Never take that out of your pocket.

And don't play catch in the hallways.

What's so funny?

Who would play catch in the hallways?

Hey, it happens sometimes.

Some idiots breaking windows throwing a ball around in the hallway.

I'm sure you could if you're just tossing the ball around.

But catch isn't a game.

It's not often you meet such an argumentative guy.

All right, get back to your classroom.

Thank you.

Takumi

Yo.

I heard you got pulled into the teachers' lounge.

So I came to check on you, and I see you just grinning.

-Grinning? Me? -Yup.

That's the famous Harada for you. Otomurai gave you a lecture, didn't he?

And you're still grinning. I guess I have nothing to worry about.

-Otomurai? -That's right.

That's Mr. Tomura's nickname.

He's the baseball coach.

That guy's strangely gloomy.

I wouldn't go that far.

But I wouldn't say the vice captain is very cheerful either.

Vice captain?

Not of the baseball team, I hope.

Yes, for the baseball team.

That's number three, Mr. Nobunishi. He plays catcher.

Seriously?

-Mr. Kusanagi. -Yes?

Could I take a look at the student questionnaire for your class?

Of course.

Here it is.

Harada Takumi

He's barely filled anything out about himself.

Hobbies, talents, best subjects....

He doesn't even have the most important part, his list of friends.

Coach Ioka?

Coach Ioka?

You mean Mr. Ioka that used to coach Nitta High's baseball team?

That's right.

Apparently that boy who was here is Mr. Ioka's grandson.

That's right, you played for Nitta High's baseball team, didn't you, Mr. Tomura?

Were you coached by Coach Ioka?

Yeah, but when I was a junior, Coach suddenly quit.

We weren't much of a team after.

-One, two. -Oh, yeah.

-One, two. -Oh, yeah.