Big Windup! (おおきく振りかぶって)

Nice one.

Hurry up and finish them off!

This guy's a pushover!

Mihashi.

Are you interested in basketball?

Won't you play volleyball with us?

The soccer club's manager is cute.

Want to plant new roots in the gardening club?

I heard that Mihashi's not entering the high-school division.

Seriously? Great!

I'm going to continue playing baseball even after I get into high school.

We can finally sever ties with that lame pitcher.

He said before that he'd still play.

Even if he does try out, I doubt he'd make the pitching squad.

He can't become a starter anywhere else but here.

I know that.

Even if I join the high-school baseball team,

there's no way they'll let me pitch.

If I can't be a pitcher,

then even if I do join the baseball team, it's hopeless.

So, I'll just watch.

Just watch.

Just watch.

Um...

I-I'm not... ah... um...

I found another one!

Your name?

Mi-Mihashi.

Position?

P-Pitcher.

P-Pitcher.

My, we've got ourselves a pitcher.

We only have first-years.

The baseball team became official this year.

I'm a graduate from the softball generation,

Momoe Maria, the manager.

I'm not a teacher, you know.

And...

...over here is our senior instructor, Shiga-sensei, and my dog, who's in the middle of a walk.

So, now that our pitcher has entered the ranks,

let's decide on the other positions.

After the pitcher, Mihashi-kun, is the catcher.

That's Abe-kun, right?

Yes.

And then second baseman, Sakaeguchi-kun.

Yes.

The two of them have been coming to practice since the middle of spring break.

Since you're both from the senior division, I'll have you teach them the ropes.

Nice to meet you.

I'm Sakaeguchi.

Then, other potential players are...

Yes! Yes! I'm Tajima!

I bat third or clean-up.

Tajima?

Third and clean-up?

A-Amazing.

I was the clean-up hitter too,

but I'm not going to join the baseball team.

Um... Hanai-kun, right?

Why?

Because the manager is a woman.

It's impossible for the manager to be a woman, right?

Plus, I don't particularly care if I play baseball or not.

What's this?

I'll do it too!

Here we go! Catch!

Straight up?

So high.

Nice catch!

To think that she can hit a fly ball so cleanly...

It's the first time I've ever seen something like that.

The coach in middle school sucked.

Actually, for that kind of fly ball, none of the opponents' coaches...

Even if I did it, it wouldn't rise straight up like that.

Huh?

That's right! There's juice.

Since it's here, why don't you drink some?

Eh, drink it?

Wait a bit. Now...

Here! Drink up.

He took it. He's drinking.

Does everyone want some?

Ah, no! That's fine! We'll take it as it is.

H-High-school managers are...

...Scary.

Mihashi-kun.

Why don't you...

...try throwing a bit?

C-Come to think of it,

I'm the only pitcher.

Even here, I can pitch.

I can... be the pitcher.

I can... be the pitcher.

I... am...

I... am...

...going to quit.

Idiot.

You got carried away and ended up saying you were a pitcher.

I want to pitch,

but even if I pitch, I'll only embarrass myself.

They'll definitely never acknowledge... someone like me.

Did I say something worth crying over?

No.

T-That's not it.

Even if I do pitch, there's no point.

Why?

Because... my pitches... are slow.

Because... my pitches... are slow.

Because... my pitches... are slow.

I don't think my expectations are that off the mark, but...

...were you a substitute?

What, you were a starter?

For what middle school?

Mi...

Mihoshi.

Mihoshi?

Don't know it.

Do you?

I don't know.

Could it be Gunma's Mihoshi Academy?

So, you're from Gunma, right?

Abroad? So you're a foreign player?

So cool!

Dummy.

There's no way he could be studying baseball overseas.

But why are you in Saitama?

You transfer or something?

It's one thing for a private school, but this is a prefectural school.

Shut up!

You were the ace, weren't you?

The best on the team, right?

Drop the false modesty, will ya?

Y-You're wrong.

Y-You're wrong.

I'm not wrong!

W-When I went there,

W-When I went there,

I-I became... the ace because of a favor.

I-I became... the ace because of a favor.

I-I became... the ace because of a favor.

A favor?

How nice, being the ace.

Even if it's because of a favor, I'll take being the ace anytime!

What do you mean?

B-Because... it's... my grandpa's... school.

B-Because... it's... my grandpa's... school.

B-Because... it's... my grandpa's... school.

B-Because... it's... my grandpa's... school.

They let you be the ace just because you're the owner's grandson?

What a horrible school.

It's not... the manager's fault.

It's not... the manager's fault.

Even though I should have stepped down... and quit myself...

Even though I should have stepped down... and quit myself...

...e-even though I knew it would be no good if I didn't,

I... didn't give up the mound... for three years.

I... didn't give up the mound... for three years.

I... didn't give up the mound... for three years.

Because of me... no one could enjoy baseball.

Because of me... no one could enjoy baseball.

Because of me, we lost.

Because of me... everyone ended up hating baseball.

Because of me... everyone ended up hating baseball.

You're seriously annoying.

Not wanting to give up the mound...

That's protocol for pitchers.

Pro... tocol?

Pro... tocol?

It's true that you're an unpleasant guy.

But, as a pitcher, I like you.

Like?

I'm sorry.

I'll try throwing the ball.

But, I'll disappoint you, so...

...I'll apologize beforehand.

All pitchers have quirks, but...

...this guy is pretty weird.

During spring break, we worked on the ground maintenance.

See, we haven't gotten to the outfield.

Here it comes!

While thinking about what kind of pitcher would come along,

I piled dirt for the mound.

How's the mound that I made?

It's good.

It's been a while since you threw, right?

Don't push too hard...

I've been throwing.

You've been practicing on your own?

That's great.

Oops. Am I pressuring him?

He's really hard to handle.

I-I can't throw the pitches that you seem to expect.

It's okay. It's okay.

Try throwing however you like.

He says that his pitches are slow.

That he's this hard to handle...

If I show them one pitch,

they'll know that I'm a no-good pitcher.

When I decided to leave Mihoshi, I was prepared, wasn't I?

I'll just throw it quickly...