Chapters 140-149

Chapter 140

At Kotesashi’s dugout, everyone is congratulating Kiyomine on mastering the splitter, “complaining” that his performance has left them with no opportunity to field. Meanwhile, Yamada and Chihaya are concerned about Kaname’s condition, wondering if he’s overexerting his mind. Kaname reassures them that for some reason, he’s feeling better with each passing moment. He continues to comment that this is all thanks to Haru-chan, who is making the pitch calling really fun.

On the side, General Kaname notes that his voice can no longer reach Kaname – he’s unsure if it’s due to Kaname’s intense focus or his growth has finally surpassed the General. He concludes that it seems the “General Kaname Kei” may no longer be needed … and that he is happy about it.

At the bottom of the third inning, thanks to Hinomoto’s exceptional pitching, Kotesashi fails to score.

At the top of the fourth inning, Sengoku is warned by Kozato that Kiyomine’s forkball is actually a splitter, with its crazy drop making it a “miracle ball” (ma-kyu).

As Kiyomine readies to pitch, he recalls his conversation with the coach, who said that a true ace is someone understands and carries Kaname-kun’s feelings, the team’s feelings, and his own feelings. Kiyomine finally understands the coach’s words.

As he strikes out Sengoku, Coach Iwasaki wished they had beaten Kiyomine before he “awakens” to his potential.

Kiyomine is happy that Kaname’s lead is really on it as well. He can clearly hear the cheers from the dugout and from the stands. The louder the cheers, the stronger he can swing. At this point, he has scored nine consecutive strikeouts. He wants to keep going on because there’s nothing but “fun” before him.

Kokuto steps up, determined to stop Kiyomine. However, the first pitch is a strike that even he can’t help but shiver at. The audience is now feverish with excitement, hoping Kiyomine might attain ten consecutive strikeouts, even against the formidable Teitoku.

Kiyomine feels that this must be what it means to be a “true ace”, fighting together with his team cheering and beating Teitoku this time. He finally realizes how much fun it is to play baseball with everyone. And what’s makes baseball so much fun this time is that Kei is smiling all the time.

He suddenly stops in his thought. “This time”? Then what about the Kei of the past?

In the flashback, the coach continues: “I think one of the reason Kaname-kun lost his memories has to do with you, Kiyomine-kun”. Kiyomine wonders if this means that the “baseball” that they did all through their senior league days was not fun …?

Kiyomine is stunned as he realized that the Kei from the General days never smiled. General Kei, standing apart from everyone, notices Kiyomine’s state of mind on the mound.

Back in the game, Kokuto is struck out, marking Kiyomine’s tenth consecutive strikeouts.

Chapter 141

The chapter opens with Kiyomine recalling himself as a child who always used to cry. But when and how did he become the person he is now?

Back in the match, Hinomoto succesfully takes out the top-order batters, Kaname, Toudou and Kiyomine in succession. Coach Sako notes that Kiyomine seems a little off.

As Kiyomine heads to the mound, he’s still racking his brain trying to remember how he became strong. Meanwhile, around him, the crowd is going wild to see Kiyomine in action again. He tries to focus as he gets ready to pitch.

However, the first pitch is hit by Noridomi, and it’s a fly to shortstop, breaking his strikeout record. Kaname gives an encouraging word, and Kiyomine continues to remind himself to stay focused.

The next batter is Kuga. They manage to corner him with two strikes, with the next pitch to be a splitter. However, Kaname realizes it’s not breaking, and Kuga hits it. At the same moment, Kiyomine is reminded of the same scene from the first year when Kuga hit that final home run that ended their summer.

In Kotesashi’s dugout, Coach Sako tells Taki to start warming up his shoulder.

Kiyomine remembers that game-ending home run from last year but tells himself that he’s different this year. He’s worked hard over the past year to improve his endurance, and he won’t be exhausted like he was last year. He successfully closes the top of the 5th without losing any runs. However, at the bottom of the 5th, Kotesashi still can’t score any runs.

Back to the top of the 6th inning, Kiyomine heads to the mound as Coach Sako feels that Kiyomine is still doing well and he rather not shake things up at this point.

Hidaka is now up. He surmisses that Kiyomine must be having a lot of fun, having learned a new pitch. However, he wonders if Kiyomine is able to become a “true ace”. He swings and it’s a foul hit.

In Kotesashi’s dugout, Satou gives Kiyomine a big shout of encouragement that breaks Kiyomine out of his thoughts. Kiyomine comments that Satou-san sure is loud. Kiyomine tells himself that he will become a true ace and with his pitching, bring victory to the team. He then throws a high-speed splitter at Hidaka.

It’s brilliantly executed, even Kaname can’t help but be impressed at it. Kotesashi’s team brightens up at seeing that pitch. It seems that Kiyomine might continue performing well for the 6th inning as well.

Next up, we’re back to the top of the batting order with Kozato. As Kiyomine swings his arm, General Kaname notes that the current pitch “won’t do”. Sure enough, the ball doesn’t break, and Kozato hits a single.

General Kaname looks dark as he says, “That’s no longer Kiyomine Haruka.”

Chapter 142

The chapter opens with Kozato running, safely reaching second base. It’s now one out, with a runner on second.

Sengoku steps up to the plate. Kaname signals to Kiyomine to ignore the runner on second and to throw a fastball inside. Kiyomine makes the pitch, but Kaname notes it’s still too high and gestures for a lower pitch. However, the next pitch is a ball, and eventually, he ends up walking Sengoku. It’s now one out, with runners on first and second.

Given Kiyomine’s performance, Kaname is slightly worried but notes that Kiyomine’s still under in his pitch count and Kaname himself has not yet hit his limit either.

Kiyomine, standing on the mound, feels the heat, but it is not as intense as it was last summer. He doesn’t feel exhausted, and he knows he has more endurance than he did last year. So what is this feeling he is experiencing … that the weak self that he has forgotten is somehow close by?

We then see his young self, crying beside him. His young self is crying about people calling him weak, that the opposing battery is calling him annoying, that someone got scolded because of him, that his neighbour’s friend’s cat died (?!)… He reflects on his past self, weak and concerned with others’ opinions, unable to focus. However, Kaname was there, saying, “It’s okay, don’t worry about it.”

From this point, the narrative shifts to the conversation between young and current Kiyomine.

Young Kiyomine asks, “Are you sure you didn’t forget something?”

He continues, “I did according to what Kei-chan said, and became stronger.” “I stopped crying.” “I stopped being concerned about others, but …” “Did I forget something?”

Current Kiyomine shouts at him to shut up! In the match, Hinomoto steps up to the plate. Kiyomine pitches and it is a ball. The crowd starts to comment that he seems to be doing bad all of the sudden. Kiyomine pitches on, but can’t seem to find his rhythm. Coach Iwasaki smiles calmly, while Coach Sako looks concerned.

Current Kiyomine continues, “But Kaname said to forget.”

Young Kiyomine replies, “Are you sure you didn’t also forget what you shouldn’t have forgotten?”

“Why did Kei-chan developed a split personality?”

We see a flashback of when Kiyomine was visited by Coach Kameda from Youmei. This was his third visit and he came to invite Kiyomine personally to join Youmei. Coach Kameda mentions that he can’t seem to get a definitive “yes” from Kiyomine and urges him to be open about any concerns or reasons.

Kiyomine mumbles that there was this “Kaname Kei whom I’ve always been partnered with all this time…”. Before he finishes that line, Coach Kameda responds that he finally understands and asks, “So you would like to come together with him?”. Kiyomine responds with a surprised “yes”.

Coach Kameda smiles happily and responds, “Of course that is absolutely no problem at all! Let’s also invite this Kanamekei person as well!” (He is not familiar with the name).

Kiyomine, still surprised, asks, “You know about Kei?”.

Coach Kameda reponds, “I will find about him right away!”, leaving Kiyomine perplexed about what he meant by “right away”.

Coach Kameda departs after that. As Kiyomine and his mom sends him off, she wonders aloud, “Does this mean that Kaname would be able to go as well? But … is that even possible? I don’t know how things like this work…”

In his mind, Kiyomine confirms that, “… there is a way … because there is such a thing as a ‘barter’”. A barter is a player who is taken in, not based on his skill, but as an extra in order to obtain a desired player.

That night, Kiyomine lies in bed, thinking, “Kei … as a barter? Mine?”. He sits up in frustration, exclaiming, “There’s no way this is happening!! The heck!! That isn’t happening!!” … “I better talk to Kei…” … “BUT THERE’S NO WAY I CAN DO THAT!!”

“How … how can I make … this situation work out for the good? How … what can I do to keep having fun playing baseball with Kei?”

Back in the match, Kiyomine throws another ball and gives up a walk to Hinomoto. All the bases are now loaded with no outs, and Kokuto approaches the batter box.

Kotesashi calls for a timeout, and everyone gathers around the mound. Chihaya mentions that, given it’s the 6th inning, they can afford to give up one run here. Toudou tells him that they are watching his back and asks if he’s feeling alright in terms of stamina. The rest continue to discuss their strategy to handle the current situation.

However, Kiyomine isn’t listening. Young Kiyomine continues in his mind, “Kei-chan was my barter. Even though it was the school that Kei-chan wanted to join, Kei-chan was not chosen”.

Outloud, Kiyomine disagrees with a “No!” (Note: in this context, the better word may be “wrong”). Everyone on the mound is surprised at his sudden outburst.

In his mind, he continues, “Kei is an amazing player”.

Kaname immediately asks what’s wrong, but instead of explaining his slip of the tongue, Kiyomine responds that he’s fine in terms of stamina and that his sweaty fingers are to blame. He adds that he won’t leave such a situation to a first-year like Taki and that he’ll handle Kokuto himself.

“I will handle my own mistakes. Because I am Kotesashi’s ace.”

The Kotesashi players and Coach Sako smile, reassured by their ace’s resolution. They will trust their ace. Everyone heads back to their positions, leaving Kiyomine on the mound.

Kiyomine’s flashback continues back to that night as he sat on the bed:
“Kei as barter…?”
“No!! Kei’s an amazing player!!”
“I know this!! There’s no catcher better than Kei!!”

And his thoughts continue in game:
“I will defeat Kokuto, no, Teitoku here and make it to Koshien!!”
“That guy (Coach Kameda) doesn’t know anything. I will prove it to him!”
“When he sees Kei’s plays with his own eyes, then he will understand.”
“I will prove how amazing Kei is.”

Chapter 143

Bases are loaded, one out. The current batter up is Kokuto.

As Kiyomine is standing on the mount, we see Young Kiyomine beside him going “Kei-chan was my barter. That means he was not picked by Youmei”. Kiyomine responds, “No!! That’s because they have never seen his skills!! If they had seen his plays, then they would have surely understood. I will prove it to them!!”.

Back in the match, Kiyomine makes his first pitch, a strike, and even Kokuto had nothing but praise for it. Kiyomine makes a fist pump and continues, “I know how amazing Kei is and I will prove it!! As long as we got into Youmei…!!”

The flashback now changes to the Houya Senior’s head coach office where Kiyomine and Kaname are talking to the coach. The coach confirms with them that they should have heard from Youmei and tells them to do their best at Youmei. As Kiyomine and Kaname walk away from the office, Kiyomine is ecstatic (now that he has confirmation that Youmei’s coach kept his word and did reach out to Kaname) that they’re going to Youmei together and can remain as a battery, especially since he didn’t want to go there by himself.

Kaname tells Kiyomine, “I was chosen to be your barter,” which takes him aback. Kaname explains that he overheard the coaches talk about it and that Kiyomine must have requested it from Coach Kameda. Kiyomine shouts adamantly that that’s not true and that he never did that.

Kaname looks down and goes, “I see… I guess that’s how it is… you didn’t want to go there by yourself… right, I guess that is it.”

“Thanks, Haruka.”

Kiyomine can’t remember how Kaname’s face looked like when he said that.

Back in the match, Kokoto connects with the next hit but it’s a foul. Kaname signals for a splitter next.

As Kiyomine puts rosin on his hand, he is shouting to shut up Young Kiyomine who continues talking in his mind, “Because Kei-chan’s smart, he could figure it out from my attitude and that careless remark I made. That they asked me first … and then I asked Youmei’s coach for it. I made Kaname Kei my barter. I am the perpetrator.”

His next pitch is a ball. Kiyomine is unable to calm down.

We see a flashback to Kiyomine and Kaname playing catchball in the park (see chapter 30). Kiyomine had asked Kaname if he hated playing baseball with him during their senior league days. His response was “I don’t remember that”.

Young Kiyomine continues in his mind, “Of course he hated it. Why did you pretend like you didn’t know? Ah … that’s right, you weren’t pretending. It’s because you’ve started to like this team, that you’ve finally, really, understood it — Kaname-kun’s feelings, people’s feelings, my feelings”.

Kiyomine continues fighting in his mind: “It’s not true! If only Kei had gone to Youmei, then I would have been able to prove it!”

Young Kiyomine responds, “That is exactly what Kei-chan is completely tired of”.

“To continue having to prove himself…”

“You were using that as an excuse to step on Kei.”

Kiyomine finally recalls Kei’s face. He looks wrung and pushed to his limits.

“Kei-chan never once asked for it, and yet you made him to be my barter. That’s the ultimate insult towards Kei-chan.”

In the game, Kokuto hits a home run. Teitoku erupts in great cheer.

The running Child Kiyomine bumps into something and stops running. Kiyomine realizes that he can no longer run….

“I killed Kei”.

Chapter 144

The chapter opens with the scene of the child Kaname who was held back by the “losers” as Kiyomine runs forward. General Kaname narrates, “Run! I was caught but at the very least, Kiyomine Haruka escaped … or so I thought”.

Teitoku erupts in cheers as Kokuto hits a grand slam. In the bottom of the 6th inning, Teitoku finally scores four points, making the game score 4-1 in their favor.

Out in the outfield, Sarukawa looks stunned that Kiyomine gave up four points. Meanwhile, in the dugout, Coach Sako internally apologizes to Kiyomine, that “it was my mistake”. In Teitoku’s dugout, Coach Iwasaki comments to himself, “They are taking too long to call for a pitcher substitution. Could it be that you trusted Kiyomine? As much as you may love your pitcher, you must never trust them. That’s your failing as a coach.”

General Kaname’s reaction is, “I should have stopped him!” We see a flashback of the new year’s temple visit where Kiyomine makes his wish to become “a real ace.” General Kaname continues, “After the coach said those unnecessary things, I should have stepped in! You have no idea how lonely it is to stand on that mount. There was no need to think about the feelings of others, or about the team’s feelings, and most especially, not about me. I’ve kept Haruka away from everything else to nurture his disposition as a pitcher, so that he can focus solely on the mitt…”

“This greatest pitcher whom I have raised … all this true ace crap … you’ve filled his head with unncessary thoughts and ruined his pitching quality …. AND DESTROYED EVERYTHING!!”

General Kaname continues, “I’ve been too easy. Why … did I continue to do nothing…” We then see flashbacks of Toudou smiling about being happy that he chose to trust Kaname, of Tsuchiya saying that all this teamwork is what makes baseball fun. Then of Kinjou and Watanabe, who no longer hold any grudges against General Kaname.

General Kaname grits his teeth in frustration even as he admits to himself that he can no longer see a way for them to win against Teitoku anymore.

On the mount, Taki runs up to Kiyomine, but Kiyomine makes no eye contact and walks away with a brief, “Taki, sorry. I leave the rest to you”. Taki is shocked, as he has never seen Kiyomine with such an expression before.

Meanwhile, Kaname is still in the catcher’s box, processing everything. He realizes it must have been the splitter that got to Kiyomine. Even though his pitch count is low, the splitter must have overtired Kiyomine. General Kaname beside him, continues, “You made him throw too much. How do you expect to go on without Kiyomine? You’re going to lose this match”.

Kaname: “It’s my fault.”

General Kaname: “Yes, it is. Because it was easy to get strikeouts, you kept using the splitter too many times.”

Kaname: “I was having so much fun with the pitch calls that I wasn’t aware of my pitcher.”

General Kaname: “That’s your failing as the catcher. Not that you can hear me say anything right now. This is all my fau…”

… when suddenly, Kaname calls for a timeout and runs towards the mount, leaving General Kaname behind.

Kaname continues outloud to himself, “I can’t stop here. We can leave the regrets for later. If I’m wrong, then I cannot be in a slump myself. We will win this!”. At the mount, Kaname greets Taki with a big smile, going, “Sorry! It was my mistake. This is gonna be a tough situation, but let’s work together through this!”. Taki is taken aback but agrees.

General Kaname looks on at them, saying, “That’s right …”

Chapter 145

The chapter opens with Kiyomine standing in the right field looking despondent.

“What kind of ace am I, to let 4 points go.”

It’s the bottom of the 6th inning, with one out and Noridomi at the plate.

In Teitoku’s dugout, Hidaka and Hinomoto discuss the challenges of being a relief pitcher in such an unfavourable, high-pressure situation, and how it must be hard to even concentrate with the crowds cheering so loudly for the other team. However, Taki’s first pitch is an inside pitch and a strike, even earning praise from Coach Iwasaki for his nerves of steel, despite being a first-year player.

The next pitch is another inside pitch, and Noridomi is cornered, expecting the next pitch to be on the outside. But Taki throws a two-seamer, catching Noridomi off guard and unable to make a clean hit. The ball goes in between right and center field, and Kiyomine attempts to make the catch, but the sun gets in his eyes and the ball hits the ground. Tsuchiya rushes over to help him out, while Noridomi takes advantage of the situation and makes a run for second base. Despite his size, he reaches third base safely before the ball is thrown over. Teitoku’s dugout erupts in cheers at Kiyomine’s error.

In the outfield, Kiyomine calls out to Tsuchiya, bowing his head in apology for his mistake. Tsuchiya is taken aback by the gesture, thinking to himself that he never wanted to see Kiyomine do that, as someone who has always relied on Kiyomine. He had never seen Kiyomine with such an expression before, but he also had no words to give to him. As Kiyomine returns to his position, he says out loud, “Sorry, Taki.”

On the mound, Kaname runs up to Taki, urging him not to worry about the previous pitch. Taki replies that he’s not bothered, but if it had been Sarukawa (who sneezes at the mention of his name), he would have throttled him. Instead, he’s grateful to have witnessed Kiyomine’s rare moment of vulnerability. Kaname is impressed by Taki’s ability to stay focused in the face of adversity.

Kaname gestures for Taki to come closer, and they begin discussing their next strategy.

Chapter 146

The chapter opens with Kaname talking to Taki at the mount, discussing their strategy.

Since it’s still one out, Kaname believes that Teitoku won’t pull a squeeze, and Taki agrees. Despite the tough situation, Taki seems unfazed, and Kaname is pleased about that. Kaname continues that he’d really want a strike for the first pitch, which Taki replies that he’s completely ready to perform as needed.

As Kuga waits in the batter box, he recalls how he came to join Teitoku at Hinomoto’s invitation. He doesn’t think he’s really that good a player, but he still came to Teitoku and spent the last three years going through hellish days of training. Yet not once had he thought about quitting the team. Even now, he wants to be of help to the team by gaining one point here.

When Taki starts to pitch, Noridomi takes off! Even Coach Sako didn’t expect this. However, it seems Coach Iwasaki has read the situation and chooses to do the unexpected.

We then flashback to the continuation of the conversation between Kaname and Taki. Kaname continues that if his prediction is incorrect and Teitoku does attempt a squeeze play here, Taki is to throw a short hop, ideally just before the base. Taki is initially uncertain about the strategy because of the risks it carries, but Kaname convinces him that it’s less risky than the other option of throwing to the outside, which Kuga may be able to reach.

Back in the match, Taki throws a short hop as requested, thinking that a hard-to-hit ball is also a hard-to-catch ball.

General Kaname, who is watching this, replies: “Don’t worry. If it’s ‘Kaname Kei’, he can do it.” We then see scenes of Kaname and the General practicing, studying, discussing baseball, ending with Kaname reassuring Taki in his mind, saying, “Don’t worry, Taki. For me now, the chances of catching a one-bounce ball near the base is 100%.” He deftly scoops up the ball and immediately switches to throwing it to 3rd base, successfully taking out Noridomi who was rushing back.

After that, Kuga is struck out.

The chapter ends with Coach Iwasaki upset that Kaname managed to guess what he had planned, and that now the momentum on Teitoku’s side has been taken away.

Chapter 147

The chapter opens on Kotesashi’s dugout. Kiyomine is sitting with his head down despondently. None of his teammates dare to approach him. Sarukawa thought about saying something but Yamada stops him. As Yamada looks on to Kiyomine sitting there, he thinks, “There’s no word of encouragement we can give to him right now. The pride of an ‘ace’ who carries the hope of Japan is not something that could be restored just by people’s words”.

Even Kaname is unable to say anything, remembering Toudou’s words that the “results won’t change”. Instead, he rallies the team, shouting, “From this point, we’ll turn the score around!” The team responds with excitement and positivity.

Yamada’s narration continues, “Pride cannot be restored except through producing ‘results’”.

The score is now 4-1 in favor of Teitoku, with the bottom of the 7th inning underway. Kaname steps up to the plate. Hinomoto is still pitching this inning and given that he feels quite good today, he believes that he can finish the game, especially since he wants to have a rematch with his younger brother.

Hinomoto pitches, and as Kaname swings, General Kaname notes that Kaname’s mental load has lightened since his presence is no longer reaching him. Kaname notes that his body feels light, even as his bat connects and he reaches first base safely.

Toudou is up next, with Kiyomine waiting on deck. He looks at Kiyomine and notes that Kiyomine does not look good at all, and that the grand slam really took a toll on him. Meanwhile, Kiyomine is lost in his thoughts, trying to psych himself to make a hit so that he can make amends for his previous mistake.

In the game, Toudou makes a hit into center field, and both Kaname and Toudou reach the next base safely.

With no outs, bases loaded, Kiyomine is still deep in his mind struggling and thinking that he has to hit a home run here to bring them all back home. As he tries to get up, he finds himself unable to move, his mind still racing with thoughts about making a big hit to make up for his mistake.

The moment he stands up, an announcement is made. Kotesashi is announcing a change of players, replacing Kiyomine with Satou!

Chapter 148

The chapter opens with the crowds complaining about Kiyomine being replaced with a pinch hitter. Since Satou is a third-year (last year of high school), and with a 3-point difference in the 7th inning, it’s assumed that Kiyomine must have been substituted so that Satou could “make some memories”.

However, Coach Sako tells Satou that he did not subbed him for making memories. Kiyomine asks the coach why he was subbed and Coach Sako tells him that he deliberated over it for a bit and eventually had to do it because the current Kiyomine would not be able to make a hit. It was a decision he made in order for them to win. Even though it might be the most painful situation Kiyomine has ever been, this was the best opportunity for him to be in dugout and learn. However, Kiyomine thinks that there’s nothing else he can do in this situation and he can’t see how being in a dugout would help him.

As Satou stands in the batter box and Hinomoto sends a pitch his way, he realizes that despite all the praticing he did in hopes to be used as a pinch hitter, standing here now, it never prepared him for this intense atmosphere. He quickly racks up two strikes.

Another strike and Satou will be out. Coach Iwasaki mentions that if Coach Sako’s strategy fails here, then they would be really crushed and this will help turn the game’s momentum back in Teitoku’s favour.

In the dugout, Kiyomine observes that Satou isn’t following Hinomoto’s pitch, and it’s not because Satou can’t follow it. This thought sparks a realization that he has never deeply considered other people’s batting. Beside him, Suzuki, Tsuchiya, and Sarukawa erupt with shouts of encouragement, reminding Satou that he’s spent three years swinging his bat, resulting in blisters on his palms.

Satou’s bat connects with the next pitch, but it’s a foul ball. It seems he’s now able to follow the pitch.

Noridomi realizes that underestimating Satou wouldn’t be wise. He decides to mix things up, opting for a slider to keep Hinomoto’s pitch count low and prepare for the next batter, Teruya, who will also be a tough opponent. The first pitch is an inside pitch, a ball, and Satou doesn’t swing.

Back in the dugout, Kiyomine notices that everyone around him is cheering until their voices are hoarse, even though it’s not him standing out there. In the past, any mistake he made, he had to make up for it himself. The result of every game depended on how he and Kaname performed that day. That was the type of baseball he had played to date.

The next pitch is a ball, and Satou does not swing. Kiyomine is surprised – just like how Satou connected with the pitch earlier, and now able to judge that the pitch would be a ball – it felt as exciting, as if he was the one out there in the batter box. He exclaims out loud, “Hit it, Satou-san!” to the surprise of Suzuki and Tsuchiya standing beside him.

He recalls his conversation with Satou in the dugout, where he said to him, “Playing baseball on the field is more fun than standing and watching baseball,” and “Why were you dropped from the regulars team?”. Now, Kiyomine realizes that this must be what it means to have hope in others.

Outloud, he shouts, “You will definitely hit it! Because you’ve practiced for this!! Haven’t you been hitting my serious fastballs?! And my sliders?! SO HIT IT, SATOU-SAN!!”

In the batter box, Satou remembers the continuation of that same discussion in the dugout, with Kiyomine saying, “[We’re] the same. We practice everyday so that we would win the next game.”

Satou ends with the thought: “Just for now, please let me believe that ‘you and I are the same’.” His bat connects with the pitch, and the ball flies into the air.

Chapter 149

The chapter continues from the last chapter with Satou’s narration going “Even if it’s just for right now, let me believe for a moment that you and I are the ‘same’!”. The ball connects with his bat, flying over Naitou’s (center fielder) glove and hits the ground. The crowd erupts in cheer. In Kotesashi’s dugout, Kiyomine does his first-ever fist pump!

On the field, all the players start running. However, as Satou is running towards first base, he trips and falls. Panicking, he scrambles and was able to reach it safely. However, hearing no other “safe” calls, he is puzzled and looks up to see that both Toudou and Kaname have safely made it back home! Satou has made a two-run hit, and Kotesashi is only one point behind now!

Both Kotesashi dugout and cheerleading squad are moved to tears at this scene. Including Satou, who remembers that there were many times when he thought that “this is so dumb”, that “is there even any meaning to all this?”, that “maybe I should just give up because I can’t take it anymore”. But now he is so happy that he chose to push on despite everything.

In the dugout, Kiyomine croaks out “Nice batting, Satou-san”, to the amusement of the others. Apparently Kiyomine had been shouting and cheering so loud with everyone that his voice broke since this is the first time he’s ever shout this much.

The score is now 4-3 with Teitoku in the lead.

The chapter ended with Kiyomine saying, “To think cheering could be something one would need to be so desperate and go all-out.”