Chapters 170-
Chapter 170
The chapter opens with a flashback of Kaname in the park (from chapter 30), making the declaration: “I will surpass myself [and] defeat the General Kaname Kei!”
In the present, the General remarks to himself that that was his desire as well, and he truly felt relieved when it was finally fulfilled. He continues, “But since you won’t wake up, now I have to do such a stupid and pointless thing:”
“This time, I will surpass you.”
Kiyomine winds up and pitches a fastball which Makita fouls. The General calls for a splitter next. Meanwhile, in the dugout, Coach Sako remarks that although the top of the fourth inning represents a crucial moment, it is also the last opportunity suitable to try catching the ’not-sure-it-can-be-caught’ splitter. Even though it constitutes a risky move, he believes the General will attempt it anyway, and he concurs with the decision as they need to be aggressive in their offense. He knows Kiyomine will throw the splitter without hesitation or doubt that the General might not catch it.
As Kiyomine winds up, he internally thanks the General for allowing him to fight at full strength by calling for the splitter. However, as the ball approaches the plate, the General realizes it isn’t breaking properly. Makita manages to make contact, but the ball drops in the infield. Toudou catches it but delivers an errant throw to Chihaya waiting at second base. Despite the throw sailing high and off-target, Chihaya stretches to catch it, tagging the runner out. He pivots quickly to throw the ball to Yamada on first base, who secures it and tags out Makita. Makita fumes at Chihaya for the outcome, but Chihaya insists that Toudou deserves credit for his “fine play” in the sequence.
With a serious expression, Chihaya turns to observe Kaname who is now standing at the home plate.
The General is relieved that they were saved by the double play. However, he notes that Kiyomine’s splitter’s break has deteriorated and they were fortunate that Makita’s hit remained shallow because of it.
Kiyomine, though, appears shocked. Coach Sako remarks that this outcome was unexpected. Although Kiyomine’s complete trust in Kaname remains genuine, for any pitcher after witnessing the earlier passed ball, the possibility exists that he unconsciously strains his body when pitching.
Coach Sako continues that he actually harbors more concern about Kaname. For the noble Kaname who secretly worked desperately to close the gap between them, nothing could prove more frustrating (humiliating/bitter – that kind of vibe) than having caused Kiyomine to hold back.
Kiyomine, on the mound, seems puzzled as he senses that the pitch carried the usual feeling on his fingers. He resolves to try again.
Back at the dugout, Chihaya approaches the General to check that he has enough fluids. The General thanks him politely, and promptly starts drinking while Tsucchi-senpai gushes over his cool pose and takes photos.
However, Chihaya watches the General with a somber look. He narrates: “The General Kaname Kei is a liar. He never talks about himself. And he does not get himself involved with others. According to Taki, back in the senior league days, he would give stern and harsh lectures. I can’t picture that when he now leads the team with such gentleness.”
“But it’s not an easy thing to change one’s natural temperament. You can only hold it down. Your dissatisfaction towards others. Your dissatisfaction towards yourself. I understand it.”
“Because I’m also a liar.”
“Although I cannot speak it outright, as someone cut from the same cloth, I hope to demonstrate it through my play.”
Chihaya walks toward the home plate as he continues: “What lies ahead when one has stopped lying to himself.”
Chapter 171
The chapter opens with Chihaya in the batting box. He narrates: “So far, I’ve batted left even against left-handed pitchers because I’ve been focusing on my legs.”
“I love running. And I also love refining my techniques. And that’s the truth.”
We then see a flashback to sometime in the winter of Chihaya’s first year where he is having a conversation with Coach Sako. He asks, “Chihaya-kun, do you regret it?”
Back to the present, Reira mentions that it feels odd to see Chihaya standing on the right batter box as he’s usually in the left one. She turns and asks the coach, “Are you not planning to use his legs?” While Coach Sako’s expression remains calm, his own “legs” buckle and he shouts “I do wanna use them!” However, he continues, “This was the conclusion he came to after our discussion together.” Reira responds, “Even though it’s the finals match?” Coach Sako responds, “… yeah. Because it IS the finals match…”
Kirishima winds up and pitches a slider to the inside, which Chihaya ignores. He fouls the next pitch. The crowd grows excited watching the showdown between them, as Makita grins smugly despite being on the opposition side.
Chihaya’s narration continues, “I’ve continuously refined my techniques. Despite my individualistic personality, I sacrifice myself to play small ball. Because I’m not suited to making power plays. For the sake of the team, I’ve polish my skills to contribute to our victory. So that we can win even though I lack power. I did everything in order to maximize our chances of winning.”
We see a flashback to when Chihaya, as a child, watches the TV where a baseball player named Kobayashi Issei hits a homerun that flips the score for his team.
Back in the present, Chihaya hits another foul, this time with a full swing.
In the winter conversation flashback, Coach Sako continues, “What you’ve done so far is not wrong. Definitely. However, you’re still in your first year of high school. The possibilities are endless. I want to hear how you really feel. Of course I won’t force you but … depending on your response, would you consider changing your play style?”
Back to the present, the next pitch is a ball. Kirishima notes that Chihaya is aiming for a big hit, something out of character for him. Maihara signals for a curveball next and Kirishima agrees that it’s best to wrap things up with that. To himself, he states that he HAS to go to Koshien, as he has something to prove there and stakes his pride on it. Behind this intent, we see it’s about Kirishima Natsuhiko. However, Kirishima then continues, “But because it is a matter of pride being at stake, I cannot run away here,” and proceeds to shake his head back.
His narration continues, “Because a similar guy stands here with eyes saying that he is also staking that same pride.” Kirishima pitches and as Maihara braces to catch it, he comments, “This is his best pitch!”.
As Chihaya swings, in response to the question “Chihaya-kun, do you regret it?” that Coach Sako posed in the past, Chihaya responds, “No. I’ve been doing it with pride.” We see the child Chihaya mesmerized by Kobayashi’s performance batting cleanup on TV.
“But my admiration [for him] as a child was real. So if I can still make it, I want to try it, even now, I want to take up that challenge—!!”
He connects with a big swing and the ball flies past infield and into centre territory. Everyone watches breathlessly to see where it lands, even as Chihaya shouts for the ball to go as far as it can. It finally drops down in centre field past Terakado (center fielder). Kotesashi’s players erupt in joy and Chihaya makes it safely to second base.
On the mound, Kirishima’s expression remains hidden as he adjusts his cap, mumbling, “Dammit.”
At second base, Chihaya looks at his hands, thinking, “Second base… this is as far as it goes for now, huh.” He breathes out deeply, and continues, “Then next time.”
In the dugout, the General comments to himself, “Second base. That’s damn good.” Aloud, he says (to no one), “Be more happy, man.” He continues internally, “Why the heck is everyone so lousy at giving up…”
Chapter 172
It’s the bottom of the fourth. Although Kotesashi tries their best to send Chihaya home from second base, they fail to score against Kirishima.
Meanwhile, at Youmei, Shirahata asks Natsuhiko if he wants to watch the finals game since his brother pitches very well in the match. Natsuhiko responds with his usual “Gross!” and continues, “Don’t say something that gross. There’s no way I’ll want to watch that lousy aniki,” and walks away. Shirahata asks where he is going and Natsuhiko responds that he’s going to take an afternoon nap. As Shiharata and Nagi watch him leave, Shirahata comments that Natsuhiko must truly hate his brother.
Back in the match, the top of the fifth ends with Hikawa failing to score again.
In the bottom of the fifth, Teruya secures an infield hit that Kurita throws to first base, but Ube misses stepping on the base before catching the ball. Teruya gains a lucky opportunity at first base. Though Makita bellows a death threat from right field, Kirishima smiles reassuringly and tells Ube not to worry about it.
Following that, Sarukawa strikes out. When it comes to Tsuchiya, he manages a weak hit beside the first base foul line. As Ube runs to catch the ball, Tsuchiya zooms past him to his surprise. Unfortunately, his throw back to first base was not fast enough to tag Tsuchiya out.
It’s now back to the top of the order and Chihaya hits close to right field. Teruya rounds third base and starts heading toward home plate when Makita launches a straight throw from right field to home. Seeing this, Teruya retreats to third base, and the runners halt their progression.
Meanwhile, the crowds cheer for Makita’s laser beam throw. Makita happily calls out to Kirishima to quickly substitute with him, but he declines with a smile.
The scene switches back to Youmei where Natsuhiko is practicing his pitching swing. His cellphone rests on the ground by a wall, streaming the Tokyo finals game. The announcer mentions that Yamada struck out looking.
Natsuhiko mutters, “Lame. What the hell are you doing letting a lame-ass public school make so many hits off you? Wait, was it a metropolitan high school now? Who cares. Seriously, is this even a high school baseball finals match? The level’s way too low… you sure they aren’t really junior high school players?”
“The level is completely different from the Osaka prefecture tournament that we just won.”
“Oh well, that lousy aniki gonna lose miserably again this year, isn’t he? That’s what you get (lit. the end result) for running away to play baseball as a hobby. You have my sympathies ♡.”