Kumon Hyodo/Bonds Connecting Through a Baseball

Anticipated Nova

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Kumon	Here I go, Sumi-san!
MisumI	Okaaay!
Kumon	Hiyah!
Misumi	Hoi!
Muku	Kyu-chan and Misumi-san’s game of catch is amazing! The ball’s so fast, you can’t even see it…!
Kazunari	Ikr! I wanted to snap a pic and up it to instablam, but maybe I won’t be able to take it well?
Kumon	Ho!
Misumi	TRIANGLE!
	—Ah!
Kazunari	Sumi’s ball swerved!?
Kumon	Wah, I can’t catch it!
Muku	Wahhh, the Manager’s over there!
	LOOK OUT!!
Manager	KYAAAAA——!!
	*hits*
Kumon	He hit it back with a broom!?
Kazunari	Nice batting, Sukecchi—.
	*shattering sound*
Troupe members	Ah.
Muku	It sounds like glass somewhere got shattered…
Kumon	What do we do…!
Manager	Wawawa, it’s not my fault, ok!
Misumi	Sorry, it’s because the ball I threw went towards the Manager…
Kumon	No, it’s also my fault I couldn’t catch it!
Kazunari	Either way, Frooch is gonna be super duper angry if he sees this—.
Sakyo	OI, WHO THE HELL BROKE THE WINDOW GLASS!
	…
Kumon	Ughh…
Misumi	Sakyo’s eyes are really triangular…
Manager	All I did was hit the ball that was flying at me back on instinct, so why am I also…
Kumon	Sorry for dragging you into this, Manager…!
Sakyo	I saw y’all playing catch and soccer in the courtyard, so I knew this was gonna happen eventually—.
	But you guys finally did it, huh?
Kumon	I’m so sorry!
	I was careless!
Misumi	I’m sorry too.
Manager	Uhh… I was forced into it!
Sakyo	AHH? You better repent some more, Matsukawa!
Manager	EHH! Why!
Kumon	Sakyo-san, the Manager really was just dragged into it, so don’t be so mad at him…!
Sakyo	Geez…
	However, at any rate, we’ll have to fix the window.
	So playing catch in the courtyard is banned for the time being.
Misumi	Gooot it.
Kumon	I understand…
	…So that’s why I can’t play catch in the courtyard now.
Tenma	Good grief… you guys were the ones who broke the window glass?
Yuki	I mean, anyone could have done that at any time, right?
Izumi	But I’m glad no one’s hurt. It’s a relief it was only glass.
Kumon	Director… you’re so nice!
	Thanks!
Tenma	Well, you should lay low for the time being if you've learned your lesson.
Kumon	Y-yeah. I guess I can’t play catch for a while.
Yuki	Not really. It’s just the dorm’s courtyard that’s banned, right?
	If you wanna play, then why don't you go outside?
Kumon	Ah, I see!
	It’s alright if it’s not in the courtyard!
Tenma	You can play by the riverside, can’t you?
Izumi	You don’t have to worry about any glass there either.
Kumon	That’s true! Alright, next time I want to play catch, I'll go to the riverbank!
	Thanks for the advice, you three!

Kumon	*Sigh*, the more I think about it being banned in the courtyard, the more I wanna play catch…!
	But Sumi-san said he has work today.
	I wonder if there’s anyone else who would go with me?
	Alriiight, I’ll go check whether there’s anyone!
	Ah!
	I found Director!
Izumi	What's the matter, Kumon-kun?
Kumon	Are you busy right now, Director?
Izumi	Nope, I just finished my work a moment ago.
Kumon	Hey, so, if you happen to feel up for it…
	Would you be my partner for catch?
Izumi	Eh, playing catch?
	Are you ok with me?
Kumon	Of course! Ah, but if you don’t wanna, then I’m not saying you have to or anything…!
Izumi	It’s fine. I kind of felt like moving my body, so I’ll go with you.
Kumon	Woohoo, thanks!
	Hoi!
	*throws*
Izumi	Ah… there!
Kumon	Nice, Director!
	…Hiyah!
	*throws*
Izumi	Gotcha.
	…Fufu, this is pretty fun, huh?
Kumon	Hehe!
	It’s super fun!
Izumi	You really wanted to play catch, huh, Kumon-kun?
Kumon	Yep. It was my fault in the first place, but when I was told that I wasn't allowed to play catch in the courtyard—.
	For some reason, I felt like I wanted to do the opposite!
Izumi	I feel you~. You feel like doing something even more when you’re told you can’t, right?
Kumon	Exactly!
Baseball boy	…Nii-chan, you’re really good at throwing!
Kumon	Ehh?
	ME!?
Baseball boy	Yeah.
	Do you play baseball too, nii-chan?
Kumon	Yeah, I have experience!
Baseball boy	I knew it. I could tell by watching you!
	Hey, do you have time right now?
	If you can, I’d love for you to teach me some throwing tricks!
Kumon	Ummm…
Izumi	How about you teach him, if you’re ok with it?
Kumon	Are you sure?
Izumi	Of course. I’ve already had enough fun playing catch.
Kumon	Thanks, Director!
	Alright, kiddo. Since I have Director’s permission, I’ll take some time out to teach you!
Baseball boy	Yay! Thanks!
Kumon	Now then, try throwing me a ball.
Baseball boy	Ok, thanks. Here goes!
Kumon	Cool, you're looking great!
Izumi	(It's kind of refreshing seeing Kumon-kun interacting with elementary school kids like an older brother.)
Kumon	…We’ll end it off here!
Baseball boy	Thank you so much for teaching me lots, Kumon nii-chan!
Kumon	You’re very welcome.
	Keep working hard from here on out!
Baseball boy	Yeah! I’ll make sure to follow what I've learned from Kumon nii-chan and get even better!
Kumon	Yeah, that’s the spirit!
Baseball boy	And also, I think I’ll be able to knock out more panels than before in Strike-Out....
Kumon	Strike-Out?
Baseball boy	Yeah. You can play it at that batting centre over there, and they have some pretty neat prizes.
Kumon	Heh, I see!
	Then I guess I’ll check it out next time.
Baseball boy	You should! If it’s Kumon nii-chan, then I’m sure you’ll be able to get lots of great prizes!
Kumon	Hehe, maybe!
	Thanks for telling me about it.
Baseball boy	Same here. Seriously, thanks so much!
	Bye now!
Kumon	Bye byeee!
	…Sorry I spent so much time with him, Director!
Izumi	No worries. I had fun watching too, so it’s fine.
CHOICE 1: You’re good at teaching. [+] Izumi You’re good at teaching, Kumon-kun! Kumon You think so? I thought I was fumbling quite a bit… Izumi Not at all. It was really easy to understand! I think I might be able to do it too, just from watching. Kumon If you say so, then I'll teach you how to throw the ball in even more detail. And if you become better at throwing than you are now, then playing catch will become even more fun! Izumi I see. Alright, maybe I'll ask for a baseball lesson from Teacher Kumon. Kumon Leave it to me! I’ll do my very best for you, Director!
CHOICE 2: Did you have fun? [+] Izumi Did you have fun, Kumon-kun? Kumon I had fun~! I was surprised at first when a kid I didn’t know suddenly asked me to teach him—. But as I was doing it, that kid worked really hard and I was happy since he got better and better. Plus, that kid was super cute and honest! Izumi You looked reliable and cool while you were having fun teaching that kid, Kumon-kun. Kumon Hehe, it feels a little ticklish if you praise me that much…! But I’m happy to be complimented by you, Director!
Izumi	Playing catch is fine, but that Strike-Out game that the kid mentioned sounds fun too.
Kumon	Yeah, right!
	Maybe I’ll invite the Summer troupe guys~.
Izumi	Fufu, that sounds great, doesn’t it?

Yuki	Did we have to come all the way to a batting centre on our day off…
Kumon	It’s fine, it’s fine!
Tenma	Kumon’s not batting, but aiming for Strike-Out today, right?
Kumon	Yeah!
	I heard they have lots of neat prizes!
Muku	Ah, it looks like the prize samples are over here.
Misumi	The first prize t-shirt has a triangle pattern!
	I want that one!
Kumon	Woah, there’s tons of Tigers goods!
	Hmm, I want the towel, but I’ll have to hit all of them—.
Kazunari	It seems like the prizes change depending on the number of panels you knock out!
Tenma	They also have lots of different stuff apart from pro baseball goods.
Kazunari	‘Kay, let’s all go ahead and give it a shot!
Muku	Right!
Misumi	Let’s do it~!
Tenma	Guess I’ve got no choice. I’ll go along and try it too.
Yuki	I’ll pass.
Kumon	Ahaha. You’re our manager, right, Yuki!
Yuki	Yeah, that's it.
Misumi	Alright, I’ll start us off~!
	*throws and hits*
Kumon	That’s Sumi-san for you!
	He swept the board!
Kazunari	That’s sick you got them all from the start!
	Welp, it’ll be hard for the rest of us to follow~!
Misumi	Ehehe, sorry~!
Muku	Ok, I guess I’ll give it a shot next!
	*throws*
	I missed 2 of them…!
Kumon	That’s good enough already though!
	As expected of Muku. You’ve got great reflexes!
Kazunari	M’kay, I’mma go next!
	*throws*
	I got the same number as Mukkun!
	I’m glad I did surprisingly well~.
Tenma	Alright, should I go next?
	I’m gonna aim for the full sweep.
Yuki	When you say something like that, you’re gonna stupidly use too much power and totally flop.
Tenma	Hmph. Well, just watch.
Kumon	Go for it, Tenma-san!
	*throws and misses*
Tenma	Ah—…
Misumi	He can’t hit them very well~.
Yuki	Like I said.
Muku	You’re were so close, so I’m sure you’ll be able to get a hit, Tenma-kun!
Kazunari	But what’s he doing wrong?
Kumon	Tenma-san, I feel like you’ll hit the target if you release the ball from your fingers a little earlier!
Tenma	So it’s the timing of release from my fingers?
	I see… alright.
	*throws*
Muku	Wahh, he hit it!
Kazunari	Once you’ve hit it once, I’m sure the rest will be a piece of cake!
Yuki	Heh, so just one little thing can change things this much.
Kumon	You’re awesome, Tenma-san!
Tenma	Nah, it’s all thanks to your advice, Kumon.
	Thanks.
Misumi	Kumon and Tenma are both amazing~!
Muku	Last up is Kyu-chan.
	Good luck out there!
Kumon	Yeah!
	Hiyah! Go!
	And there!
	*throws and hits*
Yuki	Kumon really does have good control, huh?
Tenma	Yeah, his timing’s spot on too.
Misumi	Kumon looks like he’s having fun~!
Kazunari	One more to go, Kumopi!
Kumon	Take that!
	*hits*
	WOOHOO, I got them all!
Misumi	I’m so happy I got the triangle t-shirt~!
Kumon	I was able to get the Tigers towel too!
	Go us!
Baseball boy	Ah, Kumon nii-chan!
Kumon	Ohh, the kid from before from the riverside!
Baseball boy	So you really did get the Tigers towel! You’re amazing!
Kumon	I came here because you told me about it, and there really were a lot of cool prizes! Thanks!
Baseball boy	No problem. …Hey, can you show me that towel for a second?
Kumon	Sure.
	Do you like the Tigers too?
Baseball boy	Yeah… I played Strike-Out so many times since I wanted that towel. But I just couldn’t hit them all.
Kumon	Oh, really…
Baseball boy	Ahh, but because you taught me before, the number I hit has gone up!
Kumon	Ehh, really?
	In that case, I’m super happy!
Baseball boy	Yeah, for real! That’s why I’m sure I’ll be able to hit them all and get that towel one of these days too.
Kumon	Ahh, I know!
	Hey, here!
	I’ll lend you my towel until then!
Baseball boy	Ehh?
Kumon	By receiving the power from this towel, and with what I taught you at the riverside, I'm sure you should be able to knock them all out!
	You can return it to me when you're ready to exchange the prize. So hold onto it until then.
Baseball boy	Are you sure?
Kumon	Yep!
Baseball boy	Got it! I’m definitely gonna do it!
	Then I’ll be sure to return this towel to you, nii-chan!
Kumon	Sounds good!
	I'll be waiting happily for your report!
Baseball boy	Thanks so much, Kumon nii-chan!
Yuki	…He’s such a softie.
Tenma	Well, that was just like Kumon though.
Kazunari	Kumopi kinda looked like a big brother there!
Misumi	Yeah, yeah, he’s so kind~!
Kumon	Hehe, am I? I just suddenly wanted to do that when I saw him!
Muku	Fufu, I can’t wait for that kid to report back, right, Kyu-chan!
Kumon	Right! I’m sure he’ll practise as hard as he can and get better and better!
	Ahhh, I seriously can’t wait to see that kid’s growth~!

Anna