Kumon Hyodo/MANKAI Playback

Home Run of Gratitude

Backstage Stories

Part 1Part 2

Kumon	Thanks for the meal!
	I’m gonna go take a bath!
Muku	Ah, hold on a second, Kyu-chan.
Kumon	Eh?
Misumi	We have an important announcement for Kumon!
	So~…
Kazunari	This year, for Kumopi’s birthday…
	We’re gonna host a Summer troupe baseball tournament~!
Kumon	EH!? SERIOUSLY!
Kazunari	For realsies~!
Kumon	Uwah~! That sounds super fun!
Tenma	Last year we struck out, but this year, we wanted to play baseball together, if possible.
Yuki	I’ll watch from the bench.
Tenma	We don’t have enough people, so join us too.
Yuki	The Curry Alien will help in my place.
Izumi	Ehh!? Me!?
	Can I even do it…
Yuki	You can at least bunt and run, can’t you?
Izumi	That’s difficult…!
Misumi	I’ll play for Director-san too~!
Kazunari	Sumi’s gonna do a shadow clone technique!? That’s sick!
Yuki	It’s not ninja baseball this time, guys.
Kumon	I can also bat for her if I’m on the same team as Director!
Izumi	Ahaha. Thanks, everyone.
Muku	Alright, everyone, leave your schedules open for Kyu-chan’s birthday!
	It’s a promise!
Kumon	A promise…
Izumi	Is something wrong, Kumon-kun?
Kumon	Nope, it’s nothing!
Izumi	(I felt like Kumon-kun’s expression fell for a moment there… but was that just my imagination?)
Kumon	Hm…
	…That’s a relief. I don’t have a fever.
	Okay. I’ll be able to go all out playing baseball with everyone today…!
Misumi	…Kumon?
Kumon	AH, Sumi-san!
	Sorry for waking you up…!
Misumi	Nope, it’s fine~.
	…Kumon, are you worried about something?
Kumon	Ah…
	That is—I was worried whether I have a fever since I was so excited for today.
Misumi	Hm~? Let’s see~?
	Forehead cheeeck.
Kumon	WAHH…
Misumi	…
	You’re fine! No fevers here.
	So let’s have tooons of fun today!
Kumon	…! Yeah!
Izumi	It’s great that everyone made it…
	But I still think it’s strange playing baseball 3-on-3…!?
Tenma	We don’t have enough people, so it can’t be helped, you know?
Kazunari	Don’t sweat it ☆
	It’ll totes be fine as long as we place a net for the catcher, and the three of us will cover the pitcher, shortstop, and second base positions!
Kumon	I'll go get all the balls that fly into the outfield!
Misumi	Me too~!
Muku	I’ll do my best too!
Izumi	…Is it really ok for Yuki-kun to sit out?
Yuki	I’m the manager, so I have to prepare the drinks.
	So do your best out there, Curry Alien.
Tenma	It doesn’t look like he’ll budge no matter what you do, so just give up.
Izumi	…I understand.
	In that case, I’ll give it my all!
Tenma	That’s the spirit.
Izumi	Speaking of which, how will we split the teams up?
Kazunari	Here, here~!
	I made a lottery!
Kumon	That’s Kazu-san for you!
Kazunari	It’s Kumopi’s birthday, so you’re the first at bat!
Kumon	Alriiight!
	There’s a circle mark on mine!
Kazunari	Everyone else pick one, one-by-one~!
Tenma	I’m circle too.
Misumi	I’m a triangle~!
Kazunari	Oh, as expected of Sumi!
Muku	I’m triangle too!
Izumi	I got circle.
Kazunari	Then I’m triangle!
	‘Kay, then we’ve got Tenten, Kumopi, and Director-chan’s team. And then a team with Mukkun, Sumi, and I~!
Kumon	Hey, we’ve got our battery from First Crush Baseball once again, Tenma-san!
Tenma	Yeah, we’ve got this game in the bag.
Yuki	There’s no need for a catcher in our match though.
Tenma	S-shut it! I knew that even if you didn’t tell me!
CHOICE 1: I’m worried I’ll drag you two down. [+] Izumi I said I’d try my best… But I’m worried I’ll drag you two down. Kumon I’ll back up your misses, so leave it to me! Yuki You’re assuming Director’s gonna mess up? Kumon HAH! That’s not what I meant! I’ll score lots of points, so don’t worry about it, ‘kay, Director! Izumi Ahaha, thank you. You’re really dependable!
CHOICE 2: Are you confident we’ll win? [+] Izumi Ummm, the other team seems pretty strong, huh… Kumon-kun and Tenma-kun, are you confident we’ll win? Kumon Of course! We’re definitely gonna win this! Tenma As long as we’re doing this, we’re gonna win. Izumi …Yeah, you’re right! Alright, I’ll get fired up again!
Kazunari	There’s no way we’ll lose either!
	Let’s get this party started~!
Muku	Yeah!
Misumi	Let’s play already~!
Izumi	(The next batter up is Kumon-kun…
	And what’s more, the pitcher is Muku-kun!)
	Go, Kumon-kun!
Tenma	We’re counting on you.
Kumon	Alriiight…!
	Bring it, Muku!
Muku	Here I go, Kyu-chan…!
	*throws*
Kumon	—.
	THANKS FOR CELEBRATING FOR ME AGAIN THIS YEAR, EVERYONE——!!!
	*hits*

Kumon	Hah~ that was super fun~!
	Taking a bath after going all out playing baseball is also the best!
Muku	Ahaha. That’s true.
	Anyways, your home run was amazing, Kyu-chan.
Kumon	Hehe. I was so happy all of you were celebrating for me.
	So I wanted to slam it no matter what.
Muku	I’m happy if you’re happy, Kyu-chan.
Kumon	Muku… Yeah!
Kazunari	Ah, Kumopi and Mukkun are out from their bath!
	Alright, gather up here~!
Kumon	Eh? Eh?
Muku	Ehehe, Kyu-chan’s birthday isn’t over yet!
Kumon	EHH!?
Everyone	HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Kumon	!
	Wahhh… thanks, everyone!
	I’m soOo… happy… uUuUh…
Misumi	Don’t cry, Kumon~.
Yuki	I feel déjà vu.
Tenma	Right. He cried last year too, huh?
Kumon	Eugh… I was worried I might get a fever since I was seriously, really looking forward to today.
Izumi	I see…
Kumon	…The truth is, I’ve gotten a fever on the day of my birthday before.
	*flashback starts*
	We planned to go out for dinner together as a family on the day of my birthday.
	Even though I was the one who was more excited than anyone else, I got a fever on the day of, and couldn’t go out to eat.
Kumon	“Even though we all promised…”
	While I was about to cry myself to sleep, nii-chan came over to me.
Juza	“How are you feeling?”
Kumon	“My fever’s going down.”
	“But… sorry, it’s all my fault we can’t go now.”
Juza	“It’s Kumon’s birthday, so it’d be meaningless without you there.
	We can go when you’re feeling better.”
Kumon	“Thanks, nii-chan…”
Juza	“Yeah.”
	Nii-chan patted my head with his large hand.
	His usually warm hand felt cool and comfortable, and so, I felt relieved.
Kumon	“Nii-chan, will you pat my head until I fall asleep?”
Juza	“No problem.”
	So then nii-chan continued to stroke my head until I fell asleep.
	*flashback ends*
Izumi	Juza-kun… is so kind.
	He really is an older brother who loves his younger brother.
Kumon	Hehe. Nii-chan’s both kinder and stronger than anyone else!
	My birthday last year was a surprise celebration, so I didn't have to worry about getting a fever.
	But this year, we promised in advance, so I wondered what I’d do if I got sick and disappointed everyone…
Izumi	(The reason I saw Kumon-kun’s expression fall a little when Muku-kun mentioned “promise” was because of that, huh…)
Tenma	…I feel the same way as Juza-san.
Kumon	Eh…
Tenma	You don’t have to worry about your birthday.
	If you did get a fever, then we could celebrate the next day. And if you fall sick the next day… we can just go whenever your fever goes down.
Kazunari	It’s just like Tenten said!
	We won’t get disappointed!
Muku	That’s right!
	Because all of us want to celebrate Kyu-chan’s birthday.
Misumi	We can wait no matter how long it takes for that~.
Yuki	You’re the birthday boy, so don’t worry too much.
Kumon	Y-you guys~…!!
Yuki	Geez… here come the water works.
Misumi	A smile suits you the most, Kumon~!
Kumon	*Sniffle*… thanks, everyone…
Izumi	(Kumon-kun is also able to grow because everyone in Summer troupe supports him this way.)
	…Fufu.
Muku	…What’s the matter, Director-san?
Izumi	When I watch all of you, somehow, I feel happier too.
Kazunari	Alright, then let’s congratulate Kumopi once again!
	Raise your glasses, everyone~.
Everyone	CHEEEERS!

Anna