| Akiyama | “Bottom of the 9th. 2 outs, bases loaded. One more strike and we’re league champions.” |
| “In that critical moment, I, the designated pitcher... was rushing into the bathroom.” |
| Izumi | (The introduction starts with Akiyama’s monologue... The third years have graduated, and the baseball club is left with one member. This is where the story begins.) |
| Akiyama | “I’m begging you! At this rate, they’re gonna shut down the baseball club!” |
| Inoue | “It’s a tiny, weak baseball club that loses every game anyway. I hear you even lost a called game[1] the other day. Isn’t it better if it disappears?” |
| Akiyama | “Don’t say that! If the club is shut down, how am I supposed to keep playing baseball—” |
| Inoue | “...Fine, I get it.” |
| Akiyama | “You’re going to join!?” |
| Inoue | “Just to be clear, it’s only till you find someone to take my place. I don’t intend to form a battery with you ever again.” |
| Akiyama | “Inoue....” |
| Izumi | (I can tell Kumon-kun is nervous, but he’s acting just as he does during practice. This is definitely good enough for his first day.) |
| (I pray that everything runs smoothly till the end....) |
| |
| Inoue | “So we need five people. Who’s the last one?” |
| Akiyama | “He’s a shut-in otaku.” |
| Inoue | “So he’s completely useless!” |
| |
| Izumi | (Akiyama and Inoue begin practicing immediately with the members that Akiyama managed to gather....) |
| Ono | “Uwaaaah!” |
| “Don’t avoid the ball, Ono! You have to get used to it.” |
| Ono | “S-s-s-sorry. Wh-when I see things flying my way, I-I just get so scared—.” |
| Inoue | “Why’d you join the baseball club?” |
| Ono | “Akiyama kept begging me to, so... I just couldn’t say no...” |
| Inoue | “Sigh....” |
| Enomoto | “....” |
| Inoue | “Oi, Enomoto. Keep your eyes the ball, not your phone.” |
| Enomoto | “Oh, sorries~!” |
| Inoue | “You know, you’re not allowed to use your phone on the field.” |
| Enomoto | “Seriously!? ...Currently suffering thru a lecture. He says no phones allowed~ *crying stamp*” |
| Inoue | “Don’t LIME message that!” |
| (Tenma-kun and the others are supporting Kumon-kun and warming up the mood. Yup, they’ve got it together; this is good.) |
| |
| Akiyama | “Hey, Uehara. Could you come to practice just once? We don’t have enough people without you.” |
| Uehara | “....” |
| Akiyama | “Uehara—.” |
| Inoue | “There’s no point. Even if he does come to practice, we don’t need a flimsy guy who hardly exercises. Let’s go somewhere else.” |
| Uehara | “...I’ll go.” |
| Inoue | “Eh?” |
| Uehara | “Ha!” |
| Inoue | “You’re surprisingly nimble!?” |
| Uehara | “I’ve been really into working out.” |
| Inoue | “So you’re that kind of otaku.” |
| Akiyama | “You’re gonna come to practice, Uehara? Thanks!” |
| |
| Izumi | (As the mismatched teammates come together, Washimiya, the manager, joins the club.) |
| Washimiya | “Are you the captain?” |
| Akiyama | “Ah, y-yeah. I’m Akiyama Souta, a second year.” |
| Washimiya | “Now that I’m here, we’re aiming for the Koshien.” |
| Akiyama | “Eh!?” |
| Ono | “The Koshien?” |
| Inoue | “You’ve gotta be stupid. How are we gonna get there with five club members?” |
| Washimiya | “Five? You only have five members?” |
| Inoue | “We can’t even have a practice game.” |
| Akiyama | “B-but we’ll do our best to gather more members!” |
| Inoue | “You just barely managed to get five.” |
| Akiyama | “Uu, w-well....” |
| Washimiya | “That’s fine. I can easily get us four more members by tomorrow.” |
| Inoue | “What? How?” |
| Izumi | (Yuki-kun is doing well too. Things are looking steady.) |
| |
| Akiyama | “How is Washimiya-san planning to gather members?” |
| Inoue | “The new students have all joined clubs by now. There’s no way we can get four more people.” |
| Washimiya | “....” |
| Inoue | “Why is she standing all imposingly on the field?” |
| Akiyama | “A cheerleader...!” |
| Enomoto | “Cute....” |
| Uehara | “Nods.” |
| Ono | “Oh, my nose is bleeding....” |
| Male Student A | “Wow, she’s cute.” |
| Male Student B | “She’s part of the baseball club.” |
| Male Student C | “Nice.” |
| Male Student D | “Excuse me~.” |
| Washimiya | “There, I lured in some new members.” |
| Akiyama | “Four at once!? |
| Inoue | “She’ll do whatever it takes.” |
| Washimiya | “We’re starting practice now. By the way, now that you’re here, I won’t let anyone leave the club.” |
| “Every time you get a crush on someone, I’m going to show them a photo of you admiring me like fools.” |
| Akiyama | “!!” |
| Washimiya | “Start with ten laps around the field!” |
| Akiyama | “—Eh, but our club advisor still isn’t here.” |
| Washimiya | “Run!” |
| Akiyama | “Y-yes!” |
| Washimiya | “Fifty sprints when you’re done!” |
| Ono | “Eeh!?” |
| Enomoto | “Seriously?” |
| Washimiya | “I should change into a jersey.” |
| Enomoto | “I’ll do it!” |
| Ono | “I’ll run!” |
| Washimiya | “Now pair up and play catch.” |
| Inoue | “Despite her looks, her practice menus are solid.” |
| Akiyama | “This kinda reminds me of little league. Doesn’t it bring back memories?” |
| Inoue | “...Not really.” |
| Akiyama | “You know, back then was really when I had the most fun.” |
| Inoue | “Same here...” |
| Akiyama | “Eh?” |
| Inoue | “...Nothing.” |
| |
| Izumi | (The practice game begins. The team members make multiple errors, but thanks to Akiyama’s steady pitching, they manage to keep the game at 0-0.) |
| (Bottom of the 9th. Akiyama once again finds himself stuck in the bathroom in the most important moment of the game.) |
| (The other team makes multiple hits off of Uehara, who pitches in Akiyama’s stead, and the team loses by a large margin... Inoue, tired of Akiyama’s cowardice, says he’s going to quit the club.) |
| Washimiya | “Wait. Didn’t I say I wouldn’t let you quit?” |
| Inoue | “I don’t care. Feel free to show off those photographs.” |
| Washimiya | “If you can hit just one pitch off of me, then I’ll let you quit the club.” |
| Inoue | “I don’t need your recognition.” |
| Washimiya | “Oh, so you’re scared?” |
| Inoue | “——. Fine. I just have to do it, right?” |
| |
| Izumi | (Inoue loses to Washimiya, and is dumbfounded....) |
| Washimiya | “You know, I really want to go to the Koshien myself.” |
| “You probably don’t understand how it feels when you have the strength but lack the qualification.” |
| Inoue | “...I take it back. I won’t quit the club.” |
| Washimiya | “Don’t be late to practice tomorrow.” |
| Inoue | “...Hmph.” |
| Akiyama | “U-um, Washimiya-san, thank you—.” |
| Washimiya | “Just so you know, unless you change, nothing is going to change.” |
| Akiyama | “——.” |
| |
| Izumi | (After Inoue’s club-quitting incident, the general mood of the baseball club slowly begins to change....) |
| Enomoto | “Uepyon, that one was good! My arm feels all tingly!” |
| Uehara | “I’ll try it one more time.” |
| Akiyama | “Huh...? Uehara and Enomoto?” |
| “What are you guys doing? Practicing on your own?” |
| Enomoto | “Ah, Akki. Uepyon and I have been practicing after school lately.” |
| Uehara | “If we switch pitchers again, next time, I’ll make sure they don’t get any hits off of me.” |
| Enomoto | “Ono-chin said he’s been working at the batting cage: he puts on a catcher’s mask and catches the ball with his face.” |
| “Says he does it to get used to the ball.” |
| Akiyama | “You guys....” |
| (Inspired by his teammates, Akiyama grows even more determined to overcome his own weakness as well.) |
| |
| Izumiborder=izumi | (The first game of their local preliminary begins. The club members are making fewer errors that before, and Akiyama’s pitching is composed. They manage to win.) |
| (Kumon-kun really shines all of the sudden during baseball scenes. He has experience, and his form is good, so he’s convincing.) |
| (But the team’s happiness is short-lived. During the second game, Akiyama once again loses to the bare-faced pressure coming from the opposing team, and rushes to the bathroom.) |
| (Uehara somehow pulls off the rest of the game. It’s a tough victory. After the game, Inoue submits his club retirement papers.) |
| Inoue | “You still haven’t gotten over that condition?” |
| Akiyama | “Sorry, I—.” |
| Inoue | “I can’t deal with this anymore. I quit.” |
| Akiyama | “Wait, Akiyama! We just won the game—.” |
| Inoue | “There’s no point. Our next game is against the powerhouse, East High. We’re going to lose anyway.” |
| Akiyama | “We won’t know until we try.” |
| Inoue | “Want to know why I lost interest in baseball? It’s because I got sick and tired of you looking so pathetic every single game.” |
| Akiyama | “Inoue....” |
| Izumi | (Inoue leaves the baseball club.... This scene must be painful for Kumon-kun in many ways.) |
| (I can feel his pain through his acting....) |
| |
| Akiyama | “...Sorry. I’m a failure of a captain.” |
| Ono | “...Akiyama, you know how every time you freeze up during a game, Inoue keeps making signals, trying to do something about it?” |
| “He said he felt like a pathetic catcher because he couldn’t do anything to help.” |
| “Because you, Akiyama, are standing on the mound alone as the pitcher. Even if you two are a battery, he can’t do anything.” |
| “You know, I was part of the same little league as you guys. I quit in no time, but... I really admired the Inoue-Akiyama battery.” |
| Akiyama | “....” |
| Ono | “Akiyama, that condition of yours comes from mental pressure, right? You should rely more on us, your team.” |
| Akiyama | “Ono....” |
| |
| Washimiya | “We’re going to win the next game too.” |
| Akiyama | “But Inoue is....” |
| Uehara | “We don’t have enough players.” |
| Washimiya | “I’ll take his place.” |
| Akiyama | “Eeeh!?” |
| Washimiya | “There’s no other way.” |
| Enomoto | “No no no no!” |
| Ono | “They’ll disqualify us if they find out!?” |
| Washimiya | “They won’t find out if I put on the catcher’s mask and gear.” |
| Akiyama | “Wait wait wait wait!” |
| Uehara | “It’s impossible.” |
| Washimiya | “So are we going to give up? Aren’t we going to the Koshien?” |
| Akiyama | “....” |
| “...Sorry. Please help us, Washimiya-san.” |
| Washimiya | “You’d better throw like your life depends on it.” |
| Akiyama | “Yeah.” |
| |
| Izumi | (Washimiya, pretending to be Inoue, takes the field as the catcher.) |
| (As the game goes on, Akiyama’s pitches start to take their toll on her arm....) |
| Washimiya | “—Hh.” |
| Akiyama | “Washimiya-san, we need to stop—.” |
| Washimiya | “Just keep going.” |
| Akiyama | “——.” |
| “Washimiya-san is trying so hard. I can do it too...!” |
| |
| Izumi | (Akiyama is pitching well, and they maintain a one point lead over their opponent. But at the bottom of the 6th, Washimiya’s arm reaches its limit.) |
| Washimiya | “—Ow.” |
| Inoue | “Switch with me.” |
| Akiyama | “Inoue!?” |
| Inoue | “Don’t go using my gear without my permission.” |
| Washimiya | “You’re late.” |
| Akiyama | “You came back!?” |
| Inoue | “Let’s go!” |
| Akiyama | “Yeah!” |
| |
| Akiyama | “——.” |
| “...It’s all right. Even if I collapse, Uehara is here. Ono is here. Enomoto is here—Inoue is here.” |
| Inoue | “....” |
| Akiyama | “It’s all right. I can pitch.” |
| “——.” |
| (The team recovers their bonds, and they put up a good fight against their powerful rival school. They head into extra innings with a tie....) |
| (Kumon-kun is pretty tired.) |
| (The audience might see it as an expression of Akiyama’s exhaustion during the game, but...) |
| (If Akiyama can pitch till the end of this game, Kumon-kun can pull through to the end this performance...) |
| |
| Akiyama | “——.” |
| Izumi | (The last pitch—.) |
| *Hit* |
| Inoue | “....” |
| Opponent Team Member | “It’s a home run...!” |
| Akiyama | “A home run....” |
| Uehara | “We lost....” |
| Ono | “No good....” |
| Enomoto | “Dammit! It was just one more point!” |
| Akiyama | “Sorry. I—.” |
| Inoue | “You pitched till the end.” |
| Akiyama | “——.” |
| Uehara | “You did good!” |
| Enomoto | “We put up a really good fight against the East High!” |
| Ono | “Uuu... uu...” |
| Inoue | “Don’t cry, you idiot!” |
| Washimiya | “You guys did really well today. You’re the best team I could ask for. I love you all!” |
| Akiyama | “Washimiya-san...!” |
| Enomoto | “I really love you, Washimiya-san!” |
| Ono | “Hey, no fair! Me too!” |
| Uehara | “Me too! Please marry me!” |
| Washimiya | “Sorry, I have a boyfriend.” |
| Enomoto | “Eeh!?” |
| Akiyama | “Washimiya-san... you had a boyfriend?” |
| Washimiya | “Look, right over there.” |
| Akiyama | “Isn’t that....” |
| Inoue | “The first-pick pitcher in the professional baseball draft last year....” |
| Ono | “A real professional baseball player...!?” |
| Enomoto | “It’s over... my summer is over....” |
| Washimiya | “Well then, I’m headed home with my boyfriend. Nice work~.” |
| Ono | “Washimiya-saaaaan!!” |
| Uehara | “I’ll never trust girls ever again....” |
| Enomoto | “But we still have the Koshien!” |
| Akiyama | “Th-that’s right.” |
| Enomoto | “Uoooooh!! We’re definitely going to the Koshien next year—-!” |
| Uehara | “Yeahhh!” |
| Ono | “Uweeeh, Washimiya-saaan!” |
| Inoue | “Sigh....” |
| (The club members cheer each other on as they recede off stage... The curtain falls...!) |
| |
| Kumon | —hh. |
| Muku | Kyu-chan! |
| Kumon | Pant, pant, I did it... I made it to the end—-. |
| Tenma | It’s still too early to say that. Save it for our final performance. |
| Kumon | ——. |
| Kazunari | That’s right, we only just got started! |
| Misumi | There’s still lots of fun ahead~. |
| Yuki | The first day’s not the end, okay? |
| Tenma | Let’s keep running till the final performance. |
| Kumon | Yeah! |
| Muku | Let’s go! It’s the curtain call! |
| Kumon | ——. |
| Izumi | (Thank goodness... we made it through the first day. I’m sure that the Kumon-kun now can pull through to the final performance.) |
