Original subtitles

To first!

Safe! Safe!

Is the problem Sato's lead?

It's the pressure of the pros, isn't it?

Batting seventh: catcher, Sato.

I can't let it end like this!

I'll help us tie it in some way!

Again!

Safe!

He followed that nicely!

He's doing quite well!

Playing half-heartedly because you're scared?

You're not a pro!

Can I really...

survive as a pro?

Yatabe!

Have you seen Sato?

Sato?

I've been looking for him for a while.

I haven't seen him, but...

Well, I think I can guess where he is.

I found you!

I've been looking for you, Sato.

Coach Araki!

It's been decided that you'll wear the starter's mask...

for tomorrow's exhibition game.

The starting pitcher will be Iwai.

Do your best!

W-Wait a minute!

Don't worry about your mistakes the other day.

This is your chance to redeem yourself!

Go with the intent of showing off your true skill!

My true... skill?

My true... skill?

Excessive training is the groundwork for injuries.

You are the newcomer whom we expect great things from after all.

Toshi-kun, please give me your autograph!

Please shake my hand!

Toshi-kun!

Here.

Thank you very much!

Can we get your autograph too?

Sure.

Grandfather!

Grandmother!

Grandfather, where should we put this up?

Maybe in the hallway? Or perhaps in the guest room?

I know!

Let's put it up in our bento shop's storefront!

We'll be able to boast about it everyday!

True, that's a good spot!

And then everyone will be able to see it.

Stop that!

It's embarrassing!

Oh yeah.

Here, this is for you.

What is it?

This charm is famous for its effectiveness.

It can't be... that you went through all the trouble of coming here for that?

It can't be... that you went through all the trouble of coming here for that?

O-Oh no.

O-Oh no.

It just so happened that we wanted to go to a hot spring that was close to the camp.

And while we were at it, we thought we'd drop by.

And so, we thought we'd give you that too.

The truth is, grandfather wanted to keep it a secret and try to surprise you!

Don't say that, grandmother!

Grandfather.

Grandmother.

I'm really grateful.

What's this? Thanking us so formally?

That's so distant of you.

Exactly!

A lucky love charm?

That charm apparently works really well.

Do your best, Toshiya!

When you get a girlfriend, introduce her to us!

W-What are you saying...

W-What are you saying...

you two?

By the way,

come to the exhibition game tomorrow.

I'm going to be wearing the starting catcher's mask.

That's great!

Congratulations!

They're expecting great things from you.

Do your best!

Y-Yeah...

Y-Yeah...

What's the matter? Aren't you happy?

No, that's not it.

It's a great chance for a rookie like me.

I'll work as hard as I can.

That's right.

I have to work hard for my grandfather and grandmother's sake too.

I absolutely can't make any more mistakes!

Pitcher, Iwai.

Last season,

he was inserted into the pitching rotation as a rookie.

He won seven games.

He throws about 140 km/h.

He has a large assortment of pitches,

and, moreover, his control is excellent.

Whether Iwai-san's characteristics succeed or not in the game depends on the catcher.

In other words, the game depends on my lead.

This time, for sure...!

Isn't that Yakushiji-kun?

Who's that?

He was Toshiya's teammate.

He was good enough to bat third at Kaido.

Well, he's not as good as our Toshiya though.

I see.

A showdown between former teammates.

This will be good!

Sato.

It's been awhile.

It sure has.

I saw your batting just now.

You seem to be in good form.

No, that was just batting practice after all.

In the Red-White game the other day, I was easily outmaneuvered by Harada-san.

It can't be helped against Harada-san, can it?

He's Japan's ace after all.

Despite that, it shouldn't happen three times!

So, how are things with you?

You seem to be doing well, genius rookie.

Do your best!

No... that's not...

Toshi-kun!

Do your best.

Toshi-kun!

Look here!

You're incredibly popular as always.

Well then,

let's both do our best!

Genius rookie, huh?

Thank you very much!

Yakushiji.

Oh, Harada-san.

The person you were just talking with... That was Sato Toshiya, right?

Yes.

Is he as good as the rumors say?

That's right.

During my high school years, I thought I was lucky...

that he wasn't my enemy.

Well, now he's become your enemy though.

Second!

I can't allow myself to repeat the same mistakes

today that I made in the Red-White game.

How is Iwai-san looking?

Short!

Hey, Sato!

What are you doing?

I-I'm sorry!

I-I'm sorry!

Toshiya...

Now taking the field first are the Tokyo Warriors!

Batting first: left fielder, Aota.

Batting second: second baseman, Tanioka.

Batting third: shortstop, Ichikawa.

Batting fourth: third baseman, Uchimura.

Batting fifth: right fielder, Rodman.

Batting sixth: first baseman, I. Sunnamu.

Batting seventh: center fielder, Kurogome.

Batting eighth: catcher, Sato.

Toshi-kun is a starter!

He's done it!

Pull yourself together!

I'm counting on you, Sato!

Y-Yes sir!

Y-Yes sir!

Play ball!

I absolutely won't let the leadoff batter get on base!

Anyway, we'll carefully plan the location of the pitches.

We'll use Iwai-san's specialty, his slider, here!

The opposite way?

Ball!

Iwai is a pitcher with good control, but...

he has problems at the beginning of games.

Well then, how will you handle this, rookie?

This is bad.

The breaking balls aren't working at all.

We need to use fastballs here and get some strikes.

Damn it!

Ball... four!

No out and the bases are loaded.

Time, please.

Um, are you okay?

No problems.

It's as it always is.

The beginning of games are like this.

But...

Well, I'm telling you not to worry.

Play!

This is a free fansub.

Not for sale or rent.

Out!

Go!

Safe!

Out!

Out!

Hey, hey! Why do you look so worried?

We've only given up one run so far.

We'll get it back in no time.

Yes!

That's right.

I don't have time to be depressed.

I need to think about how I can hold them back in the next inning.

I won't be excused if I screw up more.

Safe!

All right!

Out!

We're tied now!

Okay, it begins for real now!

Let's do our best!

Yes!

Out!

It's important to get outs one by one for now.

Batting eighth: third baseman, Yakushiji.

He seemed to be in good form during batting practice, but...

I know exactly what location he's bad with.

What?

W-We'll study the situation with a curve first.

W-We'll study the situation with a curve first.

Damn it!

Safe!

Okay!

Safe!

Batting eighth: catcher, Sato.

Toshi-kun!

Do your best!

It's Toshiya's turn!

Yeah.

This is an important chance for him.

No matter what, I have to get the runner home!

This battery closes in on hitters with fastballs most of the time.

I'll challenge them with all my strength on the first pitch!

Damn it!

All right! All right!

Out!

Well, if you enter the batter's box with such a strong intent to hit it...

of course you'll get out.

Don't mind, don't mind!

We'll get it back!

Toshiya!

Runners on second and third and now Brightman!

And he's already gotten a hit!

The next batter hit into a lot of double plays last season.

Here we'll...

Time, please.

Time!

He's going to confirm loading the bases?

This won't work. That catcher is completely ready to flee.

The genius rookie that I expected so much from is only this good?

This is kind of a let-down.

Sato...

Brightman can hit your curveballs that go off course where he wants them.

We should load the bases and challenge the next batter.

No, let me challenge him.

It's because he hit my ball that I want to challenge him again.

This time I'll definitely hold him back!

But... if you fail...

It's better to regret after trying than regret not having tried.

If I fail, then I fail. That'll be a good experience too.

It'll help me the next time.

Well, just trust me.

You have to go through these kinds of situations many, many times, after all.

I understand.

Strike!

His slider hit perfectly!

Strike!

Strike! Batter out!

Strike! Batter out!

All right!

All right!

Out!

That's how someone baptized as a pro does things, rookie.

Hey, hey, what are you saying?

Yatabe-chan.

He's holding them back nicely, isn't he?

With Iwai's lead.

W-Well, that may be true, but...

It's as Yatabe-san says.

Sato.

Neither my lead nor my swing are at the pro level yet.

Coming here was still too early.

Before piling up all these mistakes,

I should have known that.

It seems like you don't get the meaning of what I said at all!

Didn't you realize something while watching Iwai?

He's supposed to have taught you an important thing that you had forgotten.

An important thing?

It's because he hit my ball that I want to challenge him again.

This time I'll definitely hold him back!

It's better to regret after trying than regret not having tried.

If I fail, then I fail. That'll be a good experience too.

It'll help me the next time.

What am I doing?

A pro who plays many games over a long season...

can't continue piling up mistakes forever!

Batting eighth: third baseman, Yakushiji.

If I make a mistake, I just need to make sure it prepares me for the next time!

I have to press forward with my eyes straight ahead!

Yes, since right now I'm a challenger!

Strike!

A fastball on the corner.

At last he's returned to his usual self, making a strong lead.

It seems that you finally understand.

Foul!

Next time we'll use a sneaky location.

Foul!

As I expected.

He reacted in an instant and managed to hit it.

They attacked with fastballs inside twice in a row...

and retreated with a curveball outside on the following pitch.

Next is...

undoubtedly a fastball!

Wha-

Damn it!

Toshiya!

Out!

Nice going, Toshiya!

One out! One out!

I can't be off-guard now either.

Well then, this is the real start of the game!

In Japan, the time for graduation ceremonies was getting closer.

Everyone is following their respective roads and doing their best, right?

All right, I'll put everything into it and do my best too!

Next time, on Major:

It's Not Impossible.

Run to the stage of your dreams!