Original subtitles

Seriously?

He's quitting?

He turned in a resignation letter after our season ended.

He's going to coach through the fall to make the transition smooth.

Then is that Ochiai guy the next head coach?

Do you think the underclassmen know?

Doubt it.

I guess...

...it's our fault.

Because we couldn't make it to nationals.

The coach is a teacher here.

Is he gonna quit the school, too?

This is unacceptable!

When I come back to this school after graduation, I won't be able to say hi to him?

Jun.

Chris, how are you doing?

I mean... I know you're doing fine academically.

I'm going through the physical training my father gave me.

Take it slow.

Your baseball career...

...has only just begun.

After the fall season?

We don't have any time.

Is there anything we can do?

Inheritance

Excuse me.

Hey!

You're early.

Coach, about practice today...

Coach?

If your time slips one more time,

everyone starts over!

Swing your arms!

Lift your knees!

Are we seriously doing this?

This is an off-season menu.

They're not using balls today, either?

I don't switch out the ace, no matter what.

You just need to hold off a little longer.

I knew something was up since he isn't an alumnus of our school.

I can only make speculations, but did he mean...

Why won't the coach tell us?

How many of these are we doing?

Yeah.

It's really hard not knowing where the end is.

Don't look down!

Face forward!

Ten more runs! Run as fast as you can!

Could this mean...

...that coach has given up on us this season?

Let's go!

Legs are important for pitchers!

We can't go back to the past.

So that I'll stand out the most tomorrow!

And the day after, and even after that!

Shut up.

Well, he has spirit.

My butt hurts.

My calves ache...

How does Sawamura have so much energy?

Damn. Where are the balls?

We don't even know when this ends.

Well, he does run every day.

You're not gonna last if you do everything at full strength.

You've got to learn to cut corners intelligently.

Oh?

Yeah!

You look like you're in pain, but it's just an act.

Right? An award-winning actor!

Are you dumb?

You have to learn to complete the task at hand.

Isn't that what the coach said yesterday?

But we're in the middle of the season!

You're running because the coach forced you to?

If you keep coming to practice like that,

you'll be running like that forever.

Zono-san.

And he didn't say you can't use balls outside of team practice.

Isn't that right, Miyuki?

Yeah.

We've never finished practice this early before.

Does that mean we can use the bullpen?

So I'm gonna go use the pitching machine now.

You can join me, if you'd like.

Let's go, Kominato!

Yes, sir!

Yeah?

Shut up! Let's go!

Bullpen! Bullpen! Bullpen! Bullpen!

We can't let him walk away like that!

Makes you wonder who the real captain is.

You sound sincerely happy.

Well, it's not like it has to be me.

As long as someone understands the coach.

What do you mean?

Regardless of what's happening with the coaching staff,

we just have faith and follow.

Right now, he's our only coach.

September 23

With so many of you?

Yes, sir.

Well, it's great that you're willing to help,

but what about studying for your exams?

It's an important time for you guys.

You don't need to go out of your way.

Happy about alumni coming

Of course.

But we could use a little break.

Well, I can understand that.

And I have something to ask you, Coach.

It's been three days now.

Let's run our hearts out!

I know what Zono-san said,

but the final tournament is starting soon.

Hey!

Stop walking so slow, first-years!

Run!

I'll wait ten seconds!

One! Two!

Jun-san!

And why are so many third-years here?

Stop asking questions!

Everyone forced to sit

You were walking like a bunch of turtles to practice!

And now you show up?

When did you second-years become such big shots?

Your performance in the group stage was just horrendous,

so we came to bully you.

You guys don't have guts!

We'll hit you guys a thousand hits for practice every day!

Prepare yourselves!

What?!

The retirement game?

Yes.

Could we do that soon?

Soon as in when?

We usually do it in October or November after the fall tournament.

The third-years are busy with college stuff before then.

You just need to wait a month for the game.

Why do you want to rush it?

Give me a reason.

We have something we want to tell the underclassmen.

What we learned from you.

What we learned after retiring.

Including the technical aspects.

We want to teach them through playing baseball.

You sound like you want a practice game with the current team.

The retirement game is usually a celebration for you guys.

A farewell gift.

We'll gladly take a practice game.

This is the only thing we can do for them right now.

Yuki...

What you can do for them?

Do you...

I guess he must know about the coach quitting.

Get moving, slowpokes!

The third-years all want this game.

We came to this conclusion together.

It doesn't need to be a farewell gift.

We want to help the team.

I don't like it when the students have overly strong wills.

9/19 (Sun) Round 2 9/20 (Mon) Final 9/27 (Mon) Drawings for Final Tournament

We have the drawings for the final tournament on Monday.

This weekend is the only time to do it.

Oh?

Can you get your touch back in two days?

That's more than enough.

Some of us haven't stopped exercising.

You want a serious game with the underclassmen?

Yes, sir. Thank you.

Thank you for your time.

I'll let the others know.

Yuki...

Are you sure about this?

Collectively, they wanted to do this.

If it's the third-years' request,

I can't just ignore it.

I see.

Well, of course.

The kids you trained for three years are being so sincere.

And I'm sure they're doing this for you, Coach.

The kids really like him.

Most of the kids I trained

never came back after they retired.

I'm jealous.

September 26

What's happening today?

I don't know.

An intrasquad game?

I'll be the umpire today.

You're in charge of the team today.

Don't overthink it.

Just do what you can the best you can.

They're wearing formal uniforms, too.

Is it already the retirement game?

Are you serious, Coach?

We have the drawings tomorrow.

Third-year Team Coach Chris Yu Takigawa

We'll do sacrifice and squeeze bunts, if we need to.

Keep that in mind.

So this is why they've been coming to practice lately.

They weren't just coming to torture us.

But does it mean the coach asked the third-years to do this?

Are we seriously that helpless?

Hey!

You'd better go all out!

We're not holding back just because you're in season.

We're going all out!

If you slack off, I'll kill you!

J-Jun-san...

I get to play... the amazing third-years?

I have to play!

First, Second-Years Third-Years

I jammed it!

He can hit that?

Ryosuke!

Nice!

Ara-Iba!

Nice one.

That felt good!

First time in a real game!

They're looking really good.

That would normally be a hit.

They're having a lot of fun.

Look at Tanba-san.

He looks so serious.

I can't quit baseball like this.

Can you?

He roared!

In a retirement game!

Three for three against the current team!

Nice pitch, stupid!

Good job, Tanba!

You're in the zone!

After retiring.

Nice, Tanba!

Showing no mercy on the kids!

He's pitching well!

If only this had happened during summer.

He passed his college admission test, too.

So I'm excited to see how much

he'll grow.

Looks like they're not holding back.

We can't lose to the retired old men.

Let's go!

Yeah!

Let me play!

I have to play!

Furuya!

You've got this!

I have to face Furuya after a two-month break?

Hey! Third baseman's defending deep!

Not worried about a bunt?

You have a problem in your early game.

You've got the coach watching right here.

Let's get this right.

Is this the game you wanted to play?

You pitch all out without even trying to pace yourselves.

Wow!

So this is Furuya's pitch.

But it's not as fast as...

Out!

I thought he'd rely more on power,

but it looks like he's learned his lesson from the last game.

Though I won't let you fix it so easily.

Ball four!

How many pitches was that?

Like, twelve?

Wow!

This is difficult.

Have you been practicing your pick-offs?

Hey, you sure you have time to worry about the runner?

We're facing big hitters now.

Any easy pitch, and you'll pay the price.

What the hell is this?

Just like I imagined, you idiot!

I've always wanted to smack away your stupid high ball!

That's a double!

The third-years are showing up!

And the next batter is...

J-Jun-san.

You guys are way too into this game.

Of course we are, stupid!

We came to give you a wake-up call.

A wake-up call?

Normally, we have the retirement game after the fall season.

Sorry we look so hopeless.

Did the coach ask you for this game?

Why would the coach ask us?

We asked the coach for this game.

To play a game against you guys.

A strike with a splitter!

One out and runners on second and third.

Maybe Furuya's getting pumped from the pressure!

Take him out, Tetsu!

Wow! This match-up...

It's exciting to watch.

Another splitter!

Coming on strong despite me being on third.

Looks more like he's running away to me.

The count's 1-2.

When's he gonna bring out his fastball?

No way! Three splitters in a row?

Into the center!

Runner from third scores!

From second, too!

Stop!

Oh?

Is that Tojo?

Nice shoulder.

Didn't he used to be a pitcher?

Don't give up!

Don't give up playing pitcher!

Did you know it was coming? The third splitter.

No. My body just reacted.

Just reacted?

That's not helpful for me, at all.

It wasn't a bad idea,

but you rushed it a little.

Yes, sir.

It would've been nice if it had been lower, too.

Masuko.

Did you get fat?

I can't stop eating carbs!

He jammed it, but it's going deep!

Second run!

The third-years are good!

Let's go!

The two-hole gets on base, and the three-hole makes a chance.

The cleanup hits an RBI,

and the five-hole adds a run.

I need to eat less.

This is how you score.

It's like they're showing the underclassmen how to do it.

Hey!

Pitcher, wanna switch?

Furuya's early game is still looking weak.

The third-years aren't easy to shut down,

but it did all start with the walk he gave up.

It's not a serious problem.

You could say every pitcher has a weak early game.

I'm sure he has a clearer understanding of his problem now.

Strike! Batter out!

Yeah! Nice pitch!

Good job, Furuya!

Every single time.

I'm not getting better.

He's upset at himself.

Let's switch gears! One run at a time!

Let's get on base first!

First, Second-Years Third-Years

Wait,

why would you do that?

This is the only thing we can do right now.

If it'll help you guys improve, we'll gladly come help you practice.

Quitting after the fall?

Coach?

What the hell?

Damn! I want to pitch.

Why are you so quiet, Kuramochi-senapi?

We're down by two runs!

We need to cheer from the dugout!

Is something wrong?

A runner with no outs!

How did Miyuki hit without a runner?

"How?"

Step it up!

The third-years don't practice anymore!

Nice hit. That was clean.

Thank you.

I wanted to hit the curveball early on in the game.

But I'm still not as good as you, Tetsu-san.

I'm not even sure I'm doing a good job as a captain.

Whoa, there.

Don't show it, no matter how rough it is.

If you look lost, the team will be lost.

I get that you can't think straight after finding out about the coach,

but the third-years are giving us their best.

The least we can do is pay them respect and answer in kind!

I don't like how you made it sound like it was your idea,

but we just have to do it!

I'm back on the mound again.

How useful am I to the team right now?

Next time on Ace of the Diamond: Guiding Light.

Guiding Light

Now, let's take down the third-years with everything we have!