Hikawa High's a powerhouse that reached the semifinals in the spring tournament.
Semifinals?
But we're an unknown school.
They'll leave out the starters and use their bench for this game.
Even so, Hikawa's overall level is high.
They're the perfect team for a practice game.
Chihaya-kun, is everything okay?
Oh, it's fine.
Then lose the frown already.
Hikawa High
Excuse me.
Hikawa High
Are you from Kotesashi High?
I look forward to the game today.
Likewise.
Wait. Kei Kaname?
Whoa! Haruka Kiyomine?
It really is Hoya Senior's genius battery.
I can't believe it.
I played against you when I was on Fujimi Senior.
What the heck are you doing at a public school?
It's pointless playing baseball there.
Who are you?
Huh? I'm Makita.
Hironobu Makita, the pitcher.
You don't remember me?
Sorry.
We're rather forgetful, you see.
I'll remember it now, Makimura-kun.
Not Makimura. Ma-ki-ta!
Yeah, he knows exactly who this guy is.
Okay, I got it, Makihara-kun.
I just told you...
Chihaya?
Is that really you?
It's me. Makita!
I thought you quit baseball.
Hello.
Oblivion Battery
Can't Run From Them
I see you're still short.
I grew 4 cm and gained 7 kg.
That so?
Still, isn't a public school winning at regionals impossible? Just insane.
So it is.
You should've come to Hikawa, too. We can totally make it to Koshien.
I see.
You're every bit as boring as I remember.
Why'd you let that fool run his mouth like that?
He drones on if you pay him any attention.
By the way, what happened to that other senior?
Oh, he has a date with his girlfriend.
They can drop that lie already.
Hikawa's second-year ace, Shuto Kirishima, pitched yesterday,
so he won't take the mound today.
We have no data on their starting pitcher.
Pay close attention your first time through the order.
But also stay aggressive.
If the first pitch looks good, swing at it.
Your specialty, right, Todo?
R-R-Right.
Oh, goosebumps.
Oh, yeah. When you run to first, be sure not to flip your bat.
Huh? Oh, okay.
It only leaves the umpire with a bad impression, so there's no benefit.
Let's retrieve the bat quickly, too.
We'll raise our chance of victory, if only by one percent.
That's the Commander for you. So cool!
Kei-sama?
Huh? Wh-What's wrong? Are you okay?
Yes, I'm fine. I had a sudden headache.
Wait. Am I...
...expected to perform a one-liner?
No one expects that.
I-I see. Right, of course.
That was bad, right?
It made me shiver.
It's weird. Suddenly, that face is starting to piss me off.
A real-life trompe l'œil.
He doesn't look all that powerful, but best not to judge a book by its cover.
I'lI just hit whatever comes at me.
I'll swing at the first pitch without hesitation if it's an easy one.
Play ball.
Three-quarter ball, leaning slightly sidearm.
Most likely a breaking ball.
Slow and straight.
It's an easy line.
Out.
Damn, it wasn't square.
That pitch...
Ball!
So, after the fastball, a telegraphed curveball?
Ball!
Another curveball.
Not a lot of variety there.
Seems Todo-kun was right to swing at the first pitch.
He's got a good eye.
Huh? Yeah.
Chihaya was the best player on our senior team. He's crazy fast, too.
Yeah?
Kurita, you were at Fujimi, too?
But his play is far from dynamic. It's so boring.
I don't like how he plays baseball.
An easy fastball.
Missed the sweet spot again?
Out.
I see. That pitch is...
Next up is the Kei Kaname.
I hear his batting is nasty, too.
Two outs.
You got this!
Kiyomine-kun, about that pitcher...
It's fine.
Huh?
I just hit the pitch that comes at me.
Right you are.
I can't believe Todo-kun and Chihaya-kun missed easy fastballs.
It's a cutter.
A cutter?
For real? The pitch was kinda slow, so I didn't realize.
And, uh, what is that again?
A cutter doesn't curve as much as a curveball,
but it's fast and veers away sharply just as it reaches the batter.
Cutter
Curveball
I can hit them in Power Pros, but how do I hit them in real life?
It's all about timing.
You've got to delay for a moment.
Swing at it like a fastball and you'll fall into their trap and not hit it cleanly.
But with Kaname-kun, as long as he knows what's coming...
I expected nothing less.
A stand-up double.
So this is Kei Kaname, the "Commander."
What the hell? Snobby bastard.
Kei-sama!
With this Kaname-kun on our team,
we may actually beat the semifinalist Hikawa team.
This Kaname-kun, who signals the pitch against him to the bench...
He may use a cutter.
Such dedicated play. Unimaginable from who he used to be.
Wait.
That's not the sign for a cutter.
He may use a cutter.
That ain't the cutter sign!
Unconscious "nipple hair"?
The worst pattern.
Damn it. When he's quiet, we can't tell them apart. Is he okay?
I'm getting irritated by that face, too.
We may be running out of time.
Intentional walk.
Why?
They're wary of you from the first inning, Haruka.
Yama, this is our chance.
Let's go, Yama! Swing at the first pitch!
Why's he so nervous?
Is he the type who tenses up at a chance in the first inning?
Strike!
An easy strike, low to the outside.
But I have to hit it.
Foul!
Two pitches and my back's against the wall.
At this rate, I'll...
Timeout.
What's this?
Yama.
Th-Thank you.
Are you nervous about playing on the same team as me?
Huh?
A-Actually, I am.
Yama! You're just too nice!
The Commander persona is full of confidence.
I was joking, silly. You're supposed to say no.
No, really.
I'm just a fan, so...
The Yamada I knew wasn't like this.
Be more confident.
Th-Thank—
Hey, Yama! Pull yourself together!
That may be the "Commander" now, but don't forget the days when he was a fool!
The days when he was a fool?
You can leave his curveballs.
Todo and Chihaya struck out on the cutter.
Nipple hair!
The next one will be a cutter, too, so swing for it.
Hmm? What's the matter?
Oh, sorry.
I was reminded of "nipple hair."
"Nipple hair"? What are you talking about?
About you.
Play.
Be confident.
Delay for a moment...
And there!
That's the way.
Safe!
Aw, yeah! Our first run!
He read it well and went for it.
I told you, didn't I?
You're a good player.
I myself was shocked at how happy I was to be acknowledged by Kei Kaname.
This is the sight I've been longing to see.
Strike!
The genius battery...
Strike!
...blowing away the powerhouse that is Hikawa.
Strike! You're out!
M-My pitch is faster! Right, Kurita?
Huh?
What do ya mean, "Huh"?
Amazing.
It's even faster than...
...when we played Teitoku.
This is Haruka Kiyomine and Kei Kaname at full throttle.
Strike! You're out!
I bet Kiyomine-kun is feeling it more than any of us.
He must have been lonely and heartbroken all this time.
No.
The only thing Kiyomine-kun's thinking about right now is pitching.
The only thing he can see is Kaname-kun's glove.
That's right.
This is the monster of a pitcher who blows everyone away: Haruka Kiyomine.
Strike! You're out!
An immaculate inning?
Nice pitching.
Oblivion Battery
Kotesashi
Hikawa
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Holy cow.
So this is Hoya Senior's genius battery?
So what? I'm better than him!
You're totally not.
Oh, Kirishima-san.
Kirishima, you have an off day today.
Yes, yes, I know.
I'm not planning on pitching.
But I've got to see this rumored genius battery from the best seat in the house.
They're not that great.
Fact is, Kiyomine-kun's a much faster gorilla than you, Makita-kun.
Huh? What do you mean by "gorilla," Kirishima-san?
Yeah, maybe it's not right. Gorillas are really smart.
But what do you mean?!
That's what I mean.
Next year, I'm taking the position of ace from you.
You'd better be prepared.
Blegh! You reek of bananas.
You should wash your hands. You stink.
I didn't eat any!
Well, I'll give it to you that you're trying.
Best of luck after I graduate.
Huh?
More importantly, Kei Kaname...
His pitch mixing, his catching, his behavior...
All of it is gauged to draw the best out of his pitcher. He's a good catcher.
Wish he'd catch my pitches, too.
The way I see it, at the top of the third, they'll use the next pillar after their ace:
their power pitcher, Makita.
Then the game really begins.
Phew.
What?
He lay down all of a sudden.
Wanna go to Kichijoji?
The answer to that is "no."
We're in the middle of a game!
Hmm? Did I say something strange?
Yup. Are you feeling okay?
I guess. Maybe I'm a little tired.
I think he's starting to break down.
He can't keep this up till the ninth.
We'll have to try everything to see it out.
Kotesashi
Hikawa
1
2
3
4
Yup, that face seriously pisses me off.
Strike! You're out!
Kotesashi
Hikawa
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
I'm sorry. I couldn't get my bat on it.
Don't sweat it.
Forget it and move on.
Todo.
Huh?
A cutter. He may use a cutter.
That's not it.
That's not the signal for a cutter!
Stop moving, Kaname-kun!
This is where it really matters!
Okay, let's make sure he stays still without talking.
Yes, that looks great.
If we can get to the ninth like this...
Fiffle fair.
Did he just say "nipple hair"?
He didn't, no.
You must've imagined it.
I know it's gonna be... a cutter!
Damn. We're giving up hits so easily.
Safe!
Ugh, there it is. His boring batting.
Runners on first and second. It's a chance.
Next up is the unyielding 3-hole,
Kei Kaname the Commander.
And here comes Kei Kaname.
Time for a change.
As Kaname-kun predicted, Makita-kun is pitching.
So fast. It's hard for my eyes to adjust to his speed after that first pitcher.
He's such a gorilla! That's hilarious.
Makita-kun, you're funny!
His meathead power ball...
I'm excited to see how Kei Kaname deals with it.
I'm gonna crush you.
Play!
Ball!
So close! Nice job holding back!
A good eye.
A good batter on top of everything? Awesome.
Too bad I can't pitch today.
I want to go up against Kei Kaname soon.
Oh, it looks like it's over.
Huh?
I thanked the gods.
Because even if it was only for a little while,
I got to play baseball with Kei Kaname the Commander.
Wait. What?
Why am I playing in a game?
Batter, get back in the box.
Yama-chan!
Seriously, I have no memory of this. What's going on?
This is so Marilyn Mon-no.
Welcome back, Kaname-kun.
Yama-chan, are you crying?
Did something bad happen?
I'll happily listen to your plight.
Wait, he's not Kei-sama anymore?
Huh? No, I'm just regular "Kei-chan."
Do you know what "high cheddar" is?
Cheese from above?
You're not Kei-sama at all! How 2D of you!
Where am I?
At Hikawa High School.
Why are we playing a game?
Because you set it up.
Seriously?
Don't open snacks.
Seems I lost my memory again.
Am I cool or what?
Cool like a miracle!
You think?
Don't start snacking.
Don't lie down.
Wow. He's gone all lazy, as if trying make up for lost time.
The difference is amazing.
Commander mode must have been tough.
Kaname-kun, it's a bad idea to fall asleep mid-game.
Yeah. Nipple hair...
Is he sleep-talking?
So 2D!
Strike!
Don't go looking away, Haruka Kiyomine.
When it comes to fastballs, I'm number one.
Foul.
The beautiful gorilla versus the wild gorilla.
Makita-kun aside, despite how he looks, Kiyomine-kun's an instinctive player.
It'll be quite a show seeing which one wins.
The next one will be 10 kph faster.
Whoa!
Nope. It's long, but...
Out.
I can't believe Kiyomine-kun got all tied up by a straight pitch.
Our gorilla's only selling point is his power.
His pitching speed is first-class.
Don't underestimate him too much, Kiyomine-kun.
Even Kiyomine gave in to my power.
You'll never hit my pitch.
Right.
Physique is everything in baseball.
These walls... I can't run from them.
Baseball's about theory and skill.
Theories become strategies, and that's where players shine individually.
Physique can't determine everything.
That's why there's room for effort and dreams.
I'm a Liar
However...
Next time: "I'm a Liar."