Oofuri Chapter 20

Project Attempt To Translate Oofuri Summaries/Scripts At A Decently Paced Rate is GO.

Apologies for the forthcoming double post.



SUMMARY:

Roka dreams he is in a game tied in the bottom of the ninth, but that his legs won't move. He prays the ball will not be hit, but it is and it comes toward him.

Takii wakes him up because he is having a nightmare. The two discuss the fact they won't be changing their starting men. Takii says though he thought Naomasa was more suited to being catcher, Takeshi has been improving and he compliments Roka on his eye in picking him out. Takii says it's hard to believe just two years ago they were the same as their students. Roka wishes to himself that it could feel like a distant memory to him as well. Roka says he's going off to fix breakfast.

Roka goes to tell Takeshi that he'll be supporting him and that he will be starting again today. He reminds Takeshi to do his part as usual.

The Nishiura boys are outside the stadium where they will have their game later. They discuss where the games will be held in this half of the tournament (though I had trouble understanding). Mihashi notes that this stadium is different that the one where the opening ceremony was held, and Hanai explains that it is different, though if they win today they'll be going back to the stadium where the opening ceremony is held for their next game. Mihashi notices Hanai seems happy at the prospect, and thinks Hanai must particularly like the other stadium for some reason. He tries asking Hanai if he likes it because it is bigger or because it is where the opening ceremony is, but because of Mihashi's manner of speaking Hanai misunderstands his questions. The two are finally able to find a topic of common understanding and interest when Hanai mentions that the prefecture matches (all those after today) will be broadcast on TV.

Sakaeguchi runs into Shou-chan, a friend from the Seniors. Shou talks about how amazing it is that Nishiura has made it so far with only ten members who are all first years and says even his own coach is checking them out. He starts wondering (along with other boys in the surrounding area who overheard the conversation) if he should perhaps try going over to Nishiura, as he would be more likely to be a regular. The two say goodbye, and Sakaeguchi wonders if Nishiura is becoming a little famous.

Hanai Mama and Suyama Mama watch their kids come out onto the stands. The two discuss how much closer the stadium is to many others and how the next match will be on TV. Hanai Mama wonders if she should dress up for the occasion and Suayma Mama tells her she should be more concerned with her son getting on TV. Hanai Mama says the guest seat has been given to the vice principal, and Suyama Mama says if the boys win today they'll be in the Saitama best 16.

Hanai asks Shinooka if there are any changes to the starting lineup, and there are none. She mentions that Bijou uses two or three relief pitchers in every game. Abe thinks such a strategy suggests desperation. The team discusses how Bijou changed coaches two years ago. The new coach seemed young and Bijou's reputation seemed to drop for a while, but recently they've been doing better, making it into the best 16 that spring. Momokan is impressed the Bijou coach can handle so many pitchers at his young age (probably around 20). Tajima immediately asks how old Momokan is, and she says 23. Hanai finds the 7 year difference in their ages unsettling, but tells himself its not important.

Abe considers what they'll have to look out for in the upcoming game, and thinks about talking to Mihashi about it. He remembers Mihashi asking about him quitting as catcher, sees him talking easily with Tajima, and decides not to.

Hanai Mama comes up to meet the vice principal and thanks him for coming. She introduces him to Hamada. The VP remembers Hamada as the student who was held back because of attendance issues, and though he notes that Hamada is doing fine in that area now, he is still wary of him. He meets Hamada, who enthusiastically greets him, shows him their cheers, and tells him to watch out for the heat. The VP is touched by the obvious good character of Hamada.

Hamada discusses with the cheering squad that the first game is over (Bijou won) and they should go inside. The cheerleaders embarrassedly take off their outer clothing, and everyone is excited to see that the team has real cheerleaders. The boys are a little embarrassed to look at them.

Takii and Roka watch Nishiura's game. They discuss how much they wanted Tajima, but that he would not respond to their recruiting techniques. Takii figures it is his fault (I suppose for making people skeptical of the team because of his age), but says that if they are able to make it into the best 8 this tournament, things should go much better for them in the coming years. Both continue to watch and are impressed with Tajima's speed, though they wonder why Kounan was not ready for his bunt with how often he had been doing them in previous games.

They begin to discuss the peculiar pitch of Mihashi's they heard about from the Tousei captain. (Briefly interrupted by yelling at the team to settle down and watch the game.) They note that Mihashi throws nothing but breaking balls, and Roka explains that the odd fastball is their deciding pitch so they save it for the end. They talk about Mihashi's perfect control.

Roka points out to Takii that he has never once seen Mihashi shake his head in any of the games they've watched. Takii says then all they have to do is plan to hit the slow breaking balls. They can study Abe's pitch calling, as since he is only one person, there are likely some predictable patterns in his calling. Mihashi's good control will make it all the more predictable. They have three games worth of data, which should be plenty.

Nishiura wins the game and start ground maintenance. Mihashi thinks to himself that they won again today, and Abe says the exact words out loud, surprising Mihashi. Mihashi thinks to himself that they won because of Abe. He tries to ask Abe if he'd ever think about leaving again, and Abe gets angry he is still asking. Mihashi says he asks because if Abe leaves he can't pitch anymore, and Abe. now understanding Mihashi's worries, reiterates to Mihashi that he will pitch every game with him for the next three years. Mihashi says he understands.

____________

SCRIPT:

[translation by narwhaltortellini]
[Please note that my grasp on the Japanese language is tenuous and my understanding of baseball even more so. These translations and summaries were made with hopes of being helpful to fans who would like to read on in the story and do not mind suffering the occasional ambiguity or error. Parts I am consciously unsure of have been marked with two question marks (??), sometimes with my best guess at what they might mean. Note that the absence of question marks does not make the translation correct. ^_^]

[Anyone is free to use or repost these as they like, and scanlators are free to use them as aids. Just remember to use them, not trust them. It would, of course, be very kind of anyone taking them to let me know where they're going.]

Roka: ...My legs won't move.
Roka: It's like I'm under water.
Roka: I can't follow the ball like this.
Roka: Tied at the bottom of the ninth? Crap...
Roka: Please...
Roka: Please don't hit it!
Takii: Oof.

057
Takii: Mph. // Snap out of it!
Title: The 4th Match

058
Teacher: Mmmph.
Roka: Ssh.
[The head teacher (?) is sleeping in the next room. (??teacher's name?)]
Takii: You were having a nightmare.
-Hey.
-Time to wake up!
Takii: I figured I should wake you up.
[Make it to the best 8!]
Takii: But as soon as I did you latched onto my head like that and it scared the crap out of me!
Takii: You shouldn't go doing that kind of thing just cause someone surprised you! // ??
Roka: Geez, just give it a rest.

059
Roka: So no changes to the starting lineup?
Takii: Yeah. No problems so far, right?
Takii: Oh.
Takii: About Takeshi.
Roka: !
Takii: He sure has improved, hasn't he?
Takii: Since the tournament started he seems to be (?? literally: liver squat?)
Takii: He always did have the right spirit, but...
Takii: I always figured Naomasa won out on the technical side.
Takii: It's amazing, the way you got behind him like that!
Takii: You've sure got some eye!

060
Takii: You get that's a complement, right?
Roka: Ah, yeah.
Roka: Well, he's worked really hard. That's why.
Takii: I see!
Takii: Kids sure are amazing, huh?
Takii: It's hard to believe just two years ago the two of us were in the exact same place.

061
Roka: You going senile already?
Takii: (You... *jumbled*)
Roka: I'm heading out.
Roka: I've got 100 potatoes that need peeling before breakfast.
Takii: Fanks for all da work!
Roka: [For you...]
Roka: [It's already all just a distant memory.]
Roka: What I wouldn't give to be like that.
-(Good morning!)
-'(Morning!)
Roka: Hey.

062
-(Good morning!)
Roka: Hey.
Roka: Takeshi!
Take: !
Take: G- // Good... // !!
-(What time is breakfast?)
-(Seven thirty.)
Roka: You're going to be a starter today again.
Take: !
Roka: It seems like the coach isn't sure of you yet.

063
Roka: But I'm pushing for you.
Take: Th- // Thank you very much!
Roka: Today should go fine so long as you play as usual.
Roka: Just don't forget to do your part.
Take: Yes sir!

064
[Notice / After the first match, admission tickets become invalid. / No refunds. / No exceptions.
[High School Baseball Tournament / 10:00 somethingyama?? - Bijoudai Sayama / 12:30 Nishiura - Kounan]
Hanai: Everyone stay together! // It's going to be really crowded!
Hanai: Head to the stands behind third base!
Saka: It's great having the stadium so close.
Saka: We can take it a little easier.
Suya: Yeah.

065
(NOTE: Having difficulty understanding the stadium talk. Probably vague or incorrect, even if not marked. ^_^)
Suya: I wonder if all the games after this will be at stadium 3. // It's a lot closer to us than Kounan.
Hanai: (Is that everyone?)
Saka: So where are the three?
Suya: Oomiya, Oomiya, and Ageo, I think?
Saka: (Eh~)
Oki: (Huh...)
Izumi: (Wow...)
Hanai: I knew all that already, but...
Hanai: That's just cause she's a total high school baseball otaku, isn't it? // Mom: Azusa!)
Mihashi: This place...
Mihashi: It's different from... // Where the opening ceremony was... // Though // that's // ok.
Hanai: That's cause we were in Oomiya, but today we're at the municipal stadium.
Hanai: The opening ceremony was at our prefecture stadium. // It's really close by.
Hanai: If we win today, we'll be going back there.
Mihashi: !

066
Mihashi: It sounds like going to that stadium... // Makes Hanai-kun happy!
Mihashi: It // was really // big. // Does he like // Big places...?
Big words: (Wanna keep talking...)
Mihashi: Is...
Mihashi: Is it because it's so big?
Hanai: Huh?
Hanai: “Because” // it's big?
Hanai: You mean the prefecture stadium?
Hanai: It's true the prefecture stadium is bigger all around, but the center's the same in both.
Hanai: ??
Both: You're... // Losing him.
Mihashi: If...If it's not because it's big...
Mihashi: Then.. // Then because the opening ceremony is there?
Hanai: Er?
Hanai: Yeah, they do have the opening ceremony there every year?
Mihashi?: .... // ...A-Ah...
Izumi: ....
Saka: Haa...
Saka: So...
Hanai: And you know...

067
Hanai: Where the matches near the end of the tournament will be played, whether it be in the prefecture stadium or somewhere else, is actually decided from everything starts. (??really unsure about this one . Almost rather more a guess than an actual 'translation.' ^_^)
Hanai: ??
Hanai: Though // I guess since you're from Gunma you didn't know about all of it.
Hanai: Actually in Saitama, all the prefecture games are broadcast on TV!
Mihashi: !!
Mihashi: On TV!?
Izumi: Ah.
Saka: You've got him!
Hanai: (My parents told me I'd better win today no matter what.)
Hanai: (I mean, come on!)
Mihashi: (Oooh.)
Saka: That's it! // Keep it going!
Shou: Yuuto!
Saka: Huh?

068
Saka: !!
Saka: Shou-chan!
Saka: It's a friend from the Seniors!
Izumi: I'm gonna go ahead, then.
Saka: I'll follow you soon!
Shou: It's been forever!
Saka: Tell me about it!
Shou: So, Yuuto!
Shou: Do you have your own number!?
Saka: Yeah! We've only got ten players, after all.
Shou: Ten!? // You've only got ten people and you made it to the fourth round!?
Shou: You guys have done so well! Wow!

069
Saka: Uh...
Saka: Yeah, I guess!
Shou: Hey, is it really true that you guys are all first years!?
Saka: Ah...
Saka: Well, yeah.
Shou: Whoa~ That's so amazing!
Saka: Ah, well...
Saka: We've been really lucky, after all...
Shou: That's not luck! // Our coach is even checking you guys out!
Saka: Ah?
Shou: Maybe I should go over to Nishiura, too...
Saka: Hey, come on. // There are people listening.
-Nishiura...
-They're all first years...
-If I go over there, maybe I can be a regular.

070
Shou: In the fifth round we'll be enemies, but good luck for today!
Shou: I probably just be on the bench, though! // See ya!
Saka: Yeah!
Saka: Good luck! I'll be routing for you guys, too!
Saka: Could Nishiura maybe...
Saka: ...Be getting a little famous?
[Prior to the match, the starting lineup of both teams will come to greet one another. // Batting first, Bijoudai Sayama High School.]
Hanai: Oh, Suyama-san!
Hanai: Here come the kids!
Suya: Oh, you're right! // They did say they'd be watching the first one.
Suya: It'd be nice if the games could always be in this stadium.
Hanai: The first one was all the way in the tenth!
Hanai: (Going long distances like that always tires out my left foot!)
Suya: Going to tape it was definitely an ordeal!
Suya: (Wow, Hanai-san, you drive a stick?)
Hanai: But the next one's going on TV!
Suya: TV! // I wonder if anyone we know will make it on!
Hanai: You think we should dress up for the occasion?
Hanai: (Hahaha!)
Suya: Hanai-san! I'm talking about our boys!

072
Suya: (Hahaha.) Oh, who did they give the guest seat to?
Hanai: The vice principal.
Hanai: He'll be coming to cheer them on today.
Suya: Ah...
Hanai: Well. // TV aside...
Suya: Yeah.
Suya: If they manage to win today...
Suya: Those boys...
Suya: Will be in in the Saitama best 16...!

073
[Our umpires will now be entering the field.]
Hanai: Shinooka. // Any changes to their starting lineups?
Chiyo: Neither have made any changes.
-(Shinooka's so amazing!)
Chiyo: Though with Bijou, // They've used two or three relief pitchers in every game up till now.
Suya: Woah, they've got reserve pitchers? (??some things here are getting me confused on whether or not I've got the number of pitchers right.)
Suya: And three of them!
Suya: (I'm no good...)
Abe: Three...
Abe: These days forming a strategy around using so many pitchers looks to me more like an act of desperation.
-What do you mean?
Abe: Bijou changed coaches just two years ago, right?
Izumi: Oh?
Saka: Yeah.
Abe: The old coach had been eligible for retirement a year before that, so there'd already been some talk.
Abe: But I've heard the successor seems an awful lot like just another student. (??or are they saying he is an old student from there?)
Abe: Our seniors avoided them.
Tajima: Oh, yeah. // In the last three years we never went to Bijou, either.
Hanai: Huh.
Izumi: Now that you mention it, I've had the impression that Bijou was pretty strong...
Izumi: But really, I didn't see them once last summer. // The new coach's first year?
Chiyo: Hmm... // During their first tournament last year, they were eliminated in the second round.

075
Chiyo: They had one win in the autumn preliminaries, but lost in the first round of the prefectures.
Chiyo: In spring, though, they made it into the best 16, and now they're a D seed team.
Momo: She works fast.
Taji: Well their coach must be really great then, right!?
Taji: To make it through four games in their first year!
Momo: Judging from this tournament, anyway! (?? or they'll see from watching this tournament?)
Momo: Still... Juggling that many pitchers into each game must be pretty tough.

076
Momo: That's pretty impressive for someone who's only about twenty or so.
Saka: Twenty...
Izumi: A sophomore in college?
Hanai: Though now that you mention it...
Tajima: How old are you, coach?
Small words: (Inner thoughts)
big words: (Woah!)
Momo: Me? I'm 23!
Abe: 23.
Saka: 23...
Izumi: 23... So three years older than my big brother.
Hanai: 6?
Hanai: No, 7 years above us?

077
Hanai: That's...a little troubling, isn't it?
Hanai: It's troubling, right!?
Hanai: T-There's no reason to think like that!
Hanai: Right.
Abe: Is that number 8? Kurata.
-He's been batting pretty well this tournament.
Abe: [Up until fall Bijou hadn't settled on a catcher.]
Abe: [And with the way they've been using all those relief pitchers, they're probably a little lost.]

078
Abe: Once their new catcher gets settled, that's probably when we'll start seeing their real potential.
Abe: Batting-wise we'll probably need to watch out for their cleanup Wada and Miyata, the former catcher candidate who's the right fielder now.
Abe: I'll keep an eye on them.
Abe: Figure out some pointers to give to Mihashi...
Tajima: (My brother's wife is 23.)
Tajima: (Ever since she got pregnant her boobs have been huge!)
Mihashi: (Oooh.)
Mihashi: Are...you going to stop being a catcher?
*badump*
Abe: ...Ah.
Abe: He seems relaxed enough. // I'll just leave him to Tajima.
Abe: (It can wait till before the game.)
Big words: (A little traumatized...) ??

079
Vice: ....
Vice: So many people...
Hanai: Oh!
Hanai: You're the vice principal, right!? // Hi!
Vice: Ah, hello.
Hanai: It's great of you to come even when it's so hot out!
Hanai: (Thanks!)
Abe: (Suyama-san is already there.)
Vice: Oh no, just look at all of you!
Abe: Tomorrow's game will be on TV, right?
Hanai: It really is good of you!
Vice: It's the best I can do to show my support.
Hanai: (Hama-chan!)
Hanai: Oh, I should introduce you to the captain!

080
Vice: The captain?
Vice: Hama-chan... // Hama-chan...?
Vice: Oh, Hamada!
Hanai: Over here!
Hanai: Sensei!
Vice: The boy who was held back for attendance!
Hama: Oh. // The VP?
Vice: He seems to be keeping his attendance up this year, but...
Hama: Sensei!
Hama: You really came!
Vice: *badump*

081
Hama: It's really hot, so make sure to take care, ok?
Hama: These are directions for all our the cheers. // We'd love it if you did them with us, too!
Vice: H-Hamada... // What about you? Are you really alright in that outfit?
Hamada: I'll be fine!
Hamada: Thanks for your concern, though!
Vice: ~~~
Vice: Ah, yes! Right!
Vice: Good luck out there!

082
Vice: I'll be cheering with you! // Give it your best, Hamada!
Hama: Nothing but!
Hanai: Your eyes look a little wet?
Vice: (How unexpected!)
Vice: (How easily youngsters bring tears to the eyes!)
-Yeah.
-Got it.
Hama: Was that Kaji?
Hama: What's going on inside?
-Oh, Hamada!
-Sounds like it just ended!
-Called game in the seventh inning. Bijou won.
Hama: Alright!
Hama: You guys ready?~
Hama: Hm?

083
-L-Let's wait just a little longer.
-No way!
-They're coming off now! // The game's going to start any minute!
-....
-I guess so.
-(It's hot, anyway.)
-Alright, let's do it!
-Ok.
-All... // All ready!
(Cheerleaders!?)
(Are those cheerleaders!?)
(We've got cheerleaders!?)

084
Hama: ....... // ....... // Ah... The socks... // got // shorter // huh?
-So. // Time to go?
Boys: Looking at the newly exposed places makes your pulse go funny.
Girls: ??
Ump: Play ball!

086
Takii: Huh. // Nishiura's looking really lively.
Roka: The third match we taped was before summer break started.
Takii: The coach sure does like playing with the batting order.
Roka: Probably cause the cleanup Tajima was injured.
Takii: Oh, right!
Takii: They've got Tajima Yuuichirou!

087
Takii: It would have been nice to get Tajima...
Takii: He would have made a great backbone for our first years...
Roka: Something must have screwed up in the scouting. // Nothing seemed to get through to that guy.
Takii: Well...
Takii: It was probably because of me.
Takii: But if we can reach our goal for this tournament...
Takii: Something tells me the coming years will be looking a lot different!
Roka: By “our goal” you mean the best 8?
Roka: I dunno...
Takii: Hey, I'm being realistic here!

088
Roka: A bunt with two outs!

089
Ump: Safe!
Takii: Woah! // That was totally fast!
Takii: What, five seconds!?
Takii: ...Er.
-(Is that Bijou?)
-(The Bijou coach?)
[Cheering squad of Kounan High School]
Takii: He's good, but... // Is he still inured?
Roka: He's back playing third (hit the ball to third??), so I doubt it.
Takii: Oh, right.
Takii: ?? (something about Kounan)

090
Roka: Tajima had four bunts in the last game. // Why wasn't that third baseman ready for it?

091
-One point!
-Alright!

092
Takii: ...Still. // Tajima's the only one we really need to look out for?
Takii: He's still just a first year. He can't get a lot of distance.
Roka: As far as the offense.
Takii: Ah. // You're thinking about that peculiar pitch?
Taki: That's him, right? // Mihashi.
Roka: Yeah.

093
Takii: ....
Taki: Playing catch?
Roka: Just look close.
Roka: Because that ball held Tousei at four points.
Takii: ....

094
Makoto: No way.
Makoto: What Tamaken said was...
Takii: Makoto!
Mako: !!
Mako: Yes sir!
Takii: Get those first years to settle down!
Mako: Yes sir!
Takii: The rest of you, too! Don't get carried away just because you won one game!
-(Yes sir!)
-Watch the game!
-(Yes sir!)
-(Our next opponent is out there right now!)
-(Yes sir!)

095
Takii: .... // So?
-Huh? // That's a slow pitch.
Takii: ?? (Something about the catcher. Maybe 'So it's the catcher (we have to watch out for)?')
Roka: Just watch.
Takii: ....
Takii: His pitch calling is strange.
Ump: Strike!
Takii: Nothing but breaking balls.

096
Roka: According to the former captain of Tousei,
Roka: That fastball is their deciding pitch, so they tend to reserve it for the endgame.
Takii: So that's his “special” pitch. // ...And then he's got pretty good control.
Roka: More like perfect control.
Takii: That's an exaggeration.
Roka: It's not. // Watch him and you'll see.
Takii: Well... // So what if it is?
Roka: That pitcher...

097
Roka: Not once in the two games I've watched him in...
Roka: Has he ever shaken his head.
Roka: Because if he shakes his head it might leak what kind of ball is coming, right? // So the catcher just changes the sign till he nods.
Roka: I doubt it.
Roka: Somehow...
Roka: I think... // That guy...
Roka: Really is throwing exactly as his catcher tells him.

098
Takii: ....
Takii: So then...
Takii: The thing to aim for is those slow breaking balls.
Ump: Strike!
Takii: If the pitcher never interferes with the selection, then all we've got to do is figure out the catcher's patterns.
Takii: It's the single mind of a single human being. // No matter what, it's guaranteed to have some some conventions.

099
Takii: And if the pitcher's control is good, that makes it all the more easy to predict. // How much data have you got?
Roka: Counting today, we'll have three game's worth.
Takii: More than enough.
Takii: The best 8...
Takii: Is within our grasp!

100
Hama: We're going to do the ?? exchange!
Hama: Alright, hooray Nishiura!
Ham: Next I want to hear a hooray for Kounan!
[Winning team, Nishiura High School. // Please begin ground maintenance.]
Mihashi: ...It's... // Hama-chan's cheer.

101
Mihashi: We... // Won again today...
Abe: We won again today.
Mihashi: Ah. // Um.
Abe: What?
Mihashi: We... // Thought the same thing!
Mihashi: We // Won today.
Mihashi: Because // Of Abe-kun.
Mihashi: Ah. Er. You. // Abe-kun // You // wouldn't
Mihashi: Ever // leave // Nish-
Mihashi: Wa~ // Wah~
Abe: Why would I leave!? You just won't give up on this, will you!?
Mihashi: I-If... // If you won't leave // I-I'm ok.
Abe: What the hell is that!? // Do you want me stay or don't you!?
Hanai: (Stop fooling around! Do your stretches!)

102
Mihashi: Wha!? // I-If you leave...
Mihashi: I // won't // be able to pitch...
Abe: ....
Abe: Ah. // So that's what this is about.
Mihashi: ....any // more.
Abe: There's just one worry after another with you, isn't there?
Mihashi: .... // ...?
Abe: I'll say it as many times as it takes! // I'm will be your catcher in every game for the next three years!
Abe: If I say I will, then I really will! // Got it!?
Hanai: If you're not going to stretch, then do ground maintenance!
Mihashi: G- // Got it!