Oofuri (Afternoon) Chapter 43 Summary/Script

Though I haven't gotten some internet time till now, this was actually finished less than a day after I posted the last one.

Note to self: NEVER DO THIS AGAIN.

Probably won't be any more for at least a handful of days, maybe many more, as in just a couple I'm going to have one incredibly long plane ride (with...I think it was a 6 hour layover in San Francisco? ...Or was that Hong Kong? ...Or both? T_T), a three day break at home (much time of which will probably be spent with hoards of relatives asking how the trip was, celebrating a friend's birthday, and then preparing to leave again), and then of course the leaving again part. Hehehe. Hahah. Aaaaaah. ^_^;

Plus then I'll once again have raws for the manga I'M ACTUALLY scanlating which I made the horrendous mistake of only bringing one volume of on this trip (Me 5 weeks ago: "Gone for five weeks? One volume and two extra chapters of another with me to translate? That's more than one per week, I'll be fine!" Me after having translated 3 chapters in a single incredibly uneventful day: "T____T" Note to self: NEVER DO THAT AGAIN, EITHER.)

But, you know. That's a long plane trip. And the families and what have you sitting around me would probably object to me translating porn next to them, so you never know what I might get done.



SUMMARY:

In the stands, Hanai Mama shows Izumi Mama that her son is on TV. The other mothers don't see why she is embarrassed, as they think her son looks cool, though his mother does not agree as she has seen what he is like at home. The mothers discuss setting their tape recorder timers at home. Izumi Mama was asked by her older son to record the game as he lives in another prefecture and can't watch it. Mihashi Mama is embarrassed when told that the pitcher is the player that gets recorded the most, at first because she is worried her son will get another nosebleed, but then also because he seems to be getting hit more today. Hamada reminds everyone not to be discouraged about the team being behind, as they have not even gotten a chance to score points yet. Mihashi Mama is heartened, and when Hamada asks the girls to cheer especially loud since Bijou is an all boys school, she does her best.

Standing in the batter's box, Izumi notes that though Bijou has three pitchers, the first Takenouchi is still the real ace. If they are able to tire him out enough to get him off the mound, then that puts the game more in Nishiura's favor. Izumi hits his first pitch, but it goes up and is caught. The catcher Takeshi notes that when batting right-handed Izumi tends to hit just right of center, and that though he can make a ball go far if it rolls, if he hits it up he can't make it thorough the outfield. Takeshi had signaled for the ball to be high to make sure Izumi could not hit the ball low.

In the dugout, Tajima asks Izumi if he was nervous, and Izumi says that he was not. Izumi thinks to himself that even relaxation will not increase his batting power, and knows that he must keep the ball down to do any good.

In the game, Takeshi notes that as Sakaeguchi, who is next up to bat, has up till now done nothing but bunts, so they have no data on him. Takeshi is sending fastballs at Sakaeguchi. Sakaeguchi watches his first pitch, but notes that Tousei's pitcher was better, and on the second is able to make a clean hit towards center, making it on to first base.

Suyama bunts to advance Sakaeguchi and is out. Takii (if I understand this right?) thinks their choice odd as even Tajima has only been able to get a runner home from second base once.

With two outs and a runner on second, Tajima comes up to bat. Takeshi notes that though Tajima may be a very good player, his hitting distance is still about the same as Izumi's and they will use the same strategy to get him out. Tajima notices the outfielders are coming forward, and remembers they did the same at Izumi's at-bat. Realizing that they may be doing this specifically for batters of their stature, Tajima realizes they are trying to make him hit an outfield fly. Knowing this will mean the pitch will be high, Tajima aims his hit higher and is able to make a good, low hit to right field.

As Sakaeguchi gets to third base, Nishihiro tells him to keep going and advance to home as the ball is still in the outfield. From home, Takeshi calls for the right fielder to throw the ball home. He does, and Sakaeguchi is out. Nishihiro is shocked the right fielder has such a good arm. Tajima notes that the right fielder is Miyata, the former catcher, so this is probably why. Noting that Nishiura was unable to score even one point, Tajima wonders if they should be worried.

Abe is getting some pointers from Momokan before he goes back out to defend. He wants to see how the bottom of their lineup reacts to the breaking balls, and to try out the curve ball (which he has not yet used in this game) before having to face their better batters again. Momokan stops Abe and asks if he'd like her to give signs instead of him. Abe asks her to let him keep doing it.

Still remembering the cold of Abe's hands, Mihashi worries that something is wrong. He thinks if Abe can't do this, then neither can he. Hanai says encouraging things to Mihashi, and Mihashi resolves that he simply has to stop them from scoring and they will get points their next at bat. He's sure Abe must be fine, and so that means he (Mihashi) will be, too.

The right fielder Miyata is being congratulated by his teammates on getting the ball back home. Takeshi notes to himself that the reason he even told the right fielder to throw back home was that he know it was Miyata and that Miyata could do it. Takeshi feels bad that he cannot match up to Miyata, but tries to tell himself to have confidence. Another teammate comes up to Takeshi and quietly reminds him not to play in such a risky nearly-breaking-the-rules way, standing over the base as he did. He thinks the coach might replace him if he keeps playing this way, something they (Takechi and his teammate or Takeshi and the coach?) apparently discussed in their third match as well.

Mihashi pitches a slider at the batter, but he doesn't swing. Abe then calls for the curve ball, on the inside where the batter does not tend to hit. Seeing the ball is on the inside, the batter hits it, though the Nishiura defense is able to get the ball back to first and get him out.

On the mound, Mihashi is reminding himself what batters he is facing and where in the strike zone they like to hit, and actually seems to be succeeding in remembering, albeit unsurely. The current batter, Kurata, likes to hit on the inside.

Abe signs for a curve ball on the outside, and the batter hits it and gets on base. Abe is disturbed that two batters in a row have hit the curve ball.

The ninth batter is the pitcher Takenouchi, who is not a very good hitter. He shows a bunt, and Abe thinks and decides to go with the fastball from the start, and signals to Mihashi. Mihashi begins to pitch, and the man on first steals second. Momokan is worried, as the runner was not very fast. Abe simply did not react fast enough. Abe knows this, and looking tired and rattled, he notes that choosing pitches is not his only job, and that he needs to watch out for Mihashi, too, as Mihashi is not considering anything else and simply doing as Abe signals.

Bijou's batter signals that he was thrown a fastball. Takii notes that they were thrown a fastball when the second batter bunted as well. Mihashi keeps throwing fastballs, and when the batter attempts to bunt, it pops up and he is out.

With a runner on second, two outs, and Bijou back at the top of their lineup, Abe is nervous and trying to calm himself. Abe notes that at his first at-bat this batter went for a ball that was on the outside rather than the inside where he usually likes it, but figures this was simply because the batter was waiting for a shoot. So, Abe asks for a curve ball to the outside. The batter gets a good hit, and Bijou scores their 4th point.

Catcher Takeshi, the runner who just made it home, looks up to Roka and notes that he has still not been given a “signal.” He thinks that as long as they have a good point spread, he can still keep playing “baseball.”

The second batter is up, and Abe knows he has already used the fastball on him, but he cannot think of anything else to do. They throw three fastballs. The batter watches the first two even though they are both strikes, then swings at the last and misses, making the third out.

Mihashi notices that the last pitch on the outside was the only one the last batter swung at. Knowing he usually doesn't try to deal with this sort of thing, Mihashi still goes to check the data sheet to see if he is what he remembers is true. Looking, he confirms that the batters are hitting the pitches on the opposite side from the one they usually prefer. Mihashi wonders if this is a coincidence but worries it is not, as then Abe's pitch calling will not be effective, and they will have no use for a pitcher who's attraction is his ability to follow Abe's directions. Still, Mihashi is also worried that things will continue as they have been and that this information might be more useful the sooner he says it.

Abe and Momokan are having a discussion and are interrupted by Mihashi in complete tears. Mihashi tries to talk to Abe, but Abe is furious that Mihashi is crying for no reason, and says he cannot understand what he is saying. Tajima translates Mihashi's stuttered words that the batters are hitting on opposite sides. Abe goes over the hitting patterns again in this light, and confirms Mihashi's statement. He then gets angry at Mihashi again for crying, as the news Mihashi has given them is not something to cry about. He tells Mihashi that because of him, they may now actually be able to do something.

TRANSLATION:

[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.]

EDIT: Big thanks to pallomakkara for help with the translation!

01
HanaM: Look Izumi-san!
HanaM: They're showing Kousuke!
IzumiM: Oh! // You're right! // Is that on TV!?
IzumiM: Oh, dear!
HanaM: What's wrong with it? // Kousuke is so cool!
IzumiM: Eh? // He isn't at all!
IzumiM: (You'd never say that if you saw what he's like at home.)
SuyaM?: But you made sure to set your tape recorder, didn't you?
IzumiM: His older brother asked me to do it.
IzumiM: He doesn't live in this prefecture.
TajiM?: You know, // My older boy played for three years, but his team never made it this far even once.

02
SuyaM?: (You should have brought your father!)
TajiM?: (He's watching at home right now!)
HanaM: Did you get the timer on yours set alright, Mihashi-san?
MihaM: My husband did it.
AbeM: The pitcher is the one who gets recorded the most, after all!
MihaM: Really?
HanaM: (He gets a close-up every time he throws a pitch!)
MihaM: Eh?
AbeM: (They pay attention to every move he makes!)
MihaM: Wow!
MihaM: It's a little embarrassing.
MihaM: What if he gets another nosebleed...
AbeM: A nosebleed?
AbeM: Why would he?
MihaM: [Nosebleeds regardless... // He's getting hit a lot today...]
All: Hello everyone!

03
All: Thanks for braving the heat to come here!
[Chapter 43, The Fifth Match, Part II]

04
Hama: It's three to nothing now. // But!
Hama: It's only natural not to have any points before we've gotten to bat!
Hama: The real battle starts now! Get ready to cheer!
MihaM: ...Of course. // Nishiura just needs a chance to bat.
Hama: Also, our opponent today is an all boy's school!
Hama: In a way, we've already got an advantage over them on the cheering side!
Hama: I want to hear all the girls cheering extra loud!
MihaM: At first I was just happy to know he'd become the ace.
MihaM: Now it's almost a little frightening!
HamaM: (That's right, we're girls!)
MihaM: (Go Izumi-kun!)
MihaM: I can at least do my best to cheer!
AbeM: (That's right!)

05
Izumi: I can't let their three point lead get to me. (??)
Izumi: I can watch the ball for up to two strikes. // But if I see a good one, I'm going for it!
Izumi: [They may have three pitchers, but Takenouchi is still the real ace.]
Izumi: [If they manage to keep things at their own pace, he'll be up there the entire game.]
Izumi: But if we can push him enough to get him off the mound...
Izumi: That will make winning all the more possible for us!

06
Izumi: I can make it!

07
Izumi: Damn.
Izumi: Right in front of them. (??)

08
Take: One out!
Take: When batting right-handed...
Take: Izumi tends to hit just to the right of center. (??)
Take: There have been times it's rolled past the infield, but he doesn't have the power to make it through the outfield if it goes up.
Takii: Up till now he's been lucky.
Takii: And his high hits have all landed just in front of the outfield. (??) // But if we can make him pop it up, there's no way he can make a safe hit!
[Batting second, second baseman, Sakaeguchi-kun.]
Take: Alright. // Now we've got the immobile second batter.
Saka: Ready!
Take: All he's ever done is bunts, so we don't have any data on him.

09
Take: Let's see if we can overpower him.
Taji: Hey!
Taji: Were you nervous!?
Izumi: Not at all!
Izumi: The first ball just looked hittable, so I went for it!
Taji: It was a good hit!
Izumi: Thanks!
Izumi: But... Even when I'm relaxed, it's not going to increase my batting power. // I've got to make that ball roll!

10
Ump: Strike!
Saka: This... // This speed and this cut... (?? I assume someone more baseball-smart might know what he means by this? ...or someone more familiar with Japanese baseball terms?)
Take: One more fastball.
Saka: Tousei's pitcher was better!

11
Saka: Alright!
Hama: Alright, now we're talking!

12
Take: Right through the center. // Well, no helping it.
[Batting third, shortstop, Suyama-kun.]
Take: I'll remember that for next time.
Momo: It's only the bottom of the first inning.
Momo: Getting at least one runner home is more important than getting on base.
Take: A bunt.
Takii: They sure are stubborn.
Takii: The only time Tajima has brought a runner home from second was the last inning of the Tousei game. // And the next two after him haven't even once. What do they think they're playing at? (?? It actually says 'the fourth and fifth batters' rather than “the next two”, but Tajima IS the fourth batter, so either it's a typo or I'm completely wrong about what it means. ...Also, not sure about that last bit.)

13
Suya: Ok.
Ump: Out!
-Two outs and a runner on second.

14
[Batting fourth, third baseman, Tajima-kun.]
Momo: Don't get impatient and fooled by a change up.
[Uniform number 5.]
Hanai: Bring us home a point!
Izumi: (Bring him home!)
Taji: Ready!
Take: He's good no matter how you look at it, // But his hitting distance is still about the same as the leadoff.
Take: We'll use the same strategy as we did then!
Taji: The outfielders are coming forward.

15
Taji: [It might be because of the runner on second. // But they did the same thing during Izumi's at-bat.]
Taji: [If this is a change they're making specifically for guys like us...]
Taji: [Then they're trying to make me hit an outfield fly.]
Taji: [If that's the case, then they're going to pitch the ball...]
Tajia: High!

16
Take: He put it on the ground!
Take: He bent his arms and managed to hit the high ball perfectly!
Take: This guy really is good!
-The runner's coming home!
Nishi: It's in front of right field!
Nishi: Keep going!

17
Nishi: Keep going!
Take: Throw it home!
-Home!

18
Taji?: Wha!?
Take: Let it through!
Ump: Out!

19
-Alright!
-A coed school...
-One with cheerleaders! // No way we're losing to them!
Nishi: Ah...
Nishi: I didn't know the right fielder had such a strong arm.
Taji: Oh, yeah. That right fielder is Miyata, the old catcher.
Taji: He would have a strong arm, and be used to infield defense, too. (??)
Taji: The distance back home wasn't actually all that far, anyway.

21
Taji: We couldn't even manage one point to answer their three.
Taji: This might be turning bad.
Abe: Nothing...!
Momo: At the very least, make sure to end it by the the second batter's at-bat.
Momo: 3, 4, and 5 are all long hitters. // If they can get a lot of guys on base for those batters, this could be a big inning for them!
Abe: Yes ma'm.
Abe: Am I going to have to resort to the “fastball” here?
Abe: First I can watch how the lower half of their lineup reacts to the breaking balls. // If I don't get the chance to test out the curve ball before it gets back to the top...
Momo: Abe-kun!

22
Abe: Yeah?
Momo: Do you want me to take care of the signs!?
Abe: ....
Abe: Please let me keep going!
Miha: ....
Miha: Something... // Is wrong.
Miha: Abe-kun's hand... // was cold // ...wasn't it?
Miha: If Abe-kun // Can't do this...
Miha: Then neither can I.

23
Hanai: We're going to score in the next inning! // We've just got to shut them down here first!
Hanai: Good. I didn't tickle him. (??)
Miha: I... // I'm being too pessimistic.
Miha: Thinking like that // won't help! (??)
Miha: [They'll...score in the next round.]
Miha: [I just need to stop them here.]

24
Miha: [I'm sure...]
Miha: [Abe-kun is fine.]
Miha: So...
Miha: I'm fine, too!
-Nice one back home!
-Ouch!
-I saw that! Hey! (??)
Miya: I've still got the motion and control of a catcher, (??)
Miya: But maybe this means out fielding was what my arm was really made for. (??)
-You showoff!
Miya: Maybe you'll awaken to your true calling in the outfield, too! (??)

25
Take: I said to throw it back home because I knew it was coming from Miyata.
Take: He really does have a great arm.
Take: I just don't match up...
Take: (Ah.) No.
Take: I've got to deal with this!
Take: A catcher has got to have confidence in himself!
-Takeshi.
Take: Ah!
-If you keep playing risky and straddling the base like that, // I'm going to talk to the coach about getting rid of you. (??..which seems awfully weird for a teammate to say. Maybe the coach was the one who said he was thinking about it?)

26
-We talked about this during the third match too, remember?
Take: ...Yeah.
-Maybe you want to win more than any of us.
-But if you keep playing just this side of breaking the rules like this, // You're going to disgrace coach and this whole team.
-Not to mention // yourself too.

27
-Let's get out there and win!
[Batting seventh, first baseman, Matsushita-kun.]
Matsu: Ready!
Abe: Matsushita tends to push the ball and make it to the outfield. (??)
Abe: He's got a good reach, but power is basically all he's got. (??)
Abe: I'll do a slider in the strike zone, and then I can try out the curve ball.
Takii: It'd be nice if he let us try hitting more “fastballs,” (??) // But that would be a little too convenient for us. (??)

28
Takii?: [Just keep watching out for the ones aimed where you like it!]
Matsu: Plan stays the same.
Miha: A slider.
Ump: Strike!
Abe: ...He didn't swing.
Abe: Alright. // Time for the curve ball.

29
Miha: A curve ball...
Matsu: It's inside!
Matsu: ...ah!

30
Matsu: A curve ball!
Taji: Got it!
Ump: Out!

31
Miha: That was // the seventh batter, Matsushita... // I think?
[Batting eight, catcher, Kurata.]
Kura: A curve ball?
[Uniform number 2]
Kura: So he's finally used all his pitches.
Kura: I need to use my head here.
Miha: Ah. Yeah. // This is the eight... // Ah // Kurata (kun) // now.
Miha: Kura, Kura... Aaah... “Inside the cellar,” so... (*) // He likes // the inside corner.
(*What Mihashi says is “kura no naka,” which has a nice kind of ring to it, and “kura” (the first kanji of Kurata's name) is cellar, “naka” is inside.)

32
Miha: [Abe-kun's sign is for...]
Miha: Low // on the
Miha: Outside.
Miha: A curve ball.

33
Kura: Outside!
-It got through!

34
Abe: That's...
Abe: Two batters in a row that hit the curve ball!?
Miha: .... // That...
Miha: That's strange, isn't it?
[Batting ninth, pitcher, Takenouchi-kun.]
Miha: The next // is // Take // Takenouchi...
Miha: Ah. // All three of the pitchers liked... // ...the inside! (??)
Miha: Though // If he's bunting I guess it doesn't matter. // Right?
Abe: Takenouchi isn't a major hitter.
Abe: [?? (lit: “in the middle of the match (he?) will probably draw back”)]
Abe: [We'll go with the “fastball” from the start!]

35
-Lead, // Lead, // !!

36
Takeno: Ah.

37
Ump: Safe!
Momo: Hey, now!
Momo: You're taking too long to get the ball to second!
Momo: [Kurata isn't even that fast! // Are you even thinking about the runner!?]
Abe: What am I doing!?
Abe: Calling pitches isn't my only job here.
Abe: [Mihashi is just going to throw the way I tell him without thinking. // If I'm not careful, we're going to get hit...!] (??)

38
Takii: Three fingers. // A fastball!
Takii: Didn't they throw a fastball when Tetsurou was showing a bunt, too?
-Three fingers a fastball?
-Yeah.
Takii: Yoshito isn't going to be able to hit a fastball.
Takii: I was hoping he could advance Takeshi with a bunt. (??) // But at least he can try and get a good look at that fastball!
Abe: Bunting, eh?

39
Ump: Strike!
Abe: Don't think you can hit it? It's right down the middle.
Abe: True his average is only 10%, but is he really that bad?
Abe: And isn't this the third time he's tried for a bunt!?
Miha: ....
Miha: One more pitch.

40
Takeno: I'll go for it this time!
Takeno: Here.

41
Ump: Out!
Takii: That's kind of cool... // I'd like to try a hit at that myself!
Takii: I wish they'd try it out on another of our better batters besides Tetsurou.
Takii: Though I guess they wouldn't with it only being the second inning.
[Batting first, short stop, Kawashima-kun.]
[Uniform number six.]

42
Abe: I need to calm down.
Abe: There's a runner on second, but there are two outs.
Abe: [In his first at-bat, this guy hit a shoot on the outside corner out to center, though he supposedly doesn't like to hit from there.]
Abe: People don't just change where they like it willy-nilly.
Abe: And it was 0-2. Which means the only reason he had to hit then was because the pitch was a shoot.
Abe: This guy has got to be looking for a shoot.
Miha: A curve ball. // Starts outside the zone, and then curves in...

43
Kawa: A curve ball!

44
Kawa: It's outside.
Kawa: But it should...
Kawa: Come in!

45
Abe: Damnit!
-Keep going!
-Run!
Abe: To second!
?: Izumi!
Izumi: Ah.

46
Take: Four points!
Take: Still no “signal.”
Take: I'll hit the next one, too.

47
Take: [So long as we've still got a good point spread...]
Take: [I can still keep playing “baseball.”]
-Ready!
Abe: Second batter.
Abe: We've used the “fastball” on him already, but...
Abe: [It's no good.]
Abe: [I can't think of anything.]

49
Ump: Strike!
Ump: Strike!
Ump: Strike!

50
Miha: The outside pitch...
Miha: Was all // He swung at!
Hanai: Alright! // Let's get this started!
Miha: I don't...
Miha: Ever watch this sort of thing, // But.
Miha: Um...
Miha: Ah... // Er...
Miha: I didn't // Remember wrong.
Miha: Everyone // Is hitting...
Miha: The opposites...

51
Miha: [It might...be a coincidence.]
Miha: [But if it isn't...]
Miha: This data...
Miha: Won't // Be any use...?
Miha: [Then,]
Miha: [Abe-kun's signs... // ...What about them?]
Miha: Then instead of needing someone who can follow the signs... // Instead...
Miha: Someone fast. // Or. // A left-handed pitcher would be...
Miha: I don't // Want to be replaced.
Miha: And maybe if I'm wrong about it...

52
Miha: ...But, // What if I'm right?
Mizu: (Get on no matter what!) (??)
Izu: (Want us to tickle you?)
Hana: (Ah...)
Miha: [What if it's the sort of thing that's sooner said the better...?]
Miha: What happens...
Miha: If we keep // Getting hit like this...?
Abe: Then nothing but “fastballs” for the second batter.
Momo: Yeah. // I think that was a good decision.
Momo: At any rate...
Momo: Wh- // What's the matter!?

53
*wobbly letters are crying noises*
Miha: Ah. // They
Miha: hit // the
Miha: oppos... // ...sit si...
Abe: You're so annoying!
Abe: If you're not hurt then stop crying!
-(What's going on?)
Abe: (What are you even saying!? I can't understand you!)
Taji: “They hit the opposite sides,” he says.
Abe: ...Huh?
Taji: “They hit the opposite sides.”

54
Momo: ....
Momo: Abe-kun. // Try saying just the location of the pitches the batters hit.
Abe: Ah...the leadoff was outside. // 2 middle, 3 outside.
-(He really remembers all that!?)
-(Guess that's what it takes to be a catcher.)??
Abe: 4 outside, 5 inside, 6 inside.
Abe: 7 inside, 8...inside. // ...Eh?
Momo: So... // They're all hitting the opposite of where they usually like it.
Abe: That's true... // But why...
Abe: And why are you crying like this is a bad thing!?
Abe: This isn't something to cry about.
Abe: Because of you, // We may just be able to do something!

_________

Yay, Mihashi! I was already happy seeing him making the effort to remember the data on the batters, but then actually putting it to use like that! And then being brave enough to say something (in tears, haha)! Chapter makes me very happy. ...And yeah, some of that is getting to see Abe starting to unravel like that, heheh. (I love you Abe but you deservvveee it. <3) And of course Tajima. Tajima being Tajima always makes the world a happier place.