Oofuri 92
Summer trucks on. By the next Oofuri chapter, I will be in Vancouver and just starting school. ...It doesn't really feel quite real. ^_^; Hopefully I will still have time to read the new chapter when it comes out though. ^^
SUMMARY:
Abe comes up to bat at the bottom of the fifth inning . He hasn't gotten any full power pitches so far and hopes Haruna has decided there is no need to pitch full power to him. Akimaru remembers Abe got Haruna's first breaking ball of the game figures Haruna is determined to not get hit by Abe. Haruna notes Akimaru hasn't given up giving signs. He still finds it annoying, but concludes it's a change for the better.
Abe swings and misses at the first pitch, a very fast fastball. Abe figures this must be what the catcher directed Haruna to pitch and that he must really be getting signs. He knows in this situation Haruna would pitch a fastball high on the outside, but isn't sure if the catcher is directing. Abe watches the next pitch, and it's a ball high on the outside, allowing Abe to conclude that while the catcher is signing, Haruna is still basically the one calling the pitches. The change is mystifying, but Abe figures he can think about it later.
Abe expects a fastball, figuring if fastballs are working for Haruna he will keep right on throwing them. However, the next pitch is particularly well placed and Abe does not even swing at it, earning his second strike. Abe again expects a fastball for the next pitch and swings at it, but it turns out to be a very high ball and he misses, making his third strike. Momokan notes that Haruna is throwing powerful fastballs with little reserve.
Mizutani comes up to bat. Momokan thinks the first pitch is the time to hit since Abe got three good pitches previously and signals Mizutani to do so. Mizutani is excited, gripping his hand and thinking that recently the pain from the peeling blisters on hands has started to feel like a pleasant sensation. (??Akimaru thinks something I really don't understand.) Filled with determination, Mizutani hopes for a fastball. Haruna pitches high on the outside and Mizutani swings, making contact and hitting the ball to the front of center field. Akimaru and Haruna both think identically that Haruna let his fighting spirit diminish too much (after no longer pitching to Abe, I assume).
Mihashi comes up to bat and shows a bunt. Momokan signals Mizutani to run, which Haruna figures would be the case. Mizutani runs and Haruna throws the ball to Akimaru. Akimaru throws to second, but the second baseman still has to leave the base a bit to catch the ball, allowing Mizutani to arrive safely. Shimizu watches with growing irritation, noting Akimaru's control is off because his form is not stable, a simple matter of lack of practice.
Haruna places his next pitch where it's hard to bunt, on the high outside corner. Mihashi makes the bunt but it pops up, hitting the ground. It is quickly picked up quickly by Shimizu who throws to first to get Mihashi out but allowing Mizutani to advance to third. Shimizu grumbles to himself that even Akimaru's indication of where to throw was slow. He figures that Akimaru must not want to give up his position if he's started giving signs, but thinks if he really wants to stay he needs to practice a lot more.
Izumi comes up to bat, hoping to make a hit over the infield. Haruna is reluctant to pitch a slider to him since before Izumi bunted one to land right in front of Akimaru, though he figures it was probably a coincidence. Instead he pitches a fastball to the outside corner. Izumi swings and hits but is frustrated to see it ground out to third. Shimizu picks up the ball and throws to first, irritated that Akimaru's call is once again slow, and then shocked to see that his throw is off, allowing Izumi on base safely and Mizutani home for Nishiura's second run.
Sakaeguchi comes up to bat second but is out in three strikes, ending the side. Mihashi goes out to the mound where he and Abe talk. Abe says they won't be holding back anymore for the last three innings and checcks how Mihashi's doing. Mihashi seems a little too energetic, and Abe warns him to keep it under control.
Shimizu comes up to bat at the top of the sixth inning determined to get on base and make back the run he let by. Abe and Mihashi note that Shimizu has swung at the first pitch of both his previous at-bats and likes the inside corner. Mihashi pitches a “fastball” inside and high. Seeing a strike on the inside corner Shimizu nearly swings but then freezes, confused. For a moment he wonders if the fastball is particularly fast, but then assures himself it was not. Shimizu swings at the next pitch (a slider) and misses. Cornered, he swings at the next as well (I think it looks like a ball?) and misses again.
As Shimizu returns to the dugout, he warns the next up to bat (Nagai Hideo) that the fastballs are increasing. He insists that Hideo look closely at the fastball, then enters the dugout to immediately ask his teammates if anyone has hit the fastball. Akimaru says Koba hit the fastball, but Koba is out base coaching. Shimizu says the fastball is a little strange, and Akimaru says Koba mentioned something similar, saying it had a lot of lift to it.
The Musashino teammates are skeptical, knowing a ball so slow would not have the force to drop slower than expected. Akimaru says he got a fastball too and agrees it is not fast enough to cause this. Shimizu repeatedly attempts to confirm with Akimaru that the ball does not have the so-fast-it-appears-to-float quality, and Akimaru says it does not but offers no other opinion other than that it was (?? not sure about this quote) “faster than I thought.” Shimizu asks if Akimaru has any will to explain at all, and Akimaru says he does.
Meanwhile Hideo has returned from his at-bat having popped up the ball. Shimizu asks if he got any fastballs, and Hideo says that was probably what he hit. Shimizu asks if he noticed anything strange about it, and Hideo says he did not.
With Haruna now out at bat, Shimizu calls out to him frantically to watch the fastball closely. Haruna isn't quite sure what he is hearing, but Koba hears and understands, joining in with Shimizu to yell at Haruna to watch the fastball. Haruna is confused by the yelling, wondering if it is because the fastballs have increased.
The first pitch to Haruna is a fastball which he lets go by, getting a strike. Shimizu yells encouragingly, still repeating that he should watch the fastball. Haruna wonders why Abe is still using it after hearing Musashino yell warning against it so much. He wonders if Abe did it to trick him, or (?? if they are “not showing” him.)
Haruna swings at the the next pitch, a shoot, though it turns out to be a ball and goes foul. Shimizu continues to yell about the fastball and Haruna figures with Shimizu yelling so much Abe's not going to use any more now. Haruna is then alarmed to find the next pitch is a fastball. He swings at it and it pops up high and is caught, ending the side.
When he gets to the dugout, Haruna asks Shimizu what all the yelling was for. Shimizu asks Haruna if he got a fastball and Haruna says he wouldn't even call it a fastball since it doesn't have a backspin. Shimizu asks if the ball had a strange lift to it, explaining that he and Koba felt like it did but Hideki noticed nothing and Akimaru says it does not.
Haruna says what he can say is that he thinks Abe is tricking them in order keep the work load light to stop Mihashi from breaking down. Shimizu doesn't really understand, and Haruna asks him (??) if he knew he was taken in (by Abe's “trick” I believe). Shimizu continues to be confused, but the boys must head out to the field for defense. Haruna says he'll explain when the inning is over and asks Shimizu to keep his head on defense since throwing errors are Akimaru's territory. Shimizu is taken aback for a moment but then agrees and heads out to the field.
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 repost these as they like. 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.]
01
Abe: He didn't use any full power pitches on my first at-bat.
Abe: If he's decided I'm no call to use a full power pitch, that's all the better for me.
Aki: Takaya, huh? // He pitched his first breaking ball of the match to him before.
Aki: He must be pretty determined not to get hit by him.
Abe: ?!
Abe: Was that movement...for making a sign?
Haru: He still hasn't given up giving signs?
Haru: [It's a little irritating,]
Haru: [But...]
02
Haru: It could be a change for the better!
03
Abe: A fastball.
Abe: Damn, it's fast.
Abe: [Was that what the catcher asked for?]
Abe: [Then he really is...]
Abe: Giving signs?
Abe: [He's not shaking his head.]
Abe: If it were Haruna's decision, it'd be a fastball high on the outside.
Abe: But if he's pitching according to the catcher...
04
Ump: Ball.
Abe: So that's it.
Abe: He's not shaking his head because the sign is how he wants to pitch anyway.
Abe: [So it's the whole catcher gives signs but pitcher calls the shots setup.]
Abe: [But why now of all times?]
05
Abe: I can think about that later!
Abe: [If fastballs are working,]
Abe: [This guy's going to keep right on pitching fastballs!]
Ump: Strike!
06
Aki: That was a good spot.
Aki: We've got a chance of keeping up our roll from his first at-bat...
Aki: And sending him off staring at the ball with three strikes.
Abe: I'm a catcher, but if I was the pitcher, I'd be pitching the fastball.
Abe: (??If it reaches my legs I can step into it too??)
Aki: Here it comes!
08
Aki: Yeah, that's some powerful determination. (??)
Momo: He's really started letting loose with those strong fastballs.
09
Momo: Abe got three good pitches, so this next one is the time to strike!
Mizu: I'm hitting. Roger that.
Mizu: Lately,
Mizu: The pain from my peeling blisters feels kinda good.
[Batting eighth, left fielder, Mizutani-kun.]
Mizu: Ready!
Aki: (??after this inning, as for the two people, rest area treatment??)
10
Mizu: Let's see a fastball!
Mizu: I'm going to hit me a (??80% pitch? This is some sort of...pitching score/ratio or something right? I feel like I understood this once and have forgotten...)
Haru: Careful with the placement.
Haru: High on the outside!
Mizu: I can get it!
Aki: Ah!
11
Mizu: Right down the middle!
Taji: He hit it!
- Front of center!
12
Mizu: Aaah~ No way!
Aki: He let his power drop.
Haru: I let my power drop.
Momo: Nice hit!
Momo: Now get ready to run! Keep it up!
[Batting ninth, pitcher, Mihashi-kun.]
Miha: Ready!
Miha: Ah.
13
Haru: Sending off again?
Haru: But whatever the state of 8's legs,
Haru: He's gonna run here, right?
Mizu: Let's go!
Haru: (??something about throwing)
14
Aki: There's still time!
Shimi: His control is whacked because his form isn't stable!
Shimi: That's lack of practice plain and simple. (Irritated)
15
Ump: Play.
Haru: I'm not going easy on you just cause you're a pitcher.
Aki: Somewhere hard to bunt.
Haru: High outside corner!
Haru: Fastball!
16
-It popped up!
-Let it fall!
Aki: To first!
17
Ump: Out!
Shimi: Slow to call out, too.
Shimi: [But he's started giving signs.]
Aki: (Two outs!)
Shimi: [So he must not want to give up his position, right?]
Shimi: But if that's true,
Shimi: You need way, way, way, way // More practice than this!
Momo: You'll be ok if you can just get it over the infield's heads.
Momo: Try to keep yourself alive!
Izu: Haruna's pitches have a lot of rotation.
Izu: If I can hit it spot on, I should be able to make it fly!
18
[Batting first, center fielder, Izumi-kun.]
Haru: First, huh?
Izu: Ready!
Haru: That bunt to the catcher before was probably a coincidence.
Haru: But I still don't really feel good using a slider on him.
Aki: Two outs, but a runner on third.
Aki: You're gonna wanna make it into a bad grounder or a pop up, // right?
Haru: Yeah.
Haru: Start with the outside corner.
Haru: Fastball!
19
Izu: I've got the timing!
Izu: Now, hit!
20
Izu: Gah, // Grounded to third?!
Shimi: Alright!
Shimi: To first!
Aki: To first!
Shimi: Too slow!
21
-Second run!
Shimi: No way.
Haru: Even Shimizu?
Aki: Don't sweat it!
Shimi: I'm sorry!
Haru: You're one to talk.
22
Momo: Dumb luck or no, a run's a run!
Momo: We've been getting an awful lot of this kind of thing!
Saka: Nothing to do but hit.
[Sakaeguchi batting second, three strikes.]
Momo: No, staying in this won't be that simple.
Miha: Ah!
Miha: (??I think he's saying something but I can't make it out through the stutter)
Momo: His tension's still revved up even in a slow match like this, huh?
Momo: Pitchers sure are a whole breed in themselves.
23
Abe: We're gonna pull out all the stops these last three innings.
Abe: How's your strength doing overall?
Miha: Good!
Abe: He's got an awful lot of energy.
Abe: Don't get carried away. // Hanai or Oki won't be able to handle this one. (??)
Miha: Yes!
Abe: ...What? // Did I flip some sort of weird switch?
24
[Top of the sixth inning, batting second for Musashino Daiichi High school,]
Shimi: Ready!
[Third baseman, Shimizu-kun.]
Shimi: I gotta make it on base.
Shimi: This inning we're gonna make back that run I let by!
Abe: In both of Shimizu's at-bats today he's made a swing for the first pitch.
Miha: So far he's hit a short fly off a shoot,
Miha: And a grounder to second off the curve ball. // Yeah.
Miha: [He likes the inside corner,]
Miha: [And if it's a strike, he'll swing.]
Miha: “Fastball.”
Miha: Inside and high!
25
Shimi: Inside corner!
Shimi: Ah.
Shimi: Wait!
Ump: Strike!
Abe: He stopped himself.
Shimi: That fastball...
Shimi: Was it really fast?
26
Shimi: [No.]
Shimi: [It wasn't speed.]
Shimi: Same...no!
Shimi: A slider!
27
Shimi: I'm cornered!
Abe: (??the batting order is the batting order.)
Abe: I wanna cut this off at the head.
Miha: Whether he goes for it,
Miha: Or watches it go by,
Miha: We're getting an out!
Shimi: Is this the one?!
28
Abe: Nice ball!
Shimi: There's a lot more fastballs coming.
Nagai: Alright.
Shimi: …
Shimi: Make sure and get a good look at them! The fastballs!
Nagai: ?
Nagai: Yeah!
Shimi: Is there anyone here,
Shimi: Who's hit that pitcher's fastball?!
29
Yoshi?: I don't think they really throw many.
Yagi?: I'm not sure if they've thrown any at all. (??)
Aki: Koba said he hit a fastball.
Shimi: He did?! Koba...
Shimi: Oh. He's base coaching.
Yagi?: So what's the deal with the fastball?
Shimi: Well...the fastball or whatever it is,
Shimi: It's just kinda weird.
Aki: Koba said something like that too.
Aki: Like it had a lot of lift to it.
Yagi? No way a pitch that slow could lift up a ball.
30
Aki: Yeah, right? // He threw one to me too.
Aki: And there's just no way.
Nagai: I thought I got it dead on for sure...
Shimi: So,
Shimi: It doesn't lift?
Aki: Hmm. // It went quicker than I thought. (??)
Shimi: But...it doesn't have any lift?
Aki: Yeah. // It went quicker than I thought. (??)
Shimi: Um... // Do you have any interest in explaining this?
Aki: Er, // Sure.
31
[Batting fourth, pitcher, Haruna-kun.]
Shimi: Hideo!
Shimi: Did you get any fastballs?
Hide: Yeah. That's probably what I hit.
Shimi: Did it feel weird at all?
Hide: Huh? // Not really.
Hide: What about it?
Shimi: Haruna-san!
Shimi: Watch the fastball!
Haru: Huh?
Haru: Did he just tell me to “watch the ball”?
32
Shimi: The fastball! // Get a good look at the fastball!
Koba: Watch the fastball, batter!
Koba: Careful when you choose your pitch!
Haru: Now Koba too? Why?
Koba: (Watch the fastball!)
Haru: Are they saying there are more of them now?
Haru: [I don't think hearing all this is going to encourage him to use more, though.]
33
Haru: A fastball?!
Ump: Strike!
Shimi: Yes, good! You've still got room!
Shimi: Get a good look at that fastball!
34
Haru: Was that...
Haru: The fastball?
Haru: [If it was,]
Haru: [Why's he still showing it to me after hearing everyone make such a fuss about it?]
Haru: [Was it to trick me?]
Haru: Or...
Haru: Are they not really showing me at all? (??)
35
Haru: A shoot!
Abe: We've got him cornered!
Haru: Gah.
Haru: That was a ball, wasn't it?
Shimi: Watch out for the fastball!
Haru: There's no way he's using more after you've yelled this much, you know.
36
Haru: [He wouldn't...]
37
Haru: You're kidding.
Haru: A fastball?!
Ump: Out!
38
Haru: What the heck are you all going off about the fastball for?
Shimi: You got one, right?
Haru: I wouldn't even call it a fastball, really.
Haru: The things got no backspin to it at all.
Shimi: But, I mean,
Shimi: Doesn't it have a weird kind of lift to it?
Shimi: Me and Koba felt like it did. // Hideo said he didn't notice anything.
Shimi: Akimaru-san said it doesn't.
Haru: Huh.
39
Haru: Well, what I can tell you,
Haru: Thinking about it now, I'd say it's all some trick of his.
Shimi: His?
Haru: Their catcher.
Haru: He's gonna make all his decisions based on the least labor-intensive way of doing things to stop a break down from happening.
Shimi: Eh? // A // Break down?
40
Haru: Just now...
Naru: You know you were totally taken in right? (??)
Shimi: Huh?
Shimi: Me?
Haru: I'll explain after the inning's over, so for now just keep your head on defense!
Haru: Leave the messy throws to Akimaru, ok?
Shimi: !!
Shimi: Yes sir!
_______________________
Oh, Akimaru, you are failing so hard that now even one of your generous kouhais is turning against you. Haha though Shimizu is rather cute when he's all agitated like that...and when playing Screaming Fastball Detective. I am impressed. He really got down to business the second he saw the thing. XD But Akimaru.... Akimaru I love you but your pathetic is starting to get even on MY nerves. Don't you have even a little badassery saved up you could show us a little more often? I have this fantasy now that by the end of this game all the Musashino kouhais will have turned against Akimaru and Haruna will be the only one thinking things are looking up with him. He will like...defend him when they are a little too harsh and the only one Akimaru can go to when he wants to be around someone who doesn't consider him a deadbeat nuisance. At first he won't be all that much nicer to him than he was before or anything, it will just feel like a safe haven by comparison, kehehehe.
The pain feels good, does it Mizutani? That would be a lot more cool and manly sounding if you didn't make that silly face when thinking it though. Also you're just asking for S&M fic...
I wish I understood some of these lines better. T_T Having such a hard time telling to what extent Haruna/Akimaru/Shimizu understand what's going on with Mihashi's fastball and such... But I suppose future events will make it a little clearer for me.
SUMMARY:
Abe comes up to bat at the bottom of the fifth inning . He hasn't gotten any full power pitches so far and hopes Haruna has decided there is no need to pitch full power to him. Akimaru remembers Abe got Haruna's first breaking ball of the game figures Haruna is determined to not get hit by Abe. Haruna notes Akimaru hasn't given up giving signs. He still finds it annoying, but concludes it's a change for the better.
Abe swings and misses at the first pitch, a very fast fastball. Abe figures this must be what the catcher directed Haruna to pitch and that he must really be getting signs. He knows in this situation Haruna would pitch a fastball high on the outside, but isn't sure if the catcher is directing. Abe watches the next pitch, and it's a ball high on the outside, allowing Abe to conclude that while the catcher is signing, Haruna is still basically the one calling the pitches. The change is mystifying, but Abe figures he can think about it later.
Abe expects a fastball, figuring if fastballs are working for Haruna he will keep right on throwing them. However, the next pitch is particularly well placed and Abe does not even swing at it, earning his second strike. Abe again expects a fastball for the next pitch and swings at it, but it turns out to be a very high ball and he misses, making his third strike. Momokan notes that Haruna is throwing powerful fastballs with little reserve.
Mizutani comes up to bat. Momokan thinks the first pitch is the time to hit since Abe got three good pitches previously and signals Mizutani to do so. Mizutani is excited, gripping his hand and thinking that recently the pain from the peeling blisters on hands has started to feel like a pleasant sensation. (??Akimaru thinks something I really don't understand.) Filled with determination, Mizutani hopes for a fastball. Haruna pitches high on the outside and Mizutani swings, making contact and hitting the ball to the front of center field. Akimaru and Haruna both think identically that Haruna let his fighting spirit diminish too much (after no longer pitching to Abe, I assume).
Mihashi comes up to bat and shows a bunt. Momokan signals Mizutani to run, which Haruna figures would be the case. Mizutani runs and Haruna throws the ball to Akimaru. Akimaru throws to second, but the second baseman still has to leave the base a bit to catch the ball, allowing Mizutani to arrive safely. Shimizu watches with growing irritation, noting Akimaru's control is off because his form is not stable, a simple matter of lack of practice.
Haruna places his next pitch where it's hard to bunt, on the high outside corner. Mihashi makes the bunt but it pops up, hitting the ground. It is quickly picked up quickly by Shimizu who throws to first to get Mihashi out but allowing Mizutani to advance to third. Shimizu grumbles to himself that even Akimaru's indication of where to throw was slow. He figures that Akimaru must not want to give up his position if he's started giving signs, but thinks if he really wants to stay he needs to practice a lot more.
Izumi comes up to bat, hoping to make a hit over the infield. Haruna is reluctant to pitch a slider to him since before Izumi bunted one to land right in front of Akimaru, though he figures it was probably a coincidence. Instead he pitches a fastball to the outside corner. Izumi swings and hits but is frustrated to see it ground out to third. Shimizu picks up the ball and throws to first, irritated that Akimaru's call is once again slow, and then shocked to see that his throw is off, allowing Izumi on base safely and Mizutani home for Nishiura's second run.
Sakaeguchi comes up to bat second but is out in three strikes, ending the side. Mihashi goes out to the mound where he and Abe talk. Abe says they won't be holding back anymore for the last three innings and checcks how Mihashi's doing. Mihashi seems a little too energetic, and Abe warns him to keep it under control.
Shimizu comes up to bat at the top of the sixth inning determined to get on base and make back the run he let by. Abe and Mihashi note that Shimizu has swung at the first pitch of both his previous at-bats and likes the inside corner. Mihashi pitches a “fastball” inside and high. Seeing a strike on the inside corner Shimizu nearly swings but then freezes, confused. For a moment he wonders if the fastball is particularly fast, but then assures himself it was not. Shimizu swings at the next pitch (a slider) and misses. Cornered, he swings at the next as well (I think it looks like a ball?) and misses again.
As Shimizu returns to the dugout, he warns the next up to bat (Nagai Hideo) that the fastballs are increasing. He insists that Hideo look closely at the fastball, then enters the dugout to immediately ask his teammates if anyone has hit the fastball. Akimaru says Koba hit the fastball, but Koba is out base coaching. Shimizu says the fastball is a little strange, and Akimaru says Koba mentioned something similar, saying it had a lot of lift to it.
The Musashino teammates are skeptical, knowing a ball so slow would not have the force to drop slower than expected. Akimaru says he got a fastball too and agrees it is not fast enough to cause this. Shimizu repeatedly attempts to confirm with Akimaru that the ball does not have the so-fast-it-appears-to-float quality, and Akimaru says it does not but offers no other opinion other than that it was (?? not sure about this quote) “faster than I thought.” Shimizu asks if Akimaru has any will to explain at all, and Akimaru says he does.
Meanwhile Hideo has returned from his at-bat having popped up the ball. Shimizu asks if he got any fastballs, and Hideo says that was probably what he hit. Shimizu asks if he noticed anything strange about it, and Hideo says he did not.
With Haruna now out at bat, Shimizu calls out to him frantically to watch the fastball closely. Haruna isn't quite sure what he is hearing, but Koba hears and understands, joining in with Shimizu to yell at Haruna to watch the fastball. Haruna is confused by the yelling, wondering if it is because the fastballs have increased.
The first pitch to Haruna is a fastball which he lets go by, getting a strike. Shimizu yells encouragingly, still repeating that he should watch the fastball. Haruna wonders why Abe is still using it after hearing Musashino yell warning against it so much. He wonders if Abe did it to trick him, or (?? if they are “not showing” him.)
Haruna swings at the the next pitch, a shoot, though it turns out to be a ball and goes foul. Shimizu continues to yell about the fastball and Haruna figures with Shimizu yelling so much Abe's not going to use any more now. Haruna is then alarmed to find the next pitch is a fastball. He swings at it and it pops up high and is caught, ending the side.
When he gets to the dugout, Haruna asks Shimizu what all the yelling was for. Shimizu asks Haruna if he got a fastball and Haruna says he wouldn't even call it a fastball since it doesn't have a backspin. Shimizu asks if the ball had a strange lift to it, explaining that he and Koba felt like it did but Hideki noticed nothing and Akimaru says it does not.
Haruna says what he can say is that he thinks Abe is tricking them in order keep the work load light to stop Mihashi from breaking down. Shimizu doesn't really understand, and Haruna asks him (??) if he knew he was taken in (by Abe's “trick” I believe). Shimizu continues to be confused, but the boys must head out to the field for defense. Haruna says he'll explain when the inning is over and asks Shimizu to keep his head on defense since throwing errors are Akimaru's territory. Shimizu is taken aback for a moment but then agrees and heads out to the field.
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 repost these as they like. 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.]
01
Abe: He didn't use any full power pitches on my first at-bat.
Abe: If he's decided I'm no call to use a full power pitch, that's all the better for me.
Aki: Takaya, huh? // He pitched his first breaking ball of the match to him before.
Aki: He must be pretty determined not to get hit by him.
Abe: ?!
Abe: Was that movement...for making a sign?
Haru: He still hasn't given up giving signs?
Haru: [It's a little irritating,]
Haru: [But...]
02
Haru: It could be a change for the better!
03
Abe: A fastball.
Abe: Damn, it's fast.
Abe: [Was that what the catcher asked for?]
Abe: [Then he really is...]
Abe: Giving signs?
Abe: [He's not shaking his head.]
Abe: If it were Haruna's decision, it'd be a fastball high on the outside.
Abe: But if he's pitching according to the catcher...
04
Ump: Ball.
Abe: So that's it.
Abe: He's not shaking his head because the sign is how he wants to pitch anyway.
Abe: [So it's the whole catcher gives signs but pitcher calls the shots setup.]
Abe: [But why now of all times?]
05
Abe: I can think about that later!
Abe: [If fastballs are working,]
Abe: [This guy's going to keep right on pitching fastballs!]
Ump: Strike!
06
Aki: That was a good spot.
Aki: We've got a chance of keeping up our roll from his first at-bat...
Aki: And sending him off staring at the ball with three strikes.
Abe: I'm a catcher, but if I was the pitcher, I'd be pitching the fastball.
Abe: (??If it reaches my legs I can step into it too??)
Aki: Here it comes!
08
Aki: Yeah, that's some powerful determination. (??)
Momo: He's really started letting loose with those strong fastballs.
09
Momo: Abe got three good pitches, so this next one is the time to strike!
Mizu: I'm hitting. Roger that.
Mizu: Lately,
Mizu: The pain from my peeling blisters feels kinda good.
[Batting eighth, left fielder, Mizutani-kun.]
Mizu: Ready!
Aki: (??after this inning, as for the two people, rest area treatment??)
10
Mizu: Let's see a fastball!
Mizu: I'm going to hit me a (??80% pitch? This is some sort of...pitching score/ratio or something right? I feel like I understood this once and have forgotten...)
Haru: Careful with the placement.
Haru: High on the outside!
Mizu: I can get it!
Aki: Ah!
11
Mizu: Right down the middle!
Taji: He hit it!
- Front of center!
12
Mizu: Aaah~ No way!
Aki: He let his power drop.
Haru: I let my power drop.
Momo: Nice hit!
Momo: Now get ready to run! Keep it up!
[Batting ninth, pitcher, Mihashi-kun.]
Miha: Ready!
Miha: Ah.
13
Haru: Sending off again?
Haru: But whatever the state of 8's legs,
Haru: He's gonna run here, right?
Mizu: Let's go!
Haru: (??something about throwing)
14
Aki: There's still time!
Shimi: His control is whacked because his form isn't stable!
Shimi: That's lack of practice plain and simple. (Irritated)
15
Ump: Play.
Haru: I'm not going easy on you just cause you're a pitcher.
Aki: Somewhere hard to bunt.
Haru: High outside corner!
Haru: Fastball!
16
-It popped up!
-Let it fall!
Aki: To first!
17
Ump: Out!
Shimi: Slow to call out, too.
Shimi: [But he's started giving signs.]
Aki: (Two outs!)
Shimi: [So he must not want to give up his position, right?]
Shimi: But if that's true,
Shimi: You need way, way, way, way // More practice than this!
Momo: You'll be ok if you can just get it over the infield's heads.
Momo: Try to keep yourself alive!
Izu: Haruna's pitches have a lot of rotation.
Izu: If I can hit it spot on, I should be able to make it fly!
18
[Batting first, center fielder, Izumi-kun.]
Haru: First, huh?
Izu: Ready!
Haru: That bunt to the catcher before was probably a coincidence.
Haru: But I still don't really feel good using a slider on him.
Aki: Two outs, but a runner on third.
Aki: You're gonna wanna make it into a bad grounder or a pop up, // right?
Haru: Yeah.
Haru: Start with the outside corner.
Haru: Fastball!
19
Izu: I've got the timing!
Izu: Now, hit!
20
Izu: Gah, // Grounded to third?!
Shimi: Alright!
Shimi: To first!
Aki: To first!
Shimi: Too slow!
21
-Second run!
Shimi: No way.
Haru: Even Shimizu?
Aki: Don't sweat it!
Shimi: I'm sorry!
Haru: You're one to talk.
22
Momo: Dumb luck or no, a run's a run!
Momo: We've been getting an awful lot of this kind of thing!
Saka: Nothing to do but hit.
[Sakaeguchi batting second, three strikes.]
Momo: No, staying in this won't be that simple.
Miha: Ah!
Miha: (??I think he's saying something but I can't make it out through the stutter)
Momo: His tension's still revved up even in a slow match like this, huh?
Momo: Pitchers sure are a whole breed in themselves.
23
Abe: We're gonna pull out all the stops these last three innings.
Abe: How's your strength doing overall?
Miha: Good!
Abe: He's got an awful lot of energy.
Abe: Don't get carried away. // Hanai or Oki won't be able to handle this one. (??)
Miha: Yes!
Abe: ...What? // Did I flip some sort of weird switch?
24
[Top of the sixth inning, batting second for Musashino Daiichi High school,]
Shimi: Ready!
[Third baseman, Shimizu-kun.]
Shimi: I gotta make it on base.
Shimi: This inning we're gonna make back that run I let by!
Abe: In both of Shimizu's at-bats today he's made a swing for the first pitch.
Miha: So far he's hit a short fly off a shoot,
Miha: And a grounder to second off the curve ball. // Yeah.
Miha: [He likes the inside corner,]
Miha: [And if it's a strike, he'll swing.]
Miha: “Fastball.”
Miha: Inside and high!
25
Shimi: Inside corner!
Shimi: Ah.
Shimi: Wait!
Ump: Strike!
Abe: He stopped himself.
Shimi: That fastball...
Shimi: Was it really fast?
26
Shimi: [No.]
Shimi: [It wasn't speed.]
Shimi: Same...no!
Shimi: A slider!
27
Shimi: I'm cornered!
Abe: (??the batting order is the batting order.)
Abe: I wanna cut this off at the head.
Miha: Whether he goes for it,
Miha: Or watches it go by,
Miha: We're getting an out!
Shimi: Is this the one?!
28
Abe: Nice ball!
Shimi: There's a lot more fastballs coming.
Nagai: Alright.
Shimi: …
Shimi: Make sure and get a good look at them! The fastballs!
Nagai: ?
Nagai: Yeah!
Shimi: Is there anyone here,
Shimi: Who's hit that pitcher's fastball?!
29
Yoshi?: I don't think they really throw many.
Yagi?: I'm not sure if they've thrown any at all. (??)
Aki: Koba said he hit a fastball.
Shimi: He did?! Koba...
Shimi: Oh. He's base coaching.
Yagi?: So what's the deal with the fastball?
Shimi: Well...the fastball or whatever it is,
Shimi: It's just kinda weird.
Aki: Koba said something like that too.
Aki: Like it had a lot of lift to it.
Yagi? No way a pitch that slow could lift up a ball.
30
Aki: Yeah, right? // He threw one to me too.
Aki: And there's just no way.
Nagai: I thought I got it dead on for sure...
Shimi: So,
Shimi: It doesn't lift?
Aki: Hmm. // It went quicker than I thought. (??)
Shimi: But...it doesn't have any lift?
Aki: Yeah. // It went quicker than I thought. (??)
Shimi: Um... // Do you have any interest in explaining this?
Aki: Er, // Sure.
31
[Batting fourth, pitcher, Haruna-kun.]
Shimi: Hideo!
Shimi: Did you get any fastballs?
Hide: Yeah. That's probably what I hit.
Shimi: Did it feel weird at all?
Hide: Huh? // Not really.
Hide: What about it?
Shimi: Haruna-san!
Shimi: Watch the fastball!
Haru: Huh?
Haru: Did he just tell me to “watch the ball”?
32
Shimi: The fastball! // Get a good look at the fastball!
Koba: Watch the fastball, batter!
Koba: Careful when you choose your pitch!
Haru: Now Koba too? Why?
Koba: (Watch the fastball!)
Haru: Are they saying there are more of them now?
Haru: [I don't think hearing all this is going to encourage him to use more, though.]
33
Haru: A fastball?!
Ump: Strike!
Shimi: Yes, good! You've still got room!
Shimi: Get a good look at that fastball!
34
Haru: Was that...
Haru: The fastball?
Haru: [If it was,]
Haru: [Why's he still showing it to me after hearing everyone make such a fuss about it?]
Haru: [Was it to trick me?]
Haru: Or...
Haru: Are they not really showing me at all? (??)
35
Haru: A shoot!
Abe: We've got him cornered!
Haru: Gah.
Haru: That was a ball, wasn't it?
Shimi: Watch out for the fastball!
Haru: There's no way he's using more after you've yelled this much, you know.
36
Haru: [He wouldn't...]
37
Haru: You're kidding.
Haru: A fastball?!
Ump: Out!
38
Haru: What the heck are you all going off about the fastball for?
Shimi: You got one, right?
Haru: I wouldn't even call it a fastball, really.
Haru: The things got no backspin to it at all.
Shimi: But, I mean,
Shimi: Doesn't it have a weird kind of lift to it?
Shimi: Me and Koba felt like it did. // Hideo said he didn't notice anything.
Shimi: Akimaru-san said it doesn't.
Haru: Huh.
39
Haru: Well, what I can tell you,
Haru: Thinking about it now, I'd say it's all some trick of his.
Shimi: His?
Haru: Their catcher.
Haru: He's gonna make all his decisions based on the least labor-intensive way of doing things to stop a break down from happening.
Shimi: Eh? // A // Break down?
40
Haru: Just now...
Naru: You know you were totally taken in right? (??)
Shimi: Huh?
Shimi: Me?
Haru: I'll explain after the inning's over, so for now just keep your head on defense!
Haru: Leave the messy throws to Akimaru, ok?
Shimi: !!
Shimi: Yes sir!
_______________________
Oh, Akimaru, you are failing so hard that now even one of your generous kouhais is turning against you. Haha though Shimizu is rather cute when he's all agitated like that...and when playing Screaming Fastball Detective. I am impressed. He really got down to business the second he saw the thing. XD But Akimaru.... Akimaru I love you but your pathetic is starting to get even on MY nerves. Don't you have even a little badassery saved up you could show us a little more often? I have this fantasy now that by the end of this game all the Musashino kouhais will have turned against Akimaru and Haruna will be the only one thinking things are looking up with him. He will like...defend him when they are a little too harsh and the only one Akimaru can go to when he wants to be around someone who doesn't consider him a deadbeat nuisance. At first he won't be all that much nicer to him than he was before or anything, it will just feel like a safe haven by comparison, kehehehe.
The pain feels good, does it Mizutani? That would be a lot more cool and manly sounding if you didn't make that silly face when thinking it though. Also you're just asking for S&M fic...
I wish I understood some of these lines better. T_T Having such a hard time telling to what extent Haruna/Akimaru/Shimizu understand what's going on with Mihashi's fastball and such... But I suppose future events will make it a little clearer for me.