Chapter 25

Short Summary
Saikawa reveals to Oikawa his intentions to sell the Lycaons at the end of the season. Takami gets a home run hit off Tokuchi.

Long Summary
The Owner has increased the rate by 20 times for the final game against the Mariners, in the hope that Tokuchi will be worn out from the previous two. This means Tokuchi will lose 1 billion yen for every run.

At the stadium, Tokuchi is announced as the opening pitcher for the third game, and Kojima yells at Manager Mihara for trying to ‘kill him.’ Mihara says it’s an order from the owner and that the stadium sold out specifically because the audience watched to watch Tokuchi pitch consecutive games.

Watching from a TV, Saikawa laughs at the exhausted expression on Tokuchi’s face. Oikawa asks why he treats Tokuchi with ‘such contempt’ when he has clearly shown his skill with the previous games. He suggests they should turn his contract into a normal one like the other players and in a few years they might be able to win the championship. Saikawa laughs at him and says he plans on selling the team at the end of the current season, which will spell the end for the Lycaons.

Back at the pitch, the Mariners have changed their batting order and moved Brooklyn to fifth, as he hasn’t got a single hit off Tokuchi.

Saikawa points at Oikawa’s agitated expression and says this is why he kept it a secret. He reveals that a company called the ‘Tronspos Corporation’ has offered to buy the Lycaons for 50 billion yen, but only if the team’s profit rises as predicted. This prediction was shaken with Kojima’s injury, since most of their ticket sales are owed to his popularity. Saikawa blames Tokuchi for their ruined plans.

From the TV, they see Tokuchi throw his first pitch and earn a ‘ball’. Oikawa asks if Tokuchi’s performance is compensating for the loss, and Saikawa admits there has been an increase in sales compared to last season, but it’s been under his direction. It was his idea to have Tokuchi pitch consecutively and the audience wouldn’t be this excited to see a ‘normal’ game.

Meanwhile in the match, Tokuchi throws another ‘ball’. Ideguchi is concerned as consecutive ‘balls’ are very rare from him and worries Tokuchi’s ball control is suffering.

Saikawa says Tokuchi’s 700 million yen salary wasn’t factored into his plan and paying him the money would lower their yearly profit. Their predicted 5 billion yen profit would go down to 4.3 billion, losing them 7 billion yen when it comes time to sell.

The batter gets a hit, but the second baseman catches it. The second batter also gets one, but it’s again saved by the fielders. Takami goes up next. He’d wanted to face a serious Tokuchi, but sees that’s not going to happen. He hits Tokuchi’s pitch and gets a home run, making it Tokuchi’s first run given up in his professional career. With his two outs, he’s lost 800 million yen, putting him in deficit by 65 million.

Characters

 * Tokuchi Toua
 * Saikawa- Owner of the Lycaons
 * Oikawa
 * Ideguchi
 * Kojima
 * Manager Mihara
 * Takami