Chapter 32

Short Summary
The Mariners are convinced Tokuchi cannot throw well in the rain, but this assumption turns out to be wrong.

Long Summary
It’s the bottom of the fifth and the Lycaons have a one-run lead on the Mariners. The commentators say this lead doesn’t hold much power as the rain is now heavier than ever and Tokuchi will face even worse throwing conditions than the Mariners’ pitchers. On top of that, the Mariners batting order starts with their three best hitters.

Tokuchi approaches the Mariners’ Manager and calls him pitiful for being unable to protect a 16-run lead. He says the Manager’s negligence has caused this turn-around. Manager Imawano proclaims that the game hasn’t been decided yet. Tokuchi seems surprised that he still wants to compete, and says if he were the Manager, he’d prolong the game until it’s cancelled instead of fighting a losing battle. Imawano responds he has no intention of doing that; Tokuchi laughs and tells him to take responsibility when the Mariners have lost.

Tomas tells Imawano Tokuchi’s just trying to provoke them because he’s tired and pressed for time. Takami agrees and says his fastballs today have all been the same, with no high- or low-spinning ones because he can’t control the rotation. In the rain, ball control will be even harder. Nonetheless, Takami secretly thinks to himself that he feels anxious for some reason. In his office, Saikawa is unworried about the outcome of the match as Tokuchi will still owe him 15 billion yen.

Tokuchi’s first pitch against Takami is a strike. Takami considers it an ordinary pitch but seems alarmed by Tokuchi’s smiling. He gets three ‘balls’ against him, making the count 1-3. Takami fouls the fifth pitch, but regains his confidence when he sees how weak the throw was, and reckons Tokuchi’s using weak pitches to trick him into thinking he still has ball control. He’s determined to hit the next one into the stands.

Tokuchi throws, and Takami swings and gets a strike, putting him out. The audience see that Tokuchi’s ball definitely dropped. The trainer tells Takami the ball had even less spin than usual. Takami wonders how an exhausted Tokuchi can throw so well then realises it must be the rain. With the ball sliding out of his hand, the ball rotates even less. Takami sees that the rain being a disadvantage for Tokuchi is just a delusion. Tokuchi strikes out Tomas next. He gets two strikes against Brooklyn, then says to himself ‘let’s get rid of that 15 billion yen debt.’ Brooklyn hits a grounder on the next throw and it rolls right back to Tokuchi. But rather than throw to first, he walks up to Brooklyn.

Characters

 * Tokuchi Toua
 * Manager Imawano
 * Takami
 * Tomas
 * Brooklyn