Chapter 138

Short Summary
The first game between the Lycaons and Mariners starts.

Long Summary
Kawanaka is walking around the field before the game when Tokuchi calls his attention from the stands and asks if he’s a starter today. Kawanaka asks Tokuchi if he’s not playing and Tokuchi replies he doesn’t play in games he can’t win, like Brooklyn said. Kawanaka asks if he’s referring to the lip reading and tells him to keep his ‘bullshit’ at a minimum. Tokuchi says it’s not bullshit and he’ll prove it. Kawanaka mimes something and Tokuchi interprets it as, ‘I hate you. Don’t talk to me as if we’re friendly.’ Kawanaka turns to leave but Tokuchi says Brooklyn said more that he didn’t tell the reporters. He said the new players are useless because the Mariners were already the strongest and they’re nuisances. When Kawanaka goes back to the dugout, he asks Brooklyn if he really said what’s claimed in the newspapers. Brooklyn says he doesn’t remember but that he really does think the Lycaons are nothing.

Kawanaka pitches in the first inning and strikes out all the Lycaons batters. Takahashi pitches for the Lycaons. He glances at the Mariners’ dugout to see the batters all staring him down and he gets nervous. Tokuchi shouts at him to ‘pitch already.’ He throws and the ball travels nowhere near the batter and hits the back fence. Tokuchi’s rules mean this is a million yen penalty. The next three batters in a row hit his pitches and get a run each. Tokuchi calls a time out to tell Takahashi he’s letting them hit well and to keep at it. He’s written down all of his pitch types so far and he owes Tokuchi five million.

Tomas bats next and Takahashi throws it straight down the middle, wanting to earn his money back. To his shock, Tomas swings and misses the easy ball. While he and Ideguichi look confused, Tokuchi laughs and mutters ‘good’.

Characters

 * Tokuchi Toua
 * Kawanaka
 * Takahashi
 * Tomas
 * Brooklyn