Chapter 28

Short Summary
The Lycaon’s score ten runs in one inning. The Mariner’s pitcher, Kira, starts wasting time on pitches to draw the game out.

Long Summary
The team don’t believe they can score 16 runs, and Tokuchi points out the Mariners probably think the same thing, which can be used to their advantage. The Mariners’ current pitcher, Kira, has not let in any runs so far. Their coach shouts at him to hurry up and not bother with practice pitches. Tokuchi laughs and tells Ideguchi practice pitches would be best right now. Kira’s first two pitches are balls. The Mariners coach panics.

Ideguchi wonders what’s wrong with Kira and Tokuchi repeats he should have thrown practice pitches. They’re needed to get a feel for the pitcher’s mound, which Tokuchi purposely messed up when he pitched last inning. Kira realises Tokuchi has dug a ditch where he would usually take his step to pitch. His coach shouts at him to hurry up again and he throws two more ‘balls’ walking the batter, Nishimura. Tokuchi calls out to the runner and signals him to ‘run for it’. He takes a huge lead, but the Mariner’s coach tells Kira not to waste his time with pick-offs and ignore him. Nishimura gets to second base, his first base theft. He does it again on the next pitch and the Mariners realise the Lycaons are doing as they please, but the coach still tells Kira their opponent's runs don’t matter.

Ideguchi hits and Nishimura makes it home. The next batter also gets a runner home. Kojima looks shocked at how easily such a good pitcher can crumble.

Kira lets in six runs, but the Mariner's catcher yells the rain is getting worse and tells him to pitch faster. Tokuchi laughs, saying they’re scum and they’ll ‘pay dearly’ for abandoning their pitcher. After the tenth run, the umpire notes how bad the rain has gotten and suggests cancelling it but the Mariner’s Manager Imawano begs that they keep going.

He yells at Kira to hurry up again. Kira tries a pick-off attempt at first base, but the coach calls him an idiot for trying it. He makes a second attempt and the commentators realise he’s trying to waste time. Tokuchi says the rebellion the Lycaons needed has come at last, as Kira also wants the game made invalid. Ideguchi is confused, and Tokuchi explains his ERA will suffer terribly while the batters’ RBA will greatly increase, even if the Mariner's lose. The Mariner’s manager told Kira to take one for the team, but Kira will be the only one suffering for their careless rushing.

Characters

 * Tokuchi Toua
 * Kira
 * Ideguchi
 * Manager Imawano
 * Kojima