Chapter 116

Short Summary
With Tokuchi's injured finger, the Owner increases the rate of the next game x200

Long Summary
With Saikawa having made previous attempts to take Tokuchi out before, and the Blue Mars despising him as a result of their previous game, Tokuchi’s bean ball injury is described as ‘inevitable’. Saikawa puts it on replay and the Secretary says the ball definitely broke his finger. The 7th clause of the One Outs contract states any two players must play for the first five innings, meaning Tokuchi will either have to sub out or play through the pain.

The commentators announce a change at first base after Tokuchi’s injury, but then see he’s taped up his fingers and will continue to play. Saikawa laughs at his idiocy. Oikawa hopes the injury isn’t as bad as they’d thought, but Tokuchi drops the ball when he tries to throw it to the pitcher and cringes in pain.

Saikawa laughs again and anticipates tomorrow’s ‘huge’ gain. Oikawa tells him not to celebrate prematurely as Tokuchi could just send on Kurai in replacement of him tomorrow, but the Secretary and Owner start chuckling. The Secretary guesses he hasn’t heard yet- Kurai has a ’30-pitch’ arm. After this amount, his pitches start to lose power. 30 pitches is a little over one inning, so there’s no way he can pitch for five.

The day’s game ends in a 2-1 loss for the Lycaons. Tokuchi faxes tomorrow’s starters to the Owner- himself and Muruwaka. Saikawa predicts Tokuchi will choose to bat instead of pitch and decides to put the rate up 200x. If Tokuchi gets put out twice, he will lose 6.7 billion yen.

In the final game against the Blue Mars, the Lycaons start on defence. Unexpectedly, Tokuchi is the starting pitcher. Saikawa is ecstatic. Oikawa laments Tokuchi’s poor decision when his words from before suddenly come back to him- ‘The ship is about to sink.’ Oikawa wonders if their meaning will have any bearing on his situation now.

Characters

 * Tokuchi Toua
 * Saikawa- Owner of the Lycaons
 * Oikawa