Chapter 139

Short Summary
Tokuchi explains how his rule forbidding throws outside the strike zone will help the pitchers in their game against the Mariners.

Long Summary
Takahashi throws his second pitch to Thomas. He hits a slow grounder and Takahashi finally gets an out. Brooklyn laughs at Thomas for his poor hit. Tokuchi calls out to Takahashi to let him know he only owes him 4 million now.

Takahashi strikes out the next two batters. He nows owes Tokuchi 2 million. Ideguchi asks him why Takahashi did so well last inning and Tokuchi explains ‘the bind on his mental limit came off’. He asks Kurai how many push ups he can do, to which Kurai responds 70. Tokuchi says he can definitely do at least 100. One’s mental limit is not the same as their physiological limit. When Kurai thinks he’s at his limit with 70, his brain puts the brakes on his body. It’s possible to remove the mental limit, like how in an emergency people lift things they never thought they could. Takahashi’s overthinking in the early innings led him to feel too pressured and affected his pitching. While he can’t remove the pressure of facing the Mariners, cancelling out the 5 million yen debt is extremely easy. All Takahashi has to do is pitch to strike zone with all his heart. With no need to worry about getting the Mariner’s out, Tokuchi’s managed to turn his attitude around.

Ideguchi yells that that’s worse because Takahashi’s not concentrating on the game. Tokuchi disagrees and says having all his thoughts about the game circling his head increases the pressure and strengthens the mental constraints. If you want to concentrate in the moment of a game, you need to clear your head of all idle thoughts. By concentrating on the money, Takahasi has freed himself of all hesitation concerning the game and his mental limit has been removed.

Takahashi gets three batters out in a row in the second inning. He’s cleared his debt and Tokuchi now owes him 3.5 million yen. Ideguchi congratulates him for facing Kitaooji without being scared and Takahashi looks shocked, saying he’d forgotten all about the Mariner’s line up. Tokuchi hands him his winnings and the other pitchers look on eagerly, realising they can earn money too. With their own mental limits taken off, the match continues.

Characters

 * Tokuchi Toua
 * Takahashi
 * Ideguchi
 * Thomas
 * Brooklyn
 * Takami