Chapter 114

Short Summary
Tokuchi regains his strength by remaining a fielder for several games. He consistently gets put out when he bats, but this is made up for by Muruwaka’s homeruns. Saikawa is frustrated, but thinks of a plan to beat Tokuchi in the upcoming match against the Blue Mars.

Long Summary
Oikawa hopes that Tokuchi’s win of 4 billion yen in the last game will force Saikawa to get rid of the One Outs contract. But he’s furious at the suggestion and says he won’t bow down to Tokuchi over one loss. He’s convinced the new contract will favour him eventually, especially as Sugadaira is now too injured to play. Oikawa asks him where they’re going to get the money to pay Tokuchi, but Saikawa replies they have an ‘endless supply’ of money. Oikawa and the Secretary think he’s kidding himself, as the Lycaons are only generating an annual profit of a billion yen and Saikawa’s own company is suffering in the recession.

Oikawa suddenly wonders if Tokuchi’s even been getting paid. Over the phone, Tokuchi confirms the Owner always pays him the day after the game. Oikawa tells him about their financial situation and Tokuchi laughs and says, ‘The ship is about the sink.’ Oikawa isn’t sure what he means.

Tokuchi chooses himself and Murukawa to start the next game against the Fingers. Saikawa predicts that Tokuchi will only come on as a fielder, in which case he’ll have to bat as well. He keeps the One Outs rate as it is. His prediction was correct and Tokuchi stays on first base. He bats and gets hit out twice, but Muruwaka cancels it out with a home run, making the balance ± 0. Tokuchi picks the same people for the next day; they both get struck out twice, but Murukawa also scores an RBI. Kurai then pitches in the ninth inning and gets out all three batters, ending with Saikawa winning a measly 1.6 million yen back.

Saikawa gets frustrated, unable to see a way to beat the contract. He was depending on increasing the rate when Tokuchi got tired, but by staying on as a fielder he's easily regained his strength. Another game goes by and the owner gets another 1.6 million. Saikawa realises if he tries raising the rate now, Tokuchi will just pitch himself and win big.

Oikawa asks him again to compromise with Tokuchi, insisting they’ve reached a stalemate, but Saikawa announces he’s thought of a way to win. He asks the Secretary to confirm tomorrow’s starters are Tokuchi and Muruwaka, and the Blue Mars’ starting pitcher is Minami, then puts the rate up x5.

At the bottom of the second, the score is 0-0, but Kojima hits and gets a double. Murukawa is batting next. Tokuchi remains a fielder this match, and the Secretary guesses a x5 increase isn’t enough to get him to pitch, but Saikawa seems confident he’s thought of a way to win.

The pitcher intentionally walks Muruwaka. Oikawa is shocked, but the Owner reveals he himself bribed the Blue Mars to do this. If Muruwaka is walked, he can’t earn Tokuchi any money, and Tokuchi will get struck out when it’s his turn to bat. Oikawa admits that with this strategy the Owner will inevitably win, and Saikawa replies he has more secret plans up his sleeve.

Characters

 * 1) Tokuchi Toa
 * 2) Oikawa Mitsuo: Public Relations Manager
 * 3) Saikawa: Owner of the Lycaons
 * 4) Saikawa's Secretary
 * 5) Muruwaka
 * 6) Kurai