Chapter 97

Short Summary
Tokuchi uses a fake ball during warm-up to trick the other team into thinking he can pitch a breaking ball.

Long Summary
Amami wonders why they didn't have Tokuchi start if they're going to bring him on so early and Kitaoji says Tokuchi must be reserving his strength after playing consecutive games. He tells the next batter to draw out the number of pitches Tokuchi throws to help wear him out.

Kojima asks Tokuchi if he’s OK to throw and Tokuchi tells him he’s 'at a 4 or 5’ but he’ll be fine and has a plan. He tells the umpire he’s going to throw warm up pitches today. The commentators are shocked at the rarity and the Fingers members are pleased that he needs them.

Tokuchi throws a few times then shouts to Ideguchi that he’s about to throw ‘that’ pitch. When he throws, the ball curves sharply and Ideguchi fails to catch it. The Fingers and commentators are shocked as no one thought Tokuchi could throw a breaking ball.

The first batter looks extremely nervous. Tokuchi says aloud he’s going with ‘that’ pitch again and throws it. The batter expects the curveball and lets it go by, but it’s a fastball and he gets a strike. He continues to anticipate a breaking ball on each pitch and ends up getting struck out.

Tokuchi strikes out the next two batters as well and Kurai thanks him for taking over. Kojima asks Ideguchi when Tokuchi learnt to throw a breaking ball, but Ideguchi points out that Tokuchi didn’t use a single breaking pitch to get the batters out. During warm up, he threw the demonstration ball he’d used to explain the fake knuckleball at the Blue Mars game. Kojima frets about taking such a risk, but Tokuchi points out there’s no rule saying ‘one may not use a weird ball during practice’.

Mihara approaches Tokuchi and tells him he doesn’t believe Kurai has a hidden ability, but Tokuchi reassures him it’ll come out. He comments it’s ‘fun with this thrill’ and either he’ll get destroyed first or Kurai will awaken first.

Characters

 * Tokuchi Toua
 * Kurai
 * Manager Mihara
 * Saikawa: Owner of the Lycaons
 * Amami
 * Kitaoji
 * Ideguchi
 * Kojima