Chapter 34

Short Summary
The Lycaons have their first game against the Bugaboos. Saikawa comes up with a plan to use Tokuchi as a relief pitcher whenever there’s a runner on third base.

Long Summary
After Tokuchi’s 2.135 billion yen win, the Secretary suggests they try to renegotiate with Tokuchi and extend his contract to limit their losses. Saikawa says that would be admitting defeat, which he refuses to do. Oikawa insists that’s not the case but that Tokuchi is simply a more talented pitcher than they could have guessed. Saikawa admits he’s talented, but has a big flaw in that he lets in a lot of hits. The Secretary looks it up and sees Tokuchi has given up 25 hits so far this season. Saikawa says Tokuchi has been exploiting this ‘gap’ in the One Outs contract, where hits don’t matter, and suggests they block off this ‘escape route’. If the contract stated Tokuchi lost 50 million yen for every hit instead of out, Saikawa would be in the black.

Saikawa calls Mihara to his office, who says he’s been getting a beating from the media for having a rookie pitch three consecutive games. Saikawa gives him a phone specifically so he can give Mihara instructions regarding Tokuchi during the next match.

The Lycaons have a meeting about their upcoming game against the Bugaboos. As usual Tokuchi hasn’t shown up, but Ideguchi says it’s fine since the Bugaboos are the one team they can beat without him. Kojima scolds them for looking down on the Bugaboos and tells them they’ve got a new manager. Manager Shirooka is famous for leading teams to victory with his clever strategies. They’re currently in third place, while the Lycaons are sixth. Kojima shows them a video of the Bugaboos' last match, in which the runner on first base purposely fell over on his way to second. The distraction allowed the runner on third reached home.

In the first match between the Lycaons and the Bugaboos, Kajiwara acts as the starting pitcher. The score is 1-1 by the bottom of the fifth inning. The Bugaboos have got runners on first and third when a nervous-looking Mihara unexpectedly walks out and announces a pitching change with Tokuchi. The commentators call this a shocking decision as Kajiwara had been pitching extremely well, and observe even Tokuchi doesn’t look like he understands the decision.

Saikawa reveals to his staff these are his instructions. The Secretary sees his reasoning, as Tokuchi will be penalised for any run scored while he’s on the mound, not just earned runs. Getting a runner out on third is tricky. Saikawa says he will no longer allow Tokuchi to pitch as he likes, and he’ll be made to be a relief pitcher every time there’s a runner on third base.

Characters

 * Tokuchi Toua
 * Saikawa- Owner of the Lycaons
 * Oikawa
 * The Secretary
 * Kojima
 * Ideguchi
 * Kajiwara
 * Manager Mihara