[based on translation by narwhaltortellini and Renren1]

SUMMARY:

The match between Musashino Dai Ichi and Kasukabe Municipal is about to start. Over the intercom, attendants are warned to watch out for the day's high temperatures. In the stands, baseball club alumni from Kasukabe revel in reuniting to watch one of their (sort-of-like) grandsons play at Koushien.

Kasukabe heads out to the field to do the knock, and Kaguyama is surprised at the loud crowd. Haruna says while Kasukabe may have better numbers, their side at least has girls. Kaguyama agrees this is good, but says the crowd doesn't distract him when he's pitching, anyway. Afterward, however, he thinks to himself that really, the reason he can stay calm is because he knows he has Haruna behind him.

Back at camp, the Nishiura boys ready to head out again after a meal. Tajima whispers to Mihashi to ask if he's remembered to bring something which turns out to be porn magazines he borrowed from Tajima (who Tajima secretly borrowed from someone else). Bright red, Mihashi gives the magazine back, and Tajima asks if there was anything he particularly liked. Mihashi stutters he liked the nurse cosplay ones and asks Tajima what he liked. Tajima says he likes the outdoor sex series.

Izumi looms in to tell Tajima not to bring that sort of thing to camp, but still wants to see the mags before Tajima puts them back. Tajima says Izumi has already seen these ones, but he can bring some that are more to Izumi's taste later. Izumi skeptically asks what his tastes are, and Tajima explains that Izumi likes ones where the people are on a school field trip to Lake Biwa and do it in the water wearing swimsuits. Mizutani laughs out loud at the specificity of Izumi's tastes. Izumi embarrassedly explains he was in middle school at the time and manhandles Tajima to get him to shut up.

Tajima reasons that Mizutani must have a fantasy too, and Mizutani happily explains that he fantasizes about a female burglar coming into his home. He catches her and tells her he'll call the police, unless... At which point Izumi interrupts to tell Mizutani his fantasy is even funnier than his (Izumi's) own. Mizutani notes that even Mihashi is laughing at him.

Mizutani asks what Tajima likes, and he explains that he likes girls with short or tied up hair, especially if they play with it. Mizutani points out that Momokan and Shinook both wear their hair like that, and asks if Tajima likes Shinooka. Tajima says sure, and that Shinooka is cute, also saying that if Momokan were 15 years old he'd totally like her, too.

Sakaeguchi comes into the conversation, explaining he imagines being alone with a girl on a luxury liner, dozing under a parasol. Suyama adds that the girl Sakaeguchi imagines being with is Halle Berry.

When Mizutani asks Suyama what he fantasizes, Suyama indignantly explains that he doesn't do stuff like that, much to the shock of most everyone. The team concludes that surely Suyama must even if he doesn't say so, and moves on to ask Oki (who likes traditional Japanese clothes and Mikos) and Nishihiro (who likes Caucasian girls). Hanai likes English teachers, and Hamada likes harems, which he professes must be every man's dream.

When asked, Abe says he likes nice skin and a light complexion, but really doesn't get all this stuff they're saying about fantasies. Finally finding someone of similar opinion, Suyama jumps over to Abe and agrees with him eagerly. Abe goes on to explain that these fantasies everyone has, must have come into their heads somehow, probably rooted in something that's happened to them in their actual lives. He and Suyama then insist (in unison) that they are all gross.

Hanai and Izumi become unnerved, wondering, in this case, where their personal fantasies came from (while in Izumi's thoughts we become privy to another scenario involving a high rise hotel and having sex pressed up against a window). Mizutani, however, protests that Abe and Suyama simply lack imagination. Abe and Suyama profess (again in unison) that all the others are just perverted. Sakaeguchi says he thinks sexual fantasies are just like daydreaming, only erotic. Izumi says the two are just so over-sensible that they can't even bring themselves to fantasize when they masturbate.

Nishihiro comes up with the idea to ask Suyama what, in that case, he would do with a girl if he did have a girlfriend. Suyama explains that for starters, they'd hold hands. For a moment there is shocked silence, and then the boys burst into delighted blushes, saying that Suayma is adorable. Suyama is furious, asking if they think you just jump into bed with a girl. Abe says that holding hands is normal. Tajima comments on how dirty everyone is and then tells him he'll bring more nurse porn for him later.

Shiga (and Momokan behind him) burst into the room, telling the boys they can finish their conversation later since it's time to restart practice. The boys file out, Hanai groaning inwardly, wondering how much was overheard. As they leave, Momokan notes that it is good the boys have grown close enough to talk about sex together (and that everyone participated), since being close and comfortable with your teammates can make practicing more fun. She then thinks that now what they need to work toward is getting the boys more internal motivation, since having the external motivation of the goal won't be enough.

Back at the Kasukabe/Musashino game, the announcers talk about the two teams. Musashino will bat first, and Kaguyama will be the starting pitcher. They expect him to be relieved by Haruna (now in right field) at the beginning of the fourth inning since that is how Musashino's games have usually gone. They discuss what possible strategy there could be behind this, notingthat this means in the second half of the game viewers can look forward to a showdown between Haruna and another notable player in the tournament, Kasukabe's “slugger,” Takahashi.

The game starts and Musashino's Fukuhara is up to bat. Kasukabe's pitcher Aoi pitches underhand, and Fuku watches the first pitch go by, getting a strike. He lets the next by as well, noting how they really don't give signs so there's barely any wait between pitches. On the last pitch Fuku tries to bunt, but misses, making Musashino's first out.

In the dugout, the team asks how the pitches were. He says that the speed and course aren't impossible to hit. Meanwhile, the next batter makes a bunt but is thrown out on first, making Musashino's second out.

Musashino's catcher, Machida, comes up to bat. He notes they've yet to throw a breaking ball, though the fastball is already sort of like one, anyway. He swings at the first pitch and hits, but it is caught in the outfield, ending the first half of the first inning. The team asks Kaguyama to work hard through the 3rd inning, and they head out. One teammate notes that it's rather odd to relieve the pitcher after the third inning, yet everyone on the team including Kaguyan seems ok with it.

Kaguyama notes that Kasukabe didn't get one hit off Haruna during their practice game, so they're sure to try and get what they can off Kaguyama now. He thinks to himself that because of Haruna's selfishness he gets to be starting pitcher at the prefecture quarter finals. Only pitching 3 innings, he's got no reason to hold back or throw a careless pitch.

In the stands, the Kasukabe alumni wonder why Haruna isn't the starting pitcher.

Kasukabe's first batter comes up to bat. He thinks that whatever reason Musashino has for not starting with Haruna, it will work to Kasukabe's advantage. He hits the first pitch, making it to first. The second batter bunts, making one out and advancing the runner to second. The third batter hits well, but Fuku quickly dives to catch the ball and gets the batter out.

With two outs and the runner on second, Kasukabe's cleanup batter (the notable player the announcers mentioned) Takahashi comes up to bat. Musashino's catcher Machida calls for a ball, but Takahashi hits it anyway. The ball flies out to right field, but is easily caught by Haruna. The first inning ends.

As he heads back to the dugout, Takahashi's teammate Shiba teases him for having Haruna on the brain. Shiba then calls to the pitcher Aoi that he should not try to compete with Haruna. Aoi is irritated at the insinuation that he would try to compete with Haruna and how preoccupied his teammates seem by the other pitcher. Aoi thinks to himself that he is pitching for the sake of the seniors, so that he can see them make it to Koushien.

Musashino up to bat again, their batters first hit a left field fly, a hit to center, and a successful bunt. Haruna comes up to bat with two outs and a runner on second. Aoi's teammates again tease him about not competing with Haruna, and Aoi's twin brother and catcher Ryou notes that they only tease him because his brother reacts so much to it. He signs to Aoi, and Aoi notes that they're being extra cautious even with Haruna's batting. He admits it makes sense, though, since with his large body he can likely hit far if he makes contact.

Aoi makes the pitch, down the middle and high, hoping Haruan will hit it. Haruna does hit, and the ball flies far, getting caught in the outfield and ending the first half of the second inning. Haruna's teammates are let down, thinking if only the ball had fallen in a better spot they'd have had a point for sure, but Haruna walks in to tell them it wasn't really a close thing at all, and that the battery probably just let him hit. Ooi (captain?) rallies the team to take heart. He reminds them of their plan to take advantage of the hot weather, push up Kasukabe's pitch count, and tire out the pitcher (who should tire even more easily doing underhanded throws). This way, they should have a better chance in the second half.

Shiba, Kasukabe's fifth batter, readies to bat. He's looking forward to getting a chance to bat against Haruna, but notes that the team's victory comes first. He thinks Kaguyama has improved since fall and that he's worthy of standing on the mound in the finals. Still, he plans for his team to score the first point, and figures they will be on a roll from there.