Oofuri Chapter 21

[Based on translation by narwhaltortellini]

SUMMARY:

After the game, Hanai tells the team they must carry the equipment back to the car. Abe tells Mihashi that he should stay behind and not carry anything, as there is a possibility he might hurt his fingers. Tajima thinks Abe scaring Mihashi is what causes the precarious situation anyway, and that Abe is being too protective, to the point where even Mihashi must think so. Abe thinks Mihashi doesn't think like that, however, as they leave we see Mihashi thinking to himself that simply carrying bags will not hurt him.

Abe's dad comes up to Mihashi to say hello. He asks what Mihashi thinks of Abe and if he finds him bossy. Abe's dad then wonders if older people make Mihashi nervous since he is not answering and makes some sort of comment about his timidity. He comments that despite this Mihashi must still argue with Abe all the time, but Mihashi still does not answer. After confirming that the boy he is talking to is really Mihashi, Abe's dad asks Mihashi if he finds Takaya scary. Mihashi does not answer out loud, but he thinks to himself that Abe is indeed frightening. Abe's dad gets a call from his younger son Shuu and leaves.

Naomasa, the former other candidate for catcher, comes to tell Takeshi that a meeting is about to start, and they leave together as it is late. Kyo, the boy Takeshi was practicing with, thinks to himself that there seems to be some tension between the two.

As he washes up, Naomasa talks to Takeshi about how his legs do not seem to be holding up well. Still, Takeshi can get such skills with practice, and he think this is why they chose Takeshi over him. Naomasa says that he still hasn't given up on becoming catcher, but still gives Takeshi some advice, telling him not to be anxious or it will affect the whole team, and to have confidence in himself.

Takeshi thinks to himself that Naomasa is a good person. He has a flashback of Roka telling him [Takeshi] that if he plays the way Roka tells him to, then Roka will back his becoming catcher. Takeshi thinks to himself that the goodness of Naomasa is actually the reason that Takeshi was chosen instead. Takeshi resolves to himself that he must do what he is supposed to, as it is the reason he was made a regular. The meeting starts.

Mihashi's mom argues with her husband about going to Mihashi's games. She says she has been to all of them, but his dad says Mihashi never let him come to games in middle school. Mihashi's mother doesn't remember and assumes it was because he was embarrassed.

Mihashi gets home and his dad asks him about how the game turned out. His dad has brought home yaki manju, and Mihashi is distracted for the entire conversation trying to get his mom to cook them. He tries to get Mihashi to play catch, but Mihashi says he can't and his dad is surprised. He begins telling Mihashi that he has the day off the day after tomorrow when Mihashi's next game is, and Mihashi immediately suggests that he come to the game and meet Hama-chan. Mihashi's dad initially has trouble remembering who he is, but then he does and reminisces.

Mihashi notes that getting hit in the game was scary, but no matter what he will throw as Abe says.

Abe and his dad discuss the latest game. Abe's dad asks how he feels about giving up 3 runs. Abe thinks there was no helping one, but that he underestimated the batter in one case. Abe's dad asks him if the pitcher agreed to throw the ball knowing it would be hit. Abe responds that he does not need to get Mihashi to agree to anything since Mihashi throws where Abe tells him.

Abe's dad is amused and slightly accusatory about this attitude Abe has revealed towards his pitcher. Abe insists it is not how his father is thinking, and that the reason they work like that is because Mihashi trusts him.

Thinking of Mihashi, Abe's dad decides to press further, asking if Abe gets along well with Mihashi, to which Abe replies that he does. Abe's dad asks if they are friends, to which Abe becomes irritated and says there is no need for a catcher and pitcher to be friends. His dad tells him what he was really getting at was that if Abe truly thinks Mihashi and him are getting along well, then Abe must not know what a real friendship is like.

Abe says that his standards for “getting along well” are higher for other people, but low for Mihashi since when they first met they could barely speak. He insists he's trying to get along better, and says that keeping up even a ten minute conversation is tough. Abe's dad suggests this is because Abe is the one Mihashi is talking to, and Abe gets angry, making his father angry as well. Abe is told to go to bed if he is done eating.

Abe thinks to himself that his dad hasn't met Mihashi and doesn't know what he's talking about. He reminds himself that he does have friends, as everyone on the team gets along well. Realizing they have never gone out together, he then concludes that really the people from middle school and the Seniors must be his friends, only to realize that the only time he's seen any of them since high school started was his run-in with Haruna. Abe decides that either way, it has nothing to do with Mihashi. Thinking about his fathers words again, he admits to himself that their relationship is weird, but he thinks he's doing his best.

A reporter visits the team as they practice. The reporter is interested in the fact that Momokan is a young, pretty (big breasted) woman. She notes the somewhat constricted practice conditions with the team having to share their outfield with other clubs, but seems to think they respect and take care of what they have well. The boys notice the reporter, and Hanai tells Hamada to not give anything away about their plans or strategies.

Abe and Mihashi go together to pick up their lunch boxes. Abe says they will take them to the cafeteria to eat. Mihashi thinks to himself if the cafeteria is open he wants to buy something, though he isn't sure it will be since it's summer. He considers asking Abe, but decides he will find out once they get there so he won't. Abe notes Mihashi seems to be thinking deeply about something and waits.

Abe tries asking Mihashi if he is dissatisfied with anything about him. Mihashi is extremely started and shakes his head vigorously. Abe asks if there is anything, perhaps with his pitch calling. Mihashi continues to shake his head. Abe looks satisfied and is happy to get an answer he expected. Mihashi worries to himself that he has exuded dissatisfaction in some way, and resolves to watch himself better.

Hanai's mom tells her girls that their brother is in the newspaper. In a frenzy, they all look. He is small and off to the side in a picture that is actually more of Momokan.

On the day of the game, Mihashi's dad reunites with Hamada, and they comment on how the other has changed. Everyone meets the Hanai daughters, and the other women who all only have sons discuss how they would like girls, though they think they are too old. Sakaeguchi's sister comes, and Abe's mom already knows her since the Sakaeguchi and Abe fathers were both in the PTA.

Momokan tells the team Takenouchi is up to bat first, just as the expected, and confirms they'll stick to the plan they discussed, and gives them a pep talk.

Kazuki feels nostalgic noting the unique feel of a prefecture game. He has skipped prep school to come, and wonders to himself if he is only here because he wants to see Nishiura loose.