Recaps

Kōshū and Lang Zhi fought over Lang Zhi’s attempt to resist his older brother, but Kōshū later cheered him up after he placed ninety-ninth in the exam rankings. The family took their first portrait together on February 1, 2006, marking one year since Kōshū came to Japan.

• Kōshū secretly practiced wrestling holds on Lang Zhi, who had hoped their parents would catch his brother bullying him.
• Lang Zhi, dazed from the fight, attacked Kōshū in the car and burst into tears when Mr. Sasaki accused him of bullying his brother.
• Lang Zhi placed ninety-ninth in the exam rankings, and Kōshū bought him a newly released idol game as an apology.
• Lang Zhi realized he could use his status as Kōshū’s younger brother to get more benefits from him.
• Shen Qing, Mr. Sasaki, Kōshū, Lang Zhi, You, and Qianxue posed for their first family portrait on February 1, 2006.

Kōshū attended the Kanto League skills competition with Lang Zhi and was caught dozing on the live broadcast before joining the crowd around visiting Yakult players. When the host called for audience volunteers to join a pitching accuracy contest, someone shoved Kōshū forward and he was selected to participate.

• Kōshū nodded off during the opening ceremony and used Lang Zhi as a headrest, embarrassing their parents when the broadcast showed them.
• Kōshū and Lang Zhi toured the Baseball Museum with the Kinoshita Little League group, and Hayakawa reminded them not to buy souvenirs during the tour.
• Kōshū and the other children returned to the field, where Yakult players Igarashi and Miyamoto prepared for a pitching accuracy contest.
• The host invited two children to join the players, and a shove from behind sent Kōshū forward as the first volunteer.
• Kōshū told the host his name and that he was from Kinoshita Little League.

Kōshū teamed up with professional player Miyamoto for a pitching game and showed off his remarkable accuracy, knocking down the targets in order. After the event, the host’s attention made Kōshū freeze up, and he later blamed Lang Zhi for pushing him into the spotlight.

• Kōshū joined Miyamoto’s team, while Saitama teamed up with Igarashi, and Kōshū volunteered to pitch first.
• Kōshū hit the numbered boards accurately, helping Miyamoto’s team take the lead over Igarashi’s team.
• The host challenged Kōshū to hit the remaining number seven, eight, and nine boards, and Kōshū knocked down all three in succession.
• Kōshū struggled to speak when the host put him on the spot, but he said he would keep moving upward one step at a time.
• Kōshū grabbed Lang Zhi and accused him of pushing him forward, and Lang Zhi laughed while taking the blame.

Kōshū and Lang Zhi got separated from the others after Kōshū fell asleep in the stands, then hurried back just in time for the pitch speed test. Kōshū set a new record for the second-year middle school players and left the venue amid stunned reactions.

• Kōshū and Lang Zhi met Shibasaki and Luan Chuan in the stands, where Kōshū revealed his pitching speed and pitches before pretending to sleep.
• Kōshū slept through most of the event, and Lang Zhi woke him when the pitch speed test was about to begin.
• Kōshū and Lang Zhi stopped in the bathroom, then were escorted back to the venue by a staff member and reunited with Hayakawa.
• Kōshū threw two practice pitches, then recorded speeds of 137 km/h and 138 km/h, setting a new record.
• Kōshū left through a side opening as the players and spectators discussed his speed and control.

After Kōshū impressed at a baseball event, Coach Ninomiya told him he had been chosen as Japan’s U15 head coach and set a six-month goal of making the national team. Kōshū left excited but anxious about the pressure, while Lang Zhi’s jealousy and the family’s unequal attention remained unresolved.

• Mr. Sasaki picked up Lang Zhi and Kōshū near a station after traffic kept him from reaching the venue, and he drove them home.
• At dinner, the family discussed Kōshū’s fast pitching test, and Shen Qing privately sent him a red packet.
• Kōshū offered to buy Lang Zhi a CD, and Lang Zhi eventually congratulated him on ranking first in pitching speed among second-year players.
• Coach Ninomiya told Kōshū he would lead Japan’s U15 team and planned to select twenty players for the WBSC tournament after the summer tournament.
• Coach Ninomiya encouraged Kōshū to pursue a six-month goal of making the team without overtraining, and Kōshū left the meeting excited and worried about getting injured or falling short.

Kōshū agreed to play an official practice game against Taiyo Little League after Luan Chuan invited him, and he studied the opposing pitcher’s repertoire before the match. The game began with Luan Chuan struggling to find his rhythm, leaving Kōshū eager to face his Forkball.

• Kōshū and Lang Zhi ate the local specialties Miss Takashima had delivered while Sasaki discussed Seido’s scout with Shen Qing.
• Kōshū hesitated over Luan Chuan’s invitation until Hayakawa told him Coach Ninomiya had agreed to arrange the game directly with the opposing coach.
• Kōshū and Luan Chuan exchanged pitching details, and Kōshū warned him that other pitches could replace the arm-damaging Forkball.
• At Kinoshita Little League’s home field, Kōshū briefed Yoshino on Luan Chuan’s 136 km/h fastball and changeups before Taiyo Little League began batting.
• Yoshino reached first after Luan Chuan threw three balls and then a called strike, while Ōno struck out on a sharply dropping pitch that Kōshū suspected was the Forkball.
• As Kōshū prepared to bat fifth, Luan Chuan made four consecutive pickoff attempts, and Kōshū wondered if he was nervous.

Kōshū faced Taiyo Little League’s ace, Luan Chuan, in a practice game and hit a home run off his forkball. Taiyo lost 6–0, and the chapter ended with Luan Chuan proposing more games as Kōshū still felt an unexplained dislike toward him.

• Hayakawa hit an inside slider for an out, and Kinoshita Little League failed to score in the first inning.
• Taiyo’s pitcher struck out the side’s momentum with sharp pitches, retiring the first three batters in order.
• Luan Chuan shook off his catcher’s signals until he called for a forkball, which Kōshū drove over the right-field wall for a home run.
• Luan Chuan admitted he was unwilling to accept the loss, then settled down and pitched the rest of the game.
• Taiyo lost 6–0, and Luan Chuan approached Kōshū afterward to praise him and suggest future practice games.

Kōshū reflected on how understanding Mr. Sasaki brought their blended family closer, while his teasing of Lang Zhi turned a graduation-day confession into a disaster. The brothers left the ceremony with Lang Zhi heartbroken and vowing to reject love letters for Kōshū.

• Kōshū recalled Mr. Sasaki's missing older brother and learned how family pressure had shaped Mr. Sasaki's choices.
• Kōshū and Mr. Sasaki grew closer after sharing snacks and talking about their pasts, and Kōshū considered how understanding helped a blended family become one.
• Kōshū and Lang Zhi wrestled over breakfast, and Kōshū learned that Lang Zhi planned to give a graduation gift to a senior from Home Economics Class.
• Kōshū secretly followed Lang Zhi after the graduation ceremony and interrupted his attempt to give the senior a gift by blurting out that Lang Zhi liked her.
• The senior dropped the gift and left, and Lang Zhi cried before vowing to reject every love letter sent to him for Kōshū.

Kōshū and Lang Zhi traveled to a two-week baseball training camp while Shen Qing was admitted to the hospital early for observation. After settling into their crowded inn, Kōshū and the Kinoshita Club players began adjusting to the unfamiliar practice field.

• Shen Qing reassured Kōshū that she would be safe in the hospital while he and Lang Zhi went to camp.
• Kōshū learned that eight teams had gathered for the training camp and exchanged messages with players from other teams.
• Coach Ninomiya outlined the camp schedule and assigned Kōshū and Lang Zhi to a shared room with teammates.
• Kōshū chose a sleeping spot before the others returned, and the players argued over where to sleep.
• The Kinoshita Club players gathered at an elementary school playground to get used to its artificial turf and temporary baseball field.

Kinoshita Little League shared its field with Head Coach Yoshinaga’s struggling team, whose players joined the drills and received coaching. The teams later headed to a mountain field for a practice game, where Kōshū was scheduled to start and use his full pitching repertoire.

• Coach Ninomiya welcomed Head Coach Yoshinaga and her team to train alongside Kinoshita Little League’s players.
• Head Coach Yoshinaga explained that her team had lost many serious players and lacked the staff and money to hire professional coaches.
• Kinoshita Little League continued its packed training-camp schedule and ran uphill to the afternoon’s practice-game field.
• Coach Ninomiya assigned Kōshū to start the game, with Shibasaki and Sato slated to pitch afterward.

Kōshū struggled with an unfamiliar bunt rule, gave up a run, and recovered to help Kinoshita Little League win its first Training Camp practice game 5–1. The team left the field with the three pitchers assigned to copy the Baseball Out Rules three times.

• Kōshū picked up a foul bunt after two strikes and threw toward first, allowing the runners to advance when the first baseman missed the ball.
• Kōshū struck out the sixth batter and retired the eighth, but the seventh batter reached first and the cleanup hitter scored.
• Hayakawa hit a double, and Lang Zhi sacrificed himself to move Hayakawa to third as Kinoshita Little League tied the score 1–1.
• Kōshū mixed Changeups into his fastballs in the third inning, making the opposing batters struggle again.
• Kinoshita Little League won the practice game 5–1, and Coach Ninomiya ordered all three pitchers to copy the Baseball Out Rules three times.

Kōshū and his teammates spent their first day at training camp practicing, eating, studying, and watching a movie before facing a golf-course team the next morning. Kinoshita Little League won the practice game 3–0, with Kōshū contributing an RBI hit and later pitching as closer.

• Kōshū watched Shibasaki and Sato socialize with the opposing team, then joined the outfielders for afternoon practice while his arm rested.
• The coaches led the children back to the inn, where the team ate dinner, finished homework, watched part of a comedy, and settled in for a noisy night of snoring.
• Kōshū played left field on the golf-course field and used his speed to catch balls, while Shibasaki struck out two batters and ended the opposing team’s first inning with a caught fly.
• Yoshino led off for Kinoshita Little League, Hayakawa batted third, Kōshū fourth, and Lang Zhi fifth; Kōshū hit an RBI single and Lang Zhi laid down a sacrifice bunt to score another run.
• Kinoshita Little League led 3–0 after the first inning and won the game, while Kōshū closed on the mound and the regular left fielder finally started.

Kinoshita Little League faced Eimei Little League in a rematch, and Kōshū struck out after chasing the Kyoto team’s difficult Curveball. Coach Ninomiya challenged him to focus on bringing his teammates home, and the game continued with Kinoshita taking the field on defense.

• Kōshū woke from repeated dreams about games as Kinoshita Little League prepared to rematch Eimei Little League, which had tied them in their previous game.
• Yoshino drew a walk, the next batter advanced him to second, and Hayakawa struck out against Eimei’s Curveball.
• Kōshū watched two fastballs go by, then swung and missed at the pitcher’s Curveball for the third strike.
• Coach Ninomiya questioned Kōshū’s decision to chase the Curveball instead of focusing on bringing runners home, then sent him out to play defense.

Kōshū recovered from his nerves and retired Eimei Little League’s first three batters, while Kinoshita Little League struggled to score against the opposing pitcher. As the teams changed sides, Kōshū faced renewed pressure to keep the game scoreless.

• Coach Ninomiya let Kōshū remain on the mound after scolding him for his batting.
• Kōshū struck out Eimei Little League’s leadoff batter and got the next two batters out with Hayakawa’s help.
• Lang Zhi swung at a Slider and struck out, prompting Kōshū to tease him in the dugout.
• Kōshū reassured his teammates that the game would not end as long as he kept Eimei from scoring.
• Kōshū took the field again, privately determined not to give up a run.

Kōshū struggled with a lapse in focus after retiring Eimei Little League’s cleanup hitter, allowing a runner to reach base before he and Hayakawa ended the inning. The chapter left Kōshū and Hayakawa facing questions from their teammates about whether Kōshū had missed his spot.

• Kōshū struck out Eimei Little League’s cleanup hitter after a series of edge pitches and an inside fastball.
• Kōshū’s Fast Cutter failed to break, and Eimei’s fifth batter hit it through the gap between second and short for a single.
• Kōshū said he had failed to grip the seams correctly, and Nakajima reassured him as Hayakawa urged him to slow down.
• Lang Zhi fielded the seventh batter’s ground ball and forced out the runner at second, but the batter reached first safely.
• Kōshū and Hayakawa retired the eighth batter on a pop fly after he fouled off several pitches.
• Kōshū and Hayakawa were stopped at the dugout entrance and asked whether Kōshū had missed his spot.

Kōshū gave up his first run and lost a practice game against Eimei Little League, but he accepted the loss and stayed in good spirits. Back at the training camp, he teased Lang Zhi while the brothers wondered how their father was managing at home.

• Coach Ninomiya told Kōshū not to carry the team's victory on his shoulders, and Kōshū admitted his teammates could barely hit Eimei's pitches.
• Eimei's second batter hit Kōshū's inside fastball for a double, and the third batter drove in the game's first run.
• Kōshū asked Coach Ninomiya whether he would be replaced, and the coach told him to keep pitching because it was only a practice game.
• Eimei defeated Kōshū's team, and Kōshū said he was fine after experiencing his first loss.
• Kōshū made Lang Zhi wash his sweaty socks, and the brothers discussed their father's situation while their grandparents prepared to visit.

Kōshū and Lang Zhi returned from Training Camp and were picked up by Lang Zhi’s grandfather, who lectured them about baseball and life on the drive home. They reunited with Grandma Sasaki, who corrected Grandpa and prepared dinner, while Kōshū remained quiet and wondered about his mother’s condition.

• Kōshū and Lang Zhi got off the bus at Kinoshita Club and found Grandpa Sasaki waiting to drive them home.
• Grandpa Sasaki praised Kōshū’s Training Camp record, questioned Lang Zhi about his playing time, and lectured both boys during the drive.
• Lang Zhi asked about Grandma Sasaki, and Grandpa explained that she had come with him and was bringing soup to the hospital every day.
• Grandma Sasaki scolded Grandpa for taking a long route and forcing his views about baseball on the boys.
• Grandma Sasaki welcomed Kōshū and Lang Zhi home and began making Hamburger Steak and Dumplings, while Grandpa complained that she took food to the hospital every day.

Kōshū returned to Shen Qing’s hospital room and struggled with feeling like an outsider in the family, then began the new school year after a lonely night with no emails from his former household. At baseball practice, Coach Fujii told Shibasaki about a new treatment that could help him absorb nutrients, and Kōshū learned what it involved.

• Kōshū visited Shen Qing with the family and felt excluded as he watched Lang Zhi and the others gather around her.
• During vacation, Kōshū declined Miyuki’s invitation to the baseball field, then opened his inbox before the new semester and found no messages from his former household.
• Kōshū started third year of middle school, endured a difficult first day, and later replied to messages from his baseball seniors.
• At the team’s physical tests, Coach Fujii told Shibasaki about a new treatment involving gut bacteria, and Shibasaki explained how it was administered.

Kōshū and Lang Zhi got trapped in an elevator while trying to find a bathroom and nearly missed Shen Qing’s surgery ending. They made it back just as her newborn twins were brought out, though neither brother ever got to use the bathroom.

• Kōshū and Lang Zhi left the waiting area together to look for a bathroom, but found the nearby facilities closed, crowded, or unusable.
• The brothers boarded an elevator that shorted out because water had leaked onto its buttons, trapping them with a pregnant woman whose amniotic fluid had broken.
• After the elevator was repaired, Kōshū and Lang Zhi rushed toward the operating room and realized they had mistaken a neighboring corridor for Shen Qing’s.
• The brothers spotted the correct operating room just as its doors opened and nurses brought out Shen Qing’s newborn twins.
• Kōshū and Lang Zhi joined the family’s celebration and still did not make it to the bathroom.

Kōshū and Lang Zhi prepared for the Spring Tournament while Shen Qing recovered after giving birth to twins. Kōshū opened the quarterfinal against Myoizumi Little League with a scoreless first inning, leaving Kinoshita Little League poised to continue the game.

• Shen Qing gave birth to twins, and the family named the boy Yu and the girl Qianxue.
• Kōshū and Lang Zhi trained to improve their pitching and hitting, with Lang Zhi adding pitcher-specific shoulder exercises.
• Kōshū and Kinoshita Little League faced Myoizumi Little League in the West Tokyo branch quarterfinal.
• Kōshū struck out Myoizumi's second batter and induced a fly ball from the third batter to finish a three-up, three-down first inning.

Kinoshita Little League loaded the bases against Myoizumi Little League’s Number 11, and Hayakawa drove in Yoshino with a hit to the outfield. Kōshū came to bat with the bases still loaded, but the chapter ended before his at-bat was resolved.

• Yoshino singled off Number 11, and Ōno followed with a bunt that stopped on the foul line for a fair hit.
• Number 11 grew cautious and walked the next batter, loading the bases with no outs.
• Hayakawa judged Number 11’s Two-Seam Fastball and hit it to the outfield, allowing Yoshino to score while Ōno held at third.
• Kōshū faced Number 11, took a low outside fastball for a ball, then checked his swing at a Slider that the umpire called a strike.
• Kōshū recalled how hitting had become a battle of wits as he prepared to continue his at-bat.

Kinoshita Little League added runs against Myoizumi Little League after Lang Zhi drove in a runner with a hit and reached safely at first. Kōshū watched his younger brother’s batting with new respect, and the chapter ended with Kinoshita defending its lead.

• The number 11 pitcher challenged Kōshū, who hit a two-seam fastball into a double play that left runners on second and third with two outs.
• Kōshū recalled that Coach Kinoshita Yanagi had told him to study Lang Zhi’s ability to read pitches and had revealed plans to strengthen Lang Zhi for the third batting spot.
• Lang Zhi hit a slider between the right fielder and second baseman, dove into first safely, and brought home another run.
• Lang Zhi tried to steal second during Katsumura’s at-bat, but the shortstop caught an infield fly and Lang Zhi returned toward the dugout.
• Kōshū praised Lang Zhi and handed him his gear, while Lang Zhi realized his brother genuinely meant it.

Kōshū and Hayakawa retired two batters after allowing the cleanup hitter to reach base, while Kinoshita Little League struggled to score against Myoizumi Little League’s pitcher. Myoizumi’s coach brought in another pitcher as Yoshino stepped up to bat.

• The cleanup hitter singled off Hayakawa, and Kōshū later failed to stop him from advancing to second, but the next two batters were retired.
• The Kinoshita Little League players joked about Kōshū’s intimidating appearance while he pitched through the inning.
• Kitahara struck out, and he urged Kōshū to do his best when representing the West Tokyo branch.
• Qinggong hit the Two-Seam Fastball toward left field, giving Kinoshita a runner on base.
• Myoizumi Little League’s coach shifted number 11 to left field and brought number 9 in from right field to pitch as Yoshino prepared to bat.

Kinoshita Little League extended its lead over Myoizumi Little League as Kōshū and Lang Zhi created a bases-loaded chance, while Hayakawa’s pitch selection later struck out Myoizumi’s second batter. The chapter ended with Kinoshita still ahead 3–0 and Coach Ninomiya considering changes to improve the lineup’s consistency.

• Kinoshita Little League stranded runners in the bottom of the second, then Kōshū shut down the opposing batters in the top of the third with fastballs and changeups.
• Hayakawa singled and stole second in the bottom of the third, and Kōshū bunted safely to reach first.
• Lang Zhi hit between third and shortstop to load the bases with no outs for Kinoshita Little League.
• Kinoshita advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, Hayakawa scored, and Myoizumi escaped the inning after allowing one run.
• In the top of the fourth, Hayakawa used a changeup-fastball sequence to make Myoizumi’s second batter hesitate, then struck him out with a changeup.

Kōshū and Hayakawa struck out the opposing lineup’s batters to preserve Kinoshita Little League’s 3–0 lead, then Kōshū exchanged contact information with Mishima. Two weeks later, Kōshū visited Shen Qing at the Confinement Center and tried to avoid an intrusive woman who followed him there.

• Kōshū and Hayakawa used fastballs, a changeup, and a cutter to retire the third batter and the cleanup batter, ending the top of the fourth inning with Kinoshita Little League ahead 3–0.
• Kōshū exchanged email addresses with Mishima, Myoizumi Little League’s number eleven pitcher, after the game.
• Coach Ninomiya announced that Kinoshita Little League would use relay pitching for its next two games before the Spring Tournament.
• Two weeks later, Kōshū brought Grandma Sasaki’s soup to the Confinement Center, where he learned Mrs. Sasaki was in the library and that Lang Zhi had lost permission to visit Shen Qing.
• A woman followed Kōshū to the library, touched his arm, and teased him before telling him to go find his mother.