Chapter Summaries

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.

Kōshū and Lang Zhi won their league’s Spring Tournament, and Kōshū later texted Miyuki to ask about Seido. Miyuki’s upperclassmen took over his phone and sent Kōshū a message, leaving the contents of their reply unrevealed.

• Kōshū visited Shen Qing, then dragged Lang Zhi to the club to run instead of letting him go to the Confinement Center alone.
• Kōshū and Lang Zhi received medals after their team won the Spring Tournament, while their grandfather loudly celebrated from the stands.
• During a week off, Kōshū texted Miyuki and learned that Miyuki had become Seido’s starting catcher because his upperclassman had suffered a serious injury.
• Miyuki’s upperclassmen teased him, read his messages with Kōshū, and had Senior Nanmu compose a reply.
• A text message from Seido was sent to Kōshū.

Kōshū exchanged messages with Seido players, then continued to grow and dominate the summer tournament with Kinoshita Little League. He pitched the team to the championship despite his growing pains and a botched eyebrow trim, while Grandpa Sasaki looked ahead to their high school years.

• Kōshū asked a Seido senpai about life in the Baseball Club and shared his pitching stats with Seido players, who were impressed by his height and potential.
• By early August, Kōshū had grown to 1.88 meters, improved his fastball to over 140 kilometers per hour, and continued winning games, though his batting mechanics remained unstable.
• As Kōshū and Lang Zhi prepared for the tournament final, Lang Zhi accidentally shaved a large chunk from Kōshū’s eyebrow while trimming it.
• Kōshū pitched the entire final, and Kinoshita Little League won the Summer Tournament championship.
• Grandpa Sasaki said he would gather a large group to cheer for the boys when they reached Koshien, while Kōshū noted that Seido had failed to advance that year.

After his team won the championship, Kōshū met Seido seniors and went home with Lang Zhi, then returned to training to prepare for the U15 team. Coach Ninomiya intercepted Kōshū and Hayakawa to tell them about the U15 tournament.

• Kōshū met Senior Miyuki and Senior Nanmu after the championship, and learned Miyuki had been sent down to the Second String.
• Kōshū left with Lang Zhi after Coach Ninomiya told him to rest his arm before starting rehabilitation for the U15 team.
• Kōshū and Lang Zhi spent several days at home helping care for the baby while news spread that Coach Ninomiya would coach U15.
• Kōshū returned to the club after five days of rest and practiced a Two-Seam Fastball with Hayakawa and Coach Fujii.
• Kōshū and Hayakawa discussed their school choices and the prospect of leaving, before Coach Ninomiya stopped them to explain the U15 tournament.

Kōshū and Hayakawa prepared for Japan’s U15 tournament in Taiwan as Coach Ninomiya explained the competition and assembled the national team. After two weeks of intensive training, Kōshū said goodbye to his family and boarded the plane with his teammates.

• Coach Ninomiya explained the tournament format and schedule, then asked Hayakawa to serve as captain.
• Kōshū and Hayakawa eagerly ran laps after their meeting, but staff stopped them because it was after a meal and naptime.
• Japanese players gathered in Tokyo, heard speeches from Coach Ninomiya and Hayakawa, and traveled to Training Camp without the media.
• Kōshū completed physical tests and trained with pitcher Fujikawa while the team practiced defensive coordination and built chemistry.
• On the final day of camp, Kōshū saw his family near the airport, received their encouragement, and returned to the team with food and gifts.
• Kōshū’s teammates shared the snacks and ate the dumplings Shen Qing had packed before the team boarded for Taiwan.

Japan opened the U15 tournament against the Chinese Taipei Team, and Kōshū led Japan to a 12–0 victory. Afterward, Kōshū spoke with opposing players and left feeling unsettled by the distance between their perspectives.

• The Japanese team arrived in Taiwan, rested, and practiced while Coach Ninomiya arranged their stay.
• Coach Ninomiya announced that Japan would face the Chinese Taipei Team in its first preliminary-round game, and Kōshū was selected to start.
• Kōshū shut out the Chinese Taipei Team as Japan built a 9–0 lead, then Japan added three more runs to win 12–0.
• A Chinese Taipei player called out to Kōshū in Japanese, and Kōshū explained that he was from the mainland before leaving the awkward conversation.
• Another opponent asked Kōshū for his Facebook account, while Kōshū reflected on his discomfort and the differences he had encountered.