One Outs 9

One Outs, Volume 2, Chapter 9 (pp. 3~23)


<3>
So today...//Is the day of the match wagering Toua's right arm against Kojima-san's retirement

Unfortunately...//Rain clouds have gathered overhead
Chapter 9: Despair


<4>
Chapter 9: Despair


<5>
=The rain's died down a bit
=Let's get it on
OHHHH

=Kinosaki...//Wipe the bat off for me
=Okay

=Hey
=I'm gonna go throw a couple practice pitches
OHHHH

=Sure
=Fine by me
OHHHH


<6>
=Is it okay?
=Kojima-san's right hand

=...No
=We tried some painkillers, but...

=He can't turn his wrist//He won't be able to withstand the impact either

=Wha... Then why didn't you stop him!?//Couldn't we have asked him to postpone the match!?
=This isn't a casual little game like that, okay!!


<7>
SPLASH

=My bad

=Toss it over here

CLONK

SWUP


<8>
=Anyways
=If he can't turn his right wrist, it means he's screwed if he gets a pitch inside

He can't wait for the ball to come to him
And they'll go foul if he swings early to try and keep his wrist extended

=Even if he can't handle the inside part of the plate...
=He's still got a chance with a pitch outside

=With an outside pitch
=He can still sweep the ball to the outfield... With minimal pressure on his wrist

=That's true, but

=It's still a huge disadvantage
=Even for Kojima-san


<9>
=No
=I don't think so

=At the very least//He still fully intends to win

=You're in no condition to swing a bat...

=Kinosaki...
=You're just assuming that this injury will hamper my chances of winning

=True, this injury is a big handicap//But I don't think it puts me at a disadvantage


<10>
=In fact, I actually think my chances have improved

=For two reasons—

=One
=I was able to understand just how weak I really am...

A single butterfly was all it took to disrupt my concentration
I caught a glimpse of my weaknesses there

=But I was fortunate to realize this
=You see

=Even with my injury
=I'm far stronger than when I wasn't conscious of all this


<11>
=And the second reason
=Is...

=It gets rid of my hesitation

=Humans hesitate because they have half-assed options to choose from
=My only option is to look for an outside pitch//There's no possible reason for me to hesitate any longer

=...Man...
=Kojima-san... He's really strong

=I will
=Put my faith in Kojima-san


<12>
OHHHHH

=...Nothingness...
GRIP


<13>
1st pitch

OHHHH

=He has to throw at least 3 pitches!
=He will definitely
=Throw one of them on the outside
=He's got to
ZWUSH


<14>
THUD


<15>
[x3]OHHHHH

=First pitch was...
=On the inside...

=Shouldn't he have made like he was gonna hit it?
=He needs to lure a pitch outside...
=No


<16>
=That was all right
=Petty feints like that won't work

Not on this guy

2nd pitch


<17>
GWUUSH


<18>
THUNK

=0-2!!
=He's in the hole—!
OHHHH


<19>
=Kinozaki-san...
=Don't worry!!
OHHH

=Kojima-san isn't the least bit fazed
=He hasn't given Toua any indication that he's waiting for an outside pitch!!

=There's no way he'll throw 3 straight pitches to the same part of the plate!!
=Nothing's gone wrong!! Nothing!!
SLAP

OHHHH


<20>
=So it's pretty bad, huh?
=That wrist of yours

=Remember before we started
=You tossed the ball over to me


<21>
=Why'd you bother to put the bat down on the muddy ground?

=You had your trainer wipe off the grip before
=It would've been more natural to shift the bat over to your right hand

=He...
=He knew!!

=Heh-heh//Nice try

=The game starts even before the first pitch is thrown


<22>
=Fastball up and in
=I'm throwing it again

=You should be able to hit that, right?


<23>
=You bet your retirement on this, after all
ZWUSH

=It's all over!!