Chapter 42

A 60.5-Foot Gulf, SCENE 2 1. BASEBALL FIELD (NOON) A game is on. It’s the final of a regional tournament. Bottom of the ninth inning, two outs, players on first and third, with a count of two balls and one strike. The score is two to three. A middle school—aged Haruaki Usui is on the mound. Wiping his sweat away with an arm, he peers at the catcher’s sign. HARUAKI (VO) He’s the best. He confirms the sign with a nod. HARUAKI (VO) The senior coaches aren’t happy about it, but he’s the reason I can ignore them and stay in this middle school baseball team even though we use softballs. Set position. HARUAKI (VO) I’ve seen plenty of seniors who people expected would go pro in the future. Some of them, I was sure they’d make it. But I never felt threatened by any of them. Far as I could tell, none of them were better than him. He lets out a big breath. HARUAKI (VO) Every play he makes is a thing of beauty. Just watching blows me away. Makes me wonder if I’ve even got the stuff to be a player. He lifts his leg. HARUAKI (VO) I’m enough of an athlete that any elite baseball club would ask me to come on board. Any kid who plays baseball dreams of standing on the mound at Koshien, but for me, it’s becoming more than just a fantasy. It’s a challenge I have to complete. It’s safe to say even the pros are in sight now. [He winds up his arm.] Still—ever since I first started playing baseball in elementary school, I’ve just been imitating him. He throws a hard fastball. The batter whiffs. Seeing the ball enter the catcher’s mitt, Haruaki lets out a yell and flexes. HARUAKI (VO) That’s why I don’t think I stand a chance against him. The catcher takes off his mask. Holding it in his hand, Daiya breaks into a smile. He then runs up to the mound and practically leaps to embrace Haruaki. The rest of their teammates gather round, forming a ring of celebration. HARUAKI Hey, get off me, Daiya! I don’t want any hugs from dudes! Plus, you’re all sweaty and smelly. Still, Haruaki is grinning. DAIYA Not any worse than you, so don’t worry. You stink, too. Daiya is smiling as well. HARUAKI Wh-what?! Somebody get me some deodorant! The manager’s gonna hate me! I was gonna seduce her when I gave her the winning ball and made up some story about how I got that winning strikeout for her! DAIYA Ha-ha, our team doesn’t have any girl managers. The players assemble in a line on the ground. HARUAKI (VO) There was a scout I knew, and I once secretly had him take a look at Daiya in action. [Everyone bows.] I wanted to play together with him in high school, too. The players begin to run toward their fans sitting in the stands. HARUAKI (VO) The scout wasn’t impressed. He thought Daiya was good for a middle schooler, but because he hadn’t put in the effort to perfect his skills, any dramatic improvement would be difficult, and that meant he might not be able to become a regular on the team. Getting a scholarship would be a long shot at best. That was the scout’s evaluation. It’s true that Daiya’s physical abilities are mediocre. I can sprint faster, my grip is better, and my back is stronger. All the same, I believed that Daiya had enough ability to slightly compensate for at least that much. The players bow to the stands. HARUAKI (VO) That scout’s observations may or may not be correct. But I came to understand, from an objective viewpoint, that he’s not considered anything special as a baseball player. Yeah… Maybe I knew it all along, too. Maybe it wasn’t the way he played that blew me away. Maybe I left Daiya in the dust long ago when it comes to talent and actual skill for baseball. That doesn’t change my personal ranking, though. I’ll never upset him, even if I become an ace in the major leagues. Kokone is in the stands. She is slightly teary in happiness. And those eyes are only for Daiya. Daiya turns a weak but gentle smile on Kokone. HARUAKI (VO) Daiya will always be the star. Haruaki grins as he watches the two of them gaze into each other’s eyes. HARUAKI (VO) So I gave up on my first love.