# 17 - Three Months
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GYX0MZ58R/ace-of-the-diamond)
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
**[00:04] Announcer**
A fly ball to left field ends the game!
**[00:07] Announcer**
The first game of the Tokyo
spring tournament semifinals,
**[00:10] Announcer**
a battle between division rivals,
has been won by Ichidai Third High!
**[00:14] Announcer**
Satoru Furuya, after making a name
for himself at the Invitational,
**[00:17] Announcer**
gave up five runs in the fifth inning!
**[00:20] Announcer**
Ace Amahisa threw 142 pitches and
advances his team to the final!
**[00:29] Announcer**
Ichidai Third High has also automatically
earned a spot in the Kanto Tournament in May!
***SIGN*** Seido
***SIGN*** Ichidai
**[00:47] _Fan**
Inashiro, Teito, and Ichidai were
all disappointed in the fall.
**[00:51] _Fan**
They'll be eager to perform in the summer.
**[00:55] _Fan**
And then there's Furuya.
**[00:56] _Fan**
He's nothing like how
he was in the Invitational.
**[00:58] _Fan**
Is he gonna be okay?
The cameras were all trained on him.
**[01:03] _Fan**
Did he burn out at Koshien Stadium?
**[01:05] _Fan**
That wouldn't be any fun.
**[01:06] _Fan**
The summer's the real tournament!
**[01:08] @Furuya**
I lost the game.
**[01:10] _Fan**
But Sawamura looked good.
**[01:13] _Fan**
He could have started today.
**[01:15] _Fan**
Nah, they need their ace
Furuya to be in shape.
**[01:18] _Fan**
Yeah.
**[01:19] _Fan**
You hear all the time about teams who go to
the Invitational, but don't win in the summer.
**[01:23] _Fan**
And with batting like that,
can they beat Inashiro?
**[01:28] _Fan**
Can they hit Narumiya's pitches?
**[01:33] Narrator**
*To play on the national stage*
**[01:36] Narrator**
*is to embrace a new goal.*
**[01:40] Narrator**
* No team will want to maintain the status quo*
* and not reach for the heavens.*
**[01:48] Narrator**
*But you can only reach out after you've won.*
**[02:01] Narrator**
* Once you've dominated*
* this violent battlefield.*
***SIGN*** Meiji Jingu Secondary Stadium
***SIGN*** Seido – Ichidai Third High
Third Base Line 12:30 First Base Line
Inashiro Industrial – Teito
**[03:59] Announcer**
It's the second game of the Tokyo
spring tournament semifinals.
**[04:02] Announcer**
Both teams have players who played
at Koshien Stadium as first-years,
**[04:05] Announcer**
and wore their powerhouse team's
ace number as second-years!
**[04:09] Announcer**
It's the number one southpaw
in Kanto, Mei Narumiya,
**[04:13] Announcer**
versus Taiyo Mukai,
who is one year younger.
**[04:19] Announcer**
It's a battle of the princes
of East and West Tokyo!
**[04:23] Owada**
They both act tough and I love it!
**[04:33] Narrator**
*Mukai has been slightly tense in his start.*
**[04:37] Narrator**
* There are two outs and runners*
* on first and second base.*
**[04:41] Narrator**
* But even then, Teito's iron wall*
* does not allow them to score.*
***SIGN*** Inashiro
***SIGN*** Teito
**[04:53] Narrator**
*On the other hand, Narumiya...*
**[04:56] _Umpire**
Strike!
**[04:59] Narrator**
* ...is showing exceptional control*
* over his breaking balls,*
**[05:02] Narrator**
*constantly keeping the Teito batters at bay.*
**[05:06] _Umpire**
Strike! Batter out!
**[05:09] Narrator**
* He has not allowed any runners on base*
* in three innings in a perfect start.*
***SIGN*** Top of the fourth inning
**[05:24] _Umpire**
Ball!
**[05:28] _Umpire**
Ball!
**[05:29] @Kanemaru**
That makes three balls and one strike.
**[05:32] @Kanemaru**
Mukai's throwing more breaking balls.
**[05:35] Tojo**
The Inashiro batters are
waiting for a fastball.
**[05:39] @Kominato**
They aren't swinging at the low pitches.
**[05:42] @Kuramochi**
Inashiro has five hits.
**[05:45] Kawakami**
It's a tough game. He's let runners
on base every inning since the first.
**[05:49] @Miyuki**
Still, he doesn't mind getting
the count up to three balls.
**[05:54] @Miyuki**
He makes more plays when
there are runners on base.
**[05:58] @Miyuki**
Furuya,
**[06:00] @Miyuki**
watching him pitch won't be
any help to you directly.
**[06:03] _Umpire**
Strike!
**[06:06] @Kuramochi**
Hey, Sawamura!
**[06:08] @Kuramochi**
This seat's open!
**[06:11] @Sawamura**
I'm fine. It's easier to see from up here.
**[06:23] _Umpire**
Strike!
**[06:26] Narrator**
* With two outs and runners*
* on second and third base,*
**[06:29] Narrator**
*and the count at 3–2,*
**[06:33] Narrator**
*he throws a screwball out of the zone.*
**[06:37] _Umpire**
Strike! Batter out!
**[06:40] Narrator**
* He takes advantage of the batters'*
* aversion to being caught looking.*
**[06:46] Narrator**
*That is Taiyo Mukai's true strength.*
**[06:51] @Miyuki**
They've already got a read on his
screwball, but he still threw it.
**[06:54] Kawakami**
It was just barely out of the zone.
**[06:56] _Fan**
He's got some guts.
**[06:58] Owada**
That mischievous gleam in his eye!
**[07:00] Owada**
But I love it!
**[07:03] bg_Owada**
I really do!
**[07:03] Mine**
He's a cerebral pitcher who
likes going deep in the count.
**[07:05] Owada**
It's simply the best!
**[07:09] Mine**
He probably likes taking gambles like these.
***SIGN*** Inashiro
***SIGN*** Teito
**[07:13] Narrator**
*But...*
**[07:15] Narrator**
* The team has yet to come up with*
* a firm strategy to deal with Narumiya.*
**[07:19] Narrator**
* The Teito batters have only had*
* one hit in five innings.*
***SIGN*** Inashiro
***SIGN*** Teito
**[07:27] Narrator**
*Both teams have zeros across the board,*
**[07:31] Narrator**
* but the way they are*
* playing is very different.*
**[07:35] Narrator**
* In the sixth inning, Inashiro finally*
* breaks through against Mukai.*
**[07:42] Narrator**
*With runners on first and second base,*
**[07:45] Narrator**
*Carlos gets a hit to near center field.*
**[07:49] Narrator**
* Then Shirakawa hits to left field,*
* for two RBI hits in a row.*
**[07:54] Narrator**
* In the seventh inning,*
* Tadano's sacrifice fly*
**[07:57] Narrator**
*brings in another run.*
**[07:58] Narumiya**
Good try. Just a little more.
**[08:01] Narrator**
*Inashiro extended their lead to three runs.*
**[08:12] Narrator**
*But still, the ace trusted in his offense,*
**[08:18] _Player**
Yeah!
**[08:19] Narrator**
*and continued to pitch his best.*
**[08:23] _Player**
Nice pitch!
**[08:24] _Player**
Good one, Taiyo-san!
**[08:29] Mukai**
That hurts.
**[08:32] _Player**
Two outs!
**[08:33] _Player**
Two outs!
**[08:34] _Player**
Mukai-san!
**[08:36] _Player**
Go!
**[08:37] _Player**
Two outs!
**[08:39] _Player**
Let's end the inning!
**[08:42] int_Mukai**
*They may say I'm stuck-up and selfish,*
**[08:46] int_Mukai**
*but I've never bent to suit other people.*
**[08:50] int_Mukai**
* I have a confidence in*
* my chest I can't explain.*
**[08:56] int_Mukai**
* I've fed that confidence by*
* practicing more than anyone,*
**[09:01] int_Mukai**
*exploring baseball every single day.*
**[09:06] int_Mukai**
*I won't listen to anyone complain.*
**[09:09] int_Mukai**
*I'm going to pitch like the ace!*
**[09:17] Announcer**
A low outside pitch finishes him off!
**[09:20] Announcer**
He goes down swinging at a screwball!
**[09:30] Announcer**
They have three innings left to bat!
**[09:32] Announcer**
Will Teito High School be
able to mount a comeback?
***SIGN*** Bottom of the seventh inning
***SIGN*** Inashiro
***SIGN*** Teito
**[09:51] Announcer**
It...
**[09:52] Announcer**
It's gone!
**[09:55] Announcer**
The ace's partner provides
the perfect response to his pitching!
**[09:59] Announcer**
He hit Mei Narumiya's fastball straight on!
**[10:03] SFX**
Yeah!
**[10:05] Announcer**
That drops the lead to two runs!
**[10:08] Mine**
It's hard to get successive
hits off a good pitcher.
**[10:11] Mine**
It's inevitably errors or home runs
that provide a chance to score.
**[10:16] Mine**
That couldn't have been an easy hit.
Well played, Inui-kun.
**[10:20] _Coach**
Keep it going! Get some more!
**[10:24] Owada**
Teito will want to capitalize on that hit.
**[10:27] bg_Tadano**
Mei-san, Mei-san!
**[10:28] Tadano**
Long ago, an old lady asked an
apprentice witch to deliver a pie.
**[10:33] Tadano**
It was raining hard...
**[10:33] Narumiya**
Too long. Drop it.
**[10:36] Mine**
The best strategy against Inashiro
**[10:39] Mine**
is to keep pressure on Narumiya,
from the plate or from the bases.
**[10:46] _Umpire**
Ball!
**[10:49] _Umpire**
Ball!
**[10:50] @Maezono**
Narumiya's definitely ticked off!
**[10:54] @Maezono**
He's no different than before!
**[10:57] _Fan**
The count is three balls, one strike.
**[10:59] _Fan**
It would be neat if he got on base.
**[11:04] _Umpire**
Strike!
**[11:13] _Umpire**
Strike! Batter out!
**[11:16] Shirakawa**
Keep it together!
**[11:17] Announcer**
After giving up a run,
Narumiya manages to close out the inning.
**[11:21] Announcer**
This pitchers' battle enters its final stages!
***SIGN*** Top of the eighth inning
**[11:40] Narrator**
* The Teito battery is back to*
* mainly throwing fastballs.*
**[11:45] Narrator**
*Not just to the left and right corners,*
**[11:47] Narrator**
*but also alternating high and low.*
**[11:50] Narrator**
* They sit the top of Inashiro's order*
* three up, three down,*
**[11:53] Narrator**
* and set the stage for their batters*
* in the bottom of the eighth.*
**[12:04] Narrator**
*However...*
**[12:07] Narrator**
* Despite Narumiya's control*
* slipping after the home run,*
**[12:11] Narrator**
*he quickly retires two batters for two outs.*
**[12:15] Narrator**
*The eighth batter, Mukai, is now up to bat.*
**[12:29] int_Tadano**
*Mei-san...*
**[12:40] int_Mukai**
*Not yet...*
**[12:42] int_Mukai**
*I won't let it end yet.*
**[12:44] int_Mukai**
*I'll get on base!*
**[12:48] _Umpire**
Ball!
**[12:55] Narrator**
*As if trying to show his power,*
**[13:01] Narrator**
*or trying to send a message...*
**[13:06] Narrator**
* Up against the other team's ace,*
* who had yet to hit,*
**[13:09] Narrator**
*he brought out all of his best pitches,*
**[13:13] Narrator**
*and overpowered him.*
**[13:19] Narumiya**
Yeah!
***SIGN*** Inashiro
***SIGN*** Teito
**[13:34] Narrator**
* In this clash between*
* East and West Tokyo powerhouses,*
**[13:39] Narrator**
* it was the ace from the West, who'd gone to*
* Koshien twice, who came out on top.*
**[13:46] Mukai**
Thank you for that childish
display of pitching.
***SIGN*** Squeeze
**[13:49] Narumiya**
Oh, I wasn't being serious in the least.
**[13:53] Carlos**
Let's go, Mei.
**[13:54] _Player**
Taiyo!
**[13:56] Tadano**
Mei-san!
**[13:57] Narumiya**
I went easy on you! Remember that!
**[14:00] Mukai**
Fine, whatever you say!
What are you, twelve?!
**[14:06] Narrator**
* Tomorrow's final will be between Ichidai*
* Third High and Inashiro Industrial.*
***SIGN*** National High School Baseball Tournament
**[14:14] _Sign**
Seido
Ichidai Third
**[14:14] _Sign**
Inashiro
Teito
**[14:15] Announcer**
*Tomorrow's final will begin at 1:00 PM.*
**[14:19] Announcer**
*Doors will open at 12:00 PM.*
**[14:23] @Miyuki**
Well, let's get going.
**[14:28] @Furuya**
Miyuki-senpai.
**[14:30] @Furuya**
Can I come to watch the game tomorrow?
***SIGN*** I think I
should watch it.
**[14:42] @Miyuki**
Sure. I was planning to
come with Nabe, anyway.
**[14:48] @Miyuki**
Even with our great pitchers,
we won't make it to Koshien Stadium
**[14:54] @Miyuki**
if our batters don't score.
**[15:02] @Kominato**
Eijun-kun, what are you gonna do tomorrow?
**[15:06] @Kominato**
Furuya-kun is coming to watch the final.
**[15:10] @Sawamura**
I'll just watch some tape.
**[15:13] @Sawamura**
I need to review today's game, too.
**[15:17] @int_Kominato**
*Review the pitching from today?*
**[15:23] @Sawamura**
Haruichi...
**[15:26] @Sawamura**
Being the ace is really cool, huh?
***SIGN*** Seido Spirit Dorm
**[15:55] Takashima**
Yes, sir.
**[15:56] Takashima**
I will reach out to the teams
who have contacted us.
**[15:59] Takashima**
We'll need to adjust the schedule, too.
**[16:03] Ochiai**
I see, I see...
**[16:05] Ochiai**
So this is what Furuya did.
**[16:07] Ochiai**
This certainly does get one choked up.
**[16:11] Ochiai**
Letting him start today,
and not taking him out sooner...
**[16:16] _Sign**
If I'm the best pitcher in Japan,
I can make our team the best in Japan.
**[16:16] Ochiai**
This is the reason, isn't it?
**[16:20] Ochiai**
So you are human after all, Coach Kataoka.
**[16:30] Ochiai**
If those around him,
**[16:31] Ochiai**
and he himself think his pitching
at the Invitational is his baseline...
***SIGN*** You wanna watch?
**[16:36] @Sawamura**
You wanna watch?
**[16:37] Ochiai**
Furuya may be carrying some heavy
karma from Koshien Stadium.
**[16:44] @Furuya**
Did you just click your tongue?
**[16:46] @Sawamura**
It doesn't matter! Sit down!
**[16:49] int_Ochiai**
* I'm not one to talk, having told him he*
* could be the best pitcher in Japan myself.*
**[16:56] (Flashback) fb_Ochiai**
You can become the best pitcher in Japan.
**[17:02] @Kataoka**
I also played at Koshien Stadium,
set even higher goals for myself,
**[17:08] @Kataoka**
and was nearly crushed by the pressure.
**[17:12] Ochiai**
Your team finished runners-up, I believe.
***SIGN*** Quarterfinalist Seido
**[17:16] Ochiai**
As a backup catcher who had never played at
Koshien Stadium, I was pretty envious of you.
***SIGN*** War cry from the mound
***SIGN*** In the finals
Seido
Kataoka
***SIGN*** A will of iron
**[17:25] @Kataoka**
But he must overcome this on his own.
**[17:32] @Kataoka**
What I did was not fair to the
other players who were ready.
**[17:41] int_Ochiai**
*For better or worse...*
**[17:44] int_Ochiai**
* Sawamura's presence as a pitcher*
* really stood out in today's game.*
**[17:50] int_Ochiai**
* The fans as well as his*
* teammates certainly felt it.*
**[17:56] int_Ochiai**
*How will that affect the team?*
**[18:02] int_Ochiai**
Well, I suppose it's just as well
to experience a loss this early.
**[18:12] @Sawamura**
Are you ready? This is reality!
**[18:15] @Sawamura**
You're gonna see what it was like!
**[18:17] @Furuya**
Yes, hurry up.
**[18:20] Ochiai**
We may have been able to
stop them scoring five runs.
**[18:25] Ochiai**
But then we only scored one run ourselves.
**[18:29] Ochiai**
I'm sure the offense
feels just as responsible.
**[18:37] Ochiai**
Now you aren't going to defend a title,
**[18:40] Ochiai**
but to reclaim it.
**[18:46] Ochiai**
Let's treat this as an opportunity
to have a fresh start for the summer.
**[18:51] @Kataoka**
Right.
**[18:53] @Kataoka**
I am still an inexperienced
coach, but please...
**[18:57] @Kataoka**
Continue to assist me.
**[19:24] @int_Miyuki**
* I thought I'd always watched*
* how hard Sawamura worked.*
**[19:29] @int_Miyuki**
*I honestly respect his boundless optimism.*
**[19:33] (Flashback) @Sawamura**
Good morning!
**[19:35] (Flashback) @Sawamura**
It's a perfect morning for practice, captain!
**[19:37] (Flashback) @Miyuki**
What time is it?
**[19:39] @int_Miyuki**
*Sometimes it was a pain in the neck, though.*
**[19:43] @int_Miyuki**
* But had I ever imagined he would look ready*
* to wear the ace number this soon?*
**[19:56] @int_Miyuki**
*The way he pitched today*
**[19:58] @int_Miyuki**
*was exactly how an ace should do it.*
**[20:12] (Flashback) @fb_Furuya**
I want my pitching to be even
better than it was that day.
**[20:25] (Flashback) @fb_Sawamura**
I'm here to become the ace!
**[20:28] (Flashback) @fb_Sawamura**
And I'm confident that I want
it more than anyone here!
**[20:33] (Flashback) @fb_Furuya**
Please don't disappoint me...
**[20:35] (Flashback) @fb_Furuya**
Miyuki-senpai.
**[20:38] (Flashback) @fb_Miyuki**
Very funny!
**[20:40] (Flashback) @fb_Miyuki**
I like you!
**[20:41] (Flashback) @fb_Furuya**
Excuse me.
**[20:44] (Flashback) @fb_Sawamura**
Why are you sitting there?
**[20:46] (Flashback) @fb_Sawamura**
Sit on the other side!
**[20:47] (Flashback) @fb_Sawamura**
No one told me that!
**[20:49] (Flashback) @fb_Sawamura**
Do I get to play?! Do I?!
**[20:52] (Flashback) @fb_Miyuki**
I'm your senpai, remember?
**[20:54] (Flashback) @fb_Sawamura**
Don't look at me! I'm ashamed!
**[20:59] (Flashback) @fb_Miyuki**
You're awesome!
**[21:02] (Flashback) @fb_Takashima**
Oh, have you ever caught for Furuya-kun?
**[21:09] (Flashback) @fb_Furuya**
I will do as Miyuki-senpai says.
**[21:15] (Flashback) @fb_Miyuki**
We still have to keep fighting.
**[21:20] (Flashback) @fb_Sawamura**
Boss!
**[21:21] (Flashback) @fb_Sawamura**
I'm still full of energy!
**[21:23] (Flashback) @fb_Sawamura**
I feel good, too!
**[21:24] (Flashback) @fb_Sawamura**
Please let me pitch!
**[21:28] (Flashback) @fb_Sawamura**
Please let me pitch the last inning.
**[21:34] (Flashback) @fb_Furuya**
I see.
**[21:36] (Flashback) @fb_Furuya**
Then I can go all out.
**[21:39] (Flashback) @fb_Miyuki**
What?
**[21:41] (Flashback) @fb_Furuya**
That's good.
**[21:43] (Flashback) @fb_Miyuki**
You weren't worried about me?
**[21:53] @int_Miyuki**
*That's right..*
**[21:57] @int_Miyuki**
* I'll only be playing baseball with*
* them for another three months.*
***SIGN*** "Three Months"
**[22:15] @Miyuki**
"Three Months."
**[23:49] @Sawamura**
At this rate, he'll never acknowledge me.
**[23:52] @Sawamura**
I need to be able to pitch
the kind of game Miyuki-senpai calls.
**[23:56] @Miyuki**
We can't afford to lose, either.
**[23:59] @Sawamura**
Absorb it deeper and digest it...
**[24:02] Okumura**
I'd rather die than lose today's game.
**[24:04] Okumura**
We're not tools to entertain adults.
**[24:08] Okumura**
The field belongs to
the players battling on it.
**[24:11] Okumura**
On the next episode of
*Ace of the Diamond Act II*:
**[24:14] Okumura**
"Something to Check."
***SIGN*** Next Time
***SIGN*** "Something to Check"
**[24:15] Okumura**
Let's win the national title!
***SIGN*** Illustration / Yuji Terajima