2 - Partner

Source: Crunchyroll
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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] Wakana
    Eijun's in Tokyo?
[00:14] Eijun
    I hate to admit it, but the mound
    feels really good on my feet.
[00:26] Eijun
    It fits better in my hand
    than the rubber balls.
[00:29] Miyuki
    You should be warmed up now.
[00:30] Miyuki
    Let's get started.
[00:34] Azuma
    Your pitching's a joke.
[00:36] Azuma
    You sure talked big,
    but it's average, at best.
[00:39] Azuma
    I'll send it flying out of the park!
[00:42] Miyuki
    He's still in junior high.
[00:44] Miyuki
    Maybe go a little easy on him?
[00:46] Azuma
    In your dreams!
[00:47] Azuma
    I always swing with everything I have!
[00:48] Azuma
    Doesn't matter if he's in junior high.
[00:52] Miyuki
    I really like that about you, Azuma.
[00:54] Azuma
    Shut it!
SIGN    Partner
[02:36] Azuma
    You look way too serious, kid!
[02:39] Azuma
    Just throw it!
[02:42] Miyuki
    He looks really stiff.
[02:46] Miyuki
    He won't be able to pitch
    with even half his strength.
[02:50] Miyuki
    Let's try to loosen you up.
[03:09] Azuma
    You're so scared that
    your arm's not swinging through!
[03:11] Azuma
    If you're so afraid to pitch, just say so!
[03:15] Miyuki
    That's not it.
[03:19] Miyuki
    He changed his aim the moment he let go.
[03:25] ---
    Time out!
[03:27] ---
    What? If you needed a plan, you should've
    said something before we started!
[03:30] Miyuki
    You threw that one
    into the ground on purpose.
[03:34] Miyuki
    Why?
[03:37] Eijun
    I felt like he would've hit if I threw there.
[03:44] Miyuki
    Interesting.
[03:45] Miyuki
    Let me get this straight. You'd rather
    throw a ball than have him hit it?
[03:47] Eijun
    You got a problem?
[03:50] Miyuki
    You're absolutely right!
[03:52] Miyuki
    You see, that was actually
    Azuma's favorite location.
[03:58] Miyuki
    You were so stiff,
[03:59] Miyuki
    so I thought you'd loosen up
    if you got obliterated once.
[04:03] Miyuki
    If you had thrown there,
    he definitely would've hit it.
[04:07] Miyuki
    I like you, kid.
[04:09] Miyuki
    Let's slay that monster
    together from here on out.
[04:12] Eijun
    Together? Yeah, right!
[04:14] Eijun
    I bet you're on his side!
[04:16] Miyuki
    Learn to accept the good will of others.
[04:19] Eijun
    Shut up! Don't touch me!
[04:20] Miyuki
    Anyway, what can you throw?
[04:23] Eijun
    I pitch fastballs for life!
[04:26] Miyuki
    Serious?
[04:28] Miyuki
    This is great!
[04:29] Miyuki
    I'm even more motivated now!
[04:32] Eijun
    Damn it!
[04:33] Eijun
    You're making fun of me!
[04:35] Miyuki
    Just leave it all to me.
[04:37] Miyuki
    I know his batting habits well.
[04:39] Eijun
    It's got nothing to do with you!
[04:41] Eijun
    This is between me and him!
[04:44] Miyuki
    What?
[04:45] Miyuki
    Is that how you see it?
[04:46] Miyuki
    Then... Do you plan
    to play baseball by yourself?
[04:53] (Flashback) Eijun
    You can't play baseball by yourself!
[04:56] Miyuki
    I don't know what kind
    of baseball you've been playing,
[04:59] Miyuki
    but the best pitches
[05:01] Miyuki
    are works of art produced by the pitcher
    and the catcher working as one.
[05:05] Eijun
    Works of art?
[05:08] Miyuki
    I'll draw out your full potential.
[05:11] Miyuki
    You just need to trust my mitt
    and throw your best pitches.
[05:15] Miyuki
    It's that simple.
[05:17] Miyuki
    We'll be great partners.
[05:23] Miyuki
    Let's get cracking, partner.
[05:27] Eijun
    Partner?
[05:31] Eijun
    O-Okay.
SIGN    Seidou High School Baseball Field
[05:34] Miyuki
    Thanks for waiting.
[05:36] Azuma
    That took forever! I was falling asleep!
[05:37] Eijun
    The best pitches...
[05:39] Eijun
    are works of art.
[05:43] Eijun
    Wait! We just met today,
    and he's already calling me "partner"?
[05:47] Eijun
    I accidentally answered, too.
[05:50] Miyuki
    Now then, let's get this
    monster-slaying started.
[05:54] Eijun
    Works of art, huh...
[05:56] Eijun
    I've never thought of it like that.
[06:03] Rei
    His shoulders loosened.
[06:06] Miyuki
    Now, bring it here.
[06:16] Miyuki
    That's a strike... right?
[06:18] Miyuki
    Nice pitch!
[06:19] Miyuki
    Batter couldn't even move!
[06:21] Azuma
    You stupid?
[06:22] Azuma
    I'm just making sure
    he can throw a strike!
[06:24] Eijun
    That sound of the ball
    hitting the mitt...
[06:27] Eijun
    I'm throwing well today.
[06:30] Miyuki
    We can work on his speed in the future,
[06:32] Miyuki
    but it's a pretty good pitch
    with little deceleration.
[06:37] Miyuki
    Okay, give me one here.
[06:39] Eijun
    Wait! There?
[06:45] Azuma
    The same pitch?
[06:49] Teammate1
    Whoa! That was close.
[06:52] Azuma
    Damn.
[06:55] Eijun
    Wow! He swings fast.
[06:57] Eijun
    I've never seen someone hit
    such a strong ball into right field.
[07:02] Eijun
    But the catcher...
[07:04] Eijun
    He made it look like it was the same pitch,
[07:06] Eijun
    but he was sitting a little off to the side.
[07:10] Miyuki
    Nice control.
[07:12] Miyuki
    That pitch was only going
    to be hit foul, at best.
[07:19] Miyuki
    Watch closely.
[07:20] Miyuki
    He underestimates you,
[07:22] Miyuki
    so he won't hesitate to hit
    pitches that might be balls.
[07:24] Miyuki
    We don't need to pitch him
    anything in the strike zone.
[07:28] Azuma
    Your control sucks.
[07:30] Azuma
    How do you expect me
    to hit pitches like that?
[07:32] Miyuki
    Keep it up, Azuma.
[07:33] Miyuki
    Lose your cool.
[07:36] Miyuki
    But something's odd about his pitches.
[07:39] Miyuki
    Is it getting faster the more he throws?
[07:42] Miyuki
    No, rather...
[07:45] Miyuki
    It's decelerating less.
[07:48] (Flashback) Rei
    His pitches are a bit peculiar.
[07:52] Miyuki
    I see.
[07:54] Miyuki
    His shoulder's flexible,
    and his arm is supple like a whip.
[07:59] Miyuki
    His flexible wrist allows him
    to put a lot of spin on the ball
[08:02] Miyuki
    at the point of release.
[08:08] Miyuki
    That was a ball.
[08:11] Miyuki
    Fastballs for life? Yeah, right.
[08:14] Miyuki
    I'm sure he doesn't realize it,
[08:17] Miyuki
    but his pitch moves at the plate.
[08:20] Rei
    Looks like he's finally showing his true colors.
[08:25] Rei
    A natural breaking pitch
    that changes its course at random.
[08:30] Rei
    He was probably unconsciously restricting
    his own strength in the team back home.
[08:36] Rei
    But that last pitch in his last
    junior high baseball game...
[08:40] Rei
    He threw that pitch with all his talent.
[08:45] Rei
    It's no wonder the catcher couldn't catch it.
[08:49] Rei
    What's more, there's only one person
    who's really confused about his pitching.
[08:54] Rei
    And that's Sawamura himself.
[09:00] Eijun
    It's like I'm in the zone today!
[09:03] Miyuki
    Hey, put those sparkles in your eyes away.
[09:06] Miyuki
    Do you know how hard it is to catch a ball
    when I have no idea where it's going?
[09:10] Miyuki
    Though... I guess that's what my job is.
[09:17] Miyuki
    Just clear your head...
[09:19] Miyuki
    and give me your best shot.
[09:21] Miyuki
    I'll catch it with everything I have.
[09:27] Eijun
    Right down the middle.
[09:31] Eijun
    What is this feeling?
[09:33] Eijun
    I can hear my heart beating loud and clear.
[09:39] Eijun
    Oh, man...
[09:41] Eijun
    I know I can throw my best pitch here.
[09:46] Eijun
    I just gotta trust his mitt,
[09:49] Eijun
    and it'll be the best ever.
[09:51] Eijun
    The best pitch I've ever...
[09:54] Eijun
    ever thrown!
[09:56] Azuma
    I'll hit it outta the park, you stupid kid!
[10:12] Miyuki
    Nice pitch.
[10:14] Eijun
    This moment...
[10:20] Eijun
    I think I opened the doors to a new world.
[10:30] Dad
    What happened to Eijun?
[10:33] Dad
    He's been spacing out since
    he got back from Tokyo.
[10:42] (Flashback) Rei
    I think you did Azuma a good favor today.
[10:47] (Flashback) Rei
    I wanted him to be less
    complacent before he went pro.
[10:55] (Flashback) Rei
    There are many strong schools in Tokyo,
    and it's a hard-fought tournament every year.
SIGN    Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium
    National High School Baseball Championship
    Tokyo Qualifying Matches
[10:59] (Flashback) Rei
    There's no guarantee that you'll do well
     no matter how hard you train.
[11:04] (Flashback) Rei
    Despite that fact, if you want to give it
    a try at our school, give me a call.
[11:10] (Flashback) Rei
    The decision is all yours.
SIGN    Tenth-grade catcher may become savior for prestigious Seidou
[11:24] Eijun
    So he was an amazing person.
[11:27] Eijun
    He's in a magazine even though
    he's only a year older than me.
[11:34] (Flashback) Miyuki
    Nice pitch.
[11:36] Eijun
    If I played baseball with him,
    how would I grow?
[11:43] Eijun
    Stop! What are you thinking?
[11:46] Eijun
    Leave this town and go to Tokyo?
[11:50] Eijun
    That's impossible.
[11:54] Eijun
    I'm the one responsible
    for dragging them into baseball
[11:59] Eijun
    because I wanted to do something
    with everyone before we graduated.
[12:04] Eijun
    Some of them didn't even like sports,
[12:08] Eijun
    but nobody gave up or quit.
[12:13] Eijun
    I can't betray them now.
[12:19] Eijun
    There's no way I can.
[12:28] Background
    Hey. Morning!
[12:29] Eijun
    Damn. I couldn't sleep at all last night.
[12:33] Yuichi
    Oh, Ei-chan!
[12:35] Nobu
    Congrats!
[12:37] Yuichi
    You got an offer from Seidou High, right?
[12:40] Akio
    That's so amazing.
[12:42] Eijun
    How do you know?
[12:44] Akio
    Your grandpa came to my place and told me.
[12:46] Nobu
    He came to my place, too!
[12:48] Koichi
    Mine, too.
[12:51] Eijun
    Eitoku!
[12:52] Eijun
    I never said I was actually going to Seidou!
[12:56] Koichi
    What? Why?
[12:58] Eijun
    "Why"?
[13:00] Eijun
    I'm gonna go to Tokyo just to play baseball?
[13:03] Yuichi
    Are you crazy?
[13:04] Yuichi
    It's the Seidou.
[13:05] Nobu
    You have to challenge yourself!
[13:07] Akio
    I'm sure you'll do fine.
[13:09] Eijun
    B-But I...
[13:12] Wakana
    More importantly...
[13:14] Wakana
    You're all brawn and no brains,
    so I don't think you have a choice.
[13:19] Eijun
    Shut up!
[13:21] Eijun
    If I really try, I'll pass the exam! No problem!
[13:24] Wakana
    Don't stress yourself studying.
[13:27] Wakana
    Your grandpa told me that...
[13:31] Wakana
    since you've been back,
    you've been acting weird.
[13:37] Wakana
    That you were probably moved
    by the baseball you experienced in Tokyo.
[13:45] Yuichi
    We've found your weakness, Ei-chan.
[13:48] Yuichi
    You're a pitcher, but you
    can't hide your emotions.
[13:51] Nobu
    Don't worry!
[13:53] Nobu
    We'll be cheering for you,
    no matter where you go!
[13:56] Akio
    Yeah!
[13:57] Akio
    You're representing us when you go to Tokyo!
[14:01] Yuichi
    Congrats, Ei-chan!
[14:03] Eijun
    You're wrong...
[14:05] Eijun
    What are you all saying?
[14:08] Eijun
    I want to play baseball with...
[14:13] Eijun
    I...
[14:22] Mom
    Hello?
[14:25] Gramps
    Eijun!
[14:27] Gramps
    How long are you gonna keep that face?
[14:30] Gramps
    It's time you—
[14:31] Eijun
    Gramps.
[14:33] Eijun
    You told everyone
    about the offer from Tokyo.
[14:36] Gramps
    Oh, I got carried away.
[14:40] Eijun
    I couldn't tell them...
[14:43] Eijun
    because they looked so happy.
[14:46] Eijun
    I wanted to scream so many times
[14:50] Eijun
    that I was going to play
    baseball here with them.
[14:53] Eijun
    But I couldn't say anything.
[14:57] Eijun
    What's wrong with me?
[15:00] Eijun
    Honestly, I still can't make up my mind.
[15:04] Eijun
    It made me want to test my strength
    for the first time in my life.
[15:09] Eijun
    But... they're all my dearest teammates.
[15:15] Eijun
    I'm so lost!
[15:18] Eijun
    I should've never gone
    to Tokyo in the first place!
[15:23] Gramps
    Eijun.
[15:25] Gramps
    Get off your high horse!
[15:28] Gramps
    What's with that look when
    all your friends are wishing you luck
[15:30] Gramps
    on your new journey?
[15:32] Gramps
    Did you think they'd cry
    and try to stop you?
[15:35] Gramps
    Or are you saying that
    your friendships won't last
[15:40] Gramps
    if you're not in the same place?
[15:48] Dad
    Hey, Eijun.
[15:51] Dad
    I bet you're just scared to go to Tokyo alone.
[15:55] Eijun
    A-Are you crazy, Dad?
[15:58] Eijun
    I'm not scared!
[16:00] Dad
    Then why don't you go?
[16:04] Dad
    Don't you want to test your abilities?
[16:08] Dad
    True, Seidou's not a normal high school.
SIGN    Seidou High School
[16:12] Dad
    Almost everyone there probably batted fourth
     and was the ace at their junior high.
[16:17] Dad
    You're gonna go to a place
    like that by yourself.
[16:19] Dad
    I'd be scared, too.
[16:22] Dad
    But if you don't follow your heart,
[16:26] Dad
    you're gonna regret it forever.
[16:40] Dad
    If you fail, just come back home.
[16:44] Dad
    Even if that happens,
    we won't let anyone laugh at you.
[16:51] Mom
    Dear, you're thinking back to the time you
    went to Tokyo to be a rock star, aren't you?
[16:57] Gramps
    Ah, yes!
[16:58] Gramps
    You left for Tokyo saying you'd never be back,
    but you came back in three months!
[17:02] Gramps
    You were crying, too.
    Saying that Tokyo was a scary place.
[17:05] Dad
    Shut up!
[17:06] Dad
    I don't regret doing it!
[17:08] Dad
    Why do you think I inherited the farm business?
[17:10] Gramps
    Your hairdo makes it look
    like you haven't given up!
[17:13] Dad
    This is just a policy I live by!
[17:15] Eijun
    I'm so pathetic.
[17:17] Eijun
    Dad's right.
[17:20] Eijun
    I was...
[17:22] Gramps
    Damn it, you knuckleheaded son!
[17:26] Dad
    Shut it!
[17:27] Eijun
    I'm gonna go.
[17:32] Eijun
    I need to tell everyone how I really feel.
[17:38] Eijun
    I'm leaving now.
[17:39] Gramps
    Wait!
[17:40] Mom
    It's already late today.
[17:41] Mom
    Why don't you go tomorrow?
[17:42] Eijun
    No.
[17:44] Eijun
    I need to go now.
[17:46] Eijun
    I can't have everyone
    thinking I'm still wishy-washy.
[17:50] Eijun
    All right!
[17:51] Eijun
    Here I come, guys!
[17:54] Dad
    That idiot...
[17:56] Dad
    If he's visiting everyone's houses,
    he's not gonna finish till way into the night.
[18:01] Gramps
    I wonder who he takes after.
[18:03] Gramps
    He's a little too straightforward.
[18:10] Gramps
    But now we'll have some peace at home.
SIGN    6 Months Later
[18:20] Yuichi
    I was so surprised when he showed up.
[18:22] Nobu
    Seriously.
[18:24] Yuichi
    He came to my house in the middle
    of the night and asked me to slap him.
[18:27] Nobu
    It's already been six months since then.
[18:29] Yuya
    "Inject all your power into me."
[18:31] Yuya
    Only you, Ei-chan.
[18:34] Eijun
    Shut up! It's a family tradition.
[18:44] Conductor
    Passengers boarding the 15:30 train to Tokyo,
[18:50] Conductor
    the train will arrive momentarily on Platform 2.
[18:53] Conductor
    Please wait behind the yellow lines.
[18:54] Mom
    Thank you for looking after my son.
[18:56] Rei
    Of course.
[18:57] Gramps
    If you feel like you're
    about to fail, give me a call.
[19:01] Gramps
    I'll send you my power.
[19:04] Sano
    Hurry up and go, you stupid kid!
[19:07] Wakana
    At least email me... or something.
[19:09] Yuichi
    Ei-chan, this is from us.
[19:13] Eijun
    Thanks!
[19:14] Akio
    Good luck, Ei-chan!
[19:16] Others
    Ei-chan, good luck!
[19:18] Nobu
    Good lu—
[19:24] Yuichi
    Y-You idiot, stop crying.
[19:27] Nobu
    Huh?
[19:29] Yuichi
    You're making it hard
    for Ei-chan to say goodbye.
[19:32] Nobu
    I'm sorry.
[19:34] Nobu
    But I didn't have strong shoulders,
    and I couldn't catch some pitches,
[19:38] Nobu
    so I thought I was just holding you back.
[19:43] Eijun
    Nobu...
[19:45] Yuya
    You idiot.
[19:47] Yuya
    At first, I was running
    straight to third base after I hit,
[19:50] Yuya
    and he had his batting hands mixed up.
[19:53] Nobu
    But you never made a face at us ever.
[19:58] Nobu
    When I made a really bad error,
    you cheered me on from the mound.
[20:05] Nobu
    I love how you're always so optimistic.
[20:09] Nobu
    Ichiro and Matsui can't even compare.
[20:14] Nobu
    You're our hero, Ei-chan.
[20:21] Conductor
    The train is departing.
[20:26] Nobu
    I'm sorry we couldn't be any help to you.
[20:29] Nobu
    But...
[20:30] Nobu
    to be honest...
[20:35] Nobu
    We all wanted to play more
    baseball with you, Ei-chan.
[20:48] Everyone
    Good luck, Ei-chan!
[20:49] Eijun
    Wait a minute...
[20:53] Everyone
    Good luck, Ei-chan!
[21:02] Eijun
    Are you kidding me?
[21:05] Nobu
    We're cheering for you all the way!
[21:14] Eijun
    Idiots!
[21:16] Eijun
    None of you said anything
    like that these past six months.
[21:21] Eijun
    It's too late.
[21:26] Eijun
    It's too...
[21:34] Rei
    Come on.
[21:35] Rei
    Let's take a seat.
[21:40] Eijun
    Is this the determination
    that you were talking about?
[21:45] Eijun
    I... can't lose.
[21:49] Eijun
    I'm representing them.
[21:53] Eijun
    I have to go to the nationals.
[23:35] Miyuki
    Sawamura is finally
    joining us at Seidou High.
[23:38] Miyuki
    He'll meet lots of older
    teammates and the head coach.
[23:41] Miyuki
    I'll teach you the harsh reality
    of high school baseball!
[23:44] Eijun
    I only just started here,
    and I'm already in trouble?
[23:47] Eijun
    You won't let me be a pitcher?
[23:50] Eijun
    You kidding me?
[23:51] Eijun
    I came here to be the ace!
[23:53] Miyuki
    Next time on Ace of the Diamond:
    Not Qualified to Be a Pitcher?
SIGN    Ace of the Diamond: Not Qualified to Be a Pitcher?
[23:57] Miyuki
    Let's win the national title!