# 45 - Fantasy
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.)
**[00:02] Sa**
I do what I'm asked to do every game.
**[00:07] Sa**
I didn't have the luxury
to think about anything more.
**[00:11] Sa**
All my upperclassmen are just so amazing.
**[00:16] Sa**
I respect them,
**[00:18] Sa**
and they're super cool.
**[00:21] Sa**
I'm not really sure how to put it,
**[00:24] Sa**
but I just want to keep
playing with this team.
**[00:31] Sa**
Not sure if that came out right.
**[00:35] Wa**
*Eijun.*
**[00:41] Ry**
We've been calling you for a while now.
**[00:44] Ha**
B-Brother.
**[00:46] Sa**
Ow...
**[00:51] Ku**
Get over here, Sawamura!
**[00:53] Ku**
You wanna be late to Inashiro's game, stupid?
**[00:57] Sa**
That hurt!
**[00:58] Sa**
That hurt more than usual!
**[01:00] Ku**
Just your imagination, stupid.
**[01:02] Ku**
Well, I need to take him now,
**[01:05] Ku**
but please come cheer for us again.
**[01:08] Ku**
You listening?
**[01:10] Ry**
Start walking.
**[01:12] Sa**
I'm being abused!
**[01:14] Ku**
I'm not abusing you.
**[01:16] F1**
He just wants to keep playing
with this team, huh?
**[01:20] F2**
That's our Ei-chan.
**[01:25] Ku**
Walk!
**[01:27] Sa**
See ya!
**[01:28] F1**
*But it doesn't change the fact...*
**[01:31] F2**
*...that it's just one more win away.*
**[01:34] F3**
*We all...*
**[01:37] F3**
*...want to see you pitch at nationals.*
***SIGN*** Fantasy
**[03:18] C1**
Mei!
**[03:19] C2**
Mei-kun!
**[03:21] C3**
Show us some great pitching!
**[03:23] C4**
Narumiya-kun!
**[03:24] C5**
We came to cheer you on!
**[03:26] C6**
Narumiya!
**[03:27] C6**
Let's go to nationals!
**[03:29] R1**
The cheering is louder.
**[03:31] R1**
Are there more people now?
**[03:35] R2**
* The winner of last year's*
* West Tokyo tournament,*
**[03:38] R2**
* Inashiro Vocational High School,*
* led by Coach Hiroshige Kunitomo.*
**[03:43] R2**
*They're the favorite to win this tournament.*
**[03:46] I1**
Damn.
**[03:47] I1**
Why are they only cheering for Mei?
**[03:50] I1**
I'm sick of this.
**[03:51] I2**
Stop complaining.
**[03:52] I2**
He's our ace, after all.
**[03:54] R2**
* Three-hole and third baseman,*
* Hideaki Yoshizawa, third-year.*
**[03:58] R2**
* Seven-hole and second baseman,*
* Tsubasa Hirai.*
**[04:02] I3**
But he doesn't have a girlfriend.
**[04:06] R2**
* Two-hole and shortstop,*
* Katsuyuki Shirakawa, second-year.*
**[04:10] I4**
'Cause he's a little boy.
**[04:13] R2**
*Another second-year.*
**[04:14] R2**
* Leadoff and center fielder,*
* Carlos Toshiki Kamiya.*
**[04:23] R2**
*Second-year again.*
**[04:25] R2**
* Six-hole and first baseman,*
* Riku Yamaoka.*
**[04:30] R2**
* The key player, cleanup and catcher,*
* Masatoshi Harada.*
**[04:34] R1**
Wow!
**[04:35] R1**
His pitch consistently looks really good.
**[04:39] R2**
*I heard he did a lot of running in the off-season.*
**[04:45] Na**
Koshien Stadium was good,
but I really like Jingu Stadium, too.
**[04:49] R2**
* And possibly the number one pitcher in Kanto,*
* second-year ace, Mei Narumiya.*
**[04:56] R2**
*I wonder what he'll show us today.*
**[05:00] Na**
I wish we played games every day.
**[05:03] Ha**
You just don't want to practice.
**[05:06] Ha**
Give me another fastball.
**[05:14] Is**
Damn kid's looking good.
**[05:17] Is**
That was a nice sound.
**[05:26] Mi**
*He's a special opponent for us.*
**[05:29] Mi**
*If we can't take him down,*
**[05:31] Mi**
*we won't make it to nationals.*
**[05:39] Na**
*They're watching.*
**[05:40] Na**
*They're all watching.*
**[05:43] Na**
*Watch closely.*
**[05:46] Na**
*I'll change your glimmers of hopes and dreams*
**[05:49] Na**
*into complete despair.*
**[05:54] Ha**
Th-That speed and control.
**[05:57] Ha**
If he throws breaking balls along with those,
**[05:58] Ha**
it's going to be tough to get a hit.
**[06:01] Sa**
I'll watch you down to your every last bone.
**[06:05] Fu**
I want to go back and pitch.
**[06:09] S1**
Come get your lunch, please!
**[06:12] S2**
We have multiple types, so pick what you like.
**[06:14] S3**
Over here!
**[06:16] S4**
First come, first served!
**[06:18] Ku**
Do you have a meatloaf set?
**[06:19] Ka**
Can I get a fried chicken set?
**[06:29] D1**
That's some wicked sound.
**[06:31] D2**
I bet nobody here is expecting us to win.
**[06:35] D3**
Well, we can probably only win
one out of ten games against them.
**[06:39] D2**
Moron.
**[06:40] D2**
Don't say that right before the game.
**[06:43] DC**
In order to make that one win possible,
**[06:45] DC**
we've been working hard, no?
**[06:49] D3**
Professor.
**[06:59] DC**
Boys, it's time we made history today.
***SIGN*** Sakura
***SIGN*** We will now begin game two of the semifinals
***SIGN*** between Inashiro Vocational High School and Sakurazawa High School.
**[07:15] Um**
Both teams, line up!
**[07:17] EE**
Let's go!
**[07:18] EE**
Let's go!
**[07:25] R2**
The tournament favorite versus
the only public school in the semifinals.
**[07:29] R1**
Isn't Sakurazawa a famous high academic school?
**[07:33] R1**
I'm surprised they're still in the tournament.
**[07:36] R2**
They used to never make it past the first game.
**[07:40] R2**
Though they won against a seeded
school in their third game this year.
**[07:48] R2**
It's a miracle that they've made this far.
**[07:56] DC**
Tokyo Prefectural
Sakurazawa High School.
**[07:59] DC**
We're one of the top schools
in Tokyo, academically,
***SIGN*** Tokyo Prefectural Sakurazawa High School
**[08:02] DC**
but no one knows about us in the sports world.
**[08:07] (Flashback) DG**
See ya, Professor!
**[08:09] (Flashback) DC**
Yes. Goodbye.
**[08:14] (Flashback) D1**
Professor.
**[08:15] (Flashback) DC**
Are you done with practice already?
**[08:18] (Flashback) DC**
I just changed.
**[08:20] (Flashback) D1**
Yeah, we all have cram schools.
**[08:24] (Flashback) DC**
I see.
**[08:25] (Flashback) D1**
You got forced to oversee
the baseball team, right?
**[08:30] (Flashback) D1**
You don't have to show up every time.
**[08:32] (Flashback) D2**
We're just doing it to get
some exercise between classes.
**[08:37] (Flashback) D1**
Excuse us.
**[08:39] (Flashback) D2**
Excuse us.
**[08:40] (Flashback) D3**
Excuse us.
**[08:40] (Flashback) DC**
Okay, goodbye.
**[08:46] DC**
* Sakurazawa High School was on a*
* twenty-year consecutive zero-win record.*
**[08:51] DC**
*However, no one cared about the record,*
**[08:56] DC**
* and the students simply*
* enjoyed being in the tournament.*
**[09:01] DC**
*That is...*
**[09:03] DC**
*...until* they *joined.*
**[09:09] (Flashback) D1**
All right, one more.
**[09:11] (Flashback) D2**
Ready?
**[09:16] (Flashback) D1**
Sorry, Akira!
**[09:18] (Flashback) D3**
That one was pretty good.
**[09:21] (Flashback) D1**
One more!
**[09:22] (Flashback) D1**
I'll catch it this time.
**[09:24] (Flashback) DC**
You boys aren't going home yet?
**[09:27] (Flashback) D1**
Oh, Professor.
**[09:28] (Flashback) D1**
I mean, Coach.
**[09:30] DC**
*First-years, Akira Nagao-kun...*
**[09:34] (Flashback) D2**
I'm a little excited knowing
I get to play in the games.
**[09:38] DC**
*...Yoshimi Hidokoro-kun...*
**[09:40] (Flashback) D1**
We only just barely have enough people,
**[09:43] (Flashback) D1**
and even us first-years get to play.
**[09:46] DC**
*...and Masaaki Minamoto-kun.*
**[09:48] (Flashback) D3**
These guys were just
benchwarmers in junior high.
**[09:52] (Flashback) D1**
Shut up! Not like you played a lot!
**[09:54] (Flashback) D2**
Besides...
**[09:55] (Flashback) D2**
There's a pitch I've been dying to try.
**[10:00] (Flashback) D2**
Professor!
**[10:01] (Flashback) D2**
I mean, Coach.
**[10:03] (Flashback) D2**
If, and only if,
**[10:05] (Flashback) D2**
since it's a very low chance,
statistically speaking,
**[10:09] (Flashback) D2**
we went to nationals...
wouldn't it be cool?
**[10:12] (Flashback) D2**
I bet we could change the world!
**[10:18] (Flashback) D3**
Easier said than done.
**[10:21] DC**
*Nationals.*
**[10:24] (Flashback) DC**
I see that you three like baseball.
**[10:29] (Flashback) DC**
However, as it is, it's just a fantasy.
**[10:41] D2**
*Just a fantasy, huh?*
**[10:45] D2**
* We finally got our first win*
* one year after that day.*
**[10:51] D2**
* It was a scrimmage,*
* and we didn't exactly win easily,*
**[10:58] D2**
*but that one win changed everyone's mentality.*
**[11:05] DC**
Listen up, boys.
**[11:07] (Flashback) DC**
This team's fate currently rests
entirely on Nagao-kun's pitching.
**[11:12] (Flashback) DC**
In order to win,
**[11:14] (Flashback) DC**
we must greatly improve our fielding.
**[11:17] (Flashback) DC**
Now onto the batting.
**[11:20] (Flashback) DC**
If you played catch on a merry-go-around
going counter-clockwise,
**[11:21] (Flashback) D1**
Professor's been thinking, I see.
**[11:24] (Flashback) DC**
the ball throw will sway to the right.
**[11:24] (Flashback) D2**
I heard he's read every book
on baseball there is.
**[11:26] (Flashback) DC**
This is known as the Coriolis effect.
**[11:30] (Flashback) D2**
He's starting to look like a real coach.
**[11:33] (Flashback) DC**
Let's do this, boys.
***SIGN*** Miss
**[11:37] (Flashback) D4**
I'll take over.
**[11:38] (Flashback) DC**
Sorry.
**[11:41] (Flashback) DC**
Did you need to throw that without a bounce?
**[11:46] (Flashback) DC**
How about you make it bounce once,
so it'll get to the other side without fail?
**[11:49] (Flashback) D5**
Y-Yes, sir!
**[11:51] D2**
* Professor gave each person a notebook*
* with what they needed to work on,*
***SIGN*** Baseball Book
**[11:55] D2**
* and we wrote in it even during practice*
* when something was on our mind.*
**[12:00] D2**
* From a single play, to daily*
* assignments, and overall goals.*
**[12:05] D2**
*As the number of notebooks increased,*
**[12:07] D2**
*we managed to win more scrims.*
**[12:14] D2**
*And this year...*
**[12:20] D2**
Shortstop!
**[12:23] Um**
Out!
**[12:25] D5**
Yeah!
**[12:26] D5**
Nice, shortstop!
**[12:31] I1**
*Carlos first, and now Shirakawa?*
**[12:37] Sa**
Wh-Why can't they hit a pitch that slow?
**[12:41] P1**
Nice one, Akira!
**[12:42] P1**
Nice pitch!
**[12:45] Mi**
Chris-senpai.
**[12:46] Ch**
Yeah.
**[12:47] Ch**
There's no doubt about it.
**[12:51] Ch**
He's a knuckleball pitcher.
**[13:01] I1**
Damn. Damn. Damn. Damn.
**[13:02] IC**
How was it?
**[13:05] I1**
I knew his pitch from seeing the videos,
**[13:08] I1**
but I never expected it'd be such a high level.
**[13:17] IC**
*How they're making every throw with a bounce*
**[13:20] IC**
*already tells you their level of play.*
**[13:23] IC**
*But it also means they know themselves.*
**[13:29] Sa**
Are they just playing catch?
**[13:37] Um**
Out!
**[13:40] C1**
Inashiro just went down, three for three!
**[13:42] C2**
Is that a knuckleball?
**[13:44] C1**
Their defense is good, too.
**[13:45] C1**
These guys are pretty good!
**[13:47] D1**
Nice pitch, Akira!
**[13:49] D2**
Nice pitch!
**[13:50] DC**
Couldn't have started a better way.
**[13:52] D3**
Fist bumps?
**[13:54] D3**
Are you trying to be like Coach Hara?
**[13:56] DC**
Your pitch even works against Inashiro.
**[14:01] DC**
Great job on improving so much
over the past two years.
**[14:04] DC**
I'm very proud of you.
**[14:10] D2**
Don't count your chickens
before they hatch, Professor.
**[14:13] D2**
If we don't win, it'll just end as a fantasy.
**[14:25] Um**
Strike!
**[14:27] Um**
Batter out!
**[14:36] C1**
Three consecutive strikeouts from the first inning?
**[14:39] C2**
He's going all out already!
**[14:42] D1**
*This is crazy.*
**[14:44] D1**
*It's like he's telling us they're better.*
**[14:48] DC**
That's who they are.
**[14:50] DC**
We just do our own baseball, isn't that right?
**[14:55] DC**
Only those who believe
in themselves can pave their paths.
**[15:03] D1**
*He sure knows what to say, sometimes.*
**[15:05] D2**
*Though he still can't hit for fielding practice.*
**[15:10] D1**
*But he's right.*
**[15:13] D1**
*We just do our own thing.*
**[15:16] (Flashback) D1**
Let's go!
**[15:18] (Flashback) DD**
Yeah!
***SIGN*** We go into Inashiro's offense in the second inning.
***SIGN*** Fourth batter, catcher, Harada-kun.
**[15:31] C1**
Masa-san!
**[15:33] C1**
Let's go, cleanup man!
**[15:37] Na**
*He sure is popular.*
**[15:43] Is**
Let's see how he hits the knuckleball.
**[15:46] Yu**
Maybe he can utilize his flexible batting.
**[15:51] Sa**
Chris-senpai, how about a little
explanation on the knuckleball?
**[15:56] Ch**
Good idea.
**[15:59] Ch**
You grip the ball with your fingertips,
**[16:01] Ch**
and in the moment of your release,
**[16:03] Ch**
you snap your fingers
**[16:05] Ch**
to spin the ball in the opposite
direction of a regular fastball.
**[16:09] Ch**
By doing so, the ball flies with zero rotation,
**[16:12] Ch**
making it break in directions
not even the pitcher knows.
**[16:18] Ch**
It's a difficult pitch to catch,
**[16:20] Ch**
so some catchers use large mitts
specialized for knuckleballs.
**[16:24] Ch**
It's a difficult pitch not everyone can throw,
**[16:28] Ch**
so it's a very special pitch.
**[16:32] Sa**
Not even the pitcher knows how it'll move?
**[16:35] Sa**
That's irresponsible, if you ask me!
**[16:38] Ch**
Your moving fastball is like that, too.
**[16:42] Mi**
The more time they spend trying
to figure out the knuckleball,
**[16:46] Mi**
the deeper they fall into Sakurazawa's trap.
**[16:49] Mi**
Impatience can bring the team
a sense of insecurity,
**[16:51] Mi**
and that can lead to mistakes.
**[16:54] Mi**
I assume all the teams
that went up against Sakurazawa
**[16:57] Mi**
went down without being able
to play to their best abilities.
**[17:05] Um**
Ball!
**[17:07] Ha**
*That's not spinning at all.*
**[17:10] Ha**
*This is going to be really hard.*
**[17:13] Na**
Masa-san!
**[17:15] Na**
I want a big one! A big one!
**[17:17] Ha**
Shut it.
**[17:19] Ha**
See it with your own eyes.
**[17:26] Ha**
*I don't need to swing big.*
**[17:28] Ha**
*If I can make contact with the ball, then...*
**[17:31] Ha**
*It's a different break!*
**[17:37] Um**
Out!
**[17:38] D1**
Yes! One out!
**[17:40] D2**
Nice pitching, Akira-kun!
**[17:42] D3**
Nice one!
**[17:44] Na**
That was so lame, Masa-san.
**[17:46] Na**
Are you seriously our cleanup?
**[17:47] Ha**
Shut up!
**[17:49] Na**
All righty, then.
**[17:52] Na**
I'll avenge you, Masa-san!
**[17:55] Ha**
I'm gonna punch you.
***SIGN*** Batting fifth, pitcher, Narumiya-kun.
**[18:01] C1**
Mei, hit it!
**[18:03] C2**
Narumiya-kun!
**[18:05] C1**
Mei!
**[18:07] D1**
*So this is...*
**[18:09] D1**
*...the best pitcher in Kanto, Mei Narumiya.*
**[18:14] Na**
Wow! That's a huge mitt.
**[18:17] Na**
Is that tailor-made?
**[18:23] D1**
*Stop.*
**[18:24] D1**
*Calm down.*
**[18:28] D1**
*Gotta calm down.*
**[18:33] D1**
* In junior high, Yoshimi and*
* I were both benchwarmers.*
**[18:43] D1**
* Inamoto just barely managed*
* to play in and out.*
**[18:47] D1**
* I wanted to play games in high school,*
* even if the team wasn't good.*
**[18:52] D1**
* But I knew we wouldn't*
* be able to beat the best schools*
**[18:55] D1**
*in terms of talent and physique.*
**[19:00] D1**
*That's when I discovered...*
**[19:03] (Flashback) D2**
Akira, what are you reading?
**[19:06] (Flashback) D2**
Wakefield?
**[19:08] (Flashback) D2**
Is that the majors?
**[19:09] (Flashback) D1**
Yoshimi, do you know about
a special breaking pitch?
**[19:14] (Flashback) D2**
A special pitch?
**[19:27] (Flashback) D1**
It doesn't require superhuman powers
to throw a knuckleball.
**[19:37] D1**
*If I can master this pitch, then maybe...*
**[19:40] D1**
*...I'll be able to dream.*
**[19:52] D1**
One out!
**[19:53] D1**
One at a time!
**[19:56] D2**
Yeah! One at a time!
**[19:59] D3**
Just like usual!
**[20:01] D4**
Send them our way!
**[20:03] D5**
Akira!
**[20:08] D6**
Let's go, Akira!
**[20:11] DC**
*That's right, Akira-kun.*
**[20:14] DC**
*You need not tense up when you pitch.*
**[20:18] Na**
*He's oddly calm.*
**[20:22] Na**
*Pisses me off a bit.*
**[20:25] DC**
*Just like your usual self,*
**[20:29] DC**
*be calm and comfortable when you pitch.*
**[20:35] DC**
*That alone will take your pitch to new heights.*
**[20:38] Na**
What the?
**[20:40] Um**
Strike!
**[20:42] Um**
Strike!
**[20:45] Um**
Batter out!
**[20:47] IC**
*I thought I told him to swing compactly.*
**[20:52] DC**
* Always be calm and steady*
* as a rock, never excited.*
**[20:58] DC**
*This is the secret to a great knuckleball.*
**[21:01] DC**
*The zen state of mind.*
**[21:08] C1**
Is this for real?
**[21:10] C2**
Inashiro cleanups struck out.
**[21:12] C3**
That knuckleball's amazing.
**[21:17] R2**
It's not a pitch you can learn overnight.
**[21:20] R2**
He must've spent his entire
high school life learning this pitch.
**[21:27] R2**
It wasn't a fluke that they've made this far.
**[21:33] D1**
Yeah! We can do this!
**[21:36] D2**
We can put up a fight against Inashiro!
**[21:39] D3**
Hidokoro, eyes on the ball!
**[21:42] D4**
We've gotta score first!
**[21:46] Um**
Strike!
**[21:48] Um**
Batter out!
**[21:50] Mi**
Mei.
**[21:55] Na**
*Bring it on.*
**[21:59] Na**
*Like I'd lose a pitching game.*
**[23:36] Mi**
So this is why Mei was pitching
all out from the start.
**[23:38] Ch**
He's putting pressure
on the opponent from the mound.
**[23:41] Sa**
From the mound?
**[23:42] D1**
We just have to be persistent and patient.
**[23:44] D1**
If we play like we usually do,
a chance will definitely come around.
**[23:48] DC**
That's right.
**[23:48] DC**
This isn't the first obstacle
you've hit on your way here.
**[23:53] Sa**
Next time on *Ace of the Diamond*:
Pitching of Despair.
***SIGN*** Pitching of Despair
**[23:56] Sa**
Let's win the national title!