# 71 - September Sky
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.)
**[00:00] Ku**
Hey, Captain.
**[00:02] Ku**
What are we gonna do?
**[00:05] Mi**
About what?
**[00:06] Ku**
Sawamura! What else?
**[00:09] Ku**
He fell apart in the Yakushi game,
**[00:12] Ku**
but he's an important southpaw on our team.
**[00:15] Ku**
Don't we need him in order
to win through the fall?
**[00:19] Mi**
Hmm...
**[00:20] Mi**
You're worried sick about him.
**[00:22] Ku**
No, I'm not!
**[00:24] Ku**
I just don't want him
being gloomy in my room!
**[00:27] Mi**
We have other priorities right now,
**[00:30] Mi**
like improving our weak batting line-up.
**[00:35] Ku**
Well, yeah, but...
**[00:37] Ku**
He brings life to the team, you know.
**[00:41] Mi**
With the tournament coming up,
**[00:43] Mi**
we need to prioritize
the team over individuals.
**[00:47] Mi**
The coach said he'll use players
who are doing well, didn't he?
**[00:53] Ku**
I know that!
**[00:55] Ku**
But, as his upperclassman,
we can't just leave him alone!
**[01:03] S1**
H-Hey, Kuramochi.
**[01:11] Mi**
In the Yakushi game,
**[01:13] Mi**
it's partly my fault that Sawamura fell apart.
**[01:17] Mi**
Over the summer break,
**[01:19] Mi**
I was always nagging him about his control.
**[01:26] Mi**
Against Yakushi,
**[01:27] Mi**
I'm sure he went in with big objectives.
**[01:32] Mi**
Especially since his rival
performed so well before his eyes.
**[01:38] Mi**
He'd already lost mentally
before he walked on the mound.
**[01:44] Ku**
I-If you knew that much, then why?
**[01:52] Mi**
Because we need him.
**[01:54] Mi**
My expectations for him are high,
**[01:56] Mi**
and we need him to get better.
**[02:00] Mi**
We can't afford to lose him
to some dumb yips.
**[02:11] Ku**
You just said two completely different things.
**[02:15] Mi**
I know.
***SIGN*** September Sky
***SIGN*** September 4,
Fall Tournament
Group Selection
**[03:53] Mi**
The 260 schools from east and west Tokyo are
split up into four tournament groups,
**[03:57] Mi**
and the top two schools from each
group advance to the final tournament.
**[04:03] Mi**
The team that wins earns a ticket
to the national invitational.
***SIGN*** Seido High School Practice Field
**[04:10] S1**
So our first game's on Sunday?
**[04:12] S2**
We're hosting, so it's nice
that we can stay here,
**[04:15] S2**
but it doesn't really feel
like an official game.
**[04:18] S3**
Whoa!
**[04:19] S3**
Yakushi's in the same group as Kokudokan.
**[04:21] S4**
That's tough.
**[04:23] S3**
We don't have any strong schools in our group.
**[04:25] S3**
Miyuki got really lucky.
**[04:28] S2**
Looks like we won't have problems winning.
**[04:30] Ma**
What are you talking about?
**[04:33] Ma**
We have to make them all called games.
**[04:35] Ma**
If we don't set high standards,
we can't take the top.
**[04:40] S1**
Well, you need to hit first.
**[04:42] Ma**
That's exactly right!
**[04:44] Mi**
Let's practice bunts and steals.
**[04:48] Ku**
Yeah.
**[04:50] Ma**
Man, I want a hit!
**[04:51] Ha**
Are you still training on your own?
**[04:53] Sa**
Yeah.
**[04:54] Ha**
Well, take it slow.
**[04:56] Ha**
A pitcher needs his lower body strong, anyway.
**[05:03] Ka**
Sawamura.
**[05:05] Ka**
Join the batting and fielding
practice starting today.
**[05:09] Ha**
Good for you.
**[05:10] Ha**
You get to practice with balls now.
**[05:13] Ka**
But you're going to be in the outfield.
**[05:16] Ka**
Make sure you throw
to the infield after every catch.
**[05:21] Ka**
Got it?
**[05:25] S1**
*Sawamura in the outfield?*
**[05:27] S2**
*Is he off the fall roster?*
**[05:34] Sa**
Yes, sir.
**[05:39] Ha**
*Eijun-kun...*
**[05:41] Ha**
*He talks a lot less*
**[05:43] Ha**
*and isn't his usual self anymore,*
**[05:46] Ha**
*but he's calm.*
**[05:48] Ha**
*I guess he's come to terms with where he is.*
**[05:54] Ka**
Furuya.
**[05:55] Ka**
You're gonna pitch
in the fielding practice today.
**[05:57] Fu**
Yes, sir.
**[05:58] Ka**
Make sure you run for cover and bunts, too.
**[06:02] Fu**
I'll go all out, sir.
**[06:04] Ka**
Don't.
**[06:08] Ha**
*He...*
**[06:11] Ha**
*...hasn't come to terms with it, at all!*
***SIGN*** Seido High School Practice Field
**[06:18] S1**
Sawamura, forward!
**[06:20] S2**
Your first step is late!
**[06:22] S2**
Throw it back the moment you catch!
**[06:26] S3**
Good! Nice throw!
**[06:27] S3**
At least your throw is good, Sawamura!
**[06:30] To**
Sawamura, you've got to run to the ball first.
**[06:33] Sa**
You're so nice.
**[06:35] S1**
*I don't think I'll ever lose to Sawamura!*
**[06:38] S2**
Right?
**[06:40] Ot**
So he's in the outfield now?
**[06:42] Ot**
You put him back with the team
sooner than I expected.
**[06:46] Ka**
He's been running this past week,
**[06:49] Ka**
and it's helped him regain his will.
**[06:54] Ka**
If he had no will to improve,
**[06:57] Ka**
he'd just continue staring at the ground.
**[07:00] Ot**
That's why you had him run?
**[07:04] Ka**
In the end, it all comes down to his will.
**[07:13] Sa**
* I was sent to the outfield*
* because I wasn't good enough.*
**[07:19] Sa**
*I get scared because I'm not good enough.*
**[07:22] Sa**
*Damn it!*
**[07:23] S1**
That's way too forward!
**[07:27] S2**
And over the head.
**[07:29] Sa**
*Man...*
**[07:31] Sa**
*I'm so terrible.*
**[07:33] Sa**
Damn!
**[07:35] S1**
You're crying for real!
**[07:37] S1**
Don't get even more depressed
coming to the outfield!
**[07:41] Ot**
*He's resigning after the fall,*
**[07:44] Ot**
*but he's still thinking about Sawamura's future.*
***SIGN*** September 12
**[07:51] Mi**
* We discovered what*
* we lacked against Yakushi,*
***SIGN*** Fall Tournament Groups, Game 1
Seido (W. Tokyo) vs Toyosaki (E. Tokyo) at Seido
**[07:55] Mi**
*and we go into our first official game*
**[07:58] Mi**
*with a lot of worries on our minds.*
**[08:05] Um**
Strike! Batter out!
***SIGN*** Seido Toyosaki
**[08:25] Oc**
* He's head and shoulders*
* above everyone on the field.*
**[08:30] Mi**
*Gotta pace himself,*
**[08:32] Mi**
*but with the uniform number he got,*
**[08:35] Mi**
*he probably can't help going all out.*
**[08:38] Fu**
I can't see it.
**[08:40] Ha**
Don't worry, it's there.
**[08:47] C1**
Another RBI!
**[08:49] C2**
Is he gonna win this game on his own?
**[08:52] C3**
Wow! Furuya's in the zone.
**[08:55] C4**
He's looking really good
with the third-years gone.
**[09:08] S1**
It was crazy yesterday.
**[09:10] S2**
Oh, Furuya, right?
**[09:13] S1**
He walked off in the seventh inning,
but he was still going strong.
**[09:17] S2**
We might be able to go
pretty far with just him alone.
**[09:22] S1**
Yeah, but I don't understand the roster at all.
**[09:26] S2**
Why's Sawamura on the roster?
**[09:28] S1**
He's not pitching at all right now.
**[09:32] S2**
Maybe he's on standby as an outfield?
**[09:34] S1**
No way! Not even close!
**[09:37] S1**
Even grade schoolers
can play better than him.
**[09:39] S2**
Honestly, his only weapon
is his moving fastball.
**[09:43] S1**
The only thing he had was energy,
but he's lost even that these days.
**[09:47] S1**
He should give up his spot on the roster.
**[09:50] S1**
Sawamura!
**[09:53] S1**
H-How long were you there?
**[09:57] S2**
But it's all true.
**[09:59] S1**
Don't make that face!
**[10:03] S3**
Hey.
**[10:04] S3**
Baseball boy's studying!
**[10:06] Is**
Shut up! Of course I am!
**[10:09] S3**
Study hard!
**[10:10] Is**
Right back at you!
**[10:13] Is**
Damn.
**[10:14] Is**
What happened to enjoying
a normal high school life?
**[10:19] S1**
Oh, yeah.
**[10:20] S1**
The group stage started.
**[10:22] Ry**
That's right.
**[10:23] Ry**
I heard Furuya outdid himself.
***SIGN*** Seido Toyosaki
**[10:26] Ry**
But they only got six runs
**[10:28] Ry**
and played all nine innings.
**[10:30] Is**
It wasn't a called game?
**[10:32] Is**
What are the second-years doing?
**[10:36] Is**
They need to score more!
**[10:38] Ry**
Seriously.
**[10:40] S1**
I guess the team isn't meshing well yet.
**[10:44] Ry**
I heard the coach said
**[10:45] Ry**
he'd change the starting lineup
after the Yakushi game,
**[10:50] Ry**
but he didn't make
any changes in the end.
**[10:55] Is**
Despite what he says, he doesn't
stop believing in the players.
**[11:02] Is**
I guess I'll have to go
whip them into shape.
**[11:06] S1**
You just want to play around.
**[11:09] Ry**
It's not like we were good
from the start.
**[11:12] Ry**
The fall is all about discovering
new problems every game.
**[11:17] Is**
Well, yeah, but...
**[11:22] Is**
*Damn.*
**[11:24] Is**
*I really want to hit hard right now.*
**[11:42] (Flashback) S1**
Yeah, but I don't understand the roster at all.
**[11:45] (Flashback) S2**
Why's Sawamura on the roster?
**[11:51] Sa**
*Why did I make the roster?*
**[11:54] Sa**
*I don't even know myself!*
**[11:58] Sa**
*I can't play the outfield,*
**[12:00] Sa**
*and I haven't pitched in days.*
**[12:04] Sa**
*What does the coach want from me?*
**[12:13] Sa**
*Furuya.*
**[12:17] Fu**
*In the end,*
**[12:19] Fu**
*I couldn't pitch until the end.*
**[12:24] Fu**
*I may have gotten the ace number,*
**[12:27] Fu**
* but it doesn't mean*
* the coach sees me as the ace.*
**[12:34] Fu**
*I won't let anyone question me.*
**[12:37] Fu**
*Not my plays and not the numbers.*
**[12:41] Fu**
*I'll make everyone acknowledge me.*
**[12:44] Sa**
*Y-You...*
**[12:46] Sa**
*Don't run...*
**[12:51] Sa**
*Don't run in front of me!*
**[12:55] Ka**
*Their warmup turned into full sprints.*
**[12:59] Ku**
Looks like Sawamura's
not as gloomy as I thought.
**[13:05] Mi**
* He must not want to show*
* Furuya his weak side.*
**[13:10] Ku**
We don't have time to worry
about the first-years.
**[13:13] Ku**
We need to score as much as we can.
**[13:19] Ma**
As if we're not trying already.
**[13:28] Ka**
Guys, practice just started.
**[13:31] Ka**
You need to pace yourselves.
**[13:33] Fu**
*I forgot.*
**[13:35] Fu**
*That's one of my problems.*
**[13:40] Ka**
Looks like you guys are all warmed up.
**[13:43] Sa**
Y-Yes, sir.
**[13:44] Ka**
Sawamura, go in the bullpen today.
**[14:06] Mi**
Nice pitch!
**[14:08] Mi**
It's looking good!
**[14:11] S1**
*Sawamura's pitching just fine.*
**[14:14] Ka**
All right.
**[14:15] Ka**
I'll stand as a batter next.
**[14:18] Ka**
Throw inside.
**[14:25] Mi**
* Since he kept Sawamura on the roster,*
* I figured he would do this,*
**[14:29] Mi**
*but does he plan to use him in the fall?*
**[14:42] Ka**
Make sure you get his form on video.
**[14:44] S1**
Yes, sir.
**[14:49] Ka**
Let's go.
**[14:58] Mi**
*Sawamura wants to make this pitch.*
**[15:02] Mi**
*So is his form the problem?*
**[15:16] S1**
*The moment the coach stepped in, he...*
**[15:24] Oc**
*Why is Coach Kataoka putting so much care...*
**[15:29] Oc**
*...into this useless pitcher?*
**[15:38] S1**
This is the form without any batters.
**[15:42] S1**
And this is
**[15:45] S1**
the form with the coach.
**[15:48] S1**
It looks the same in the beginning,
**[15:51] S1**
but in the end,
**[15:53] S1**
his arm isn't swinging down enough.
**[15:55] S1**
Right here.
**[15:57] Mi**
What? Are you sure?
**[15:59] S1**
I'm good at finding differences.
**[16:02] Mi**
* It would be a lot easier*
* if it was more obvious,*
**[16:08] Mi**
* but with this subtlety,*
* we can't say much to him.*
**[16:20] Mi**
* Mental problems depend on the person,*
* so they're difficult to solve.*
**[16:25] Mi**
*The slightest thing can make them evaporate, too.*
**[16:30] Mi**
* Though maybe he's being overly*
* conscious of the inside pitch,*
**[16:35] Mi**
* and it's preventing him*
* from throwing his arm down.*
**[16:39] Mi**
*Maybe I pushed him too much.*
**[16:42] Mi**
Sawamura, you should stop thinking so much.
**[16:49] Mi**
It's not like you had good control anyway,
**[16:53] Mi**
and you're stupid.
**[17:01] S1**
M-Miyuki-senpai, that's...
**[17:05] Mi**
Why do you look so surprised, Sawamura?
**[17:08] Mi**
Isn't that the truth?
**[17:09] S1**
That was on the nose!
**[17:13] Oc**
Oh... So you have data on batters, too?
**[17:16] Ot**
Only their starting roster, though.
**[17:19] Oc**
This is great.
**[17:21] Ot**
*I wonder what happened?*
**[17:23] Ot**
* Why does he want data*
* on the strong teams in Tokyo?*
**[17:27] Ot**
Oh.
**[17:28] Ot**
How was practice today, Coach?
**[17:31] Ka**
Good.
**[17:32] Ka**
Some players are staying late.
**[17:34] Ot**
The second-years have been
working really hard lately.
**[17:38] Ot**
I see Maezono swinging his bat a lot.
**[17:44] Oc**
Kataoka-san.
**[17:47] Oc**
In all honesty,
**[17:49] Oc**
how high are you aiming to go this fall?
**[17:59] Oc**
I've been quietly watching all this time,
**[18:02] Oc**
but objectively, this team isn't weak.
**[18:07] Oc**
Everyone has high motivation
**[18:10] Oc**
and has very good training habits.
**[18:13] Oc**
Your coaching must be
working well with everyone.
**[18:19] Oc**
However,
**[18:22] Oc**
it'll be difficult for the current team
to take the fall tournament.
**[18:30] Ot**
*H-He... came right out and said it.*
**[18:33] Oc**
If I were the coach,
I would aim for nationals next year.
**[18:38] Oc**
I'd leave the team's fate in Furuya's hands.
**[18:43] Oc**
Make him ace and cleanup,
since his batting is good, too.
**[18:48] Oc**
No matter how badly he's playing
or how many runs he gives up,
**[18:52] Oc**
I'd make him pitch every game on his own.
**[18:54] Ot**
A-Are you saying you'd give up
on the fall season
**[18:59] Ot**
just to let Furuya grow?
**[19:01] Oc**
Yes.
**[19:03] Oc**
If he can get experience and
awareness as the bigwig of the team,
**[19:06] Oc**
that's all we need.
**[19:09] Oc**
He has that much potential.
**[19:13] Oc**
Raise him as the ace.
**[19:17] Oc**
I think that's the quickest way
to go to nationals.
**[19:33] Ka**
The presence of the ace.
**[19:36] Ka**
I know how big that can be for a team.
**[19:43] Ka**
However, these games are
for the players to play,
**[19:48] Ka**
and this fall is one of few
chances to try for nationals.
**[19:57] Ka**
I won't sacrifice the team
just for Furuya alone.
**[20:12] Ma**
Hey!
**[20:13] Ma**
We're done for the night.
**[20:15] Ma**
Make sure you finish up soon, too.
**[20:18] Sa**
Yes, sir! Good night.
**[20:21] Ma**
I'm hungry. I just ate, too.
**[20:24] Ha**
*I'll bring him something to drink later.*
**[20:32] (Flashback) Mi**
Sawamura, you should stop thinking so much.
**[20:36] (Flashback) Mi**
It's not like you had good control, anyway,
**[20:39] (Flashback) Mi**
and you're stupid.
**[20:42] Sa**
*How dare he say whatever he wants!*
**[20:44] Sa**
*Doesn't he realize he's the captain?*
**[20:47] Sa**
Damn it!
**[21:10] Sa**
*But... He's exactly right.*
**[21:16] Sa**
*It's not like I had good control, anyway.*
**[21:32] Ch**
I see you're throwing a lot.
**[21:35] Ch**
When you pitch,
**[21:38] Ch**
do you check your grip every time?
**[21:53] Ch**
Why don't you throw me some?
**[23:36] Ka**
Didn't you call me because
you don't care about hitting me?
**[23:38] Ka**
This isn't even good dodging practice.
**[23:41] Sa**
Thanks, Kanemaru,
**[23:42] Sa**
but I don't plan on hitting you.
**[23:45] Ka**
Shut up!
**[23:46] Ch**
To match your aggressive style,
**[23:49] Ch**
this is the pitch I really want you to learn.
**[23:52] Ch**
Next time on *Ace of the Diamond*:
The Final Lesson.
***SIGN*** The Final Lesson
**[23:55] Sa**
I still have so much to learn.