E23 - It's a Matter of Time

Source: Crunchyroll
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(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] ---
    The East Tokyo Tournament,
    with a ticket to Koshien on the line.
[00:06] ---
    Semifinals, game one.
[00:10] ---
    Meisei High School versus Toushu High School.
[00:13] ---
    A game that has everyone
    on the edge of their seats.
[00:15] ---
    "Meisei"
    "Toushu"
[00:16] ---
    Who will win?
[00:20] ---
    It has been 30 years since
    the glory of that summer.
[00:24] ---
    The Meisei baseball team
    that became champions
[00:27] ---
    on their first tournament is returning.
[00:30] ---
    Not your ordinary battery in the same grade,
[00:33] ---
    these brothers and their
    younger sister have adventures
[00:36] ---
    in this story of love and youthful days.
[00:38] ---
    Their goal is the same:
    Get to the Koshien Tournament!
[00:59] ---
    I see a mirage of a faraway summer day
     * *
[01:05] ---
    Friends' voices echo
     * *
[01:11] ---
    All these people walking
    around with eyes downcast
     * *
[01:17] ---
    Were boys once too--didn't
    recognize them, did you?
     * *
[01:23] ---
    If I close my eyes tight
    on the field after the rain
     * *
[01:29] ---
    I see the same blue sky
    I lost myself in that day
     * *
[01:38] ---
    Maybe today is what I was looking at then
     * *
[01:44] ---
    The heavens so cloudless
     * *
[01:50] ---
    Versus, let's face each
    other under the same sky
     * *
[01:57] ---
    Guess what, past boy--I'm fighting hard, too
     * *
[02:23] ---
    Meisei High School's tenth grade
    ace pitcher, Touma Tachibana.
[02:32] ---
    And tenth grade catcher,
    Souichirou Tachibana.
[02:37] ---
    This "brother battery"
    also share the same birthday.
[02:40] ---
    "Play-by-play: Mori" "Twelfth Year"
    "Color commentator: Hyouri (51 years old)"
[02:40] ---
    I see, I see. Meisei's known for their twins.
[02:43] ---
    And hot springs are known for their eggs.
    It's a given, isn't it?
[02:49] ---
    Well, I'm sure many of
    our viewers are already aware,
[02:53] ---
    but these two are not brothers since birth.
[02:57] ---
    What?!
[02:58] ---
    The parents already had children
    when they got married.
[03:01] ---
    Oh, that in itself is nothing unusual.
[03:05] ---
    But considering the odds that
    each son would be born on the same day,
[03:09] ---
    one gets the sense that
    this encounter was meant to be.
[03:20] ---
    I see. It was meant to be, was it?
[03:24] ---
    By the way, I'm born on the same day
    as the world famous Hachiro--
[03:27] ---
    He hits the fourth pitch!
    But the ball is hit softly.
[03:31] ---
    The right fielder Koma runs
    forward and makes the catch.
[03:34] ---
    One out.
[03:36] ---
    "It's a Matter of Time"
[03:50] ---
    I see you weren't joking, after all.
[03:53] ---
    Huh?
[03:56] ---
    With one out, Mita,
    batting ninth, hits the ball...
[03:59] ---
    ...and it splits the
    outfield defense for a double.
[04:03] ---
    The first extra-base hit of the game belongs
    to Pitcher Mita of Toushu, hitting ninth.
[04:08] ---
    One out, runner on second.
[04:10] ---
    I get it.
[04:12] ---
    Your plan is to force him to run
    many bases and tire him out, I guess.
[04:16] ---
    Mighty impressive.
[04:18] ---
    Shut up!
[04:19] ---
    I had trouble controlling the pitch,
    and it drifted high. For the first time today!
[04:25] ---
    Listen!
[04:26] ---
    From this point on, include all mistakes
    I might make in your calculations!
[04:31] ---
    What's with that bossy attitude?
[04:35] ---
    Don't let your guard down.
[04:36] ---
    Huh?
[04:37] ---
    I want to avoid having a runner
    on third with only one out.
[04:41] ---
    Come on.
[04:43] ---
    Why are you worried?
[04:45] ---
    There's no way.
[04:48] ---
    Huh? Are you sure?
[04:51] ---
    Come to think of it.
[04:59] ---
    Are you serious?
[05:02] ---
    He's running!
[05:05] ---
    A pitch out?!
[05:09] ---
    Out!
[05:10] ---
    Out! Out!
[05:12] ---
    Mita had a great lead.
[05:14] ---
    But he's tagged out in a close play.
    The Meisei battery read that well.
[05:18] ---
    No, no, no! The pitcher continues
    pitching under the blazing sun!
[05:22] ---
    And no one could've guessed
    that Mita would attempt to steal third!
[05:25] ---
    That was nothing but pure luck!
[05:28] ---
    Did you give the sign?
[05:31] ---
    Surprising, isn't it?
[05:34] ---
    One run on this fly ball to the outfield.
[05:37] ---
    That was the plan.
[05:38] ---
    I'm sorry.
[05:40] ---
    I was 100 percent confident.
[05:44] ---
    I was 200 percent sure you'd be safe.
[05:47] ---
    The moment you broke for third.
[05:51] ---
    Do those guys know how fast you run?
[05:55] ---
    I don't know.
[05:57] ---
    There should be no record of me stealing
    since I started attending this school.
[06:04] ---
    That was dangerous. Who would've
    guessed that he'd really run there?
[06:09] ---
    I was joking when I mentioned it.
[06:12] ---
    Yeah, I'm sure.
[06:15] ---
    Did something tip you off?
[06:18] ---
    Hm?
[06:19] ---
    Huh? Are you sure?
[06:22] ---
    I'm not lying.
[06:23] ---
    I can't beat him on a straight path,
[06:25] ---
    but when it comes to base running,
    I'm faster than Sou.
[06:29] ---
    Because Sou insists that
    people be "straight" with him.
[06:32] ---
    What do you mean by that?!
[06:34] ---
    Come to think of it,
    Arisa was bragging about that.
[06:38] ---
    She said back when
    her brother was in grade school,
[06:41] ---
    he was better known for how fast
    he runs, rather than baseball.
[06:45] ---
    He was a hero whenever
    Sports Day came around.
[06:49] ---
    Call it a wild hunch.
[06:52] ---
    "Meisei"
    "Toushu"
[06:53] ---
    That's not like Toushu.
[06:56] ---
    They should play like this game's theirs.
    What are they all worried about?
[07:00] ---
    Yeah. Meisei is sure to show some
    weaknesses if they just drag it out.
[07:06] ---
    There's no reason they should be worried.
[07:09] ---
    Of course, that's if they don't
    think about the next game, the final.
[07:17] ---
    He's breathing heavily now.
[07:23] ---
    Now'd be perfect to crush him!
[07:26] ---
    Ball!
[07:29] ---
    He walked him!
[07:31] ---
    That's unusual.
[07:33] ---
    Mita, known for his control,
    has walked the batter on four pitches.
[07:36] ---
    Perhaps running that double
    and stealing third is taking its toll.
[07:41] ---
    I would say so.
[07:43] ---
    The public refers to him as a monster,
[07:46] ---
    but Mita is actually a human being.
[07:50] ---
    I should think so.
[07:52] ---
    This is a great chance for Meisei.
[07:55] ---
    But wasn't that walk a little too easy?
[07:58] ---
    He didn't have enough time
    to recover from the damage.
[08:02] ---
    That was on purpose?!
[08:04] ---
    Probably.
[08:17] ---
    Huh?
[08:19] ---
    What happened to your heavy breathing?
[08:35] ---
    Impressive!
[08:37] ---
    He has struck out the side again!
[09:00] ---
    That guy...
[09:02] ---
    ...is a monster.
[09:38] ---
    Batting fifth, first baseman Fukabori.
[09:47] ---
    Oh boy.
[09:48] ---
    While I was feeling lightheaded
    from the heat, this happened?
[09:53] ---
    Runners on the corners with only one out.
[09:55] ---
    Bottom of the seventh, Toushu with
    a great chance to score the first run.
[09:59] ---
    After the first out, the second baseman
    was late covering a ball hit straight to him.
[10:03] ---
    Followed by some poor defense
    when the center fielder misjudged the ball.
[10:08] ---
    Meisei High School now
    find themselves in a jam.
[10:10] ---
    One cannot help but feel sorry
    for the pitcher, Tachibana.
[10:14] ---
    Nonsense.
[10:16] ---
    Including the line drive hit to third
    by Sakai, batting first this inning,
[10:19] ---
    the balls have been hit well.
[10:23] ---
    Well, it's to be expected
    when you think about it.
[10:26] ---
    We're going through the order a third time.
[10:29] ---
    The batters are now showing us
    what they're capable of.
[10:33] ---
    The infielders and
    outfielders alike are becoming
[10:36] ---
    more and more tense with each inning.
[10:39] ---
    Being such an important game,
    and given the large crowd,
[10:42] ---
    not to mention how the game's developed,
[10:44] ---
    it's not surprising that the inexperienced
    Meisei team would be so tense.
[10:48] ---
    A squeeze bunt?
[10:50] ---
    Don't be ridiculous.
[10:52] ---
    That's our cleanup hitter.
[10:54] ---
    Our hitter has had a good
    look at his pitches,
[10:57] ---
    and he's at the peak of exhaustion,
    losing speed and movement on his pitches.
[11:01] ---
    We'll crush him and take command of the game!
[11:03] ---
    Please do that.
[11:06] ---
    If I'm not mistaken, if
    he gets over this hump,
[11:10] ---
    he will come back to life again.
[11:13] ---
    I admit I was mistaken.
[11:16] ---
    I never imagined that we'd have
    this much trouble against them.
[11:20] ---
    Foul!
[11:22] ---
    Fukabori, batting fifth,
    swings for the fences on the first pitch.
[11:25] ---
    He's looking great!
[11:27] ---
    He looks to have figured out the timing.
[11:31] ---
    So hot.
[11:33] ---
    Get out of this jam, Touma.
[11:35] ---
    A run here will be fatal.
[11:40] ---
    That pitch is trouble!
[11:44] ---
    Fukabori hits it square!
    The bat makes a loud noise, and the ball...
[11:49] ---
    The ball...
[11:51] ---
    ...finds its way into Tachibana's glove!
[11:54] ---
    Oh? The third base runner is caught off base!
[12:01] ---
    That was...
[12:03] ---
    That was a double play.
[12:05] ---
    Hm?
[12:07] ---
    It's OK to be happy here.
[12:10] ---
    Oh? I thought so!
[12:12] ---
    Yay!
[12:14] ---
    "Meisei"
    "Toushu"
[12:15] ---
    Toushu High School could not score.
[12:18] ---
    One out with runners on first and third.
[12:20] ---
    Touma Tachibana was able
    to escape quite a jam.
[12:24] ---
    I must say, he did really well.
[12:27] ---
    He should be proud of what he's doing.
[12:29] ---
    East Tokyo Tournament Semifinals, game one.
[12:33] ---
    We are still scoreless.
[12:36] ---
    Sorry.
[12:37] ---
    This is what baseball is.
[12:43] ---
    With this matchup, many expected the game
    to be a one-sided affair favoring Toushu.
[12:47] ---
    "Meisei"
    "Toushu"
[12:49] ---
    But we have been treated
    to a masterful pitching duel.
[12:53] ---
    I'm sure this uniform brings back memories for
    fans of high school baseball from many years back.
[12:58] ---
    It's been over 30 years since that
    miraculous national championship year.
[13:01] ---
    Can this Meisei team create
    a whirlwind of their own?
[13:05] ---
    However...!
[13:08] ---
    At this stage, Mita's pitches seem
    to have gotten even more powerful!
[13:15] ---
    Three outs! Switch sides!
[13:29] ---
    It's a matter of time.
[13:32] ---
    Luck runs out at some point.
[13:35] ---
    I can't see that lineup scoring any runs
    against Mita, the way he's pitching today.
[13:45] ---
    Safe!
[13:46] ---
    They're a team that should've
    never made it this far in the tournament.
[13:52] ---
    It's clear that he's reached his limit.
[13:55] ---
    It's a matter of time.
[13:58] ---
    Now, we'll return to where
    everyone is, Takumi.
[14:09] ---
    What's this?! A well-hit ball,
    hit between first and second
[14:12] ---
    has hit the foot of the runner!
[14:15] ---
    The runner is called out!
[14:18] ---
    How fortunate for Meisei High School.
[14:24] ---
    It's a matter of time, is it?
[14:43] ---
    You're finally sitting
    down to watch the game.
[14:48] ---
    Over here.
[15:02] ---
    Wh-Wh-What's this?
[15:05] ---
    The first game of the semifinals
    is going to extra innings.
[15:05] ---
    "Meisei"
    "Toushu"
[15:11] ---
    "Meiji Jingu Stadium"
[15:14] ---
    Extra innings? They're
    going to extra innings.
[15:16] ---
    Come on, are you serious?
[15:24] ---
    Maeda. Koga. Play your
    defense a step forward.
[15:27] ---
    I won't let them hit
    anything through the infield.
[15:30] ---
    So don't allow any
    infield hits off weakly hit balls.
[15:33] ---
    Right!
[15:34] ---
    "Toushu Advisor: Yoneyama"
[15:34] ---
    Shouldn't we be changing pitchers?
[15:37] ---
    I've never seen it.
[15:40] ---
    I've never seen Mita look
    so happy heading to the mound.
[15:45] ---
    You're not rooting for
    either side, seated here.
[15:47] ---
    Because I'm a student
    of Meisei Junior High School.
[15:52] ---
    I thought you weren't interested in baseball.
[15:56] ---
    My brother hounds me over and over.
[16:00] ---
    He insisted that I watch this game
[16:03] ---
    because he says it could be
    his last one as a high school student.
[16:08] ---
    Does he have a habit of
    making jokes like that?
[16:12] ---
    Is it a joke?
[16:22] ---
    H-He has just posted his fastest pitch!
[16:27] ---
    How are we supposed
    to score against that monster?
[16:32] ---
    Beats me.
[16:33] ---
    I have absolutely no idea. None.
[16:37] ---
    Yeah, but that's no reason to cry about it.
[16:40] ---
    Have you forgotten?
[16:42] ---
    That every year in front of the TV,
[16:45] ---
    even if the game is
    between teams I don't even know,
[16:48] ---
    no matter how lopsided the score may be,
[16:50] ---
    I would always cry when I heard
    the siren signifying the end of the game?
[16:55] ---
    To see a game like this from this close?
    There's no way I can help it.
[17:00] ---
    But the game's not over yet!
[17:03] ---
    Souichirou.
[17:06] ---
    I'm replacing Touma.
[17:09] ---
    It's all my fault for my lack of preparation.
[17:11] ---
    I was happy being hired for the dream job
    of managing my old high school's team.
[17:14] ---
    So I entered this tournament
    without fully grasping
[17:18] ---
    the personalities and
    characteristics of each player.
[17:21] ---
    I must apologize to the seniors,
[17:24] ---
    but I was focused on putting
    together a competitive team
[17:27] ---
    for next year and the year after.
[17:30] ---
    Sorry.
[17:31] ---
    No, that would be the right plan.
[17:34] ---
    At this rate, we'd only be waiting for
    Touma to eventually break down physically!
[17:40] ---
    Where's Touma?
[17:43] ---
    He's getting warmed up.
[17:46] ---
    But he's past his limit, isn't he?
[17:49] ---
    Yes.
[17:51] ---
    And he has just climbed up to the next level.
[17:55] ---
    Manager.
[17:57] ---
    Please leave him to me.
[18:01] ---
    Touma will not break down yet.
[18:04] ---
    Thanks to Mita raising the bar,
    before we realized it,
[18:09] ---
    he was battling in a place
    that is beyond his limit.
[18:13] ---
    Please trust me.
[18:15] ---
    I will be sure to throw in the towel
    before he breaks down.
[18:20] ---
    One, two, and...
[18:22] ---
    ...three! Strikes...
[18:24] ---
    That's 20!
[18:26] ---
    Monster Hiroki Mita is a force to be feared!
[18:29] ---
    In order to respond to that pitching.
[18:32] ---
    "Meisei"
    "Toushu"
[18:33] ---
    Meisei High School could not score
    in the top of the tenth inning either.
[18:37] ---
    Now, Toushu High School
    batting in the bottom half.
[18:40] ---
    If they score a run, the game ends there.
[18:42] ---
    That will earn them a spot in the final.
[18:45] ---
    After pitching a full nine innings,
    he heads to the mound in the tenth.
[18:49] ---
    Meisei High School's
    tenth grade ace, Touma Tachibana.
[18:53] ---
    Checking through the stats,
[18:55] ---
    it has apparently been three years
[18:58] ---
    since the last time one pitcher kept
    Toushu High School scoreless
[19:00] ---
    through nine innings in an official game.
[19:10] ---
    I'll ask you one more time.
[19:12] ---
    What are the good qualities
    of Pitcher Tachibana?
[19:17] ---
    Well, let me see. His personality, perhaps?
[19:21] ---
    He's said to ignore deadlines and stuff.
[19:24] ---
    Huh?
[19:25] ---
    Now, Touma Tachibana turns and
    calls to his team, as if to encourage himself!
[19:30] ---
    The anime MIX is airing on
    TV right now to a favorable reception!
[19:35] ---
    Are we sure he hasn't already broken down?
[19:39] ---
    Wow. Tachibana also
    posts his fastest pitch today.
[19:43] ---
    But it slightly misses,
    and he has walked the batter.
[19:47] ---
    I don't know if I should be happy or worried.
[19:51] ---
    For now...
[19:53] ---
    ...let's be surprised.
[19:56] ---
    They've had runners on base,
    and they've moved them into scoring position.
[20:02] ---
    However...
[20:08] ---
    Out!
[20:09] ---
    The Meisei battery will
    not allow that next hit.
[20:17] ---
    You're the only one who scored
    runs against me in this tournament.
[20:26] ---
    What's so funny?
[20:28] ---
    Don't you feel anything?
[20:31] ---
    While watching him pitch?
[20:33] ---
    Before he started playing baseball,
    we were always together.
[20:37] ---
    We were known around the
    neighborhood for getting along so well.
[20:41] ---
    Unlike you two.
[20:45] ---
    By the way, is Ryou here,
    cheering for them with the Meisei fans?
[20:50] ---
    The soccer team is at training camp.
    You don't even know that?
[20:55] ---
    All he does is baseball,
    from morning to night.
[20:58] ---
    At first, my parents would tell him to play
    with his younger sister every once in a while.
[21:08] ---
    Another strikeout, darling!
[21:10] ---
    Dear, you need to calm down a little!
[21:12] ---
    --Hiroki! You're doing great!
[21:13] ---
    --Ever since they realized
    his potential, it's as you can see.
    --Hiroki! You're doing great!
[21:18] ---
    And since then, it's,
    "Don't get in the way of his practice!"
[21:21] ---
    or "Don't get into trouble
    and be a burden to him!"
[21:25] ---
    I haven't had the freedom I used to have.
[21:28] ---
    That's why he wants you to watch him.
[21:32] ---
    Hiroki.
[21:38] ---
    "Meisei"
    "Toushu"
[21:40] ---
    This has become one long game, hasn't it?
[21:46] ---
    "Meisei"
    "Toushu"
[21:46] ---
    Well, we are in extra innings.
[23:23] ---
    Next time, on MIX.
[23:24] ---
    We're now in extra innings.
[23:26] ---
    Extra innings can go to the fifteenth inning.
[23:28] ---
    It'll be fine.
[23:28] ---
    Under this blazing sun?
[23:30] ---
    His physical strength has reached its limit!
[23:32] ---
    He'll be fine!
[23:33] ---
    How long is this game going to last?
[23:35] ---
    Don't tell me they'll tie
    and have to play a rematch?
[23:36] ---
    We'll definitely finish this here!
[23:38] ---
    How do you know that?
[23:40] ---
    Yeah!
[23:41] ---
    The reason is...
[23:41] ---
    "Final Episode: Don't You
    Think They're Alike?"
[23:42] ---
    Next is the final episode--
[23:44] ---
    "Don't You Think They're Alike?"
[23:45] ---
    --I see.
    --I see.
[23:47] ---
    "To be continued"
[23:47] ---
    
[23:50] ---
    
[23:52] ---