Oofuri 66
Finally. *phew* And hey. I'm almost half way through my two months of full time (with boss lady still having said nothing more yet about making it permanent, anyway). So worst comes to worst, even with the still-waiting-to-be-done summer activities of floating the city river, huckleberry picking, and watching all Oofuri season 2 with the Jennies (we gave up trying to keep meeting every week to watch the new episode early on ^_^;), I'll still only have a month more of frantically attempting to get done things I simply don't have time for. ^_^
I did go to a Renaissance festival this weekend, though. There were pirates. And it was hot. But didn't even make me that rashy. Probably I got my rashiness done with while at the cabin. *thumps up to me*
SUMMARY:
As Abe looks at the score sheet for the Musashino game. His angry look worries Chiyo. As she sees Mihashi come down the stairs, she hurries up to him before he can get in Abe's hearing range and explains to him about giving Abe the score sheet for Haruna's game. She asks if what she did was bad. Mihashi thinks to himself that giving Abe something he asked for can't be bad, and says it isn't.
Chiyo is glad, and assures herself that Abe must be over being angry with Haruna. She thinks something about how boys must talk about a lot of different things between one another (?? is she assuming that Abe and Mihashi have talked about Haruna together and that's why Mihashi “knows” it's ok to give the score sheet to Abe?) and thinks it's nice (I'm not sure if this is supposed to be in a slightly envious way at all or is just glad Mihashi and Abe are sharing things.) She comments to Mihashi that he and Abe must be getting along well/close, and Mihashi is surprised and embarrassed/pleased. She asks the two if they want to decide breakfast now, and leaves them to go get the book.
Abe says they can go measure themselves now. Mihashi asks if he can read the score sheet, and when he does, he notes Haruna stayed in longer and pitched more than usual, as well as gave up and hit a home run.
Abe and Mihashi measure their height and are both thrilled to find they've grown considerably. They resolve to take care of their bodies to make the best use of their growth period they can. Mihashi checks the Musashino info again to see Haruna's size, and is intimidated.
Abe comments that Musashino is just a one-man Haruna show, but that won't work against ARC. Plus (something I don't understand??) Haruna might not even throw in that match tomorrow, anyway. Mihashi, looking worried, begins to ask if Abe thinks Musashino could beat ARC if Abe was there with Haruna. Abe doesn't understand him at first, but when it hits him, he is angry and repulsed by Mihashi's assumption.
Chiyo comes down, seeing Abe yelling and jumping in quickly to talk about breakfast and give Abe ice (or something?) for his leg. Abe starts to wonder if he's just irritable because of pent-up stress from his leg, though he thinks Mihashi's ridiculous ideas aren't helping matters. Chiyo notes the obviously tense atmosphere between them and thinks maybe she was wrong about them getting along well.
After lunch and a nap, Shiga comes in to tell the boys they've got a pass to practice at the pool. They practice various sorts of laps, timed by Chiyo. As the two sit at the edge of the pool after finishing theirs, Hanai comments that Oki is very fast, and Oki explains he had swimming classes through elementary school, and was two-time breast stroke rep for his school.
Abe swims up to the two. He's exhausted because he can only swim with his arms. Hanai suggests he might be getting soft, and Abe admits cardio health does drop fast if you don't exercise. Oki brings up his practice on the bike with Mihashi, but Abe explains that's more mental training to force the two of them together. Hanai points out they spent time together before, but Abe explains it wasn't for so long, and they always had lots to do then. He talks about how hard it is to communicate with Mihashi, and Hanai says that getting the two of them to get along better must be Momokan's point.
Abe says his dad was saying similar things, yet he doesn't think he and Mihashi get along badly. Oki and Hanai are very unsure of what to answer. Noticing, Abe asks if they think he and Mihashi do get along badly. Oki says not exactly badly, but points out how often Abe gets angry at Mihashi, using some examples from the Bijou game. Abe says the times Oki mentioned he wasn't really angry. Hanai says it must just be he was speaking harshly.
Abe says what really does make him angry is when Mihashi thinks about completely improbable things like Abe leaving Nishiura or quitting catching. He just can't understand how such thoughts could get into Mihashi's head.**(See last paragraph of this post for trouble/slight errors I may have translating this part/related parts.) Hanai and Oki admit Mihashi's thinking is inexplicable sometimes.
Abe goes back to practicing, and Hanai admits to Oki he has the same trouble with Mihashi, and can get pretty irritated, but he tries to control himself and go easy on Mihashi, and maybe Abe doesn't have that faculty. (??This entire section I'm very unsure of. Oki maybe says Abe might take comfort knowing Mihashi's never going to lie to him? Or vice versa??? Then Hanai thinks it might be good for Mihashi to have someone who'll talk to him without babying him?) Hanai figures Oki must get irritated with Mihashi too and asks to confirm, but Oki doesn't really answer (I think?) and Hanai takes it as a “no” and says Oki must be a very patient person.
Tajima comes out of the water, first on his team. As Mihashi comes out, Tajima calls Mizutani over to measure the height of he and Mihashi. Mizutani and Suyama say Tajima is just a hair shorter, and Tajima is excited he's growing too. Suyama says they still have kiddie bodies, though, and Tajima agrees but says Mihashi (pulling the boys swin trunks down so everyone can see) has an “adult penis.”
Mizutani and Suyama are shocked by what they see (but I'm not sure why. I THINK he might have a lot of hair???) Izumi is furious with Tajima, tackling him and pressing his face to the hot ground, reminding him (as he has apparently done before) that this is not an all boys' school. Tajima says all Mihashi's family is circumcised, and Mizutani asks if this is why Mihashi always hides his front when they're in the shower. He says Mihashi should be proud. Izumi says he really doesn't have to be. And Tajima (?agrees?) that it's not like it's huge or anything. (Apparently the boys thought this had some relation to size?) Tajima and Mihashi go to get a drink, and the boys talk about something I don't really understand (?? something about bullying, and Tajima being able to read the mood around him well because of being the youngest of a big family?)
Tajima runs up to Shiga to ask the result of the second match. ARC has won a called game.
Loading onto their bus, the Musashino captain Ookawa thinks they won't give up against ARC, but even if they don't it seems he can't help but feel the result inevitable. Haruna comes up to him and asks to be allowed to pitch from the start of the game. Ookawa doesn't know what to say till Kaguyama speaks, saying it is their only chance. Ookawa then agrees that Haruna will start, and says with more confidence that they will beat ARC.
At the ARC practice, the coach and captain/catcher talk. The coach approaches a pitcher, Ootagawa, to tell him he will start for them in tomorrows game. Ootagawa is extactic and very thankful. He leaves the captain to talk to him, and when they are alone, the captain says if he screws things up for the seniors, he'll kill him. Ootagawa is very intimidated.
Haruna and Akimaru make it back to their apartment building at the end of the day. Akimaru (?? confirms Haruna will be getting a massage/be taken to get a massage by Nao-chan? Maybe Haruna's sister?) As they ride the elevator, Akimaru asks if Haruna knows his pitch count, and he says he's got an idea. Akimaru says he was a little surprised, but Haruna doesn't say much back. When Akimaru is gone, Haruna wonders worriedly how Kaguyama feels about him pitching. He wonders what is best for a person who feels like their pitching means a loss, while if they don't pitch it will mean a win. However, he eventually grins, thinking that either way, so long as they make it to Koushien, it will all be fine.
TRANSLATION:
[translation by narwhaltortellini]
[Please note that my grasp on the Japanese language is tenuous and my understanding of baseball even more so. These translations and summaries were made with hopes of being helpful to fans who would like to read on in the story and do not mind suffering the occasional ambiguity or error. Parts I am consciously unsure of have been marked with two question marks (??), sometimes with my best guess at what they might mean. Note that the absence of question marks does not make the translation correct. ^_^]
[Anyone is free to use or repost these as they like, and scanlators are free to use them as aids. Just remember to use them, not trust them. It would, of course, be very kind of anyone taking them to let me know where they're going.]
01
Abe: Ah.
Chiyo: Oh, welcome back.
Abe: Er. // Huh?
02
Both: Where's Miha-
Abe: ...Where's Mihashi?
Abe: He went to change his undershirt.
Chiyo: Huh. Really? // I was just in the admin room and didn't notice him at all.
Abe: Do you have the score sheet for the fifth match?
Chiyo: Yeah. // Only till the seventh inning, though.
Chiyo: We've got it recorded, though, so I'll finish it up today or tomorrow.
Chiyo: (??)
Abe: What you have is fine.
Abe: Lemme see.
03
Abe: ...
Chiyo: Oh.
Chiyo: Mihashi-kun!
Chiyo: Welcome back!
Miha: Ah.
Miha: Yeah.
04
Chiyo: It's almost lunch time.
Miha: ??
Chiyo: (whisper) Just now...
Chiyo: (whisper) I was talking to Abe-kun.
Chiyo: (whisper) He wanted me to show him the score sheet for the Musashino Dai Ichi and Kasukabe match.
Chiyo: (whisper) So I did.
Chiyo: (whisper) Was that bad?
Miha: Bad to // Show Abe-kun the score sheet...
Miha: When he said // to // Show it...?
05
Miha: N // Not // really...?
Chiyo: ....
Chiyo: Oh, alright.
Chiyo: [Abe-kun // Must not hate Haruna-san anymore.]
Chiyo: [Yeah. It was back in middle school, after all.]
Chiyo: It was more than two months ago that I even last heard him mention Haruna-san. (??)
Chiyo: Guys must share lots of different stuff when they talk with one another.
Chiyo: It must be nice. (?? Rather, she might be saying 'it's a good thing.')
*glance*
06
Chiyo: You two get along really well, huh?
Miha: ? // T-
Miha: Two of...
Chiyo: You and Abe. // You // Really get along!
Chiyo: Oh, right.
Miha: (Really // get along)
Chiyo: Have you guys figured out breakfast?
Miha: N-
Miha: Not // yet.
Chiyo: We can do it now, then.
Chiyo: Abe-kun, you want to plan out breakfast now?
Abe: Yeah, sure.
Chiyo: I'll go get the book.
Miha: Ah. // Ok.
07
Abe: Guess we'll go measure ourselves.
Miha: ...Um
Miha: Can I // Look at the score sheet?
Abe: Can you read it? (??)
Miha: I // can // read it.
08
Abe: It's only up to the seventh inning.
Miha: Ah. // Ok.
Miha: ....
Miha: Haruna-san // Pitched till the eleventh inning?
Miha: [He only started from the fourth just like in spring, but... // Over a hundred pitches...]
Miha: He
Miha: He gave up a // Home run...
Miha: ...!
Miha: And made one too?!
09
Abe: Mihashi.
Abe: Come here for a sec.
Abe: Crouch right there.
Abe: A little higher.
Abe: So I can stand straight even with the bad leg.
Abe: Let's see.
Abe: 172 cm!
Abe: Whoa! // I went up two centimeters!
Miha: W // Wow!
10
Miha: N // Now // Me!
Abe: Shut your mouth.
Abe: 166.5 cm!
(+1.5 cm)
Abe: Man, // This growth period stuff is amazing!
Miha: A // A // Amazing!
Abe:
Abe: On the other hand, we've got to remember not waste it, either.
Miha: ! // Yeah!
11
Abe: We'll get plenty of food and time our meals right!
Abe: And always get enough sleep!
Miha: Y // Yeah!
Miha: H // Haruna-san is...
Miha: ...Wah!
Miha: 182 cm // S-S- // Seventy five kilos!
Abe: Musashino... // Is really just Haruna's little one man team, huh?
12
Abe: But they'll probably be up against ARC next. // He won't pull through doing it like he has.
Abe: ??
Abe: He might not even pitch tomorrow.
Miha: ….
Miha: …. // ...If
Miha: Abe-kun was
Miha: there, could you // pull...
13
Abe: ?
Abe: Me? // If I was where?
Abe: And pull what...?
Abe: WHAT?!
14
Abe: You... // You seriously...
Abe: Where do you get off making messed up assumptions like that?!
Chiyo: S-
Chiyo: Sorry about the wait!
15
Chiyo: Let's get started!
Chiyo: Lunch will be starting really soon now.
Chiyo: So what do you guys want to eat?
Chiyo: Maybe some maze gohan?
Chiyo: It's easy to make. And you can eat lots of it. (??) // And it tastes really good, too.
Chiyo: Abe-kun.
Abe: What?
Chiyo: ??
Chiyo: ?? // Your leg must hurt, right?
Abe: …...Well, yeah.
Abe: Though I tried my best not to use it. (??)
16
Abe: Seems like just moving it makes it heat up, though.
Abe: But it's getting better. (??)
Chiyo: Wow. // That's a little scary.
Chiyo: Don't over do it, ok?
Abe: I won't. // Thanks.
Chiyo: Should we do the main course first? (??)
Abe: Am I just getting pissy because of my leg?
Abe: Not being able to move does build up stress.
Abe: Dealing with that, and seeing Haruna still winning...
Abe: [And on top of all that...]
17
Abe: This guy
Abe: Still keeps getting the most ridiculous ideas.
Abe: And then // he
Abe: Has to go telling them back to me...! (??)
Chiyo: I said they got along, // but
Chiyo: Maybe that's not true.
Abe sfx: anger
Miha sfx: fear
[Somehow they manage to decide.]
(?? not sure about the menu)
18
food: some sort of fruit salad, milk, meat dumplings, carrot and onion soup, yakisoba
Hanai: Looks good!
All: Looks good!
[12:30]
All: Let's eat!
[12:40]
Mizu: (You eat so slow!)
(That was great!)
(??)
19
[Post-meal nap]
Shiga: Hey~
20
Shiga: We've got a pass to the pool!
Chiyo: Next up is B team on the breast stroke! // Ready...
Taji: Go!
22
Hanai: I lost!
Hanai: You sure are fast, Oki.
Oki: I went to swimming school up till sixth grade.
Oki: I was a two-time breast stroke rep for my school!
Hanai: Seriously?!
Hanai: (?? something about taking swimming classes in elementary school)
23
Abe: Man, just using arms sucks!
Oki: Nice job!
Hanai: Sure you're not just getting soft?
Abe: Yeah, maybe.
Abe: They say cardio abilities drop pretty fast.
Hanai: Swimming must be great for you, then. // You don't have to use your leg, but your whole body gets a workout.
Oki: Oh, yeah.
Abe: Yeah.
Hanai: Oh.
24
Hanai: (Keep it up!)
Hanai: Tajima sure is fast.
Oki: You do (?? load) with Mihashi, though.
Hanai: But on hills and stuff you get pushed, right?
Oki: Oh.
Abe: Well...
Abe: That's more like mental training.(??)
Abe: Seems like the whole point is just to have me be with him.
Hanai: Yeah, it did seem that way.
Oki: Calling it training...
25
Hanai: You do have a hard time being alone with Mihashi. (??) // But you two sometimes spent time together before anyway, right?
Abe: Never for very long, and there was always something to do when we did.
Hanai: You make breakfast together. // Oh, but that's with Shinooka.
Abe: It's tiring, when you can barley understanding a thing he says, // And when you never know whether or not the things you say are getting through to him, either.
26
Hanai: But that's probably what Momokan's going for, right?
Hanai: Getting you two to get along better?
Abe: My dad was saying the same sort of stuff. // But it's not like Mihashi and I get along badly, right?
Oki: ….
sfx: glance
Hanai: ….
Hanai: Y....Yeah... (??)
Abe: What? We get along bad?
Hanai: No, no. Not exactly bad, but...
27
Hanai: How can we put this?
Oki: Like...
Oki: Mihashi makes you pretty angry... (??)
Oki: Right?
Oki: Um. // Ah? // Well, you know...
Oki: During the fifth match (?? something about the bench)
Oki: You told him to speak clearly. // And // You told him to stop crying. // And stuff.
Abe: Eh?
Abe: But I wasn't angry.
Oki: !
Oki: B- // But that's what you said, right?
28
Abe: Yeah. // I said stuff like that. I'm just saying I wasn't angry.
Oki: So you really weren't angry...
Hanai: Maybe the way you say it is just a little harsh?
Abe: Really?
Hanai: A loud voice makes it sound like you're yelling.
Hanai: Though // I think it's less that he's angry and more like he's sort of scolding him.
Oki: Oh, is that it?
Abe: When I really am angry at Mihashi,
Abe: It's cause he's been asking me dumb questions. // Like // If I'm going to give up being a catcher. // Or leave Nishiura!
29
Oki: Huh?
Oki: What's that all about?
Abe: Seems like he's worried I'm going to quit or something.
Oki: Why would he...
Hanai: There's no telling with him, sometimes.
Abe: It's the worrying about completely improbable ideas that really pisses me off!
Abe: Like quitting is some sort of option... (??)
Abe: I could actually be mulling over! (??) // How'd he even get it into his head! (??)
Oki: It is pretty hard to understand.
Abe: And then earlier... (??)
Miha: [...If // Abe-kun]
30
Miha: [Was at // Musashino]
Miha: [If you]
Miha: [Were Haruna-san's catcher]
Miha: [Could you pull through...]
Miha: [Against ARC...]
31
Hanai: Say, // How come you're still in the water?
Abe: I've still got one round left. // Gonna head out now.
Oki: Later!
Hanai: Speaking as someone who thinks pretty logically himself, (??)
Hanai: It's like that for me too, actually. (??)
Oki: Eh?
Hanai: Mihashi.
Hanai: He irritates me pretty bad sometimes, too.
Oki: Hm?
Oki: Huh...
32
Hanai: But when it does happen...
Hanai: I try to hold back and remind myself to go easy on the guy.
Hanai: I guess that's just not something Abe's built to do?
Oki: Haha. (Guess not.)
?Hanai?: It seems like he might even think they get along well. (?? really unsure about this)
Oki: Though, // When he's talking to Mihashi... (?? or maybe 'from Mihashi's point of view'?)
Oki: Maybe he takes some comfort in the fact he's not going to be lied to, at least. (?? Or maybe he's saying Mihashi takes comfort knowing Abe will always tell things to him straight? Sorry. I completely fail at this page, even more than the rest of the conversation. Trust nothing on it. ^^)
Hanai: True.
Hanai: Still,
Hanai: Maybe for Mihashi it's not such a bad thing // To have someone who'll talk to him // Without ever trying to baby him. (??)
33
Hanai: ...Hey.
Hanai: You must get irritated with him too, right?
Oki: Hm?
Oki: Oh...?
Hanai: You...
Hanai: Must be a really patient person...
Oki: You
Oki: Think so?
Taji: First pla~ce!
34
Miha: S- // Se // cond!
Taji: Mihashi!
Taji: Mizutani, come and look!
Mizu: Ok, let's see. (??)
(?? Instructions for what sort of swimming the A team will do?)
Mizu: Hm...
Mizu: Well...
35
Mizu: Seems like Tajima might be a little shorter.
Taji: How much shorter? // One centimeter? Two?
Suya: Definitely not two. // Barley at all, really.
Taji: Alright! I'm getting taller, too!
Miha: Yeah!
Mizu: (?? Mizutani talks about how that's nice and from now on they'll be in their growth stage, but the way he says it it's hard for me to tell...the way he's phrasing it/his attitude enough to write it)
Suya: The two of you still just look like a couple of kids.
Taji: Yeah! // We don't look like we're growing at all!
Suya: (Yeah.)
Mizu: (?? something about knowing?)
Taji: But Mihashi...
36
Taji: He's got a grown up dick! // See!
Izu: I've // told you // this // Is not just a boys' high school!
Taji: Hot hot hot it's hoooot!
Suya: I...I-I // Never expected.
Mizu: ??( “amazingly ?some word i don't understand?”)...Dictionary says the word means blocked/obstructed, so maybe that could mean he has a lot of hair? Only the most common usage in the other dictionary seems to be supporting/bearing/holding. Which...seems like he's saying Mihashi is packing? ^_^; Only later comments seem to refute that, so maybe not.)
(??)
37
Taji: Haa.. // Kaa...
Taji: You didn't have to do all that...
Izu: I wanted you to think about what you did!
Taji: All the guy's in Mihashi's family get circumcised!
Both: (Eh?!)
Mizu: W- // When you would always make sure your front was covered up during showers...
Mizu: Was that the reason why?!
Mizu: What, // Are we supposed to feel sorry for you or something?!
Mizu: Man, you should be proud!
Taji: See? He says be proud.
Miha: ....
Izu: You really don't have to be.
Miha: P // rou // d.
38
Taji: Yeah! (??)
Taji: Not like it's huge or anything!
Taji: I'm thirsty!
Miha: M- // Me too!
Mizu: Oh...
Suya: Circumcised // = // Huge // isn't really true!
Mizu: .... // You think Mihashi...
Mizu: Has been bullied about his dick before? (??)
Izu: Dunno. // (??)
Mizu: But Tajima...
Mizu: He's the youngest of a big family.
39
Mizu: It might seem like he's going overboard, (??) // But really he could just be good at reading the mood. (??)
Izu: (Eh? You really think so?)
Abe: Man,
Abe: Maybe I really am getting soft...
Taji: Sensei!
Shiga: Hm?
Taji: How's the second match going?
Shiga: It just ended.
Shiga: 10 to 3, called in the seventh inning.
40
Shiga: ARC won!
(?? can't read the small text)
41
Oo: ARC is just too good.
Oo: But we won't give up.
(Everyone's on!)
OO: But even if we don't give up...
(Ookawa-san's the last one.)
42
Haru: Tomorrow,
Haru: Please let me pitch from the start.
Kagu: There's no other way!
43
Oo: ...Alright!
Oo: Tomorrow, Harna's going to start!
Haru: Yes sir!
Oo: ....
Oo: And...
Oo: We're going to beat ARC!
(Yeah!)
44
-Yes sir.
-Ootagawa!
45
Oota: Y-Yes sir!
Coach?: How you feeling?
Oota: Sir!
Oota: I'm in great condition! // Sir!
Coach: Well, then tomorrow you can start for us.
Oota: Thank you very much // sir!
Coach: I'll leave the rest to you, captain.
-Yes sir! // Thank you!
46
-Screw this up for us seniors...
-And I'll kill you.
Oota: I-
Oota: I-
Oota: I'll
Oota: Be
Oota: The best use to you I can. (??)
47
-Same time tomorrow.
-Yeah.
Aki: Is Nao-chan here today?
Haru: Yeah.
Aki: ?? (It seems to say “So I [Akimaru] don't have to go to a massage?” but that doesn't really make sense, does it? It seems and sounds like Haruna is the one who'd need a massage. Maybe he takes Haruna to get massages? Only I think that would usually be said differently...)
Haru: Yeah, it's fine.
48
Aki: You know your pitch count for today?
Haru: I've got an idea.
Aki: I // Was a little surprised.
Haru: Hm.
Aki: ?? (surely some variation of 'see you later')
Haru: Yeah.
49
Haru: I wonder...
Haru: How Kaguyan feels about this.
[...There's no other way.]
Haru: When a person has to think...
Haru: If I don't pitch we win, // I do pitch, we lose...
Haru: [What could really...]
Haru: [Be the right thing to do?]
50
Haru: ...Either way.
Haru: If we can make it to Koushien, // It's all good in the end!
Haru: I'm home! // You there, sis?
___________
It's weird going back to these chapters after having read till the end. (I'm invested in that part now, darnit! What am I doing back here?! ...I have an overwhelming desire to say, 'Oh, well. Only solution is to translate faster so we can get to the part I want to be at!' ...Only of course mere determination will not manage such things anymore. *shakes fist*)
I love how Chiyo gets drawn with all the fly away hairs when she's working hard, hehe. Most manga wouldn't do that in favor of making the characters always look perfect, or occasionally do it exaggeratedly for some sort of moe factor. I imagine Higuchi does it knowing it's sort of cute, but she doesn't go overboard 'LOOK HOW ADORABLE!!!!' either. I'm not really the sort to get very charmed by the super sweet earnest girls like Chiyo, but she still kinda gets me sometimes, hahah.
The first panel on page 9 when Abe's calling Mihashi to come over to him... I know it's just cause of the measuring thing, but...does his position not look a little seductive? Heheh. And using Mihashi as his crutch to stand straight, haha. ^^
*checks napping positions for pairing validation* ...*slowly moves on*
Haha, is anyone else in love with Mizutani's face/reaction to the pool pass? But poor Chiyo! I hope she doesn't just have to sit there and gets a chance to use the pool too. ^_^;
Gosh... Often before Mihashi seemed so spineless and pathetic it hurt to watch. But...usually that was when he was interacting with Abe. Now he's doing a tad better with Abe... And we see him bet horribly abused by Tajima and then not react against him at all for it. It's not the same sort of pathetic we see with Abe, but... It's still sort of disturbing to watch, hehe. (Cute though Tajima's ADD switch to his desire for a drink may have been.)
As for Izumi's reaction... (D'aww. So protective.) What he said made me think... You guys know that list of The 213 Things Skippy Is No Longer Allowed to Do in the US Army? I think it is time a ficcer, or we as a fandom, must come up with one for Tajima. By the end of his high school baseball career...what exactly all was he told not to do? ^_^
For a second, I thought Akimaru was saying *he* would be giving Haruna a massage if Nao-chan wasn't there. T_T *drools on both of them* Surely that's not it, but I wish I understood that better. Still. Why are you blushing so much in the elevator, Akimaru? Floor 5 to Haruna's floor 6. Clearly the uke.
On the less silly side of things... I always had a little trouble understanding Abe's attitude toward Haruna here/in the next game. I know his conscious thoughts are 'GUH. Like I'd ever want to do anything with that guy!' and that he thinks he's pissed off at Mihashi asking about Abe going to Musashino just cause he finds the idea ridiculous, but... Is his rather extreme reaction to it (and extreme denial that there must be any sort of explainable cause for Mihashi's assumtion) supposed to be suggesting that Mihashi's question hit a nerve (and that secretly/subconsciously he was kind of thinking about the idea himself, even if he would never really do it?...or just like...that he's been getting a little discontent with where he is right now and it stung to hear it was showing?). Plus there was something earlier with him thinking about how he could have gone to other schools and CHOSE Nishiura (unlike Mihashi, who didn't have many choices), right? (Sorry...after reading the newer chapters, this part has gotten farther and farther from my memory.) ...Understand, I'm not asking for an opinion really, but wondering if someone who has also tried to read the Japanese can say. It's the sort of thing you kinda have to read between the lines to pick up, and with my abilities frequently giving me trouble reading the actual lines, often in the scenes that have something to do with this, I'm getting sort of lost. I just want to know if this-or something else-is something Higuchi is pretty blatantly trying to suggest, or if Mihashi really is just making more stupid assumptions and he's just being angry about them like always. ...Anyone? ^_^;
I did go to a Renaissance festival this weekend, though. There were pirates. And it was hot. But didn't even make me that rashy. Probably I got my rashiness done with while at the cabin. *thumps up to me*
SUMMARY:
As Abe looks at the score sheet for the Musashino game. His angry look worries Chiyo. As she sees Mihashi come down the stairs, she hurries up to him before he can get in Abe's hearing range and explains to him about giving Abe the score sheet for Haruna's game. She asks if what she did was bad. Mihashi thinks to himself that giving Abe something he asked for can't be bad, and says it isn't.
Chiyo is glad, and assures herself that Abe must be over being angry with Haruna. She thinks something about how boys must talk about a lot of different things between one another (?? is she assuming that Abe and Mihashi have talked about Haruna together and that's why Mihashi “knows” it's ok to give the score sheet to Abe?) and thinks it's nice (I'm not sure if this is supposed to be in a slightly envious way at all or is just glad Mihashi and Abe are sharing things.) She comments to Mihashi that he and Abe must be getting along well/close, and Mihashi is surprised and embarrassed/pleased. She asks the two if they want to decide breakfast now, and leaves them to go get the book.
Abe says they can go measure themselves now. Mihashi asks if he can read the score sheet, and when he does, he notes Haruna stayed in longer and pitched more than usual, as well as gave up and hit a home run.
Abe and Mihashi measure their height and are both thrilled to find they've grown considerably. They resolve to take care of their bodies to make the best use of their growth period they can. Mihashi checks the Musashino info again to see Haruna's size, and is intimidated.
Abe comments that Musashino is just a one-man Haruna show, but that won't work against ARC. Plus (something I don't understand??) Haruna might not even throw in that match tomorrow, anyway. Mihashi, looking worried, begins to ask if Abe thinks Musashino could beat ARC if Abe was there with Haruna. Abe doesn't understand him at first, but when it hits him, he is angry and repulsed by Mihashi's assumption.
Chiyo comes down, seeing Abe yelling and jumping in quickly to talk about breakfast and give Abe ice (or something?) for his leg. Abe starts to wonder if he's just irritable because of pent-up stress from his leg, though he thinks Mihashi's ridiculous ideas aren't helping matters. Chiyo notes the obviously tense atmosphere between them and thinks maybe she was wrong about them getting along well.
After lunch and a nap, Shiga comes in to tell the boys they've got a pass to practice at the pool. They practice various sorts of laps, timed by Chiyo. As the two sit at the edge of the pool after finishing theirs, Hanai comments that Oki is very fast, and Oki explains he had swimming classes through elementary school, and was two-time breast stroke rep for his school.
Abe swims up to the two. He's exhausted because he can only swim with his arms. Hanai suggests he might be getting soft, and Abe admits cardio health does drop fast if you don't exercise. Oki brings up his practice on the bike with Mihashi, but Abe explains that's more mental training to force the two of them together. Hanai points out they spent time together before, but Abe explains it wasn't for so long, and they always had lots to do then. He talks about how hard it is to communicate with Mihashi, and Hanai says that getting the two of them to get along better must be Momokan's point.
Abe says his dad was saying similar things, yet he doesn't think he and Mihashi get along badly. Oki and Hanai are very unsure of what to answer. Noticing, Abe asks if they think he and Mihashi do get along badly. Oki says not exactly badly, but points out how often Abe gets angry at Mihashi, using some examples from the Bijou game. Abe says the times Oki mentioned he wasn't really angry. Hanai says it must just be he was speaking harshly.
Abe says what really does make him angry is when Mihashi thinks about completely improbable things like Abe leaving Nishiura or quitting catching. He just can't understand how such thoughts could get into Mihashi's head.**(See last paragraph of this post for trouble/slight errors I may have translating this part/related parts.) Hanai and Oki admit Mihashi's thinking is inexplicable sometimes.
Abe goes back to practicing, and Hanai admits to Oki he has the same trouble with Mihashi, and can get pretty irritated, but he tries to control himself and go easy on Mihashi, and maybe Abe doesn't have that faculty. (??This entire section I'm very unsure of. Oki maybe says Abe might take comfort knowing Mihashi's never going to lie to him? Or vice versa??? Then Hanai thinks it might be good for Mihashi to have someone who'll talk to him without babying him?) Hanai figures Oki must get irritated with Mihashi too and asks to confirm, but Oki doesn't really answer (I think?) and Hanai takes it as a “no” and says Oki must be a very patient person.
Tajima comes out of the water, first on his team. As Mihashi comes out, Tajima calls Mizutani over to measure the height of he and Mihashi. Mizutani and Suyama say Tajima is just a hair shorter, and Tajima is excited he's growing too. Suyama says they still have kiddie bodies, though, and Tajima agrees but says Mihashi (pulling the boys swin trunks down so everyone can see) has an “adult penis.”
Mizutani and Suyama are shocked by what they see (but I'm not sure why. I THINK he might have a lot of hair???) Izumi is furious with Tajima, tackling him and pressing his face to the hot ground, reminding him (as he has apparently done before) that this is not an all boys' school. Tajima says all Mihashi's family is circumcised, and Mizutani asks if this is why Mihashi always hides his front when they're in the shower. He says Mihashi should be proud. Izumi says he really doesn't have to be. And Tajima (?agrees?) that it's not like it's huge or anything. (Apparently the boys thought this had some relation to size?) Tajima and Mihashi go to get a drink, and the boys talk about something I don't really understand (?? something about bullying, and Tajima being able to read the mood around him well because of being the youngest of a big family?)
Tajima runs up to Shiga to ask the result of the second match. ARC has won a called game.
Loading onto their bus, the Musashino captain Ookawa thinks they won't give up against ARC, but even if they don't it seems he can't help but feel the result inevitable. Haruna comes up to him and asks to be allowed to pitch from the start of the game. Ookawa doesn't know what to say till Kaguyama speaks, saying it is their only chance. Ookawa then agrees that Haruna will start, and says with more confidence that they will beat ARC.
At the ARC practice, the coach and captain/catcher talk. The coach approaches a pitcher, Ootagawa, to tell him he will start for them in tomorrows game. Ootagawa is extactic and very thankful. He leaves the captain to talk to him, and when they are alone, the captain says if he screws things up for the seniors, he'll kill him. Ootagawa is very intimidated.
Haruna and Akimaru make it back to their apartment building at the end of the day. Akimaru (?? confirms Haruna will be getting a massage/be taken to get a massage by Nao-chan? Maybe Haruna's sister?) As they ride the elevator, Akimaru asks if Haruna knows his pitch count, and he says he's got an idea. Akimaru says he was a little surprised, but Haruna doesn't say much back. When Akimaru is gone, Haruna wonders worriedly how Kaguyama feels about him pitching. He wonders what is best for a person who feels like their pitching means a loss, while if they don't pitch it will mean a win. However, he eventually grins, thinking that either way, so long as they make it to Koushien, it will all be fine.
TRANSLATION:
[translation by narwhaltortellini]
[Please note that my grasp on the Japanese language is tenuous and my understanding of baseball even more so. These translations and summaries were made with hopes of being helpful to fans who would like to read on in the story and do not mind suffering the occasional ambiguity or error. Parts I am consciously unsure of have been marked with two question marks (??), sometimes with my best guess at what they might mean. Note that the absence of question marks does not make the translation correct. ^_^]
[Anyone is free to use or repost these as they like, and scanlators are free to use them as aids. Just remember to use them, not trust them. It would, of course, be very kind of anyone taking them to let me know where they're going.]
01
Abe: Ah.
Chiyo: Oh, welcome back.
Abe: Er. // Huh?
02
Both: Where's Miha-
Abe: ...Where's Mihashi?
Abe: He went to change his undershirt.
Chiyo: Huh. Really? // I was just in the admin room and didn't notice him at all.
Abe: Do you have the score sheet for the fifth match?
Chiyo: Yeah. // Only till the seventh inning, though.
Chiyo: We've got it recorded, though, so I'll finish it up today or tomorrow.
Chiyo: (??)
Abe: What you have is fine.
Abe: Lemme see.
03
Abe: ...
Chiyo: Oh.
Chiyo: Mihashi-kun!
Chiyo: Welcome back!
Miha: Ah.
Miha: Yeah.
04
Chiyo: It's almost lunch time.
Miha: ??
Chiyo: (whisper) Just now...
Chiyo: (whisper) I was talking to Abe-kun.
Chiyo: (whisper) He wanted me to show him the score sheet for the Musashino Dai Ichi and Kasukabe match.
Chiyo: (whisper) So I did.
Chiyo: (whisper) Was that bad?
Miha: Bad to // Show Abe-kun the score sheet...
Miha: When he said // to // Show it...?
05
Miha: N // Not // really...?
Chiyo: ....
Chiyo: Oh, alright.
Chiyo: [Abe-kun // Must not hate Haruna-san anymore.]
Chiyo: [Yeah. It was back in middle school, after all.]
Chiyo: It was more than two months ago that I even last heard him mention Haruna-san. (??)
Chiyo: Guys must share lots of different stuff when they talk with one another.
Chiyo: It must be nice. (?? Rather, she might be saying 'it's a good thing.')
*glance*
06
Chiyo: You two get along really well, huh?
Miha: ? // T-
Miha: Two of...
Chiyo: You and Abe. // You // Really get along!
Chiyo: Oh, right.
Miha: (Really // get along)
Chiyo: Have you guys figured out breakfast?
Miha: N-
Miha: Not // yet.
Chiyo: We can do it now, then.
Chiyo: Abe-kun, you want to plan out breakfast now?
Abe: Yeah, sure.
Chiyo: I'll go get the book.
Miha: Ah. // Ok.
07
Abe: Guess we'll go measure ourselves.
Miha: ...Um
Miha: Can I // Look at the score sheet?
Abe: Can you read it? (??)
Miha: I // can // read it.
08
Abe: It's only up to the seventh inning.
Miha: Ah. // Ok.
Miha: ....
Miha: Haruna-san // Pitched till the eleventh inning?
Miha: [He only started from the fourth just like in spring, but... // Over a hundred pitches...]
Miha: He
Miha: He gave up a // Home run...
Miha: ...!
Miha: And made one too?!
09
Abe: Mihashi.
Abe: Come here for a sec.
Abe: Crouch right there.
Abe: A little higher.
Abe: So I can stand straight even with the bad leg.
Abe: Let's see.
Abe: 172 cm!
Abe: Whoa! // I went up two centimeters!
Miha: W // Wow!
10
Miha: N // Now // Me!
Abe: Shut your mouth.
Abe: 166.5 cm!
(+1.5 cm)
Abe: Man, // This growth period stuff is amazing!
Miha: A // A // Amazing!
Abe:
Abe: On the other hand, we've got to remember not waste it, either.
Miha: ! // Yeah!
11
Abe: We'll get plenty of food and time our meals right!
Abe: And always get enough sleep!
Miha: Y // Yeah!
Miha: H // Haruna-san is...
Miha: ...Wah!
Miha: 182 cm // S-S- // Seventy five kilos!
Abe: Musashino... // Is really just Haruna's little one man team, huh?
12
Abe: But they'll probably be up against ARC next. // He won't pull through doing it like he has.
Abe: ??
Abe: He might not even pitch tomorrow.
Miha: ….
Miha: …. // ...If
Miha: Abe-kun was
Miha: there, could you // pull...
13
Abe: ?
Abe: Me? // If I was where?
Abe: And pull what...?
Abe: WHAT?!
14
Abe: You... // You seriously...
Abe: Where do you get off making messed up assumptions like that?!
Chiyo: S-
Chiyo: Sorry about the wait!
15
Chiyo: Let's get started!
Chiyo: Lunch will be starting really soon now.
Chiyo: So what do you guys want to eat?
Chiyo: Maybe some maze gohan?
Chiyo: It's easy to make. And you can eat lots of it. (??) // And it tastes really good, too.
Chiyo: Abe-kun.
Abe: What?
Chiyo: ??
Chiyo: ?? // Your leg must hurt, right?
Abe: …...Well, yeah.
Abe: Though I tried my best not to use it. (??)
16
Abe: Seems like just moving it makes it heat up, though.
Abe: But it's getting better. (??)
Chiyo: Wow. // That's a little scary.
Chiyo: Don't over do it, ok?
Abe: I won't. // Thanks.
Chiyo: Should we do the main course first? (??)
Abe: Am I just getting pissy because of my leg?
Abe: Not being able to move does build up stress.
Abe: Dealing with that, and seeing Haruna still winning...
Abe: [And on top of all that...]
17
Abe: This guy
Abe: Still keeps getting the most ridiculous ideas.
Abe: And then // he
Abe: Has to go telling them back to me...! (??)
Chiyo: I said they got along, // but
Chiyo: Maybe that's not true.
Abe sfx: anger
Miha sfx: fear
[Somehow they manage to decide.]
(?? not sure about the menu)
18
food: some sort of fruit salad, milk, meat dumplings, carrot and onion soup, yakisoba
Hanai: Looks good!
All: Looks good!
[12:30]
All: Let's eat!
[12:40]
Mizu: (You eat so slow!)
(That was great!)
(??)
19
[Post-meal nap]
Shiga: Hey~
20
Shiga: We've got a pass to the pool!
Chiyo: Next up is B team on the breast stroke! // Ready...
Taji: Go!
22
Hanai: I lost!
Hanai: You sure are fast, Oki.
Oki: I went to swimming school up till sixth grade.
Oki: I was a two-time breast stroke rep for my school!
Hanai: Seriously?!
Hanai: (?? something about taking swimming classes in elementary school)
23
Abe: Man, just using arms sucks!
Oki: Nice job!
Hanai: Sure you're not just getting soft?
Abe: Yeah, maybe.
Abe: They say cardio abilities drop pretty fast.
Hanai: Swimming must be great for you, then. // You don't have to use your leg, but your whole body gets a workout.
Oki: Oh, yeah.
Abe: Yeah.
Hanai: Oh.
24
Hanai: (Keep it up!)
Hanai: Tajima sure is fast.
Oki: You do (?? load) with Mihashi, though.
Hanai: But on hills and stuff you get pushed, right?
Oki: Oh.
Abe: Well...
Abe: That's more like mental training.(??)
Abe: Seems like the whole point is just to have me be with him.
Hanai: Yeah, it did seem that way.
Oki: Calling it training...
25
Hanai: You do have a hard time being alone with Mihashi. (??) // But you two sometimes spent time together before anyway, right?
Abe: Never for very long, and there was always something to do when we did.
Hanai: You make breakfast together. // Oh, but that's with Shinooka.
Abe: It's tiring, when you can barley understanding a thing he says, // And when you never know whether or not the things you say are getting through to him, either.
26
Hanai: But that's probably what Momokan's going for, right?
Hanai: Getting you two to get along better?
Abe: My dad was saying the same sort of stuff. // But it's not like Mihashi and I get along badly, right?
Oki: ….
sfx: glance
Hanai: ….
Hanai: Y....Yeah... (??)
Abe: What? We get along bad?
Hanai: No, no. Not exactly bad, but...
27
Hanai: How can we put this?
Oki: Like...
Oki: Mihashi makes you pretty angry... (??)
Oki: Right?
Oki: Um. // Ah? // Well, you know...
Oki: During the fifth match (?? something about the bench)
Oki: You told him to speak clearly. // And // You told him to stop crying. // And stuff.
Abe: Eh?
Abe: But I wasn't angry.
Oki: !
Oki: B- // But that's what you said, right?
28
Abe: Yeah. // I said stuff like that. I'm just saying I wasn't angry.
Oki: So you really weren't angry...
Hanai: Maybe the way you say it is just a little harsh?
Abe: Really?
Hanai: A loud voice makes it sound like you're yelling.
Hanai: Though // I think it's less that he's angry and more like he's sort of scolding him.
Oki: Oh, is that it?
Abe: When I really am angry at Mihashi,
Abe: It's cause he's been asking me dumb questions. // Like // If I'm going to give up being a catcher. // Or leave Nishiura!
29
Oki: Huh?
Oki: What's that all about?
Abe: Seems like he's worried I'm going to quit or something.
Oki: Why would he...
Hanai: There's no telling with him, sometimes.
Abe: It's the worrying about completely improbable ideas that really pisses me off!
Abe: Like quitting is some sort of option... (??)
Abe: I could actually be mulling over! (??) // How'd he even get it into his head! (??)
Oki: It is pretty hard to understand.
Abe: And then earlier... (??)
Miha: [...If // Abe-kun]
30
Miha: [Was at // Musashino]
Miha: [If you]
Miha: [Were Haruna-san's catcher]
Miha: [Could you pull through...]
Miha: [Against ARC...]
31
Hanai: Say, // How come you're still in the water?
Abe: I've still got one round left. // Gonna head out now.
Oki: Later!
Hanai: Speaking as someone who thinks pretty logically himself, (??)
Hanai: It's like that for me too, actually. (??)
Oki: Eh?
Hanai: Mihashi.
Hanai: He irritates me pretty bad sometimes, too.
Oki: Hm?
Oki: Huh...
32
Hanai: But when it does happen...
Hanai: I try to hold back and remind myself to go easy on the guy.
Hanai: I guess that's just not something Abe's built to do?
Oki: Haha. (Guess not.)
?Hanai?: It seems like he might even think they get along well. (?? really unsure about this)
Oki: Though, // When he's talking to Mihashi... (?? or maybe 'from Mihashi's point of view'?)
Oki: Maybe he takes some comfort in the fact he's not going to be lied to, at least. (?? Or maybe he's saying Mihashi takes comfort knowing Abe will always tell things to him straight? Sorry. I completely fail at this page, even more than the rest of the conversation. Trust nothing on it. ^^)
Hanai: True.
Hanai: Still,
Hanai: Maybe for Mihashi it's not such a bad thing // To have someone who'll talk to him // Without ever trying to baby him. (??)
33
Hanai: ...Hey.
Hanai: You must get irritated with him too, right?
Oki: Hm?
Oki: Oh...?
Hanai: You...
Hanai: Must be a really patient person...
Oki: You
Oki: Think so?
Taji: First pla~ce!
34
Miha: S- // Se // cond!
Taji: Mihashi!
Taji: Mizutani, come and look!
Mizu: Ok, let's see. (??)
(?? Instructions for what sort of swimming the A team will do?)
Mizu: Hm...
Mizu: Well...
35
Mizu: Seems like Tajima might be a little shorter.
Taji: How much shorter? // One centimeter? Two?
Suya: Definitely not two. // Barley at all, really.
Taji: Alright! I'm getting taller, too!
Miha: Yeah!
Mizu: (?? Mizutani talks about how that's nice and from now on they'll be in their growth stage, but the way he says it it's hard for me to tell...the way he's phrasing it/his attitude enough to write it)
Suya: The two of you still just look like a couple of kids.
Taji: Yeah! // We don't look like we're growing at all!
Suya: (Yeah.)
Mizu: (?? something about knowing?)
Taji: But Mihashi...
36
Taji: He's got a grown up dick! // See!
Izu: I've // told you // this // Is not just a boys' high school!
Taji: Hot hot hot it's hoooot!
Suya: I...I-I // Never expected.
Mizu: ??( “amazingly ?some word i don't understand?”)...Dictionary says the word means blocked/obstructed, so maybe that could mean he has a lot of hair? Only the most common usage in the other dictionary seems to be supporting/bearing/holding. Which...seems like he's saying Mihashi is packing? ^_^; Only later comments seem to refute that, so maybe not.)
(??)
37
Taji: Haa.. // Kaa...
Taji: You didn't have to do all that...
Izu: I wanted you to think about what you did!
Taji: All the guy's in Mihashi's family get circumcised!
Both: (Eh?!)
Mizu: W- // When you would always make sure your front was covered up during showers...
Mizu: Was that the reason why?!
Mizu: What, // Are we supposed to feel sorry for you or something?!
Mizu: Man, you should be proud!
Taji: See? He says be proud.
Miha: ....
Izu: You really don't have to be.
Miha: P // rou // d.
38
Taji: Yeah! (??)
Taji: Not like it's huge or anything!
Taji: I'm thirsty!
Miha: M- // Me too!
Mizu: Oh...
Suya: Circumcised // = // Huge // isn't really true!
Mizu: .... // You think Mihashi...
Mizu: Has been bullied about his dick before? (??)
Izu: Dunno. // (??)
Mizu: But Tajima...
Mizu: He's the youngest of a big family.
39
Mizu: It might seem like he's going overboard, (??) // But really he could just be good at reading the mood. (??)
Izu: (Eh? You really think so?)
Abe: Man,
Abe: Maybe I really am getting soft...
Taji: Sensei!
Shiga: Hm?
Taji: How's the second match going?
Shiga: It just ended.
Shiga: 10 to 3, called in the seventh inning.
40
Shiga: ARC won!
(?? can't read the small text)
41
Oo: ARC is just too good.
Oo: But we won't give up.
(Everyone's on!)
OO: But even if we don't give up...
(Ookawa-san's the last one.)
42
Haru: Tomorrow,
Haru: Please let me pitch from the start.
Kagu: There's no other way!
43
Oo: ...Alright!
Oo: Tomorrow, Harna's going to start!
Haru: Yes sir!
Oo: ....
Oo: And...
Oo: We're going to beat ARC!
(Yeah!)
44
-Yes sir.
-Ootagawa!
45
Oota: Y-Yes sir!
Coach?: How you feeling?
Oota: Sir!
Oota: I'm in great condition! // Sir!
Coach: Well, then tomorrow you can start for us.
Oota: Thank you very much // sir!
Coach: I'll leave the rest to you, captain.
-Yes sir! // Thank you!
46
-Screw this up for us seniors...
-And I'll kill you.
Oota: I-
Oota: I-
Oota: I'll
Oota: Be
Oota: The best use to you I can. (??)
47
-Same time tomorrow.
-Yeah.
Aki: Is Nao-chan here today?
Haru: Yeah.
Aki: ?? (It seems to say “So I [Akimaru] don't have to go to a massage?” but that doesn't really make sense, does it? It seems and sounds like Haruna is the one who'd need a massage. Maybe he takes Haruna to get massages? Only I think that would usually be said differently...)
Haru: Yeah, it's fine.
48
Aki: You know your pitch count for today?
Haru: I've got an idea.
Aki: I // Was a little surprised.
Haru: Hm.
Aki: ?? (surely some variation of 'see you later')
Haru: Yeah.
49
Haru: I wonder...
Haru: How Kaguyan feels about this.
[...There's no other way.]
Haru: When a person has to think...
Haru: If I don't pitch we win, // I do pitch, we lose...
Haru: [What could really...]
Haru: [Be the right thing to do?]
50
Haru: ...Either way.
Haru: If we can make it to Koushien, // It's all good in the end!
Haru: I'm home! // You there, sis?
___________
It's weird going back to these chapters after having read till the end. (I'm invested in that part now, darnit! What am I doing back here?! ...I have an overwhelming desire to say, 'Oh, well. Only solution is to translate faster so we can get to the part I want to be at!' ...Only of course mere determination will not manage such things anymore. *shakes fist*)
I love how Chiyo gets drawn with all the fly away hairs when she's working hard, hehe. Most manga wouldn't do that in favor of making the characters always look perfect, or occasionally do it exaggeratedly for some sort of moe factor. I imagine Higuchi does it knowing it's sort of cute, but she doesn't go overboard 'LOOK HOW ADORABLE!!!!' either. I'm not really the sort to get very charmed by the super sweet earnest girls like Chiyo, but she still kinda gets me sometimes, hahah.
The first panel on page 9 when Abe's calling Mihashi to come over to him... I know it's just cause of the measuring thing, but...does his position not look a little seductive? Heheh. And using Mihashi as his crutch to stand straight, haha. ^^
*checks napping positions for pairing validation* ...*slowly moves on*
Haha, is anyone else in love with Mizutani's face/reaction to the pool pass? But poor Chiyo! I hope she doesn't just have to sit there and gets a chance to use the pool too. ^_^;
Gosh... Often before Mihashi seemed so spineless and pathetic it hurt to watch. But...usually that was when he was interacting with Abe. Now he's doing a tad better with Abe... And we see him bet horribly abused by Tajima and then not react against him at all for it. It's not the same sort of pathetic we see with Abe, but... It's still sort of disturbing to watch, hehe. (Cute though Tajima's ADD switch to his desire for a drink may have been.)
As for Izumi's reaction... (D'aww. So protective.) What he said made me think... You guys know that list of The 213 Things Skippy Is No Longer Allowed to Do in the US Army? I think it is time a ficcer, or we as a fandom, must come up with one for Tajima. By the end of his high school baseball career...what exactly all was he told not to do? ^_^
For a second, I thought Akimaru was saying *he* would be giving Haruna a massage if Nao-chan wasn't there. T_T *drools on both of them* Surely that's not it, but I wish I understood that better. Still. Why are you blushing so much in the elevator, Akimaru? Floor 5 to Haruna's floor 6. Clearly the uke.
On the less silly side of things... I always had a little trouble understanding Abe's attitude toward Haruna here/in the next game. I know his conscious thoughts are 'GUH. Like I'd ever want to do anything with that guy!' and that he thinks he's pissed off at Mihashi asking about Abe going to Musashino just cause he finds the idea ridiculous, but... Is his rather extreme reaction to it (and extreme denial that there must be any sort of explainable cause for Mihashi's assumtion) supposed to be suggesting that Mihashi's question hit a nerve (and that secretly/subconsciously he was kind of thinking about the idea himself, even if he would never really do it?...or just like...that he's been getting a little discontent with where he is right now and it stung to hear it was showing?). Plus there was something earlier with him thinking about how he could have gone to other schools and CHOSE Nishiura (unlike Mihashi, who didn't have many choices), right? (Sorry...after reading the newer chapters, this part has gotten farther and farther from my memory.) ...Understand, I'm not asking for an opinion really, but wondering if someone who has also tried to read the Japanese can say. It's the sort of thing you kinda have to read between the lines to pick up, and with my abilities frequently giving me trouble reading the actual lines, often in the scenes that have something to do with this, I'm getting sort of lost. I just want to know if this-or something else-is something Higuchi is pretty blatantly trying to suggest, or if Mihashi really is just making more stupid assumptions and he's just being angry about them like always. ...Anyone? ^_^;