Episode 1: Memories Infusing a White Ball
After becoming the advisor of the beach baseball club, Misato and the club members gathered in the classroom after class.
Daichi
What'd you call me for? I'm tired, and I wanna go home quickly.
Misato
Oh my, I'm so glad you've come, Daichi. Is this everyone?
Asahi
Yes. Everyone is here.
Daichi
Hey, these guys are...
Misato
Yes. In truth, I have something to announce to the members of the beach baseball club. I have become your advisor!
Daichi
Huh? What was that?
Asahi
Miss Misato has become our advisor.
Misato
Everyone, I look forward to working with you. Let's set our goal to be this summer's national tournament!
Daichi
Hmph... It's too late for a new advisor to change anything. I've already said that I'm never playing beach baseball again.
Member 1
We're just a bunch of amateurs who barely know the rules. Even if we start right now, we'll never make it in time. ... N-Not that I was planning to give it a serious try, anyway!
Misato
My, then why did you join the beach baseball club? Even if you're inexperienced, you must have some interested in the sport, no?
Member 1
You just got here, so of course you don't know... The school rules say that every student has to be a member of some club.
Member 3
The thing is... Beach baseball involves using bats and cleats. Those are things that are also useful in a fight. So by joining the club, I can get to use that gear for my own reasons.
Member 1
I liked it here because the club activities just involve playing whatever games we want. I won't let any special lecturer get in the way of my youth!
Yuuki
1. "Youth...?"
Member 1
What? You can't see that I'm a student in the prime of my youth right now? Huh, in that case... Let me give you a special explanation.
Member 1
I'm in my tenth year of being held back... They call me the king of being held back!
Misato
My, my, my...
Member 1
That means I don't have to answer to anyone. If you want me to play some beach baseball, then you'll have to show your cred as an advisor.
Member 3
How about this... All the balls are scattered around the beach baseball field somewhere. If you gather them all up and polish them to a shine, then I'll think about it.
Member 3
With how long those balls have been rolling around out there, I'm sure they're completely filthy. ... Daichi, are you fine with that?
Daichi
Hmph, you know the answer. Do whatever you want. It's got nothing to do with me.
Asahi
Miss Misato, I'll help too! As the captain, it's my job to help!
Member 3
Wait, Asahi. If our teacher doesn't do this herself, then it's pointless. We need to see some proof that she's suited to being our advsior. ... So don't offer any unneeded help, got it?
Asahi
Ugh...
Misato
Ha ha, it's all right. I'll have Yuuki to help me out, so just leave it to your instructors!
Asahi
I'm sorry... But I'm glad that you've become our advisor. When I entered this club, we had neither any regular meetings nor an advisor, so this is a significant step for the club!
Asahi
This might be our opportunity to convince the others to take up beach baseball, as well...
Asahi
I also believe that Daichi still loves beach baseball as much as he ever did. If we pull this club back together, he might come back to us as well...
Misato
Ha ha, for everyone's sake, I'll do my best. Let's do all we can for the club!
Asahi
Thank you, Miss Misato! ... I'll be practicing by myself on a different beach!
Misato
Well, then, let's head to the field! ... Huh?
Principal
Oh, Miss Misato. Were you just speaking with the members? I wonder if they had objections to you becoming the new advisor.
Misato
It seemed like they were confused at first... But, they promised that they would attend practice if I showed my competence in acting as the advisor.
Principal
So things went well, then... If they made you such a promise, then I do wonder whether their interest was genuine in the first place.
Misato
... My, what do you mean?
Member 1
Whoops, I forgot something. ... Huh, is that the new teacher and the principal? What are they talking about...?
Principal
The club is a collection of amateurs, with no motivation to improve. They only joined the club in order to comply with school rules, and they hardly have the ability even to hit the ball with a bat.
Principal
For such a group of failures to make such a promise? Even talking about it is a waste of time. You are here as a special lecturer for the duration of this appointment. It's not worth spending your time on such pointless affairs.
Principal
That group of students will never amount to anything beyond the lives of depravity that they consign themselves to.
Misato
Oh, my, my... But those students are not failures at all. All children have talents within them.
Misato
It's simply that some children have not yet realized their true potential.
Misato
I feel the same way about these students as I do about the children I normally look after. I believe that all of them surely have bright futures ahead of them.
Misato
It's certainly true that these members are inexperienced, but we don't know how good they'll be unless they have a chance to try.
Misato
They may well develop into exceptional players. And nurturing those possibilities is the very job of a teacher.
Misato
If you believe that it is impossible, Mister Principal... Then it falls to me to prove it to you. These children will absolutely make it to the summer tournament!
Principal
... I earnestly pray that your noble hopes are not misplaced.
Member 1
That person... Does she really think that? Or is she just putting on a good face for that other teacher... We'll just have to find out.
Later.
Member 2
Man, everyone. Class is boring, so let's skip. I wanna do some new stuff, but there's nothing to do, so... I wanna look through Suzuna's photo album again...
Daichi
Oh, sorry. I left the photo album at home.
Member 2
Whaat!? Don't mess with me -- give it back! I won't forgive you if you keep it!
Member 1
Something new, huh... Well, don't you think that Miss Misato seems interesting? Yesterday, I saw her talking with the principal, and she sounded different from all the other teachers we've had.
Member 1
I don't think she's a bad person. I feel like the teachers must be different in that forest of hers.
Member 3
......!
Member 1
Ow! You've got some guts, throwing that at me! Respect your elders!
Member 3
Not a bad person? Every teacher sees us as scum. Don't kid yourself.
Member 1
Grr... But...
Member 2
Hey, guys! Look over there. Is someone on the field?
Daichi
Hmph... Probably some guys from one of thes other schools. We oughta teach them a lesson for stepping on our turf!
Member 1
W-Wait. That's...!
Begin animated cutscene.
Misato
Hmm... This dirt is certainly stubborn. But it won't get the best of this teacher!
Misato
Okay, this one is looking pretty!
Misato
Oh?
Misato
Ah, thank you. I think this is the last one. Softly, now...
Misato
Well, then, let's move onto the uniforms next.
Misato
Hee hee... Oh? Everyone, good morning! Over here!
Daichi
It's her...!?
Member 1
What's she doing there this early?
Member 3
It's obvious. Let's get over there.
Misato
Everyone, I've been waiting for you. As promised, I've finished polishing up all of the balls just now.
Misato
And I've also washed all of the dirty uniforms! I'm always doing laundry for the children at home, so I'm quite confident in my abilities. Hee hee, aren't they pure white now?
Member 3
Promise... What?
Misato
Oh? The promise that, if I polished up all of the balls scattered around the field, then you'd all attend practice.
Member 3
Have you seriously been doing that all this time!? You couldn't possibly have taken that nonsense seriously!?
Member 1
See? Isn't she different from the other guys? If she didn't really see us differently, then... she wouldn't have done all this.
Member 3
Idiot! All teachers are the same. No one could be that honest!
Member 3
She's up to something! She's probably just using us as an excuse to boost her teacher credentials, or something.
Member 1
No, we have to start club meetings again as we promised. It might be good to get some exercise after so long, anyway!
Member 3
Heh heh... I wanna do it, too.
Member 2
You guys... Are you for real?
Member 3
Yeah! I was just thinking that I wanted something new to spice things up. This'll break up the boredom!
Misato
Ha ha, I've very happy to hear it! Let's do our best together. Then, what about you two?
Daichi
Ugh, you're persistent. I said I've already quit!
Member 3
... Understood. I'll do it. A promise is a promise. No man goes back on his word.
Daichi
You, too...? Am I dreaming...?
Member 3
But we have to do things our way.
Daichi
Hmph... I see. So you're playing along, too... Have fun then.
Misato
If you change your mind, Daichi, then you can come back anytime. Then, let's have our first practice today after school!
After Misato and Yuuki fulfilled their end of the promise, the beach baseball team took their first step towards rebuilding.