Rookies Episode 4 Summary (Japanese Drama)

Everyone wants to become the pitcher. It seems that this is the most popular position in baseball. Mikoshiba suggests that they take turns in throwing the ball but nobody approve of it. They all argue that they have what it takes to become the pitcher.

With a desperate look on his face, Aniya sighs deeply and walks to the center of the field. He then asks who will become the catcher as he gets ready to pitch the ball. Surprised by Aniya’s action, Yufune tells him that he was originally playing outfield and that he should go play in the outfield. However, Aniya answers him back and tells him that he can still do better than them.

Wakana then volunteered to catch the ball and challenges Aniya that if he can’t throw an impressive ball, he will have to introduce them to some girls. Everyone becomes thrilled about this and they are all cheering for girls. Wakana then positions himself to catch the ball and Aniya takes a good stand, getting ready to throw the ball.

As soon as Aniya releases the ball, everyone becomes surprised. They have never seen him pitch before and they are so shocked with his very impressive maximum throwing speed of 135km/hr. After seeing this, nobody argues anymore to become the pitcher as Aniya definitely best fits this position.

After the practice, Kawato-sensai posts the position of each member of his team. Then, with an angry look on his face, Wakana complains to Kawato after seeing that he has been tasked to become the catcher. He tells Kawato that he mustn’t decide for the team as he doesn’t even know anything about baseball. Kawato then exclaims that he is the coach and that he has every right to decide for the team. To pacify Wakana, Mikoshiba tells him that catchers are actually “mood makers” and that he might be the best match for it. Happy with Mikoshiba, Kawato-sensei introduces him as the new captain of the team and this shocks everybody, including Mikoshiba himself. Kawato-sensai then explains to everyone that he sees Mikoshiba best fit to hold this position because he is the one who has initiated to build their baseball team again. Aside from that, he also knows each and everyone of his teammates the best. After hearing this, Aniya and the rest of the team approve of Mikoshiba as their new captain.

One of the first few things Mikoshiba has done as the captain of the baseball team is to impose a ban on smoking and fighting. Wakana and Hirayama complain about this but Mikoshiba explains to them that if any of them causes anymore trouble, they may not be able to play baseball again.

The following day, during their practice, Wakana is having a hard time catching the ball. Everyone is complaining about it. And so, Hirayama goes to Wakana and asks him to wear his helmet. He then taps Wakana’s helmet upward, hurting Wakana. Hirayama then tells him that he can’t catch the ball when the bat is swinging because he is scared and closes his eyes when he sees the bat right infront of his face just like when he has tapped his helmet upward. Upon hearing this, Wakana has really got pissed off and leaves the field.

On his way home, Kawato-sensei passes by an arcade store and sees Shinjo getting beat up by a gang. They  have taken his wallet and the sticker picture of him and his friends. Seeing this, Shinjo tries to get up to get it back from them but the leader of the gang drops the picture and steps on it. Kawato-sensei asks the gang to stop bullying Shinjo but they do not listen and instead, the leader tries to punch Kawato. Being a black belter, Kawato-sensei is able to block the punch and strikes him back. They then hear the police siren and they all run away.

Kawato-sensei gives back to Shinjo the sticker picture of him and his friends but Shinjo refuses to take it. Kawato looks at the picture and notices that Shinjo doesn’t look happy. He tells Shinjo that people don’t open themselves to him because he doesn’t open himself to them. He wants friends but obtain them with his physical strength. Kawato advises Shinjo that if he wants people to like him, he must like people first. if he wants people to be kind to him, he must be kind to them. If he wants people to believe him, he must believe in them. Kawato tells Shinjo that he can change as long as he has the courage to change and that if he wants to come back to his friends, he is very much welcomed.

Another day has passed and Wakana shows up having wounds on his face. His teammates think that he has got into a fight again and this worries them a lot.  With only five days left and Wakana is not showing up in their practice, the team is losing its morale.

That afternoon, Kawato-sensei is able to talk to Wakana and tells him about his experience when he was still a student. During his college years, he was not sure if he should go into teaching since he wasn’t in a very good school and people were telling him that there was no hope for him to become a teacher. It was that time when an elementary school boy gave him courage. On national tv, the boy said that he would travel from Tamagawa to Kamakura by headstand in 40 days. The boy wasn’t able to finish the challenge but it’s his perseverance and courage that made him amazing. Since that day, Kawato promised to himself that he won’t lose too. He is very grateful of that boy because through him, he is now a teacher. He then asks Wakana if he can give them courage again.

Meanwhile, inside a baseball shop, Mikoshiba meets his juniors from middle school who are now members of Yougadaichii baseball team. They are surprised to learn that Mikoshiba has become the captain of Nikogaku team and insults him by saying that he was a ballpicker back then and now is a captain. Aniya defends Mikoshiba against them and is frustrated because Mikoshiba hasn’t stand up for himself and the team.

The following day, Wakana goes to school with more wounds on his face. This angers Hiyama and Mikoshiba more. Thinking that Wakana is unwilling and uninterested anymore to play baseball, Mikoshiba shouts at him that he should quit the baseball club. Aniya becomes angry upon hearing this and punches Mikoshiba. He reminds him that it is because of him that everyone is gathered.

On their way home, the baseball club talks about Mikoshiba and Wakana. Hiratsuka tells them something about Tsuboi seeing Wakana every night in their school. Upon hearing this, Aniya asks if he has told Hiyama about it and Hiratsuka answers yes.

In the school, while carrying his baseball bat, Hiyama seems to be looking for something. He keeps on walking and searching until he finds Wakana. In a little corner, he sees him practicing and getting hit by the balls on the face. Thus, explains the many wounds that he has.

Meanwhile, Mikoshiba has asked Kawato-sensei if he can quit being captain. He feels sorry that he couldn’t talk to Wakana and convince him to practice with them again. With a serious look on his face, Kawato-sensei asks Mikoshiba to come with him outside. Mikoshiba is a little bit hesitant and wonders as to what Kawato-sensei is up to. After a little bit of walking and talking, they are surprised to see Aniya hiding behind a wall. Mikoshiba walks up to him and looks at what Aniya is peeking at. There, he sees Hayama helping Wakana get used to the swing of the bat in front of his face.

The following day, Wakana shows up in their practice and everyone is really happy and amazed that he can now catch the ball without any problem at all.

That day too, Kawato-sensei and Mikoshiba have gone to Yougadaiichi High School to greet them in advance. However, they are both surprised to learn that the practice game has been cancelled and it seems that the principal is the one who has cancelled it. The coach of Yougadaiichi cannot have the practice game with them anymore because he has already scheduled his team to play with another school. However, he has agreed to let his non-regular players to have the practice game with them.

And so… after many months of pain and distress, the Nikogaku team can finally play baseball.