Rei bond story episode 4
Momotalk
R: Sensei! We gotta check the baseball club's equipment today!
S: You're inspecting the gear?
S: Are you talking about each glove and bat manually?
R: No, that's for a different time.
R: I send any broken equipment we have to a repair shop.
R: So I'm checking out our gear to see if any of them need repairs.
S: Mind if I have a look?
R: Huh?
R: Well, of course, but...
R: It's not like there's not much to look at y'know.
S: I'm not picky about what I want to see.
R: Is that so?
R: Then come along then!
R: Hehe.
R: I'll be waiting!
In the equipment area
R: Whoa... looking back on it, we really do have a lot to take care of at here.
R: A ball with frayed strings here, a torn glove over there... and a bent aluminium bat...
R: This is... a uniform with mud stains? Can't people just wash these themselves...
R: Mud stains are removable by handwashing too...
R: Alright, let's make a list first of all.
S: Let me help out.
R: You sure? This is the baseball club's responsibility, and I'm supposed to be on duty...
You start helping anyways
R: Actually, when did you start separating the dirty equipment!? Let me help!
R: If you just calculate the way and angle the glove was torn and the impact of the catch...
S: What happens if we calculate that...?
R: This glove got torn catching a liner!
R: Compared to a fly ball. a liner is easier to predict with it's unique momentum.
R: You can tell because it's torn so badly.
R: Look, the web between the thumb and index finger's been ripped off alongside the leather strap.
R: Must have been one hell of a liner. If the batter's defensive position wasn't off, it might've sailed a long way across the field.
R: If we count the number and the location of the loose stitches on the ball...
R: It must have been because of a sweeping throw!
S: A sweeping throw?
R: It's a variation of a slider, that leans widely to the side.
R: Unlike your usual slider, it curves strongly to the side when held with a two-seam grip.
R: A sweeping pitch tends to fall into the outside corner as it curves, which makes it easy for the batter to miss!
R: Actually, in terms of sabermetrics, a slider is the top pitch for it.
S: Amazing.../So even in Millennium there are pitchers who can throw like that.
R: Ah, actually...
R: It was probably...
R: Thrown by a pitching machine...
R: Isn't this aluminium bat bent a little weirdly?
R: How did it get this way? It wouldn't turn this way if you way practicing normally.
R: Considering how the force was applied, it probably wasn't from a ball...
R: Maybe someone dragged it? Or maybe they fell over it. That's the only plausible reason.
R: I really need to tell the captain that we need to be more careful with our equipment!
S: To determine a cause by observing the result.../So Rei is a Millennium student after all.
R: Um, what's that supposed to mean, Sensei?
R: I mean, it's the standard for a millennium student to make mechanical guesses for broken equipment.
R: Sensei? What's with the look?
R: Come on Sensei, what're you staring at- wait, that's...!
Baseball.png
R: Crap, that's not a repairable item, keep it there.
S: Is this ball special by any chance?
R: Yep, VERY special, by the way.
R: This ball is...
L2D
R: This is the first ball I ever caught... a home run ball at that.
R: When I first started playing baseball, I carried it with me all the time.
R: A home run just like that day- I wanted to hit one just like it.
R: It's a bit tattered though, which is why I store it in my locker.
R: Whenever my motivation drops, I just take a look at the ball,
R: It feels like I'm taking a moment to return to my true feelings- it really helps. It's like a precious charm.
S: It really is quite important.
R: It's a bit weird isn't it?
R: It's just a bunch of old leather with 108 stitches.
R: With some cork and rubber stuffed in it.
R: But when I hold it, it makes me feel warm.
R: There's no scientific reasoning or logic, but it always gives me the [You can do it!] that I need.
S: I think that's wonderful.
R: ...yeah.
R: I think so too.
R: Um... Sensei?
R: You got a moment?
Rei moves closer
R: Some day...
R: (whisper) I want to become to you what this ball is to me.
R: That's.. all that I wanted to tell you.
S: But you already are like that to me?
R: Huh!?
S: You're a precious student who never fails to make me smile.
R: ...uh
R: Well- thank you but- that's a cheap shot Sensei!
R: But if I can give you just a bit more energy...
R: That's alright for now... hehe.