Takumi Harada, a pitcher, meets Go Nagakura, a catcher.

Seiha wants to play baseball but Takumi says he can't; After Takumi throws a ball in the woods, Seiha doesn't come home that night.

Takumi starts attending Nitta Higashi Junior High and signs up to be on the baseball team; Coach Tomura sees Takumi pitch on his first day of practice, and tells Takumi to cut his hair.

Teenager Takumi Harada, a newcomer to his grandfather's neighborhood, meets Go Nagakura, a classmate who shares Takumi's love of baseball and inspires him to join the school baseball team as a pitcher.

Takumi is ganged up on and beaten by a few of his teammates inside the equipment room; Go finds Takumi and brings him home to treat him; The school learns of the beating and the team faces punishment.

Tomura tries catching for Takumi; Tomura proposes an exhibition game with Yokoteni Junior High, but the principal says no.