Kokoro
Thanks!
All ready!
Thanks.
Can I get a new keg?
Hey, you're on a ten-minute pace.
Nice work.
Helps that it's a warm day.
Okay, Ruriko, you're all ready!
All right. Let's give it a go!
Ruriko
Bring in that dough! Yes!
Ruriko the Beer Vendor Girl
I've been in the working world for a few years now.
My name's Murata, and I'm all-in on that corporate slave life.
But there's a place I go to escape it all.
The ballpark!
Batting first: shortstop, Shishio.
I love the ballpark.
There are so many ways to enjoy a game.
You can throw in with the cheer squad and get loud.
Would anyone like a beer?
You can pick a favorite player and watch intently.
Would anyone like a beer?
Me? I like to find a spot in the open seating section and just lose myself in the game.
Would anyone like a beer?!
Hey, mister!
Y-Yes?!
I've been asking if you'd like a beer.
Didn't you hear?
O-Oh, right...
I-I'll take one, then.
Hooray!
That'll be 700 yen!
But that's all foam!
No good?
The foam's got a higher alcohol content. I'm doing you a favor!
Um... Really?
I didn't expect to get hard sold with logic like that...
I'm totally kidding!
You can't tell when someone's making a joke?
You'll never get girls that way!
I know I can't. I've heard it a million times before.
Okay, here! A new one!
Th-Thanks.
Thank you for your patronage!
Batting third: left fielder, Nokogiriyama.
Hey, Nokogiriyama!
I'm counting on you! Vent some of that work stress for me!
Sneak
U-Um... What are you doing?
Taking a break. That a problem?
Well... I couldn't really say.
The gear you have to carry as a vendor is crazy, y'know.
Beer Keg ~20kg
Bills
Snacks
We're basically decked out like an RPG hero.
Change
Cups
And we gotta navigate stairs while we're doing a ton of other stuff.
Pour the beer while preparing change
Making conversation, too
Pant
Huff
Anyone like a beer?!
But one of the veterans here sells, like, 300 cups a day.
Pant
Huff
Me!
Anyone like a beer?!
Me!
Pretty awesome, right?
Yeah...
This vendor girl's pretty talkative.
I don't remember seeing her at this park before...
I figured I'd be earning big money in no time,
but it's been harder than I thought.
She's pretty confident in herself, I guess...
So just being cute isn't enough? Must be complicated.
I never said a word about thinking that I was cute.
I thought I'd succeed because of my gumption...
I get it now. So I'm you're type, huh, mister?
W-Well... from context, I just assumed that was what you meant...
Cutie pie!
Yeah!
Takuma
Nokogiriyama Ken
Shishio
Pride of Chiba!!
Say, mister. Why aren't you in the cheering section?
Well...
It feels presumptuous for a bottom-rung salaryman like me
to shout encouragement at pro baseball players.
I'm not sure why they'd want a stranger like me rooting for them.
That's some seriously twisted logic!
Okay, then. Let's run a test.
Hang in there.
You're always doing such a great job at work.
You did a great job today, too.
Go! Go!
Fight!
We're strangers, too. Was that bad?
Er, well...
Not bad, I suppose.
See? Told ya!
It wasn't bad, but...
Up I go.
I think your encouragement will get through to the players, too.
Anyway, gotta get back to work!
Would anyone like a beer?
Don't go!
I-I'll take one more beer.
But you haven't finished that one. You sure?
We all have different ways of rooting for people.
Hey, is this you trying to encourage me?
Did you fall in love with me or something?!
Shouting "don't go!" like we're in a rom-com...
I shouldn't have stuck my neck out.
Here.
Look at this.
Ruriko
Ruriko's my name. You can shout that instead.
Right.
Thanks. I'll do my best.
Talking to a guy was so nerve-racking!
The vets said you gotta be aggressive with the customers...
I hope my voice wasn't trembling!
I wish I could be confident and positive like her.
Either way, I managed to talk to a customer!
I've taken a big step today!
I'm gonna treat myself tonight!
Celebrate with a frosty cold beer!
Wait, I could do that right now!
Beer Keg
No, I can't drink the merchandise!
Miss, can I have a beer?
Wait. I could sneak back to the locker room...
Um, miss?
{M}Darn it, you know you can't do that!
Miss? A beer?
Welcome, Regular
The term "third place" always sounded a little pretentious to me...
But the ballpark is definitely like that for me.
And night games have their own special joy...
The 800-yen mega-portion ultra meal pack!
I skipped dinner and only had some chocolate for lunch to prepare.
Let's eat!
Hang on, mister.
Y-Yes?!
Hey, it's that vendor girl, Ruriko!
Eating a meal pack without beer?
You got a home run for a brain?
Home... run?
Um, h-hey there.
Good evening.
It's been five whole days, mister!
Here, a beer! 700 yen, please!
Her hard-sell technique has grown more advanced!
This tastes better than last time, somehow.
I get it. You can't beat the combo of beer and a meal pack.
Iconic Duo
Mr. Beer
Mr. Meal Pack
The way you pour the beer makes it taste way different, see?
I've been practicing the heck out of it!
You gotta maintain a 3:7 foam-to-beer ratio,
and form a solid head instead of "crab bubbles."
It's great to know you can taste the difference!
I didn't notice any of that.
You're the only one to catch on so far.
Is that a sign of the depths of your love?
Scary.
But she seems happy, so I'll stay quiet.
Hup!
Welp, buy from me again sometime!
S-Sure.
She's not gonna take a break today?
What are you thinking?! Of course she's not!
Don't get your hopes up, man!
Anderson
Mashiko
Terabayashi
Kanda
Yamazaki
Maruyama
Martinez
Hayashida
Tachibana
Pitch Count
Strikeouts
ERA
Batting seventh: right fielder, Kojiro.
All right, here we go!
The veteran player with over 200 career home runs!
And he's currently running a 120 wRC+!
wRC+ = A metric used by hardcore fans to weigh a hitter's ability to generate runs
It's been two whole years since we snagged him from free agency!
He's still got it, too!
Out of beer just as it's getting good?
Where's Ruriko?
If I look for her too hard, she'll probably tease me again...
You in love with me or something?
Would anyone like a beer?
Maybe I'll flag down another vendor.
Hey, mister.
What's all this, now?
I'm right here, you know.
You must've been looking everywhere for me.
Well, actually...
Yes, that's right.
Thank you for your patronage!
I just got teased anyway.
And not just that...
You actually gave up and almost bought from another girl!
She saw the whole thing!
You can't cheat on me, y'know.
Vendors like me rely on our regulars, y'know.
E-Even so...
I haven't bought from you often enough to be a regular!
And I can buy from anyone I like!
If I had the guts to talk back like that, maybe I'd be better at my job.
I'm sorry.
Yes!
Thanks for always buying from me!
Sweet
Excuse me! I'd like one, too!
Coming!
Hey, mister. You into the "sweetness and light" type?
I-I didn't say that!
Or is it this?
It's the ponytail, right?
W-Well...
That's it, right? Have I won your heart back?
You never had it in the first place!
Don't be so shy! Go on, look!
Look, I get it...
C'mon, look!
I'll make sure to buy from you next time.
You think you can be my regular that easily?
What a hopeless little guy.
Guess I'll come back another time!
See ya, Mr. Regular!
Sheesh.
Huh?!
It's still good, even without the meal?
The way you pour the beer makes it taste way different, see?
The change in her pour technique really did make a difference!
{M}I got my first regular!
Really liked it
Looks good!
Candy and Tears
At Chiba MotorSuns Stadium, there are sights you can always expect to see.
Even when it's hot, even when it's windy...
As long as the MotorSuns are playing that day,
they'll always be there.
Stadium Security for 30 Years Igarashi Ryuichi (65)
Authorized Personnel Only
Good to see you, Mr. Igarashi.
Mr. Rashi, how's it going?
Mr. Kojiro and Mr. Brian. Have another great game!
Authorized Personnel Only
Mr. Igarashi, good to see you again!
Good to see you!
Mr. Shishio and Mr. Ichinomiya.
As peers, make each other better and make the team fun!
Hey, Mr. Iga!
Authorized Personnel Only
Hot enough for ya?
The new vendor girl?
I bet she'll sell a lot of beer today!
Authorized Personnel Only
Hey, Mr. Iga.
Shift change. Go take a break.
You go with him, rookie.
You can ask Mr. Iga about anything you need to know.
Authorized Personnel Only
Security Break Room
Man, this sucks.
I took this job 'cause I like watching baseball.
I thought I could at least get some MotorSuns autographs.
But it's just standing around doing the same thing all day!
How does anyone do this crappy job long-term?
Hey, keep it down!
Hey, check your placement for the next shift.
What, I'm with the old geezer?
Takimoto, you like candy a lot, huh?
It's fine. Keeps up the blood sugar and all.
Here.
Hey, no eating on the job!
Yeah, yeah. I'll run out soon enough.
I space out when my blood sugar gets low.
Would anyone like a Hyper Dry?
What's wrong?
Um... Um, miss...
I'm Miku!
I'm four!
I can't find my mommy and daddy!
You're okay! You're okay!
A lost kid, huh?
This is hopeless. I work on commission, y'know...
Mr. Iga!
Could you help me out?
A lost kid, huh?
Don't you worry, now.
This is Igarashi at tunnel 203.
Lost child secured.
Name: Miku. Female, four years old.
What a pain in the ass.
Who the hell brings their preschooler to a crowded place like this?
Anyone could see she's gonna get lost.
The parents must be crazy.
Hey!
You don't have to say that in front of the kid!
What if she ends up hating the ballpark?!
How you are when you're four is how you'll be at a hundred, right?!
I-I think in the saying it's "three"...
This is way too much responsibility for a security guard.
The lady yelled!
I'm sorry! I shouldn't have shouted!
I'm not mad at all!
I was trying to defend you, actually...
A lost child has been found.
See? It's already on the announcements.
Four-year-old Miku is currently in custody at tunnel 203.
Takimoto, give her this.
Candy?
If this is your child, please come to tunnel 203 promptly.
Why not give it to her yourself?
I'm telling you to do it.
That's not gonna stop her crying.
I repeat: a lost child has been found...
There, there. There, there.
Here, kid. For you.
Thanks, mister.
S-Sure...
Huh? I just remembered...
Isn't that nice, Miku?
Your mommy and daddy will be here soon.
Really?!
Yeah.
And if you ever get lost at the ballpark again,
Mr. Candy here will be there, too.
Okay!
Mommy! Daddy!
Hey, kid, don't worry.
Can you tell me your name and how old you are?
Takimoto Reiji. I'm five.
Okay. Hold on just a minute.
This is Igarashi at tunnel 203.
I've got a lost child.
Name: Takimoto Reiji. Male, five years old.
Takimoto Reiji. Male, five years old.
Let's get that out there.
Want some candy?
Thanks, mister.
A lost child has been found.
A five-year-old boy, Takimoto Reiji, is waiting at tunnel 203...
Isn't that nice, son?
Your parents will be here soon.
Really?!
Yeah. And if you ever get lost at the ballpark again,
Mr. Candy here will be there, too.
Okay!
N-Nothing.
Miku! I'm so sorry!
Mommy!
Daddy's here, too!
Miku!
We can't thank you enough!
Thank you!
Let's play again!
So it was all a big game now? I guess that's for the best...
Authorized Personnel Only
Security Break Room
Hey... Mr. Igarashi?
S-So, like...
I'm really sorry. I didn't take the security job seriously.
You gave me candy here when I was little, too.
I got lost, and I was super scared. I was crying my eyes out...
But I still love watching baseball.
I see.
And that child is working at the stadium now.
I'm glad you didn't end up hating the ballpark.
Yes, sir.
Authorized Personnel Only
Security Break Room
Those quiet dramas of day-to-day life!
Takimoto's got a soft side, too!
You said it.
Here, Miss Vendor. Use this.
No!
I'm an outsider here. It's not my place to cry.
I can hold in my tears.
Okay, I get it.
But you should still take it.
No! It's not my place!
So take it already!
There are sights here you can always expect to see.
Brian
Even when it's hot, even when it's windy...
No matter how much time passes...
They'll always be there.
Next Time
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"The Definition of a Baseball Fan"
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"No! Never!"
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"The Triangular Cloth of Innocence"