The Definition of a Baseball Fan
My name is Takino Yuki.
Despite appearances, I used to be a TV announcer.
I'm taking the Keiyo Line train at 5 PM.
I'm very annoyed.
Local for Kaihin-Makuhari
You see, the closer the train gets to Kaihin-Makuhari
the more it fills up with people I hate.
Decked out in their hats and uniforms.
Cheer paraphernalia sticking out of their bags.
I knew it! That's the rhythm of a cheer!
I'm surrounded by baseball fans!
It's maddening!
Iwakawa's new pitching stance pays off.
Three straight HQS...
What's an HQS?
A statistic that indicates a good pitching performance.
Even that gyaru?!
What kind of young person reads a sports paper on a train?!
This is why I hate baseball fans!
Next stop, Kaihin-Makuhari. Kaihin-Makuhari.
The doors on the right side will open.
All that said...
I'm heading to the stadium, too.
But I have a reason for it.
Wearing a number one jersey...
Kojiro's uniform.
Shishio
Shishio!
Go!
Honestly.
Young women these days are all into Shishio.
While my dearest Kojiro earns no female attention!
Would anyone like anything?
How about a Hyper Dry?
Maybe I'll get a beer.
Excuse me!
Hey, thanks!
The gyaru who was reading that sports paper?
She's a vendor here?!
Hey, I know that uniform! It's Kojiro's!
W-Well... Do you like Kojiro?
He's a good player, isn't he?
I'll take a beer.
Thanks!
I don't see many young women in Kojiro gear, y'know?
You're a pretty rare breed!
No female attention at all!
Though I appreciate being called a young woman...
Why, you ask, am I so fixated on Kojiro?
Why do I come to the ballpark despite hating it so much?
The reason is...
Batting seventh: right fielder, Kojiro.
Uniform number one.
Because I'm his wife!
I don't want to hear that he got into a hitting slump because he got married!
It's his second time at bat today.
Two outs, runners on first and third.
It's a dramatic time for an at-bat!
Damn. Does it have to be Kojiro?
Send in a pinch hitter!
We won't score any runs with that sub-200 hack!
Why do they even keep playing that old-timer?
He's 35 years old, damn it!
His last at-bat was a pathetic flyout to right!
He needs to get it together!
This is why I hate baseball fans!
He's getting in the way of developing the young core!
Maybe he'll walk after this year!
Not like any other team would take him.
But could he even make a living if he retired?
Good point!
I can't take it anymore!
Hey, armchair commentators!
Wouldn't a real fan look for a player's good points?!
You've been talking trash this whole time! I heard you, asshole!
Wh-What's your problem? It's all true, isn't it?
Then wouldn't a real fan be clapping their hands to support him?!
Hey, vendor girl! You agree, don't you?!
H-Huh? Me?
Um...
Kojiro's running a 120 wRC+!
Huh? A what?
It means...
Kojiro's still got it!
Kojiro hits a go-ahead three-run blast!
Hell yeah!
He really did it!
I can't believe it!
Awesome!
Kojiro!
Sorry for dragging you into this.
Can I buy another to make it up to you?
That's not really necessary...
I'll buy from you, too!
Me, too!
Gosh, thanks!
Although...
All right, here we go!
The veteran player with over 200 career home runs!
And he's currently running a 120 wRC+!
What the heck is a wRC+?
You're about to take a shower?
Sorry to call when you're busy.
Yes, I saw!
It's no wonder you have a 120 wRC+!
What? I don't really know, but you were amazing!
Great work today! Take care on your way home!
Kojiro
When I sat in the VIP seats, it was always awkward when Kojiro didn't get a hit,
so I decided to try regular seating for the first time in a while.
I suppose it's nice to change things up now and then.
Authorized Personnel Only
Staff Waiting Room
Look at you, Ruriko! You're reading a sports paper?
Hey, Mr. Nakaizumi. Good work today!
It's important for a vendor to know the game.
Any fun stories today?
Oh, yeah! This one was really funny!
I figured out how to get 100 runs in three innings!
"I figured out how to get 100 runs in three innings!"
Hit a home run in the bottom of the first!
Crack!
"Hit a home run in the bottom of the first! Crack!"
Then one-two-three innings in the second and third!
Out!
"Then one-two-three innings in the second and third! Out!"
But you're losing! See? It says 100!
"See? It says 100! But you're losing!"
That's just the comic strip!
Baseball's hard.
90 Minutes Before the Chiba MotorSuns Play
Women's Changing Room
No! Never!
Hey, guys! Do you mind if I ask some advice?
I still don't know what to do when a customer hits on me.
1 Year as a Vendor Sara (High Schooler, Age 17)
What do you do when someone asks for your contact info?
I hear you.
4 Years as a Vendor Kokoro (Part-Timer, Age 22)
I struggled with that at first, too.
These days, I guess I just laugh it off.
Give them your Ninsta account instead of your number.
It'll boost your follower count, too.
4 Years as a Vendor Aona (College Student, Age 22)
Right, Kohinata?
Well, yeah...
10 Years as a Vendor Kohinata (Office Worker, Age 29)
But getting a high follower account isn't all there is to Ninsta.
Whoops! Ordered a large!
Post meals you've had now and then.
It'll give you things to talk about with regulars who follow you!
I went to that restaurant you mentioned!
Isn't the food there delicious?
A pro!
You're amazing, Kohinata!
I wanna be just like you!
They all get guests hitting on them?
1 Week as a Vendor Ruriko (Age 20)
So, Aona, did you start dating Omatsu, the checker?
I wondered that, too!
You figured it out?
Yeah, finally. I was waiting forever!
Hey, congrats!
Just don't get too lovey-dovey in public.
We're not going to!
No one's hit on me...
Have you had any guys who just won't take a hint, Ruriko?
You okay?
Yeah... This one guy hit on me recently.
We all have different ways of rooting for people.
Boy, did that catch me off-guard!
Maybe you should use your Ninsta, too.
I might start doing that, too.
Ninsta?
Yeah, of course!
Ruriko, give me your account info later.
Yeah, and me, too.
Same!
Share it with me, too, please!
Sure thing!
Hey, could you go to the meeting without me?
I'll catch up in a bit.
Okay.
How do I make a Ninsta account?
I'm so lousy with this stuff...
Incompetent with social media
Authorized Personnel Only
Staff Waiting Room
What the heck?!
Okay, all, let's start the meeting.
I'm sure you've heard rumors about this here and there,
but lately we've had some triple-three sleaze balls hitting on the female staff!
I'm pretty sure you know this, but never give personal info to a customer.
You never know when someone might use it to stalk you.
We checkers will keep a closer eye out, too,
but try to keep customer interactions brief and neutral.
Are you listening, Ruriko?!
Y-Yeah!
Personal info, no! Never!
Damn it! I never figured out how to make an account!
Stupid Ninsta...
Man, you can't beat the ballpark!
Let's get to work!
What vendor girls will we see tonight?
I might just go out on a limb!
Maybe that cutie from last time...
Triple-three sleaze balls...
I guess that's what they meant.
Hey, vendor girl! C'mere, little lady!
We'll take some beers!
Three of 'em!
Three beers will be 2,100 yen.
Dang, you've got it going on!
What's your name?
Ruriko
Ruriko, huh?
How old are you, cutie?
I'm getting you on video!
Personal info, no! Never!
So, li'l miss Ruriko.
How's about you give me your number?
Sorry. It's against the rules to give that out.
No. Never.
What area d'you live in?
Maybe we can grab a drink sometime.
The city.
No. Never!
What're you into?
You in college?
What do you think?
No! Never!
Y-You seem pretty mature.
Bet you've got a little brother or sister!
I think I've got a little brother... or sister?
Maybe... or maybe not?
No! Never!
C'mon, don't be so defensive!
You got a boyfriend?
I'm all alone in this world.
No! Never!
All alone? You've got family, right?
Yeah, I got a phone call from my grandpa yesterday.
Hideaki, 65 years old.
I can probably tell them that.
She finally tells us something...
Our only info on Ruriko: Grandfather, Hideaki.
Fine, we get it.
At least give us your Ninsta. Then we'll drop it.
Ninsta?
Nin... sta...
Ninsta!
I don't know how to get a stupid account, okay?!
I'll let you be my first followers if you'll just teach me how it freaking works!
Sure.
If you like...
First, you have to download the app.
Did they send you a code when you put in your phone number or email address?
I don't know what any of that crap means!
Seriously?!
Er, sorry. A code is...
What an entertaining young lady.
The ballpark never gets boring, does it?
I met the funniest
vendor girl!
I'm going to get to know her lolol
Just teach me how it freaking works!
15,000 retweets
40,000 likes
I've gone viral.
Ninsta! Ninsta!
She got her account.
Two years ago, when I was in my third year of high school,
I, Yamada Natsuno, came to the ballpark with a friend...
and fell in love with the beer vendor girls!
Would anyone like a beer?
Their beaming smiles, the flowers in their hair...
And their cute uniforms!
They were like idols to me.
Meal Packs & Snacks
The Head Scarf of Innocence
Here you are!
One standard meal pack!
Thank you for coming!
Chiba MotorSuns Stadium Concourse Concessions Staff for "Atsumori" Yamada Natsuno (College Student, Age 20)
Why, then, am I selling food with a scarf over my hair instead of a flower?
Thank you for coming!
I applied for part-time jobs at the ballpark
and somehow got roped into working here.
Well, see you for your first day tomorrow!
Yamada
Where did it all go wrong?
A vendor girl...
I wish I could wear their uniform...
I-I wanna show my legs, too!
My legs... My legs...
They're pretty nice, okay?!
Oh, how did I end up here?!
Er... one mega-portion ultra meal pack, please.
Thank you for coming!
One mega-portion!
Oh, whatever shall I do?!
Tripe stew, please.
One tripe stew! Here you are!
Oh, cruel fate!
One nori meal, please!
Yes, one nori meal!
And two sets of chopsticks!
Th-Three hundred yen is your change!
Two years had passed without anyone seeing Yamada Natsuno's (in her words) beautiful legs.
Meal Packs & Snacks
Hey, Yamada!
Hello.
Could I get some fried chicken?
Coming right up!
Hey, you've sold a lot of stock today!
Thanks for noticing.
We're past the rush, I think.
We got a huge wave after they tied it up in the fifth.
Shishio's on fire, right?
Three hits and three RBIs!
Here you are.
Thanks.
See you later. Good luck!
Thanks! Come again!
Yamada.
Hey, Mr. Manager.
You seem a little down.
Are you all right?
No, I feel just fine!
I've been thinking.
Contract negotiations aren't just for players.
Sorry?
I'm raising your hourly pay 100 yen!
Th-Thank you, sir...
I got a raise!
You're such a hard worker. It's so great to see!
Me and my stupid work ethic!
I'm such a sucker!
Excuse me.
Welcome!
Do you have any fried chicken left?
Sure. One fried chicken...
Thank you for coming.
Hey...
You look under the weather.
Are you all right?
O-Oh, er... N-Nothing...
B-Bye.
I-I always enjoy the food here.
Just now... he was kind of like Prince Charming!
I would enjoy stealing your heart, as well.
Knock that off. Don't think that way, silly!
It doesn't mean anything!
Yamada.
Are you sure you're all right? You're not sick or something?
I-It was the rush, that's all. I might be overheated.
I've been thinking.
Jobs are like fielding positions. You have to find the one you're cut out for.
Sorry?
I was thinking of making you shift leader!
I'm getting a promotion!
I always feel so much better knowing you're on the job.
Glad to hear it...
Closed
There we go.
I think we all sold a lot today!
Yeah, tons of parties in the first and third base seats.
Head scarf and long pants...
Will this be how I spend my college life?
Hey, miss!
We ate the whole meal you gave us!
We'll come back again!
R-Right.
She'll come back again, huh?
I might not get a flower in my hair, and I can't show my legs, either...
But maybe I'll stick around a little longer!
Yamada!
I'll be hiring a graduate next year! You want that to be you?
O-Oh, well... I...
Um... I'll think about it!
Next Time
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"The Goddess of Baseball?"
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"The Invincible Mascot"
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"Rah! Rah! Rah!"