Strike zone?

Yes, it's the game where you throw baseballs at a board with number panels on it.

Yeah, I think I've seen that before.
Getting the ball to hit each panel's supposed to feel pretty good, right?

But it also seems really difficult since you need good arm control...

Still, Kanade, you went out of your way to recommend it, so I'd like to give it a try!

Yeah, we can try it together!

Thank you...

Still, Kanade, I didn't expect you to choose something like this.

Does this mean you like baseball...?

I don't know the rules very well...

When I was little, there was a facility like this near my house, and I remember playing strike zone there with my dad.

He taught me how to throw the ball that time and I even managed to win some juice...

I had so much fun that I was hoping to try it again someday.

Alright, for Kanade's sake, we absolutely have to win the grand prize for getting a perfect score!

The grand prize?

Yeah, it was written in the pamphlet! If you get a perfect score, you win a free pass to PXL! You can also win some juice for each bingo you get!

Hmm... That does make things more interesting. A perfect score's probably out of the question, but a bingo sounds doable...

Okay.

(I'm really not sure how well I'm going to do since it's been so long...)

(But we get to do this together, so I should try to have fun...)

We get a total of twelve balls, so that's three apiece... How about we switch out each time we throw a pitch?

Got it!
Alright, who's gonna lead?

Me! I'd like to go first!
I'll start us off on the right foot!

Now pitching... Minori Hanasato!

Hold and... Throw!

Whoa! So fast!

Th-That's incredible. She got one on her first try.

But in the other lane...

The other lane... That's sort of a miracle in its own way... It's very you, Minori.

Nooo... I couldn't do it...
Ichika, save us...!

O-Okay, I'll try...!

Alright... Here goes nothing!

I-It's in! I got #5!

Nice one, Ichika! That was awesome!

And she nailed the one in the center.
As long as we hit any of the other ones, we'll be one step away from getting a bingo.

That was really impressive, Hoshino...

Th-Thank you.

Alright, I'm next.
I need to keep the wave Ichika created going.

Here we go...!

Huh?! I totally hit it, right?!
Why isn't it saying that I did? Is the machine broken?

I think it's because you hit the outer frame. That might be why it believes you didn't get it...

What?! I so thought I got it just now!

It was a good try, Ena.

Grr... That's so frustrating...!

That's okay! You'll get it next time, so hang in there, Ena!

You're next, Kanade.
Good luck.

Okay, thank you.

(I haven't done this since I tried it with Dad all those years ago...)

(I think he started by showing me how to actually throw the ball.)

(You're supposed to grip it using three fingers...)

(Pull your elbow back, step using your foot on the opposite side and... Throw!)

Go...!

...!
Kanade, your pitch...!

It's slowly arcing...!

And it bounced in front of the panels...

...
I'm sorry, everyone.

That's okay, Kanade!
It's still your first pitch!

And your form was so pretty!
I'm sure you'll hit it after some fine-tuning!

And it's actually pretty far to the panels, so you sort of have to get a better feel for how to gauge the distance. I mean, that's what I'll need to do as well.

Yeah! I just need to get a better feel for things!

Your issue seems to be on a different level compared to us, Minori...

Thank you all very much.
I'll do my best to hit it next time.

Alright, round two!
I'm absolutely gonna get it right this time!!

With all my might... Here goes pitch number twooo!

Minori, if you throw it that hard...!

Oh... It hit the wall...

Wh-Why?!
I'm so sorry, everyone!

Our last pitch... With you closing it out for us, Kanade.

And I thought we had this in the bag after we got #5 during our first go-around...

B-But Ichika hit #1, so we can still get a bingo as long as we hit #9!

Aiming for a specific spot seems easier said than done...

So much pressure...

Just try to relax, Kanade.

Yeah.
Don't worry about trying to win a prize.

It'd be nice if we won, but more than anything, we're here to have fun.

So, Kanade, give it everything you've got!

Okay, I will...

(Having fun is more important...)

(I didn't think I had any time to have fun...)

(But if that's what'll make them happy...
I should enjoy the time I have with them.)

(And recall exactly what Dad taught me that day...)

(Right. My hands and feet have to be in sync for me to get the ball to go anywhere...)

One, two, three... One, two, three...

(Throwing a ball's just like music... My body needs to stay in rhythm...)

One, two... Throw!

Hey, that pitch looked really good!

And it's going straight! As long as it reaches the panel...!

Go!!

I-I hit it...?

#9 too... Hang on. That means...

Yay!
Kanade, bingo!

H-Hanasato...!

That was amazing, Kanade!
I can't believe you actually got it!

My heart was racing just now...!

Th-Thank you.
I can't believe it either...

But I'm glad that I managed to succeed in the end...

I really appreciate the support you all gave me. Again, thank you...

Kanade...

I'm really glad too. I don't think I've ever seen you smile like this before.

Oh...