午夜剧场

The game against Koryo High School, a title contender, was scheduled for August 15th. However, due to concerns about Typhoon No. 7, the student cheering squad had already entered Osaka on the 14th. The typhoon hit the Kansai region directly, and the game was cancelled. The game, postponed to the following day, saw Juku High School take an early lead, but the opponent caught up in the final stages, leading to a nerve-wracking development. Batting first, Juku High School managed to snatch three points in the top of the 10th inning during the tie-break extension, and successfully held off the bottom of the inning to win the fierce battle.

It is customary for the Baton Club to hold a short meeting after cheering for a game to review the match and point out any concerns regarding the cheering. Perhaps because it was such a tense and great game, several girls were crying with emotion. This would not do. I immediately told them, "The baseball team is fighting with the slogan 'KEIO Japan's Number One.' There is still more to come; it's too early to cry."

The quarterfinals were three days away. We had changed our plans to stay in Osaka if we won. This decision proved successful. I heard that the Tokaido Shinkansen schedule remained disrupted, and unfortunately, some parents and alumnae were unable to return home and had to stay in Osaka. We avoided exhausting our physical strength and secured two full days of rest before the quarterfinals. This was a good thing.

I heard it was an idea from the Juku High School brass band students, but since they were still shy and their voices weren't loud enough—meaning cheering instructions weren't getting through—they wanted to rent a studio in Umeda to practice cheering. I expressed two concerns. One was my hesitation to let students rent a studio and practice by themselves in an unfamiliar area. The other was the risk of students contracting infectious diseases in a closed studio while shouting loudly. I discussed this with the students many times, but they would not back down. There are currently no third-year members in the Baton Club. This is because during the COVID-19 self-restraint period, new members at the time did not stay on, as there were no spectators allowed at games or only clapping was permitted without vocal cheering. After all, the time they are now allowed to actually go and cheer with their voices is precious. I approved the practice on the condition that they practice hard and ensure proper ventilation. In the end, they reportedly practiced for about four hours.

While the team went on a winning streak from the quarterfinals onward, I believe the Baton Club was able to maintain its composure and cheer consistently in the Alps stands. I feel that the girls grew significantly during those two days after the Koryo match. This summer was hot, and above all, it surely became a passionate memory.