The chapter opens with a description of the heat wave that's sweeping through the country. It's so hot that it's hard to believe that the game is going to be played in the middle of the day. The narrator tells us that he's worried about getting sunburned on his head. He's also worried about the coach, who's always looking out for his team's best interests. He tells the players to make sure they know how to play the game, drink water regularly, and be on their best behavior on the field. He also tells them that the starting pitcher, furuya, is feeling better. He says that he and the other players have learned a lot from their meeting with the other team, and that they're glad to be back on the winning track. They're going to play their own style of baseball, he says. The key to this, he tells us, is whether or not the team that wins will advance to the next round of the tournament.