20th Century Boys
	 Volume 1 : Friend
	  Chapter Seven
	   Softball

 - Page 135 -

[Donkey...]
[Always barefoot Donkey...]
[Donkey...]
[I could never run like you did.]

Chapter 7 : Softball

 - Page 136 -

Sign: Ochanomizu Engineering School

Clerk: Masao...?

Kenji: Yes.

Clerk: Surname?

Kenji: Er...  I don't really know...

Clerk: Well then there's no way I can look for him.

Kenji: I was told he graduated from Musashiyama High School before attending this college...

<<Wife: He said a former student of his had some kind of problem...
	He was supposed to be a top-class student, good enough to go to Ochanomizu University...

 - Page 137 -

<<Wife: He had been getting involved...
	With some horrible "friend"...

<<Paper: INDUSTRIAL HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUCTOR COMMITS SUICIDE
		Jumps from School Rooftop

Kenji: Donkey...

Clerk: Musashiyama Industrial High School...

Kenji: Y...  yes.

Clerk: And what is your relationship to him?

Kenji: Um...

Clerk: For what reason are you looking for this Masao-kun...?

Kenji: Oh...  uh, well...
	H...  he took care of this baby for me!!

Kanna: Daaaaaaa!!

Clerk: Took care?

Kenji: Y...  yeah.  We wanna at least thank Masao-kun for taking care of you for so long, right Kanna?

Kanna: Daaaa!!

 - Page 138 -

Clerk: Musashiyama Industrial High School...
	Yes...  we have a student named Tamura Masao.

Kenji: That's him!!

Kanna: Daaaaa!

Kenji: Where can I go to meet him?!

Clerk: I wouldn't know that.

Kenji: What about classes, or clubs...

Clerk: Oh, Shikishima's class.

Kenji: Whose class...?

Clerk: Professor Shikishima's.

Kenji: Is Shikishima...
	The one who's...

 - Page 139 -

Kenji: Missing...?

Clerk: Huh?  So you know...

<<Chou: Well...  they're gone...
	The entire family.

<<Letter: "It's been quite a while since we've talked, Kenji-kun."
	"Do you remember this symbol?"

 - Page 140 -

Kenji: What the...?
	What the hell is going on...?
	Hey... could you tell me
	where that class is held...?

Clerk: Building 12...
	Oh...  but they're not there, as you can probably guess...
	Actually, I DO know where they are.

Kenji: Where?!

Clerk: The field.

Kenji: Field...?

 - Page 141 -

Players: Nice hit!!
	Second, second!!
	All right!!  One out, runners on first and second!!
	The game-winning runner is on base!!

Kenji: Pardon me...

Glasses: I told you.
	Tamura Masao hasn't been coming here for a while now...

 - Page 142 -

Kenji: Well then...  could you give me an address or...

Glasses: C'mon!  Hit it!!

Kenji: Would you please tell me Masao-kun's address?!

Glasses: Oh, shut up already!  We're down to the wire here!!

Chubby: We're about to beat our softball tournament rivals, Kabuto's seminar!!

Glasses: Do you s'pose we could really graduate, just doing this?

Chubby: If we can't get work, it's Professor Shikishima's fault.

Runner: There's a hole in right!!
	C'mon, bust one for me!!

 - Page 143 -

Kenji: H...  hey, those T-shirts...!!

Players: YEAAAAAAH!!
	GO, GO, GO!!

 - Page 144 -

Players: YESSSS, TIE GAME!!
	ONE MORE RUN!!  ONE MORE RUN!!

Kenji: What's up with you guys...?

Players: What?

Kenji: Those T-shirts!!  They all have the same symbol on them!!

Glasses: Oh...  this?
	We bought 'em off Masao.

Kenji: From Masao...?

Players: Bought them...  more like he forced us to buy them...
	They were really cheap.  980 yen a pop.
	In place of actual uniforms.

 - Page 145 -

Kenji: What is that symbol?  Huh...?

Players: What...  this?
	Somethin' Masao was into?  Or a company logo...?
	Wasn't it some weirdo seminar?
	You mean like a cult?
	It was some kind of organization, that's for sure.
	He was always going on about this "friend" of his.
	Haha, what if they were planning world domination?!
	EEEEEEE!!  SHOCKER!!
	Rider Kick!!
	EEEEEEE!!

(Note: They're referring to the TV show Kamen Rider.)

Other Team Guy: Hey, somethin's wrong with your third base runner.

 - Page 146 -

Players: Owwwwww!!  I think I twisted my ankle when I slid into the base!!
	Oh no...  our game-winning runner!!
	A pinch-runner...
	But we only have 9 players...

Kenji: W...  what...?

Player: Pinch-runner on third!!  This dude here!!

Kenji: W...  what the hell are you talking about?!  Why the hell should I do that for you?!

 - Page 147 -

Players: Please, man!!
	We might be able to beat our rivals, Kabuto's class!!

Kenji: Hold on to this baby.
	Okay, Kanna.
	Just watch your uncle Kenji kick some ass!!

Kanna: Daaaaaaa!!

Kenji: Whooo!!

Players: Uh...  um, you're just a pinch runner, man.  You don't have to be so into it...
	Huh?

 - Page 148 -

Players: H...  hold on...
	Whya takin' your shoes off?

Kenji: When I was a kid, one of my friends told me...
	Running barefoot is faster.
	{That's right...
	Donkey...}

 - Page 149 -

Pitcher: Hrgh!!

Players: Oh no, a dribbler!!
	Huh?!

Kenji: HERE I GO, DONKEY!!

 - Page 150 -

Man: "Friend"...
	The list is prepared.

Friend: I see...
	This person...
	And this person...
	Must be "terminated".

Man: I understand.

Friend: For these ones...

 - Page 151 -

Friend: A "termination" involving full-body blood drainage would be nice.

Kenji: {DONKEY!!}

 - Page 152 -

Ump: YERRRRRR OUT!!!

Kenji: Heheh...

[Donkey...  I knew it...]

Players: What are you DOING?!
	You didn't have to rampage like that!!

[I just can't run like you...]

 - Chapter 7 Owari -