Adventure Boys Chapter 4 Sky-Blue Arch - Page 87 - Chapter 4 - Sky-Blue Arch - Page 88 - [Back then...] SFX: Bang - Page 89 - Manga: Baseball Manga MIRAC- Bang [I didn't know the meaning of the word reality.] [When you took the mound,] [You threw 150 km/h.] [When you stood at the plate,] [You hit a home run.] - Page 90 - [I was always dreaming.] Scoreboard: Vitamin A Mix [Always.] - Page 91 - [At any time.] [Why don't the grown-ups believe in me?] - Page 92 - [So what if I hadn't hit one yet?] [This was going to be my chance...] [Why...?] - Page 93 - [Why...?] - Page 94 - SFX: Fwap Fwap Hiroki: Nice catch! Way to go, Dad! Sakuragimaru: Okay Hiroki, time for dinner. Back inside. Hiroki: Awww. It's still light outside! Sakuragimaru: I've been getting so much exercise out here, That I'm starving by now. - Page 95 - Sign: Sakuragimaru Sakuragimaru: No talent... Wife: What do you mean? Sakuragimaru: I've been playing catch with him since he was in kindergarten, but he just doesn't get any better at it. Wife: Oh, you're talking about Hiroki? SFX: thump Wife: But you know how much he loves baseball. Hiroki: (zzz) Sakuragimaru: Is he still playing on that little league team? - Page 96 - Wife: He sure is. Why don't you go watch one of his games? Sakuragimaru: Are you kidding? With how busy I am at work these days? Besides, with that coach at the helm... Poor guy oughta find a new hobby, I think. Wife: It's only because you bragged about it. "Daddy was the pitcher and clean-up hitter!" Once you said it enough, he took it seriously. Sakuragimaru: Wasn't bragging. It was the truth. Wife: But you only played baseball in grade school, right? Sakuragimaru: Are you kidding? If I played in middle and high school, I'd have to be still playing now. You know how important your time is at that point in your life? There's only a tiny number of people who can make a living out of baseball. - Page 97 - Sakuragimaru: It's basically just a waste of your life otherwise. SFX: tick tick Sakuragimaru: I was always the type to calmly assess my future to make the right decision. SFX: shwap Sakuragimaru: That's how I'm the business manager at my age. And yet... Somehow I find myself coming into contact with someone who IS wasting their life again. Wife: You mean Hiroki's coach? Hiroki: Is that true, Coach? - Page 98 - Hiroki: Were you really on the same team as my dad? Murayama: It's the truth. Hiroki: Also... Um... Never mind. Murayama: Your dad told you more than that, didn't he? Hiroki: Huh? Murayama: Like, how I was the worst player on the team. Hiroki: Uh, Well... Actually... Murayama: That's the truth, too. - Page 99 - Murayama: In my case, I barely ever got the chance to swing the bat. I was a real small kid, so when they had a wild pitcher... I'd be going up there to get a walk. Of course, given the percentage of times I even made contact, much less got a hit, I don't blame the coach. Hiroki: Just like me, huh? Murayama: Not by a long shot. YOUR dad was the pitcher and clean-up hitter, Hiroki. You'll be just as good as him. I was on the bench all through middle and high school. I only got to play regularly once I was in college. And even then, only in my final year. All I can brag about is my refusal to take the hint. - Page 100 - SFX: honnnk Sign: Suzuhan Sakuragimaru: You idiot! This isn't the lottery, dunce! Bring me some WORTHWHILE data! I need convincing proof that this product is going to SELL! Worker: But Mr. Manager, If we pass up this perfect timing, our home run could end up as just a hit... SFX: smack Sakuragimaru: And what's wrong with a hit? Batting average is better than the one big blast! I want percentage! Director: Sakuragimaru. Sakuragimaru: Oh, Mr. Director. - Page 101 - Director: About the deal next Sunday... Sakuragimaru: Yes sir, I received your message. I ALSO heard about your recent driving contest! You're a beast at the tee, sir. You beat out all those long-drivers at the range... Director: Yes, the golfing was what I wanted to talk about. I'm afraid something's come up, and I won't be able to attend. How about some other time? Sakuragimaru: Sir? Director: I completely forgot that my grandson had a game coming up. I'm going to go and root for him, 9 o'clock Sunday morning. Sakuragimaru: Your grandson's game? What does he play, soccer? Director: Baseball! He's the ace pitcher and clean-up hitter for his team. Sakuragimaru: Ace and clean-up hitter... - Page 102 - Director: Hmm? Sakuragimaru: ...Er, Why, I wouldn't expect any less! A chip off the old block, he must be! Elevator: (ting) Wife: Your father died when you were in middle school, didn't he...? SFX: fshhh Sakuragimaru: What's all this about? Wife: Your mother stopped by during the day today. SFX: kchk Sakuragimaru: Mom was here? Wife: She says the resemblance to your father grows, every passing day. - Page 103 - Sakuragimaru: What? Who does? Wife: You do, obviously. Sakuragimaru: That's crazy. I'm not like him. Not in the least... Wife: Oh, didn't you say your golf outing on Sunday was cancelled? Sakuragimaru: Yeah. Director couldn't make it. Wife: Well, that's perfect. You can go and root for Hiroki. He'll be delighted... Sakuragimaru: Root for him? Wife: He has a game. At 9 o'clock... Sakuragimaru: No... it can't be. Wife: Huh? - Page 104 - [Sunday] SFX: Yahhh Yahhh - Page 105 - [...Well,] [Nothing to worry about...] [I mean, my son is...] [...NOT on the bench?] Hiroki: Hey, batter batter! SFX: Fwap fwap Arrow: Rightfielder Hiroki: Hit it right to me! [...Crap!] Sakuragimaru: M, Murayama. Murayama: Hey, Sakuragimaru. Nice to see ya. Sakuragimaru: W-Why is my son in the starting lineup?! Murayama: ...Oh. Well, we've had a lot of kids get hurt or sick recently. SFX: Clang - Page 106 - Murayama: It's to right! [...Crap!] Hiroki: I got it, I got it! Umpire: Out! Sakuragimaru: Whew. Murayama: Nice play, Hiroki! Sakuragimaru: You call him by his first name? Murayama: Your last name's too long to say. Sakuragimaru: Thank God. Murayama: Huh? - Page 107 - [Two outs, runners on 1st and 3rd...] SFX: Whiff Umpire: Batter out! [Two outs, runners on 2nd and 3rd...] SFX: Yahhh WHIFF Umpire: Batter out! SFX: twitch... - Page 108 - SFX: Yahhh Umpire: Strike three! Batter out! Murayama: Our pitcher's got a wicked fastball, doesn't he? Only one hit so far. Sakuragimaru: Yeah... SFX: Yahhh Sakuragimaru: Give him some runs already. Murayama: We're getting runners on base every inning. SFX: Whiff - Page 109 - [Top of the 6th.] Scoreboard: Cycles Bakeryes (Note: Yes, it should be Bakeries, but the uniforms say Bakeryes.) [The other team has two outs and a runner on 1st.] SFX: Clang Sakuragimaru: You're too far back, you idiot! SFX: Yahhh Murayama: That runner's fast, too. - Page 110 - SFX: Yahhh Sakuragimaru: Do you think Sakuragimaru is a rare last name? Murayama: You're the only one I've ever known. Sakuragimaru: ...right. [Last inning...] [With two outs...] Players: (One more! One more!) [A hit,] [A hit by pitch,] [And a walk.] - Page 111 - [And now, with nowhere left to turn, when one hit wins the game...] [The batter is, naturally...] SFX: whoosh whoosh Murayama: The former ace clean-up hitter's son! Sakuragimaru: Murayama, has he even recorded a single hit at the plate? Ever? Murayama: No hits, but he puts the bat on the ball sometimes. Sakuragimaru: The other pitcher is totally out of gas. He might panic trying to get the win. Murayama: Your point? Sakuragimaru: Please, Murayama. Give him the "take" sign until there are two strikes. - Page 112 - Murayama: But, I don't know the "don't swing at the third strike" sign. Sakuragimaru: Do you still bear a grudge against my father, because of that...? Why didn't you ever tell Hiroki?! Why didn't you tell him I was only the pitcher and clean-up hitter because my dad was the coach?! Why didn't you tell him I was a pathetic hitter who was never entrusted with the chance to swing, just like you were?! Murayama: Because I don't believe that. SFX: Yahhh Fwap Murayama: You were just in a terrible slump at the time. I still have a great amount of respect for your dad. All except for his over-emphasis on winning. - Page 113 - Sakuragimaru: I swore that I was going to pay him back for that, And then the bastard gets himself mortally sick... Hiroki: Hey Daaad! Watch me! I'm gonna get a hit! Sakuragimaru: Where's your proof? SFX: Yahhhh - Page 114 - [The ball, unseen,] [Disappeared far beyond the expansive clouds...] - Page 115 - Sakuragimaru: Director. This is my son. Hiroki: Hello! Director: Because of you, my grandson was the losing pitcher. Hiroki: I'm sorry, mister. I'll get a hit next time! - Page 116 - [Back then...] [I didn't know the meaning of the word reality.] Director: I think you will, too... [When you took the mound,] [You threw 150 km/h.] Sign: Suzuhan Worker: Mr. Manager! The product that you ignored the data and ordered tons of isn't selling at all! [When you stood at the plate, you hit a home run...] - Chapter 4 End -