H2 Volume 3 Chapter 4 (23) A Big Challenge? - Page 59 - (Ch. 4) A Big Challenge? - Page 60 - TV: Ball four! Shinkawa has a runner on, here in the bottom of the ninth with one out! Hiro: This is where the problem starts. - Page 61 - Hiro: It's the fielding. The fielding sucks. Noda: Throw to second, everybody safe. It's not like they had to push it. Should have just gone with the easy out. Hiro: They've only got one run to protect... So now there's two outs, runners on second and third... - Page 62 - Hiro: Then this weak little blooper... Both runners are going because it's two outs, and they score. Noda: 2-1, game over. No more Koshien. Hiro: Sigh. Hideo: Shut up! We're the ones who are supposed to be disappointed! You're supposed to be my friends, why don't you try giving me a word of consolation or something?! Hiro: You suck! - Page 63 - Hiro: WE'RE the ones who are really bummed out! Noda: Yeah! Hideo: Wow, I didn't realize you were rooting for me that seriously. Noda: We wanted you to go to the Koshien, man. (sniff) Hiro: Look, I'd understand if Shinkawa was totally better than you guys, But you could beat them seven times out of ten! You sucked! Hideo: Oh well. You only play each game once. Hiro: Your batting is as good as ever. That junior pitcher will use this failure as a stepping stone to get even better. This is clearly going to be one big challenge. - Page 64 - Hideo: A big challenge? For who? Hiro: For us, of course. Hideo: Huh? What in the world are you talking about? - Page 65 - Bugs: (zz)(zz) (zzzt) Sign: Senkawa Private High School - Page 66 - Hiro: Hey! Did you hear? From your dad. Yanagi: Sounds like you guys are in a jam. - Page 67 - Hiro: The game's in 10 days. Meiwa's field. Got it? Yanagi: Huh? Hiro: I'm leaving second open. - Page 68 - Yanagi: I told you, I can't... Hiro: You should stand up to your dad for once. Father-son bonds aren't made so that one side can take complete advantage of the other. At this rate, you'll never tell him how you really feel, and you won't understand the real reason why your dad hates high school baseball. Yanagi: Real reason? Hiro: Yep. Adults are obsessed with honor. You may be losing your best opportunity to take down your dad's acknowledged hatred of high school baseball. - Page 69 - Hiro: Besides, whether you're talking about baseball or something else, hating someone who's trying their best is just stupid. All that we know for sure is that we'll need you to play second in order to show your dad a decent game. Later. Yanagi: Kunimi-kun! Hiro: It's not a true bond unless both sides hold their own, Yanagi. - Page 70 - Hiro: How was that? Haruka: You were very persuasive. Hiro: I suppose that father-son bond thing was a little cheesy. Noda: No, that's just what he needed to hear. Haruka: I wonder if he'll come... Hiro: It's all one big wager. Even to see whether or not his fielding can beat Meiwa. - Page 71 - Kine: Greetings, members of the Baseball Club! Considering what to do after you've broken up? Don't worry about Koga. The soccer team will take her in as our responsibility once you're gone. HAHAHAHAHA! Hiro: Don't you have anything to do? Like play another school? Kine: Psht. The REAL soccer begins in January. You can sit inside at home, nibbling oranges while watching my valiant figure on TV! And you're breaking up! Hooray! Hiro: You gonna play any other schools? Kine: HAHAHAHA - Page 72 - Sign: Open Hikari: If they beat us, they're the school team? If they lose, they have to break up? Huh?! What is that all about?! - Page 73 - Hikari: What a jerk of a principal! That has to be some kind of cruel joke! Hideo: Really? Hikari: Yes, really... That club will never win! Hideo: We're playing Hiro. Hikari: There are 9 players on a team! Hideo: We've got 80. Hikari: What are they thinking?! - Page 74 - Hikari: Lose to them. It's just a practice game, right?! Hideo: For us. But they're serious. They'll be playing desperately. Wouldn't it be rude to go easy on them? Hikari: Don't you want Hiro to be able to play baseball?! Hideo: No, I don't. Because I want to go to the Koshien next year. Hikari: Hide-chan! - Page 75 - Noda + Hiro: Hironaga-san at first... Arikawa-san at short, ignoring his weak arm. Right field should be... Nemoto-san, for now. So Yamaguchi-san in center? Wait, then third base would have to be... - Page 76 - Hiro: Aaaargh! If we don't have at least one more good player, we'll never stand a chance! Hideo: Hey c'mon, don't use enemy territory for your base of operations. Hiro: Shut up and go be a good host. Get us some nice cold drinks, dick. Poster: DEFEAT MEIWA ICHI! Hideo: What the hell did you put on my wall?! - Chapter 4 Owari -