H2
	 Volume 3
	  Chapter 9 (28)
	   Simple, or Just Naive?

 - Page 149 -

(Ch. 9) Simple, or Just Naive?

 - Page 150 -

Hideo: Back then...
	You told the coach that if he made me hit cleanup,
	you'd quit the Hakusan Angels.

 - Page 151 -

Kine: That coach didn't know what was good for him.
	True, after you joined the team,
	we went from being a 2-1 or 3-1 victory team to one that scored at least 5 runs a game.
	But the number of runs you let up after that went through the roof!
	It wasn't YOU the team needed, it was ME!
	ME ME ME ME!

Hideo: Don't blame it all on the coach.
	I chased you out.

 - Page 152 -

Hideo: By making you out to be an untrustworthy kid.
	Thankfully, nobody on the team wanted to take your side, so it was nice and easy.

Kine: What do you mean?

Hideo: Simple,
	I just put the manager's wallet in your bag so he'd find it in there.
	Twice.

 - Page 153 -

Hideo: Well, let's let bygones be bygones.
	Being cleanup for the Hakusan Angels
	ensured smooth riding over the elite baseball rails I've set myself through middle school and high school.
	Naturally, my considerable talent is what enables me to take this path.

 - Page 154 -

Hideo: My one miscalculation was
	Hiro starting baseball again.
	Just when I had gotten him to go to a school with no baseball team.

Kine: You mean that fake doctor who looked at Kunimi's elbow was...

Hideo: My idea, of course.
	But,
	oh well...
	That baseball club will break up in a week.
	They have no chance of winning.

 - Page 155 -

Kine: Weren't you friends?!

Hideo: Oh, yes.
	If there was no baseball.
	Any little stones on top of my career rails get knocked off into the soccer team.
	I don't care whether the popularity of baseball is going up or down.
	As long as my contract money keeps rising, it's all good.
	You're a bright guy.  Give up baseball.
	We could be friends.

 - Page 156 -

Hideo: HA HA HA!

Kid: Excuse me!

 - Page 157 -

Kine: You BASTARD!
	You won't get away with this, Tachibana!
	Just watch!

Hideo: I don't know if he's simple,
	or just naive...

Kid: (thanks!)

 - Page 158 -

Sign: Tachibana Liquor & Groceries

Hiro: Hideo, you jackass!

 - Page 159 -

Hiro: So, I'm a stone in your path?!
	We'd be friends if we didn't play baseball?!
	Knocked me into the soccer team?!
	What kind of crap is that?!

Hideo: Simple, or just naive...

Hikari: You dummy.

 - Page 160 -

Hikari: Stole the coaches wallet and framed someone else for it?
	You dummy.
	You're supposed to be his friend!
	Can't you tell whether or not Hide-chan would do something like that?!

Hiro: I didn't know Hideo in grade school.

Hikari: And he took you to that quack doctor so you would quit baseball?

Hiro: That's cold!

Hikari: Would the defendant kindly point out, exactly WHO it was that took him to that doctor saying the man knew what he was doing?!

Noda: Why,
	it was him, your honor.

 - Page 161 -

Hikari: You dummy.

Hiro: Ahhh, shut your piehole.
	I thought it sounded a little odd.

Hikari: A LITTLE odd?
	It's totally crazy!
	It should have clicked in your mind immediately!
	Why else would Hide-chan play the villain?!
	You're his friend!

Hiro: (click)

Hikari: Yaaah!

Hideo: So, is Kine gonna play on your team, then?

 - Page 162 -

Noda: Yep, he was way pumped up.
	He was all like, "I'm totally gonna kick that guy's ass!"

Hiro: Thanks.
	I'll make sure to clear things up once the game is over.

Hideo: It's okay.
	It still doesn't change the fact that I was the one who caused him to quit playing baseball.
	As long as you and I can play a no-holds-barred baseball game, it's all good.

Hiro: Next is Yanagi.

Noda: Yeah.

Hideo: Yanagi?

 - Page 163 -

Hiro: Don't you remember?
	The second baseman from Kita Middle School.

Hideo: He's at YOUR school?!

Hiro: Yeah,
	but his dad's the problem here.

Hideo: I never heard about that.

Hiro: Well Hideo, since you're currently enjoying the villain role so much,
	why don't you call Yanagi and tell him you'll blow up his house if he doesn't play...  or something.

Hideo: You moron!

 - Page 164 -

TV: Crack!
	Raaah!
	don don don

Omori: My name is Omori, and I've been assigned to the position of branch manager of the Momiji Bank.

 - Page 165 -

Omori: So, the Koshien is finally starting.
	That means summer is here in Japan.
	And which high school would you be an alumnus of?

Principal: Sosei.

Omori: Sosei?

Principal: OX Prefecture, Sosei High School...

Omori: Oh.
	Ohhhh.
	That...

Principal: That,
	what?

Omori: Ah,
	nothing...
	(ahem)
	Moving along,
	I'd like to discuss your fixed deposit, which has now reached its maturity...

 - Page 166 -

Principal: I'm canceling it, of course.

[Days left until the big game:]
[Umm...]
[Really soon.]

 - Chapter 9 Owari -