H2
	 Volume 8
	  Chapter 9 (78)
	   Friend A?

 - Page 149 -

(Ch. 9) Friend A?

 - Page 150 -

TV: Tsujii is on the sidelines, being examined by a doctor.
	Hirota is on the mound, looking extremely concerned.
	According to Coach Shiroyama, Hirota-kun is surprisingly timid,
	and has choked up in high-pressure situations like this several times in the past.
	I see.
	Rather unexpected, if you ask me.

Shuji: The coach's follow-up is perfect, too.

 - Page 151 -

Noda: Even if he did it on purpose, the paper said Eikyo was the favorite.

Shuji: It's just a precaution.
	Trust me, he'll use any method he can to ensure a win.

Hiro: I know a great method for winning, too.

Shuji: Which is?

Hiro: Constant practice.
	Don't slack off before the entrance ceremonies.
	Make sure to run by yourself, everyday!

Shuji: Didn't Hide-chan ever tell you?
	I'm the type of person who does that without being told.

 - Page 152 -

Hiro: Now that just sounds like cocky punk-talk to me.

TV: Yes, and they're going to substitute Tsujii-kun out of the game.
	There's a pinch-runner at first!

Shuji: He's an extremely cunning pitcher.  He won't make any mistakes.
	And his skills are top rank, of course.

Hiro: If he only used his head for pitching, he could have been an even better pitcher.
	No matter how smart you are, if all you think about is winning, you're going to fall behind in your studies.
	In most sports, you learn more from losing than you do from winning.

 - Page 153 -

Shuji: You're not going to learn anything by losing to him.

Hiro: No,
	WE'RE going to be doing the teaching.
	We'll show him how important it is to lose.

Shuji: Make sure there's an opening at shortstop around April.

Hiro: Jackass.
	We're not giving a brand new player a starting position if he's only marginally better.

Shuji: Don't worry.  I'll make sure the others are convinced.

Noda: Cocky punk.

Hiro: Well,
	for now, at least.

 - Page 154 -

Sign: Kunimi

TV: The lights are on, and it has turned into a nightgame.
	This is the third day of the tournament, the fourth game.

 - Page 155 -

TV: After hitting the leadoff batter Tsujii with a pitch
	and working out of a two-out situation with runners on second and third,
	Hirota has pitched a masterpiece!
	From the second inning onward, his pitching has been phenomenal, with only two walks allowed.
	No hits so far!
	It's a 5-0 Eikyo Academy lead,
	as we head into the home stretch!

Teams: Moriyama
	Eikyo

 - Page 156 -

Dad: Eikyo Academy's in North Tokyo, like your school, right?

Hiro: Yeah.

Dad: He'll be on the front page tomorrow.
	Instant celebrity.
	Y'know, if you're so great, why don't YOU get in the paper sometime?

Hiro: Heh.
	Heh.

Dad: What?

 - Page 157 -

Hiro: Yep,
	front page.

 - Page 158 -

Paper: Sanpo Sports
	NO HIT SHUTOUT
	Eikyo Academy HIROTA

Hiro: Hmph.

 - Page 159 -

Paper: [Report] TACHIBANA HIDEO
	Meiwa Ichi Junior, #4

Hiro: Ooh.

Paper: "Just a normal teen," say his parents.
	Friend A, a former teammate from Seinan MS (currently at Senkawa HS)

Hiro: "Friend A"?
	He's always been vastly better than me?
	The Koshien is a dream within a dream within a dream for me,
	but for him, it's nothing more than a single step in his baseball career?
	I'll be proud of being his teammate for the rest of my life?
	Who said that?!

 - Page 160 -

 - Page 161 -

TV: Homerun!
	Tachibana Hideo's second homer of the day!

Noda: Three bombs in two games.

Hiro: The pitcher's got guts.
	Actually pitched to him.

Haruka: Kunimi-kun,
	people from the TV station want to interview you.

Hiro: Huh?

TV: And he steps on the plate!

 - Page 162 -

Hiro: Go find someone else to bother, dammit!
	I don't CARE how many homeruns Hideo hit!

Kine: Listen to my story!

Noda: (yeah yeah)

Hiro: We're practicing, so leave us alone.

Reporter: Practicing for what?

Hiro: I'll tell you what!
	For health reasons.

Reporter: Meiwa Ichi's incredible second year cleanup hitter, Tachibana Hideo,
	has hit three homers in his last two games.
	Here speaking with us about him, was an old middle school teammate, Senkawa High School's pitcher,
	Friend A.

 - Page 163 -

Dad: Bwahahaha.

Hiro: (click)

Phone: (ring...)

Hiro: Yo.

Hikari: Ah,
	is this Friend A's house?

Hiro: Not funny...

Hikari: Hahaha.
	You think you've got it bad?  We've got it worse.
	There are swarms of girls all around our campus.
	Hide-chan can't take a step out of the practice area.

Hiro: Serves him right.

 - Page 164 -

Hideo: Hiro!
	Did you see that second homer today?!
	That one went crazy far!

Hiro: If you don't show any signs of weakness, all the pitchers are gonna walk you.

Hideo: Sorry for all the trouble.

Hiro: Whatever.
	Are there any hot girls among the swarms around your campus?

Hideo: Not on the campus, but there is one right here.
	Sitting next to me.

Hiro: I'm hanging up.

Hideo: Ah, wait!
	Hikari wants to talk.

Hiro: What, still?

 - Page 165 -

Hikari: Fight hard.

Hiro: Hmm?

Hikari: Fight hard and get into the summer Koshien,
	Hiro.

Hiro: Yeah.

 - Page 166 -

Girls: That's him.
	Ohmygod, it is.
	Kyaa!
	Excuse us!
	Can we have your autograph?

Hiro: Autograph?
	With my name?

Girls: Yes, Tachibana Hideo's Friend A.

Hiro: I have a name, dammit!

 - Chapter 9 End -