H2
	 Volume 10
	  Chapter 10 (99)
	   Prime Condition

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(Ch. 10) Prime Condition

Sign: 1 - Kunimi

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[South Tokyo]
[Meiwa Ichi High.]

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[Batting fourth, Tachibana Hideo.]
[Two doubles, two walks, four RBIs.]

Teams: Meiwa Ichi
	Kase

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[North Tokyo]
[Eikyo Academy.]

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[Starting pitcher, Hirota Katsutoshi.]
[Three innings, no hits, six strikeouts.]

Teams: O
	E

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[Both of Tokyo's leading teams plunge into the second round.]

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Haruka: Are you okay?

Mikio: Yeah, I'm fine.

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Kine: Who's that guy?

Hiro: Cleanup hitter for tomorrow's opponent.

Kine: Is he here on reconnaisance?

Hiro: Dunno...

Koga: Do your pitching practice, Kine.
	Because of our upcoming schedule, we might have to rest Kunimi every once in a while.

Kine: Yessah.

Mikio: Greetings!

Koga: Whoa,
	is that Mikio-kun?!

Mikio: It's been so long.

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Koga: You're so big now!
	I remember the anemic little bean sprout you used to be.

Mikio: I still have trouble with heavy sunlight.  Stand still for too long and I start to get lightheaded.

Koga: And yet you're batting fourth for Sekisho?

(Note: Once again, Sekisho is a nickname for Ishigami Shogyo, based on the reading of an abbreviation of the kanji.)

Mikio: Don't worry, in baseball you get to sit on the bench during your team's turn to bat.

Koga: So,
	what are you here for?

Mikio: Oh...
	Actually, I have a request to make.

Koga: Request?

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Mikio: Do you think it would be possible to avoid pitching to me in tomorrow's game?

Koga: Huh?

Mikio: I mean, I'm in prime condition right now.
	I usually have hot streaks and slumps all the time,
	but this time I'm practically on fire!  I've never been doing so well before.
	It's almost scary!

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Koga: He wasn't a joker back then, was he?

Haruka: Nope.

Koga: Did you see our first game?

Mikio: I saw the results in the paper.
	I can only say that it was bad luck you ran into us.
	Everyone on the squad is in top form.
	If we play our hardest, it will be a massacre.
	Your team is brand new.
	And I don't want to see you and HARUKA-chan's team get beaten like that!

Koga: You put more stress on the "Haruka" part.

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Mikio: If it turns into such a mess that nobody wants to join your team next year,
	I'll never be able to face YOU and Haruka-chan again!

Koga: Okay, forget about stressing the words entirely.

Mikio: I've got a memo here that lists all the batting features of our starting lineup.
	It even says the pitches they have the hardest time hitting!
	Since your pitcher's control seems to be good, I think it will help make it more of a fair game tomorrow.

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Kine: Yeahhh!
	Whew,
	I'm tired.
	Here,
	your turn.

Hiro: What was up with that lame pitching?

Kine: You don't want to show off your best weapons when there's a spy in your midst.
	I'm Senkawa's secret weapon.

Hiro: Yeah, yeah.
	I'll make sure you stay a secret forever.

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Hiro: Prime condition!

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[North Tokyo]

Sign: Players and Employees
	ENTRANCE
	All others not admitted

[Senkawa High School.]

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[Ace,]
[Kunimi Hiro.]

Teams: Ishigami Sho
	Senkawa

[Second round.]

 - Chapter 10 End -

 - Volume 10 End -