H2
	 Volume 11
	  Chapter 2 (101)
	   Prime Condition, Indeed

 - Page 23 -

(Ch. 2) Prime Condition, Indeed

 - Page 24 -

Announcer: Now, watch carefully, here!
	Sekisho's fourth batter, Shikura Mikio.
	When he gets on a roll, he won't stop.  He holds the city record for the longest hitting streak.
	And over his three years in high school, he's hit over 50 homeruns.

 - Page 25 -

Announcer: So,
	we can predict the pitcher won't throw any perfect strikes.

Ump: Perfect strike!

Announcers: ...oh, Kuruma-san.
	It seems that Kunimi's pitching is faster than it first appeared...  what do you think?
	Well,
	I couldn't say for sure unless I was standing in the batter's box.

 - Page 26 -

Mikio: {He's fast.}

<<Haruka: This is Kunimi-kun.
	He's our ace pitcher.
	Isn't he cool?

 - Page 27 -

Koga: Perfect timing.

 - Page 28 -

Coach: He's given me plenty of surprises over these three years,
	but I have the feeling today's will be the best.

Ump: Ball.

Noda: You lay off the bad pitches well.

Coach: Today, Shikura is an uncontrollable monster.
	I'd bet he could even hit off of a professional pitcher.

 - Page 29 -

 - Page 30 -

Announcer: He hits it!
	It's deep!

 - Page 31 -

Announcer: The pitcher Kunimi throws down his glove in disgust!
	You see, this is why I said he shouldn't have thrown a good strike...

 - Page 32 -

Noda: What was that for?

Hiro: I was angry, of course.
	He hit my best pitch into the outfield.

Noda: Prime condition, indeed.

Announcer: Well...
	In the top of the first inning, Ishigami Shogyo got their leadoff batter on base,
	But, er,
	...did not score.

 - Page 33 -

Dad: Oh,
	is that seat empty?

 - Page 34 -

Man: Go ahead.

Dad: So tell me,
	how's Senkawa's pitcher doing?

Man: He's only pitched one inning.

Dad: But he didn't let up any runs.
	According to the paper, Ishigami Shogyo has a solid lineup of excellent hitters.

Man: But they don't get hits every at-bat.
	Just one hit out of every three, and they're doing well.
	Plus, baseball lasts for nine innings.
	Each batter is guaranteed a minimum of three at-bats.

 - Page 35 -

Dad: Ishigami Shogyo's side of the stands are that way.

Man: I'm not rooting for Sekisho.
	I just know a lot of people on both sides.

Dad: Aren't you hot with that towel around your head?

Man: It's less suspicious than glasses with the lens popped out and a marker-scribbled mustache.

 - Page 36 -

 - Page 37 -

Mikio: An ideal hit for that pitch.

Hiro: Thanks.

Mikio: So what do you think of our current environmental problems?
	Uh,
	I mean,
	ahem.

 - Page 38 -

Mikio: Got any hobbies?

Hiro: Why are you asking me that?

Mikio: Uh,
	I'm just interested in knowing what kind of a guy you are.

Hiro: Why, are you gay?

Mikio: WHAT?!
	No, I love girls!
	More than anything in the world!

Hiro: Well.
	What a relief.

Mikio: Then,
	tell me...

 - Page 39 -

Mikio: What do you think of
	Koga Haruka?!

Ump: Safe!

 - Page 40 -

Dad: Well well,
	good hitting, good pitching, good running.
	An instructor can't produce a player like that even if he tries his hardest.
	They have to be born with that talent, and raised correctly until the age of three.
	The effort of the parents is instrumental.
	And, in the case of boys, the father's presence is naturally very large.  (ha ha)

Man: Actually,
	from what I hear, his father isn't much to speak of.

 - Chapter 2 End -