H2
	 Volume 17
	  Chapter 8
	   She Wouldn't Cry

 - Page 131 -

(Ch. 8) She Wouldn't Cry

 - Page 132 -

Teams: I
	S

Noda: Shotoku High School...

 - Page 133 -

Noda: When you get down to it, they resemble us.

Hiro: How?

Noda: It's a trusting and well-composed team,
	held together by an absolutely brilliant catcher.

Hiro: It's a dusty and swill-compost team,
	held together by an atrociously bungling catcher?

Noda: I didn't say that!

Hiro: Their catcher is Sugimori...

Noda: Shotoku's control tower.  Their coach puts his full trust in him.

 - Page 134 -

Hiro: Looking at this interview, I can't even tell who's the coach.

Noda: Yeah,
	he seems to be hitting the target much more than those announcers.
	He calmly analyzes and acts on all the information at hand about both his team and the opposing team...
	Every team needs a catcher with glasses.

Hiro: Some people are saying your glasses are fake.

Noda: What?

Hiro: Like, your parents made you wear them in elementary school so that you would look smarter.

Noda: Who made up that pile of bull?!

Hiro: Me.
	Want to rewind it and watch again?

Noda: We can do that tomorrow.

 - Page 135 -

Noda: I'm exhausted.

Hiro: Tomorrow...

Bats: (fwush)(fwush)(fwush)

Noda: You don't need to worry about Hideo.

Hiro: High school baseball happens so quickly.
	You never know what will happen.
	Even Eikyo lost.

 - Page 136 -

Noda: Speaking of which, we never got any phone calls of congratulations.

Hiro: He wouldn't be THAT considerate.

Noda: I meant Hikari-chan.

Bat: (fwush)

Hiro: She knows how good I am, better than anyone.
	She knew I would win.

Noda: Maybe so.

Hiro: Don't take me seriously,
	dork.

Phone: (rrring...)

 - Page 137 -

Haruka: Coming...

Phone: (rrri...)
	(ng)

Haruka: Hung up after one ring.

Hiro: Got anything cold to drink?

Haruka: How about oolong tea?

 - Page 138 -

Phone: (beeee)
	(beep)(boop)
	(bap)(boop)
	(bop)

Hikari: Ah,
	Mom?
	It's me.
	You didn't throw away any of the newspapers, did you?
	...good.
	Yeah,
	don't worry, once the final is over, I'll come home and add to the scrapbooks.
	Yes yes,
	I know, I know.
	Hmm,
	...I see.
	It's Hide-chan's turn tomorrow.

 - Page 139 -

 - Page 140 -

 - Page 141 -

Bugs: (bzz)(bzz)(bzzzt)

 - Page 142 -

Koga: How's it going?

Kine: (gwerk)

Haruka: Only a matter of time.

Koga: How about Tachibana?

Hiro: I don't know what he's thinking.
	He's been swinging for the fences every at-bat.

Koga: ...and?

Hiro: Three strikeouts.

Noda: Two homers.

 - Page 143 -

 - Page 144 -

Teams: M
	H

Koga: Five at-bats,
	three strikeouts...
	two homers?

Haruka: That's a .400 home run average.

Koga: Hmmmm,
	...I guess that's really something.

Hiro: When has he ever batted like this before?

Noda: When he was trying to show off for Hikari-chan?

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Hiro: Yeah.
	...sheesh,
	why now?

Noda: ...right.

Hideo: She wouldn't cry.

Player: Huh?

Hideo: Oh,
	nothing...

 - Page 146 -

Hiro: We've got one extra.
	Who wants it?
	If nobody does, I'll take it.

Kine: Jan, ken,
	Poi.

 - Page 147 -

Hiro: Hey, wait!
	That was too sudden.
	Doesn't count!
	Do-over!

Kine: Sheesh.

Hiro: I wouldn't lose in a fair match.
	I have confidence in janken...
	Poi!
	Uh...  best-of-three!

Kine: Gimme a break.

Hiro: Poi!

 - Page 148 -

Hiro: Noda.
	You got your charm?

Noda: Yeah.
	Not gonna lose it again.

Hiro: Poi.

[North Tokyo Championship,]
[play ball tomorrow at noon.]
[One more until the Koshien...]

 - Chapter 8 End -