H2
	 Volume 18
	  Chapter 8 (177)
	   Congrats on the Koshien

 - Page 129 -

(Ch. 8) Congrats on the Koshien

 - Page 130 -

Guy: Can we talk?

 - Page 131 -

 - Page 132 -

Miho: Eeek!

Hiro: Oops,
	sorry.

Miho: Watch it, jackass.
	Huh?

 - Page 133 -

 - Page 134 -

Hikari: Kyaaaa!

Sign: Please keep dogs leashed

Hiro: {Hikari!}

 - Page 135 -

Hiro: Let her go!

Director: CUT!
	Cut!
	Cut!

 - Page 136 -

Woman: Sorry,
	Sorry I'm late.

Director: Show up on time, Etchan!  Geez.
	We gotta do this scene before the fireworks end.

Etchan: (heh)
	It took a while to do my makeup.

Director: Who cares about makeup?
	All you do is die in this scene.

Etchan: Huh?

Director: Sorry for the confusion.
	The girl who plays the victim has arrived...
	unfortunately.

Etchan: What's that supposed to mean?

 - Page 137 -

Hiro: University film club?

Hikari: Yeah.
	They BEGGED me to do it.  I couldn't refuse.
	And then the frenetic dolt jumped onto the film set.
	Sounds like something right out of a manga.

Hiro: Sheesh.
	Not a GOOD manga.
	Only a total hack would rely on a cheap cliche like that.

 - Page 138 -

Hikari: However, if you jumped in swinging and got hurt,
	I believe that would be a problem, for a Koshien pitcher.

Hiro: Whatever!

 - Page 139 -

Hikari: I see.
	So he fell asleep.

Hiro: He'll be pissed again.
	I can't wait.

Hikari: Has it been five years?

Hiro: What?

Hikari: Since I saw these fireworks with you.

Hiro: Four.
	I was with you and Hideo the first time you went together.

 - Page 140 -

Hikari: I invited you after that, too.

Hiro: As a formality.

Hikari: True.
	Congrats on the Koshien.
	I hadn't told you yet,
	right?

Hiro: Yeah.
	That's right.
	It's the Koshien now.

 - Page 141 -

Hikari: What, aren't you happy?

Hiro: Hell yeah!
	I'm insanely happy.
	It just seems to be working out too well.
	I dunno,
	it doesn't seem real...

Hikari: You said God wanted to see it, didn't you?
	He wanted to see you and him showdown...

Hiro: ...right.

 - Page 142 -

Hiro: Which means we'll be the ones who win.

Hikari: Why?

Hiro: God's looking for a dramatic game.
	Based on the power relation between us, a Senkawa victory would have to be more surprising and exciting.

Hikari: Not quite.
	An ace pitcher who is finally eclipsed by Hide-chan on the last pitch is just as dramatic.
	Especially if he split a nail and the ball was bloody.

Hiro: Right, and then we'd hug on the mound.
	Ridiculous!

People: (zawa)(zawa)

Hikari: Looks like they're down the final fireworks.

 - Page 143 -

Hiro: Let's see.

Hikari: Eeek!

 - Page 144 -

Hiro: That was the last one?

Hikari: God, that scared me!
	Who would have done that?!

Miho: Bwahaha.
	That made for an excellent snapshot.

 - Page 145 -

Miho: Whoa, hold on,
	what are you doing in the middle of the path?
	You're in my way.
	Move it!

 - Page 146 -

Director: Cut!  Cut!
	Dammit, the fireworks are ending!

Miho: Hey!
	My camera...

Etchan: Director,
	when's my close-up?

Director: You just died, remember?

Miho: My camera!

Hikari: I'm rooting for Hide-chan, just so you know.

Hiro: As if that wasn't obvious enough.

 - Chapter 8 End -