H2
	 Volume 19
	  Chapter 4 (183)
	   Just in Case

 - Page 61 -

(Ch. 4) Just in Case

 - Page 62 -

Hikari: OK,
	cheese.

 - Page 63 -

Hiro: Hmm.

Camera: (click)

Hiro: Don't just take pictures out of the blue!

Hikari: It's not like striking a pose will help your image.
	Natural is best.
	Now that I think of it, I have a bunch of photos of you in kindergarten and grade school,
	but hardly any from the last few years.

Noda: OK,
	let's get a shot of the two old friends, then.

Hikari: Oh?

Noda: There there,
	closer together.

 - Page 64 -

Noda: Smile, Hiro.
	Don't stiffen up.
	Your expression is harsh.

Hiro: Shut up.
	Take the picture!

Noda: Why don't you put your arm around each others' shoulders?

Hiro: No way,
	Hideo will kick my ass.

Camera: (click)

Noda: OK.

Hikari: Oh,
	one more.

Noda: Don't worry,
	I got it.

Hikari: Just in case.

Noda: Whatever you say.

 - Page 65 -

Noda: Now switch.
	Peace!

Hiro: What's that hand doing?

Noda: I don't care if Hideo kicks my ass.

 - Page 66 -

Hiro: Indeed.

Camera: (click)

Noda: Huh?
	No just in case?

Hikari: What?
	Oh,
	right, just in case.
	Sure thing.

Camera: (click)

Hiro: ...so?
	Where's Hideo?

Hikari: This is so strange.

 - Page 67 -

 - Page 68 -

Haruka: We've totally lost them.

Hideo: What?

Haruka: Umm.

 - Page 69 -

Hideo: Oh.
	Yeah,
	right, right.
	It's their fault
	for leaving.
	What?

Haruka: Oh,
	I noticed your arms aren't as thick as I thought they were.

Hideo: I don't appear to live up to the hype, eh?
	It's not strength that crushes the ball.
	As long as your timing, body rotation and bat location are there, it flies into the stands.

 - Page 70 -

Hideo: It's when you feel loose,
	like you might have even missed the ball, that it goes the furthest.
	Were you hoping I'd get injured?

Haruka: Huh?
	Oh, no!
	We're both East Japan representatives, we don't have to worry about meeting in the first round.
	We're fine for now.

Hideo: For now?

 - Page 71 -

Hideo: Well,
	since we're here, let's check out Osaka Castle.

Haruka: We don't have time.

Hideo: Oh,
	you're right.
	Man,
	when did it get this late?

 - Page 72 -

Hikari: Come on, Hiro.
	Put it in the trashcan.

Hiro: I didn't drop it here.
	It was lying on the sidewalk.

Hikari: It doesn't matter WHO tosses an empty can on the street.
	That attitude is destroying Japanese morals!

Hiro: Yeah,
	yeah,
	yeah.
	She's pissed we missed Hideo.

Noda: Think so?

Hikari: You boys better be careful riding two on a bike.

Boy: Yeah, WHATEVER, lady!

Hikari: (what?!)

Noda: Sounds like same old lively Hikari-chan.

 - Page 73 -

Sign: Kagoshima Representative
	Gonan Jitsugyo High School
	Baseball Team

Hikari: That's a school with good discipline.

Hiro: I sense a jab.

Players: You don't have to do this, Kurimaru-san.
	If someone sees you cleaning on your own, people will think we're bullying you.

 - Page 74 -

Kurimaru: Don't worry, I'm just wasting time.

Player: Then find something less visible to do.

Kurimaru: All right.

Noda: Kurimaru?
	I remember that name because it's weird.
	Kurimaru is the name of Gonan's ace, right?

Hiro: Dunno.

Minatogawa: Exactly.
	Gonan Jitsugyo's ace pitcher is Kurimaru.

 - Page 75 -

Minatogawa: And I am its coach, Minatogawa.
	Whose students are you?

Noda: Senkawa High School.

Minatogawa: Here to observe the Koshien?

Noda: Huh?

Minatogawa: You don't have Kansai accents, so you can't be local.

Hiro: Yes, we're from Tokyo.

Minatogawa: So you're rooting for Meiwa Ichi.

Hikari: Yes,
	that's right.

Hiro: Hey.

Minatogawa: Then you'd better pray you don't face us after tomorrow's lot drawing.
	There are lots of pitchers out there with big reputations,
	but most of them are overrated.
	Our Kurimaru is UNDERRATED, because there's too little data out there.

 - Page 76 -

Minatogawa: Kurimaru, got that?
	You go and tell all your friends.
	Then you can brag about it when we win.

Kurimaru: Oops.
	Coach...

Minatogawa: Kurimaru, you dolt!
	Were you even looking, you nincompoop?!

Kurimaru: I,
	I'm sorry!

Hiro: That was interesting...

 - Page 77 -

Sign: Senkawa

 - Page 78 -

#14: Kendaikita
#12: Senkawa

Second board: Day 2

#12: Senkawa
#11: Gonan Jitsugyo

 - Chapter 4 End -