H2
	 Volume 22
	  Chapter 5 (213)
	   I Guess It Really Wasn't a Dream

 - Page 77 -

(Ch. 5) I Guess It Really Wasn't a Dream

<<Hiro: Hikari.

 - Page 78 -

 - Page 79 -

Ball: Happy Birthday 17
	by Hiro

 - Pages 80 & 81 -

(Ch. 5) I Guess It Really Wasn't a Dream

 - Page 82 -

Miho: (zzz)

Girl: (zzz)

Clock: (tic tic)(tic)

 - Page 83 -

 - Page 84 -

 - Page 85 -

Hikari: I wonder what I should make you buy
	for my birthday present.

 - Page 86 -

Hikari: You know you shouldn't
	be walking around with your foot like that.
	I guess you couldn't sleep.

Hiro: ...no.
	I'm still asleep,
	even now.
	This is all a dream.
	And when I wake up,
	it will just be time for our game against Ibasho to start.

 - Page 87 -

Hikari: I've never seen you so serious about winning before.
	You pitched so cautiously, walking batters intentionally...
	I guess you really wanted to play Hide-chan.

Hiro: At least at baseball.
	Because I never got a chance,
	in middle school.

Hikari: Of course not, you were on the same team.

 - Page 88 -

Hiro: In love, I mean.

Hikari: What...
	do you mean?

Hiro: Hideo's first love was you.

 - Page 89 -

Hikari: Then, "play"...?
	D,
	don't be silly.
	You were the one who introduced him to me.

Hiro: In 7th grade.
	My first crush was at the end of 8th.

 - Page 90 -

Hiro: See what I'm saying?

Hikari: About what?

Hiro: Look,
	if we went back in time to 7th grade, I still would have gladly introduced Hideo to you,
	And a year and a half later, I would realize again.
	That Hikari's not such a bad-looking chick,
	after all.
	I didn't avoid the competition, and I didn't try to deny it to myself.

 - Page 91 -

Hiro: I grew up a year and a half off from everyone else.
	That's all.
	Still,
	there are times when I think to myself.
	If only he wasn't here,
	you know.

 - Page 92 -

Hiro: And then I would hate myself so much, for thinking that way about my best friend...
	I just wanted to make sure.
	I wanted to confirm
	his existence,
	at the Koshien,
	at my favorite sport...
	Hup!

Hikari: Hiro!

 - Page 93 -

Hiro: Owww...
	So...
	I guess it really wasn't a dream.
	I see.
	I...  I lost.

 - Page 94 -

Hiro: I was doing so well...
	And it was your birthday...
	And Hideo was waiting...
	And I...
	I lost.

Hikari: Hiro...

 - Page 95 -

Birds: (tweet tweet)

Noda: Yaaawn.

Koga: You haven't seen Haruka, have you?

 - Page 96 -

Noda: Oh, she woke up earlier,
	and when she couldn't find Hiro,
	she grabbed a bike and went looking around the neighborhood.

Koga: For Kunimi?
	Where's he going, with that foot?

Noda: He didn't have any time to be alone after the game.

Birds: (tweet twe-twe...)

Koga: The sooner he recovers, the better.

Noda: Yeah,
	well, it was his first time,
	losing at the Koshien...

 - Page 97 -

 - Page 98 -

 - Page 99 -

 - Page 100 -

 - Chapter 5 End -