H2
	 Volume 25
	  Chapter 3 (241)
	   This Is the Only Thing

 - Page 41 -

(Ch. 3) This Is the Only Thing

 - Pages 42 & 43 -

Ump: Three outs!
	Change sides!

Koga: We didn't...

Haruka: Tie it.

Scoreboard: Senkawa
	Eikyo

 - Page 44 -

Coach: Hirota!

Hirota: I forgot why I was covering first base.

Koga: H-hey!
	Where's our leftfielder?!

Shima: Uh, sorry.
	I was in the bathroom.

 - Page 45 -

Koga: Get out there already!

Shima: Yes, sir.

 - Page 46 -

Hirota: This is the only thing.

Coach: The only... what?

Hirota: The only thing my dad ever bought me.

Coach: Oh, I doubt that.
	Your family is filthy rich...

Hirota: He never skimped on giving me allowance.
	Birthdays, New Year's, Christmas.
	Every single time, he said...
	Buy whatever you want with it.

 - Page 47 -

Hirota: There was one time when some older students were picking on me.
	When he found out...

Ball: (kshang)

Hirota: He said, "Carry this, but never use it."
	"And if it comes down to the line, just assume you'll win and let them hit you."
	That was his advice.

 - Page 48 -

Hirota: If you feel like a loser, then you've already lost everything.
	He said this to me in 4th grade.
	What an insane excuse for a father.
	Selfish,
	moody,
	convinced that money could solve everything.
	Though it is true
	that my dad's money helped settle a lot of fights I started.

Ump: Strike three,
	Yer out!

 - Page 49 -

Hiro: Yeah!

Coach: 3 hits allowed... 13 strikeouts.
	It's a miracle we even have the lead.
	Those two home runs must be frustrating him.

Hirota: He's not concerned with that.

 - Page 50 -

Hirota: Because he won't enjoy his duel against me.

Ump: Strike three,
	batter out!

Hirota: {Just another baseball maniac...}

 - Page 51 -

Ump: Change sides!

Coach: Hirota.

Hirota: It's a good luck charm.
	Please let me carry it.
	At least this one day...

Coach: Hirota...

 - Page 52 -

Shima: Your dad and my dad are both out today.
	At a funeral.

Ohtake: ...I see.
	I'd heard he was hospitalized about two weeks ago.

Shima: It has nothing to do with the game.

Ohtake: Of course it doesn't.

 - Page 53 -

Noda: Go!
	Get into the stands!
	On the first-base side of the infield...

 - Page 54 -

Ump: Out!

Announcer: Batting fifth, the firstbaseman, Ohtake-kun!

 - Page 55 -

Shima: You idiot!
	Don't swing if you don't mean it!

Hiro: He's just right.
	He's been way too tense all game,
	at the plate...

 - Page 56 -

 - Page 57 -

Shima: Catch the wind!

Hiro: Not likely.
	It's far enough.

 - Page 58 -

Haruka: Here.

Koga: Uhh, check check,
	one two one two.
	Tie ballgame!
	Ohtake blasts a homer in the top of the 9th with one out to tie the game!
	Senkawa High has finally caught up!

 - Chapter 3 End -