H2
	 Volume 27
	  Chapter 3 (261)
	   Don't Ask Me

 - Page 41 -

(Ch. 3) Don't Ask Me

 - Pages 42 & 43 -

Flags: High School Baseball Invitational

TV: Here to deliver the players' speech is Captain Takekuma-kun of Yawada Kogyo, from Aomori.

Hideo: Good, the scars are all gone.

TV: We promise to maintain the highest level of sportsmanship...

 - Page 44 -

Hideo: Now then,
	I've got a scrimmage game to participate in.
	See you later, Hiro.

TV: (click)

Hideo: Nice weather.

 - Page 45 -

Mr. Amamiya: Well,
	this tournament should be comfortable.

Hikari: Why?

Mr. Amamiya: Well, we can root for Hiro-chan without any other concerns.

Hikari: True.

 - Page 46 -

Mr. Amamiya: So,
	how's Hiro-chan looking lately?

Hikari: I don't know...
	Don't ask me.

Mr. Amamiya: I see.  In the past you always knew instantly.
	I guess that doesn't work anymore.
	You've still got some New Year's money left, right?
	Wanna make a bet with Daddy if Senkawa wins it all?

Hikari: Sure thing,
	if you're betting they'll lose.

Mr. Amamiya: Come on now, think clearly.
	Whether they win it ALL or not.
	Even without Meiwa Ichi,
	these are still the best teams the entire nation has to offer.

 - Page 47 -

Hikari: All right,
	how much?

Mr. Amamiya: Put down 1,000 that they won't win.
	C'mon.

Hikari: No way.

Mr. Amamiya: What!  Traitor to the family!

Hikari: Knock it off!
	This is a disgrace to the pure sport of high school baseball.

TV: And the umpire ejects him!

Hikari: So,
	the pitched battle begins.

Mr. Amamiya: Well,
	you must know how our other hero is doing.

 - Page 48 -

Hikari: Of course...

 - Page 49 -

Player: Yikes.

Hideo: Oh,
	dang.

Coach: ...waste of my time.

Miho: What is?

Coach: All that worrying I did.
	He turned right into that inside fastball from Ishimoto.
	Any human being will feel an instinctive fear for a while after being hit in the face with a ball...
	But I guess you just can't measure him by the usual stick.

 - Page 50 -

 - Page 51 -

Coach: I think this summer...
	will be a very good dream indeed.

 - Page 52 -

 - Page 53 -

 - Page 54 -

Catcher: {Ack!
	Crap, let it sink out of the zone!}

 - Page 55 -

Catcher: Ooh.
	Lucky me!

Hideo: What kind of pitch was that?

Catcher: Just a regular curve.

Hideo: Oh,
	I see.

Coach: All right, that's enough!
	Everyone come together!

 - Page 56 -

Announcer: The third day of the tournament, and we've got unfortunate skies...
	It's been raining off and on all day long,
	but the stands are still more packed than at any point thus far.
	Of course, this is the guy they're all here to see...

Scoreboard: Imanishi
	Senkawa

 - Page 57 -

Announcer: The unlucky ace who left us with two incredible games last summer...
	Yes!  Senkawa's Kunimi Hiro has returned to the Koshien.

Hikari: Oh geez,
	how pathetic.
	The star all of Japan is focused on is missing a button.

Hideo: Button?

Hikari: Look,
	the second from the top.

 - Page 58 -

Hideo: Yeah.
	You're right...

Announcer: So,
	how will he pitch on a shivering cold mound with poor footing?!
	Game 1 of Day 3, Senkawa's ace, Kunimi Hiro!

 - Chapter 3 End -