X-Original-Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 23:42:50 -0500 From: Riiya@aol.com Subject: [KOR][FanFic] Fugawari Orange Street Episode 8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FUGAWARI ORANGE STREET A KOR universe fanfic By FOS Project Web page-http://members.aol.com/Riiya/fos.html Discussion group-http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/ FugawariOrangeStreet/ FTP archive-ftp://ftp.cs.ubc.ca/pub/archive/anime-fan-works/KOR/ Fugawari-Orange-Street/ Introduction: Fugawari Orange Street is a new fanfic series set in the world of Kimagure Orange Road. Its origin was a simple message on the KOR mailing list, which somehow evolved into a discussion of what might have happened to the original characters. Specific comments about Kazuya, and the mention that he is probably around the age Kyousuke was during KOR, led to the proposal of creating a fanfic to follow him as he travels through Kouryou High School. FOS is set in the manga universe, and attempts to follow its specific details and timeline as closely as possible. However, details on characters other than KOR's Big Three are sketchy, and ten years have passed since we last saw these characters. If you disagree with the liberties we've taken, send us comments. Send all comments to riiya@aol.com. FOS was originally to be released biweekly, in real time. However, the real world has impeded these lofty plans. In any case, we will continue to set stories approximately two weeks apart, and we hope you'll read this episode and all that eventually follow. As is the case with many fanfic series, {word} represents thoughts and [word] represents action within script dialog. |Word| represents English dialog. Fugawari Orange Street is based on the characters and situations of Kimagure Orange Road, created by and copyright of Izumi Matsumoto; new characters and situations created by and copyright of Tony Chen, Greg Dreher, Daniel Lee, Paolo Valladolid, and Jeoff Wilks. Episode text copyright of Greg Dreher. Any use of copyrighted or trademarked material is not and should not be construed as a challenge to these statuses. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Episode 8 "Yukio vs. Phil! Rivals on the Baseball Diamond" "Kuso*, I don't want to be late!" *Swear word Monday mornings were never easy for Kazuya. This morning had to be the worst one ever. Not only did Akane visit, presumably after a very long night of "entertaining," she had the nerve to try to make him lunch. To top it off, Tera was in a particularly evil mode, and he had to dodge the fat cat's sharp claws at the same time. Kazuya breathed a sigh of relief once he finally escaped one family member who wanted to poison him and one which wanted to disembowel him. But now he was about to be late for morning classes. Kazuya ran down the halls at his top un-Powered speed. "I've got maybe ten seconds if I'm lucky," he thought. With Furuyama-sensei's strict disciplinarian nature, Kazuya had no desire to upset him so early in the year. He turned the corner, and classroom 2-C came into view. "I can make it!" Kazuya reached the doorway and, turning, ran into the classroom. That wasn't all he ran into. Kazuya couldn't stop himself in time to prevent a collision with a student standing just inside the classroom. He bounced backwards, falling flat and hitting his head on the door frame. Lying sprawled on the ground, Kazuya heard the school bell ring out precisely for four seconds. Kazuya's head continued ringing for much longer. Kazuya opened his eyes to Yukio reaching down to help him up. He gratefully accepted the aid. Kazuya dusted himself off and glanced over at the person he ran into. He recognized neither him nor the guy helping him up. Yukio: Now, had you accepted my "no" when I first said it, this never would have happened. Uninjured Student: But we can't! The baseball team needs talented players! Injured Student: [Rubbing his head] You showed such promise on the team last year! Yukio: I sat on the bench last year. Uninjured Student: But now Mochizuki has graduated, and we have a hole at first base. With your height and your natural athleticism, you'd be perfect for the position. Furuyama-sensei: *AHEM* Will the two of you [Points to the two unknown students] get to your individual classes and the two of you [Points to Kazuya and Yukio] go to your assigned seats? We DO have this thing called "class," you know. The two other students took one look at Furuyama's expression and fled his class. Furuyama-sensei: Because of the unfortunate accident, I've been unusually lenient, but I'm very willing to get out the buckets. Kazuya and Yukio glanced at each other and sped to their seats. Upon reaching his seat, Kazuya hastily withdrew his homework assignment, but before the teacher could request it, the morning announcements began. Hayakawa's familiar face came on the screen, set against the usual faux-newsroom backdrop. Hayakawa: Good morning, everyone. The Kouryou High baseball team is poised to rebound from last year's disappointing 17-32 record. Here is Coach Hatori's views on this year's teams: The newsroom was replaced by prerecorded footage of Coach Hatori on the baseball diamond, with lines of players, engaged in various drills, behind him. Coach Hatori: Despite losing some key players, like star first baseman Mochizuki Shohei, our team returns a solid core of starters and promising underclassmen. Tryouts have also gone well, even though we've not had as much participation as we had hoped. I honestly expect our team to be a threat this year. The video feed returned to the camera in the A/V studio. Hayakawa: Today is the last day of open tryouts, and the team begins exhibition games next week. Back in the classroom, Phil, sitting behind Kyouko, got her attention. Phil: |Is that what the scene at the door was all about?| Kyouko: Anou...* [Mentally translating] |Yes, I think so.| *Ummm... Furuyama-sensei: Sutorik-kun*, you are no longer in America. Please observe silence in the classroom, as is appropriate. *An easier-to-pronounce form of Phil's name, derived from Strickland Phil: Hai, sensei.* *Yes, teacher. Phil averted his gaze from the teacher and back to the monitor. Hayakawa: Of course, other clubs are busy this time of year as well. Let's look at how the drama club is preparing for the school festival in May.... The video feed switched to a tape showing the school auditorium, with tryouts going on in the background. In the foreground was none other than Shimada Emi. "The drama club is very excited to be planning a new and unusual performance this year. We will be staging an adaption of a surprise American movie, with the screenplay adapted by me, of course. We fully expect to follow up this unique performance at the school festival with a victory at the conference drama competition...." * * * * * Kazuya sauntered to the lunch room at the conclusion of morning classes. He looked at the sorry fools in the disorderly crowd, all attempting to get a katsu-sand before they sold out. He smugly thought of the delectable katsu-sand Yukio would have waiting for him. Kazuya looked back to where he was heading just in time to notice he was about to run into a couple of students. Pink-Haired Girl: [Blissfully clutching a katsu-sand] Ahh, Yukio-sama gave me his personal katsu-sand! Blue-Haired Girl: [Also with a katsu-sand; also elated] It's mana from heaven! Kazuya silently cursed himself for not paying attention to where he was going. "There are too many students here living in their own world," Kazuya thought. "I've got to be better than that if I'm going to impress...." >From across the room, Yukio called, "Hey, Kazuya," interrupting Kazuya's thought process. He looked over to Yukio to see he was holding aloft yet another katsu-sand. Kazuya dodged other students as he walked towards Yukio. "I really need to find his supplier," Kazuya thought. Yukio: [Passing the katsu-sand to Kazuya] What's your work schedule like? Kazuya: I'm working tomorrow and Thursday, so.... Yukio: Shall we meet at 7:00 for a study session, then? Kazuya: For more katsu-sands? Sure. Why don't we sit down? Yukio: Sure. Kazuya made a beeline to the table where Kyouko and Maiko were seated. Across from them was Emi, ignoring her lunch in favor of her daily planner. It looked like she was using it to show some grand plan to Phil, who was sitting next to her. Kazuya sat to Kyouko's right, and Yukio took the seat opposite him. Kazuya: Konnichi wa*, Kyouko, Mai-chan! *Good afternoon Kyouko and Maiko: Konnichi wa! Kazuya: What's Shimada-san up to this time? Maiko: Don't ask. Emi: |Phil, you would bring a diverse world view to the Student Council. I know you would excel if you took an active part in student government at Kouryou.| Phil: |I have enough problems with the required school work here. Some really nice students| [motions to Kyouko] |are helping me with the work here, not making it worse.| Emi: |You must reconsider.| Phil: |The only thing I might be able to do is sports....| Emi: |That would be a waste of your time.| "Hey, Motomura-kun!" The loud shout attracted the attention of Yukio and much of the people at the table where he was sitting. Kazuya looked towards the commotion and spotted the two guys from this morning approaching Yukio. Yukio: [Bored] Konnichi wa, Yamada-kun, Honda-kun. Can't you two take "no" for an answer? Honda: Yamada-kun and I have accepted Coach Hatori's mission to make this year's baseball team the best it can be. So we can't let someone with your talent slip through the cracks. Yukio: I'm busy. You know, not only do I have school work, I also have many time-consuming duties as Student Body Vice President. Everyone nearby, and people several tables away, heard Emi laugh sharply. She quickly stifled her laugh and went back to talking to Phil. Yamada looked strangely at Emi before returning to his task. Yamada: Motumura-kun, you should take this opportunity to demonstrate your athleticism and your ability to win. I'm sure many of your fans are wondering if you can win after your performance in the national basketball tournament. Yukio: [Perturbed] Shut up. Honda: He's right. You only scored 6 points, and shot 1 for 12 from the field. I don't think anyone will disagree when I say that you caused Kouryou's basketball team to lose in the first round. Yukio: [Fuming] Go away. Go away now, and I might show up. Stay, and you can kiss goodbye the team's hopes of ever having a winning season. Yamada: Fine. [To Honda] Let's leave Yukio alone. Yamada departed. Honda looked as if he was about to leave, but he turned to Kazuya. "Kasuga-kun, right?" Kazuya looked up at him. He recognized him as the person he ran into that morning. "Yeah?" "Why don't you try out for the team? I know firsthand that you've got some fine baserunning skills...." "No, thanks." Honda replied, "If there was more time, I'd be encouraging you to reconsider as well...." He turned and left the table. At peace finally, Yukio just stared down at his partially-finished lunch. He thought of the first shot he made in that fateful game; it went nowhere near the basket. He remembered releasing it after seeing Emi cheering in the stands. "I couldn't focus on that game at all...." His musings were soon interrupted by an interesting bit of conversation which reached his ear. Phil: [To Emi] |So Yukio caused the team to lose?| Yukio was terrible at learning English, but he did recognize the word "lose" and didn't like it being used in the same sentence as his name. He fixed a cold stare on Phil, who was at his right. Emi: [To Phil] |Everyone was surprised with the team's performance during the season, so...| Yukio: [To Phil] Sutorik-kun. Phil was still tuning in on Emi's careful English, rather than trying to pick up any Japanese conversation in the noisy lunch room. He didn't hear Yukio trying to get his attention. Emi: [To Phil] |...no one was that surprised at the team's overall uninspired performance in that game; they figured it was the type of game they should have been playing....| Yukio: [Rising and standing over Phil] HEY GAIJIN!* *Foreigner (considered derogatory) All of a sudden there was a hushed silence as every student turned their attention to the commotion Yukio had begun. Even Emi was so taken aback that all she could do was stare at Yukio, her mouth agape. Yukio: How dare you call me a loser! You coward, why don't you say that to my face, and at least use Japanese! Phil: |Wha...| Nani?* [To himself] |Loser... you call me...| [To Yukio] Hey! I didn't call you a.... *What? Yukio: Who are you to criticize my athletic ability? I'm much better than you... even Kazuya is better than you! Kazuya: Nani? Hey! Don't bring me into.... Phil: [Standing up, angrily] Hey, who are you to criticize me? You've never seen me play before! Yukio: Don't even think of slighting me until you show that you have any athletic ability. With that warning, Yukio turned and left the table. Everyone in the lunch room turned expectantly to Phil, who merely watched Yukio's exit with a strange smile on his face. Kazuya, who was facing the two of them, decided that it might be better to spend the remainder of the lunch period on the roof, away from all the negative vibes. "Kyouko, Mai-chan, why don't we get going?" he said. "Well," Kyouko replied, not sure what might happen. She was not the only person surprised by what Phil did next. Phil turned once again to Emi. Phil: |So why do you slight athletics? I find them enjoyable, and American colleges look favorably on participation in athletics.| Kyouko watched Phil with a confused look on her face. "Uh, sure, why don't we go?" she finally said. The trio went to the roof to spend the remaining ten minutes of the lunch period. They were greeted by a beautiful afternoon, with sunny skies and a very pleasant temperature of 25 degrees*. Kazuya noticed that they weren't the only students with this idea. Unlike winter and early spring, where he would often be the only person on the roof, a dozen people were enjoying this brief respite from classes. *Celcius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) Maiko: You know, for someone who fails all the time at his schoolwork without seeming to care, Yukio-kun sure got upset today! Kazuya: Well, he doesn't expect to fail at sports.... Kyouko: I'm not used to seeing Phil ever get angry.... Kazuya: Uh-huh. Kyouko: I didn't like seeing how those two were acting. It looks like there could be trouble. Kazuya: You're right. Kyouko: I hope Motomura-kun has enough sense to simmer down. Kazuya: Wait, don't you mean Fu-fueru? Kyouko: I know that Phil is very strong and athletic. Maiko: He doesn't look it. Kyouko: You're right. But he is. He was one of the top prep soccer players in California. Kazuya: Well, it's a good thing there won't be conflict there. There are multiples of most positions, and Yukio isn't a goalie. The warning bell rang, announcing the end of the lunch period. Kyouko and Maiko went back inside the school building, but Kazuya decided to enjoy the sunlight for another minute or two. Various students passed him by as they walked to the stairs. Pink-Haired Girl: ...your new hair ribbon looks really cute! Blue-Haired Girl: You think so? I hope Yukio-sama likes it. Pink-Haired Girl: Let's go to the baseball tryouts after school! I hear Yukio-sama is going to prove why he's the best athlete in school history! Blue-Haired Girl: Cool! I want to cheer on my Yukio-sama. Pink-Haired Girl: Me too... The pink-haired girl stopped right next to the door leading down to the school, glaring at her friend. Pink-Haired Girl: ...and he's MY Yukio-sama. Blue-Haired Girl: [Smiling] But I'M the one who spent a romantic night with him on a yacht....* *See Fugawari Orange Street Episode 6 The blue-haired girl pulled down one eyelid, stuck out her tongue, and made the "Biiiiiiiiii-da" sound. Pink-haired Girl: [In anger] Don't think I'll EVER forgive you for that! Kazuya: [Pushing the two apart] I'm sorry, but... well, I don't know about you, but I don't want to be late to class! Kazuya ran through the door and down the stairs as the two girls slowly returned to reality. Both anime-haired girls: Class! Taihen!* *Terrible! COMMERCIAL BREAK Kasuga Kyousuke returns to his new home in the Green Castle apartments. He opens the door and steps inside... Kyousuke: Tadaima!* *I'm home! ...not knowing what his movers were doing. Kurumi: Abunai, Oniichan!* *Look out (literally "Danger"), big brother! Kyousuke notices a flying dresser, but not in time to prevent it from colliding with him and sending him across the room. It ends up lying on top of him. Manami: [To Kurumi, as Jingoro floats by] Now you've done it. He pushes the dresser off of him, only to have a drawer of his sister's underwear open and smack him in the face. Then, the dresser once again crushes Kyousuke. Finally pushing the dresser off of himself, Kyousuke rises and faces his younger sisters angrily. Kyousuke: How many times do I have to tell you not to use the power? Manami: [Deflecting the verbal attack] It's not me! It's Kurumi! Kurumi: But how else am I supposed to move around the furniture? Jingoro floats by once again. Kyousuke yells, "KURUMI!" and she stops using her power, causing Jingoro and a refrigerator to fall. Voice on a nearby radio: Next time, call Allied! [Screen shot of a moving van] Announcer: Allied. Utterly obsessed with the care of your belongings. Writer's Note: Standard Disclaimer. END COMMERCIAL BREAK For the duration of afternoon classes, Kazuya found watching Yukio fume to be much more entertaining than paying attention to the lecture. Yukio still looked upset from the attack he thought he took at lunch. Phil, on the other hand, spent most of class doodling amidst the infrequent notes he was taking. Eventually, the familiar four tones of the school bell sounded. While Furuyama-sensei was very strict, he never kept his class late. "Do not forget to do your assignments! Each and every one of you should expect to be called on to discuss them tomorrow!" Furuyama-sensei was quickly drowned out by the rising sea of voices. Most students were obviously more interested in enjoying the remainder of this beautiful day. Kazuya wondered what might happen this afternoon. Phil was first out the door, given that he was right by it. Fortunately, Yukio seemed calmer now that he was out from under any teacher's thumb. Kazuya fumbled at putting away his notes in the bag at his feet. When he looked up, Yukio was standing next to his desk. Yukio: Do you want to go get some ramen? Kazuya: Huh? Oh, yeah, sure. {That's the last thing I expected him to say!} Kazuya and Yukio walked the short distance to the nearest ramen shop. Kazuya spied some other Kouryou students who had the same idea as Yukio. Kazuya ordered a simple bowl, knowing his mother would be cooking dinner that night. Yukio got a more complete meal. The two took a seat at a nearby table. Kazuya: The tutoring session... you know... Yukio: Yeah? Kazuya: Is it still going to happen... still at 7:00? Yukio: Yeah, why wouldn't it? Kazuya: Well... I was wondering if you were going to... the baseball tryouts? Kazuya expected Yukio to explode upon hearing mention of the baseball team. Instead, he smiled. Yukio: Yeah, I was planning on going after this. Those two guys who were bothering me all day weren't particularly nice to me when I was on the team last year. So I gave the coach the idea I wasn't interested, just to pull their chains. I hope they're sweating it out right now! Kazuya: I see! Yukio: They've told me they have a place on the team waiting for me, so all I have to do is show up. But for now, I'll let them take the heat from the coach. Kazuya: You should have put that devious mind to work when I was doing all those pranks! Yukio: Well, I couldn't afford to make teachers even more upset at me. You at least could manage to keep getting good grades, and appease them somewhat. Kazuya: Ah, I still think of it as an opportunity lost. Kazuya and Yukio turned to silently finishing off their bowls of ramen. Despite having the larger bowl, Yukio finished first. Yukio: Ready to go? Kazuya: Hold on a sec... [Finishes off his remaining noodles] Okay, let's go. Yukio and Kazuya walked back to Kouryou and then behind the school building, where the baseball diamond was located. "Sugoi!" cried two high-pitched, feminine, and uniquely Japanese voices. "I recognize those voices," Yukio commented. Sure enough, the pink- haired and blue-haired girls were in the stands. But then something hit Yukio: they weren't looking at him! A loud *CRACK* attracted the attention of both Yukio and Kazuya. They looked to the diamond to see the baseball flying above center field, with an outfielder futilely chasing it back. "Another home run!" the pink-haired girl squealed. "He's so cool!" the blue-haired girl added. Kazuya looked at the figure who made the ball disappear. The hair was a giveaway. Phil was trying out for the team? "|I always wanted to see if Japanese baseballs were as easy to knock out of the park as I had heard,|" Phil shouted to the onlookers, forgetting that most wouldn't understand what he just said. Yamada came up to Yukio. "It seems our hole at first base is being filled!" he said, smiling. "Strickland is a first baseman?" Yukio inquired. Yamada nodded, with an even broader smile. "Don't worry, he's also a pitcher, so we can play you every fourth day...." Yamada remarked. He was positively beaming! "WHAT? Give me a bat! There's no way that gaijin is going to beat me!" Yukio screamed. Kazuya snorted, thinking back to the freestyle swimming races between Emi and Maiko at Sami Beach.* "Here we go again...." *See Fugawari Orange Street Episode 6 Kazuya climbed into the bleachers to get a better vantage point to watch the amusing battle sure to transpire on the diamond. He sat in front of the anime-haired girls. Pink-Haired Girl: GO YUKIO-SAMA!!!! Blue-Haired Girl: I think Phil-kun is the better baseball player. Pink-Haired Girl: No way! Yukio-sama is much better! Blue-Haired Girl: Yukio-sama is still cool, but remember how bad he was at the basketball playoffs! Pink-Haired Girl: True.... GO PHIL-KUN! Blue-Haired Girl: GO PHIL-KUN! On the field below, Phil and Yukio were alternating turns at bat, both smashing the easily-thrown baseballs all over the field. Phil was leading, five home runs to Yukio's four, when Coach Hatori stepped on the field. "Enough showboating, you two. Back to fielding drills!" he shouted. "Motomura, you go to first base. Strickland, take third. Ogawa, take a break. You've done really well." Ogawa ran in from third base, while Phil and Yukio picked up their gloves and took their positions on the field. Numerous drills went on the field below for the next two hours. Kazuya's head was aching from hearing the two strange-haired girls behind him scream the entire time. He thought about the delicious dinner his mother was about to cook, and decided he'd go home a bit early. Just before 7:00, Kazuya returned to the baseball diamond, study materials in his bag. He arrived just as Coach Hatori stepped on the field. "Thank you all for coming," he said. "You've all played well, and I like what I see this year's team becoming. I will have first cuts and preliminary lineups posted on my office door tomorrow morning. Everyone on the roster, please come to my office after class ends tomorrow." Players left the field, some happier than others, picking up bags and meeting friends in the stands. Honda and Yamada were speaking with Miwa, one of the pitchers. Yukio and Phil were slowly gathering supplies, still looking unhappily at each other. Soon, the five were the only players on the field. Even from the stands, Kazuya could tell what Yukio and Phil were thinking. "Home run derby, at lease two hours' worth." Kazuya sighed. "Kazuya, can you come down here?" Yukio yelled. Kazuya came down to the field, grabbing a baseball glove from the equipment bag and hefting a bag of baseballs. "Can you pitch for me?" Yukio asked. Kazuya held up the glove and bag. "Aha, it seems you knew what we were thinking...." Yukio said, placing his hand behind his head. Phil: [To Yukio] You're ready... |umm|... for more abuse? I can't believe it. You did poorly... very poorly... in the practice. Yukio: I just ate before practice, so I was slower than I should have been. But now I'm full of energy. You won't beat me. Besides, Miwa-kun was throwing me pitches which were much harder to hit. With an honest pitcher, [motions to Kazuya] you will not win. Kazuya ignored the far-too-serious ribbing the two were giving each other. He looked back to the stands. Only four people remained: the pink-haired girl, the blue-haired girl, and a couple more interested in each other than the practice. Kazuya looked more closely at them. Umao-san: Ushiko-san. Ushiko-san: Umao-san. Umao-san: Ushiko-san, wherefore art thou Ushiko-san? Ushiko-san: Umao-san, wherefore art thou Umao-san? Kazuya: {Haven't I seen those two before?} Phil: |Let's see if you can walk the walk like you talk the talk.| [To Miwa] Are you ready? Miwa nodded. Yukio: Kazuya-kun? Kazuya: Fine, let's get this over with. Yamada: Okay. Strickland-kun, you go first. Miwa-kun, pitch 10 balls. Then, Kasuga-kun, pitch 10 to Motomura-kun. If it doesn't go over the fence, it doesn't count. Honda-kun and I will retrieve the balls. Miwa took his position in the cage batting-practice pitchers use. He pitched ten easy pitches, of which Phil hit six over the fence. Kazuya sighed and took his turn. He was a good enough pitcher to get the ball over the plate consistently. However, Yukio only hit four over the fence. And so they continued until the bag was exhausted. Honda trotted in from the rear of the park with another bag. They soon blew through this bag. Both Yukio and Phil were obviously tired, and it showed in their performance. Both hit only one ball over the fence in the last group of ten. "Look," Kazuya said, exasperatedly, "Fu-iru has 48 home runs and Yukio, you only have 37. And neither of you are getting any better." Honda came up with a bag of balls as Yukio began to reply. "I can still catch him!" he retorted. "You couldn't even get one hit, let alone one home run, with any decently-pitched ball," Kazuya argued. "Prove it," Yukio yelled back. "Fine," Kazuya returned. "Honda-kun, give me ten balls." Honda did so as Yukio took his position at the plate. He stared at Kazuya, who tossed the ball in his hand a couple of times. Kazuya looked at his friend. It was almost as if he was possessed. Yukio never seemed to care about anything, but it was perfectly obvious that he was capable of incredible focus and determination. "Why didn't he ask Miwa to pitch, then?" Honda asked himself quizzically as Kazuya trotted out to the pitcher's mound. After reaching the mound, Kazuya took a deep breath and stared at Yukio. For his part, Yukio waited intently at the mound for Kazuya to begin. Kazuya's arm protested as he began his pitching motions once again. He shut off the pain as he made a perfect throw. Yukio saw the ball coming just like Kazuya's other pitches. An easy pitch, coming in straight, so Yukio swung.... *CLANG* While he was still in mid-swing, Yukio heard the sound of the ball hitting the chain-link fence of the backstop. "When did Kazuya learn to throw a fastball?" he thought to himself. Yukio hit his bat to home plate a couple of times. "Okay, he won't surprise me this time." Kazuya wound up, and threw. Yukio swung, but too late realized the ball was going outside. "Sonna...* that was a real curveball...." *No way... * * * * * Kazuya wiped the sweat off his forehead after he tossed his tenth and final Power-aided pitch, a sinker which slid cleanly under Yukio's bat. "You didn't even touch the ball ten times. Now are you done?" Kazuya began to walk off the field. "Did you even notice that you and Fu-iru are the best hitters on the team?" Walking off the field, Kazuya noticed Honda gaping at him, his jaw nearly to the floor. Honda shook his head quickly and sputtered, "AND YOU DIDN'T TRY OUT FOR THE TEAM?" "The desire to win makes people do stupid things," Kazuya replied, not looking back. As Kazuya left into the twilight, Honda yelled, "Next year, you WILL JOIN the team! This I vow, as future captain of the baseball team!" * * * * * The next morning, Yukio stopped at Coach Hatori's door before class began. He saw his name on the roster, but saw he was only starting the one game Phil was scheduled to pitch. Upset, he slammed his fist into the door. He managed to stifle a scream which threatened to emanate as his arm, sore from last night's extensive home-run derby, were shot through with pain. The door, not being closed completely, popped open. Inside were Coach Hatori and Phil, both as surprised as Yukio. Coach Hatori: Anou...* [To Phil] are you willing to make the change? *Umm... Phil: Yes, |umm| it will be... a good challenge. Coach Hatori: [To Yukio] You obviously have the determination to play every day, Motomura. Yukio: Anou... {what does he mean?} yes.... Coach Hatori: And I'm sure you remember my philosophy that defense wins championships. Yukio: Yes, but.... Coach Hatori: And I'm sure you'll be good on both offense and defense as starting first baseman. Yukio: Yes, but.... Wait, what did you say? Coach Hatori: I received a call this morning from Ogawa's parents. He was hit by a car while biking home from practice. He's fine, for the most part, but he broke his wrist and will be out at least six weeks. So Strickland will play third base. Phil: It's not my best position... |umm| I don't have as much experience there... |umm| but I will do my best. Coach Hatori: Motomura, Strickland, you'll be playing together. Rivalries are good, but only friendly rivalries. Yukio and Phil: Hai*. *Yes (polite) Coach Hatori: Now you better get to class before Furuyama gets upset! END EPISODE 8 Fugawari Orange Street Episode 8 Credits | Release Date: 4/15/96 ------------------------------------------------+----------------------- Writer: | Greg Dreher New characters and concepts and pre-reading: | Tony Chen | Greg Dreher | Daniel Lee | Paolo Valladolid | Jeoff Wilks This series would not exist if it weren't for: | Matsumoto Izumi-sama ------------------------------------------------+-----------------------