Ko, your alarm's been ringing forever!
Wake up already!
Ko!
What's up, Kitamura!
It's me, Kei'ichiro Senda.
Seishu Academy Middle School baseball team's top pitcher and cleanup hitter.
You look as shabby as ever.
At least fix your bed head, man.
That's why you're not getting any, man.
Go away.
Hey, Tsukishima!
It's me, Kei'ichiro Senda!
Seishu Academy Middle School baseball team's top pitcher and cleanup hitter.
Mitsuru Adachi
（Serialized in Shogakukan's 「Weekly Shonen Sunday」）
Created by
Toshihiro Nakazawa
Nobumasa Sawabe
Planning
Masato Hayashi
Shin'ichirou Tsuzuki
Planning Assistance
Toshisato Okuno Shin Omura Takenori Ichihara
Masato Hayashi
Supervisors
Original Planning Assistance
Michihiro Tsuchiya
Series Composition
Yuji Kondo
Main Character Design
Maho Takahashi
Tomoyuki Matsumoto
Koichi Imano
Art Design
Subcharacter Design
Prop Design
Kayoko Ono
Miki Tsubouchi
Hiromi Komine
Yutaka Kuramoto
Art Director
Color Design
Photography Director
Editing
Nobuhide Tanaka Toshiyuki Kuroiwa
Kotaro Nakagawa
Takeshi Takadera
HALF H・P STUDIO
Music Producer
Music
Sound Director
Sound Production
「Summer Rain」
Lyrics／Composition: Kentaro Kobuchi
Arrangement: Kobukuro
Kobukuro
（Warner Music Japan）
Opening Theme
Shougakukan Music & Digital Entertainment
TV-TOKYO Music
Warner Music Japan
Music Assistance
Ryosuke Sakurai
Animation Producer
Animation Production
Shunji Aoki Naohiko Furuchi
Producers
Osamu Sekita
Director
Shogakukan Shueisha Production
Production Studio
SUBTITLED BY ANBU
No way, stop lying!
I'm not lying, seriously!
Come on over, Kitamura!
I'll at least introduce you to one of my fans.
As a gesture of friendship.
Friendship?
It'll do you some good, man.
After all, girls are the only thing healthy ninth grade boys like us think about.
Speak for yourself.
You'll regret saying that!
Get on my bad side and you'll have all the girls in school to answer to.
Get on Ko's bad side,
and you'll have us to answer to.
We're going to have a practice game against Fourth Middle School the day after tomorrow.
Would you guys like to come and root for—
In your dreams.
Oh, I see.
I guess you're all busy.
We've got nothing to do, actually.
W-Well, then...
I've got practice, so I'll see you around, Kitamura!
Worthless punk.
But he's our team's top pitcher and cleanup hitter right now, isn't he?
Right now he is.
But none of the good high schools are scouting him.
That shows how good he is.
But she is the real deal.
It's too bad she can only play in official games until the end of middle school.
Not bad, Tsukishima.
Not bad at all.
But you need to stick your chest out a little more,
and position your hips like this—
That's enough.
Come on, man!
Can't I help out an underclassman as the top pitcher—
I said, enough.
Take the seventh graders out for a run, Tsukishima.
Yes, Captain.
Top pitcher, toss some pitches.
I'll catch them for you.
Whatever you say, Captain.
Ball.
Yay, you got it!
Isn't Daddy great?
Yup!
Ko!
You seem bored, as usual.
You won't get any girls unless you shape up, you know.
Quiet, you.
Elementary students should treat middle school students with more respect!
You have to become a respectable man, first.
Are you going home after swimming school?
I guess.
Can you at least swim now?
Can I swim?
I took first place in the 50m freestyle at the fourth grade all-girls swimming competition, you know!
My humble apologies.
But it was after two of the winning candidates dropped out, though.
Who cares?
First place is first place.
Remember to treat girls nicely like that, Ko.
Didn't I tell you to show some respect?
Welcome back, Aoba.
God, I'm starving.
Give me something to eat, Sis.
Did you pass Ko on your way here by any chance?
He was here?
Yeah.
He brought Momiji back, but left just now.
Where did he sit?
The same seat you're sitting in right now.
I'm starving.
You still don't like him, huh?
Wakaba liked him best, you know.
That's exactly why.
What are you working so hard on?
I'm writing up a list of birthday presents I want,
since Ko's having trouble picking out gifts for me.
"Age 12, a cute brooch."
"Age 13, cute sandals."
"Age 14, a cute wallet."
Ages 15, 16, 17, 18... "earrings"?
Exactly how long is this list?
Age 20... "engagement ring"?
W-Wait a second, Waka!
You want to marry a guy like him ?
Can't I?
Of course not!
That means he's going to become my brother-in-law!
Of course he will.
Stop joking like that!
I'll never approve of it! Over my dead body!
Calm down.
There's still a lot of time before it'll happen.
More importantly, Aoba, what kind of guys do you like?
A guy who can throw a 160km/h fastball.
Going out, Ko?
I'm going to go to the bookstore in front of the station.
Then take these balls over to the Tsukishimas while you're at it.
That's in the opposite direction, though.
Don't worry.
The world is round, you know.
You expect me to circle the world?!
What's up, Kitamura?
It's me.
Kei'ichiro Senda, the Seishu Academy Middle School baseball team's top pitcher and cleanup hitter.
What are you up to?
Nothing much.
I'm going to go buy some manga over at the bookstore.
What are you up to?
What else would a hunk like me do on a Sunday besides going on a date?
A date?
Yeah.
I'm sure you've at least seen her around.
I'm going out with Aoba Tsukishima, the eighth grader from the baseball team.
I asked her out to the movies over the phone.
I told her I'd wait in front of the station at eleven.
Did she say she'd actually come?
You numskull.
I'm not going to sit around waiting for an answer all day.
It's important to be smart about these things.
Besides, I can't imagine that any girl would refuse to go—
Hey, Kitamura...
Where's the old man?
He is currently away from his office, and won't be back for some time.
Then sign this for me.
The old man usually gives me a token and tells me to take a few swings.
I'd like my home run prize socks, please.
Have you no shame?
You really expect us to give you a prize for a free game you played?
Oh, I see.
That'll be three pairs.
Oh yeah,
didn't you have something to do today?
No, I don't.
I see.
Tell the old man I said hi, then.
That's two balls to go with one more pair of socks to win.
Damn it!
Hey, we need someone at the reception desk here!
Coming!
Oh geez,
could you go over to Ko's for me, Aoba?
May I help you?
Oh, please excuse me.
Is Aoba Tsukishima here?
What business do you have with Aoba?
Are you Aoba's big sister by any chance?
Yes.
It's nice to meet you.
I'm from Seishu Academy Middle School,
and I am currently planning to go out with Aoba—
Oh my god, a cat!
There's a cat here!
Have you never seen one before?
Well actually, today we were supposed to—
What a doofus.
Damn it, who was that little runt just now?
That's Momiji, Aoba's little sister.
So, what did you want with her?
Oh, well I...
"Clover" is such a wonderful name!
It rings full of happiness and love!
Our mother came up with it before she died.
She took it from our names, since there are four of us.
One... two... three...
Huh?
Ichiyo,
sorry to bother you, but could you make me a cup of coffee?
Hey, Dad, do you know where Aoba went?
Yeah, she went over to Ko's.
I sent her over to deliver the mushrooms that came in from the countryside.
So you're her father.
I'm Seishu Academy Middle School baseball team's top pitcher—
Wait, Ko?
Yeah.
Ko Kitamura, the Seishu Academy Middle School ninth grader.
So how's the baseball team working out for you?
Here you go, Aoba.
Fresh croquettes, straight from the fryer.
It's been so long since I've had your homemade croquettes, Mrs. Kitamura!
I made a lot, so make sure to take some back home with you.
They look so good!
Thank you!
Take your time eating them.
Okay!
So, how's it going with the baseball team?
Shut up.
That's none of your business.
That's funny.
I could have sworn that there was a nice, friendly girl here just now.
Oh no, the sauce!
It's going to stain!
Here.
I washed it, so it's not dirty or anything.
Isn't this a little big for me?
You'll have to make do with it.
Ko, your friend Senda is here for you.
My friend Senda?
Damn you, Kitamura, you've been playing me all along!
What's going on between you and Tsukishima? Spit it out!
It's exactly what you think.
He's just some guy who has lived close to me ever since I was little.
Really?
That's what she says now, but yes, we're actually—
I really like Mr. and Mrs. Kitamura,
but I hate this guy!
Thanks for having me over, Mrs. Kitamura!
Don't forget to take some croquettes home, Aoba!
Okay!
She hates you, apparently.
That's old news.
I came to root for Aoba since she said she was pitching,
but I didn't know she was playing against you guys!
That's your sister, Tsukishima?
Yup, she pitches pretty well, huh?
"Pretty well" would be an understatement.
Don't worry!
She's nothing compared to Akaishi.
Right, Ko?
Huh?
Where's Ko?
Listen, you guys!
You only live once, so why not buy matching uniforms?
We're actually holding a Customer Appreciation sale over at Kitamura Sports right now—
The game's starting.
You didn't have to kick me with your spikes, man.
Play ball!
Batter out!
Third batter: Kitamura, pitcher!
Go get 'em, Ko!
Okay.
Strike!
All right.
Foul ball!
That was close!
I may have never played catch until recently,
but I've been swinging the bat since I was three
at Tsukishima Batting Center!
Dead ball!
Ow...
All right!
Yes.
That's three outs; change!
Dead ball!
Ow...
That's three outs; change!
Yeah.
You having fun, pitching like that?
I don't find baseball the least bit fun.
How about you throw the ball a little harder next time?
Is there a point?
They haven't scored a run on us yet.
Well if that's what you want.
Batter out!
Way to go, Aoba!
Keep it up!
Come on, now!
Go over to the other bench if you're going to root for your sister!
I'm rooting for you when you're pitching, aren't I?
Do you really expect me to run back and forth just for you two?
Strike!
Batter out!
Two outs.
Batter on first and third.
Tsukishima at the plate!
Strike her out, Ko!
Safe!
Yes!
Don't throw the ball, you won't make it!
Just barely safe!
Darn it!
G-Good try.
Balk!
Ow...
It's raining.
Ow...
He seemed pretty frustrated.
About what?
About losing to you.
His looks may say otherwise, but Ko really hates losing.
All this from the guy who can't even play catch properly.
You shouldn't treat Ko like those other guys!
Once he gets serious,
he could become the best pitcher in Japan!
He might even be able to throw 160km/h.
I don't think you believe me.
My predictions tend to come true, you know.
But even then, you can't steal him away from me, okay?
Looks like your prediction was off, Waka.
Why are you working out when you're not even in any of the sports teams?
This is just a daily routine of mine.
How long have you been keeping this up for?
I forget.
This is the training regimen Aoba follows every day.
She does this every day?
No way.
Don't worry, you can do it, Ko.
Weren't you frustrated that you lost to Aoba?
She couldn't stay quiet about you ever since we got back from the game.
She said your form was off, your back and legs were weak,
and then she even said that you throw like a girl!
Anyway, the fact still stands that she's talking crap about you behind your back!
Sounds to me like you're even more frustrated than I am.
You can do it, Ko!
Make Aoba swallow her words!
I still don't get why Aoba hates me so much.
It's not hard to get her to like you.
You just need to be able to throw 160km/h.
I guess that's "not hard" in terms of understanding what it is.
Don't worry.
I know you can do it, Ko.
Have you heard the rumors about the high school baseball team, Akaishi?
Yeah I've heard them.
They're just rumors, right?
Who knows.
We're changing pitchers, Ref!
Oh come on, Nakanishi, I was just warming up.
Just when I thought I'd been missing sandlot games.
Take right field, Ko.
Just give me a little time!
Next time, on Cross Game Episode Three:
Hard?
Why the hell didn't you join the baseball team when you can pitch like this?!