You can't come back because you're snowed in?
That's right.
They said even the trains aren't running.
It's such a bummer.
You sound pretty happy for someone who's supposed to be bummed.
Sorry.
We'll be back by daytime tomorrow, okay?
Don't forget to lock up!
Yeah, whatever.
And a Happy New Year to you, too!
While somebody is out celebrating New Year's at the hot springs, I'm stuck—
What now?
I hope you haven't forgotten.
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
Color Design
Photography Director
Editing
Art Director
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
Shogakukan 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
Damn that Akaishi.
Training on New Year's Eve?
Just how strict is he?
Are you sure you're going to be all right, Aoba?
For the last time, I'll be fine.
The hospitals are closed for the year-end holidays, you know.
I got it, okay?
I won't let Momiji out of her bed no matter what.
Ko!
Hey, you guys. Going somewhere?
Yes.
Granny's sick in bed with a temperature, so we're going to go help her out.
Oh, do you mean that granny we used to visit?
Oh yeah, you used to come visit her with us way back when, huh?
A New Year's Eve nightmare, huh?
Aren't you guys missing one person?
Momiji actually came down with a touch of a cold.
Of course we can't take her with us, but I'm also worried about just leaving her here.
Isn't that why we decided that I should stay and look after her?
But still...
There's nothing to worry about!
Say, Ko?
Could you come check up on these two when you're free?
Don't tell me you trust this guy more than your own sister?!
I can take care of Momiji by myself.
Aoba.
Well.
We got to get going now!
Coming!
See you, Aoba.
I'm counting on you, okay?
Have a Happy New Year, Ko!
So about Momiji...
Happy New Year!
... her cold.
Can I ask you something?
What's this "secret weapon" business all about?
What are you trying to make me do?
I mean, don't you think you've put your hopes a little too high on me?
I'm not the only one who's got my hopes on you.
Nakanishi.
Hey.
Doesn't this count as breaking and entering?
Don't worry.
No one's going to be here on New Year's Eve.
You think so?
I've been wanting to get a feel for the high school's practice field.
The three of us can play baseball here starting next Spring, huh?
Ow!
Did you hear about the baseball transfer students?
The gist of it, yeah.
They're apparently trying to put together a Koshien-worthy team
by recruiting promising players from all over the country.
You think there will be spots for us on a team like that?
If there aren't any, we'll just make them.
Yeah.
What's wrong?
Hey,
didn't you say that there wasn't supposed to be anyone here today?
Yeah, what about it?
Well, there is definitely someone.
That's the high school team coach!
Oh crap.
H-Hello...
We're so sorry!
It's been too long.
It truly has been too long.
I haven't witnessed such a delightful practice in a long time.
It almost feels like I've had my first dream of the year already.
It's so cold!
Come on, Momiji!
You need to stay in bed!
It's okay, I feel fine now.
You're going to get a fever if you aren't careful.
But Nomo's gone!
She'll probably find her own way home eventually.
You're going to stay put now, okay?
I'll make you my special porridge in the meantime.
Hi guys!
Hello.
So she was with Ko!
We ran into each other, didn't we?
How kind of you to bring her back.
Don't mention it.
Now if there's nothing else, could you kindly leave?
We're busy preparing for New Year's.
I thought you'd be, so I bought you guys a few things.
You sure are thoughtful, Ko!
My parents are over at some hot springs, so I'm dying of boredom.
Then you can spend the night here!
Don't be ridiculous!
How could he spend the night when there are only two girls in the house?
No way! Ko's spending the night.
Momiji!
He's going to make my porridge, too!
Your porridge would probably make me even sicker!
Okay, I'm on it.
All right then, have it your way.
I hope you die from a neglected cold!
Could I borrow your pot?
Just grab whichever one you want from the kitchen.
Thanks.
Oh, but before that...
Sorry.
I'm sorry, Momiji.
Ko's really dependable, you know.
Let's all eat his cooking together, okay?
Thanks.
But I'll prepare my own, thanks.
Making New Year's soba?
Bug off.
All right then.
Put a lot of ginger into that porridge, okay?
I was actually going to put some spring onions in instead.
Nope, it's got to be ginger. It just has to be.
And don't forget the beaten egg in the end, okay?
Also, remember to remove the seed from the dried sour plum, and dilute it with miso.
You sure are picky, aren't you?
So that's the cookbook you were using.
Let's see.
No!
Don't read it without asking.
What, Nomo?
I already gave you milk, didn't I?
You just sit tight here with Momiji—
Your kettle's whistling, you know.
What should I do?
You really don't know?
Why don't I tell you.
First you have to open the cover,
and pour hot water to the designated line inside.
After you let it sit for three minutes, it—
Medicine!
Ice!
Bring me all the ice you have.
Let me see it.
Let's cool her head and her sides down with this, and see where it goes from there.
Grab some pajamas she can change into in case she starts sweating.
Are you okay, Aoba?
This kind of fever won't kill me.
What should I do?
Ichiyo said she'd be coming home late,
and Dad's...
I'm fine, Waka.
I'm totally fine.
I present to you my special porridge!
That cookbook I bought the other day sure came in handy.
Open wide.
How is it?
It's good.
Thank goodness.
Come on, Aoba.
But don't you usually get mad?
Today's a special case.
You're so warm, Waka.
W-What?
The porridge is ready.
But Momiji's still...
We'll eat instead.
You're hungry, aren't you?
I added the ginger and eggs like you asked.
Wow, it's good.
You have to admit it's pretty good, right?
Oh, come on.
You don't have to mean it, but at least tell me it tastes all right.
It tastes the same.
N-Nothing.
It's just like the one Waka made.
No fair, you two!
Momiji! Are you okay?
Yup!
Looks like her fever's gone.
I'm actually dying of hunger.
It won't take long.
I'll have it ready for you in a jiffy.
Make some New Year's soba, too, while you're at it!
Yes, ma'am.
New Year's soba for three, coming right up!
I don't want any.
For two, then.
How is it?
Peace!
Thank goodness.
Hey, Ao,
I had this dream while I was sleeping just now.
I dreamed about when I was in kindergarten and Waka was still around.
I'm home!
Thank you so much for bringing her back every time.
No worries. It's on our way home, anyway.
See you tomorrow, Momiji!
Bye bye!
Hey, Ichiyo, guess what I did today—
Excuse me, could we get two coffees?
Coming!
Come on and get changed.
There's some shortcake in the fridge if you're hungry, okay?
Waka, Ao!
Your clothes are way too dirty, Aoba!
Who cares.
It just shows you how active I am.
Even guys your age wouldn't have clothes this muddy.
These stains aren't coming off unless I hand wash them, you know!
Geez!
Hey.
Ma said her family's going to eat Korean barbecue today.
That's cool.
Ma's my best buddy whose family runs the bookstore.
Oh really?
I like sushi better than Korean barbecue, though.
In kindergarten today
we all drew pictures and mine was picked as the best one.
That's impressive.
The teacher took a few pictures and asked everyone which one they liked best.
And what did you draw?
My mommy.
Everyone was probably just being nice.
She's not here, either!
Where did she go?
And Dad just has to be out drinking somewhere every time something like this happens...
I'm home!
Momiji!
Where in the world were you—
Hi.
What in the world were you thinking?
Ow.
Do you realize what time it is now?
Could you not touch me there?
Ow...
Ow?
If you'll excuse me now.
Ko listened to so many things I told him!
But after that we went over to the park and wrestled!
He pretended to roll after I hit him with my flying kick,
and he bumped into the concrete in the sandpit here and there.
Ko really is a good, reliable man.
Your fever's going to come back if you keep saying cheeky things like that.
What are you doing?
Go stay with Momiji for me.
I'm just not cut out for it.
I can't become a good sister like Waka was.
You're probably much better than—
That's not true.
You're not that bad.
So you are saying I'm bad, then?
Ow!
It's so good!
Yup.
Much better than cup noodles, I bet.
Cup noodles are delicious in their own way, you know.
There's not much left to the year now,
and I'm surrounded by an eager crowd of—
Bravo!
Could you two keep it down, I'm trying to watch TV.
Yay! Ao's the joker!
This is the only one you're allowed to pick!
Let me pick one!
I said no!
Whatever happened to having good sportsmanship?
That's a totally different thing altogether.
What the hell?
Waka.
You're so warm, Waka.
How's your temperature?
A healthy 37 degrees, thank you.
That's good.
I'm going to make some ozoni for you guys and head back home, then.
You two looked pretty cute together there.
She'll make you cry again if she heard that, silly.
Make some ozoni for Ao, too, okay?
New Year's Day, huh?
Hey.
You're awake.
Thanks for helping out.
My pleasure.
Judging by that bag, I guess it's really true that you're training.
Huh?
Senda told me the other day.
That you started boxing or something.
I guess I'll leave it at that for now.
See ya.
All right!
I'm going to enjoy my lazy New Year's Day!
In your dreams, you are.
Damn you!
Give me back my lazy New Year's Day!
April's going to creep up on you so fast if you keep zoning out like that.
Why did you join the baseball team?
To play baseball, of course.
You prefabs better make those balls sparkle for the first-stringers!
"Prefabs"?
You second-stringers are the definition of "prefab" since you don't have your own club room or practice field.
Right, Azuma?
Who are you?
Next time, on Cross Game Episode Six:
Who are you?
I can't remember faces of people who aren't good for anything.