When we were in grade school,
we'd visit the home of the Tsukishima family on her mother's side
every summer break.
Setting aside the fact that Wakaba used to drag me along,
I looked forward to this event each year,
as I had never truly been to the countryside.
Wakaba's parents used to come with us until we were in the second grade.
After that, Grandpa Tsukishima invited me to come with the four sisters a few times.
But ever since that summer,
I haven't...
The forest around the temple,
Jinryu Pond,
and Tsubasa Falls...
Now they're all just a part of my cherished memories.
Hey, I can't see anything here!
Don't stray away, Ko!
What the heck's up with this snowstorm?
Quit yapping!
Just a bit longer, girls.
We're almost there.
Okay.
It's so cold...
Less talking, more walking!
You're going to die if you fall asleep there.
Mitsuru Adachi
（Serialized in Shogakukan's 「Weekly Shonen Sunday」）
Created by
Toshihiro Nakazawa
Nobumasa Sawabe
Planning
Masato Hayashi
Rei Anami (TV TOKYO)
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
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
Oh, welcome!
Looks like it's started to snow a bit again.
"A bit"?
Look how big you've gotten, Ko!
How long has it been?
I'm surprised you recognize me.
These are my parents.
Hello! Nice to meet you.
Mr. Tsukishima invited us, and said there were some nice hot springs nearby.
Oh yes, they're very close.
It doesn't even take thirty minutes to walk there.
That's enough time to freeze to death.
Well, why don't we rest a little first, Mr. Kitamura?
It doesn't look like it'll ever stop snowing.
Oh yeah.
This is your first time here during winter, isn't it?
Yeah.
Does it always snow this much?
Only during this time of the year, I think.
Oh no.
We'll accept your kind offer, then.
Ah, thank you.
Please don't tell me we didn't go through that tundra
just so they could come here and drink.
Well, we couldn't come visit them for New Year's this year, after all.
It's been since that summer, hasn't it?
Huh?
Since you've last been here.
It sure takes me back;
you guys used to run around that hill out back until your faces turned black.
I found it!
Hey, Aoba!
Stop right there, Aoba!
I guess Azuma was right.
Is he back home?
I asked if he wanted to come, but he said he couldn't be bothered and didn't want to come.
Looks like things are going better between you two than I thought.
Yeah, right.
You need to say something to that brother of his.
Tell him to hurry up and find him a room already.
That guy has his intentions set.
On a lot of things, that is.
She called him "that guy."
Looks like things are going better between them than we thought.
Now that I think about it, where did Aoba go?
She's taking a bath.
At the place that's thirty minutes away?
At the one in the house.
What about your hair, Aoba?
I washed it yesterday, so it's fine.
No, you need to wash it clean.
I'm fine; it's such a bother anyway.
There you go sounding like a boy again.
Here, I'll wash it for you.
You'd look so cute if only you'd take better care of yourself.
I'll never be as cute as you.
Says the person who intentionally gets herself dirty.
Didn't you fight with Ko again today?
That's because he was eating your watermelon.
Hey, Wakaba,
can I come in, too?
You idiot, stay out!
Isn't that Aoba's daifuku ?
Let's just say there was only one per person to begin with.
Aoba doesn't like sweet things all that much anyway.
Oh?
I haven't heard that one before.
H-Here you go, Ao;
have two of your favorite daifukus.
Geez, I can't drop my guard even for a moment.
What are you looking at?
An album.
There are quite a few pictures from when we were kids.
Taking photos was Grandpa's hobby, you know.
Look at me with my face all dirty.
Oh don't worry, it's not like you're any better now.
Your face looks dirty too.
But Waka's is always so neat and tidy.
Yeah.
Who's this?
Oh, it's Uncle Isamu!
He looks so cool here.
Oh, your mom's brother?
Now that I think about it, I think I met him once before.
It must have been during the summer of first grade...
Hey, come on.
Found it. It's this photo.
You're right.
That's your dad and Ichiyo;
your mom with Momiji,
and next to that...
It's Uncle Isamu.
That's me right here,
and that's Wakaba.
And the one who looks like a boy over here is...
Wait.
Huh?
Who's the girl next to you?
That's not a girl.
He's a boy.
That's Mizuki, Uncle Isamu's boy.
He's the same age as me.
I don't remember him at all.
Now that I think about it...
What?
It's got nothing to do with you.
That shampoo you used smells good.
Wait, maybe it's the conditioner.
Get away from me!
Hey.
"Hey" yourself!
I can't sleep because you guys are so loud this late at night!
Please.
It's a joy to be able to drink as you're laughing, you know.
Back when he lost Wakaba,
he used to cry every time we drank together.
He's a good man who works hard and cares a lot for others.
He couldn't show his tears in front of you or his daughters, you know.
I hope you'll be a little more understanding on behalf of us caring fathers, then.
"Us" you say?
Go to sleep already, you drunks!
Aoba!
Let's go play at the hill out back, Aoba!
Not if he's going, too.
We're going to go by ourselves, then.
Waka, you big dummy!
Heave-ho, heave-ho!
Yay!
Look, Ko! Isn't this awesome?
Wow, that's awesome.
Where's everyone else?
I can't say this is too shabby myself.
They all went out towards the hot springs just now.
They sure are making themselves busy so early in the morning.
What do you mean, "morning"?
Do you have any idea what time it is?
I couldn't sleep because your dad was making so much noise!
Was he?
I don't think he made any more than usual.
You guys may be used to it, but I'm not!
Where's breakfast?
Do you know what time it is?
I don't care what kind; I'm starving!
Oh quit yapping and just eat the mochi over there or something.
I'm a guest here, you know.
Fine.
Why don't I make something for you, then.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I'll just go eat that mochi.
What a punk!
Why on earth did you do that, Aoba?
I'd become siblings with that guy over my dead body!
Where did Ko go?
I think he went to the hills out back out for a walk.
I'm going, too!
No you're not.
Didn't you bring your homework with you?
Get that done already.
We're home.
Welcome back.
Where's Ko?
He went to the hills out back.
Could you go get him?
We're going to be eating lunch soon.
Huh?
Where was it again?
It's over there!
Over there!
Do you need a map, Magellan?
The real question is,
how do you know where I'm trying to get to?
Why did you do that?
Hey, Aoba...
I can't believe you forgot where it is!
H-Hey, you're heading right for a—
Oh shut up, Magellan.
Aoba!
Ow...
You're heavy.
What are you doing?
Is that what you should be saying to someone who saved your life?
Shut up!
Good thing that didn't end up becoming a dead ball, huh?
There it is.
Hey didn't this use to be...
Come on, Aoba!
Why did you do that to our "love umbrella"?
Because I hate that guy!
Hey, do you know what happened to this...?
I forgot.
Oh yeah.
Grandma said we're having lunch soon.
I had mochi, so I'm fine.
Oh?
That's right.
I haven't been here since that summer, huh?
Yeah.
You haven't.
They really were close, huh?
That day, Tsukishima stopped in front of me, smiling,
and told me about her dream on her way to camp;
Wakaba Tsukishima told me about the last dream she had.
Hey, Ao, I don't get this—
I was the catcher and you were pitching
at a jam-packed Koshien.
Wow.
Which one of the "spring winds" was that?
Does that matter?
Not really.
Go get 'em, hero.
Oh no, what should I do?
Hurry it up.
There's a pretty damsel in distress here.
Yeah, yeah, just hang on.
Huh?
Thanks for waiting.
You're too late, hero.
Here you go.
T-Thank you so much.
Oh no, don't mention it.
He climbed that with his backpack still on?
Who the heck is he?
Please let me repay the favor.
Oh, darn it!
Oh no, I couldn't.
Oh, but I insist!
How about some udon from the udon-stand over there?
From the udon-stand?!
Do you mind if I order some abura-age with it?
He's actually going to eat some?!
What's your name?
It's Mizuki Asami.
Well if it isn't the shock of the century.
What a beautiful name.
But then again, I guess a bowl of kitsune udon is nothing to cry over.
Mizuki Asami...
Is something wrong?
I think I've heard of his name before, but then maybe not...
Then just pretend that you haven't. It's a bother to try to remember, after all.
What is it? Do you remember now?
I lent you five bucks at the convenience store last week, didn't I?
I think I may have borrowed it, but then maybe not...
Why don't we pretend that I didn't since it's a bother to try to remember.
Not on my watch! Give me back my five dollars!
But you have to admit,
it's quite impressive that he was able to climb up that high.
Mizuki Asami...
Oh!
You also borrowed a buck fifty to use on the vending machine in front of the convenience store!
Oh yeah?
Hey, stop Nakanishi!
Get out of the way, Nomo. Or I'll suck you in, too.
Is this fine, Ichiyo?
Wipe down the tatami, too;
and be sure to wring that washcloth down to the last drop.
Yeah, yeah.
Now we just need to figure out what to do with all this junk.
We've only been using this room as a storage, huh?
I wonder if he'll really be able to sleep here.
He can just sleep in your room, then.
As if.
Oh, right.
I keep forgetting you're a high schooler, too.
What's that laughing supposed to mean?
You're back late.
I thought practice ended at two today?
I had to go collect some money.
What about you?
What did you do since morning after skipping out on practice?
I went back home to change my clothes.
I changed my winter clothes for my summer ones.
It was taking up too much space.
Looks like you don't plan on moving out for the time being.
You're here just in time.
Come to the batting center with me;
I can't just sit and take swings here all day.
Why should I?
It's your fault for skipping practice.
Your clean-up hitter won't be there to support you unless you treat him well.
I'm sure you'd hit just fine even if I let you be.
Fine, fine. I'll go with you.
Now that's what I'm talking about.
You damn freeloader!
What's wrong?
This guy I've never seen before has been following us for a while now.
And we all know how good you are at memorizing faces.
You need to start learning the faces of others better—
Do you know him?
Yeah.
I know his name.
Mizuki Asami.
Who is he?
He's the guy who stole my kitsune udon.
Huh?
What's that supposed to mean?
You want something from us—
Aoba!
It's been so long!
Is Tsukishima the "kitsune udon" he stole from you?
"Ko Kitamura," was it?
I've met him before, right?
Wakaba's really gone, isn't she?
Yeah.
She was really cute.
She was smart, surefooted, and she was so nice...
Yeah, yeah. I know. I'm just nothing but a—
But you were the one I liked, Aoba.
Next time, on Cross Game Episode Twenty:
Mizuki Asami.
I'm serious about you, Aoba.