Ow...
Your back's covered in pads!
Well, I have been hitting quite a few balls these days.
But still...
Good thing we got ourselves a good batting coach.
Yeah.
Damn it, Senda!
How many times do I have to tell you?
Put your whole body in front of the ball; don't just use your glove!
Always stay light on your feet, dumbass!
S-Sorry...
Nakanishi!
You're too far back.
Come forward a little more!
Got it.
You're hitting these balls much faster than Coach usually does.
Second base!
Keep your center of gravity low and your eye on the ball!
Next!
Here we come, Koshien!
You won't find anyone named that anywhere.
Stop getting distracted!
Yes, ma'am.
Spread your legs out more.
I can't do much more than this.
Of course you can.
Ow!
Both our batting and pitching coaches are top notch.
Yeah.
Dumbass, what are you doing, Koshien?
Like I said, there's no one named "Koshien"...
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
Tetsuya Takeda
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
Shin'nosuke Wada (TV TOKYO) Naohiko Furuichi
Producers
Osamu Sekita
Director
Shogakukan Shueisha Production
Production Studio
SUBTITLED BY ANBU
Aoba.
You're paying me to coach you?
No, you idiot, why would I?
It's Azuma's birthday in two days.
I'll bring him to the café that night, so pretend you're buying cake for him with that.
Huh?
I don't like lying like that.
Me buying him cake wouldn't make him happy!
I have enough money to pay for it myself anyway, thanks.
There's no need to turn it into a lie.
I guess.
Wait a sec!
Huh?
Your birthday's next month, isn't it?
You actually remember.
It's not like I have a choice in the matter when it's latched on to Waka's.
Don't talk about my birthday as if it's some sort of leech!
I'll use this money to buy you cake on your birthday and pretend it's from me.
You'll probably have forgotten about this money by then and be really happy about it.
I see.
Wait, damn you!
What if you forget about the money?
Then I'd be really happy about it.
H-Hey!
See, I told you.
But you still managed to throw it this far,
and you have pretty good control of the ball.
Oh, you don't have to try to be nice about it.
I was really weak until I started elementary school,
and I stayed home a lot.
I'd be in my room either reading or drawing all the time.
So I was filled with awe every time I saw girls running around the school grounds,
and I looked up to them.
To girls who were like you, Aoba.
I guess that's one thing that's different between you and Waka.
That's why I told you;
Wakaba was good at everything and had no flaws.
Waka's flaws, huh?
Well if you insist on talking about her flaws—
She had bad taste in men.
Was what you were about to say, right?
I haven't said anything yet.
Oh, no wonder this ball's so soft;
it's one of those balls specialized for playing catch that's so popular these days.
Here you go!
A great pitch, as expected from the ace of the baseball team
that was named one of the favorites to win the regional tournament.
Was her taste in men really that bad?
You say that because you didn't know this guy back in those days, Akane.
I showed you the photos, didn't I?
Yup.
You can't capture someone's personality in a photo, you know.
I suppose.
Akane saw your photos and said that you were cute.
Why exactly are you here?
Oh yeah.
Do you guys have a step ladder?
A step ladder?
We can't find ours,
so Dad told me to borrow one from you guys.
We have one back at our store, too.
Oh no, that's fine.
A step ladder, right?
Coming right up.
Here you go.
Thanks.
I'll have it back in a jiffy.
Oh no, take your time.
Hey, Azuma's birthday is tomorrow, okay?
I know.
I'll definitely swing by your art exhibit next week, Akane.
You don't have to come if you're too busy with practice.
Nah, it's okay.
See you.
Oh.
Sorry about that, Ko.
I totally forgot to bring that back to you guys.
Huh?
Oh, good job.
This is a pretty nice step ladder.
It's at the perfect height, too.
Of course it is.
Here we come, Koshien!
I'll get you signed yet, marriage registration sheet!
Bring it on, wedding reception!
Come on, you fools,
I'm not inviting any of you unless you get your asses moving!
Remember, it's today.
Would you get off my back about it?
What's wrong?
O-Oh, nothing.
He keeps telling me not to forget to invite him to the wedding reception.
I'm going to cut you up, wedding cake!
Say, Azuma?
What day is it today?
It's Sunday, isn't it?
I thought so.
Didn't you say your birthday was on a Sunday?
Yeah.
I thought so.
Next Sunday.
I thought—
Huh?
Thank you for waiting.
You ordered cake?
Yeah, just now.
And that comes out to 1000 yen for the set.
I thought so.
Thanks for coming.
Don't mention it.
You too, Akaishi.
Oh, it's okay.
I really enjoyed the exhibition.
It was like art was exploding all around me.
Like "bang!" and everything.
What's that supposed to mean?
But yeah, it was really good.
Oh, there are a few more pictures I wanted to show you guys.
So this is what I look like.
Yeah.
It's been raining ever since June came around, huh?
Of course.
It's called the rainy season for a reason.
Good morning.
Oh, good morning.
Is he still sleeping?
Ko left already.
He needs to make a stop somewhere before going to school today.
A stop?
Aoba was right.
She said I'd see you here if I came at this time.
Happy birthday.
Thank you.
Are you still buying those birthday gifts for Wakaba?
Oh no, I stopped doing that.
Her requests kept getting harder to fulfill.
Yeah, you should stop.
I'm sure it's not the materialistic things that Wakaba appreciates;
she probably appreciates the fact that you still cherish her memory like this—
No,
I'm sure she'd want Ichiyo, Aoba, Momiji,
and you to be happy, rather than herself.
She'd want you to be happy, too, right?
I guess so.
Why don't you get remarried before all your daughters marry and leave you?
Wakaba's not the only one buried in this grave, you dummy.
I'm sure she'll forgive you.
After all, I'm sure Mrs. Tsukishima would want you to be happy, too, wouldn't she?
Yeah.
Same goes for you, too, Ko.
If you end up liking someone new, that is.
Be sure to introduce her to Wakaba, though.
Wow, thanks, you guys.
You didn't have to buy this just for me!
You wish.
We bought that cake to celebrate Wakaba Tsukishima's birthday.
That's right.
You're just the throw-in that came with it.
W-What did you say?
Who are you calling a throw-in?
Hello?
Yeah, he's here.
Hey.
It's Tsukishima.
Hullo there.
Really?
Okay, I'll be right there.
Screw you guys and your cake;
Aoba said Akane baked me a cake back at the Clover and told me to go eat it.
See you chumps later.
Say "hi" to Wakaba for me.
Bye bye.
This is why I said we should just earnestly celebrate his birthday.
I asked you to come since I figured this might happen.
Azuma and I probably couldn't finish that cake by ourselves.
It turned out really good!
Isn't it impressive?
She's been at it all afternoon, right, Akane?
Oh no.
What's this doll made of?
Oh that's made of clay, so...
... you probably shouldn't eat it.
Thank you for the cake.
You really did finish the whole thing.
Everything except the clay.
You could have saved some for later and not forced yourself to eat it all.
Oh, how could I?
I've never tasted cake this delicious in my entire life!
Boy I'm stuffed.
Thank you for waiting.
Here's the cake set that you ordered last month.
Um...
And what's this thing that's all coiled up?
Oh don't worry, it's just clay.
May you have a happy birthday.
Attaboy.
He finished both cakes down to the last crumb.
Yeah,
everything except for the clay.
Well, good night.
'night.
Oh yeah.
Your birthday's on the 25th, right?
Yeah.
You can repay the favor by getting me the cake set from Clover.
Good night.
And there goes my allowance.
Do we have any more cake, Akaishi?
No.
So we won't face Ryuou until the final round.
Yes.
Looks like we won't have any problems getting there, though.
Not even a single red light until we play against Ryuou.
We won't be playing Ryuou until the final round, right?
Yeah, but our second game will be against the Kurokoma Vocational everyone's been talking about.
How depressing.
Why?
We beat one of Daimon's teams before, didn't we?
That's exactly why.
I'm guessing even he'd have a hard time finding a new job if he can't get results this time around.
So you're willing to let his style of baseball run wild?
Like hell I am.
All right, then.
I guess we'll just have to keep beating him down until he finally learns his lesson.
And how good is Kurokoma supposed to be?
I'm not quite sure.
They definitely haven't put all their cards on the table yet,
and they've turned down most of their interviews.
I guess he's still employing the same makeshift methods.
Just let him be.
There's still our first game to worry about.
We shouldn't underestimate them even if they are a no-name school.
A no-name school, huh?
What?
Oh, it just reminded me of someone.
But it sure is pouring, isn't it?
Don't you get soft on me now!
This kind of rain isn't enough to stop a game!
Bad weather is not an acceptable excuse for sorry play!
You can never be too prepared!
Weddings don't always take place on sunny days!
Of course.
Center field!
Nice form!
Good job, center field!
Here.
Thank you.
You've gotten better, Mitani.
Thank you.
Actually,
it's not just you, all the 11th graders have improved by leaps and bounds over the past year.
That's because we wouldn't be able to face Tsukishima if we have a poor outing.
Um, Senpai?
Is Tsukishima going out with Azuma?
I wouldn't really call it going out.
I see.
You still have time to ask her out, if you want.
I'll pass.
If I'm going up against Azuma, I'd rather cheer them on instead.
Cheer them on, huh?
He hasn't stopped running for a while, has he?
Isn't that a good thing?
The only thing he has to worry about right now is having enough stamina to last consecutive plays.
Batters won't be able to get easy hits off him when he's in peak condition.
I agree with you on that,
but it's kind of unusual seeing you complimenting him like that.
I'm not complimenting him.
I'm just pointing out the facts.
I see.
It falls right in front of the second baseman;
he throws it to first, and that's the third out!
Game over.
You'll catch a cold if you sleep in places like that, Ko!
What happened with the night game?
I think it's over.
Did they win?
Well somebody did.
Geez.
It finally stopped raining.
Huh?
Akane's still not back yet?
She's out pretty late tonight.
Looks like she's sleeping over at the Tsukishimas.
She's become such good friends with all of them.
It almost seems like the four Tsukishima sisters are reunited every time Akane's there with them.
What exactly do you see in that guy?
By "that guy,"
you're talking about this guy here?
Him.
I wonder what Wakaba saw in him.
Who knows.
Why don't you try imagining it.
I have no clue at all.
People often have a hard time recognizing their own good points.
Ichiyo told me.
That you and Kitamura are very much alike.
Yeah yeah.
I'll never become a wonderful girl like you or Wakaba anyway.
You really don't get it.
Try looking at yourself honestly again after you've come to like yourself a little more.
Then you'll realize what a charming girl Aoba Tsukishima is.
And then perhaps you'll see what's so charming about Kitamura—
Could we not talk about him please?
Wakaba liked you two very much.
Same goes for me.
All righty.
Why don't we get to bed, then?
Are you sure it's all right for me to sleep on that bed?
You're a special exception, Akane.
Thanks.
That's the t-shirt Kitamura bought for you at the flea market, isn't it?
I couldn't dream of ever wearing something like this outside.
It's only good for sleeping in.
Hey!
Who said you could eavesdrop!
O-Oh, um, I was just curious and...
So what are those two talking about?
T-They've been talking about Ko Kitamura the whole time.
I thought so.
You did?
Waka and Ao would always talk about Ko when they were together, too.
Though it'd always be the same pattern of Waka saying good things about him
and Ao cutting him down.
Has Ko Kitamura...
always been like that?
Has he...
Has Kitamura always been such a hard worker?
Wouldn't you know better?
I guess.
All right, last ten pitches!
Not just yet.
I've just gotten warmed up!
Where's Ko?
He's still running.
But the underclassmen can't go home until he's done.
Tsukishima.
Yes?
Give him a massage later when he's done.
Yeah, right there.
Boy that feels good.
Consider today a special case, compliments of Azuma.
Sure.
Oh yeah, I heard Akane stayed over at your house yesterday.
What about it?
Did she say anything about me?
Not really.
I see.
Do you like Akane?
She's so much like Wakaba, isn't she?
That's not what I asked.
She's too much like her.
Akane said that she likes you.
You and me both.
All right, massage time is over.
Get your butt off the table!
You didn't have to hit me!
We used to train here all the time before we made the high school team, huh?
Yeah.
I'm glad that you became more than just our "secret weapon."
I want to take one of your pitches one more time, Tsukishima.
I want to face off against you one more time, too, Ozaki.
Next time, on Cross Game Episode Forty-Two:
Their Summers.
You should just jump in with both feet and go for broke if you really like her.