Akaishi was amazing today, wasn't he?
Even the commentator on TV was raving about him;
he said Akaishi was either the best or second best catcher in this tournament.
He's the best.
There's no doubt about it.
As are you, right Kitamura?
I bet every team's battery thinks that way,
at least until they lose.
So, when is it?
When's what?
Your surgery.
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
What are you doing?
The cicadas are noisy.
It's not like they weren't noisy before.
Oh, do you know where Ko went off to?
He's at Akane's hospital.
I see.
And what exactly do you see?
Nothing at all.
But it sure is hot, isn't it?
You'd think the temperature would drop a little by this hour.
Just don't eat too many of those and give yourself a stomachache, okay?
This is just my thinking,
but if she hadn't died, she'd probably have grown up more like you than Akane.
Wakaba Tsukishima would, I mean.
I called the restaurant yesterday,
and your mom picked up.
What did she say?
She told me not to worry since you'd be out of the hospital in two days.
She's really bad at lying, isn't she?
I could hear right through it.
I don't want Akaishi to know, though.
All I have to do is pitch to his mitt,
but a catcher needs to be able to concentrate for the entire game.
He's so straightforward and clumsy that it surprises me sometimes.
I know.
I can see through your lies, too, since you're not good at lying, either.
So I'll just tell him that you'll be out of the hospital in two days, and that there's nothing to worry about.
I'm pretty good at lying.
I know.
Just kidding.
It's on the day of the final.
My surgery, I mean.
I had a feeling that it might be.
So how major is the surgery supposed to be?
I can't tell.
The doctor's good at lying, too.
You'll be okay.
Wakaba will be protecting you.
Even though I've never met her before?
She'll protect you.
Okay.
I guess we'll postpone the date we were supposed to go on after the final for now.
Roger that.
But tell Aoba.
Tell her the truth.
I see, so she's getting out in two days.
What a relief.
She'll be able to come see us in the final, then.
You idiot, she'll need to stabilize her condition at home for the time being.
She told us to try our best, since she'll be cheering us on in front of the TV.
Oh...
Oh well.
Did you make plans to go out on a date after the final, as well?
Time for dinner, everyone!
Aoba.
Come with me for a bit tomorrow.
Where to?
Wakaba's grave.
I'd just get in the way, wouldn't I?
Why don't you go by yourself.
Long story short:
Let's get to the Koshien!
Yeah!
Bring on the wedding reception.
What time are you going?
To her grave.
After lunch.
Okay.
I guess it makes sense that the train would be empty around this time.
Did you say something?
You didn't have to sit so far away.
Why does it matter where I sit?
The train's pretty empty.
This feeling of distance never changes, does it.
Did you say something?
Nothing at all.
We don't have time to be lounging around, you know.
Let's hurry up and pray to Waka for a victory tomorrow and head back.
There's also one more thing I need to ask Wakaba for.
What?
That Akane's surgery will be a success.
S-Surgery?
When is it?
Tomorrow.
She never mentioned that!
Keep it a secret from Akaishi and the others.
Is it going to be a difficult one?
That doesn't matter.
She's going to pull through.
Wakaba wouldn't want to keep making you cry now, would she?
Do you know where Ko went?
He went to go visit the grave of Aoba's sister with Aoba.
To her grave?
Ko went with Aoba?
Yes.
Oh my.
Don't mention this to Azuma, okay?
We can't have our cleanup hitter fall into a slump right before an important game.
Did you happen to hear that?
Even people a hundred meters away can hear you when you're sharing a secret.
What?
Tsukishima and Kitamura went to visit someone's grave together?!
What are you doing?
Do you have any change?
Mister!
Please take this.
Thank you for all your hard work.
Remember that person?
Yeah.
He gave us a good beating when we raised hell here, didn't he?
He hit us pretty hard, too.
What were we fighting about back then again?
It was because you...
did something, probably.
What's that supposed to mean?
This is where Akane grew up.
I bet both of them would have been surprised out of their shoes if they ever ran into each other.
She said she'll forgive you if it's Akane.
At least that's what Waka told me just now at her grave.
What are you, psychic?
Anyway.
I'll worry for Akane for the both of us,
so tomorrow, just...
It won't influence my performance.
I'll know the result of her surgery by the time the play ball siren sounds.
That the surgery was a success?
No.
That it was a huge success.
Good afternoon!
At least fasten your belt before coming out.
S-Sorry I'm late.
How was it?
You guys haven't been out together in a while, have you?
It wasn't anything special like that.
I just went with him because he wanted to pray to Waka for success tomorrow.
But it's kind of rare that he asked you to accompany him, isn't it?
Oh did you know?
He's supposed to go out on a date with Akane after the final!
I'm jealous.
I'll at least go watch a movie with you, if you're willing to make do with me.
You sure it's a good idea to ask me out so nonchalantly like that?
I'm serious about you, you know.
Tsukishima!
Could you pitch for the batters?
Oh, okay.
Ryuou's ace will throw a lot harder and much less forgiving than that.
Got it.
I'll be throwing a slider next.
That's an impressive simulation of Oikawa's changeup.
I wonder how much effort she's had to put in to be able to pitch like that.
Kitamura won't let her efforts go in vain.
We're really going to the Koshien if we win tomorrow, huh?
Did your blisters burst or something?
Oh man,
if I had known that this day would actually come, I would have tried much harder in middle school...
What?
I didn't say anything.
Say.
You like Tsukishima,
don't you?
Yeah.
Along with you.
Did you know?
I'm good at lying.
How far do you think you could throw that ball if you really tried?
300 meters, maybe?
I see.
It actually feels as if someone could throw that far when you say it.
Thanks.
For what?
I appreciate what you said, even if it was a lie.
Damn it Nakanishi, stop hogging the batting pitcher to yourself and change out!
Someone's shooting off fireworks outside.
It's probably Ko.
He said he was going to go buy fireworks when he went out just now.
Such a reliable ace he is.
He's not even the slightest bit nervous before the big game tomorrow, eh?
You might think that,
but he woke up in the middle of the night last night and just stared blankly out into space.
I was pretending to be asleep.
He's not the type who'd honestly show that he's nervous or anxious to anyone.
You're right.
He's always been a liar, hasn't he?
It won't influence my performance.
I'll know the result of her surgery by the time the play ball siren sounds.
Wakaba wouldn't want to keep making you cry now, would she?
You could still be sleeping, you know.
So could you.
Did you not get any sleep?
It won't affect my condition.
Oh, since you're up already,
could you help me check my form one more time before the game?
You want me to pitch?
Like I said,
I want to check my form.
There's nothing else for me to teach you, though.
No, there's still plenty,
considering all the things that you've heaped up on yourself over the years.
I'm ready.
Do you have something on your mind?
I'm not seeing your usual control here.
I talked to Akane on the phone last night.
What'd you guys talk about?
That's a secret.
You like Akane, don't you?
Yeah.
Who do you like more, her or Waka?
I can't compare her against someone who's passed away.
How about if it was me or her?
Can I lie to you?
Go ahead.
Huh?
Where's Aoba?
She said she needed to drop by some place first and that she'd come to the stadium from there.
Where could she possibly need to go on an important day like this?
Did she say anything to you about it, Ko?
He's even drooling.
Is our ace going to be all right?
He'll be fine as long as he doesn't fall asleep on the mound.
We're really going to the Koshien if we win today, huh?
Probably.
I hope they win.
I'm pretty sure we're going to lose, though.
I want them to be able to play a game they won't regret later.
I wonder if they're prepared for it?
You should probably head over to the stadium now, Aoba.
There's still time.
But...
I'll be fine.
Wake up, Ko.
We're at Jingu now.
Did you have a good dream?
I will now.
This is where I start dreaming.
Azuma!
Win it for us!
Look here, Ko!
Wow, you're so awesome, Senda!
Would you get off the bus already?
Akaishi.
Huh?
Pray.
I don't want to ask the gods for help before the game even begins.
Just do it.
Fine.
We leave it to you, God.
Take this seriously will you?
Jesus.
Satisfied?
Yeah,
that'll do.
She'll be okay.
Go relieve the middle, shortstop!
It feels like I've seen every single one of these players either on TV or in the newspapers.
Every inch of them cries out "all-star" team.
Oh, did you say something?
No, I didn't.
Nakanishi.
Have you seen Momiji in the stands anywhere?
Oh.
I thought I saw her somewhere in the stands over there...
Over where?
O-Over there!
Ko's looking this way, Momiji.
All right!
What is?
All right?
What is it with you?
We're going to the Koshien if we win!
That hit you just now?
It should be any moment now.
Ao sent me a text message.
What did she say?
This sure is nerve-wracking.
I guess that's why they call it the final.
Are you sure you understand what "nerve-wracking" means?
I only have one regret about having stayed behind with this team;
that I can't square up against Ko Kitamura in a real game.
You'll have to give up on that regret.
Next time, on Cross Game Episode Forty-Eight:
All right.
How about putting yourself first for once, Akaishi?