Here goes my "Let's Draw Nomo" Song!
Two balls came flying in.
Small balls came flying in, too.
But hold on, here's one more.
Just barely scrape the surface for a fine play.
Cross one, two, and three mountains.
The sign for "victory" is V! V! V!
Then we have ourselves another V! V! V!
And surprise! We're done!
That's game, set, and Nomo's done!
With their ace Oikawa and Mishima as the cleanup hitter to lead them,
Tokyo's Ryuou Academy have established themselves as Koshien regulars
as they put in their fourth consecutive appearance.
Their coach, Terada, has claimed that Ryuou is fielding the strongest team in their history,
with their main pitcher and batter having become 12th graders this year,
it goes without saying that the team will be gunning to wave the blue and purple pennant this year.
I honestly can't say there's anything to hate about this coach right now.
Although I have to admit that those shady coaches like Daimon
are the ones who get me riled up.
There's no need to force yourself to hate him.
Baseball isn't a fight, you know.
Au contraire,
One death, then a second one...
People "die" whenever they're tagged out in this game.
If that's how you want to see it.
But just make sure not to get too excited and go overboard, okay?
Huh?
Whatever.
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
Without a doubt, we'll be fielding the strongest team in our entire history
with you guys having become 12th graders this year.
The strongest team up until now, maybe.
It's all over once you start getting into that mindset.
Hey, you punk!
Since when did I become a kabuki fan?
Starting today.
I want you to read that and study up on kabuki.
Don't tell me you said "no" to her invitation?
Akaishi told me that you like these kind of things.
How could I say "no" to that face?
All right.
But why?
I just wanted to see Wakaba Tsukishima smile even more.
Akaishi...
She always smiled the brightest when she was with you.
Come on now, where am I supposed to even begin with this?
It's dangerous unless you walk closer to the inside of the street, Azuma.
Daimon.
What are you doing in front of a hospital?
Did you get injured for us?
Unfortunately, no.
I'm just visiting someone.
Visiting?
A member of the baseball team?
Yes.
Aoba Tsukishima.
I'm sure you know of her.
You're visiting that girl, huh?
I thought she was just baggage who can't even play in a game.
The only other people besides you that I wish were injured on your team,
are probably your pitcher and catcher.
I see you haven't changed.
I'm alive and well, as you can see.
Who are the two riding in the back?
They'll be joining our team this summer.
I suggest you be careful.
The world hasn't looked favorably lately on coaches who "recruit" their players.
I'll be looking forward to this summer;
the reign of Ryuou will be brought to an end.
Yes, at the hands of Seishu Academy.
I've always thought you to be wiser than this.
You disappoint me.
You're blocking traffic, so could you disappear already?
Did you know?
It looks like Mr. Sunglasses is trying to pull the same stunt he did before,
except at Kurokoma Vocational School this time.
Kurokoma Vocational School, huh?
Sounds like him, all right.
Ryuou Academy advances to the third round of the tournament after beating Sakashita Tech 8-0.
Mishima, their star hitter, slugged a triple off the fence in his first at-bat,
picking up a hit in his only official at-bat, and then walking four times.
They still lost 8-0 after all that effort to avoid pitching to him, huh?
I give up.
Heave-ho, heave-ho, heave...
I guess it's undoubtedly Spring now.
Is Ichiyo around?
Yeah.
I see.
Come, Spring!
Come quickly!
Yes.
It's undoubtedly Spring.
What?
Nothing.
Should I keep my mouth shut?
About what?
To Tsukishima, about your date today.
There's no need to hide it.
Although there's no need for you to bring up the topic on purpose, either.
Here.
What is it?
It's a maintenance kit for baseball gloves.
Take it with you to Aoba.
Even if she can't use her glove now,
it's always been her hobby to take care of her gloves.
Ko?
Akane's here.
'kay.
See ya.
Yeah.
Ball Four!
Tsuzuki, who is one of this tournament's most sought-after pitchers,
isn't able to find his control from the get-go today.
There aren't very many pitchers better than Kitamura, huh?
Can you believe that guy?
He couldn't even play catch properly until the fifth grade.
He must have had a good role model by his side to learn from, then.
That, I can agree on.
And he's hit by the pitch!
Tsuzuki doesn't seem like his usual self in this debut at the Koshien.
So you can leave the hospital in two days?
Yeah, but I'll be on crutches for a bit.
It's such a nice day today.
I bet it feels good to be outside.
Yeah.
It's all warm outside now.
I heard he has a date today.
Our ace is going out with Akane!
And the ball bounces into the dirt!
The catcher fails to secure the wild pitch.
Akaishi dropped by not too long ago.
I see.
So he told you.
It's his first date with a girl other than Waka!
I bet he's sweating like a pig right now,
just like this pitcher here.
No, he's the type of guy who performs better on the bigger stages.
... and the ball sails past the fielders!
Oh my.
What's that?
A baseball glove maintenance kit.
Wow, thanks!
Yeah, that ace of ours is always half-assed, even when he's being considerate.
I'd have expected no less from you, Azuma.
Boy, this is awesome!
There's no need to hide it,
but also no need to bring it up on purpose, eh?
Excuse me?
Don't worry about it.
Akaishi's a really nice guy, isn't he?
He liked Waka so much, too.
And yet when he was given a second chance...
Unfortunately for him, he likes Kitamura very much as well.
And he's being taken off.
Tsuzuki, the star pitcher, has been lifted in the first inning.
Is this what the pressures of Koshien does to players?
And that concludes our afternoon performance.
The exits are...
How was it?
It was delicious.
Come again?
Huh?
You weren't talking about the lunch box?
Yeah, that's what I was talking about.
I thought so.
Akaishi!
Hey!
The store's closed, so come in from the back.
Got it.
I figured your room might look like this.
Yeah, I am kind of a neat freak.
I got you a souvenir.
So they really do sell kabuki-age rice crackers.
Yeah, at the convenience store over there.
I also got you sauce rice crackers, see?
Yeah, thanks.
So, how did it go?
How did what go?
Your date today.
Why, the path of Japan's traditional arts is both deep and narrow.
Did you know?
Kabuki is performed by an all-male cast!
Isn't that surprising?
I'm surprised, all right.
At the idea that you're surprised at such a rudimentary fact.
Did you guys go anywhere after the performance?
A kindergarten.
And then an elementary school.
We walked around the town she grew up in.
Oh my, if it isn't Akane!
What brings you here?
Long time no see.
Have you gotten used to your new home?
Yes.
A lot of people I didn't know kept talking to her.
Of course they were.
This dog is always barking.
This is one of my favorite art supply stores.
The couple running this restaurant is so funny!
It's like they're always performing a rapid-fire two man comedy act in Kansaiben when I'm here.
And this is a secret pathway.
My parents would always tell me not to come this way.
They were all things I've never seen before.
I repeat: of course they were.
I'm just making sure.
She's really just like Wakaba.
It doesn't feel awkward or anything when I'm with her,
and I almost want to start talking to her about old times.
But that's a little rude to her, don't you think?
Just making sure, huh?
What's more amazing to me is that you were never awkward around Wakaba Tsukishima.
What's that?
My treasure.
Don't you remember these letters?
How could I not?
I asked her how to write "try your best" in kanji,
and then had her write it in my notebook for me.
Well it's no sin having her write it,
but wouldn't Wakaba have been embarrassed if she didn't know how to write it?
I knew that she knew how.
You had it written on your headband during the school sports tournament.
In Tsukishima's handwriting.
You care too much about the little details, even though your face suggests otherwise.
That's the nature of a catcher, you know.
And you didn't have to mention my face.
My bad.
You wrote an entire novel on Ryuou Academy, huh?
We can't make it to the Koshien unless we beat them, after all.
How far do you think they'll go in the Invitationals?
I'll be able to collect the most data if they make it all the way to the final round.
We're finally 12th graders, huh?
Yeah, it was fast, huh?
You'll always be my guiding light...
Hey, Tsukishima!
Huh?
Ratta-tat-tat-tat!
You got me...
Don't stand behind me.
Darn it Aoba, Momiji!
Strike!
This game would have been over already if it wasn't a scrimmage match.
Seishu Academy's strongest team ever.
And Ryuou Academy won the Invitational Tournament.
We've got a lot of data thanks to it.
Indeed.
Strike three!
All right!
Hey!
Tada!
How do you like it, Nomo?
It was a hand-me-down from Ao, but I still look good in it, don't I?
Don't fall for me now!
The 12th grade, huh...
Stop being sentimental, you're late!
Get in already!
Oh, yes, sir.
Hello!
Hey.
Hello!
Hey.
Adorable new members to the team, huh.
I guess being in the highest grade does feel good.
Could you take that to the club room for me?
I'm sorry.
I'd do it myself, but I've got these...
That little punk!
I'll take it.
You're going to have trouble dealing with her later on if you pamper her like that.
Don't worry.
You're going to be the only casualty in the end anyway.
Even the doctor was surprised.
At how fast she was able to rehabilitate.
Oh, is that so?
I guess that's a good thing.
Oh yeah, Akaishi.
What's up?
Here.
Akane said this is for the kabuki tickets you gave her.
She hand-made it herself.
It's really well made, isn't it?
Is this supposed to be...
Who else but you?
It looks just like you, too.
Y-Yeah.
I guess.
What about yours?
I didn't get one.
All I did was go watch the performance with her, after all.
What?
Nothing.
Tell her I was stoked that she gave it to me.
Tell her I really was stoked.
I'm so sorry!
I heard he made you carry my bag, Azuma.
I'm so sorry you had to suffer such an inconvenience!
Who's that polite girl I'm seeing, Akaishi?
A flower storm, huh?
Looks like cherry blossom season is over.
Yes indeed.
All right, wrap it up.
That last one was really close, wasn't it?
Damn it, the wind just had to blow during the last half of training.
Now now, a man doesn't give excuses.
What are you two talking about?
We made a bet for a bowl of ramen.
Huh?
On whether or not he could send ten balls over the fence in just fifty swings.
I'm not satisfied with this bet.
Now, now, let's get going.
Oh you're even going to hold my bag for me?
Wow, thank you for being so considerate about everything.
Now then, let's go grab some ramen.
See?
What did I tell you?
I knew this whole hospital business would become a good opportunity for those two.
Excuse me, is Aoba here?
I figured I'd carry her bag home for her.
See?
What did I tell you?
Excuse me?
What did I tell you?
Bingo.
Huh?
I had a feeling you'd be on this train.
Here.
Akaishi's was easy to make,
but yours took a little effort.
It's probably better that I don't show this to Akaishi.
Huh?
Did you say something?
Nope, nothing.
Hello.
That scared me!
Please don't get so surprised each time.
So what brings you here today?
He learned my cutter in just one week!
You're just that good at teaching.
But still...
Maybe I've been underestimating him.
Next time on Cross Game Episode Thirty-Nine:
It's Always Been Like That
You'll get to stand on Koshien's mound through him.