Cross Game Quiz
Cross Game Quiz!
Mitani-kun
Hama-kun
Yashiro-kun
Who's Seishu Academy's 8th batter in their 2nd Summer Regional Prelim match?
There'll be a hint in today's show!
The answer will be given after the show!
While watching the television, keep the room bright, and don't sit too close to the TV, okay?
That would have been a homer if you didn't mess up!
Are you saying it was on purpose?
No, but...
It was.
Azuma!
Oh boy.
Sure is hard to go all out against a friend.
Indeed. Indeed.
What friend?! That's got nothing to do with you!
Also, why is the background all black?
Isn't it obvious?
This is a dream after all.
I see...
Summer's storm rocks the night sky
Your frightened face, cast blue by the summer rain
We freeze for a moment under the meaningless umbrella
Then cut through the crowd, dashing off into the rain
Our hands together, gripping the plastic umbrella handle
Our fingers tighten when clouds start to rumble
Now with you under the rain, washing away that summer
Washing away the sand of memories gathered in my heart
Now you're there under the rain, perhaps reminiscing those of the past?
Falling on our umbrella, that summer rain
A Careless Pitch...?
Cafeteria
I'm so sorry! I overslept!
Ah, don't worry. You are an official team member after all.
And you did practice till very late last night.
No, no. Let me help, let me help.
Besides...
Besides what?
My bad! My bad!
I'll get it! I'll get it!
I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!
Um... I'll leave the rest to you then...
Sure. Thanks for helping out.
What're you doing?
Sewing a button back.
Again? Didn't I fix one for you just a while ago?
Another one?
The same one...
Impressive.
Your swing remains composed, even when you seem to be punishing yourself.
Baseball's about the only thing I'm good at.
Only a few girls in the whole of Japan have your skills.
Without baseball, I wonder what else there is for me.
Tsukishima!
If I get 2 hits tomorrow-
A triple-
Steal base twice-
Reach base 3 times-
Go on a date with me!
Shut up!
I'm sorry!
You don't get it at all.
Would you be that popular if baseball is all you had?
You, Tsukishima Aoba, are quite a charming girl.
Try to see yourself in a better light.
I get the feeling someone's said that to me before...
People usually don't see their own strengths, I suppose.
Hey.
What are my strengths?
Let's see... Your flexibility and wrist movements probably.
I don't mean for baseball!
What's my charm as a person?
Ball!
You're asking me?
You've been around me the longest.
That's true... But there are things you don't see when you're too close.
You sure know a lot about my weaknesses though.
That's just the way it is, probably.
Nice ball.
If they win the match tomorrow...
I can go cheer for them on their later matches.
Of course they won't lose. They are going to Koshien after all.
Of course.
Oh right, congratulations on your marriage.
Not yet!
B-but the sign says you are open...
Not yet!
6 more matches until Koshien, huh?
Meiji Jingu Stadium
SENA
SEISHU
When I heard we were facing Kurokoma first, I didn't think we'd have another match.
Like I said, our Everest is this upcoming match with Seishu.
What a surprising man you are.
In just two years, you've turned the team into something completely different.
These members never lacked the passion, it's just that the practice schedule before was...
Sorry...
I don't mind.
I was never that knowledgeable in the area. I'm just a civics teacher with a passion for baseball.
So don't go easy on a coach like me.
That's the most important...
Let's go, Akaishi!
A passion for baseball.
The game has started. Top of the 1st inning, Sena on offense, with 1st, left fielder, Tsukuda-kun leading off.
Come on! My wedding!
Play ball!
Strike!
What're you doing, Mishima? The game's started.
No need to rush. He isn't the kind to lose composure at the start.
Strike 3!
I see.
Out!
Their pitcher is doing quite well too.
But both teams will start with their 4ths in the 2nd inning.
Strike!
Hah. I can see why Azuma chose to stay with this team.
You might have transfered too early.
I might have.
Dash!
Out!
Good job, Nakanishi!
Was the 3rd baseman always that fast?
He lost 2 kilograms.
Is that so.
Guess our data's off a bit.
Who are you calling a pig?!
Strike!
Strike 2!
Kitamura-kun!
You're awesome!
He's popular with girls from other schools too.
Every ace is like that.
Really?
Hey you guys. Do you know who I am? Have you seen me on TV?
Hey, isn't that Ryuou's Mishima-kun?!
Where, where?!
Oh yeah! Mishima-kun!
That's an ace too, no?
He's just the prelim's MVP pitcher.
Strike 3!
Okay! Nice pitching!
Kitamura!
There are things you don't see when you're too close.
That may be.
Ball!
Ball 4!
They were all real close though.
If Azuma took a swing, that'd have been bad. He never intended to throw a good pitch, it seems.
5th, catcher, Akaishi-kun.
A successful sacrificial bunt!
Seishu is progressing steadily! 1 out, runner on 2nd! A great chance!
6th, pitcher, Kitamura-kun.
A walk?!
It's now 1 out, with runners on 1st and 2nd.
Despite being the 6th, he can bat far,
And he's also the most dangerous one other than Yuuhei.
Out!
Looks like this pitcher doesn't care about people reaching base.
Strike 3!
3 outs, change!
Seishu's offense ends with 2 left on base.
The more left on, the more pressure there is.
And the team that handles tough spots the best...
Will take the lead.
Error! Shortstop Senda-kun committed an error!
You're too damn loud.
No outs, runner on 1st! A good chance for Sena!
8th, right fielder, Enami-kun.
3 failed bunts!
Sena's bunting even at 1 out!
1st!
Out!
That pitcher even makes bunting tough to pull off.
A normal hit would be much tougher.
For consecutive or long hits, we could only count on luck.
We gotta get into scoring positions first, so we won't waste any good hits.
Since the outfielders moved forward, 1 hit alone can't get us a run, can it?
Ah, the sign you told me to give, what's it for again?
A hit-and-run! It's a good hit!
But...
It's out!
They sure do some dangerous stuff.
They simply understand how difficult it is to get a run from you.
A good try, wasn't it?
Indeed.
He swung! Miki remains steady and ends with a loaded base!
He's totally taking us for a spin.
Could you not look so happy?
Be it the 4th or 9th, there's always gonna be 1 out.
He just uses the empty bases while he strikes out 3 people.
No runs despite reaching 3rd base so many times.
His presence assures his team even during tough times.
Overall, he's quite impressive as a pitcher.
Of course. Otherwise Coach Daimon would be really embarrassed.
After all, Kurokoma Vocational was definitely no pushover.
Probably not.
10 left-on-base after 5 innings.
Strike 3!
Eh?
That makes it 11.
Everyone is starting to take swings at bad pitches.
All those left-on-base is giving them too much pressure.
1 out!
By the way...
Strike 3!
Struck out without even a swing!
Is no-hit no-run till the 7th inning a cause for pressure too?
Strike 3!
3 outs!
3 consecutive strikeouts!
He's quite a dangerous character.
I know.
M-Miki...
Doesn't the excitement just make your palm sweat?
Indeed...
Strike 3!
Yes?
Ah...
Nice ball.
After 1 out, Azuma hit a double, but Miki still managed to give them no runs!
At the end of the 7th inning, the score still remains at 0-0!
He went on to face you too, huh?
Only when he was sure it wouldn't be a homer.
His control is perfect when he needs it to be.
He knows our team inside and out too.
But...
What he doesn't know is...
In our 2nd year, there's someone called Tsukishima Aoba.
Strike 3!
3 outs!
Sena Municipal High got no hits this inning again!
Against Seishu's Kitamura, they've gotten no hits for 8 innings!
M-Miki...
It's not a no-hit no-run game if we're even in runs.
On the other side, Seishu has received no runs despite reaching base every inning!
7th, 2nd baseman, Ehara-kun.
We 2nd years have been struck out 12 times already.
And it was a chance to score every time.
Damn it. Don't forget...
There's someone that has it way worse than us.
That batter sure seems fired up.
Without real effort, getting fired up won't do much.
Go through!
Yes!
The gods know how many swings they've taken each day.
Of course.
8th, Hama, pulls off a sacrificial bunt!
Yes! Keep it up, Yashiro!
Go! Just like that!
We've got a loudmouth.
9th, left fielder, Yashiro-kun.
Good job making the lineup, Yashiro.
Being a left fielder is like being in a war zone, you know.
Tsukishima!
Strike!
He's a bit too fired up.
Ah! It scratched his uniform! It's a dead ball!
That's gotta make a dent on Miki's pride!
1 out, runner on 1st!
Well done, 2nd years! Just leave the rest to the Mighty Senda!
Strike 3!
Strikeout!
He's gotta be Miki's favorite kind of batter.
Yeah.
2nd, center fielder, Mitani-kun.
1st ball, go all out... 1st ball, go all out...
What's he mumbling about on the way to the box?
2 outs huh? Why don't we just aim to break the left-on-base record?
Um, 1st ball...
Go all out!
What he said.
Homerun!
Bottom of the 8th, Seishu grabs 3 runs in one go!
The pressure on Sena has gone up ten-fold!
Such strong determination from the 2nd years.
If determination alone gives homers, no one would need to practice anymore.
Yeah. I'm no deity, and I don't keep count...
But since I've become coach, the one that swung the most...
Tsukishima!
Is probably him.
Get off already!
A careless pitch?
If you only look at the results, yes...
Don't let your guard down. That team isn't dead yet.
However, that 3 run lead was too large.
That day I was in top shape,
No one could have gotten a hit off of me.
...Until the very last one.
A careless pitch?
If you only look at the results, yes...
That's the frightening part about baseball.
You mean the interesting part.
Um!
Yes, yes? Autographs?
Um, where's Mishima-kun?
He left already.
Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!
Hurray! My wedding!
Our team seems even more united now.
But if it weren't for that homerun, it would have been a no-hitter shutout.
That's alright.
Nobody is going to fault our diligent ace for that.
Geez. Are you retarded?
Except that one person...
So what if I am.
“The one you love rarely loves you back”
To your words, I could only nod “right, right”
My heart is all yours, yet yours is with her
“Let’s do our best”, you said
But what should I do, tell me
A way to get you to notice me
Tell me you love me, love me, love me
Look into my eyes and tell me
Even if you think it’s just a rehearsal
Kisses, arm pillows, hugs, everything
Won’t you try them all with me??
And just like that, fall in love with me
Preview
I didn't throw too hard today,
but it went way further than I expected.
Did you notice anything different?
I wouldn't know. I've never pitched anything that fast.
Kitamura-kun sure has it rough.
He puts in a lot of effort, yet you can't really tell by just looking at him.
Next time, Cross Game 45: That's My Line!
I always give 100%!
This Week's Answer
Hama-kun
Here's this week's answer!
Did everyone get it?
Visit our homepage with your answer before noon, okay?
You'll get a special present from the show!
Sub Smith - 2010.02.07