The BEST episodes written by Michihiro Tsuchiya
#1 - How Should I Know?
Cross Game - Season 1 - Episode 16
Before the scrimmage Daimon tells Azuma that Shido will not fire him even if the varsity team loses, and Shido confirms this. However, during the first inning, Tubby's grandfather, who is the school's chairman, tells Shido and Daimon he is ratifying the wager with Maeno. During the first two innings, Ko allows the bases to get loaded before striking out the next three batters, and to focus him, Akaishi tells Ko to pitch as if it were late in the game. In the sixth inning, the game still scoreless, Daimon asks Azuma who were the portable team's opponents in their practice matches; Azuma says they played top teams from the prefectural tournament, and that Ko pitched easily the first six innings to give his team fielding practice. In the seventh inning, Aoba hits a single and then scores on Senda's sacrifice fly. During the final innings, Azuma asks Daimon if he wishes he had better hitters in his lineup, such as Miki, and as Ko strikes out the final three batters, Azuma says Ko is now the best pitcher they have played against all year. As the portable team celebrates their win, Aoba silently tells Wakaba that Ko did it.
#2 - Last Inning
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 11
The second round of the district qualifying is finally to the final round! In the top of the 7th inning, he allowed an additional point during Kiyowa and further widened his lead, but Nishina, who pitched urgently, took a series of strikeouts, and Fubayashi managed to get through the pinch. And in the bottom of the 7th inning, the last attack in Fubayashi was a high-ranking line starting from No. 3 Sawa. However, No. 4 Anita just injured her right wrist ... Urabe and Andy's Kiyowa Battery severely attacked Anita's weakness, the internal angle.
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#3 - An Alchemist's Anguish
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - Season 1 - Episode 4
Ed and Al become interested in biological transmutation after witnessing a chimera in Lior, so Colonel Mustang introduces them to an expert in the field, Shou Tucker, the Life-binding Alchemist. Meanwhile, a serial killer whose targets are only State Alchemists is on the loose in Central.
#4 - With you again…
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 25
The Fubayashi Naka baseball club suffered a humiliating defeat in Tsujido. Yayoi and Tao Tsuchiya seem to have been blown away by the difference with boys. Nishina and Anita who vow to revenge and try to devote themselves to practice. Mutsuko has shattered her confidence as a pitcher. Then, Daigo seems to have lost his passion because he was overwhelmed by the light he met again. For Sekitori and Chiyo, who have no choice but to stare at such friends, Chisato at her own pace ... What is the one that holds the completely disjointed Fubayashi Nine back together ...?
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#5 - The Princess and Hostage Training Week
Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle - Season 1 - Episode 9
It’s time for Princess Syalis to start acting like a proper hostage, so the demon king issues a decree to help change that.
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#6 - For Real?
Cross Game - Season 1 - Episode 3
Nakanishi recruits Ko for a rematch of the sandlot game from fifth grade. When Ko warms up with what he calls a few soft pitches, Nakanishi has him play right fielder instead, claiming he wants a friendly game. Meanwhile, when Aoba plays catch with her little sister, Momiji, she is startled to learn that Momiji can handle her hardest throws because Momiji has helped Ko practice. Akaishi, now captain of the junior high school baseball team, watches the sandlot game and is reminded of Wakaba's boasts about Ko's abilities. With Ko's fielding and batting, his team wins in a close game. Afterward Nakanishi learns that Ko did not join the baseball team, despite his surprisingly fast fastball, because Nakanishi had been kicked off it for fighting. During practice, Aoba and Akaishi discuss unsettling rumors about the Seishu High School baseball team, which has had a second straight losing year. In his office at Seishu High School, Acting Principal Shido tells a man dressed as a coach that he is pleased with his plans.
#7 - The Infamous New Members
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 1
Daigo Shigeno, whose father is a professional baseball player who was also active in the major leagues, is in the second year of junior high school. He goes to a private school with Mutsuko Sakura, a childhood friend and teammate from the boys' baseball era. Daigo and Mutsuko belong to the baseball club, but there are only 6 members, and 4 including Mutsuko are girls. In April, when the new first grader is greeted, captain Daigo is eager to recruit new students to make up for the shortage of members. Around that time, at the entrance ceremony, first-year sports-recommended students were all in line ...
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#8 - I Hate You!
Cross Game - Season 1 - Episode 2
Four years later, in the fall of her second year at Seishu Junior High School, Aoba is a pitcher for the baseball team, and still hates Ko for having monopolized her dead sister's time. Starting pitcher Keiichiro Senda, who considers himself popular, asks her out on a date without waiting for a response. When she does not show up, Senda goes to her house but is frightened off by the family cat. When Ko (in his third year at Seishu Junior High) delivers baseballs to the Tsukishima batting cages, he hits four home runs, which annoys Aoba, especially since she cannot match it. In a flashback, she remembers Wakaba telling her about Ko's potential to one day pitch 160 km/h fastballs, which Aoba claimed was her ideal in a man, but that if he does, Aoba cannot take him from her. Meanwhile, inspired by Aoba's pitching, Ko has been obeying Wakaba's order to follow Aoba's workout routine.
#9 - Four-Leaf Clover
Cross Game - Season 1 - Episode 1
Fifth-grader Ko Kitamura was born on the same day in the same hospital as his neighbor, Wakaba Tsukishima, who treats him as her boyfriend as a result. One day during summer vacation, she makes him take her to swimming lessons on his bicycle. On the way back, to avoid classmate Osamu Akaishi, who has a crush on Wakaba, Ko joins a sandlot baseball game organized by another classmate, Daiki Nakanishi. Because he has never played before, Ko fields badly, but because he has practiced in the Tsukishima family's batting cages he hits the game-winning home run. After their joint 11th birthday, Wakaba gives Ko a schedule of birthday presents for him to give her through age 20. Soon after this, Wakaba drowns while saving a younger girl at an overnight swimming camp. Ko does not know how to respond to this until, the evening after her funeral, he sees Akaishi weeping outside Wakaba's house and realizes he just needs to cry. The closing credits show time passing and by the end, Ko and Wakaba's younger sister Aoba Tsukishima are in junior high school.
#10 - The Princess and Troubling Dreams
Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle - Season 1 - Episode 11
Princess Syalis feels tired no matter how much sleep she gets, and her troubling dreams aren’t helping.
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#11 - Nice Game!
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 19
A reversal drama of rebirth in Fubayashi, and a powerful batting line in Oonaka that attacks Yayoi who overcomes the failure of the elbow and throws power! The final match between Fubayashi Naka and Oonaka, led by Daigo, will reach a dramatic end. After such a fierce battle, Daigo returned home and exhausted his energy and physical strength. Daigo looks exhausted, but finds a piece of paper on the desk and changes the color of his eyes. It was a memorandum from my father, Goro, who saw the death battle with Oonaka from the stand.
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#12 - Torn Feelings
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 15
The final of the district tournament between Fubayashi Naka, who has won with nine members, and Oonaka, who has all the prestigious Yokohama seniors, is finally a play ball! Daigo witnessed a short line with left-handed Michiru Mayumura and a second line with Idemitsu, and noticed Oonaka's intention to solidify the center line with the starting pitcher Uozumi and seniors. Then, the hit ball of top batter Senri in Fubayashi immediately hits the short road.
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#13 - Now That We've Come This Far
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 18
Yayoi, who made an emergency pitch after Chisato, suppressed the Oo batting line, but the counterattack in Fubayashi was also blocked, and the district tournament final entered the final round with Oonaka's 3-point lead. In the 7th inning of desperation, while two outs in Fubayashi, the last chance of the first and third bases! Chisato, the top batter, persistently chooses a walk and puts pressure on the two-death base and Oonaka's base. Then, the batting order turns to No. 2 Tao Tsuchiya, who was sealed in a short ground ball at the front at bat.
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#14 - The Unexpected Pitcher
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 17
Fubayashi Naka, who had been suppressed to no hits, attacked Oonaka's second pitcher Idemitsu in the top of the 5th inning and returned 2 points in a timely manner such as Senri. However, Oonaka puts Tao Tsuchiya on the relief pitch and tries to escape by hitting Tao Tsuchiya on a short ground ball. Chisato pitched from the 4th inning and showed an unexpected (?) Good throw, but he lost his grip strength due to lack of stamina as early as the bottom of the 5th inning when he entered the second inning. Mutsuko can't pitch because of the restrictions on continuous throwing, so what's the point of standing on the mound?
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#15 - The Princess and the Frightful Demon Nightmare
Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle - Season 1 - Episode 8
Back at the Demon Castle, Princess Syalis interrupts an important meeting to share about her haunted dreams.
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#16 - Even More Sleepless Princess of the Castle
Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle - Season 1 - Episode 7
Princess Syalis wakes to find herself in a completely different castle! What happened and how will she return to the Demon Castle?
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#17 - Rain of Sorrows
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - Season 1 - Episode 5
After learning about what happened to Shou Tucker and his daughter Nina, the Elric brothers begin to question what alchemy really is. Meanwhile, Colonel Mustang and the other State Alchemists track down the serial killer Scar.
#18 - You Disappoint Me!
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 22
Fubayashi Naka, who realized the long-awaited practice match with the powerful Tsujido Gakuen Junior High School, managed to start the match by incorporating Chiyo, who wants to be a manager, into the starting lineup instead of Chiba who was hospitalized. However, since there are 7 girls, 10 points of handicap are given from the first time, and Daigo cannot hide his regret. In order to look back at Tsujido, Yayoi and Tao Tsuchiya fired a series of good defenses from the first time, and Daigo and Anita who stood at bat also caught the starting pitcher Oka and destroyed it.
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#19 - Captain Daigo
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 4
On the morning of the first game of the Fubayashi Naka Baseball Club, Daigo's father, Goro, was with his teammate, Toshiya Sato, who taught Daigo the basics of baseball when he was in elementary school. We were talking on the phone. Toshiya cares about the first match in Fubayashi while communicating the latest situation with each other. To Toshiya, Goro remembered Daigo's half-year struggle to become the captain in the first grade in an unexpected way, and strongly stated, "Daigo will do it."
#20 - Signs of a Storm
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 23
Anita's home run and Chiyo, who made her debut on this day, also made a hit, and Fubayashi was able to pull away the powerful Tsujido at once. However, the pursuit is blocked by the "Mario Ball", which changes drastically with the fastball of Mario, a first-year pitcher who pitched in 2nd place in Tsujido. Mutsuko, the starting pitcher, aims to keep the lead and bring it to a cold win, but in the bottom of the third inning, Tsujido Naka goes on the offensive with Mario's double base. In addition, a hit ball flew in front of Chiyo who defended the left field ...! ??
#21 - Reconnected Feelings
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 16
The final match with Oonaka, who has strong members such as Michibase Meimura. Nishina, the starting pitcher in Fubayashi, continued to make efforts from the beginning, but lost 5 points in the bottom of the 3rd inning due to lack of stamina and defensive disorder. It was Chisato of the center who gave up Nishina's continuation and took over the Fubayashi mound from the 4th inning. Chisato, who has experience as a pitcher in the Little Yokohama era, will be the first pitcher in junior high school. While my father, Fujii, is excited to watch from the stand, what kind of pitch will Chisato at his own pace show ?! ??
#22 - The Princess' Unwavering Choice
Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle - Season 1 - Episode 6
Dawner the Hero is having more trouble than expected on his journey to the Demon Castle, so the demon higher ups decide to take some action.
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#23 - What's With This Guy?!
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 3
With the cancellation of the new director's appointment, the four first-year boys have advanced to the senior league, and the new strength of the Fubayashi Naka Baseball Club is to add Anita & Senri from the prestigious Yokohama Little to Nishina, who is left alone as a boy. After all, there were only three people. In this way, it turns out that the official game is coming up two weeks after the nine people are all together. Anita, the catcher, has a sigh of breath because it is a real battle, and Daigo tells Daigo that the pitchers are not alone with Nishina and Mutsuko.
#24 - Cloudy, Then Rainy?
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 12
With Daigo's dramatic goodbye hit, Fubayashi Naka defeated the difficult enemy Kiyowachu, who has old friends Urabe & Andy, and advanced to the semi-finals of the district tournament. Tao Tsuchiya and Yayoi left the stadium in a hurry, although they were members of Fubayashi who scouted the games of other schools while dragging the tiredness of the fierce battle. Anita, who has been a junior of Tao Tsuchiya and Yayoi since the Yokohama Little era, quickly heads for the treatment of her injuries, even though she is worried about the plain behavior of the two seniors she longed for.
#25 - Girl Power, Baseball-Style
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 5
The opponent of the first match of the new Fubayashi Junior High School baseball club is Itsuki Junior High School. Ace in Itsuki, Yokouchi has only 9 members in Fubayashi who came out to the ground, and it is surprising that there are 6 girls. Yokouchi, who can't hide his dissatisfaction with "Why should I be the starting lineup for girls?", Confronts top batter Chisato. On the other hand, the starting pitcher Mutsuko in Fubayashi is pitching for the first official game, so he tightens his feelings and heads for the mound.
#26 - Cinderella's Magic
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 24
Fubayashi was leading a large number of people in Tsujido during the practice game, but with the appearance of Tsujido Group A members, who are the original mainstay, the lead was suddenly reduced. In addition, Tsujido's catcher, Daigo and Mutsuko's teammates in elementary school, Mitsuru Sakaguchi (Mitsuru Sato), appeared, and Daigo and his friends couldn't hide their surprise. The light of serving as the same catcher as his father Toshiya, a former major leaguer. How good is that ability ...?
#27 - Lock On!
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 21
In Fubayashi, who was hit by a shortage of members again. Daigo called out to Chiyo, Chisato's older sister, who has experience in baseball, but she was easily refused. With the addition of the recommended admission group Short Chiba, we could barely secure the ninth member, but Anita and Chisato did not give up joining Chiyo. One day, Anita sends a meaningful letter to Nishina's shoe box. While expecting (?) Nishina headed to the courtyard after school ...
#28 - New Member?
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 20
The season has reached autumn. After the summer tournament, the Fubayashi Naka Baseball Club is forced to retire from the highest grade student, Tamba, and create a new team. However, there are only eight members left. Therefore, I asked Tamba, who retired, for a helper in the practice game on the weekend, and managed to continue the activity with nine people. Daigo and his colleagues are thinking about recruiting new members of the baseball club from current students in an attempt to solve the shortage of members. Under such circumstances, it is said that Chisato, a first-year student, has a new member recruitment attestation ...! ??
#29 - Extreme Small Ball
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 8
In order to block Kiyowachu, who boasts the mobility of threats such as stolen bases and bunts, Daigo and his colleagues carefully prepare for the check on runners, centered on pitcher Mutsuko, and face the second round. Daigo predicts that "Kiyowachu will not be reckless from the beginning," but Kiyowachu's top batter Moriguchi suddenly hits the base. The Fubayashi battery is shaken at once. Anita, a catcher who puts a happa on Mutsuko who is upset, loses her normal spirit.
#30 - Backup
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 6
In the first round of the district qualifying, Fubayashi got 3 points in advance for the first time, but the starting lineup in Itsuki, Yokouchi's starting pitcher, the changing ball and slider that had been sealed, gradually suppressed the batting line. I went. Mutsuko, the starting pitcher in Fubayashi, also politely throws a changing ball and manages to dodge the Itsuki batting line. Daigo, who is prepared for a close battle with a low score, is worried about the fraying of the Fubayashi defense team, but just before that, the first third grader, Tamba, misses the ground ball.
#31 - Mutsuko's Special Training
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 7
The opponent for the next round in Fubayashi was decided to be Urabe, who was a teammate of Daigo and his teammates when they were in elementary school, and Seiwa, who has Andy. Daigo and Anita, who recorded 11 stolen bases in the first match and witnessed the mobility of Kiyowa who won the cold, are keenly aware of the need for stolen base measures. Therefore, the baseball club members who had just finished the first game were gathered again at the school, and the pitcher Mutsuko rushed to the special training to suppress the opponent runner.
#32 - That Old Daigo Magic
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 10
Fubayashi caught up with Anita's one shot, but in the final 6th inning, he took a long hit during Kiyowa and allowed him to win. In addition, the catcher Anita injured her wrist with the close play. Daigo on the left wears a mask. With a runner on the 1st and 3rd bases, it is No. 4 Andy in Kiyowa who will reach the turn at bat with a pinch of further runs. What is the strategy chosen by Daigo and Mutsuko's batteries against their former teammates who are proud of their bangs! ??
#33 - The Princess, Destruction, and a Short Journey
Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle - Season 1 - Episode 4
Fed up with her circumstances at the Demon Castle, Princess Syalis goes to great lengths to add luxuries to her castle prison.
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#34 - An Unexpected Reunion
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 14
Fubayashi, who won the semi-final with Sekitori's daring full-base home run, begins to prepare in a hurry for the final match from the afternoon, which will be a series of battles. On the other hand, Daigo leaves the reconnaissance of the match between Eihogakuin and Oobi Junior High School to Mutsuko and others in the semi-final, and goes out with Nishina's pitching practice starting in the final. However, the match between Hidekuni and Oo suddenly unfolded, and Daigo, who was suddenly called to the stand, was shocked by the face of Oo.
#35 - No Freakin' Way!
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 9
In the second round of the district qualifying, catcher Anita, who was too cautious about the mobility during the Qing dynasty, was pointed out by Wright's Nishina that some mistakes were made and got stuck in words. Even in the prestigious Yokohama Little, which belonged to elementary school, Anita had a bitter memory over the position of a catcher. He was depressed even during the match, thinking that he might have been disqualified as a catcher, and offered Daigo to replace the catcher.
#36 - That Catcher's Got a Sharp Tongue
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 2
With the arrival of five new first-year students, including Nishina, from the strong baseball team Nanyo Lions to the Fuurin team, with only six members, Daigo and the veteran students, went excitedly to the field for morning training. However, Nishina and the 1st grade students, refuse to train until coach Kunitomo, appointed to be the coach of the Fuurinchu baseball team, is appointed. Mr. Yamaguchi, an advisor, came to Daigo and the others and said: "I want to talk" ...! ?
#37 - Semi-Finals Time!
Major 2nd - Season 2 - Episode 13
Fubayashi, who advanced to the semi-finals of the district tournament without the rain from the previous day, is facing a match against Yanagawa Junior High School. Anita, who was injured, dropped to No. 6, and Fubayashi Nine faced with the order changed to No. 4 Daigo and No. 5 Nishina, but Mutsuko will continue to be appointed as the starting pitcher. Mutsuko, who had expected Chisato to be the starting lineup in the series of battles, was confused, but Daigo, who realized the growth from the first race, strongly encouraged Mutsuko.
#38 - White Wolf Demon
Jyu-Oh-Sei - Season 1 - Episode 6
Four years after Thor became Ochre Ring's Top, he must face the threat of the Blanc Ring leader, who is actually an old acquantance of his.
#39 - Nyan! One More Deal Until We Meet Our Goal! Let's Make Our Wishes Come True at the Millennium Star Festival!
RPG Real Estate - Season 1 - Episode 9
The team is one deal away from meeting their monthly goals. They are approached by a property owner who owns a hot springs inn.
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#40 - Independence
Jyu-Oh-Sei - Season 1 - Episode 7
The true identity of the White Wolf Demon is Zagi, the one who protected the Klein brothers when they were first sent to Chimera. He tells Thor that the myth of the Beast King is a lie. He proposes that they should join together to wage a war of independence.
#41 - A Melody for the Grim Reaper!? We're All Friends! Let's Get Along!
RPG Real Estate - Season 1 - Episode 6
Kotone is concerned about the strange atmosphere Fa displays before falling asleep. However, a housing crisis prevents her from looking into the issue further.
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#42 - Wha!? Finding a Dream Home Through Fortune Telling!?
RPG Real Estate - Season 1 - Episode 8
More quirky clients visit RPG Real Estate to find new homes. Meanwhile, the random attacks by the mysterious and elusive dragon continues.
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#43 - Wakaba
Cross Game - Season 1 - Episode 30
Upon seeing the girl who looks like Wakaba, Ko remembers the summer Wakaba died. In a flashback, scenes of Wakaba from the first three episodes are shown, leading up to her death. In the present, the girl invites him to come to the restaurant when it opens.
#44 - Summer Training Camp?
Cross Game - Season 1 - Episode 13
Ko, Akaishi, and Nakanishi watch Seishu's varsity team crush an opponent in the prefectural summer baseball tournament and realize they did very well against them. During one game, Miki shifts position against Daimon's orders to make a game-winning play. Banned from using the school's field by Daimon, Maeno takes the portable team on a secret intensive training camp in the mountains. Ko forgets his suitcase, and when Aoba takes it to him she gets lost following his father's bad instructions. While waiting for Aoba at the bus stop, Senda complains about how strict Maeno has become and Ko says he prefers to keep busy in the summer. After a thunderstorm, they search for Aoba and find her shoe near a swollen stream similar to the one Wakaba drowned in, before finally finding her at a woodcutter's house. In Seishu's next game, Daimon takes Miki out of the lineup for ignoring his orders. Aoba spends the night at camp, and in the morning Maeno tells her the team is training hard to keep up with Ko because they have become fans of him. As she leaves on the bus, Aoba whispers to herself, "Portables, fight."
#45 - Do Ghosts Grow Older?
Cross Game - Season 1 - Episode 31
The girl, Akane Takigawa, apologizes to Ko for the construction noise. Later, Ko tells Azuma he does not know whether Akane really looks like Wakaba would now, because in his mind Wakaba is still in fifth grade. Mizuki invites Aoba to a summer festival the next day. Ko dreams of going to the festival with Wakaba, as she promised before she died, then of running to meet Akane at the Takigawa's soba restaurant. The next day, the anniversary of Wakaba's death, Aoba tells Ko to report his tournament result to Wakaba when he visits her grave. On his way back, he meets Akane wearing a yukata similar to Wakaba's. On her way to Wakaba's grave, Aoba sees them walking together and asks Mizuki if ghosts grow up. At the festival, Akaishi also sees them and asks Nakanishi the same quesiton. Ko and Akane meet her parents at the festival, and after parting with them, Ko meets Momiji, Ichiyo, Aoba, and Mizuki. When Aoba asks where his companion went, they begin to squabble but suddenly stop when the Tsukishimas see Akane at random through the festival crowd.
#46 - Hey
Cross Game - Season 1 - Episode 32
When Azuma asks Aoba whether Akane really does look like Wakaba, Aoba says, just as Ko did, that in her mind Wakaba is still in fifth grade. Ryuo loses in the semifinal at Koshien. One morning after the Takigawa soba restaurant opens, when Akane and Ko walk to the train station together, he accidentally takes her case of art supplies and goes to her school to return it, where he helps stop an exhibitionist by hitting him with a baseball. During practice, when Aoba makes a bad pun, Azuma tells her she and Ko are a lot alike. Akane meets Momiji at a park where they both are sketching and walks her home, where Aoba and her father formally meet Akane for the first time. After Aoba rescues Akane from being harassed by some boys, Akane recognizes her from Ko's description of the three Tsukishima sisters. Aoba later asks Ko why he didn't tell Akane about Wakaba, then admits that Akane is very like Wakaba beyond just appearance.
#47 - Can I Borrow a Pot?
Cross Game - Season 1 - Episode 5
On New Year's Eve, Aoba's father and oldest sister, Ichiyo, visit her sick grandmother, leaving Aoba to care for Momiji, who is down with a cold. When Ko visits, he brings the ingredients for rice porridge. When Momiji's fever spikes, Ko helps Aoba tend her until the fever breaks after a few hours. Unlike Aoba, Ko is a decent cook, and his porridge tastes just the way Wakaba prepared it for Aoba. After Momiji tells Aoba about a time Ko played with her when no one else would, Aoba tells Ko that she will never be a good sister like Wakaba, then gets mad when he tells her she is not that worthless. Ko cooks New Year soba for Momiji and himself, but Aoba makes her own instant noodles. Ko stays the night to watch Momiji and after the three fall asleep while watching television, Aoba snuggles up to him, thinking he is Wakaba. The next morning, before Aoba wakes up, Momiji tells Ko they looked comfortable sleeping together. Ko leaves to practice pitching with Akaishi and Nakanishi, and in a montage, the main cast is shown training as time passes, ending with spring.
#48 - How Many Points?
Cross Game - Season 1 - Episode 14
At the portable team's training camp, Akaishi and Maeno note that their outfield's defense has been weakened by the retirement of the third-year students. Without Miki in the lineup, Seishu loses in the round of 16. After the game, Aoba helps a Seishu fan by hitting a thief with a baseball and learns the fan is Junpei Azuma, Yuhei Azuma's older brother. Junpei gives her a ride home, where he is immediately taken with Ichiyo and becomes a regular suitor. When Aoba goes to the swimming pool, Ichiyo asks Ko to take Aoba her forgotten change of clothes in return for Aoba's bringing his suitcase to camp. At the pool, Ko meets some boys who asked Aoba out but were turned down, including Senda and a boxer who despairs because Ko and Aoba argue familiarly. Ko and Aoba are reminded of visiting the pool with Wakaba, and when he asks Aoba what her sister saw in him, she says she wants to know too.
#49 - Or Is It Fate?
Cross Game - Season 1 - Episode 33
Seishu wins their first game of the autumn prefectural tournament. On a day without practice, Aoba and Ko each decide to clean their bedrooms, which neither does regularly. As thanks for saving her, Akane makes Aoba a frilly cushion, telling Ko that she always wanted a cute little sister like Aoba. While delivering it, Akane learns that Aoba had an older sister, Wakaba, who died. When Akaishi helps his father deliver liquor to the Takigawa soba shop, he again is shocked by Akane's appearance, after which Akane learns from Senda of her resemblance to Wakaba. After practicing in the Tsukishima batting cages, Azuma eats a meal cooked by Aoba at the Clover Cafe despite Ko's warnings. The next day Azuma has acute appendicitis and misses Seishu's next game. While watching it, Akane learns that Aoba cannot play in tournament games such as this one, and begins watching Aoba in the stands. The game is a pitchers' duel that Seishu ultimately loses 1 to 0.
#50 - Happy New Year
Cross Game - Season 1 - Episode 34
On New Year's Eve, Ko helps the Takigawas deliver soba. At the Tsukishima's, he meets Junpei Azuma, who had forgotten he is driving his brother home for a visit. When Ko is done, Akane returns a book to him, thanking him for helping her draw a good picture for a competition. Ko, Akaishi, and Nakanishi go to a shrine to pray for good luck, and Senda follows to avoid practicing with Midori but fails to find them. Yuhei Azuma returns and finds Aoba alone in the Tsukishima batting cages, the rest of the family having gone to the shrine. Junpei's wallet is stolen at the shrine, and Ko and his friends chase the thief, but he is caught by Momiji's "candidate" boyfriend. In the batting cages, when Aoba tells Azuma she will not try out for the women's national team because does not want to take time away from practicing with Seishu, to help them get to Koshien, he tells her she should try for a Koshien of her own.