Cross Game

- Season 1

(2009)

Kou has always been close to Wakaba, the second of the four Tsukishima sisters. But a few days after Wakaba goes camping, Kou hears some jarring news.

Kou, now a third year in junior high, recalls a childhood sandlot game against Wakaba's younger sister Aoba, who is now an active baseball player.

Fall. Kou decides to play sandlot ball with his old grade school friends. But after some pitching practice, Nakanishi tells him to play right field.

Nakanishi and Akaishi realize Kou's talent and discuss getting him to play baseball. A surly guy visits the batting center and fires off home runs.

Kou, Akaishi and Nakanishi practice on the high school field on New Year's Eve. Kou and Aoba ring in the new year while nursing a sick Momiji.

The new coach, Daimon, divides the club into two teams: those who passed an exam, and the "Prefab" B-team. Kou and the others join the latter.

Daimon makes Aoba pitch for the varsity team's practice, where she gradually starts striking players out. Then transfer student Azuma steps up to bat.

The starting lineup for the game against the varsity team is fixed and Kou starts feeling the pressure. Aoba tells him his pitches are "all right."

The game against the varsity team begins. Based on advice from Aoba, Kou considers varying his pitches to contend with the varsity batters.

Drained, Kou ditches his waning control for speed. The team is in a pinch, but Azuma's varsity team begins to recognize their opponents' strength.

Varsity ace Kamikawa puts pressure on the Prefab team, but a hit from Kou ties the game. At the bottom of the ninth, Kou faces Azuma a fourth time.

Kou and Senda watch Seishu Junior High win a practice game thanks to Aoba's pitching. Senda's cousin Midori hears about it and shows interest in Aoba.

The summer regional qualifiers for Koshien begin. Concerned about Kou, Azuma drops by the Prefab club room between games, only to find it empty.

When Azuma's brother Junpei sees Aoba home from the qualifiers, he instantly falls for her sister Ichiyo and begins frequenting Café Clover.

Coaches Maeno and Daimon bet their careers on a final game. Aoba joins the Prefab team for the contest, and Maeno gets unusually tough in practice.

The Prefab and varsity teams face off without Azuma. Kou's pitches keep getting hit, leaving the team with no outs and the bases loaded.

After the Prefab team's win, Daimon and the interim principal leave and the varsity team disbands. Azuma stays behind and freeloads off Kou.

Risa, the club's manager, confesses her love to Senda, but it's just practice for an audition. Meanwhile, Midori arrives to challenge Aoba once again.

Kou, Aoba and their families visit Aoba's grandparents, the Asamis. After finding a tree that holds memories of Wakaba, Kou notices something odd.

Aoba's cousin Mizuki moves in and joins her at Seishu High. Despite being unable to play in official games, Aoba joins the same baseball club as Kou.

The baseball club picks up after Aoba joins and wins a practice game with her help. Mizuki goes to the movies with Aoba, but she seems distracted.

When Midori visits her, Aoba expects another challenge. But this time Midori asks her to come play with her baseball team in a practice game.

Aoba steps up as relief pitcher for Midori's high school team. She keeps the next batters in check and goes to bat hoping to even the score.

While watching Ryuou Academy play, Azuma reunites with Miki and promises to meet him again on the field. The summer regional qualifiers begin.

Seishu plays Sannou High in the second round. Kou gets serious after Sannou exploits their weaknesses, but Sannou's coach has a secret plan.

Sannou leads 1-0 going into the fifth inning. They try to wear Kou down by bunting, but their batters can't keep up with his smoking fastballs.

Seishu faces Ryuou Academy without Azuma's rival, Mishima. Seishu leads after Azuma's home run, but then cleanup hitter Shimano steps up to bat.

Seishu keeps their lead against Ryuou, but Mishima ties the score after replacing an injured Shimano. Kou faces Mishima in the bottom of the ninth.

The game goes into extra innings, where relief pitcher Oikawa shuts out Seishu. In the bottom of the tenth, Aoba notices something wrong with Kou.

On the way home from practice, Kou and Azuma meet a girl who looks exactly like Wakaba would had she still been alive, reminding Kou of days gone by.

Kou visits Wakaba's grave the day of the summer festival and meets Wakaba's lookalike on his way home. They decide to attend the festival together.

Wakaba's lookalike, Akane, moves in next door to Kou. Aoba dislikes the new proximity between them, and treats Akane harshly as a result.

The fall tournament begins, and Seishu Academy wins their first game. Meanwhile, Akane goes with Kou to thank Aoba for saving her from a thug.

Junpei and Ichiyo are pick pocketed while visiting a shrine on New Year's Day. Kou chases down the thief, but is saved by someone unexpected.

Akane's poster modeled on Aoba wins first prize in a competition, but her subject isn't impressed. Aoba weighs up Koshien and women's baseball.

Aoba's pitches catch eyes at the women's baseball selection test. But before the results are called, Shimano's cousin Megumi makes a proposition.

Aoba is injured during practice and withdraws from the selection test. Meanwhile, Junpei takes Ichiyo to the beach to ask her something important.

Azuma runs into Daimon, now a coach at Kurokoma Vocational School, and criticizes him for still being overbearing. Kou and Akane go see a kabuki play.

Kou, now in his third year of high school, learns breaking balls from Aoba. Akane applies to work part time at Café Clover and is hired the same day.

The coach of the national women's team invites Aoba to their training camp, while Junpei helps out Seishu in order to fulfill Ichiyo's marriage terms.

Junpei becomes the baseball club's hitting coach. Kou visits Wakaba's grave on her birthday and meets her father Seiji, who has something to say.

Before the summer tournament, Kou and Akaishi visit the place where they used to practice. Ozaki from Ouka Women's College comes to challenge Aoba.

Seishu wins their first game of the summer tournament in a called game. Kurokoma, led by coach Daimon, faces Sena Municipal and its captain, Miki.

Ryuou's Mishima and Oikawa watch the pitchers' duel between Kou and Miki from the stands as both Sena and Seishu enter the final stage scoreless.

Seishu advances through to the quarterfinals. When Aoba worries about Akane, who misses both the game and work, Akaishi gives her some shocking news.

Aoba and Akaishi visit Akane and report their win in the quarterfinals. When Aoba mentions Kou not visiting, Akane tells them about a promise he made.

Kou visits Akane and learns that her surgery is the day of the final. Kou invites Aoba to visit Wakaba's grave and tells her about Akane's surgery.

During the final between Seishu and Ryuou, Aoba goes to the hospital for Akane's surgery. Going into the seventh inning, both teams remain scoreless.

While Kou faces Mishima head on, Aoba tells Junpei about a promise Kou made. Seishu keeps their one point lead as the game enters its final inning.

Seishu leads in the twelfth inning thanks to Kou. With Mishima at bat with a full count, Kou throws the game-deciding pitch with everything he's got.