Ep. 41: Ko reflects on his past while Seishu prepares for the tournament against Kurokoma.
Akane reveals she drew as a child due to illness, contrasting with Wakaba, whom she claims had no weaknesses until Ko suggested her taste in men. On their 18th birthday, Ko visits Wakaba's grave, receives cake from Akane and Aoba, and buys earrings for her. A younger player notes the team's improvement under Aoba, prompting Ko to confirm she and Azuma are not officially dating. Summer prefectural tournament brackets reveal Seishu will face Kurokoma, Daimon's current school, in the second round. Aoba praises Ko's pitching, surprising Azuma, but later struggles to understand Akane and Wakaba's affection for him. Akane suggests Aoba resembles Ko and must learn self-love to see his worth. During practice, Aoba observes Ko's intense work ethic and asks if he likes Akane, to which he replies that she looks too much like Wakaba.
Episodes
- Ep. 37 · Aoba hospitalized with broken foot while Azuma proposes to Ichiyo and visits her daily
- Ep. 38 · Ryuo advances at Koshien while Ko navigates his first date with Akane at a kabuki performance.
- Ep. 39 · Aoba returns to training while Ko buys her a shirt at a flea market.
- Ep. 40 · Aoba burns a cafe order while Ko and Aoba catch a stalker and Ichiyo joins the team
- Ep. 41 · Ko reflects on his past while Seishu prepares for the tournament against Kurokoma.
- Ep. 42 · Maeno announces training camp while Aoba chooses Seishu over the national team
- Ep. 43 · Junpei declines Kurokoma practice while Ko negotiates dating terms before a short Seishu victory
- Ep. 44 · Azuma advises Aoba while Seishu battles Sena in a tight defensive contest
- Ep. 45 · Seishu Advances to Quarterfinals Despite Akane's Hospitalization and Ko's Pitching Evolution