Akane tells Aoba that she drew a lot as a child because she was sickly and could not play outdoors, unlike Wakaba. Akane claims Wakaba had no weaknesses but before Aoba can name one, Ko suggests her taste in guys. Ko visits Wakaba's grave on their 18th birthday, after which both Akane and Aoba give him cake and he buys the scheduled, slightly expensive earrings for Wakaba. A younger player tells Ko that the team has gotten a lot better because of Aoba's influence and gets Ko to confirm that she and Azuma are not yet officially dating. The brackets for the summer prefectural tournament are announced, which have Seishu meeting Daimon's current school, Kurokoma, in the second round. Aoba surprises Azuma by praising Ko's pitching, but that night she cannot guess what Akane and Wakaba see in Ko. Akane tells Aoba that she and Ko are a lot alike and that if she learns to love herself, she will see what Wakaba saw in Ko. At practice the next day, Aoba is surprised to see how hard Ko works. She asks him if he likes Akane, and he replies that she looks too much like Wakaba
純平、青葉の指導で、着実に実力をつけていく星秀学園野球部。光と若葉の誕生日。光はいつもと同じように、若葉の墓参りに出かける。墓前で若葉の父、清次と出会い、あることを話す。あかねは光のため、半日がかりで誕生日ケーキを作る。喜んで食べる光。だが、食べ終えて満腹のところに、青葉もケーキを持ってきて…。
아즈마의 형 료헤이가 세이슈학원 야구부 타격 코치로 가세하면서 훈련은 더욱 활발해지고, 차근차근 실력을 키워나가는 세이슈 학원. 한편, 아오바는 아카네에게 반감을 보였지만 점차 같이 캐치볼을 하거나, 집에 머무르게 할 정도로 사이가 좁혀지게 된다. 둘이 있게 되면 자연스레 코우의 이야기를 하게 되고, 아카네가 코우를 칭찬하면 아오바는 나쁘게 말한다. 이 모습은 와카바와 아오바의 모습과 비슷한 듯한데...
