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.
年末、両親が旅行に出てしまい、光は一人家で過ごすことに。月島家では、病気の紅葉と看病をする青葉を残し、清次と一葉は田舎に帰る。大晦日でも光、赤石、中西はトレーニングを続けていた。一方、紅葉にお粥を作ろうと、慣れない家事をする青葉。うまく作れずに悩んでいると、光が買物袋をさげてやってきて…。
연말. 부모님이 여행을 떠나 혼자 시간을 보내게 된 코우. 츠키시마 가에서는 몸이 안 좋은 모미지와 간호를 할 아오바만 남긴 채, 아빠와 이치요는 시골로 떠난다. 모미지에게 죽을 끓여주려고 익숙치 않은 요리를 하게 된 아오바. 아오바는 과연 죽을 제대로 끓일 수 있을까?! 한편, 섣달그믐에도 트레이닝을 계속하던 코우, 아카이시, 나카니시는 쉬는 날이니 아무도 없을 거라는 생각에 고등부 그라운드에서 연습한다. 하지만 그 광경을 누군가 지켜보는데...
