Cross Game Episode 8

This episode is titled 'You are alike'. So who and who are alike?1. Wakaba and her younger sister, Momiji - It's obvious that among the four sisters, Wakaba and Momiji are most alike in terms of personality. They are both sweet, bubbly and cheerful. However, it has never occurred to me that they look alike, until Akaishi mentioned it. And it’s like what Akaishi said: 'It’s still hard to believe that Wakaba was such a small girl when she died.' (v.v)2. Kou and Aoba - According to Aoba, Kou is rude, reckless, untidy, and he walks around in public even if there's a big hole in his shirt. It's funny when her sister points out to her that she's exactly the same.The part I like best in this episode is the part where Kou and Akaishi spy on the first team's training. They look stupid, but I have to say it's quite a brilliant way to spy. The upcoming match should be exciting. It's interesting that Senda is actually chosen to be the pitcher for the first team. He's certainly not a good pitcher so I wonder what Coach Daimon is thinking of. Is he trying use this match to kick him out of first team? I think that's the most likely reason. I can't wait for the match to kick start next week!! Mini SummaryWhen Akaishi meets Momiji for the very first time, he is startled by her resemblance to Wakaba, who died at the age Momiji is now. Along with Kou and Akaishi, Momiji heads for the park to play catch ball with an old man who's a regular at Akaishi's family's liquor store.Meanwhile, after Aoba wakes up from her dream, which is about Wakaba not playing with her because Kou's around, Ichiyo remarks that the reason why Aoba dislikes Kou is because she really likes Wakaba and he used to monopolize Wakaba's time. Through observation, Ichiyo and Akaishi notice that Aoba and Kou are a lot alike and they have the same competitive nature.In school, Coach Daimon tells Acting Principal Shidou that he will use the upcoming practice game between first team and prefab team to demonstrate how much better the first team players are. The third-year prefab players are training very hard as it's their last summer in high school and they hope to be promoted to the first team. Two nights before the practice game, Kou asks Aoba to catch his pitches so that he can have her opinion of his pitching because he has never before played in a real game and so has no comparison. She calls it 'not bad' which pleases him, and he makes a bet that if he's able tp hold the first team players to ten runs, Aoba has to treat him to Clover's Napoletan. However, after looking at her own bruised hand, Aoba changes it to five runs. On the day of the practice match, when Aoba arrives at the stadium, the old man who played catch ball with Momiji earlier, tells her that the she can only sit and cheer on the first team side of the stadium. Meanwhile, Kou, Akaishi and Nakanishi are looking through the starting lineup of the other team and they are shocked that Senda is starting as a pitcher.PicturesAkaishi is shocked to see Wakana lookalike.Aoba also walks around in public even if there's a big hole in her shirt.Kou's home run record was broken by Yuuhei and Kou is now trying to set a new record.SmokescreenSenda is a real loser!The smokescreen works and, Kou and Akaishi can spy all they want!Kamikawa is the first team's best pitcher but Yuuhei thinks that his straight balls are not fast enough.Kou brings Aoba out to the park at night to catch his pitches.Aoba thinks that his pitching is 'not bad' and to Kou, that's the best compliment.Pu (referring to the prefab team) vs SeishuuThey are shocked that Senda is starting as a pitcher.