When Akaishi meets Momiji, he is startled by her resemblance to Wakaba, who died at the age Momiji is now. Ichiyo reminds Aoba that she resented how Ko monopolized Wakaba's time, and both Ichiyo and Akaishi tell Aoba that she and Ko are alike in their competitiveness. In the park, Momiji plays catch with an old man who is a regular at Akaishi's family's liquor store. Daimon tells Shido that an upcoming scrimmage between varsity and portable teams will demonstrate how much better the varsity players are. Because of a rumor that portable players who perform well might be promoted to varsity, the third-year players train hard. Before the scrimmage, Ko has Aoba catch his pitches because he has never played in a real game and so has no comparison for his pitching. She calls them okay, which pleases him as the best compliment he can expect from her, and makes a bet that he will hold the varsity team to ten runs, which she changes to five runs after looking at her bruised hand. When Aoba arrives at the scrimmage, Momiji's old man tells her Shido has ordered the audience to sit and cheer only on the varsity side of the field.
1軍との練習試合のスターティングメンバーが発表された。前野監督、赤石は光に期待する。そして、その他のメンバーも光に期待を寄せるようになっていく。1軍の実力、周りからの期待にプレッシャーを感じた光は、青葉に会いにいく。光の投球を受け、意見を求められた青葉は、「まぁまぁ」と答えるのだった…。
어느 날 코우와 아카이시는 츠키시마 배팅센터 앞에서 모미지와 마주친다. 아카이시는 모미지가 와카바와 닮았다는 것을 깨닫는다. 한편 잠을 자고 있던 아오바는, 코우에게 와카바를 빼앗겨 분했던 시절의 꿈을 꾼다. 잠에서 깬 아오바는 모미지가 코우와 공원에 갔다는 이야기를 듣고 기분이 언짢아진다. 코우의 험담을 하던 아오바에게 아오바는 코우와 닮았다고 말하는 이치요. 공원에서는 모미지가 주점 아카이시의 단골 손님과 캐치볼을 하고 있다. 코우와 아카이시는 그 모습을 보고 와카바를 떠올리는데...
