Wakaba Tsukishima

Younger Sisters

* Aoba Tsukishima
* Momiji Tsukishima

Uncle

* Isamu Asami

Cousin

* Mizuki Asami

Brother in law

* Junpei Azuma

**Wakaba Tsukishima** (月島 若葉) is a character in the *Cross Game* series. She's the second daughter of Seiji and Youko Tsukishima. She had a dream to see Kou and Akaishi play as a battery in Koshien and her dream serves as the central point in the story.

## Physical Appearance

Wakaba has brown hair cut slightly above her shoulders and brown eyes. She wore casual clothes mostly bright colored themed shirts and shorts. She also wore a dark blue and grey yukata with a dragonfly pattern during the summer festival before she went to swimming camp.

## Personality

Mizuki described her as kind, responsible, smart and pretty. She also seemed to be very wise beyond her years and observant, able to sense Kou's unhappiness at losing and his ability to become a great pitcher even when at that time she said that, he wasn't interested in or taking baseball seriously. Her kind and responsible nature came to the forefront when she tried to save a younger girl from drowning in a river. An act that ultimately cost her her own life.

## Plot Summary

### *Part One: The Season of Wakaba*

#### Introduction

Wakaba first appears in her family's batting center where she asks Kou, who in the batting cages, to take her to her swim class at Fukuda Swimming School. She tells Kou that she doesn't want to take Aoba's bike because Aoba will get upset and her own bike has a flat tire. Kou agrees to take her on his bike. As they are riding to the school, they pass by Akaishi who Wakaba finds out has a crush on her. The pair arrive at the school and Wakaba gives Kou a kiss on his cheek and tells him her class is over at 5pm. 5'oclock comes and Wakaba appears at the baseball field where Kou is playing with his sandlot team, the Doors, to loudly proclaim that she kissed him and he forgot to pick her up.

The next morning, Wakaba wakes to find Aoba has crawled into her bed. After confronting her little sister, who says Wakaba's bed is warm, Wakaba, Aoba and Momiji head down for breakfast, then they head to Kou's house. They discover Kou had just now woken up. Aoba wants to head to school without Kou, since he keeps making them late, but Wakaba tells her that she will wait for Kou but Aoba is free to head to school by herself. At school, the trio see Akaishi standing with his friends, Nawata and Hayashi. Wakaba asks him what he thought of Kou's home run during their sandlot game the day before. After school, Wakaba fusses with Aoba about her dirty clothes then that evening, she, along with Ichiyou and Aoba can't find Momiji, their youngest sister. Momiji eventually comes home. And Wakaba gets her a first aid kit but it's was Kou who was injured.

#### 11th birthday

June 11th comes around and it's Wakaba's birthday, which she shares with Kou. They exchange gifts, she gives Kou another alarm clock, and he gives her a barely okay purse. As they are heading home, they see a newlywed couple and Wakaba states they are going to be happy forever since their wedding anniversary is the same day as her and Kou's birthday. Kou brings up Aoba's pitching since he saw her pitching earlier that day. Wakaba tells Kou Aoba is on an all boys baseball team. The two continue their walk home and run into Akaishi, who is working at his family's liquor store. Wakaba decides to help him with some boxes. Afterwards, Wakaba offers to share her can of juice Akaishi gave her with Kou but Akaishi shoves a can into Kou's hand after previously denying him a drink. Wakaba makes Kou a birthday list all leading up to an engagement ring she wants him to give her at age 20.

#### Kou and Aoba's personal cheerleader

Wakaba is at the baseball field a few days later to cheer on her sister, who is pitching for her team, the Beavers. Wakaba was unaware that the Doors were playing against the Beavers and decided to cheer on Kou as well. After cheering for Aoba on the opposing team, Kou asks her to go to the other dugout, which she refuses and tells Kou that she cheers for him as well when he is pitching. Wakaba sees Akaishi, Nawata and Hayashi watching the game from the hill above the field and asks them why they are watching the game instead of playing. Nawata and Hayashi say the teams aren't good. Wakaba tells them that they will get better the more the play and one day might be better than the trio. Hayashi snaps at her because of this statement but Akaishi defends her and then tells her that they don't feel like playing baseball right now, something Wakaba respects. The Beavers win the game, which was interrupted by rain. At the batting center, Wakaba is with Aoba, watching her in the batting cages. She tells Aoba that Kou was frustrated at losing to Aoba. After Aoba scoffs at the notion of someone who never played catch winning against her, Wakaba warns her not to underestimate Kou or his abilities.

#### Fireworks and giving Kou her birthday list

A few days later, Wakaba brings some fireworks over to Kou's house. She wants to enjoy a few with her family and Kou later that evening and take the rest to camp with her. In Kou's room, Wakaba asks Kou about his model airplanes he used to have. She tells him she wonders what kind of adult he will turn out to be. She gives him the birthday list she made then asks to borrow one of his hats for camp. Later that evening, Wakaba enjoys the fireworks with her family and Kou. Afterwards, she offers to walk Kou out to the front of the batting center and kisses him on the cheek, promising to go the summer festival when she gets back from camp.

#### Death

Wakaba dies offscreen at her swimming camp. It is revealed that she had died after jumping into a river while attempting to save a younger girl. Her death has a profound effect on everyone who knew her. The Tsukishimas hold a funeral for her and everyone, particularly Kou, Aoba and Akaishi, are shown to be grieving and dealing with her death in their own way.

### *Part Two: The Season of Aoba*

Due to her death in part one, Wakaba appears only in flashbacks, memories and photos.

## Trivia

### Etymology

* **Wakaba**: "young" (若 - **waka**) and "leaf" (葉 - **ba**)
* **Tsukishima**: "moon" (月 - **tsuki**) and "island" (島 - **shima**)

### Other trivia

* Wakaba's blood type is AB
* Wakaba is 1 of 7 characters in the series to have her name in a chapter. In this case it's chapter 92
* Wakaba's birthday gift list to Kou included the following items

 **13th** | Cute sandals
 **14th** | Cute purse
 **15th** | Stuffed monkey
 **16th** | Cat teapot from Haraichi

## References

1. ↑ *Cross Game* anime and manga: Episode 4 and Chapter 09 (pg. 8-11)
2. ↑ *Cross Game* anime and manga: Episode 20 and Chapter 61 (pg. 23)
3. ↑ *Cross Game* manga: Chapter 95 (Pg. 10)
4. ↑ *Cross Game* manga: Chapter 120 (Pg. 17)