Hayashi

**Hayashi** (林) is a minor character in the *Cross Game* series. He was one of Akaishi's friends in elementary school, and the 3rd strongest fighter in the class. He played as sub catcher on the Pons baseball team.

## Physical Appearance

Hayashi has spiky, medium brown hair and black beady eyes. He also has a large bulbous nose, thin eyebrows, and large ears. He is often seen dressed in street clothes consisting of t-shirts and shorts.

## Personality

Hayashi seems to be hot headed, flying off the handle at Wakaba who only asked a simple question. It's presumed he knows how to fight since he is considered the 3rd strongest fighter in the 5th grade at Senkawa, although he is never shown getting into any physical fights. He also shows no interest in school, willing to ditch class with his friends Akaishi and Nawata.

## Plot Summary

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

#### Introduction

Hayashi is first seen with Akaishi and Nawata near the baseball field after Kou drops Wakaba off at swimming class. He does not say anything to Kou and just glares at him.

#### Pons vs Doors

Hayashi, along with Nawata and Akaishi, suddenly appears as substitute players for the Pons baseball team that Kou's team, the Doors, are playing against. Acting as messenger for Akaishi, Hayashi asks Kou what exactly his relationship is with Wakaba, and Kou says they are just friends. Hayashi tells Kou that Akaishi likes him so he will let Kou hit the ball.

#### Ditching school

The next day at school, Hayashi, along with Akaishi and Nawata, decide to ditch school, although Hayashi and Nawata were reluctant to do so at first but since Akaishi was ditching, they went along.

#### Watching the Doors vs Beavers game

A few days later, Hayashi is watching the Doors game against the Beavers along with Akaishi and Nawata. The trio are approached by Wakaba who asks them why they aren't playing. Nawata calls them crummy teams and Hayashi says they are much better. After Wakaba points out that the more the teams play, they will improve. This statement caused Hayashi to snap at Wakaba but is put in a chokehold by Akaishi who asks him if Wakaba said anything wrong. Hayashi tells him no. Later, Hayashi makes a positive comment on Aoba's pitching. This is the last time he is seen in the series, excluding flashbacks.

## Relationships

### **Osamu Akaishi**

Hayashi and Akaishi were best friends in elementary school, often seen hanging out together. Hayashi was even willing to ditch school with Akaishi. He also willingly acted as the messenger for Akaishi during the Doors and Pons game. He even know that Akaishi liked Kou. Despite them being friends in elementary school, once Akaishi enters middle school, he does not mention Hayashi.

### **Nawata**

Hayashi and Nawata are often seen hanging out together. The depths of their relationship is unknown but they are good friends.

### **Kou Kitamura**

Kou was scared of Hayashi, due to the latter being the 3rd strongest kid in the fifth grade, despite Hayashi never showing any violent behavior towards Kou.

### **Wakaba Tsukishima**

Hayashi is shown interacting a few times with Wakaba. One of those interaction was him snapping at her after she asked why he wasn't playing baseball with the other kids and they will only get stronger. Due to the fact that he and Nawata disappear out of the story before her death, it's unknown if he ever found out that she died and how he reacted to it.

## Trivia

### Etymology

* **Hayashi**: "woods; forest" (林 - **hayashi**)

### Other trivia

* He had more of a presence in the manga than he did in the anime, usually seen hanging out with Akaishi and Nawata.