Junpei Azuma

Junpei is sociable, confident and considerably more expressive than his younger brother. He readily jokes with Yuuhei and Kou Kitamura, and his pursuit of Ichiyou is open enough that there is little ambiguity about his intentions.

Behind the easygoing behavior is a sharp understanding of baseball. Junpei notices similarities between Kou and Aoba Tsukishima, particularly their competitiveness and tendency to clash because of how alike they are. His experience as a former high-level player also lets him evaluate Kou without being distracted by Kou's deliberately casual manner.

Junpei does not blame Yuuhei for the accident that ended his own playing career. The guilt belongs primarily to his younger brother, while Junpei moves forward with his life and continues encouraging him.

Junpei was an accomplished pitcher and cleanup hitter at Takao Jitsugyo High School. His team was close to reaching Koshien, and professional scouts had begun watching him before his playing career was cut short.

Although he can no longer pursue baseball as a player, he retains his knowledge of hitting and pitching. That experience makes him useful around Seishuu, where he works with the team's batters and contributes as a coach.

His everyday work is running the family's produce-delivery service. He is frequently seen driving the delivery vehicle and transporting fruit and vegetables.

Junpei enters the story as Yuuhei's older brother and gradually becomes involved with both the Tsukishimas and Seishuu baseball. His past explains much of Yuuhei's intense fixation on reaching Koshien.

Junpei's career ended after he injured his leg while saving Yuuhei from falling down a staircase. The injury occurred while Junpei was emerging as a major high-school prospect, leaving Yuuhei convinced that he had destroyed his brother's future.

Junpei later becomes involved with Seishuu as a batting coach while his relationship with Ichiyou deepens. Ichiyou tells him that she will marry him if Seishuu reaches Koshien, although she privately intends to marry him regardless of the result. The two eventually marry.

Yuuhei Azuma is Junpei's younger brother. Junpei's career-ending injury occurred while he was protecting his brother from a fall, leaving Yuuhei with a lasting burden of guilt. Junpei himself does not treat Yuuhei Azuma as responsible for what happened.

Ichiyou Tsukishima becomes Junpei's romantic partner after he takes an immediate interest in her. He pursues Ichiyou Tsukishima openly, and their relationship eventually leads to marriage.

Kou Kitamura impresses Junpei as both a pitcher and a personality. Junpei recognizes the similarities between Kou Kitamura and Aoba.

Aoba Tsukishima reminds Junpei strongly of Kou. He considers Aoba Tsukishima and Kou Kitamura alike in their competitiveness and temperament.