Cinderella Nine

Main Story and Mechanics

The player assumes the role of a former youth league ace pitcher whose career ended due to a shoulder injury. After meeting the passionate and optimistic Tsubasa Arihara, the protagonist becomes the manager of a newly formed girls' baseball team at a local high school, aiming for the ultimate goal of reaching the national championship at Koshien.

The core gameplay loop involves training players and managing a team through matches. In the Main Match, players follow the central narrative by winning games to unlock new story chapters. The game features various interactive modes, including Town Map, where players can explore locations and trigger time-based events with characters, and Practice, which allows for character leveling, skill acquisition, and building bonds between teammates through a dedicated "Kizuna Level" system.

Competitive and Story Features

A key feature is the Cinderella Story (DereSuto), a mode with Normal, Light, and Hard versions. It allows players to acquire character-specific skills and items while delving into individual stories. For player-versus-player action, the League Match, introduced in January 2022, has players battling through sets of five games to climb class ranks, eventually competing against others in the Platinum class for seasonal ratings. The National Tournament is another competitive mode where players vie for top rankings and qualify for regional and national stages. The Sister School/Practice Join feature functions as a friend system, allowing players to lend their characters to others for training and item collection.

Service Conclusion

The online service officially ended on December 17, 2024. Following the final maintenance, the game transitioned to an offline version (Version 8.9.0), allowing existing players to continue accessing content. Distribution through app stores ceased on March 17, 2025.

Main Characters

A passionate and determined shortstop, Tsubasa Arihara (voiced by Nozomi Nishida) is the driving force who convinces the protagonist to manage the team. Her birthday is March 3.

A calm and skilled third baseman, Ryō Shinonome (voiced by Reina Kondou) provides a steady presence. Her birthday is December 1.

A tall, powerful ace pitcher and first baseman, Yūki Nozaki (voiced by Saki Minami) is known for her left-handed throws. Her birthday is September 14.

The analytical second baseman and main catcher's partner, Tomoe Kawakita (voiced by Honoka Inoue), is a reliable strategist. Her birthday is April 14.

A quiet and spacey right fielder, Akane Ukita (voiced by Yumiri Hanamori) has an unpredictable charm. Her birthday is October 7.

The energetic and cheerful catcher, Waka Suzuki (voiced by Yuubi Midorikawa), is the team's backstop. Her birthday is March 21.

Ayaka Nakano (voiced by Yurika Takagi), born August 2, is a switch-hitting center fielder.

Yoshimi Iwaki (voiced by Nanami Yamashita), born April 3, is a petite third baseman who bats left-handed.

Maiko Kurashiki (voiced by Iori Saeki), born August 18, is a versatile pitcher and right fielder.

Kana Tsukumo (voiced by Haruka Shiraishi), born May 15, is a right fielder with a mysterious aura.

Aoi Asada (voiced by Rika Tachibana), born February 22, is a sharp-tongued but dedicated second baseman.

Tayu Naoe (voiced by Chiaki Omigawa), born November 13, is a talented shortstop and pitcher with a stoic attitude.

Key Rival Characters

Sayaka Jingūji (voiced by Akemi Satamura) is the ace pitcher of Seijō High School, known for her overwhelming skill.

Ren Kusahari (voiced by Noriko Hidaka), the older sister of Luna Kusahari, is a powerful left fielder for Kaiō High School.

Tsubaki Kōsaka (voiced by Mie Sonozaki) is the determined ace pitcher for Mukōzuki High School.

Miyo Ōsaki (voiced by Yui Ogura) is a small but feisty shortstop from Myōjō Academy.

Kiri Onizuka (voiced by Saori Hayami) is a highly competitive second baseman from Ogawara High School.

Kei Inui (voiced by Marina Inoue) is the sharp and strategic catcher for Teiyō Academy.

Musubi Serizawa (voiced by Ayane Sakura) is a composed and reliable first baseman from Sakigake Girls' High School.

Television Anime

A 13-episode television anime series produced by TMS Entertainment aired from April 8 to July 7, 2019, on TV Tokyo and other networks. Directed by Susumu Kudō, the series tells an alternate version of the story, focusing on the core cast's interactions and Tsubasa's efforts to establish the team from scratch. A new, previously unaired 13th episode was later produced and broadcast in 2021.

Staff and Music

The series was directed by Susumu Kudō, with series composition by Jin Tanaka and character designs by Noriyuki Naguchi. Music was composed by Takahiro Obata. The opening theme, "Étude," is performed by Mewhan, and the heroes frequently perform ending themes, including the cover song "Donna Toki mo."

Events and Live Concerts

A series of live music events, titled Hachisama, were held featuring the voice actresses performing in-character as their units. The units include the main quartet HUiT, the refined sextet Clutch!, the first-year student group IN-HI 16, and the food-loving trio KOKORi. The franchise also had a strong presence at Comiket, selling official goods and holding events. Real-life fan appreciation days, known as Hachinai Fan Thanksgiving Day, were held sporadically, alongside Hachinai Café in Harajuku, a limited-time themed cafe.

Print Media and Spin-offs

A spin-off 4-koma manga, *Hachinai Gaiden: Senryokugai! Katato-chan* by Bkub Ōkawa, was serialized on the official website. A manga series titled Cinderella Nine S, illustrated by Kōichirō Hoshino, began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Champion on August 19, 2021, featuring an original story. Additionally, four light novels were published by Famitsu Bunko, expanding on the game's universe with original characters and storylines. A promotional web novel series, *Cinderella Nine ~before summer~*, by Chiworu Katase, was also published on the official site and serves as a prequel to the main story.

Collaborations and Live-Action Drama

The game collaborated with numerous entities, including Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) teams like the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, Hanshin Tigers, Yomiuri Giants, and Chunichi Dragons. Special "Hachinai-tā" themed baseball games were hosted at various stadiums. It also featured crossover events with popular anime series such as *The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya*, *Laid-Back Camp*, *How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?*, and *Tamayomi*, along with a collaboration with virtual YouTuber Kizuna AI. A live-action television drama based on the game's concept, titled Hachigatsu wa Yoru no Batting Center de. (August at the Batting Center at Night), aired on TV Tokyo starting in July 2021.