Dan-kun!
Miya-Miya.
What's the matter?
I'm gonna catch up to you soon!
Oh no you won't!
I caught ya!
Owwie!
Dan-kun, was this from when those two...
It's nothing.
I'm fine.
Dan-kun...
C'mon Miya-Miya, let's run!
Ow!
Episode 3
Black And Blue
Listen up, people!
The day of the match draws near.
So starting tomorrow, we're gonna practice here during lunch.
To save time, you'll all be eating lunch in here.
That includes me as well.
Before you come, pack more food in your lunches than usual!
I see what you did there.
Excuse me, but do we all have to participate in this match?
I don't think I can stay until the end of lunch...
Miya-Miya, you're part of the reason we'll be practicing during lunch.
I know this is sudden, but you're inexperienced and we're short on time before the match.
I need to have you thoroughly trained.
Okay... I see.
We can do it, Miya-Miya.
Don't worry. We'll all be helping you train.
Tama-chan will too.
Thank you, everyone.
Good.
With that said, go change.
We're gonna go order some equipment.
Delicious!
These cakes contain red beans from Hokkaido, while the innards are smothered in red bean paste!
These beauties are wrapped with the magical thin, soft, and delectable mochi buns!
The supple sweetness blends with a tinge of saltiness to mold this creation into prefection!
Good afternoon!
Oh, welcome.
Excuse us.
So, you got some new members?
Yep.
Could we look at your shinai and armor sets?
Go right ahead.
Sensei, it's been a while, so I was wondering when you'd let me instruct your members.
Well...
This old guy's a seasoned kendo instructor.
One time, I brought him in to be a guest instructor for that day and it got pretty crazy.
Seriously, he was all dramatic and wild, and he kept going until all the members dropped.
He left with the look of satisfaction on his face.
My god, that was a beautiful smile.
But afterwards, all the members blamed me for bringing him!
It was so not cool.
So, when's a good day?
B-But you seem to be busy these days...
No, I'm free.
I've got plenty of free time.
Since, unfortunately, free time is all I have.
Besides, if I can train your members to be stronger, it'll be for their benefit.
You haven't been training your members seriously enough, not like you used to.
I can come by the dojo once every week too.
If you want your students to be successful in Kendo, then please allow me to-
Good afternoon, Sakaguchi-san.
Men!
Tama-chan...?!
You're a member of this club?!
Thank you for training me at your dojo!
Please give my regards to your father!
Dan.
Miya-Miya.
Pick out a shinai.
The rest of you, feel free to browse around.
They all look the same.
I have to replace my old sabuhachi with a new one.
Who's Sabuhachi?
Oh, you've stumped me!
It's the length of a shinai.
Since it's three feet and eight inches long, it's called sabuhachi.
You have to get one of these when you wanna compete in high school level tournaments.
They're all the same, lengthwise,
but their weights differ.
You've got to hold it to get a feel for the right one.
But honestly, swinging it a few times is the best way to tell which one's the right one.
Delicious!
My red bean cakes!
Listen to me!
This shop sells wooden swords too?
N-No...
It's nothing.
The chestplates aren't too different from one another...
I suppose the girls should get bigger ones to accommodate their breasts.
Sensei, I'd call that sexual harassment.
Why?!
I'm just stating the facts!
I want this one!
It looks cool!
Hey, that's way too expensive!
Don't touch it; you'll leave your fingerprints on it!
Miya-Miya, how do I look?
You look very handsome, Dan-kun.
Here's your reward for looking so dashing.
Yay!
But that's my...!
It doesn't match his current attire...
Delicious!
That's great, Dan-kun!
For the love of me...!
Stop eating so much...!
I owe you one.
That old man can be a bit intimidating at times.
But hey, I'm really glad you decided to join the club.
It must be tough, since you help out at your family's dojo as well.
I did it for justice.
I thought joining was the right thing to do...
That's why I have to continue helping the club.
Well then,
I'll try to get the equipment to you guys as soon as possible.
Thanks for everything.
Thank you!
Huh... There's none left!
Those red bean cakes tasted great.
Yeah.
I wished they were a little warmer.
It'll take a little bit longer...
We'll definitely have that match next month!
Whatever man.
By the way, we never did talk about what I'd get if I won.
We can't have the match unless you get something for winning too?
Duh!
If I win, I'm gonna take the most valued thing in your room.
The thing... sitting in my room?
Yeah.
Your most valued "thing."
My SNES?!
Hell no!
The trophy.
The trophy?
That trophy was mine to begin with.
If I win, you have to return it to me.
There's no point in us fighting over it, so if I win, I'm gonna give it to one of my students.
Talk to you later, Kojirou.
It's not like I have it placed high on a shelf or anything...
It just got mixed up with my other stuff when I moved here.
Men!
The match is over!
Don't get mad at me, Senpai.
I was just lucky.
I was really lucky.
No.
Lucky or not, it's the outcome of the match that decides the winner.
You won, Kojirou.
Sweet!
Kojirou, I'm gonna graduate soon.
How 'bout we have a match before then?
Didn't you already resign from the club?
Oh I know, you're still pissed because I was just lucky when I beat you.
Then how about we bet on the trophy...
Y-You moron!
It's not about the trophy!
It's not about that at all!
Oh crap...
And after that day...
Hey Kojirou, are you taking good care of that trophy?
Hey, if I win, I get the trophy.
I'm just kidding.
No, you weren't.
But...
When I told you that my victory that day was because of luck...
There's no luck or any of that crap when it comes to Kendo.
On the day of our match,
I was stronger than you.
Honestly, I couldn't give a crap about this thing.
You'd take good care of it...
Stay there!
I can't lose this match!
Screw it.
This really makes me feel like the team captain!
Finally, we're actually getting somewhere with this club!
Huh?
It's from Saya!
I wonder if she's decided to come back to the club?
She's the strongest! And next is... Miya-Miya!
Crap...
This is all crap!
I suck.
I totally suck!
Death...!
Death, take me now!
Sayako, keep it down!
I have no talent...
I should quit writing fiction.
Time to run!
Where are you going this late at night?!
I'm gonna do it!
I can do anything!
I'm a genius!
A genius, you hear?!
I'm the best in Japan!
I'm a genius, so I'm gonna do it!
Whatever.
She's way too random sometimes.
I'm gonna...
do it!!!
Yuuji-kun!
Eiga-kun!
The equipment's here.
Come to the dojo during break...
Huh?
Okay then...
I'll leave 'em a message.
Nagata's movie will definitely be a box-office bomb if it shows in other countries.
Yuuji, isn't this from Kirino-senpai?
Who's Takeuchi?
The other guy?
█
Takeuchi【竹内】≠ Shinai【竹刀】
What's taking them so long?
I'm beat.
I'm not gonna practice during lunch.
Dammit, I'm pissed.
Dude, take a chill pill.
Hey, wanna go beat on some freshmen again?
I'm sure that freshman'll leave the club soon.
And when she does, we'll do 'er.
Dan-kun.
I ain't gonna wait that long.
I'm gonna take off after I grab my bag.
But yeah, I need to kick some ass right now.
Scary...
Miya-Miya.
Dan-kun.
Our equipment has arrived.
Let's go check it out.
Well, let's check the wares and see if we got everything in order.
Also, please pay your fees for whatever you bought ASAP.
Here's the bill.
Is it all right for us to be giving you money?
Yeah, I'll take care of it.
We're giving...
our money...
to him?!
Why are you all looking at me that way?
Anyways,
you guys should try out your new gear.
We're giving...
our money...
to him?!
It's not like I'm gonna keep it!
I won't use it for gambling!
How do I put this on?
Eiga-kun, you're supposed to put your headgear on last.
First, you tie on your waistband.
And then you're supposed to tie the chestplate on, all by yourself.
But you can't tie anything properly if you have your gauntlets on.
He looks like he's getting ready for a festival...
Oh?
Tama-chan, you bought a new chestplate too?
Yes.
Why? I mean, your family has its own dojo and all
I wanted to buy a new one since everyone bought one.
Besides, my chestplate is old.
And since this is the first club I've ever joined...
I wanted to be like everyone else.
And have the same chestplate everyone else has.
Tama, you're Red!
Red?
Yes, in this team I've assembled for beating my Senpai's team.
The Warriors of Justice!
And you're the leader, Red!
Eh?
Red...
Um, I'm the team captain...
Give me a second...
Okay, you're Yellow!
Your character oozes yellow!
What do you mean by that?!
Sensei, what about Miya-Miya?
Miya-Miya is Pink... definitely.
That makes me so happy.
Eh?
What the...
I thought I saw her go Black just now...
Sensei?
Then Sayako is Blue!
And the last member will be Green!
Under my command, these five will definitely attain victory!
Sensei is...
our leader?
Seriously?
Do you guys enjoy talking like that?
Sensei, it's not fair that you only gave colors to the girls.
What about me?
You?
I guess you're pretty Yellow too.
How come there's another Yellow warrior?
I don't want a team with an extra Yellow!
Well, the guys are pretty much on the sidelines.
Remember to cheer for the girls.
By the way, how's Blue doing?
Saya?
I don't think she'll be coming to school anytime soon.
I'm saying that because just recently, she sent me an SMS which said, "I'm gonna die."
Wait, isn't that bad?!
Not really.
Don't worry, she's being random as usual.
You'll understand one day.
Anyways, freshmen,
try on your name cloths.
Wrap it around your waist.
Uh...
Pink, what's wrong?!
Dan-kun's name cloth...
█
Eiga (栄花) ≠ Eikou/Glory (栄光)
It's got the wrong character!
It should say Eiga, but it says glory instead!
He probably wrote his name poorly when we were at the shop.
Dan-kun, we'll buy a new one.
Yeah! But it's so cool!
Look, it's sparkling for no reason!
It's all sparkly and shiny gold!
Miya-Miya, you're going home already?
Sorry, I have work today.
You have work today?
She just called me.
Please tell the other members for me.
Okay.
I'll call you tonight.
I'm sorry, Dan-kun.
It's okay, 'cause selfish girls can be really cute sometimes!
Great...
Excuse me.
Aren't you that girl from the other day?
Will they come by here?
I saw them pass by a few times...
Whatever, I'll kick back 'til they arrive.
Dan, make sure to bring Miya-Miya tomorrow.
She needs to practice as much as possible.
Don't worry. I'll tell her.
Crud man, that wasn't enough!
Suck it up son.
They're here.
Yunno, even after learning kendo, you haven't matured a bit.
Piss off.
Outta the way!
Get outta my way!
Eh?!
Wasn't that Saya?
Don't know, don't care.
C'mon.
I'm so sorry! Are you okay?!
The light on my bike went out...
Hey, that's my school's uniform.
Hey, aren't you going a little too far?!
Don't touch me!
What the hell's wrong with her?!
Next Episode
Hello, I'm Miya-Miya.
I may be a beginner, but I think Kendo's really fun.
What's so fun about it?
You get to swing a piece of wood around, hurt other people,
and it's legal.
VIVA VIOLENCE!
It's not all about that.
You get to train your inner spirit as well.
When I think about my opponent writhing in pain, the inner mantis within me goes berserk!
You also get to learn how to work as a team while maturing as a person as well.
Whatever. So long as I have Dan-kun, I don't care where I go!
The next episode of Bamboo Blade is:
Pink And Blue
Pink And Blue.
Every one of you S&M punks out there should watch.
No, you will watch!