Don't touch me!
On that very evening, I encountered...
a stunning beauty shrouded in darkness.
That doesn't feel right...
That's not how it went at all!
What is it that I want to do...?
Episode 4
Pink And Blue
Having good footwork is one of the basics in Kendo.
Until you have that down, you won't last a second in the upcoming match, much less during practice.
Here, practice swinging.
That's not how you do it.
You swing downwards while moving forward.
Take it easy, I'm still a beginner.
He's really into it.
It's been a while since he's actually taught something.
Well, the more you practice the better you'll get.
You two'll keep practicing this for the rest of the day.
I don't wanna!
It's not fun!
Dan-kun, you need to learn the basics before anything else.
Kirino, will you look after Miya?
Sure.
Sensei, shouldn't you ask Tama-chan to do that?
Y'know, Tama-chan's really strong after all.
Her family owns a dojo too.
You have a point.
Okay then.
Tama, will you help her?
Okay...
Is that really okay?
I'm a freshman and I just joined this club...
It's okay!
You're the most skilled here!
Right, Miya-Miya?
Would you help me train?
Okay then...
When advancing, use the succession step and shift both feet when moving.
You shouldn't lift your front foot off the floor until your back foot is in the right position...
That's my Red.
I've nothing left to teach her.
I think she's explaining a little too fast.
Oh yeah, how's Blue doing?
Any new developments?
Oh, Saya?
I don't think she's ready to come back.
She was absent in class today too.
Random girl still being random.
You've got some nice force behind your strikes.
For a second, I thought you were one of the guys, Sayako.
What did you say?!
You thought I was a guy 'cause I'm tall, didn't you?!
I didn't say that...
Saya was one of the taller club members.
Men! Men!
Men!
█
In Kendo, Kote (小手) is an indicator used when attacking the left or right hand.
Kote!
I can't win!
Kojirou-sensei!
Why can't I beat Kirino?!
Well, of course you can't beat her!
She was in the Kendo club for all three years of middle school after all!
You, on the other hand, just joined the club when you hit high school.
But still, I should've won against her at least once!
It's all your fault!
I can't get stronger because you're always so unwilling to teach us anything!
D-
Don't blame me for it!
That's just how Kendo is!
You can't beat your opponent with sheer luck.
You won't win if you don't use your head more!
But I was in the softball club all throughout 6th grade!
That has absolutely nothing to do with Kendo!
Dammit, dammit all!
I'm totally mad!
Saya's being a silly goose again.
Don't laugh at me!
I told you punks not to laugh!
Who wants to get their ass kicked?!
Stop running!
I don't think she's got the patience for Kendo.
But she's gotten really strong.
She's got plenty of spunk though.
I'd say girls like her tend to adjust faster.
She's tall and she's strong...
I mean, her strikes are strong enough to make my hands shake.
The only reason I won was because she left her guard open...
But if she stays in the club for another year, she'd wipe the floor with me.
She's got the talent to become the club's coach one day...
Oh, but I do hope she becomes a wonderful athelete.
He's dreaming...
I quit.
I'm leaving the Kendo club!
Don't try to stop me!
I've made up my mind!
I won't stop you...
What do you mean?!
But tell me what's up first.
I'm sick of this!
Saya!
Saya would often say she'd quit the club, and she would storm out.
But she would always come back, almost immediately.
C'mon Kirino, let's have another go at it!
Take this!
Kote!
Dou!
Okay boys, back to practice.
There was this one time...
Saya, what's up with your hair?
They look like horns!
No, more like tentacles!
...she didn't come back for three days.
She's got spunk, but she's really stubborn.
By the way, I seem to recall another time she avoided the club for a while.
Oh, it was because of that...
Oh that...
Your footwork's improving.
It's all thanks to you, Tama-chan.
Hey Yuuji!
How's my footwork?
Well?
I don't know...
A fire?
Everybody...
Run!
What's that smoke?
It's from Vulcan, but I think I used too much...
Vulcan?
Here's the thing...
Hey, you slobs should clean up after yourselves!
Geez.
Noooooooooo!
What's wrong, Saya?
Saya, aren't you going to club?
Noooooooooo!
She didn't come back for a whole month.
Oh, so Vulcan's an insecticide.
You could've used it after club was over...
Well, I guess the club's cancelled for today.
Oh well.
Miya-Miya, we're gonna start practice tomorrow morning.
For now, you should concentrate on getting the basics down.
I'm getting sick of this...
Hang in there, Miya-Miya.
But yeah...
Was that really just insecticide?
Okay boys, keep practicing.
Girls, keep practicing and listen up.
The practice match for girls will be...
Girls, pause for a sec and listen up.
What the heck?
Listen to me!
We're gonna be having that practice match with your Kouhai's members, right?
What are you two betting on?
Why should we help you win a bet?
Could you please not use us for personal gain?
Darn, I shouldn't have stopped them.
That's where you're wrong; we're having this practice match for your sake!
I mean, the best form of practice is in combat, right?!
Okay, I give. What do you want?
If we win the practice match, then the girls won't have to participate in summer training camp.
What?!
That defeats the purpose of having a training camp!
Since we have to go to summer camp, we don't wanna have to practice.
Right.
It's gonna be frickin' hot, so I ain't doing it.
Just make the boys practice.
They're gonna practice naked anyways.
Fine, fine.
If we win, I'll think about it.
I'm gonna take role now, so take off your headgear.
Forward!
Bow!
Take off your headgear.
The five names I'm gonna call out now are the five who're gonna be in the practice match.
Nishiyama!
Yoko!
Ando!
Okay!
Harada!
Asakawa!
Why me?!
Don't run!
Everyone else, help 'em train!
People, we can't afford to lose to Kojirou!
What...
do I want to write?
What do I want to say?
Crap, my bike's at the shop.
Kirino...
I feel great!
Kirino.
I finally get it.
It doesn't matter if I have talent,
or whether something suits me or not.
It just wasn't something I wanted to do.
Thanks for helping me see that, Kirino.
It's because of you, I can move on.
But until I find what I really wanna do,
I'm gonna keep moving ahead!
Let's spar again sometime, Kirino!
But you know, I'm glad I got the chance to write fiction and it's all thanks--
Too long.
But that doesn't matter, and I'll be fine.
Thanks for mailing me, Kirino! - From Kuwahara Sayako.
What a pain in the ass.
Why the hell should I practice in the morning...
Hey Miya.
Good morning, Ishida-sensei.
You can stop acting for now, at least until Dan's here.
Don't worry about it.
It's just a club, so relax and have some fun.
Dammit...
I never thought this club was fun to begin with.
Acting...
This isn't the real me?
No shit, Sherlock!
Besides, I only want to be with Dan-kun.
The real me...?
G'morning, Miya-Miya.
You're here early.
G-Good morning.
I see you're ready to get started.
That's good!
Miya!
Today, you're gonna practice attacking.
Get your gear on.
Do I really have to?
It'll make me all smelly.
Kirino, you'll be her partner.
Man, compared to how this club used to work, all this feels like a dream!
I'm so happy we're actually making progress!
That's a good girl.
I wanna go home...
But Dan-kun will be here soon.
G-Good morning everybody...
Kuwahara Sayako's here...
Been a while, eh?
It's Blue!
Blue, I'm so glad you came!
You kept us waiting!
Blue?
Dang, you look like crap.
How rude!
Oh yes, I'll introduce you to Pink-
Miya-Miya?
I finally found what I was born to do!
And that's...
playing the guitar!
Saya, could you help Miya out with practice?
You should since you don't have to gear up today.
Uh...
Last night, I sat in my room listening to Jimi Hendrix's 'Purple Haze' and thought...
"Too cool!"
That's it!
So I borrowed my brother's guitar and practiced until morning,
but no matter how many times I tried to play the F-chord, I couldn't!
It's because my fingers are too soft!
So sleepy...
You're not a morning person, are ya?
On the other hand, you're really disciplined.
Am I?
Yeah, I mean you're always the same, so energetic.
Always the same...
Forgive me for not being boring.
There's a stranger here.
We got new members?
Yup, they'll be your first freshmen.
They're so adorable!
You're pretty adorable too.
Miyazaki-san's a new member as well, and she's a freshman.
Come over here!
N-Nice to meet you!
I'm Miyazaki Miyako!
Really, it's a pleasure to meet you!
I can't really see your face...
Come on Kirino-senpai!
Let's start practicing!
We'll continue practicing the basics in the afternoon.
But for now, you have one minute to hit Kirino wherever you want.
I don't think she understands your meaning...
Hit me around the area I tell you to strike at, okay?
Okay.
Start!
I'm gonna wear myself out...
Men!
Dou!
C'mon, shout!
Men!
You can do it, Miya-Miya!
Her strikes are really accurate.
Really?
Yeah.
For a beginner, she's landing smooth, consecutive attacks.
She's getting used to Tama-chan's teachings.
Take a breather, and we'll continue in a bit.
Dammit...
I've been wearing this damn armor and practicing all morning,
and that annoyance here.
Are you okay? Let's continue.
Pink, let's go.
But...
I find hitting others very enjoyable.
Black...
Here I come, Kirino-senpai!
Kote!
Men!
Hitting people...
is really fun!
Okay, both of you back away and calm down!
Kirino, lets switch.
Okay...
Kendo just might be fun...
Very fun.
I'm scared.
Me too.
Really?
She looks like she's having fun.
You're a very energetic freshman.
That's good; you'll grow taller that way!
Saya left already.
What's the matter?
You've been avoiding her since she arrived.
So that's what happened!
I'm leaving.
Okay, my bad.
You know, this can be resolved very easily.
Just apologize to her.
There's no reason for me to apologize.
It's all her fault.
Then why were you hiding from her?
Your reasons aside,
if you managed to beat the crap outta Toyama and Iwasa, it could've gotten serious.
Good result or not, right?
She'll still be mad at me even if I apologize.
Girls tend to hold grudges, no matter how long ago it happened.
Besides, she's an upperclassman...
Don't worry about that.
She's not the type to hold a grudge.
If you approach her thinking that she's a decent person,
she'll turn out even better when you actually meet her.
Do you have another plan?
Will you leave the club?
Let me think about it.
Dan-kun's in this club.
I've nothing better to do either.
But why do they bother practicing Kendo?
In any case, you should just apologize to her.
Apologize?
But...
Miya-Miya,
ever watch one of those movies with heroes and stuff?
Those movies have guys that go overboard...
Trying to protect the Earth, or their buddies and whatnot.
Do you know why they'd bother going that far?
It's because they think what they're doing is right.
Those heroes have courage because they think their actions are just.
Doing the right thing might feel like a pain in the ass,
but they can keep going, because of their courage.
Wouldn't it be right of you to apologize to her?
If you think about it that way, then you can do it.
Try telling that to your real self.
You kinda sound like a real teacher now.
Finally?
Thanks for the advice.
Go Pink, go.
Dan-kun!
I've been waiting for you, Miya-Miya.
See?
It's all better.
Don't worry about it anymore.
No way!
Really?
Really.
No, really?
Ya, really.
It's her.
What did you come here for?
I'm sorry.
Wait!
You picked it up?
I thought it was important.
Practice with me later, Blue-senpai.
Senpai?
Blue?
Men!
Kote!
Keep up with me, Senpai!
What's going on?
Nothing, just enjoy the moment.
Miya-Miya's so pretty.
Say what?
Next Episode
Tamaki here.
I'm here to answer some fan questions.
Tama-chan, do you love eating bean cakes the most?
And also, what type of foods do you dislike?
I like all types of food.
I don't have any food that I dislike.
... Why only bean cakes?
What's your favorite anime?
I love every anime out there.
Anime is the greatest.
Huzzah for anime.
What's the title of the next episode?
Muroe High And Machido High
Muroe High And Machido High.
Goodbye.