See ya later!
See you tomorrow.
Bye-bye!
Farewell!
Isn't she just peachy.
Carefree as usual.
She's really been going at it since her club became more active.
Is the Kendo club that much fun?
Man, I should've joined the Kendo club.
I already regret joining the Pottery club.
But hey...
It'll be summer soon.
Yeah, so what?
The equipment is gonna stink like hell...
Oh yeah...
They reek...
or so I hear...
See ya!
Bye-bye.
Huh?
Episode 5
Muroe High and Machido High
Wait a second!
This is way too sudden!
It can't wait?!
Gimme a break!
Gimme another month, tops!
No can do?
All right, I get it...
Okay, I'll see you next week then...
Sensei.
Oh, you're here already.
I can't help you out when it comes to money...
But don't give into peer pressure! Fight the power!
You got it all wrong!
I'm not in debt or anything!
Sensei, you can have this.
Please eat it.
I don't need your pity!
But I'll accept your goodwill by eating this.
Thank you.
He bit the hand that fed him too...
It's next week!
Your payment's due next week?
Put a sock in it already!
The girl's practice match!
My Senpai's club members are gonna...
come here next week...
for the practice match!
The practice match?!
Next week?!
But there are only four of us.
Since this is a team match, we're still short one person.
Don't worry about that.
I've got it all worked out.
We haven't got much time left!
Y'all gotta give it your best!
Don't think this'll be a cakewalk just 'cause it's called a practice match!
Tama, come with me.
I'll spar with you.
Hold it!
May I spar with her?
I haven't seen her in action yet, you know.
I hear you're pretty experienced, even though you just joined.
Yes...
Okay then, you can spar with her first.
Yay!
Tama-chan, come at me with everything you've got!
With everything...
Oh Tama...
You shouldn't take her seriously, even though she's telling you to-
Men!
... And she took her seriously.
Girl needs to learn some common sense one of these days.
No...
I totally suck...
My adorable new freshman just kicked my ass!
I've been gone for way too long...
Saya, listen to me.
She's special, okay?
Tama.
I'm sorry...
Oh, don't worry about it.
You didn't do anything wrong.
What the hell are you guys doing?!
Why aren't you practicing?!
Well...
We thought that watching Tama-chan practice would be better.
Fine, whatever.
Just get up here.
Let's take care of this first.
Excuse me, girls!
Will the five participating in the practice match assemble here?
I'm gonna decide on the match positions now.
First off is the fifth position...
Tama, you'll be fifth.
Okay.
Why?
I'm usually the fifth for us...
You're the team captain now, so it's outta the question.
Y'see, the team captain's guaranteed to be in the first position.
The first!
Wrong word.
I hope I can find a weakness behind Senpai's planning...
I don't have the manpower to beat him head-on...
Hey, is it really okay to bring Tama-chan, our strongest member,
to the first match?
Yeah,
you want to raise morale by having the team win the first match.
So it’s common to have the strongest members fight first as well as last.
Since we only have four members, we can technically leave the first position vacant.
We can set our strong members bout against their weak members.
Wow, Kendo's really cheap.
No m'boy, it's called strategy.
But yeah, there's no point in my scheming.
Knowing Senpai, he's probably figured out my strategy already.
Kojirou, I know what you're planning.
You're gonna place two of your stronger members in the fourth and second positions.
Am I right, Kojirou?
It's useless, since I'm not gonna fall for that.
We'll play this straight.
What's he mumbling about?
Who knows.
Harada.
Y-Yes!
You'll be fifth.
We'll crush them this way.
Okay!
Fourth will be...
Where's Asakawa?
She left already.
She said her boyfriend was waiting for her.
She pisses me off.
She should just die already.
Hey, take it easy.
Akemi could be stronger if she practiced some more...
She's a lost cause, through and through.
Miya will be fourth.
Okay!
Yay!
I'm sorry about this, Miya.
Forcing you to fight even though you're a beginner.
Yay!
After the practice match is over, you should take it easy and practice at your own pace.
Do your best, Miya-Miya!
But on the match day, just do your best and show up.
Okay!
I will.
Let's go practice, Miya-Miya!
Saya, you're third.
Sweet!
It's been too long!
This is gonna be so fun!
I'm gonna own this thing!
You better win.
That's right, I will win!
You better win.
Huh?
YOU BETTER WIN!
Nishiyama, you're third.
Are you... okay?
Nishi-chan, you'll do fine!
I'll try my best...!
You never get serious enough when you're sparring other members.
Actually, she's never been in a real tournament either.
But you know, she looks like the leader of our team.
B-But...
I can't fathom the thought of hitting someone I've never met!
I can't do something that bad!
I...
No!
I can't do it!
Then why the hell did you join the Kendo club?!
Well...
The only way to toughen up your weak spirit is if you show up for the practice match.
Okay...
I'll try...
Ando, you'll be second.
Okay.
Ando, don't do it, okay?
What are you talking about?
Those sneaky underhanded tactics you always use!
Um, what are you talking about?
You purposely trip your opponent, stab at their feet, or step on their feet!
Um... I don't mean to.
She's a freak...!
Kirino will be second.
Second?
Yeah, you're second.
Second?
Yeah, second.
But you said the team captain's guaranteed to be in the first position...
Yeah, that'd be the case if we had enough people.
But this is an exception, since we're short one girl.
This is how the match setup looks.
Cheer up. It's all a part of his strategy.
You're right.
The person in first on the opposition's probably gonna be someone really strong anyways.
There goes my dream...
Woman, that's the wrong word!
And Yoko's first.
Gotcha!
This is great, I'm first!
This responsibility feels so great!
Don't make your opponent cry!
They're girls too!
Sensei, you forget that I'm a girl too!
Well, this looks fine and dandy.
Let's win!
Okay!
Men!
Time out!
Break, Tama-chan!
Sorry 'bout this Yuuji,
but you're the only one who can hold up in a match with Tama.
I'm done for the day.
Take over for me.
Tama, let's go.
Will you be okay without taking a break?
I am fine.
Tama, listen.
I have to beat my Senpai, no matter what.
But you see, we've only got four members on our team.
We're at a disadvantage.
And that's not good.
I see.
But actually,
there's one more member in our club,
that'll make our team have five members.
They will appear whenever we're in trouble.
They fight to save people in need!
The Bringer of Justice!
And their name is...
Blade Braver!
Huh?
I can be the second... but why?
You're perfect!
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!
Congratulations.
Thank you!
Excuse me, Sensei.
The others haven't arrived yet.
I'm sorry, I told them we'd be meeting at 9 AM...
It's okay, I kinda expected this.
Get in, we're gonna round 'em up.
O-Okay.
Have you tried calling them on your cell phone?
I've been trying all morning,
but I do believe they're on their way...
But where...
Oh, there's Nishiyama.
She's running!
Harada, grab her!
Yes sir!
I'm sorry, Nishi-chan!
Nishiyama, you should really do something about your habit of running away when you're scared.
I'm scared... I don't wanna go to the practice match...
Found another one.
Hey Sensei, I'm sorry I'm late.
Dragging her around took a while.
Is it me, or does she look kinda dead?
Oh, don't worry about her.
Let's go.
Now, we gotta find Ando.
She's not answering her phone.
Ah well, let's go pick her up.
I'm sowwy...
Ando-san, hurry up and get dressed!
So tired...
One, two!
Hello, Senpai?
Where are you?
Sorry man, but it'll take me another hour to get there.
Where are they at?
Shouldn't you guys be feeling a little restless by now?
You'll lose if you're not serious enough.
But they're late.
They were supposed to be here by 10 AM!
Dan-kun, come over here!
Well, I'm sure they have a good reason for being late.
Miya-Miya, you're ready, right?
Tama!
Could you practice with everyone until my Senpai and his crew get here?
Are you sure?
Yeah, light exercise will be good for you all.
Just don't go all out, ya don't wanna use up your stamina before the match after all.
But what will you be doing?
I'm gonna nod off for a bit.
I've gotta keep my stomach empty for the sushi to come...
But I won't hold out until the evening if I'm still awake.
Why not.
Tama-chan, do you have any secret method that would guarantee victory during our matches?
Not really...
But knowing the fundamentals of Kendo usually helps.
Could you teach us the fundamentals then?
Okay then.
I'll start off with footwork.
Footwork?
I haven't practiced that much on my footwork...
Since he's the instructor, you know...
Could you give us a demonstration?
Very well.
I'm so sorry...
In the morning, blood doesn't flow very well to my brain.
If I don't eat something sweet, then I don't think I'll be able to go...
I get it already, so just eat up.
Hey, is it me or does the world look kinda bent today?
Straighten your neck.
Why the hell did you guys order crap too?!
Ando, keep your neck straight!
Harada, how can you fight a match when you're stuffing yourself?!
Asakawa!
Is she dead?!
It's so good.
Hey!
The succession step is only used when attacking an opponent farther from you.
You bring your left foot up behind your right foot,
and you can cover more distance by using your left foot to boost your right foot.
Oh yeah, the succession step.
Wasn't that the first thing we learned?
We learned other stuff too...
But what were they...
The lateral, swift, succession, and advancing steps.
Those are the four key fundamentals of footwork.
Having good footwork is very important.
You should always keep your feet on the floor,
and when you move, your movements should flow smoothly.
By doing this, you're giving yourself an edge over your opponent.
Forgive me.
I was being extremely rude.
It's a bad habit from home...
It's okay!
Teach us more!
Go on!
But Sensei told me to exercise with you guys, and I went and talked about...
Don't mind him.
Besides, you're stronger than him anyways.
We want you to teach us!
Right?
But...
We said it's okay!
We'll let you teach us because you're the one teaching us!
That's right!
We'd only let you teach us!
Very well.
Please observe.
You should always keep your right foot in front.
Before you step forward, your forward foot needs to move about half a sole's distance.
Put all your weight on the ball of your front foot.
Lift the back of your left foot slightly so you can move along the floor swiftly.
Both feet should always be kept half a step away from the other while moving.
If both feet are too far apart, your attacks will not connect.
But if you only move in short steps, your attacks will be unbalanced.
If your stance is weak, then your defense will be easily broken through.
Tama-chan is such good girl!
She's so small, but her movements are so elegant!
She's so hardworking!
She must've practiced everyday!
Before you shift your body to the right, your right foot must move first.
She's too cute!
Tama-chan...
And then your left foot follows...
I get the feeling that they're not watching or listening to me...
Yellowtail...
Tuna...
Salmon roe...
Shrimp...
I ate too much... spaghetti gratin!
I'm gonna be sick!
Who the hell told you to eat so much?!
Sensei...
She had some pizza as well.
Uh... Harada, do you know where we are?
Where's Muroe High?
I wouldn't know...
I'm gonna buy a map.
Hey Kojirou, can you tell me where I am?
How can I get to your school from here?
Hey, we're here...
I'm glad you decided to show up...
I'm hungry...
Dan-kun, just bear with it until after the practice match is over.
Since we're having a match, I thought I'd let them practice sparring for a bit...
But we're short on time.
So, let's get started.
All right.
You know, it's been a while since the last time we fought.
There's no point in us fighting each other anymore.
We'll leave that to our students.
Yeah.
I'll be the head referee.
Then me and... Yuuji will be the assistant-referees.
Okay.
Dan, could you watch the time and keep score via the bulletin board?
Yeah, you can count on me.
Do you remember how to take score?
Yeah, don't worry.
He's not too convincing...
Who's gonna keep record?
I can do that.
It's all yours.
Okay.
Everybody ready?
Well then, let's commence the practice match between Muroe High and Machido High.
Face the other team and bow!
Bow with the utmost respect!
Pleased to meet you!
Do your best!
The match will be decided by the number of victories.
The team which wins the most matches is the winner.
Each match will have a time limit of five minutes, with three minutes overtime.
Two strikes determines each bout, best three out of five sets.
Okay?
Kojirou, you only have four members?
Oh yeah, about that.
The fifth member's running a little late, but she'll be here soon.
Okay then.
Huh?
Begin!
Men!
Head strike!
Wha-?
She's fast!
Next Episode
'Sup, Saya here.
You know, the next episode's titled: Kawazoe Tamaki and The Belated Bureiba.
I even wrote a theme song for it!
Listen up!
Tama-chan goes missing!
She vanishes in the middle of the match!
But then, Bureiba appears!
She appears in the middle of the match!
The two of them become one,
but she's actually both!
Hold me tight!
Win or lose,
who gives a damn?!
Who cares about your cheapshots?!
Toss 'em all and just keep on running!
Kawazoe Tamaki and The Belated Bureiba
Forever!