Hey, Mom?
It's me.
Yes, Toraji.
Yes, I got off early.
Yes, I got the kelp package.
Mom...
I was thinking that I should visit you soon.
Food?
Sure, anything's fine.
What's this A or B course stuff?
"Mommy's homemade lunch sets?"
Enough already!
What kind of mother forces her son to abstain from eating?!
Also, homemade implies that you, the mother, was the one that made it!
And another thing, lunch sets are frickin' leftovers!
Get it right!
She hung up!
She always hangs up when she's in a bad mood.
Oh yeah, that's why I don't go home often.
Episode 9
Kojirou and His Circumstances
Did ya watch it?
That new late-night progra-
Take care of the front for me.
Yes ma'am.
I wonder if club already started?
I hope they remembered to dry out the head guards.
And the gauntlets are pretty worn out too.
Have to get those replaced...
Good, I'm relaxed.
Welcome to our store!
Judging from her uniform, she's from my school.
I hope she doesn't notice that I'm from the same school as her.
Has she noticed?!
Excuse me...
Yes?!
Which one do you think is most effective?
Um...
I think they're both very effective.
I'd like them both, please.
Good job!
Thank you very much. Please come again.
Kawazoe-san, could you put these out on display?
Yes.
Welcome.
Yo.
Sensei...?
I came to check out the store, s'all.
I need to get something too.
Wow, you look like you've been working hard.
Get used to the job yet?
A little.
Well, this'll be a good social lesson for ya.
Which one will be good...?
Tama, aren't you gonna ask me why I'm in a store like this?
Gotta be a little more social if ya want people's business.
Okay... Why are you here?
I'm thinking about visiting my folks soon.
My mom's pretty old, but she digs this stuff.
I thought I'd buy her a souvenir.
Oh, it's for your mother?
Her room has a ton of this stuff in it.
You wouldn't think the room belonged to a woman in her 50's.
This'll do.
How much is this?
It'll be 1,000 yen.
Way too expensive for mom!
I'll get something else.
Okay...
Thank you for waiting.
I'm gonna head back to the school now.
Thank you very much. Please come again.
Tama, you need to say it with a lot more spunk, like you're enjoying this.
Smile a bit, won't you?
Please come again.
You should really come by the club sometime.
We'll all be waiting!
Okay.
Men!
Crap, I'll never be able to beat Yuuji.
Here, Dan-kun. Drink some water.
Thank you.
Kirino, you're such a swell team captain.
Hey, how's Dan coming along?
He has become stronger.
I thought so.
He's got potential.
He's still a rookie right now, but he knows how to look for openings and where to strike at.
It's like he was born for Kendo.
He's lacking in endurance,
but he'll keep improving.
I just hope he doesn't defeat me before graduation.
I wonder, is it really okay to let someone like him just beef up?
I don't think that matters at all.
So, what about...
Miya-Miya, you can't beat me with just brawn!
Saya?
Kirino, I was so scared!
There now, it's all over.
Sorry about that Senpai. It slipped outta my hands.
Owwie, unprovoked school violence.
What the hell are you doing to her?!
Be quiet!
Miya-Miya, you cannot use thrusts at your level! Were you trying to kill her?!
Beginners are restricted from using thrusts! It's way too dangerous!
All right already, I'm sorry.
Miya-Miya scares me a lot.
Her technique is good, but I'm sure she'd get stronger if she practiced other techniques.
Keep it up, Miya-Miya!
Thank you, Dan-kun.
We're getting real good now!
I can't wait for the next meet!
Right.
That's all for today. Let's meet again to-
Hey, you're here.
Is club already over?
Tama-chan, what about the shop?
My shift just ended, and I wanted to come back here and practice as much as I could...
Everybody, let's break for a bit and then get back to work.
Okay!
You look exhausted.
Here, you must be thirsty.
Thank you.
Yes, the refreshing scent of the sweat from young people mixed with the light aroma of soy sauce is in the air...
What's that?!
I guess the three minutes are up.
Why're ya eating ramen in the dojo?
That's not good.
Gimme a break, just this once.
I didn't eat lunch yet.
It's kelp.
Ya used too much, Sensei.
She's late.
I shouldn't worry, she's working for my sake.
There's no need to worry.
But really, what should I say when she gives me her gift?
I've got to act convincingly and thank her with the utmost gratitude.
Happy birthday, Father.
Thank you, Tamaki.
No... that doesn't flow too well.
Happy birthday...
Thank you, Tamaki. You must've worked very hard.
Eh?
No, she's too innocent. I wouldn't want her to suspect that I knew she was working for my sake.
Happy...
Thank you so much, Tamaki! I love you from the bottom of my heart!
Even I could tell that was far too cheesy.
Happy...
I'm so happy, Tamaki. You've grown into a fine, pious daughter.
Remember to always be pure, proper, glamorous,
healthy...
and you'll grow!
I must... calm down...
Saya, give me five.
Woof!
I didn't ask for a paw!
Sensei, bye-bye.
See ya.
Sensei, take care.
Go home already!
That reminds me, I'm outta sake.
Shopping time.
Excuse me!
I was about to park there!
Oh really?
But I'm sorry, I was a step ahead of you.
What the hell, frickin' hag!
Guess I should get some ramen too.
Some curry, and a few canned goods.
And the poor man's best friend, low-malt beer.
I must look like a guy living on his own, kinda obvious from looking at my stuff.
Let's see, where's the beer...
Found it!
And there's only one case left!
Hey, I was gonna take that!
Oh really?
Sorry.
But I was a step ahead of you.
What the hell did you say?! You practically stole it from me!
Pipe down.
Just get some other beer.
The other brands are expensive 'cause they're not low-malt beers!
Quit gettin' so worked up over one bloody case!
Bloody job-hopping pissant.
One can's good enough for the likes of you.
That's not true! I have a real occupation!
Damn hag... I hope you die a painful death.
He couldn't be...!
There is only one teller that's open.
Does he intend to get there before me?!
Judging by his payload...
It'll take a while to check out if he gets to the teller first.
I won't let him get there first!
Pissant, look at what you did to my noodles.
Pay for it!
Now!
Me?!
Madam, I'll get a new one for you.
Silence! It's all his fault anyways!
Excuse me, but I'll pay for it.
No! I'll pay for it.
Okay?!
Gonna go home now, and forget this ever happened.
NEET pissants who mooch off their parents, like you, shouldn't even be driving to begin with!
I'm not a NEET!
I'm not unemployed!
I'm a bloody high school teacher!
You're a teacher? You liar!
I'm not lying!
I teach at Muroe High! I'm Ishida Toraji!
Ishida Toraji is it...?
That's how it goes...
What?
I'm sorry, Ishida-sensei.
Eh?
How'd you do on your midterm exams?
I think I did okay, like I usually do.
Then you did pretty well!
You think you did poorly?
I'm totally hopeless when it comes to bloody math!
Even after studying math the most, I still sucked!
I'm fine when it comes to social sciences though...
Oh, a cat.
I'm starting to hate life.
It's annoying when I'm always gonna get confused over schoolwork...
So, she was aware of this.
Kirino, help me out with math.
Okay then, let's get together soon.
Hey, do you have any subjects you're bad at?
Sure I do.
But still, you're way smarter than me.
Is everyone present?
Even though Sensei's not here yet, we should start practice.
Okay!
Dan-kun, here's a towel for you.
You're so thoughtful, Miya-Miya.
Hey, Tama-chan.
Tama-chan?
Welcome.
Whoops...
I think Eiga-kun is gonna be really strong one day.
His striking accuracy is improving.
I'm positive he'll get stronger!
I agree, Eiga-kun will get stronger.
And so will Miya-Miya.
She's always on the offensive, and her strikes are very strong.
In fact, she's almost perfect.
She'll become strong, I know it.
I agree, Miyazaki-san will get stronger.
Tama-chan, are you exhausted?
Yes, Tama-chan's exhausted.
Your part-time job is starting to wear you out.
Rest up until Sensei comes.
Tama-chan will rest up until Sensei comes...
Miya-Miya's got it easy 'cause she's a freshman.
Really?
I'm sure Dan-kun wouldn't be all cheery when he's a junior or senior, right?
What are you doing, Saya-senpai?
That's enough. Don't bully the freshmen.
Hush up!
Miss Honors, who ranked 20th out of all the juniors, you should just practice your strikes!
Oh, you're talking about midterm exams?
Miya-Miya, even you must've done poorly.
But Dan-kun's an honor student!
His ranked second, out of 390 freshmen!
Yuuji-kun, what's your rank?!
I'm ranked fourth.
I guess I can't beat Dan-kun when it comes to studies.
What the heck is taking Sensei so long?
It's not good for the instructor to be late.
I'm right here.
S-Sensei, when did you arrive?!
I was here the whole time.
What's the matter? You look like you're about to fade away.
That's not far from the truth, actually.
What?
I'm gonna get canned soon.
The principal told you...
"You have until the end of the year
to resign?"
Then could you possibly be...
Unemployed.
Why would the principal do this?!
It wasn't the principal's decision. It was an order from the superintendent.
The superintendent?!
Why would the superintendent bother with you?!
What the hell did you do?!
I had an argument with some hag at the supermarket.
Could it be that the old lady was...
The superintendent?!
The superintendent is a man. A very gentle man at that.
But it wasn't his idea.
I believe his wife gave him the idea.
I see, so his wife was the...
Old hag?!
Wrong again.
Then who's the old hag?!
The superintendent's wife is good friends with her neighbor, in this case, the old hag.
And it seems that the superintendent's wife has him wrapped around her finger...
All right then...
Okay, let's get our gear on.
We'll start practicing counterattacks.
Okay.
H-Hey!
Worry about me, please!
If I get fired, I won't be your instructor anymore!
But even if we worry about you...
We can't do a thing about it.
That's not true!
You can all ask the principal not to fire me!
Why won't you appeal to him yourself?
But what does a useless young fool like me have to appeal him with?
That's totally weak.
Well then, why don't we get some good results then?
Now?
Yes.
We'll make our club even stronger,
and make it to the nationals!
If we get good results, then no one will complain about you!
The nationals... huh?
You have a point.
If our club shows some good results, I just might keep my job!
We're short on time...
But...
Let's do it!
I have...
you lot!
And...
I have Kawazoe Tamaki!
My Tamaki's invincible!
And Sensei's unemployed!
Not yet!
Okay people!
Our next goal as Muroe High's Kendo club...
is the national tournament!
Or something on par with it!
Now, let's practice!
For my sake!
Good grief.
Tomorrow will be your last day.
But until then, please keep up the good work.
I will!
She couldn't even greet customers when she started out...
Youth is full of surprises.
So that was a duster.
Welcome.
Next Episode
Hi, honey.
I'm the midnight gentleman, Eiga Danjurou, and welcome to the Dynamic Dandy Dan show.
I have a few words for the naughty kittens who're still up at this hour.
On the battlefield of love, the one who retreats is the loser!
Dandy.
Next time:
The Melancholy of MM and The First Meet
I won't let you drown in melancholy, Miya-Miya!