Thank you very much.
Who are you?
I don't like you, at all.
I only took one.
Excuse me-
You can have it.
I wanted to see Miyako-chan, but it looks like she's not around.
Miyako-chan... Miyazaki-san?
Tell her that I'll be back.
Episode 10
The Melancholy of MM and The First Meet
Thank you very much.
It used to be an old sake store too...
Looks like they're making decent money.
Don't be foolish!
What's wrong? I see more people coming in and out than when this place was a sake store.
Do you know how much of their money goes to the corporation?!
There are a lot of other fees to pay for as well!
We don't make that much at all!
It's a lot tougher than before, and we make jack squat!
So that's how it is.
Toraji, it's been a while since you've come home, so get off your ass and help out at the shop!
Uh, hey mom, where's dinner?
I'm starving...
Here ya go.
Eat up.
Mom, aren't these from the shop?!
And they're near expiration!
We skim food a bit, since half our expenses go to the shop.
W-Where's your special curry?! I mean, it's been a while since I've been home!
Shut your mouth, eat your food, and get your ass to work!
Even we eat this stuff, everyday in fact!
Indeed. Toraji, help your family out!
All right already... I'll eat it.
But yeah, I wanted to eat your special curry.
Don't worry, we have curry as well.
Like I said, these are from the shop, and near expiration.
What I want...
is that taste of your curry from my childhood!
Suck it up son!
Grow up already.
Toraji, could you help out at the shop tonight?
Yeah.
Welcome.
Mom and pops got it real tough. They've been working a lot more than they used too.
I can't afford to get canned from my current job.
I mustn't depend on my family either.
That's crazy!
Why are you out of banana milk?!
Seriously, I buy it all the time!
I'm really sorry, but the company we buy it from has ceased production of that product.
Can't you tell 'em that you want more?!
I'm sorry, but it's not up to me.
Fine!
If you can't even think about the customer, then forget doing business.
Stupid... banana milk-less shop...
Even if he rails us like that...
We can't do anything about it.
When you grow up and live in the real world, there are many things that you have to accept, no matter how unreasonable.
There'll be times when being angry's normal.
Unreasonable...
I'm so glad you're helping out.
You never came to visit after we remodeled the shop.
Oh... yeah.
The name's Ishida, and I look forward to working with you!
Energetic, I like that. How old are you?
I'm 18, and I'm also a freshman in college!
I'm living on my own, so I need to earn some money for living expenses!
I see, then you'd best work hard then.
You know, these streets are getting pretty dangerous during the night these days.
The store behind ours got robbed last year.
Seriously?
It's just us here, but we've got to be on alert.
Maybe just you, 'cause I'm pretty lazy around here.
You don't have to worry, I know Kendo!
If I have a shinai, I'll be able to take care of any burglar!
How dependable. Bring one then.
Put it away, you don't want scare the customers.
All right.
Gimme the cash.
Here.
Senpai...
We need to call the police.
You're right.
█
In Japan, the number for dialing emergency services, the police in this case, is 110.
Ishida-kun, what's the number for 110 again?
What was it again?
Now that I think about it, that's when my life started to go down the drain.
And I forgot how to fight back against it all.
Life's greatest problem is unreasonability!
There are times when you've got to bite the bullet, even if it had nothing to do with you.
There's no solution for unreasonability in the real world.
I can't let myself waver in defeat anymore!
I must rise from the ashes!
Time to fight back!
Fight for my life!
That'll be 420 yen.
What?
I'll stop by again sometime.
Hold on.
Your father wants to give you your pay.
No, keep it.
You helped out, so just take it already.
I did, but...
Take it.
Use it sparingly, and don't go buying useless crap.
What am I, a kid?
50,000 yen...
And I only helped out for a night...
I feel so damn spoiled.
Was that Odajima Reimi?!
Did she add the -chan suffix when saying my name, even though we're the same age?!
Yes, and it looked as if she was trying to commit theft.
It was her!
Her school's right next to the train station near here!
Do you know her?
Yes, we went to the same middle school.
But dammit, she won't let me have some peace, even in high school?!
She returned the item, but I think we should inform her family about this.
Do not do that!
Her family's incredibly troublesome!
If I quit now, then this nightmare will all be over.
But damn that girl...
But this is Kawazoe-san's last day working here...
You're leaving me in a bind.
Actually, it'd be fine if you just worked up at the front.
Scary.
You're right, I can't keep troubling you two all the time.
Kawazoe-san.
Yes?
Here's your pay.
Thank you for everything you've done. You really helped me out a lot.
D-Don't mention it.
I thank you for an endearing experience.
I feel a lot better now.
You can talk to others normally now.
I was worried that it'd be too early for you to start working.
I was right, youth is full of surprises.
I mean, you've matured a lot in a short time.
Youth indeed... she's still very young.
The sidecar's not attached today.
Miyazaki-san?
Yes?
Are you going to be okay, dealing with that girl, I mean?
You mean Odajima Reimi?
It's okay, you don't have to worry about her.
By the way, why did you want to work?
Did you need the money?
Yes, there's this limited edition DVD anime boxset that's gonna come out soon.
I-I thought it was fitting, you saying something like that and all.
Why did you need money, Miyazaki-san?
I wanted to buy Dan-kun a present.
His birthday is coming up.
Oh no, today's his birthday!
I can't believe I forgot!
I'm sorry Tama-chan, but I need to go!
So today is Eiga-kun's birthday...
Happy birthday, Father.
Looks like the Material Puzzle boxset will have to wait...
I was burning pretty hot too!!!
Dear, listen to this.
You know Tanabe-san's daughter, Yoshio-chan? I heard she dropped out of college.
This is the second time she dropped out too. I feel awful for the Tanabe family.
Goodnight.
Reimi-chan, did you do your homework?
Yes.
Miyako-chan...
Miya-Miya!
Dan-kun's the leading man!
What a nice couple.
I'm first!
Kojirou-sensei, you're early!
What's the occasion?
Kirino?
You were already here, huh?
Of course, I'm the team captain after all.
Finally, it's the day of our first meet!
Let's get pumped up! I won't lose my job if we get pumped up!
Despite entering the meet in the bleak hope of saving his job, I'm happy.
Even though your dream of success is far away, I'm happy enough with your feelings!
Don't get happy over feelings just yet! I'm gonna get canned soon!
Here comes the crowd.
They're all from 15 different schools.
But yeah, there are fewer girls.
Well, it's because some schools don't have a girl's team.
True, not many girls practice Kendo at all.
In other words, we have barely any competition!
Tamaki can do it!
She'll be number one in all of Japan!
Aren't you looking forward to the team matches?
Today's meet shall be Tamaki's first step toward winning it all!
How about us?
Oh, speak of the devil.
Good morning.
Where should we park our bikes?
You can park them around back.
Kuwahara-senpai, Miya-Miya, and Eiga-kun have yet to show up.
And I told 'em to be here by 8:30 AM...
I'll give 'em a call.
I'm so sorry!
Mornin'.
Ya overslept, didn't you?
Not exactly.
Last night, an idea for a script suddenly popped into my head while I was sleeping,
and I woke up, and fell asleep, and when I woke up again it was past 8:00 AM.
You overslept.
And another thing... if you forgot that idea the first time, there's no point in trying to remember it.
Oh, Miya-Miya?
Where are you?
Dan-kun got lost, so I'm looking for him now.
Where's the public gym?
Let's get changed!
Single matches are during the morning, so y'all best get pumped up!
Well then...
Hey, look at those girls.
The tallest girl here's matched with the shortest girl here.
Begin!
Men!
Head strike!
Who's that?!
Kawazoe?
Dan-kun, change quickly!
You'll be up soon!
Men!
Hell yeah!
Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!
You did very well, Tamaki!
Now, you've had a taste of what I call sweet victory!
Ah, thank you.
Saya, you did well advancing to the second round.
But compared to Tama-chan...
Don't worry about it, I wouldn't bother comparing her to you.
Wow, so mean!
Yuuji, you weren't so lucky.
I mean, you were matched against a national-level opponent for the first round.
I wasn't surprised when you lost.
Well...
I was pumped up since he was on the national-level.
And Dan...
What's with the look?
Dan-kun got second place, you hear?
See? I'm great!
Well, it's incredible even...
But I think your opponents either took it easy on you, or were inexperienced beginners.
Or maybe they had abdominal pain.
While all that happened, you managed to get second place.
He won, and that's that.
Right?
Miya-Miya.
Team matches are next. I hope you and Kirino will...
Kirino? Kirino?
Her middle school buddies snatched her away.
She has a lot of friends...
How could she do this to us, during this important lunchtime meeting?!
I was looking forward to eating her deli's fried katsu and croquettes!
Surely she isn't sharing them... right?!
I'll go look for her!
Middle school friends, eh?
If it were me, I wouldn't wanna see any of their faces ever again.
Miya-Miya, you're covered in black now.
The champion of the girl's single matches is from your school, isn't she?
She's amazing, isn't she?
She's so short too...
Senpai, can we eat lunch?
Wait for us before you start eating.
Our freshmen are pretty bad.
You lot should learn from others!
Don't get too full of yourself.
Yeah.
Oh yeah.
Since we're on the subject of your high school,
I thought Azuma would've owned this meet.
Azuma?
Did she come today?
Who?
We don't have anyone named Azuma in the club.
That's odd, I mean she did say that she would attend Muroe high.
Did she stop practicing Kendo?
She was the best practitioner at my middle school.
I guess she stopped once she hit high school.
What a waste of good talent.
Azuma!
Dan-kun, open wide!
Tama-chan, let's eat.
Miya-Miya, open wide.
Was that Odajima Reimi just now?!
I wasn't just seeing things, was I?!
Why is she here?!
Don't tell me...
She's going to stalk me even in high school?!
Looks like she really did start practicing Kendo.
That breastplate looks good on her.
Miyako-chan, you've become very beautiful.
The team matches will commence in the afternoon.
All teams, please gather your group in the gym.
This sucks so much!
If I was more relaxed, I would have won!
And we would've moved onto the second round!
In the end, Tama-chan was the only person that won a round for us.
They had four people as well, so the usual excuse won't work.
I mean, there were hardly any girls!
Speaking of which...
wasn't Miya-Miya acting kinda weird?
She was acting pretty fishy.
She looked really tired too.
D'you think she saw someone from her middle school?
Oh yeah, didn't she say she didn't want to ever see any one of them ever again?
That's right!
She met someone from her past that she didn't want to see, and I bet one piso on that!
A Piso?
Yeah, a piso!
Your answer is correct. Here's your piso.
Miyazaki-san?
Aren't you gonna go in?
I'm sorry for blocking your way, but yes, I'll go in.
She scared the living daylights outta me... It's because she's always so quiet when she walks...
This isn't good, I haven't been able to calm down for a while!
I live in fear of that damn girl's shadow!
Miyako-chan, let's go to school together.
She's definitely acting weird, no?
Piso.
You all did very well at yesterday's meet!
But the next meet we're gonna go to will actually count!
Let's win that meet and go on to the nationals!
Okay!
If you guys do well, I'll treat y'all to something really nice!
50,000 yen's the limit!
50,000 yen?
Are you for real?!
Are you sure you're not off by two zeroes?!
Sensei's lost his mind-
Shut the hell up!
But yeah... Miya-Miya isn't doing too well.
I have to find the last girl ASAP.
About that, Kojirou-sensei...
I think we may have the last girl right under our noses.
Who is it?!
Who was it again?
Like I'd know!
Next Episode
Hey, long time no see.
Kirino here.
Time sure passes quickly.
Bamboo Blade is already at its tenth episode!
Hey! Go, go! Don't mind! Don't mind!
Sorry, I'll do it right now!
The production committee is doing fabulously well!
I think.
In our search for the fifth and last member,
one of our members gets caught off guard during the mission!
Saya and I go nuts during the search!
Next time on Bamboo Blade: Animation and Dreams
I won't let anyone who doesn't watch the next episode live to see tomorrow!
Animation and Dreams
And I mean the people outside of the program!
Put them together and I'll get one point!