The block finals on the second day of the Winter Cup were quite the roller coaster.
A Block's match between Competitors Vivio Takamachi and Rinne Berlinetta,
after a fierce exchange of blows, ended with a KO victory for Competitor Takamachi in the third round.
However, she withdrew from the block finals due to injuries received during the fight.
In her stead, Competitor Kate Parkway, ranked third in A Block, participated in the semi-finals,
facing the B Block representative: Competitor Fuuka Reventon.
After four rounds of exchanging blows, Competitor Fuuka came out on top and advanced to the finals.
And winning through the C and D Blocks was the Under 15 World Champ: Competitor Einhart Stratos!
As a result, next weekend's finals will be an unexpected contest between fighters from the same gym and fighting style!
Make sure to check it out!
Welcome back.
- Right. Is Rinne still...? - Yes...
She said she wanted to be alone.
- I see. - But it appears Victor-san will be coming to visit her tomorrow.
In that case, let's give her some space until then.
I hope she'll cheer up soon, but...
I will forever embrace the destiny we swore upon.
誓い合った 約束(うんめい) ずっと 胸に 抱いて
Now that we're here I won't run anymore.
ここまで 来た もう 逃げはしない
You and I; we'll face the here and now together.
今と 向き合うために 行こう 君と 共に
The season we shared together when we were young,
幼い日 二人で 過ごした 季節
laughing together as we chatted about our dreams for the future.
夢(みらい) 語って 笑い合っていた
The cruel time apart snatched everything away,
離れていた 時間は 無情なほどに 全て 奪った
including the smile you had that day.
あの日の 君の 笑顔も
The vivid memories,
鮮明な 記憶と
and your gaze at that instant,
刹那の 眼差しが
brought us to the crossroads marking the distance between us.
交差しては 二人を 避ざける
To start the hands of time moving again, I will now
止まっていた 時計(じかん)を 取り戻すために 今
surpass those days spent apart
すれ違った 日々を 超える
with the bonds from that day.
あの日の 絆で
I will forever embrace the destiny we swore upon,
誓い合った 約束(うんめい) ずっと 胸に 抱いて
unleashing it all in this strike.
全て込め 撃ち抜く ストライク
I won't be afraid anymore!
何も 恐れはしない
Let's go! Together, you and I!
行こう 君と 共に
「Reunion」
Competitor Fuuka, tell us how you're going to face the upcoming finals.
Oh, uh...
Honestly, luck must have been on my side to allow me to get this far.
But, I'll put everything I have into the finals as well.
Champion, this is a fight with a fellow gym mate.
And one of your juniors at that. How does that feel?
I'm looking forward to it.
I'll be coming for her with all my strength.
Pretty strange sight.
It's been just under four months since Fuuka-san joined us.
And she's already made it this far.
Right?
Where's the chairwoman today?
She's out all day.
She's doing meet and greets with a broadcasting studio, among other things.
Sounds rough...
Well, I guess we should be glad your injuries weren't serious.
But you should've withdrawn the moment you hurt your knee!
- Yeah, I should have... - But it's a shame that you had to withdraw when you won.
Yeah, a little bit.
I wonder how Rinne-san is doing.
M'lady, Victoria-sama has come to see you.
Rinne, I'm coming in.
Victor-san...
You're looking down.
Are you frustrated that you lost?
It's not really frustration...
More that I don't know what to do now.
If I had won the tournament, a title match with the champion would've been right in front of me.
That's true.
But that possibility's gone too.
After my return match with Competitor Takamachi
and taking the title of champion,
I could say I had become stronger than anyone else.
That I was worthy of praise.
I wanted to become strong.
I wanted to feel like I'd become strong.
That's why I continued through the daily pain and suffering.
I threw up and fainted countless times.
But I still stood up.
I kept standing back up.
But after that shameful defeat, now I don't know...
What was I fighting for?
I never felt anything when I kept winning.
But...
Losing makes me feel so empty inside.
I don't know... if there's any point to doing martial arts anymore.
Mike Accord-san, please come up to Window 5.
Sorry you had to come all this way for a visit.
We're the ones that gave her the injuries after all.
We were so busy that I didn't have time to visit Competitor Miura either.
This is to make up for that too.
Thanks. I'm sure the competitors will appreciate it too.
Is Rinne all right?
She's depressed.
She's a sensitive girl after all.
And this defeat has lost me her faith as well.
Lost? After just a single loss?
This was the second; and by the same opponent at that.
I had an interview today.
They think I got caught up in Rinne's talent and was negligent in my coaching.
It was written all over the reporters' faces.
That's not...
They might be right.
But... I believed that plan was the best option at the time.
I thought I was teaching her the techniques and methods
that would bring out the full potential of her natural talents and abilities.
Now that that's been proven false, Rinne will never follow me again.
- But... - Excuse me.
Jill, this is Victoria.
Oh, you're with Chairwoman Nakajima.
- Perfect timing. - What is it?
I was speaking with Rinne and, as expected, she's terribly depressed.
She stated that she'll be quitting martial arts.
I'll speak with Rinne.
I'll head over there now.
I'm sorry.
- Please give this to Competitor Takamachi for me. - Sure.
Chairwoman Nakajima, my apologies for the voice message.
In the end, Rinne's answer hasn't changed:
She wants to quit fighting.
Jill is dreadfully dispirited herself.
So they decided to revisit the issue another day.
And about the promise with Fuuka...
- Welcome back, chairwoman! - I'm back.
-Where is everyone? - They're here.
Miura-san's even here to observe.
Also, Harry-san and Els-san are here too.
They have a promise with Einhart-san today after all!
Okay. I need to talk to them for a moment.
Can you gather everyone for me?
Uh... sure.
Rinne's going to quit fighting?
That idiot. How weak-hearted can you be?
So the match with Fuuka-san...
She promised, right?
She sent her apologies.
She said it wouldn't matter at this point.
That little...! Does she really think she can get away with that?
- I'm gonna toss her out here right now! - Eh?! H- hold your horses!
But... why would she quit?
I can kind of understand her.
She's lost to a younger fighter twice.
Last time was by the judge's decision, but this time was by KO.
The title match that was right in front of her is now farther than ever.
The thread her heart was barely hanging from must have snapped.
Well, Jill's methods are pretty harsh.
Even Victor and I thought we were going to throw up.
- Fuuka-san... - I'm okay, Rio-san.
But you've been trying so hard all this time so that you could fight Rinne-san...
Fuuka.
Yes.
How do you feel?
Is there still any part of you that wants to fight Rinne-san?
I...
It hasn't vanished yet. I still want to fight her.
Then let's talk to her.
Chairwoman.
Will you allow us to use the signal?
Sure.
Yes. Oh, Einhart.
Thank you for efforts, Victor-san.
This is about Rinne, isn't it?
- Yes. - Just a moment.
Rinne, it's from Einhart.
Harry and the others too.
Competitor Rinne! It's been a while, this is Els.
Rinne, come on.
- Everyone's worried about... - I'm not worried.
- Hey! - What's all this crap about you wanting to quit?!
Could I ask you to keep it down?
- Whatever! Just put Rinne on already! - What are you thinking...?!
Competitor Rinne.
Can you hear me?
This is Einhart Stratos.
When I heard that you decided to quit, I felt very disappointed.
- Fuuka still wants to fight you. - I'm sorry.
I'll properly apologize to Fuu-chan later.
I have a suggestion to make.
Competitor Rinne, would you be willing to bank on one more chance?
Please fight Fuuka as promised. How about the day after tomorrow?
If you defeat Fuuka, I'll immediately accept your challenge to fight me.
As an official title match, of course.
We'll fight for the Under 15 throne with this belt on the line.
If you're quitting anyway, would running away from consecutive losses to a younger fighter
or bowing out after obtaining the champion belt be preferable to you?
Are you serious?
You'll really accept my challenge?
As long as you defeat Fuuka? Definitely.
Please give me some time to think about this.
I'll get back to you soon.
The connection has been terminated.
Victor-san, you're acquainted with Competitor Einhart, right?
Yes.
What kind of person is she?
She's a mysterious one.
You might be fairly similar to how she was before.
She was always by herself, never seeking understanding from others.
Her only desire was to be strong.
She would engage in something like street fights and even had a brush with the law.
She was a delinquent?
She's the kind of girl who's serious about being rash. That's true even now.
You'll be accepting, right? One more match?
No. Two more.
I'll defeat Fuu-chan, and the champion as well.
After I win,
I'll think about what I need to do next.
Look, you. Do you understand how far you overstepped there, Champion?
What do you mean, the day after tomorrow?
And an immediate title match?
It's right before the finals! This'll cause trouble for Fuuka!
N- No, I'm...
If we took care of the current issue
I thought Fuuka would be able to better focus on the finals.
- She has a point. - And you even took out your belt!
Why did you bring that?!
I wanted to take a commemorative photo at the training camp.
It's from Victor. Hello?
Yeah, got it. Chairwoman, Rinne accepted the match.
- Of course she did. - Chairwoman.
There's no need to worry.
My Hegemon style and your Strike Arts will turn her will into power.
Fuuka will win.
There's a place we can hold the match at my training camp.
We'll go there together and train right up till the match.
Yes!
That's absurd.
Did Chairwoman Nakajima really give her approval to this?
She's sympathetic to her competitors.
So now it's on you.
How're you going to face Rinne?
I...
- Chairwoman, I'm sorry for all the trouble. - You're fine.
Your mentor's the one with the big mouth.
But I'm sure she was taking the feelings of everyone involved into account in her own way.
It's my job to take responsibility for it and clean up afterwards.
I'll catch up with you two tomorrow night.
- We've gotta devise a winning strategy. - Right!
Leave your shifts to me while you're gone!
We'll come to cheer you on with Vivio too!
Got it!
Is this your first time going to the training camp?
Yeah. Where is it, exactly?
Hotel Alpine in Carnaaji.
It's a wonderful place.
There are lots of areas to train and play!
The meals are delicious and the bath is a hot spring!
The owner's daughter is a competitor as well, so they know how to handle combat.
Combination Martial Arts Competitor
Administrative Bureau Mage
Only Daughter of Hotel Alpine
Lutecia Alpine
Luu-ko.
Einhart's headed out.
I got her mail too.
So they're holding Fuuka's match here.
There won't be any distractions here.
Sieg, did you hear?
Sure did. Got the message too.
A match between Haru-nyan's disciple and Victor's favorite, Rinne.
It's a very interesting match to me as well.
Show me what you've got.
Under 19 Martial Arts and Combination Magical Combat DSAA World Champion
Sieglinde Jeremiah
Coach.
I'm sorry for my self-indulgent whims.
It's okay. It's fine.
Even if it's only for two more fights,
I'm glad it gave you the motivation to continue.
I won't let you lose this time.
The day after tomorrow? Another sudden development.
Einhart-san brute forced it...
Let's all go and support her. You too, Ix!
I'll accompany you in case of an emergency.
But I'm so glad that Fuuka-san and Rinne-san finally have a match.
She's been trying so hard this whole time.
- I hope it pays off. - She'll be fine!
Fuuka-san's definitely gotten strong!
We all became strong together.
So she can't lose!
There are no restrictions on throwing, grappling or standing joint locks.
Throws that become more than a passing blow count as a down.
The rules really do lean towards Rinne.
That's what Fuuka hoped for.
The fighting time and number of downs are unlimited too.
Seriously?! That's rough.
We figured we should let them fight until they're satisfied.
Thanks for coming all this way everyone!
- Please do your best. - We're all rooting for you!
Competitor Rinne's group has arrived too!
Seems like Rinne-san properly conditioned herself for this.
That's just what I wanted.
Huh? You set up long-distance communications too?
By the chairwoman and Einhart's request.
- This is one of the areas it's being broadcast to. - Wow...
There we go.
All right, it's about to start.
Blue corner, you good?
- Yeah. - We're ready to go.
Is the red corner okay too?
- Yes. - No problems here.
Both competitors, set up.
Let's go, Huura.
Equip!
Scuderia, Set Up!
- We'll ring the gong after the countdown. - Okay!
Ready? Three, two, one!
It's too soon to set your eyes on me, Competitor Rinne.
Just as I expected.
You're...
really weak.
Hegemon...
Sky Severing Knuckle!
Stand up, Rinne!
Even though you look down on and show contempt for others,
when the going gets rough, you throw in the towel.
I'm gonna destroy that spoiled attitude!
I gaze at your trembling back as you yearn to become stronger,
強くなりたいと 震えている 背中を 見つめて
making a wish on the cold and the blooming flowers
凛と 咲く花に 願い事
"Please allow me to protect you."
「君のことを 守りたい」
I realized I couldn't walk those sleepless streets alone,
一人じゃ 歩けないと 気付いた 眠れない街で
but the warmth from the hands of that special someone softened my heart.
大切な 人の 手の 温もりで 僕は 優しくなれた
I'm soaring now; no longer lost.
飛び立てるよ もう 迷わない
If I gaze up, the endless stars are guiding us.
見上げれば 果てない 星を 僕ら 照らして
Within the spirals of time, a sprouting hope spins,
巡り巡る 時間(とき)の 中で 芽生えた 願い 紡いてく
those sad memories becoming a seed of courage
悲しみの 記憶は 勇気の 種になる
to pierce through with the light of hope.
希望の 光 貫いて
I have the key to your locked away heart.
閉じ込めた 心の 鍵は
I'll show you when I open it wide.
僕が 開けてみせる
Drawing the map that leads to our shining future
描き出す 未来の 地図よ
lies within our hands clasped tightly together.
強く 輝いて 繋いだ手の 中で
「Rain」
Repenting Corner
T- To stand at the top means to accept all things.
- H- Haru-san! - You have to draw the line somewhere.
- Be lenient, Nakajima-chan. - See you again next week!