I always found an excuse
so I didn't have to deal with what I didn't like
It's quite meaningless, isn't it?
No matter what kind of master they are
they didn't become masters just in one day
Embrace the ideal image in the heart
Without saying meaningless things
Without looking aside
But if I feel like bursting into tears, giving it up
and losing to my own weakness
I put myself in a bird cage
and push it into the valley
For those who believe in me more than anyone else and for my belief
I can be strong
I just have to stick to it
I knew I was beginning to realize it.
My stepping move turns into an offensive move!
I... I... I don't want to quit the karate club!
As a reward for your victory, let me give you a piece of information.
That guy who refereed today, Tsukuba-senpai,
was getting all fired up
saying that he wanted to test your skill or something.
Wh-What? What did you say?
Wh-What am I going to do?
I've been wondering about this for a long time.
Huh?
You think Furinji is, you know...
Huh?
Super cute or what?
What? You noticed that, too?
I thought that was my own little secret!
I-Idiot! To hell with your secret!
Huh?
But, you know, Furinji sure is hard to approach.
It's like she lives in a totally different world or something.
Come to think of it, it seems like she has no friends.
Look, she's going to talk to someone.
Wh-What the-
Hello?
That's Coward Ken!
I joined the rhythmic gymnastics club!
So, what club did you join after quitting the karate club, Kenichi-san?
The judo club? Or the kendo club?
The... The... The gardening club.
Th-The gardening club, huh?
So it's not a martial arts club or anything like that, huh...
Kenichi-san? Yoohoo!
And after that, Kenichi-kun spent his days watering the flowers
and lived happily ever after. The end!
Those eyes! Kenichi-san...
I'd better go water the flowers...
Kenichi-san! Class is about to start!
What on earth has happened to you?
Let me answer that.
Um...
It's a pleasure to meet you.
I am Kenichi's best friend, Haruo Niijima.
Kenichi-san's friend?
Niijima, his "best" friend. A friend of my best friend is a friend of mine.
You can call me Miu.
What?
They've become friends just like that?
Well, the chime is ringing.
I am a student from another class,
so perhaps we may have time to chat some more during gym class,
which is coming up next.
If you'll excuse me...
Okay!
Uh, the number of electrons of this atom is...
Uh, Tsukuba, you're in class now. Let's not be making any noise.
D-Don't make a racket with those walnuts.
Tsu... ku... ba...
Uh, I just wanted you to understand.
That's all. I just wanted you to understand.
And so the atom...
And as I was saying, the atom...
Kenichi Shirahama, huh?
A little kid who shows no sign of talent, no matter how you look at it...
Is it possible for him to learn how to fight like that in a mere week?
Was he just pretending to be a weakling all this time,
or was it all a fluke?
Either way I'm going to have to find out.
The sub captain of the karate club?
He was the one that refereed that last fight.
Apparently he's been really curious about Kenichi
and saying that he'd like to test him in the near future.
"Test him"?
I'm talking about a fight, of course.
Oh. If that's all it is,
Kenichi-san just has to beat him up and be done with it.
You're pretty feisty, aren't you, Miu-chan!
But I don't think it'll be as simple as that.
This Tsukuba guy is...
What? Tsukuba?
Tsukuba-senpai
is the guy who always practices against two people at the same time.
And, and, he can take a rock and split it with his bare hands!
And he can break a baseball bat with his foot.
Oh...
I see. So he must have a black belt.
It might be a bit too much for Kenichi-san the way he is now.
Setting it aside, I want to learn more about you.
What are your measurements? Do you have a boyfriend?
Why do people come around behind me
when they know they're going to be thrown?
Are you okay? Hello? Hello?
Wh-When is he going to come after me?
Will it be today, or will it be tomorrow? I'm in trouble.
I'm in serious trouble this time!
You have the look of a loser.
Wh-What are you talking about?
You have the look of someone who was guided towards a victory in a fight,
but now feels that this has brought on bigger problems.
Can this man actually read my mind?
Not to worry.
There's only one effective medicine for those kinds of worries.
Let's begin training!
Koetsuji-sensei!
Hmm?
Isn't there some more effective way of training that can be done faster?
There is.
All right! Well, I really don't have much time.
I would really appreciate it if you would teach me that method.
The trick is to run faster!
"Geh?" What?
I'm not a horse!
You're the one who asked for this!
Just shut up and run!
I should've kept my mouth shut!
Now, nice and slowly in a low medium stance.
- Very... Good... Very... Good... - Very... Good... Very... Good...
The base of martial arts are the feet and legs.
Those with weak legs aren't good at anything.
Uh, how many more steps am I supposed to take?
Only 9,565 steps or so.
What?
You're with Apachai next!
Apa!
Apa! Apa! Apa! Apa! Apapapapapapa!
Kenichi! Sorry to keep you waiting.
I'm done with my warm-ups. How about a little sparring?
Apa?
Apapapapa! I think I'll pass on it!
Kenichi-san...
Hey, you.
You secretly showed him a technique, didn't you?
Uh, how did you know, Sakaki-san?
Come on. Everybody knows.
I bet he won against a guy in the same grade in his karate club, right?
Well...
I'm sure your only focus
was to defeat the bully from the karate club when you did it,
but the real problem is what happens after he defeats that bully.
I bet some even stronger guy has taken notice of him, hasn't he?
I'm right again, eh? Well,
I don't take on disciples, so it doesn't really concern me,
but those guys knew that this kind of thing would happen,
so they intentionally chose not to teach him any techniques.
He hasn't even built up his basic core strength,
- Apapapapapapapa! - and he's already being hounded by the tough guys.
Who knows what's going to happen.
Apa!
Thank you very much!!
Oh, Kenichi-san!
Big Brother! Big Brother! Get a hold of yourself, Big Brother!
Oh, Sister... I see. So you died as well...
Poor thing.
But now we can happily live together as brother and sister in heaven.
Honoka...
What are you talking about? You're at home!
Home? If I'm home, that must mean that I'm alive!
I'm alive!
Mom! Something's wrong with Big Brother!
I suppose you are free to spend your own allowance
on whatever you wish to learn.
But to see you come home all beaten up like this everyday...
Is this dojo that you joined legitimate?
It's... It's not legitimate at all.
But legitimate just won't do it!
Anything legitimate isn't going to help me in time!
Hey, wait up, Big Brother!
I bet you're being bullied at that dojo too! Right, Big Brother?
What do we do with him?
I'm always telling her not to run down the stairs.
Saori...
Yes, Dear?
What are we going to do? What are we going to do?
Our son is in big trouble!
We have to do something to protect our son!
That's the dojo he chose on his own. Let's have faith in him.
Saori...
Ahh! There you go again telling me stuff like that!
What if it's a truly evil dojo? Our precious son's life is...
Come on, Sebastian!
Now that it's come to this,
I'll just have to deal with those evil dojo guys at once myself!
What do you think of that, Sebastian?
Dear?
Huh?
That boy who used to always run away from everything
has decided that he's going to fight back on his own.
We must have faith in him for now. He is our son, after all.
Sebastian! Back in the case!
You're right, Saori.
He possesses both of our DNA.
I'm a little worried about your DNA though...
They're hanging out waiting for you by the back gate as well.
They're from the karate club.
I bet Tsukuba-senpai ordered them to.
Now that it's come to this...
Listen, Miu-san!
This doesn't mean that I'm running away!
This is a strategic withdrawal!
Sure.
Whatever he's going on about,
I think that Kenichi-san is getting tougher and tougher by the day.
Wow! That's amazing!
As long as there's this ace Takashima, the next competition will be...
- Wow! - Oh my gosh!
Furinji-san, you're so flexible!
So nimble!
Incredible!
So, Miu Furinji-san, was it?
Miss transfer student.
According to a rumor, you've been training at a very high level
since you were back in junior high.
A girl like you shouldn't just stay on the sidelines
and do nothing but stretching.
How about getting right out into the center
and show us what you're made of?
Come on. Don't hold back.
Well, what's the matter?
That's right!
- What the... - Show us!
Now, hand over your glasses.
What?
Go on. Hustle!
- Can't wait to see this. - Oh, what am I going to do?
- No kidding! - I really didn't want to stand out.
Well, here I go.
Now, let's see what you've got. What you're made of.
Wh-What's up with this girl's moves?
They're beautiful.
But there's something different about her beauty.
It's crisp in a way that I can't explain...
Yes, It's much like the beauty of a sword.
What? What?
Wow! I've never seen anyone so impressive!
It's like it's not even rhythmic gymnastics.
You're too good, Furinji-san!
Here's a towel.
Uh, thanks.
You should be able to become our ace performer in no time!
Right, Takashima-senpai?
Huh?
Uh, yeah...
I hope you'll teach me some moves!
- Me too! - Me too!
Me too, please!
I don't know if I'm qualified to teach...
Furinji-kun...
Don't you let it go to your head, you hear?
Now, girls. It's time to wrap it up.
Okay!
I did it only because she asked me to. Right?
After all, the most dangerous time is the time everyone
gets out of school.
Now that I've got my shoes,
I just have to meet up with Miu-san
and make my escape from the window on the first floor.
Clear to the right. Clear to the left.
And while I'm at it, clear to the back... Uh...
H-He found me!
Kenichi-san sure is taking a long time.
Please let me go!
Why do I have to fight you, Tsukuba-san?
Why? Who gives a damn about that? Just fight me, Shirahama!
I-I don't want to fight for no reason.
Running away?
Are you going to run away, you coward?
I-I'm...
I'm not a coward! You take that back!
Then you try to defeat me and make me take it back!
F-Fast!
Hey, what's the matter? Why don't you fight back?
So, let me see how you always take down your opponent.
I'm going to witness your true ability with my own eyes!
Stop screwing around.
You're a total amateur!
Was your fight against Daimonji a fluke?
Take that back!
Hey, let me go.
You little punk!
You're pathetic, you piece of trash!
Let go, you bastard!
What the hell is this?
The guy gave me a bruise!
How could some little novice with no ability whatsoever
have so much strength?
Hey, you disappointing bastard!
I don't get it.
What? Kenichi-san finally got here?
Oh, Kenichi-san!
What happened to you today?
I waited and waited but you never showed up,
so I thought maybe you went ahead and...
You have terrible injuries!
It must mean that that Tsukuba fellow of the karate club finally got you!
Not at all. I just fell down the stairs.
That doesn't sound right to me!
What kind of stairs would those be?
No, actually that's really the truth.
Anyway, I've got some training to do, so...
Wait up, Kenichi-san!
Just leave him alone.
Sakaki-san...
But...
Listen, Miu.
There's a face to every man that he would never want to show a woman.
Oh...
I see.
Hmm...
Doesn't seem to be any problems with your bones.
And no dislocations.
That hurts! That really hurts!
Well, the important thing is that you made it back safely.
Safely? This isn't something to laugh about, dammit!
I worked so hard to train myself,
but I lost... I lost so easily. So easily.
You're right that it is no laughing matter.
And so, what do you want to do about it?
You want to do the same thing he did to you?
I just want to... I just wanted to tell him that he was wrong.
But just telling him wouldn't change anything,
so when I tried to come out and show him what's right...
I realized that I needed strength!
I need strength and courage.
Right now, I have neither...
All right! Tomorrow you will start practicing techniques!
Huh? Wha... What?
It's to realize the sense of justice he believes in, huh?
To think that the words I spoke to my master many years ago
would be thrown back at me like this.
Kenichi!
Huh?
Apachai is all ready!
Apachai-kun, I appreciate your enthusiasm,
but you don't seem to understand your own limits.
Huh?
Apa!
Apapa... Limit what?
Japanese is hard to understand!
You seriously don't know?
Don't worry, Kenichi.
What?
I may not know Japanese very well,
but I sure know how to destroy another man!
Apapa!
He was just told, "starting tomorrow." He just doesn't seem to get it at all.
It's nice to see them like that.
He's just happy that he's got his very first disciple.
Apachai, Apachai, Apachai...
Wow, he's singing...
Apapapapapapapapa!
Wow, I can't see his punches...
Apapapa...
Wow, he's destroying something... Hey!
He's really getting into this, that Apachai.
It looks... fun.
Please! Please tell Apachai what it means to know one's limits!
Even if it's hidden by rain
The sun must be there
I had even lost a dream
I will never forget the smile that gave me courage
I keep on believing because I have you
Light starts flowing out of my heart
Just like a flower with no name on the street
When I stumble and fall
I will get up on my own
Come on, what's wrong, Ken-chan? Giving up already?
At this rate, you'll lose again.
I never thought learning techniques would be this tough.
You're the one who wanted to learn techniques, Ken-chan.
The basic principle is to keep on training a disciple
while keeping him in anguish the whole time.
Wh-What a frightening thing!
And I suppose you were telling a lie when you said
you wanted to get stronger.
That wasn't a lie! I will get stronger!
Definitely! Sensei, one more time, please!
Hmph! That's the attitude!