KORAKUEN HALL
Don't enter the competitors' corridor!
Huh?
Owww...
What is this girl doing in a place like this?!
Um...
I'll kick your butt if you talk to me at school tomorrow.
What the heck's up with that?!
HEAT 13- MATCHMAKING
Wasn't the Sengoku pair just awesome yesterday?!
She started talking to me?!
The Japan Dance Grand Prix is a comp
where even high level dancers from overseas compete.
And they won like it was nothing!
They're seriously not at the national level!
Y-You know quite a lot!
So you do like dance!
What? Give me a break.
I just like the Sengoku pair's style that's all.
How creepy.
Don't you think it's rude?!
She keeps calling the sport that I'm working so hard in lame or creepy!
Well, ballroom dance has that kind of image to most people out there.
What?
Even I had that stereotypical image before I started dancing.
I began this for the girls too.
Well, I was in a couple for three years, but nothin' happened though.
Jinbo-san, you had a partner before?
Hey, you. Don't make fun of me there.
Oh, um, I'm sorry.
I don't know how you become a couple, so...
Well, that's where you go to a "matchmaking."
M...
Matchmaking?!
For dancers, okay?
Oh, yes...
Most people go through their teacher's connections or people they know.
You meet up to dance with them a few times and see if you guys click.
By the way, Jinbo-kun, weren't you at a matchmaking last week?
I'm sorry!
It must be really hard to form a couple...
Forget me, somebody else's future is in even more jeopardy.
A cow called Karen Banba!!
Who are you calling a cow?
Baldy!
Karen-chan's lost weight recently and looks really pretty.
Good luck at tomorrow's matchmaking!
Whaaaaat?!
Banba-san's changed that much?!
I wanna take a look at skinny Banba!
But you have practice with Mako-chan, right?
Well, if I skip practice, she gets hecka mad.
But I wanted to say hi to Sengoku-san too...
I wonder if Banba-san's matchmaking finished.
Is the Sengoku pair there?
Uhh, I dunno...
Why're you here?!
I followed you!
Huh?!
Well, because I overheard Akagi-san say "Sengoku-san" during lunch break.
I did think it may have been pushy,
but I really wanted an autograph.
What is this cover?!
Isn't it sexy? I wonder if they're going out.
No... um...
Whatcha doin', Tatara?
Oh, Sengoku-san...
H-Hongo-san?!
Yo!
You brought a girlfriend! Way to go, Tatara-kun!
You've got it wrong!
Why're you clinging to me?!
Hey, c'mon!
I-I'm his classmate, Chinatsu Hiyama.
Really... so that was your name.
She's a "Chi-chan."
Same as you, Chizuru.
You can call me "Chi-chan" too if you want.
Never.
Hey, Tatara.
Gaju and them are at the Grand Prix in Osaka this week, huh?
You can try it next year.
What?
Only one year.
I won't wait for you any longer than that.
But this year I...
Tatara-kun.
If you're gonna practice, you want me to check your shadowing?
What?
Hey, you!
Bring Tatara's girl with you too.
What?
I can't possibly dance...
Yeah, there you go.
You learn fast.
Oh, um, not really...
You have good posture too. I bet you've done some kinda sport.
J-Just a little...
Now, try dancing with Tatara-kun.
W-With this guy?
I'll leave the rest to you two.
What? Um, wait, Hongo-san?!
Just us two?
Huh? Did she just press me?
Isn't this...
the pressure of a dance hold?
Are you sure you wanna leave those two beginners by themselves?
But Chi-chan's probably...
You're experienced?
What's up with that...?
If you can dance...
Don't make fun of me.
I'm... not.
I'm... going home.
What? Uh, wait!
Um...
W... Why don't you get an autograph?
U-Um!
I'm a big fan, Chizuru-san! Can I have your autograph?!
Wait, she's a Hongo fan?!
I'm growing out my hair so I can be just like you!
How big of a fan are you?
Um!
If it's not too demanding, um...
would you please give me a hug?!
It's quite demanding!!
Did Hongo-san get mad?!
Come!
Oh, Hanaoka-san...
I don't know what's happening.
I just know...
that it looks like I won't be qualified to enter a comp for a while.
It looks impossible for me...
to reach the same stage as you.
Hey, what do you like about Hongo-san?
Huh?
Well, it seems you really like her, so...
Well, yeah.
I mean she's pretty. She's got good style.
She's a ten dancer.
What's up with this girl?
She says these hypocritical things, but probably...
No, definitely.
She loves dancing.
Hey.
This studio's always open, so if you feel like dancing come by anytime.
I also want a practice partner.
I won't ever wanna dance.
What's up with that guy?! A practice partner?
You're kidding! What? Is he hitting on me?
So lame! Get a better line!
What am I doing...?
I won't ever wanna dance.
What is with that girl?
GAJU AKAGI
Huh?
Isn't Gaju-kun at a comp today?
Yes?
Hyodo-kun's back in competition?!
Oh yeah! It's been six months since the Mikasa Cup.
That bastard, he took first place in every dance.
I wonder if his leg's okay now?
That guy's gotten better than before.
His timing with Shizuku, his moves and sharpness
are all different from the Mikasa.
His body was kinda bigger than before too.
To top it off,
those two climbed up to the finals with only the basics.
It was probably to appeal to the judges that they're working back from the basics.
Incredible...
By the way, I got a message from Hyodo for ya.
What is it?
Ya know how Shizuku picked a fight with ya?
Hyodo heard that and cracked up laughing.
And he said,
"I can't wait!"
He wants to compete with ya.
But the Grand Prix already ended and with my level, the Mikasa Cup is...
Huh? What are ya talking about? This year's Grand Prix just started.
Huh?!
2018 DSCJ COMPETITION SCHEDULE
The DanceSport Grand Prix
is held five times a year in rotation all across Japan.
Tatara-kun, you want to enter the Grand Prix?
Y-Yes.
But the Grand Prix only allows D-class and up,
so you'll need to find a partner first and rank up in a novice match.
Novice?
The beginning level in dance.
What's going on? Is Tatara-kun entering a comp?
He wants to enter the Grand Prix.
As a shadow? That's funny--
You've got Chi-chan! Right?
It's doable. The height balance isn't too bad either.
Th-That girl is a bit...
It's not like we get along either.
Look at us.
That girl must be really good!
Go invite Chi-chan and let's do a couple practice!
Sorry! Hang in there!
-You need water?! -Get a bucket!
Therefore, the message the author wants to relay through this passage
is shown in the next sentence...
When you look close, it's true.
Her spine is oddly straight.
She has a small face and a long neck.
You can see that each of her movements have a refined touch to them.
Now No. 34, Hiyama-san. Please read.
Yes.
The more I look,
the more she looks like a dancer.
U-Um,
Hiyama-san!
I-If you don't mind, um... will you--
Chinatsu!
Let's go home!
Let's go karaoke!
It's nothing!
What? Are you looking for a practice partner?
No! Don't worry, forget it!
Okay.
Sorry, I got something to do. Can you go on home without me?
Aww.
See ya then!
Yeah.
Can I grab my shoes from my house?
Yes!
Sorry for the wait!
I'm surprised.
I never even said a word that Hongo-san's coming or anything.
Umm, was it Fujita-kun?
Yeah.
How long have you been dancing?
Oh...
About seven months.
Hmm.
What about you?
I quit already.
That's kind of a waste...
What?!
You've been doing this for seven months and you only know four Standard dances?
I never had the chance, okay?
I can't believe you asked me to practice for this!
Then what? The Waltz basics?!
He really brought a partner.
My first couple practice in a while! I'll try my best to lead!
How tall are you? Are you even 160 cm?
Yes! How rude!
It looks like I'm taller with heels though.
I'm gonna take a left prep step, okay?
One, two, three,
One...?!
Why're you going that way?
Isn't a Turning Lock next?
No! I didn't lead like that...
Well, I can't tell. Your lead isn't coming through to me.
Please stop with the face.
For now, let's do the whisk to Chasse from PP onto a natural turn.
Okay.
It's kinda starting to look bad.
No, not like that.
I don't know that figure.
What?!
How come my lead isn't getting across?
-Don't fling me around! -What?
Tsk.
She clicked her tongue?!
Have you even danced with a girl before?
Of course, I have!
Alright, stop right there!
Jeez, I can't bear to watch.
Sorry, this kid's never led a girl before.
What?!
Chinatsu! Lead Tatara.
Um, I don't understand what you...
That sounds fun.
Right?
Flipping the lead and follow?
This guy's saying something crazy again...
U-Um, I...
I'm sure you don't have much experience following either, right?
Tatara-kun, let's try the partner's poise!
Oh gee,
she's totally up for it.
-Like this? -You're not a mannequin.
That's not pretty whatsoever.
Exhale.
Good, now your organs are in your ribs.
Now rise and we'll make a curve line.
Your head faces the upper left.
Stretch the upper half of your body as if giving your right side to the man's body.
You don't bend, you arch back.
Let your energy spiral throughout your body.
Hey, loosen your knees.
What?
C'mon, you're wobbling.
Men hate heavy women who can't stand on their own.
Chinatsu, come fetch this kid.
I'm sorry for the hassle!
The women's poise...
is much harder and tougher to keep balance than I'd thought.
Hey, wait...
This girl's hold... is captivating.
Follow me.
This step!
The whisk!
Open up the position,
and promenade position!
Hiyama-san's lead is very easy to follow!
What's going on?
Now they're perfectly in sync.
Chinatsu-chan's very good at leading.
Is this really Tatara-kun's first time following?
Yeah, for some reason he's really good at catching people's actions.
Reverse!
Pivot!
Change direction and...
This figure, I've never...
I never taught him.
A Reverse Pivot to a Fallaway Reverse.
It's one of the basic figures,
but Tatara-kun shouldn't know it.
Wow, Chi-chan's pretty good.
Come to think of it, when Tatara was in a couple,
he only danced to the figures that they were both aware of.
I'm sure he's quite surprised right now.
Another figure I don't know!
If this... "feeling of being controlled"...
is what leading is...
Then...
What have I been doing...
all this time?!
Next episode- "Coupled"