Really, second place's pretty good!
Y'all are a D-class, so you can enter comps as much as ya want now!
Where ya enterin' next?
Umm...
Hey, Chi-chan...
Can we practice separately for a while?
Huh?!
What are ya sayin'? Now's the time ya gotta couple practice the most!
I wanna practice on my own.
Okay.
Huh?!
If you say so, Tatara.
Huh? What are ya sayin', ya beast!
Who you calling a beast?!
You make the girl do all the work.
What a sly dog.
What should I do?
Is it bad to suddenly show up?
Fujita?
Hyodo-kun.
HEAT 15- TAKING THE REINS
Hello!
Feel free to observe and ask questions.
There's only pretty people at this studio!
And there's no pushy sales talk!
Where is Coach Marisa Hyodo...
Put weight on your back foot.
And slow!
Don't separate your bodies!
Quick, quick...
A little higher!
Why are you here?
Uh, well...
I paired up with someone.
I'm having trouble becoming a worthy leader for her.
This girl's good.
Hm.
So that's why you were staring.
Kugimiya-san's really good at moving his partner.
Kugimiya?
Then these people are from yesterday...
They can't be at the novice level...
Those two had retired from competitions due to an injury once.
This year they'll probably make the Mikasa Cup too.
They're good!
Perfectly synced.
But...
That's strange.
My eyes keep focusing only on Kugimiya-san...
He may be the exact opposite type of dancer from you.
Huh?
Okay, that's it for today!
Thank you very much!
Oh, you're not with your partner today?
N-No!
I was wondering why you said I was sly...
Ah, that's what you're here for?
You were following your partner, so I just wanted to make a remark.
We only did that as a last resort!
I thought I should've been the one following in that situation.
You don't get it, do you?
Didn't you learn anything from ending up in last place at the Tenpei Cup?
In a normal couple, the man usually controls the woman.
I-Is that true?
Look at them.
Kugimiya-kun's been a recognized dancer since he was a junior.
He makes up for his partner's lack of experience with his lead.
Hey, what was that just now?
Sorry, one more time.
Follow the lead, ya idiot.
Don't like leaders like that?
No, I didn't mean...
Kugimiya-kun, are you done?
You can change first,
but will you help out this boy's lesson?
Whaaaaat?!
He just ranked up to a D-class in yesterday's novice match, Tatara Fujita.
I want you to pair up with him and dance the basics or whatever.
With both guys?!
What are you surprised about? It's normal.
Kugimiya-kun's good at following too.
But...
Shall I do it instead?
-What?! -My.
You wanting to dance with anyone besides Shizuku-chan is rare.
I'm interested in Fujita's lead.
Hyodo-kun?!
I'll do it.
Kugimiya-kun, please take the partner's side.
Yes.
Don't sulk.
I'm not.
N-Nice to meet you.
Yeah, nice to meet ya.
Actually, I'm more interested in this person's lead.
Hyodo-kun says he's good too.
Whoa, he's tall! He must be taller than Gaju-kun!
Kugimiya-kun, will you bend down a bit? Or else Tatara-kun will disappear.
I'm sorry I'm so small!
Umm, can we start with a natural turn and then spin--
Do whatever you want.
Oh, yes.
This person's tall and his legs are longer,
so I need to step out really big!
He responded!
Kiyoharu.
Why are you interested in Tatara-kun's lead?
Because it's not a lead.
Hey, Fujita-kun. What are you waiting for?
Oh... uh...
If you're the leader, lead properly.
Stop acting like you're following.
If it was difficult to dance, I apologize. I don't understand leading so well...
But...
Isn't dance supposed to be a cooperative effort?
What is this?
I was curious what kinda dancer Hyodo was interested in, but...
What a loser.
Coach Marisa.
Can we switch roles?
Go ahead.
Wait, I'm gonna lose my balance--
What was that figure now?!
It's like before.
I can't fight the power of the lead!
That boy's keeping up with our variation...
Kugimiya-san's really good at moving his partner.
Are you saying a leader who swings around their partner like this is good?!
I don't understand...
But...
I don't admire this person's lead.
A throwaway oversway.
My spine is arched.
I feel like it's not my own body...
Ugh, this is tiring.
Coach, is this enough?
Yes, thank you.
Let's go, Banshee.
Aren't you surprised you danced so well?
The lead alone can make up for the partner's skills.
In actual competitions,
the judges all look at the leader and score the couples.
In the preliminaries, the partner's level doesn't matter.
The couples with poor leaders get dropped first.
What?
Didn't you notice from the couple registration?
The men, the leaders, go under "Athlete Registration."
The women, the partners, go under "Couple Registration."
The competitor numbers are only given to the leaders.
B-But...
It makes it sound like the women aren't competitors.
If you reach the top rounds, the couples will then be evaluated as a total.
That means the partner fading away or turning into a great dancer
all depends on the leader.
Looks like you haven't changed since the Tenpei Cup.
Like that habit of centering your partner while dancing.
That's what was cute and why I came to like you,
but you can't be hiding behind the girls anymore.
From here on, let me see your own dance, Tatara-kun.
Smile elegantly, with an expression of pleasure.
Your eyes look far, toward the third-floor seats.
Don't laugh so weird!
Don't move on your own either!
Why are you here, Tatara?!
What kind of lesson is this?
Chinatsu needs a boost in feminine charm, so we're having a secret lesson.
Really!
Trying to overcome your weakness is great!
What do you mean a weakness?!
Didn't you wanna practice separately for a while?
Chi-chan, I won't let them ignore you.
Huh?
If the judges don't look at the partner, the leader's held responsible.
She's been taking on that responsibility for both sides for many years.
If we lose, you can make it all my fault.
Just trust me and follow me.
To become a worthy leader for this partner...
I'll need to get ready to fight.
Can I trust you?
Now, let's begin taking the reins.
THE 38TH JAPAN INTERNATIONAL DANCING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2018
The stadium's getting more and more excited!
Well, the Japan Intl. is known as the greatest national open comp.
So which couple exactly is your rival today?
Blackpool's No. 3, Vassily Trucachev, and No. 6, Nero Bosco, are both here--
Will ya quit babbling?
Just shut up and watch.
Two weeks passed since our novice match.
After a month, Sengoku-san returned from his trip.
WAITING ROOM
Sengoku-san!
Oh, here they come!
Long time no see!
Sengoku-san, your outfit's super sheer up close!
Ha, isn't it sexy?
You look well.
So, how far did you get with Chinatsu?
I'm having her just dance to the basics for me.
What a boring guy.
Whoa, the real Nero's there!
The overseas dancers are kinda hard to approach.
If they're pros, yeah.
Kaname! Trucachev was looking for you.
Really?
Sengoku-san!
Are you going to see Vassily Trucachev?!
Is he a good dancer?
Ya gotta be kiddin' not to know the world's No. 3 Latin dancer!
He's Sengoku-san's No. 1 rival in this competition!!
Really...
He was the world champ in my amateur days.
Hey, Kaname!
What's happened to you, Vassily?
You've got a really horrifying aura here.
Recently, I've found true happiness in my life.
When I saw him before, he was more manly and normal.
You need something from me?
Scary! This is seriously scary! I don't get him!!
Sengoku-san, that way's the exit!
We will now announce the winning couple.
The 1st place winners are Vassily Trucachev & Regina.
I love you, Trucachev!
Hold me!
It was too bad for the Sengoku pair.
I mean...
everyone besides the Sengoku pair are overseas dancers.
It's amazing that they can even make the victory stands.
That's how different the Sengoku pair is from other Japanese dancers.
Sengoku-san, you're incredible.
So cool.
No need to pity the third place.
Flying around the world really suits this man...
You're so far.
I've decided to join the Hyodo Social Dance Academy.
We're going ahead!
Tamaki-san, too.
She says Sengoku-san's a busy person,
so I should find a coach who'll teach me regularly.
Because the Ogasawara Dance Studio lacks the ability to teach competitors.
After you just took me in to your studio too...
I apologize.
Tatara. You...
like older women?
She's a witch, you know?
Um, I was being pretty serious right now...
Well, Marisa is great as a coach,
so I'm sure there's no problem.
We're fine as long as we don't go out of business, so don't worry.
Um...
Se...
Coach!
Hey, that's heavy.
Coach Marisa told me to work out more.
Everyone's looking.
Sengoku-san's special even off the floor.
The first thing I learned from this man... was how to stand.
Dance your heart out.
Yes, sir!
Thank you for taking us on!
I won't be as nice as Sengoku-kun.
Beautiful posture, correct counts, and footwork.
I will teach you how to dance in favor of the scoring system from the basics.
Tatara-kun, your upper body is late.
Make your shoulders, hips, legs, everything work together!
A deduction right there! Your legs are loose!
If the leader doesn't move properly, the partner can't match up positions!
There's too much to do that my body can't keep up!
How much training do you do every day?
Sengoku-san told me to run 5 kilometers, do speed jump roping,
and sit-ups, back extensions, side planks, push-ups, and squats for a song length.
At least five sets of these.
Then let's double that.
Plus, core training and walk practice.
We need to start from the base since you've grown in an imbalanced way.
U-Um...
Huh?
I'd like to enter the Grand Prix in Shizuoka next month...
You're kidding.
What're you gonna do entering a big comp like that?
But we're a D-class now...
Being allowed to enter and being able to are different.
See?
Didn't you notice the B, C, D-class matches
being held separately from the main match?
It means you must think wisely and enter the section that fits your current level.
In other words, the Grand Prix is a match for B-classes and above.
It's not a comp that you should be entering now.
You understand?
Seriously, what were you thinking?
You entered the Grand Prix without telling Coach Marisa...
If I enter the Grand Prix, I can compete with Hyodo-kun and Hanaoka-san.
It's scary to show my current level and disappoint them.
But I'd be more scared if I ignore and betray the two who are waiting for me.
That's why I...
Well, I am your partner...
so I'll come along.
2018 DANCESPORT GRAND PRIX IN SHIZUOKA
I'm here.
Hyodo-kun. Hanaoka-san.
Next episode- "Four-legged"