Running Through the Night
You haven't done any lab experiments? They were all on your scheduled days off?
Seriously?
Crap, I can't get a hold of Mr. Sasaki.
Please write a report on your impressions and main points of the experiment we did in class. (about 800 words)
Sasaki/Assignment (Chemistry)
Dammit! And this was the last report you had to make up!
Jeez!
Mr. Hayashida... Um, I think that's enough for today. It can't be helped.
No, it's better to get this out of the way as soon as possible.
Mr. Sasaki (Chem)
We'll do an experiment right now!
But how?
The After School Burners Club! We'll get their help.
Burners Club?!
Hey, is Noguchi here?
Huh?
After School (Bunsen) Burners Club
What's up, Mr. Hayashida?
2nd-year high school student
Noguchi
What can I do for you?
Noguchi, what're you making?
Soap.
I thought we'd sell it at the bazaar to raise funds for the club.
You can actually make soap?
You sure can.
2nd-year high school student
As you can see here!
Clench
And this is our new spring concoction!
Mugwort chocolate banana!
Fwooo
It reeks!
Hey, Noguchi, I don't think this'll sell.
How rude!
Between the mugwort's sterilizing component, the chocolate, and the banana,
it has three necessary ingredients that the girls will go crazy for!
Crash
I'm sorry!
Spill Spill Spill
Glub Glub Glub
Fwooom
Mugwort
Grapefruit
Hey, you! How could you spill that?
The precious mugwort oil and grapefruit!
Wait a second.
This scent...
It's refreshing, isn't it?
Hey, do you smell something good?
Yeah! What is that?
Squee Squee
Twitch
Natural Perm
Good job, guy!
You're a nice guy!
Welcome to the After School Burners Club!
By the way, Mr. Hayashida, what has brought you here?
Oops! I forgot the original purpose.
Apparently moved by the sight of Kiriyama becoming friendly(?) with other students.
I was hoping you could show us an experiment so he could write a report on it.
You see, due to certain circumstances,
this kid has to work while going to school, but he's been absent one too many days.
He might have to repeat the year.
So could you lend him a hand?
That's some explanation.
P-Please take care of me.
Work and school? That's tough!
You're a working student, then?
All right! If it's related to science, the After School Burners Club
would be happy to lend you a hand!
Bam!
Thanks, Noguchi!
I knew you were a good guy! You look old though!
Mr. Hayashida!
You too, Mr. Hayashida.
Your manner of speech should improve, otherwise you won't get any promotions.
Yep!
All the members of the After School Burners Club were nice, huh?
Right? Why don't you join the club?
But I really am glad.
When I saw you back there talking and laughing with other students,
it was like that moment in Heidi when Clara stands up.
- Do you understand? - Yes, I do!
When you've got a problem you can't fix by yourself, like today,
there's a good chance that if you work together with someone else, you can overcome it.
If someone helps you like that, and the next time they're having trouble,
then you should help them.
That's how the world works.
You know...
that's pretty important.
Listen...
If things seem hopeless when you're alone, then rely on someone.
Otherwise, to be honest, no one will rely on you.
At that moment, Akari and her sisters suddenly came to mind.
I'd been so careful not to presume on their kindness,
but actually, they've never depended on me for anything.
That's right. Not even once.
Okay. That's the end of the old man's lecture.
Think about the continuation on the train.
Run!
The final match between Gotou and Shimada!
You're going to see it, right?
When I arrived at the Hall, it was a little after 8:00pm.
Don't tell me...
It's over?
Which one?
Which one of them won?
I see...
Shimada 8th-Dan won.
I've seen this time and again.
This scene right after a match...
The one who realized he was defeated
would think about his final words and sort out his feelings during the match.
But the one who won,
had been straining his mind to not make a mistake until the very last moment.
Just like this scenery right after a match,
the winner is often terribly exhausted.
So much that they may not even be able to speak well.
Shogi Hall
Congratulations, Brother.
Hey now. Don't cry, kiddo.
I'm not crying.
I'm just so happy that snot's dripping from my eyes.
That's disgusting. Here, wipe.
Sorry.
Excuse me, Mr. Shimada.
Could I get a comment from you?
A few words on your ambition and enthusiasm for your
upcoming match with Master Souya, at the Lion King Tournament.
Wobble Wobble
Honest
I don't feel enthusiastic about it.
Brother?
Well, just winning the ticket to become the challenger put me in this condition.
I'm worried about what comes next.
In fact, it's like, is there even a "next" to be worried about after that?
After all, Souya is even more of a monster than Gotou.
Shimada 8th-Dan, you're too honest!
Shimada 8th-Dan.
You're from the Yamagata Journal.
You've come a long way.
I'm Izumida. I came, as promised.
To do an article.
Please hang in there. The old folks in your fan club back home have their hopes up.
That's right. You're an instructor, but also a hero at our kids' shogi club, Mr. Shimada.
I see.
You're right.
That's right.
This qualifier was another tough battle,
but I'm thrilled to become the challenger.
There are seven matches in the Lion King Tournament,
With the word "hope" giving him a gentle push,
so it will be a long struggle.
I'll have to work on getting in top condition, but look forward to the challenge ahead.
Mr. Shimada slowly began talking.
One word at a time, as if forcing them out...
Have I ever gone for a "win" like this, as if I was throwing myself off a cliff?
I see it now.
Mr. Shimada is in a place far away from here.
A world that I could never reach unscathed...
While saying "I have no reason to win" and "why is it so painful when I lose?"
A world that I averted my eyes from.
And at the end of it, he...
Kiriyama!
Hey, Kiriyama.
He's someone who moves forward alone with firm steps.
Just then, suddenly...
It felt like the inside of my chest got all crumpled up
and heat welled up from the back of my throat.
Hey, kiddo, sorry but could you get me a cold drink?
Sure!
Is tea okay?
Yeah. Thanks.
I may not have anything that I can give him in exchange yet,
But there's...
There's something I really want to ask you.
Well then...
Um, Mr. Shimada...
About the workshop...
- Want to join? - Please let me join.
Uh, h-how did...
Sorry it took so long, Brother!
Huh? What's going on?
What's all the excitement about? Let me in on it, too!
Hey! Brother!
Kiriyama, what the hell happened?
Please tell me!
Running Through the Night
Middle of the Slope
Hey!
What's the status?
- No. - No, Grandpa! Don't let the cats in!
Oh, sorry.
Hey, it's paper!
I wanna run on the paper-meow!
Here. These are dry.
Good, we'll make it in time!
Now I can fulfill those additions to the orders.
Still, this is really beautiful.
Outstanding job, Hina!
Paper with Potato Stamp
Hina's Special
First challenge using part stencil!!
An addition to the order, that's great! That makes me happy.
Good thing we ordered a lot of boxes.
Hina's opinion was right on the money.
Yep, and plain boxes are the cheapest to buy.
Since I'm used to working with stencils, I'll try to make even cuter prints for next time.
But really, Girls' Festival sweets really are cute.
I can understand why assorted tiered boxes sell the best.
I'd be delighted to get one of these.
Okay, what shall we do for this year's Girls' Festival at our house?
Inari sushi!
Oh. But chirashi-zushi is a Girls' Festival standard, right?
Or chakin-zushi...
Inari sushi...
I want to have inari sushi, too.
Well, let's see...
I guess that'd be okay.
I have a taste for it, too.
Why don't we make a big heaping plateful, then clear clam soup to go with it?
Really...
I wonder why inari sushi is so good.
Sweet, deep fried bean curd with plenty of sliced, crunchy lotus root,
chopped egg, and sesame seeds inside...
If I'm not careful, I'd just keep eating them!
Huff-Huff-Huff
Inari sushi, hurry! I wanna eat it right now!
Sesame seeds! I love sesame seeds!
Load the inari sushi up with sesame seeds!
I'd like to share it with Rei, too.
I wonder how he's doing.
It'll probably take a little more time. He's a kid, but also a man.
So he's got his pride.
Wait for him.
But I don't get any of that!
Is it okay to go hungry in the name of pride?
If you're hungry, you won't have energy!
If he never comes to visit anymore, then fine.
I'll just suddenly show up at his apartment and stuff inari sushi in his mouth.
Um, Sendagi, 6th...
I guess I go down this slope?
The house was in the old part of town, in the middle of a slope with a great view.
Hey, you made it.
I figured you'd end up calling. It's hard to find anything in this area.
Sorry I'm late.
This is my first day participating in Mr. Shimada's workshop.
The meeting place is Mr. Shimada's own home.
Hey, you're late, Kiriyama!
I knew there were meet-ups like this,
but this was my first time participating in one, so I was a little nervous.
Oh, I'll introduce you.
Morio Shigeta. We're contemporaries and have been friends since joining the association.
He's a little quiet and has a tendency to glare,
but he's not especially angry or anything.
And once he gets used to you, he'll become sharp-tongued,
but don't let that bother you.
Outside of shogi, he says maybe three things in an hour,
but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to be here.
Nice to meet you.
Worried...
Come on, Shigeta. This is Kiriyama. We know him, right?
Well, shall we get started?
The time limit is one hour per player.
When it's up, there'll be a 30-second countdown. After both games are over, we'll review them.
All right?
- Yes! - Yes.
Then let's have a good game.
At a workshop, about four professional shogi players get together
about once a month to study and practice for matches.
Each player gets between 30 minutes and an hour.
After the time is up, there's a countdown of 30 seconds to one minute.
In a day, playing two or three games is common.
And when each game is over,
the members discuss and analyze the match.
By doing that, a completely different path opens up on the familiar board
through the eyes and moves of other players.
A workshop is a place where you can look for those things.
All right, shall we start our analysis?
Let's see, Nikaidou started with a static rook
and Shigeta followed with a cheerful central rook.
Grind-Grind-Grind
Y-Yeah.
Out of the various ranging rooks, a cheerful central rook is the manliest strategy.
I mean, I guess...
Apparently lost
What does that mean, Nikaidou?
How can I put it?
The "ranging rook" is a pessimistic countermove,
with the aim being a long, drawn-out battle. It isn't very manly at all.
Then I'd like to bring up something.
What about your static rook castle-bear opening?
That plainly signifies you're in the game for the long haul.
When you say it's the "manliest strategy of ranging rooks"
Ranging Rook
without mentioning that I only played the cheerful central rook
in order to break your castle defense is illogical in the extreme, no?
I do think blocking the open bishop is pessimistic, and it's like "What the hell?"
Static Rook
It's disinterest in taking the initiative, only aiming to play countermoves.
They're not looking at each other in the eye.
Ranging Rook
Static Rook
Okay, okay, okay. Let's stop.
Your argument could probably go as far as the galaxy's end without reaching a conclusion.
Okay?
Ranging Rook
Static Rook
That's right. Let's move on.
Since everyone's all gathered here...
Thank you, Kiriyama!
And besides, either tactic is as good as the other.
All-Rounder
Hey, Kiriyama. What'd you just say?
Stomach
Creak Creak Creak
Many shogi players are quiet, but they're all feudal lords on the inside with a fiery temper when it comes to shogi!
And so, one hour later (still analyzing the game)
3-f-Pawn. 7-b-King. And what about here?
Probably 3-g-Silver.
That's shallow.
Kiriyama, Nikaidou, if you went with 3-g-Silver,
I'd go from 6-e-Silver to 5-f-Pawn, and you're done.
Snap
What? Then if I went 3-g-Silver instead of my right 5-h-Gold,
my other Silver would take your Knight and I'd have control of the center, right?
That's right!
Kiriyama makes a good point!
But going with the old school style of 4-g-Silver to 3-f-Silver
is superior and more dignified in terms of the static Rook!
Dignified? What are you talking about?
Then you'd better use that in an actual match!
If you're going that far, you'd better use it! You'll just lose though.
Crackle-Crackle-Crackle
U-Um, pardon me for interrupting such a lively discussion, but...
Yes?!
Glare
Can I say something?
I hope Brother is okay.
I wonder what's wrong.
He said he suddenly had a stomachache.
It's unusual for him to be under the weather.
He takes good care of himself, so he usually doesn't get sick or anything.
So I hope he's okay.
Well, he's got the title match coming up, so he could be feeling the pressure from that.
I hope he gets better soon.
But 4-g-Silver to 3-f-Silver, I'm not backing down from that!
Man, you're stubborn. You're still on that?
I'm just saying instead of 3-g-Silver, 4-g-Silver stops whatever plans your opponent has!
And I'm saying there's no guarantee your opponent will play along!
Even so, 4-g-Silver isn't wrong!
In terms of the game, it's correct!
Dammit. If we just had a board here, I could easily correct your shallow thinking.
That's it, Kiriyama! Let's go to your place and hash it out.
What? Wait a second!
And come to think of it, we're standing in front of my building!
Why did you follow me here?
I never agreed to that!
4-f-Silver to 3-g-Knight...
I would still go from 4-g-Silver to 3-f-Silver.
Wait, that bird hasn't come up yet.
It just dove down and didn't come back up?
How long can birds stay under?
H-How long can they hold their breath?
Why?!
Scary! Don't tell me a fish ate it?!
There. They do have it. And right by the register!
Birds on the Shore Handbook
As expected from a bookstore in a town along the river!
There must be a demand for it.
Dammit! There are that many different kinds?
Which one did we see?!
This one?
Idiot, the bird we saw was black!
And if you read it, it says the wingspan is from 92-105 centimeters!
It wasn't nearly that big, for crying out loud!
All right! Let's go back to the riverside once more. We'll confirm what we saw!
Yeah! Roger that, Kiriyama!
Dammit! I'll get to the bottom of this! I swear I'll uncover its identity!
Let's do it!
Middle of the Slope
Next Episode Preview
Episode 17
How is Kyouko doing?
Thank you for your patience. He was in the yard.
Hurry up, get inside. Nikaidou's been waiting impatiently for you.
I'll be waiting for the day when we have a match together.
Right, rival?
You said something to Dad about me, didn't you?
Watch the next episode of "March Comes in Like a Lion", too!
The kid's doin' his best! Hot damn!