The Slow Foxtrot, 2nd Heat.
Sis's dress is really pretty!
When Chinatsu-chan quit, I always thought Aki would too.
Good, No. 20's dance is very emotional.
But a look of anguish seems a bit too heavy for the Fox, doesn't it?
As long as dance is involved, Chinatsu will look at me.
As long as I just keep dancing!
HEAT 20- FRIEND
I don't exactly like dancing.
I just do it to keep my body in shape.
I'm only paired up with you because I feel bad that you're a loner right now.
Yeah, yeah. It's such an honor I feel like I could vomit.
Chinatsu, I heard none of your matchmakings are going well.
How lame, when you said you were gonna enter the Mikasa Cup and all.
W-What?
Look at you. You're continuing dance when you don't even like it...
That's masochistic.
Thanks to Chinatsu, I'm full of such wretched feelings.
SAKAE DANCE SCHOOL
Dance to me... is different than it is for Chinatsu.
As long as I continue dancing, I can be with her.
As long as I don't quit.
But then...
Oh, by the way, Chinatsu-chan quit dance.
Huh?! No way!!
The last winter of middle school, Chinatsu quit.
This match... if I were out there, you think I could stand up to the Hyodo pair?
What? So that's your limit? How lame!
You're just the same as them.
You're a loser too.
After looking down on me all this time...
How much do you think I've...
Crap! My dress...
No worries!
Chinatsu...
Chinatsu, from here on...
Let's enter a lot of tournaments too!
...how will I stay by your side?
Here is your order.
Hey, I don't want to quit dancing yet. Even if it's just a hobby...
No, we have Hinako's middle school entry exams coming up next year.
Thank you very much!
Your change is 250 yen.
Mine-san, you dance, right?
How about me as your partner?
I only paired up because of some angry impulse.
...come cheer for us at September's Grand Prix in Sendai.
We're planning on making the semifinals to aim for Mikasa's seed!
Hey, aren't I in a higher position than you right now?
Don't you hate that? You wanna beat me, huh?!
Ahh, that look...
As long as dance is involved, Chinatsu will look at me.
The Quickstep, 1st Heat.
And then,
you'll leave me again.
And become absorbed in dance.
Darn woman...
Dammit, why...
...can't we sync?!
My pelvis!
No. 13's moves were clearly off just now, weren't they?
I mean, isn't their dancing too violent for the Quickstep?
Whoops! Sorry, Tatara! It wasn't on purpose!
What was that just now? Didn't No. 13 let out a weird sound?
Um... I'm sorry for what I said earlier.
No, no, please don't worry.
I'm used to this sort of thing.
When I danced with my wife,
we'd get into fights that'd jeopardize our marriage.
Of course, my wife is stronger though...
When I see No. 13's partner, I see Fusako. Aren't they similar?
Not even close!
Oh, not about how they look.
About how they're both strong-willed and smart.
Me and my wife were paired up in our college's competitive dance club,
but it'd get ugly at times...
However, we couldn't separate and had to bear with that for over two years.
So when I saw them for the first time,
I thought it was just a matter of time before they separated.
It was a needless worry.
They have childish faces, but their childishness has disappeared.
Those two were a lot more grown up than I'd thought.
Mine-san.
The teacher at my dance school always said,
"Dance is something you enjoy from the heart."
But you know, I'm...
He smiled!
I'll accompany you.
The Quickstep, 2nd Heat.
There's Daddy's pair!
Tatara...
No. 20!!!
What the heck?!
No. 20's smile is super scary!
Chi-chan was following Akira-san's pair with her eyes for the entire third round.
She had a gentle expression on her face as if she was remembering a lost past.
Mom, I made a friend.
Akira!!
No. 20!!
Daddy looks so cool!
What? R-Really?
Oh, are you jealous?
My, you're kidding!
But I am a little envious.
They do look wonderful enough
to make me regret leaving this extraordinary world.
For the first time in a while, dancing was fun!
Right, Chinatsu?
We have an hour 'til the semifinals.
I'm hungry.
You're always like that...
I have chocolate with me.
I wanna eat a full meal!
If you eat too much...
Hey, did you know? Friendship's more fragile than a bubble.
Will you quit with the death stare?
Then Tatara, let's go find somewhere nearby to eat.
Do you see me?!
Hey, you're all sweaty and gross!!
Chinatsu, that really dry side of you...
I hate it!!
No way! She's crying!
How annoying! Why do you have to mess with me every time you see me?!
Because you're right in front of me!
What? Does my dress look like a matador cape? How creepy!
Chinatsu! Akira-chan!
Oh, Mrs. Hiyama!
Long time no see! Here's your snack.
Oh, bananas...
Don't complain!
No more secrets between us, okay?!
Gosh...
And you know what? Hinako wants to start dancing too.
N-No!! Hinako's cute, so all the boys will have their eyes on her!
Tatara-kun, thank you for Chinatsu.
Oh! N-Nice to meet you!
Thanks to you, I can take a lot of really nice pictures today.
Thank you for giving Chinatsu a chance to wear a dress.
N-Not at all...
I'm counting on you for the wedding dress too!
Hm? Have you been drinking?
Tatara-kun, is your family here too?
I'd like to say hi to them.
Oh... uh... they're not here.
But... it seems like my friends are here.
That's what you say, but no one's contacted you, right?
What?! You have such cold friends!
Alright, then we'll cheer in place of your friends, so do your best!
But...
We won't let you feel left out!
Don't worry if your friends are cold!
Uh, yes...
Then please cheer for me too...
Hyodo-kun?
Oh, yeah! I forgot to call Tatara.
Hello?
Gaju-kun!
If you're here why didn't you tell me?! You're always like that!
Hm? I hear some weird sound. What is that?
That's because Hyodo-kun...
was drenched wet for some reason and has my dryer...
Hot!!
He needs to dry his clothes.
I-I wanna dry my tailcoat too...
Can I have my dryer... Hot!!
I said don't move.
Hyodo-kun! Hot! Hot! I'm gonna get burned!
Shut up, just wear your spare tailcoat for the semifinals.
I don't have a spare!
Hey, Gaju-kun! Gaju-kun! Hey?
He hung up!
U-Um, Hyodo-kun!
You did come all the way here, so do you have any advice for me as a coach?
Well...
Then I want to ask you too.
Can you tell the difference between you and others?
Huh? What are you saying?
What am I saying? Well...
Whatever the crowd says in a match,
winning or losing is all up to the competitors.
That's not advice at all.
Could you be more specific?
Fine...
Here we go.
Hey, why are you on my back?!
Why not?
Huh?!
Because you said something about advice, right?
So this means what?!
I'll peel your shoulder blade.
Um, sorry? What did you just say?
Oh, umm, in other words...
Can I go and separate all your muscles?
Seriously, what're you saying?!
No! That'll completely affect the match, won't it?!
Don't be shy.
This could only end badly!
Shut up. An athlete shouldn't be afraid of anything except post-retirement.
-Chi-chan help-- -You gotta have bananas during a match.
Bananas never fail.
Ugh, they're focused on their bananas!
What? Just trust me.
Hyodo-kun's advice has honestly never helped me in the past.
What if he accidentally pulls a muscle or dislocates something?
-It won't hurt. -That's a lie!
Huh?
It's throbbing, but it doesn't hurt.
Of course, it's just a stretch.
If you're young, there's less adhesion too.
Then next, the other shoulder.
Hey, what is the point of this?
The hip joints.
-The hip...? -We'll do your legs next.
Hyodo-kun stop already! This is like hell!
THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND RESULTS
No way! We were ripped to shreds!!
One point?! These judges have no taste!!
I'm sorry...
Well, I already knew! When you lost a mark in the second round!
Umm, what was that again?
Didn't you say to come cheer for you at the Grand Prix
'cause you were aiming for Mikasa's seed?
Eh? You curvy gut!
We've lost a point too...
What is this I feel...?
This icky feeling...
Hey, hey, that couple in this glass window is just gorgeous!
Hey, hey, that's us you know?
Wow!!
What'll we do if we win the A-class match?
Well... We. Could. Get. Married!
Your dress today is a breathtaking full score!
Oh, honey-bunny, I'm just going to burst! I loooove you!!
I hope they drop out.
What's wrong with me? I'm wishing for others' misfortune?
If I just knew how to move better...
Just because we lost a mark, I can't believe I'm this flustered...
Oh...
A-A-Are you okay?!
This cigarette...
I got one from that guy there.
These sure are bitter.
Why are you even smoking?!
Huh? There're actually a lot of competitors who smoke.
I'm surprised...
I don't like smoking.
Yes...
'Cause I'm an athlete.
Then why were you smoking?
Shut up.
Fujita-kun, you're here for fresh air too?
Oh, yes.
But I'm really glad you were here today, Kugimiya-san.
I feel refreshed thanks to you.
I get lost in my thoughts when I'm alone...
Fujita-kun, why do you say that?
How careless of you...
This's a zero-sum game.
What?
A single dance competition heat
has a set total amount of points to be divided by.
Same with each judges' portion of points.
You understand?
The main match will be the battle of a zero-sum game.
Don't forget that your share of points will be taken by me.
The A-class competition, Semifinal Round will begin.
The first dance is the Waltz.
From here on is a zero-sum game...
A battle over points.
My back is still throbbing...
All the places he stretched out are loose.
The joints of my legs and all around my hips feel awkward and strange.
Why did you do something unnecessary at an important time like this, Hyodo-kun?!
He looks as though he's lost his way.
The semifinals, all one heat.
Five dances in row. Each style is 1 minute and 15 seconds.
All 12 pairs will dance at once, and then only six...
can move up to the finals.
Those two kids...
are coming.
They ain't comin'.
Kugimiya!!
That's Kugimiya-san alright.
Now Fujita... let's see how that worked on you?
It's hard to dance... when I just wanna dance normally!
It feels like I have loose screws!
Oh.
My legs?!
What's happening to me?! My body's moving way too much!!
Stop No. 13! You're gonna crash!
Hyodo-kun...
what have you done to me?!
Next episode- "Door"