Spring.
Thankfully, I was able to safely become a high school student.
My tie isn't crooked, is it?
I'm gonna make lots of friends in high school.
Like five of them.
Since beginning dance, I feel somewhat more social.
I can talk to girls normally now too.
I wanna become friends with some nice and cheery people.
SELF-INTRO: MIDDLE SCHOOL, INTERESTS (HOBBY)
Umm.
I will now have everyone introduce themselves.
Please tell us what middle school you attended and something that interests you.
Now then, let's begin with the row near the windows.
I have to say...
what I like?
I haven't even told my dad yet.
I like listening to music. Nice to meet everyone.
I-I'm Tatara Fujita.
I attended Tamamura Middle School.
My favorite thing to do is...
to dance.
Dance? Do you do hip hop or something?
Uh, no...
W-What I like to do is ballroom dance.
It's a performing art called "competitive dance."
I said it...!
Fujita-kun has a very interesting hobby.
Hey,
you do ballroom dance?
How lame.
The first day of high school...
INTERESTS
...was a horrible start.
HEAT 12- MEETING
Cola.
Oshiruko.
I want tea.
I was just walking down the hallway like normal.
Do I look like an easy target?
I fixed my slouch already though...
Um...
The wrong one again?!
What's with this thing?
Hey, you still buying more?
I-I'm sorry!
Hey, you forgot this...
You can have it!
What the heck is this?!
I-I'm sorry!
You did this on purpose?
You can't even fetch a drink right?!
Ga...
Gaju-san?!
This guy's Gaju Akagi!
Don't mess with him!
Hey, let's go!
Gaju-san? Why are you here?!
Tatara Fujita!!
Didn't think you'd show your face first!
Die!
No, you can die after taking responsibility!
Huhhh?!
All because of you, Mako...
Mako-chan?!
Mako...
put on... a bra.
Uh, um.
Did Mako's boobs grow because she paired up with you?!
You didn't--
'Course I didn't massage them!
I never thought we'd be attending the same high school.
Yeah, since the studio I'm at is here in Tokyo.
I commute from my uncle's house. The city has more practice studios too.
R-Really...
U-Um, Gaju-san...
Hey, stop adding "san."
And quit talking so polite.
Oh...
Then "Gaju-kun."
Anyway...
What was with that wimpiness earlier!!
Ya call yourself an athlete?!
I freakin' hate wimpy dancers!
Yes, I'm sorry!
Well, whatever...
Ya got a cell phone?
Yeah.
My dad got me one for passing my exams.
I only have the studio's number in it though.
Gimme your number.
Huh?
Well, because we're both dancers.
Really? You're going to the same school as Gaju-kun?
Yeah, I was so surprised. I never thought I'd meet him there.
That reminds me, I haven't seen him since the Tenpei Cup either.
Because we were separated thanks to you, Fujita-kun.
Oh yeah, how's Hyodo-kun's leg?
It's much better now.
Glad to hear that.
I think Kiyoharu's leg's been hurting for a while.
It's my fault for not noticing it as well.
I could understand though.
If I were in his position, I would probably keep it a secret too.
But...
when I found out that he was hiding his injury from me, I was shocked.
Right.
The Tenpei Cup must've been tough dancing.
I'm sorry for dragging you into all that trouble.
I was super excited to be able to stand on the same floor as you!
Me too...
I was able to enjoy the Tenpei Cup finals, because you were there, Fujita-kun.
-No way. -I'm serious.
You may not know what I'm talking about, but...
Um...
Thank you.
Speaking of the Tenpei Cup...
A DVD arrived from Coach Tenpei.
A DVD? Now?
It came a while ago, but it was lost in all of Sengoku-kun's stuff.
Sengoku-san...
Since the floor looks occupied right now, shall we watch it together?
Yeah.
This... is the level of my dance?
My hold is falling apart.
And my knees are shaking.
And that smile makes me sick...
This can only be at the level of pulling Mako-chan down.
I wanna apologize to Mako-chan...
Why didn't I start dancing earlier...
Dancing isn't about experience.
Some have been doing this since kids and can't win,
while others who began in college have become pro finalists.
Some people become better than others who've been dancing for a decade.
So you're not late, Fujita-kun.
I talked with Kiyoharu and we held off studying abroad for a year.
What?
It won't be too late to do that after we become champs at the Mikasa Cup.
Of course, it's a decision made considering Kiyoharu's leg too.
But moreover...
I want to compete with you again.
That's why,
I want you to hurry and form a couple to climb up the JDSF rankings.
At the DanceSport Grand Prix we're entering...
let's stand on the same floor again.
But...
Only one year.
I won't wait for you any longer than that.
Ughhhh!
Ya made it fall over!
What are ya dallying for?!
Go and get it!
Right away!
Jeez, city folks can't do anythin'!
But hey, Shizuku's got a lot of guts to pick a fight with ya.
R-Right...
But even if you wanted to fight, you're still single.
If you don't got a partner, you can't even enter a comp.
A partner...
Hyodo-kun has Hanaoka-san.
Gaju-kun has Mako-chan.
Everyone's been paired since they were little,
but how do I find myself a partner?
Um, Gaju-kun...
NEW MESSAGE
-Oh?! -What?!
"Sengoku-kun just landed in Japan.
Seems like he's in a comp this weekend.
He says he doesn't need anyone to come cheer... but I have tickets!"
Sengoku-san came back from training overseas!
Sengoku-san's competition...
You're gonna go, right?!
Yes!
The place is at...
Korakuen Hall!
Isn't this the competitors' entrance?
Is it okay for us to enter?
Anyone who's competed here before would never watch from upstairs.
Wow, there's lots of standing onlookers. Sengoku-san's the man.
Probably everyone here today all came for them.
Hasn't it been a year since Sengoku entered a Standard match?
Last year, they didn't make it to a ranking comp,
so they dropped down to a B-class.
Seriously? How lame.
And he had a fight with his partner, Hongo, too!
Sengoku's losing it!
Is that couple gonna last?
The Quickstep, 5th heat.
There's Sengoku-san!
Wow...
S-Sengoku-san really stands out, because he's big, huh?
Yep.
This is my first time seeing his competition in person.
What?!
This kid...
He's his student,
but he doesn't even know what kind of dancer he is?
Huh?
Oh, they were here?
Sengoku-san was a world Ten Dance finalist when he was an amateur.
He's been dancing overseas since his teens too.
I've always thought he's been better than some national pros since then.
He's Japan's only...
world level dancer.
Watch closely.
Did Sengoku-san...
just tell me to watch closely?
We will now begin the final Professional Standard Qualifying Round.
The dance is the Waltz.
I couldn't look straight at Sengoku-san's face earlier.
It's probably because everything was such a surprise my mind couldn't keep up.
I can't believe such an unbelievable dancer was coaching me.
I wonder what he's gonna teach me?
Huh?
Like that one time...
Watch closely.
If he's gonna pay attention to me...
The 3rd heat.
...I won't miss any of it.
This is a lesson.
A left preparatory step! Into a Natural Spin Turn.
The push of the supporting foot's clean... Each step is long!
Wow, Sengoku-san's head never wobbles.
The drawing in of the left leg was very smooth on the hover just now.
Was it?
If I did it the same way, I'd pull a muscle in my inner thighs.
I wonder if his stomach pulls in his leg?
But if I did that, my back would curl up...
This kid...
What is this kid seeing?
Sengoku sure is tall.
I feel bad that it makes the couples next to them look small.
I'm sick of how in Standard,
dancers with larger bodies always have the advantage.
Seriously, the more I look at him...
I feel like he's saying that I can never be like him.
What a letdown.
Huh?
I mean, Sengoku-san said to watch,
but he isn't even moving half as much as usual.
This...
is only half?!
There!
Now, that's the usual Sengoku-san!
What is this?
His body's swaying sideways.
His head is wavering too.
I've never seen this kind of dance...
The plate of his back looks somewhat warped.
If he stretches his neck out that much...
his hold will break!
Before,
Sengoku-san had said...
that the Waltz needs to be smooth like a current.
Like you're gliding across the floor.
It's perfect.
But...
I feel like I'm seasick...
Sengoku-san!
Sengoku-san...
was a person beyond my reach.
I never even knew that and I...
Please teach me how to dance!
I want to be like Sengoku-san and enter competitions as a pro!
What was all that earlier?
That hurt! What, Chizuru?!
That's my line, Kaname-chan! Don't suddenly change the dance flow!
It's only the prelims, we can mess around!
Mess around?!
Sheesh, those two are at it again.
Rather, this was what I was waiting for.
What are you two doing beating each other up?
You still have the finals, ya know?
Chizuru, you scared away Tatara.
What? You mean the Tatara-kun?!
Yep, the Tatara-kun.
C'mere! C'mere! C'mere...
He ain't a dog!
So this is Sengoku-san's partner.
Chizuru Hongo...
She's gorgeous!
You came to watch Coach Sengoku's dance?
Oh, this boy! He's so adorable!!
Coach Hongo will do her best too!
S-She smooched him!
Try not to get squeezed to death. Damn macho woman.
I'm dying...
The finals began just past seven o'clock.
The floor was incredibly exciting compared to the prelims,
and a standing ovation occurred a number of times.
I just stood there dumbfounded.
Sengoku-san...
won the competition like it was normal.
Don't enter the competitors' corridor!
They're really popular, aren't they?
It's not a concert, jeez...
Agh, hey!
Please calm down!
Hey! Don't push!!
Huh?
How lame.
Owww...
What is this girl doing in a place like this?!
Next episode- "Matchmaking"