That's fantastic!
You're on!
I'll do it!
I'll gather five warriors!
And I'll assemble the most powerful force!
I like the air humming with energy
My quickening pulse expands outwards
Take in a deep breath
And all I see now is straight ahead
No one can take my place
A path only I can walk
Even those tears will all begin to sparkle
That's why when I raise my hand high, there's power in my palm
I'll head straight for tomorrow without hesitation
In just the blink of an eye
I'll make the story of my dream come true
Even if it's hopeless and far from my grasp
I'll never give up
Sounding the bamboo beat that's mine and mine alone
"Muroe Private High School"
"Kendo Dojo"
Tonight?
If it's after 9 o'clock...
All right, senpai. See you later then.
Kirino, keep it down!
This is a dojo, Kojiro-sensei!
It's your fault for taking a call in here!
Was that your girlfriend?
Yeah, it sure was!
You addressed the person as your upperclassman.
So you heard me just fine.
This is no good!
You have to be a proper advisor!
For all the senpai, who can't make it because of college entrance exams,
let's aim for the nationals!
But the crucial second years are all no-shows except for you.
Well, hang in there until we get some new members.
Leaving already, sensei!
Please give me some training here!
I'm hungry. I don't want to move.
"Certain Victory" I'm hungry. I don't want to move.
"Certain Victory" You're a teacher, aren't you?!
All that matters with extracurricular activities is that you have fun.
Let's take it easy.
Wait, I'm not even having fun here.
"Kendo Dojo" Wait, I'm not even having fun here.
"Kendo Dojo" Let's get in the spirit and practice!
"Kendo Dojo" - Here we go! - Ouch! Owowow!
"Kendo Dojo" - Men! - Hey! You just want to hit me, don't you?!
"Kendo Dojo" - Men! - Hey! Quit it! That hurts!
"Kendo Dojo" - Men! - Hey, Kirino! Hello?!
"Kendo Dojo" Men! Men!
I have no money.
It's not like I'm short. I have none.
I guess I'll have to trim the food budget.
I'm pitiful...
"Yakitori"
It must be tough! Instructing at two schools at the same time!
But I manage to do it. Amazing, aren't I?
You always were a generous mentor, senpai.
You have the qualities of a great leader!
I'll get him to treat me.
I'll stroke his ego,
get him drunk,
and get him to treat me for all of this.
Another one, please!
We finally got a good team of girls together.
You've got a kendo team, too, don't you?
Let's have a match.
Oh, sure.
Oh, but we've only got one member right now,
so maybe after we get some new members...
Kojiro.
Yes?
Care to make a bet?
That's fantastic!
You're on! I'll do it!
I'll gather five warriors!
And I'll assemble the most powerful force!
Whoa! H-H-Hold on a second, sensei!
Your steps are too short!
You're putting too much strength into your right hand!
Tuck your chin in!
Your spirit is totally lacking!
The kendo team's something else.
They're scary.
What was that all of a sudden, sensei?
You're like a totally different person compared to yesterday.
I've become serious!
You said it, too! If we're doing this, we should aim for the nationals!
Sensei!
First off, Kirino, as the captain of this team, you have to get stronger,
or we won't get more members!
Yes, sir! I'll work hard!
Excuse me, I'd like to join.
I've come to join for a trial period.
We don't need any boys, damn it!
Why?
The match is against girls! Boys will just get in the way!
- The match? - Oh, yeah, that's right.
We're going to have a practice match against my senpai's team of girls.
Ooh!
So we have to get five girls together!
We'll get nowhere until we have a full team!
I see!
"Kirino Chiba" "Sayako Kuwahara" I see!
"Kirino Chiba" "Sayako Kuwahara" That being the case, we better get Saya back here, too.
"Kirino Chiba" "Sayako Kuwahara" Well, I'm thinking she should be coming back soon, but...
Saya?
We'd like to observe. Would that be all right?
Like I said, we don't need boys!
Forget about observing. Just join us!
Here, write down your name and class here.
Right...
Nakata-kun,
you said you'd come with me later to observe the table tennis team, too.
I know, Eiga-kun.
I'll come with you.
You have to, okay? I'm scared of going by myself.
Where's everybody else?
The third years are prepping for college, so they're basically retired.
But we've got three other second year students.
They're small, Nakata-kun.
Come join the table tennis team with me.
But I like kendo.
Since there aren't many people here today, I'll come again.
Hurry up!
Say, Kirino...
What is it?
I'm a bad teacher.
I only think about myself.
Uh...
But you know,
life's hard.
Huh?
Would your family happen to have a spare fluorescent bulb?
"Notes"
"Nothing especially worth noting"
"Kawazoe"
"Class Journal"
I wish there were some way to find strong athletes.
Oh, how about something like this?
We find a person holding something like a shinai,
and we throw a ton of rocks at them.
A master swordswoman should cut them all down!
What's that? Some historical drama?
You don't think it'll work?
But I'm happy.
That you've become motivated to do this just for me!
Watch out!
The baseball team's ball!
And the tennis team's ball, too!
Rugby!
The assistant principal slipped from the third floor!
Assistant principal!
- The assistant principal! - Wow! Did you see that?!
- But, he's already in a bed! - I saw, I saw! Was that some kind of film shoot?
Wait!
Please! Join the kendo team!
Kendo?
We need your abilities!
I'm not interested.
"I'm not interested"...
"Muroe High School" "Student Roster" "I'm not interested"...
"Muroe High School" "Student Roster" Like hell!
Impossible! She's no ordinary girl!
Damn it all! Join the kendo team!
Tamaki Kawazoe!
So strong...
That's enough, Tamaki.
Good work.
Thank you for your time.
Sh-She hasn't broken a sweat...
Come on!
Give me a break!
Thank you for the food.
That smells good.
There's enough for you, too, Dad.
Please warm it up if you want to eat it.
Right.
Say, Tamaki,
aren't you going to join the kendo team at school?
Why would I?
Why? Well...
I do kendo at home every day.
Well... yes...
but I'm sure if you did it at school, it would be fun in its own way.
Well, that's fine.
I'm done eating.
I'll wash it all later, so please leave it soaking.
Mother, it's hard to understand a girl who's coming of age.
- But there was a drawback. - Oh? What?
- Lt tasted super awful. - I recorded the wrong thing...
Only yers would!
- Ya dissolve the roux, toss in some meat 'n vegetables, and stew it - The Mat-Puz didn't get recorded...
and no matter how ya do it, it turns out good.
Are ya makin' it right?!
Naw, I make it languidly, with a faint smile on my face,
while I look away, playin' a game with one hand.
Yer not tryin' at all! Go apologize to the god of curry!
Yer comebacks are super spicy today.
Don't you go lookin' so pleased with yerself! That wasn't even any good!
That's funny.
I'm Kirino Chiba!
I'm captain of the kendo team!
Excuse me.
I'm Nakata. I came by yesterday.
Ah!
We've been waiting for you!
Your name and class!
He came with me again.
Why's he crying?
There was no table tennis team...
Come to think of it, we don't.
You're right.
Why didn't you tell me?!
Well, this must be some kind of fate! You should join the kendo team, too!
I've never done kendo...
Don't worry!
Both rackets and shinai are made of wood. The same wood.
Kirino, that's a bit...
We totally welcome beginners here!
With kendo, it's hot in the summer, cold in the winter,
and the wrist guards stink,
but you'll definitely have fun if you join us!
Right...
By the way, Nakata-kun, do you have a girlfriend?
Would she be interested in doing kendo with you, by any chance?
I don't have anyone like that.
I'll ask my girlfriend.
What?
She hasn't picked a club to join yet.
You have a girlfriend?!
Hey, hey, lemme hold a shinai.
Hurry up and lemme swing one.
No! You're doing strength training until the summer!
What?!
I better order a high school one.
So it's okay for Yuuji to hold a shinai?
It's okay for him to swing one?
Nakata-kun's allowed, because he's not a beginner.
How long have you been in kendo?
I was on the kendo team all three years of middle school.
I also attended a dojo back in grade school.
Wow, which one?
Kawazoe Dojo.
Kawazoe Dojo?!
Tanaka-kun!
Nakata! Nakata!
I was right to recruit you to the team!
But, I joined of my own will...
Sensei, I wanna put on protective gear and swing a shinai, too.
Sure! Sure! Feel free! Do whatever you want!
Kirino, I'll leave Eiga-kun to you!
Did that dojo have a girl about the same age as you?
Here, this is a chest guard. Oh, you mean Tama-chan?
It belongs to the team, but you can use it. Right! Tama-chan!
It belongs to the team, but you can use it. Year 1, Class 9, Tamaki Kawazoe!
It stinks. Year 1, Class 9, Tamaki Kawazoe!
Hey! That's no way to behave! The truth is, I was researching her like mad yesterday.
You have to put up with it until we order new ones! The truth is, I was researching her like mad yesterday.
And you have to treat equipment with respect. Why?
And you have to treat equipment with respect. Please! Recruit her to the kendo team!
With respect? It's got mold growing on it. Please! Recruit her to the kendo team!
Don't complain! Recruit Tama-chan?
Protective gear is your friend. It'll probably be impossible.
You have to be good to it, or you'll never get strong. She's not interested in stuff like that.
I don't want a stinky friend like that! What?
I don't want a stinky friend like that! I asked her once back in middle school, too.
You sure complain a lot. I asked her once back in middle school, too.
You sure complain a lot. But she was like, "Why?"
Here, this is a head guard. To Tama-chan, kendo is like a chore she does around the house.
Here, this is a head guard. It's not a hobby or something she likes to do, I think.
This stinks, too! I can't put this on! It's not a hobby or something she likes to do, I think.
It'll make my face stink! So that's what she's like.
Sheesh! I told you not to throw down equipment! Now, how do I get her to join...
Fine, then. I guess we'll just do nothing but strength training today. Why do you want to recruit Tama-chan so badly?
Why does joining the kendo team mean I have to do strength training?! Why do you want to recruit Tama-chan so badly?
Why does joining the kendo team mean I have to do strength training?! We won't get anywhere if she doesn't join.
I wanna swing a shinai around and go on a rampage! No, you could say it's all over if she doesn't.
Anyway, don't you have any protective gear that doesn't stink?! No, you could say it's all over if she doesn't.
Anyway, don't you have any protective gear that doesn't stink?! If you don't mind, please tell me what's going on.
No such thing! If you don't mind, please tell me what's going on.
No such thing!
It's a bet.
A bet?
My students are strong, man!
If you guys win,
I'll let you eat free at my old man's restaurant for a year.
Authentic Edo-style sushi...
All I can eat. Free. For a year.
Hey! Welcome!
Authentic Edo-style sushi! All I can eat! Free! For a year!
Hey! Welcome!
Authentic Edo-style sushi! All I can eat! Free! For a year!
Hey! Welcome!
No matter how I manage to do it, if I win, I get all the sushi I want.
I won't have to budget for food for a whole year!
- Isn't that an awesome deal?! - This man is sad.
- But the fact that my senpai proposed a bet like that - He's a sad adult.
- Means his students must be formidable! - He's not thinking about his students at all.
This stinks, too. - Means his students must be formidable! - He's not thinking about his students at all.
This stinks, too. - I absolutely need Tamaki Kawazoe to win! - It's all about him.
Tsuki! Tsuki! Tsuki! Tsuki! - I absolutely need Tamaki Kawazoe to win! - It's all about him.
Tsuki! Tsuki! Tsuki! Tsuki! - He really is sad.
Tsuki! Tsuki! Tsuki! Tsuki! - Lt's my livelihood! - I don't know... He's just totally sad.
Tsuki! Tsuki! Tsuki! Tsuki! - No, it's my life on the line! - I don't know... He's just totally sad.
Tama-chan.
You're going home late today.
Yeah. I didn't have to help with the training today, so I went shopping.
But no one had it for sale.
What did you want to buy?
"Material Puzzle" What did you want to buy?
"Material Puzzle"
A DVD.
"Material Puzzle" It's a limited first edition box, so they'd sold out already.
I forgot to preorder, and I couldn't go yesterday because of day duty.
Huh...
"MuMu House" Huh...
"MuMu House"
You know, Tama-chan...
What?
- Tsuki! Tsuki! Tsuki! - All the sushi I want!
Nah, never mind.
It's too bad, though.
- Later... - Yuuji-kun.
Could you stop calling me Tama-chan?
We're in high school now.
Then, what should I...
Tamaki... Kawazoe...
Tama... Tama...
Too much trouble. Tama-chan's good enough.
Eiga's girlfriend, huh?
I wonder what she's like.
They've apparently been together since middle school.
What kind of girl do you think we'll get?
I am Danjuro. I am Danjuro. I am Danjuro. I am Danjuro. Honestly speaking, I think it's doubtful that she even exists.
I am Danjuro. I am Danjuro. I am Danjuro. I am Danjuro. She could be a figment of his imagination, only visible to him.
I am Danjuro. I am Danjuro. I am Danjuro. I am Danjuro. I think she'll be a normal girl.
Dan-kun. Dan-kun. Dan-kun. Dan-kun. Dan-kun. I think she'll be a normal girl.
Dan-kun. Dan-kun. Dan-kun. Dan-kun. Dan-kun. But she'll be more like a female friend than a girlfriend.
No, no, it's guys like him, who always have the sparkly cuties.
In my opinion...
...it ticks me off when I see a good-looking couple!
When I see the opposite, it just makes me sad!
Couples should get a combined 100 points!
In other words, a 30 point guy should have a 70 point girl!
A 10 point girl should have a 90 point guy!
I think that's what would be good for the world!
He's unnecessarily passionate about this...
So, she really might be something like this...
Surely not...
Thanks for waiting.
I brought Miya-miya.
Nice to meet you. I'm Miyako Miyazaki.
You've got to be kidding!
Toyama, you still can't find your cell phone?
Damn.
"Year 2, Class 2" Damn.
"Year 2, Class 2" Back to the audiovisual room. Let's go, lwasa.
"Year 2, Class 2" What a pain.
"Year 2, Class 2" Toyama-kun.
This is your cell phone, right?
Sorry.
It's the same model, so I took it by mistake.
Aw, man...
- Takasugi. - Huh?
Don't you feel sorry for him?
But I should be practicing, too...
I need your advice on this!
A strategy to get Tamaki Kawazoe on the team!
Once you get the team applications,
go straight back and get Miya-miya to fill it out.
She's valuable in her own way!
Yes sir!
Oh, it's Kojiro.
Oh, lwasa. Toyama.
Quit playing hooky! Come to practice!
We're busy today.
They're the second year guys.
Oh.
Kirino, I heard you became captain.
That's right.
We've got new underclassmen,
so you boys get your act together, too!
This is how you hold a shinai, you know!
Dan-kun, you're so cool!
The battery's dead.
Your life's super hilarious today, man!
Pisses me off!
How's that?!
This is a thrust! Awesome, right?
Dan-kun, you're awesome!
You're fantastic!
Guess I'll blow off some steam with sports.
"Operation Recruit Tamaki Kawazoe!!" Guess I'll blow off some steam with sports.
"Operation Recruit Tamaki Kawazoe!!"
Isn't there something?
Something that'll move Tamaki Kawazoe's heart in a big way.
Let me think...
Tama-chan!
We met the other day. I'm Kirino Chiba, second year.
I'm captain of the kendo team.
Nice to meet you!
I see...
Have you picked a club yet?
How about joining the kendo team?
I'm not really...
I know! How would you even know! You haven't even observed us!
Okay, let's go right away!
I'm not really...
That hurt...
Get up, first year.
Your senpai will give you lessons.
Want me to do a wrist strike next?
Please make him stop! A lesson like this!
Now, now...
Toyama-kun!
You shouldn't start picking on the underclassmen right off the bat!
You're the one who said the boys need to get their act together, too.
We're doing our own thing here.
Let's practice the throat strike next, Eiga-kun.
Better go get the teacher.
Why?
You're the captain, Kirino-san.
And yet, he presumes to have more authority than you?
He's the strongest member on our team, so...
...we've had quite a few people quit because of him.
He presumes to have authority because he's the strongest?
I understand.
Tama-chan's usually quiet and keeps to herself,
but she's always idolized heroes of justice.
So she'll never allow bad guys to get away with anything.
Year 1, Class 9, Tamaki Kawazoe.
Joining temporarily for a trial period.
I'm calling the star rise
The wishes begin to sparkle in the twilight
Shooting stars, come down into my hands
Barefoot by my window, looking up at the night
Sleepless, alone with the moonlight
What I did during the day flickers before my eyes
I'm the only one spinning my wheels and I still feel impatient
I'm calling the star rise
I close my eyes, listening to my heart
I want to meet the me that I haven't gotten to know yet
I'm calling the star rise
The wishes are sparkling brilliantly
Shooting stars, come down into my hands
Take is "bamboo" and katana is "blade."
Put together, it's "Bamboo Blade." We look forward to your support.
The new school term has me renewing my resolve, thinking, man, I gotta work hard.
Awaiting the new members we finally got
was a senpai boy's hazing, bullying, hard training, and violence!
His instruction is borderline problematic,
but out of the blue, a voice calls for a halt.
She's the Tama-chan we've all heard about!
Have you met our Tama? So, now that she's made her heroic appearance,
how good is she? Well, of course, she's gonna be strong!
It just sort of happened, but it's a serious match!
Burning in her heart is the spirit of justice!
When we get hungry, we have lunch.
Next time on Bamboo Blade,
a point to you with "The Blade Bravers and Boxed Lunch!"