Dan-kun!
Miya-miya...
What are you doing?! You're behind by a lap!
I'm not gonna lose!
- Gotcha! - Ow!
Dan-kun, is this from the other day?
It's no big deal.
It doesn't bother me at all now.
Dan-kun...
Come on, let's run, Miya-miya!
Ow!
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
Listen up, you guys!
The match is coming up!
Starting tomorrow, we're training during lunch break, too!
To save time, we'll eat lunch here!
Naturally, so will I.
Everyone, make sure to bring your lunches!
And to keep you going through practice,
pack more than you usually do!
Whoa, his ulterior motive is so obvious...
Um, is everyone required to participate in that?
Until after lunch, I'm a little...
Miya-miya, these practices are mainly for your benefit.
You're a beginner and we're throwing you straight into a match,
so we need to train you up quick.
Oh, I see...
Let's work hard, Miya-miya.
Yeah.
It'll be fine. We'll all help out.
And that includes Tama-chan.
Yeah.
Thank you very much.
All right, all of you get changed for today.
We're going to go order protective gear now!
"Sakaguchi Kendo Equipment" "Kendo"
Yum...
So good!
Carefully prepared red bean paste made from Hokkaido azuki beans!
Wrapped with a thin layer of rice cake that practically melts in your mouth!
The clean sweetness and the hint of salt make exquisite music together!
Hello!
Oh?
Ah, sensei, welcome!
Pardon us.
You got new members?
Yes. We'd like to look at the shinai and protective gear.
Go right ahead!
Sensei, it's been so long, please let me come give a lesson again!
Oh, well...
He's a ranking practitioner, you see.
I once asked him to coach the team and he got so into it.
"Sakaguchi" I once asked him to coach the team and he got so into it.
"Sakaguchi" Acting like some passionate teacher from a drama,
"Sakaguchi" he put everyone through the wringer until no one was left standing.
He put everyone through the wringer until no one was left standing.
And he left looking like a man who'd accomplished his mission.
That smile on his face was something to behold.
But I'm the one who gets raked over the coals by the team later!
Like hell I'm facing that again!
So, when should I come?
What? Uh, well, you know, I'm sure you're busy, too, Sakaguchi-san.
I've got time. Lots of time.
I've got nothing but time, unfortunately.
Besides, it'll be good for the team to be trained by someone strong, right?
It may have been different long ago,
but you don't train much at all now, right?
On the other hand, I go to a dojo once a week.
If you want your team to do well, please invite me...
Hello, Sakaguchi-san.
Men!
Tama... - chan?
I had no idea you were on this team!
Thanks for always practicing with me. Say hello to your father for me.
Dan, Miya-miya, we'll start with the shinai.
Everyone else, look at whatever you feel like.
They're all the same.
I need to buy a sabuhachi, too.
Who's Sabuhachi?
"Sabuhachi" Who's Sabuhachi?
"Sabuhachi" Whoops, that was careless of me!
"Sabuhachi" It's a kind of shinai.
"Sanjaku hassun = 3 shaku, 8 sun" It's a kind of shinai.
"Sanjaku hassun = 3 shaku, 8 sun" The length is sanjaku hassun, so it's called "sabuhachi."
"Sanjaku hassun = 3 shaku, 8 sun" Official high school matches require you to use these.
The length may be the same, but the weight can vary quite a bit.
So give them a good grip and pick one that feels right to you.
Well, it'd be best to actually do some swings with it.
"38th Boys and Girls Kendo Tournament"
It's delicious!
My rice cakes with red bean paste!
Listen to what I'm saying!
Oh, they have wooden swords, too.
- What? - Huh?
- Nah... - lt's nothing.
With chest guards... Well, they're all about the same, but...
Girls have a chest, so I guess you'd want a slightly larger size.
Sensei, that's called sexual harassment.
Why?! It's the truth!
I want this one!
- Lt looks cool! - Hey, those are expensive!
Don't get your fingerprints on there!
What do you think, Miya-miya?
You look fabulous, Dan-kun. Here's a reward for you!
Yay!
No, like I said...
A chest guard over a school uniform looks lame...
- Yum! - I'm so glad, Dan-kun!
Like I said...
If you keep eating like that...
- Don't look at me if you get a nosebleed! - You were a big help.
- If you eat all this... - That mister's a little pushy.
- Miya-miya gave me these! - That mister's a little pushy.
- I see... - That mister's a little pushy.
But you know...
I'm grateful that you joined.
Though, with your dojo I'm sure it's tough.
It's for the sake of justice.
Huh?
Oh...
I thought this was the right thing to do.
So I should do it properly.
Well, then, I'll get it all delivered as soon as I can.
Thank you, we'll be counting on you.
We'll be counting on you!
They're gone!
The rice cakes with bean paste were good, weren't they?
Yeah.
I would've liked it better if the rice cake was thicker.
Oh, well, we're almost ready.
Let's have the match for sure by next month.
Well, that's fine.
More importantly, we never decided what would happen if I won.
Oh? Do I have to do something, too?
Of course, you do!
If I win, I'm taking the you-know-what that's on display in your room.
Huh? On display... in my room?
Yeah.
The thing that's most precious to you.
- My Super NES?! - No! The trophy.
The trophy?
That thing should've been mine to begin with, right?
If I win, give it back to me.
It's pointless for us to duel after all this time,
so let's leave it to our students.
Later, Kojiro.
Ouch!
It's not like I've got it on display.
It was just mixed in with my stuff when I moved.
"26th Shoryuki High School Kendo Tournament"
Men!
Match over!
Sorry, senpai, I scored by a fluke.
I guess I got lucky.
No, whether it was luck or a fluke, the result is all that matters.
You won, Kojiro.
Yes, sir!
Kojiro, you know how I'm graduating already?
How about a match before I go?
But you've already retired, senpai.
Oh, I get it!
You hate that I'm getting away with my fluke win, is that it?
Then, shall we bet that trophy and...
You fool! I-It's nothing like that!
It's nothing like that!
Whoops...
Ever since then...
Hey, Kojiro, are you taking good care of that trophy?
If I win, would you give me that trophy?
I'm joking.
But your eyes are serious...
Still...
I know what I said then, but senpai...
There are no flukes or luck in kendo.
Senpai, that time...
...I was stronger than you.
To be honest, this thing doesn't matter to me at all.
What's important is...
Why you!
Yah! Yah! Yah!
I can't afford to lose!
"Kendo"
"Training Regimen!" "Miya-miya's" "Let's do our best!"
What a pain...
"Chiba Deli" What a pain...
"Chiba Deli"
This is so team captain-ish!
Our kendo team is slowly starting to feel like a serious team!
Oh?
It's from Saya!
Maybe she'll be coming back to the team soon...
"I'm going to die now" Maybe she'll be coming back to the team soon...
"I'm going to die now"
What?!
I got on the Saikyo Line!
Next stop, Oh Miya-miya!
Why... you...
This stupid thing!
No good...
I'm no good at all!
Die, me! Just die!
Hey, you're being too loud, Sayako!
I wonder if I've got no talent...
Maybe I'll give up...
...on this novel...
I'll go for a ride!
Sayako! Where are you going at this hour?!
I can do it!
I'm a capable girl!
I'm a genius! A genius!
I'm the best in Japan!
I'm a genius, so I can do it!
I'll leave her alone.
She always does this anyway.
I can do it!
Yuuji-kun! Eiga-kun!
They said the shinai and stuff arrived!
Come during break to...
Huh?
"Do the Reader in the Audiovisual Room"
Then...
I'll just leave them a message.
There's no way Nagata could get by in a foreign country with his English.
Yuuji, could that be from Kirino-senpai?
"To Yuuji-kun and others" "Takeuchi's arrived" "Kirino"
Who's Takeuchi?
"And others"?
"To Yuuji-kun and others" "Takeuchi's arrived" "And others"?
"To Yuuji-kun and others" "Takeuchi's arrived"
"Shinai"
"Certain Victory" "Shinai Container" "Shinai Container"
They're so late...
Man, I feel tired...
Practicing until lunch? You gotta be kidding me...
Man, it pisses me off!
You're way too ticked off all year round.
Wanna go beat up on someone again and blow off some steam?
I bet that first year kid will quit the team eventually.
You wanna go after him again when that happens?
Dan-kun?!
Like I can wait that long.
We're going out to Bukuro today.
I'm not gonna be happy until I've beat up someone.
You're one scary dude.
Miya-miya!
Dan-kun!
They said the protective gear's here.
Let's go.
"Shinai" "Shinai" Let's go.
"Shinai" "Shinai"
Everyone check to make sure you got what you ordered.
Also, bring the money sometime soon.
These are the invoices.
So we just have to give you the money?
Yeah, I'll hang on to it.
Entrust?! Money?! To sensei?!
What's with that look of distrust in your eyes?
Well, whatever.
Come on, everyone try on your protective gear.
Entrust?! Money?! To sensei?!
I won't take it! I won't swipe it!
How do I put this on?
Eiga-kun, you can't put the head guard on first.
Here, you first put on the thigh guard.
You tie your chest guard on yourself, too.
You can't tie it once you have the wrist guards on.
It's like getting trussed up for the Shichigosan festival...
Yay!
- Oh? So you bought new protective gear, too. - Dan-kun, you're amazing!
Yes.
Why?
Your family runs a dojo.
Everyone was buying theirs so...
...I wanted a new set, too.
My protective gear is old already,
and it's my first time joining a team, so...
...since I'm starting out with everyone else,
I wanted the same gear as everyone.
Tama, you're Red!
Red?
That's right!
The warriors of justice, who've come together
to defeat my senpai's team!
And their leader, Red, is you!
What?!
Red...
Um, what about me, the team captain?
Hmm, let me think...
You're...
Yellow!
Your character just feels like Yellow!
What do you mean, my character feels like it?!
Sensei, then what about Miya-miya?
Miya-miya is... Pink. Gotta be.
Wow, I'm so happy!
Huh?
F-For a moment there, she looked like Black, but...
Sensei?
And Saya, who's Blue! Plus, the as yet unknown Green!
With the five of you gathered under me, Commander Ishida,
we will win, without fail!
You?! The commander?! For real?!
You guys like doing that, don't you?
No fair! Only the girls get colors?! Sensei, what about me?!
You?
I'd say you're Yellow, too.
What?!
We've got nothing but Yellows. I don't want a squadron like that.
Well, you boys give your support to the girls in whatever capacity you can.
More importantly, any sign of Blue's comeback yet?
You mean Saya?
Hmm, she's still absent most days...
Oh, I got an e-mail saying, "I'm going to die now," just a while ago.
What?! That's terrible!
No, nothing to worry about. This happens all the time.
Well, you'll see soon enough.
Anyway, first years, try on your name cloths.
You stick it in to your thigh guard.
Oh!
What's wrong, Pink?
Dan-kun's name cloth is...
Huh?
"Muroe High" "Eikou" Huh?
"Muroe High" "Eikou" It's written wrong!
"Muroe High" "Eikou" It says "Eikou" instead of "Eiga"!
I bet the store got it wrong because your handwriting was bad.
Dan-kun, we can just buy a new one!
That's right! In fact, it's kind of cool!
"Eikou" That's right! In fact, it's kind of cool!
"Eikou" Look, it looks all sparkly for no good reason!
"Eikou" It's gold! Gold!
Miya-miya, you're going home?
I'm sorry, I have work today.
Huh? Was that today?
I suddenly got asked to fill in. Could you let everyone know?
I'll call you later tonight.
I'm sorry, Dan-kun.
Nah, it's the high maintenance girls who are the most endearing.
"Sakaguchi Kendo Equipment" "Kendo"
Ah, time for a breather...
Pardon me.
You came in the other day...
I wonder if he'll come this way...
I've seen him a couple times before...
Well, I guess I'll wait patiently.
"Kendo Dojo"
Bring Miya-miya with you tomorrow, Dan.
"Kendo Dojo" She's the one who needs to practice the most.
Got it. I'll tell her.
Moron! That wasn't even close to being enough!
Who cares? Just put up with it.
He's here!
You haven't matured at all through kendo, have you?
Shut up.
Move!
Wasn't that Saya?
Like I give a damn. Let's go.
I'm sorry! Are you hurt at all?!
My light was broken and...
That's our uniform...
Hey, you! Don't you think that's going too far?!
Don't touch me!
What in the world is with her?
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
Hello, I'm Miya-miya.
I'm still a beginner, but kendo is so much fun!
How's it fun? You get to hit, smack, and beat down on people with a stick.
And it's all legit. Viva violence!
It makes you stronger, not just physically, but mentally as well.
Just imagining the suffering on my opponent's face,
the sadist in me raises its ugly head...
You learn good teamwork and it helps you mature as a person, too.
More like, I don't care where I am as long as Dan-kun's around.
Well, all that aside, next time, it's "Pink and Blue."
Any masochists out there, be sure to watch. Or rather, watch, damn you!