Thank you very much.
Who are you?
You never let your guard down.
I was only able to snag one.
Wait!
I'll return it.
I came to see Miyako-chan, but it looks like she's not here anyway.
Miyako-chan? Miyazaki-san...
Tell her I'll come again.
Haritsumeta kuuki ga suki
Takamaru kodou hirogatte yuku yo
Fukaku iki suikonda nara
Mou mae shika mienai wa
Daremo kawaru koto dekinai
Watashi shika arukenai michi
Sono namida mo subete kagayaki-hajimeru
Dakara omoi-kiri furi-ageta tenohira ni yadoru power
Mayowazu ni massugu ni ashita e to yuku yo
Honno mabataki no shunkan ni
Kanaeru yo yume no story
Hakanakute toukutemo
Akiramenai wa itsumo
Watashi dake no bamboo beat narashite
"Binicon Mart"
Thank you very much.
"Binicon Mart"
It used to be an old liquor store, but now...
"Binicon Mart"
"Ishida Liquor"
It's getting pretty good business...
Don't be a damn fool!
How do you figure?
There were lots more people there than when it was a liquor store.
What kind of cut do you think headquarters gets?!
And we've got labor costs, too!
Profits are virtually nonexistent!
We're working way more than we used to,
but our income isn't much different!
What the heck? That's what it comes down to, huh?
Toraji, you hardly ever come back here,
so quit sitting on your butt and get in the store!
So anyway, Ma, where's my dinner?
I'm positively starving!
There you go.
Eat all you want.
Hey, this is merchandise from the store, right?
"Expiration Date 5/27/075:00" Hey, this is merchandise from the store, right?
"Expiration Date 5/27/075:00" And it's about to hit the expiration date!
That's why your dad and I will pay for half of it.
Y-You're charging me?! The son you haven't seen in so long?!
Shut up and eat! And pay up!
This is what your ma and I always eat!
That's right, Toraji. You contribute to our family finances, too!
I get it already. I just have to eat it, right?
But I wanted to eat your curry...
Don't worry, we've got that.
"Curry" Don't worry, we've got that.
"Curry" But this is from the store! And about to expire!
"Curry" What I'm looking for...
...is the nostalgic taste that I remember from my childhood.
Don't be such a baby!
Climb up the stairs of adulthood already!
Toraji, help us out in the store tonight.
Fine.
"Binicon Mart" Fine.
"Binicon Mart"
Welcome!
They've got it rough.
Both my old man and old lady are working way more than they used to.
This is no time to be getting fired from my school.
I can't fall back on my family.
You can't do this to me.
Why did you stop stocking banana milk?
I've always been buying it, haven't I?
I am very sorry. They have actually stopped making that product, so...
What? So you're not going to stock it anymore?
- I am very sorry. - Forget you!
You've got to think properly about your customers.
Sheesh! That was good stuff, too. That banana milk...
Like it does any good to say things like that to us.
It can't be helped.
As an adult, there are many injustices that you have to turn a blind eye to.
Getting mad won't get you anywhere.
Injustices...
We really appreciate your help.
You haven't been back at all since the store became like this.
What? Oh...
"Odd Jobs" What? Oh...
"Odd Jobs"
I'm Ishida! I look forward to working with you!
Hey, you've got a lot of energy. How old are you?
I'm 18! A college freshman!
I just started living on my own, so I need money!
I see, I see. Well, good luck to you.
"8 Mart" I see, I see. Well, good luck to you.
"8 Mart" It's been dangerous lately. Especially in the middle of the night.
The place diagonally across from us got robbed last year, you know.
What?! For real?!
There's two of us here, but don't let that make you feel safe.
I play hooky a lot.
Uh, right...
Leave it to me! I used to practice kendo!
Give me a shinai and I'll clobber any robber that comes in here!
That sure sounds reassuring! Go ahead and bring it!
Hey, we've got a customer. Put that thing away.
Yes, sir.
Hand over the money.
Here.
Senpai, we need to call 110.
You're right.
Ishida-kun, what's the number for 110 again?
What was the number?
"Odd Jobs"
Now that I think about it,
"Odd Jobs" I've been running away, giving up, and ignoring things since back then.
"Odd Jobs" I learned not to fight.
The greatest adversary of life is injustice.
Regardless of whether it's right or wrong,
there are times when you just have to accept things.
There are no answers in the adult world.
I can't keep giving in anymore!
I have to make a stand!
I have to fight! With my own life!
- 420 yen. - What?
Well, I'll come visit again sometime.
Hold on.
Huh?
Here's some pocket money from your pa.
What? You don't have to give me anything like that.
Just take it! You helped out, after all.
Well, yeah, but...
Here.
Use it wisely, all right?
Don't buy anything stupid with it.
What am I, a kid?
50,000...
I only helped out for one night.
This is way too much for that.
"Fancy Shop" "MuMu House"
Was that Reimi Odajima?!
She's about our age, looks serious, and calls me "Miyako-chan"...
It seems she was trying to shoplift...
It's Reimi!
I forgot! Her school's near the train station here!
Is she an acquaintance of yours?
Yes, we were together in middle school, but...
Damn it! So she's going to keep at it in high school, too?!
She gave back the merchandise, but...
Do you suppose I should contact her parents?
No, you can't! Her family's a pain.
I just have to quit this place and it'll be over.
That damn brat...
But Kawazoe-san's quitting as of today, too.
That's going to be a problem.
If you'd just watch the shop, it'd solve everything, you know...
Scary.
But you're right, I can't rely on you two forever.
Kawazoe-san.
Yes?
Here are your wages.
Thank you for everything. You were a great help.
Y-Yes, and thank you as well.
I was so relieved.
That you learned to speak up properly.
I actually thought it was too soon for you at first, but...
It really is nice to be young. You have so much room to grow.
She's actually more childlike than young, though...
I guess she doesn't have the sidecar today.
Um, Miyazaki-san?
What is it?
That person... Is everything okay?
Reimi Odajima?
It's fine, it's fine. You don't have to worry about it.
By the way, why did you want to work part-time?
Did you want the money?
Yes, there's an anime DVD box set coming out with first edition extras.
Whoa!
Well... I guess it's just like you to say something like that so casually.
What about you?
I was working to buy Dan-kun's present.
Dan-kun's birthday is coming up.
Oh!
It's today! Dan-kun's birthday!
Whoa! Crap! I almost missed it!
Sorry, Tama-chan! I'm going to go on ahead!
So today is Eiga-kun's birthday.
Oh...
Happy birthday.
I'll give up on the Mat-Puz box set.
And we were getting so psyched up, too!
Would you listen to this?
Yoshio-chan of the Tanabes apparently failed to get into college.
I wonder if it's okay for him to be a ronin for a second year now.
It must be so tough.
Good night.
Reimi-chan, make sure you do your homework.
I know.
Miyako-chan...
Miya-miya!
Dan-kun, you're the star!
Nice couple.
First one here!
"28th Murakoshi Cup Kendo Tournament" First one here!
"28th Murakoshi Cup Kendo Tournament"
Kojiro-sensei, you sure are early.
Talk about rare!
Kirino...
So you were here already...
Well, I am team captain.
It's been a while since our last tournament!
We're gonna go at this with fighting spirit!
And the fighting spirit will save my neck!
His motive is seriously petty,
but I'm happy.
Even if our dream doesn't come true, that sentiment is enough for me!
With sentiment alone, I'm fired!
Everyone's arriving now.
15 schools total, was it?
There are a lot fewer girls, though.
Some schools don't have a single girl on their team, after all.
That's right. Girls' kendo has a smaller pool of athletes.
In other words, there's a higher chance of victory!
Our Tamaki's gonna do it!
- She's gonna make it to nationals! - So no expectations for the team tournament, huh?
- Today's tournament - So no expectations for the team tournament, huh?
Will be the prelude to Tamaki's victory at nationals!
So you don't care about us at all.
Oh, speak of the devil!
Good morning!
Where should we park?
Go around in the back.
That leaves Kuwahara-senpai, Miya-miya, and Eiga-kun.
I told them to meet up at 8:30.
I'll try calling them.
- I am so sorry!
- Hey there. - I am so sorry!
Did you oversleep, Saya?
No, that's not it.
Yesterday, words suddenly started popping in and out of my head,
and before I realized, I was asleep and when I woke up, it was past 8.
That's oversleeping.
On top of which,
there's no point if the words were popping out of her head.
Oh, Miya-miya, where are you right now?
Dan-kun got lost, so I'm looking for him right now.
"Community Center"
Where's the Civic Gymnasium?
"Community Center"
Go ahead and get changed!
The morning's the individual tournament!
Go at it with fighting spirit now!
Now then...
Hey, take a look at the girls.
Looks like it's the biggest versus the smallest.
Begin!
Men!
Head strike!
Who is that?!
Kawazoe?
Muroe?
- Dan-kun, hurry! - Come on, hurry up and get changed!
- Lt's almost time for your turn! - I know...
Men!
All right!
"Girls' Individual Tournament"
Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!
Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!
Well done, Tamaki!
I knew you'd do it, but victory is still impressive.
Yes, sir. Thank you.
Saya, you also did excellent work, getting into Round 2.
Yeah... but compared to Tama-chan...
Don't worry about it. You shouldn't be comparing yourself to her anyway!
Whoa, that's mean!
Yuuji, you got a bad opponent.
You had to fight on a national level from the get go in Round 1.
There's no helping it that you lost that one.
Well... But that national level got me fired up!
And...
As for Dan...
What's with that look?
Dan-kun got second place, you know! Second place!
That's right! Amazing, right?!
Well, it was amazing.
You had opponents that were absent, or had less experience than you,
or withdrew because of a stomach ache.
And to get second place after all that is just...
A win is a win!
Right?
Miya-miya, this afternoon's the team tournament.
You and Kirino also have...
Huh? Kirino?
Where's Kirino?
She got caught by some friends from middle school over there.
- She's got a lot of friends, so... - What?!
We've got this important meeting! Plus the important lunch eating!
There's no point if we don't have her croquettes and minced meat cutlets!
She better not be sharing her food with them or anything!
I'm going to go look for her!
Aw...
Friends from middle school, huh?
If it were me,
I wouldn't even want to see any of the people I knew back then.
Miya-miya, your Black is leaking out...
The winner of the girls' individuals is a first year from your school, right?
Impressive, right?
And she's so small, too.
Senpai, would it be okay if we eat lunch?
Hey, wait for your senpai!
Our first years are no good.
You girls should learn from her example, too!
Ahem!
"Extra Large" Ahem!
You're letting it go to your head.
That's right.
Yeah, I know!
I heard it was a first year at Muroe, so I totally thought it was Azuma.
Huh? Azuma?
Is Azuma not here today?
"Extra Large"
Huh? We don't have any Azuma on our team...
That's weird. Azuma went to Muroe High School, right?
I wonder if she quit kendo.
She used to be the strongest member at our middle school, too.
I guess she's not doing it anymore in high school.
What a waste.
Azuma...
Dan-kun, say, "Ah!"
Tama-chan, let's eat, too.
Right.
Miya-miya, say, "Ah!" too!
Was that Reimi Odajima?!
I'm not seeing things, right?!
What's she doing here?!
Don't tell me...
...she plans to stalk me in high school, too?!
So it's true that you began practicing kendo.
You look good in your kendo outfit.
You've grown beautiful, Miyako-chan.
"28th Murakoshi Cup Kendo Tournament" You've grown beautiful, Miyako-chan.
"28th Murakoshi Cup Kendo Tournament" We have the team tournament in the afternoon.
"28th Murakoshi Cup Kendo Tournament" We ask that all participants return to the gymnasium.
Gah, that sucked!
If I'd been calmer, I could've won!
Then we could've moved on to Round 2!
In the end, Tama-chan's the only one who won in the team tournament, too.
"Muroe High" "Tamaki Kawazoe M (M)" In the end, Tama-chan's the only one who won in the team tournament, too.
"Muroe High" "Tamaki Kawazoe M (M)" And our opponents only had 4 members, too,
"Miyako Miyazaki K (D)" "Sayako Kuwahara M K" "Kirino K (M)" And our opponents only had 4 members, too,
"Miyako Miyazaki K (D)" "Sayako Kuwahara M K" "Kirino K (M)" So being short is no excuse.
I guess it's hard to find girls everywhere.
Come to think of it...
- Huh? - Wasn't Miya-miya acting kind of weird?
Her behavior was clearly suspicious.
And she wasn't very energetic in her match, either.
Maybe she ran into someone she knew from middle school.
Oh, yeah! She said she didn't want to see any of those people!
That's it!
She met someone from her past, which she doesn't want to revisit!
I'd bet a peso on that!
- A peso? - Yup, a peso.
Bingo. Here's your peso.
Um, Miyazaki-san...
Aren't you going in to the dojo?
Oh, sorry, Tama-chan. I'm going in.
She scared me.
She's always got her aura suppressed.
This is bad. I haven't been able to relax at all lately.
I'm always jumping at Reimi's shadow.
Miyako-chan, let's go to school together.
She's definitely acting weird, right?
Peso...
You did well yesterday!
But the upcoming prelims for the Nationals are the real thing!
Let's advance and aim to win on the national level!
Yes, sir!
If you work hard, I'll treat you all to something super nice!
The max limit's 50,000 yen!
50,000 yen?!
For real, sensei?!
You're off by two zeros!
Our teacher's lost it...
Shut up!
Now, come at me, Miya-miya!
Here I come!
But with Miya-miya in a slump,
unless we find a fifth member soon...
Kojiro-sensei, about that...
We just may have one. A fifth member.
Who is it?
Uh...
Who was it again?
Hell if I know.
"1-3 Azuma"
I'm calling the star rise
Yuuyami ni kagayaki-dasu negai-tachi
Kono te no naka orite-kite nagare-boshi
Madobe de suashi no mama yoru o miagete
Nemurenai tsuki-akari hitori
Me no mae o chira-tsuiteku hiruma no watashi
Jibun dake karamawari de modokashii mama
I'm calling the star rise
Me o tojite kokoro no koe kiiteru
Mada shiranai watashi ni deaitai
I'm calling the star rise
Mabayuku kagayaiteru negai-tachi
Kono te no naka orite-kite nagare-boshi
Long time no see! It's Kirino!
Time goes by too fast.
We at Bamboo Blade have gotten past 10 episodes in no time as well
and we're charging into the height of the series!
Hey! Here, batter, batter, batter! Don't let that get you down!
"Sorry, we're making it right now!"
Production's going smooth, at the top of their game!
Probably...
We have the impossible mission of finding the as yet unseen fifth member
and making her join the team!
And the title of the episode where Saya and I take on that task is...
"Animation and Dreams"!
If you miss the deluxe episode with its rather surprising guest,
you'll get an instructional warning!
In terms of the show, you're out of bounds!
Combined, that's a point!