"Satori Azuma.
Year 1, Class 3 of Muroe High.
There was a reason for why she swore off swordsmanship.
Her father was a widely known kendo practitioner.
Neglecting both his home and his family,
he was ungodly in his devotion to the way of the sword.
But the solitary soul was struck by tragedy.
Azuma's father lost his life in an accident during a match.
Was this what one got for pursuing swordsmanship?
Was this the ultimate fate of one who tried to master the way?
I can no longer follow in my father's footsteps!
And thus, Azuma gave up the sword."
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
That's the story that I came up with, but...
"Seimei High School"
What a pain...
Hey, Hayashi's here!
One!
Two!
Three!
Four!
Five!
Six!
Seven!
Eight!
Nine!
Ninety!
One!
Two!
Three!
Four!
Five!
Six!
Seven!
Eight!
Nine!
One hundred!
Please instruct us!
Tidy up.
First years!
Y-Yes, sir!
You will do swings once more, from the beginning.
- What? - Do it!
Yes, sir!
The kendo team is impressive this year.
It's because they got a new advisor. They say practice is super hard.
They used to just muddle along until last year.
And we didn't used to hear the sounds of shinai much, either.
Scary...
I hear the first years are quitting in droves.
Getting all fired up... It's just not cool anymore in this day and age.
Hey, no breaks!
Men!
Sugimoto, you lost in the tournament the other day in Round 1.
They scored a head strike and an evading body strike.
State the reason for your defeat!
My opponent was ranked higher than me in the prefecture...
...and I was just out of luck.
That is no reason for defeat.
State it! Tell me what you were lacking!
I was lacking in focus, sir!
And I have not trained sufficiently!
Good, then you will train harder!
On your feet!
He's scary.
Yeah.
Girls!
What are you looking at?
You girls have a practice match next week!
Continue practicing!
Oh, yes, sir!
First years, you're still doing swings.
We're missing two.
Where are Ayumi and Misa?
They said it's too harsh and they couldn't put up with it.
What?
Um... some first years... quit the team...
Those who wish to quit can quit for all I care.
Time to continue!
Yes, sir.
We're the only remaining first year girls.
What should we do, Nozomi-chan?
Maybe I'll quit, too...
Wait, Mei, if you quit, I'll be the only first year left!
But...
See you, Azuma-san.
Oh, good-bye.
Azuma-san?
Yes?
You're Azuma-san, right?
Uh... yes...
Is there something...
We finally found you!
Azuma-chan!
Huh?! What is it?! What do you want with me?!
All right, let's go, Azuma-chan!
- Come on, hurry! Hurry! - Where are we going?!
W-Wait, please explain!
We're on the kendo team!
The kendo team...
Azuma-chan, you used to practice kendo in middle school, right? Right?
And you were strong, right?!
Come on, join the kendo team!
Give it up.
Kojiro-sensei...
She's not going to join the team.
What?
Right, Azuma?
- Yes, sir. - Why? Why? How come?
Did you not like kendo much?
That's not... true.
I've loved it ever since I was little.
But my parents told me to quit once I got into high school...
...and I'd decided to quit myself, too.
So, I'm very sorry, but...
What do you mean by that, Azuma-chan?!
It's such a waste! The What-A-Waste ghost will show up!
Or rather, it's already here!
- What? - What a waste! What a waste!
I-I'm sorry, I've already explained this to you.
Please excuse me.
Then, at least come observe! Okay? Okay?
What?!
She's loved it ever since she was little!
If she just gets a taste of practice, I know she'll want to do kendo again!
Table for one! Coming up! With pleasure!
Um, why the protective gear?
Aren't I just observing?
Now, now, now, now, now, now!
If you want to go home, you have to defeat us!
Otherwise, you're not getting out of here!
I understand.
Then...
...just for a little bit.
Huh?
Kawazoe-san, I'm going to get the dustpan.
Okay.
Looks like it might rain, huh, Miya-miya?
This isn't good. I didn't bring my umbrella.
There are spare ones at the dojo, so you'll be fine.
This voice...
Kirino-senpai...
It's not her! Who is that?
Men!
Baited head strike! She's good!
Or rather, who is she?
Doh!
Sh-She's good...
Th-That's enough, Azuma.
Yes, sir.
Azuma?
- Saya! - Kirino!
She's strong, isn't she?
Yeah!
Azuma, how long have you practiced kendo?
Since grade school.
She's got experience. And she's skilled.
I want her!
- I want her, but... - Um...
May I go home now?
Oh, sorry for taking up your time.
Here.
What?! You're going home?!
Wait!
Could you stay just a little longer?
Fight a match with me, Azuma-san.
What?
Ooh!
I wonder who's stronger...
That would have to be Yuuji-kun, right? He's a boy, after all.
Ah-ah. You shouldn't underestimate Azuma-chan!
That's right. We couldn't score a single point off her, after all.
That's no good.
I have to hurry home and study...
Men!
"Kendo Dojo"
Azuma-chan sure was strong, wasn't she?
Even though Yuuji-kun scored two straight points off her...
"Analyst" "Commentator" Even though Yuuji-kun scored two straight points off her...
"Analyst" "Commentator" If she can get that far against Yuuji-kun, she's plenty impressive.
"Analyst" "Commentator" If we'd continued for a while longer, she may have scored a point off me,
"Analyst" "Commentator" since she was hesitant at suddenly having to do this.
Since she was hesitant at suddenly having to do this.
True.
If she were our fifth member, it would really bolster us.
Right? Right?
Looks like we finally have our Green.
We'll be able to do a proper team match-up now.
Listen to what I said, you guys!
Azuma isn't going to join the kendo team.
In fact, we can't allow her to join.
What's with that?
You're the one who said you wanted her in.
I know that, you fools!
I hate to do this, too! But I gave up on her!
Forget about Azuma!
She...
You see, she...
These are...
Azuma-san's test scores.
Terrible, aren't they?
They're terrible.
She's a serious student and she's never tardy or absent,
and she assiduously takes notes during class as well.
But... they're terrible, aren't they?
They're terrible.
I don't think it's that she can't do the work.
Her entrance exam score was decent, after all.
But she's careless, so she'll study for the wrong things
or she'll write the answers in the next space over for every question.
If she were to begin kendo again, she may become even more distracted,
and her grades may suffer further.
She wants to go to college after this.
Ishida-sensei, could I please ask you...
...not to pressure her to join the kendo team?
I understand.
She... She...
...doesn't have the time for extracurricular activities!
She has to focus on her schoolwork and get her grades up!
I don't really get it; so do we have no choice except to give up on Azuma-chan?
Well, if she's not interested...
I wonder if she doesn't want to do kendo anymore.
That's not true.
Communicating through shinai with her, I could tell.
Azuma-san loves kendo!
There is a fiery passion for kendo burning within her.
She is certain to return to our kendo team as a swordswoman!
I forgot my textbooks and the drill book!
I can't do my homework.
I'm so tired today.
Men!
Doh!
Men!
Fight a match with me, Azuma-san.
No, no.
I have to study.
My goal for the next round of tests...
Get average marks!
Fight a match with me.
I'm Satori Azuma.
I'll work hard again in this episode to get average marks!
"Station"
Hey, you still can't get a hold of her?
"Station" If she doesn't hurry, she won't make it in time!
"Station" Hello?
"Station" Oh, Nozomi-chan?!
"Station" Where are you right now? Hurry up!
"Station" Everyone's at the station already! The match is...
I'm sorry, Mei. I'm going to quit kendo...
Let's go. It's time.
We mustn't keep them waiting.
Nozomi-chan? Hello? Hello?!
Mei-chan, you participate in today's match, too, okay?
What?
We only have exactly five people now, after all.
What should I do?
We won't forcibly try to make you join the team anymore, so...
Do us just one last favor, okay?
Come observe our upcoming practice match!
Just to watch! And then we'll quit hounding you!
But then...
- Azuma-san, our senpai are asking you so intently, - I'll be going on ahead, Miya-miya.
Why don't you at least come see us one more time?
Or rather...
You better come!
She was scary...
I wonder what her deal is...
I think I'll just have to say... I'm sorry!
I'm sorry.
Oh, hey!
What's up? You headed home?
Um, well... that is...
No, b-but...
You've come this far. Come take a peek!
Wh-What? N-No, but...
Yay, it's Azuma-chan!
I'm so glad! You came!
We were worried, because it was like we half-threatened you to come.
Even then, most people wouldn't come.
If they really hated it.
Right.
That guy...
He's Miyako-chan's...
Excuse me!
Are you a member of Muroe High's kendo team?
Yeah, I am, but...
I'm from Seimi High School.
I'm here for the match, but the rain caught me unprepared.
Would you mind sharing your umbrella?
Oh, I'd be fine with that...
Yay!
H-Hey, that's getting too close!
I wonder what Miyako-chan would think if she saw us like this...
Look! Look!
Look over here, Miyako-chan!
Huh? What's that? An acorn?
Dan-kun, I know it's late for this, but why don't we go back?
What's wrong, Miya-miya?
Are you feeling sick or something?
No, that's not it...
I just have a bad feeling about this...
In that case, you have to go.
They don't have enough people as it is.
Oh, that's not a problem.
I dragged in a replacement,
so I don't need to go...
No, no, you're going!
- Oh? It's Miyazaki-san and Eiga-kun. - What? Uh, hold on a second, Dan-kun.
- Oh? It's Miyazaki-san and Eiga-kun. - With the two of us together, there's nothing to be scared of.
- What's their relationship? - With the two of us together, there's nothing to be scared of.
- They're boyfriend and girlfriend. - Dan-kun...
- Huh? - Trust me and follow my lead.
- They're really close. - Trust me and follow my lead.
- They're always together. - Okay.
- Come on, Miya-miya. - Boyfriend... and girlfriend?
By the way, where are the other members of your team?
Oh? What about Azuma-chan?
Where is she?
There she is!
- I-I only came to observe!
"Guide for Miss Azuma" "Muroe High" - I-I only came to observe!
- Now, now, now, now, now, now, now!
You'll be more comfortable in a kendo uniform, don't you think?
And since we're at it, let's get the protective gear on you, too!
Huh? Why?
"Muroe High" "Azuma" Huh? Why?
"Muroe High" "Azuma" Why do you have something like this?!
Now, now, now.
Yes, it looks good on you!
I'm gonna be a referee today!
Yuuji, what's wrong?
Yeah, I dunno...
And Miya-miya, you, too.
No, it's nothing...
Pardon me!
I'm Reimi Odajima of Seimei High School's photography club
and I've come to take pictures!
It's her!
I see. Then, come right in.
Please excuse me.
Miyako-chan! Say cheese!
Reimi... Reimi...
Who is she again?
Yeah, who is she really?
Ishida-sensei.
Yoshikawa-sensei. What brings you here?
I heard there was a practice match and got curious.
Would it be all right if I observed?
- Whee! There! - Now, now, now, now, now!
Yes, come right on in.
Please excuse me.
I'm Ishida.
Hayashi-sensei, I look forward to working with you today.
I look forward to working with you as well.
Well, I've heard about your team.
Getting to fight a practice match with your students
will be a good learning experience for us.
Please.
They seem to be having fun.
I'm so sorry our kids aren't very serious.
Maybe it's my fault, because I'm not so serious to begin with.
It's hard to know what to do...
Kids this age are difficult.
Come on, practice is about to begin. Hurry up and put your head guard on.
I-I'm sorry.
I have to be in the match? What'll I do?
Mei-chan, you're deputy vanguard, okay?
Y-Yes, ma'am.
If I lose the match, the teacher will yell at me a lot.
State the reason for your defeat!
What was it that you were lacking!
Never mind what I'm lacking! I don't have anything!
I only joined because of my friends...
I don't really care about kendo...
I'll just quit...
After this match is over, I'll leave, too.
Are you ready?
Y-Yes.
Um...
Then, you can pair up with me for practice.
Yes, I look forward to working with you.
Same here.
I look forward to working with you.
Please go easy on me. I'm looking forward to this.
Yeah, I can't wait!
All right!
Then, begin!
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
I'm Satori Azuma.
I've finally gotten some serious screen time.
I hope to see a lot of action from here on out...
What? The show is already at its halfway mark?
I-In that case, I will aim for substance over number of episodes.
Next time, it's... Hot!
My glasses... My glasses, my glasses...
N-Next time, we'll be bringing you
"Azuma's Circumstances and Mei's Circumstances."
"Next time" "Teachers and Students" "Is the title" "Azuma's Circumstances and Mei's Circumstances."
"Next time" "Teachers and Students" "Is the title" Wait, that's this episode!