Tama-chan!
We're counting on you, commander!
Konishi-san, please get this!
Good luck!
Her foot?!
You're going down!
How about it?
Can you brace yourself on that foot?
Let me see your face twisted in pain!
Tsuki!
Are you all right?
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
Match over!
"Round Three" "Tojo High Muroe High" "Aoki (K) X D Azuma" "Teraji (M) M Miyazaki"
"Sato (K) Kuwahara" "lguchi (K) M Chiba" "Konishi WW (T) Kawazoe"
It looks like she had an injury.
So that's why they had her withdraw.
But Konishi-san's the one who's taking it harder.
Konishi-senpai, please hang in there!
Please stand on your own two feet!
Why didn't you say anything about your foot?
Because I was fine.
I can still fight! Why did you stop me?!
Don't push yourself. You're not yourself today.
That is not true, sensei!
Tama-chan's fighting back.
It's unusual for her.
She's definitely not acting normal.
Then why did you use a throat strike?
What?
I thought you were only going to use that against boys?
I... used a throat strike?
Tama-chan.
You did really good on that foot.
You can rest now.
Senpai...
But...
That person...
I have to...
I have to!
You're all tense.
This isn't like you.
Come on, let it go.
Oh, dear...
Tama-chan!
I guess it was all you could do just to stay standing.
I'm sorry...
You did good. Now leave the rest to me.
Yes, ma'am.
If the cornerstone of our team's strength is Tama,
then Kirino's the cornerstone of our heart.
Who knows what would've happened to this team if she hadn't been here.
Everybody looks to her.
Two wins, two losses, one draw.
Dan-kun, what happens in situations like this?
Well, I wonder what happens, Miya-miya.
Please tell us, Commentator Yuuji-kun!
Commentator?!
Since the number of wins and the points scored are both the same,
each team selects one person to fight one more match to settle things.
It's called a representatives match.
A representative, huh?
Konishi-senpai!
Are you all right?!
Sensei, she's too weak to stand.
No representatives match for her.
Aoki.
Yes, ma'am.
You're up.
Yes, ma'am!
And of course, for our team...
We're counting on you, Team Captain!
Right!
Her level of concentration is different.
- Kirino, get her! - Rah! Rah! Go for it!
- We're counting on you, Team Captain! - Rah! Rah! Go for it!
Sis, you gotta win!
Don't lose!
Who is that?
It's Kirino's little brother.
Look! Takkun's come to cheer you on, too!
Hey!
Huh? I wonder if she can't hear him.
What incredible focus.
This is Kirino's strength right now.
About Mom's test results!
They said she's totally fine!
They're discharging her from the hospital!
Huh?
She got seconds, thirds, and fourths when she was eating!
So fight without any worries!
Huh?
Oh!
Begin!
We lost! It sucks, doesn't it?!
Yeah! We were so close!
But...
...it was fun, wasn't it?!
We gave it our all!
We put it all out there!
So, she lost her concentration at the very end.
It's great to know that her mother's going to be okay,
but a small part of me feels sad that we got so close.
Well, it's fine the way it turned out.
It's not like we're staking our lives on kendo or anything.
If they can just do their absolute best,
learn lots of lessons, and have fun, that's good enough.
Tama-chan, is your foot okay?
Yes, if I take it easy, they said the swelling will go down in a couple days.
Thank goodness.
I am also feeling hale and healthy, thank you very much!
We don't care about you.
What did you say?
I'm sorry for tripping and getting injured at such a crucial time.
What are you saying, Tama-chan?
We're the ones who're always dragging you down.
Like today. If I didn't fall for the Hazy Honey Bee at the end...
That's right!
You just had to go back to the usual Kirino right then, didn't you?!
I'm sowwie...
Say, sensei,
everyone was acting sort of weird in that match, weren't they?
Everyone, except Saya.
So you'd noticed.
Well, sure.
But once the match had started, all I could do was watch anyway.
I guess that goes for me, too.
That's why I have no choice,
but to hammer home everything I can teach them before the matches.
I've still got a long way to go, just like they do.
Is Konishi still not ready?
We'll go look for her!
Senpai?
The teacher's looking for you.
I'm sorry.
That last match was really too bad!
If they hadn't withdrawn, she could've gone on a counteroffensive!
Yeah, I know!
Please do a rematch someday, senpai.
Yes, and then next time, we'll blow them away!
Senpai?
Please don't...
...put pressure on me anymore.
Okay, let's head home!
You worked hard, so I'll at least treat you to a burger!
- All right! - What? I prefer ramen over burgers.
- We can go Dutch. - Why...
...do they seem so happy when they lost?
All right! Fine! We'll do ramen today!
Yes!
R-Ramen...
Ramen...
And I'm a fine specimen.
"Sponsors" "Crystal Foods" "Tanashi Dairy"
Yes?
"Sponsors" "Crystal Foods" "Tanashi Dairy" - This show has been brought to you by these sponsors.
- Do you have a moment, Tamaki?
"Sponsors" "Crystal Foods" "Tanashi Dairy" I'm sorry to disturb you when you're watching TV, but this won't take long.
Oh, okay.
I'm so glad it's on a commercial break.
Even dogs love this dog food! I'm so glad it's on a commercial break.
Even dogs love this dog food!
Dog food with new texture, full of nutrition to build up everyday health.
Now, bring a smile to your dog's face.
Is your foot all right?
Now, bring a smile to your dog's face. Yes. I'll be missing practice for a while,
Gleaming white milk from cows raised in a free environment. Yes. I'll be missing practice for a while,
Gleaming white milk from cows raised in a free environment. But I'll be able to go to school.
For milk, it's got to be OK Farm milk! But I'll be able to go to school.
For milk, it's got to be OK Farm milk! But getting to and from school on that foot...
For milk, it's got to be OK Farm milk! Yuuji-kun will be taking me.
I see, Yuuji-kun again, is it?
Well, that's fine.
What I wanted to talk to you about is...
You said you used a throat strike in the match.
Oh...
I-I'm sorry.
This is bad. She's scared!
I didn't come here to scold you.
Please don't be frightened!
No, that part is fine.
What? It's okay for me to use throat strikes?
That is not okay.
Your throat strikes are dangerous.
This is not just about your opponent. I am thinking of you when I say this.
Previously on Christmas Crystals. This is not just about your opponent. I am thinking of you when I say this.
Previously on Christmas Crystals. It brings turmoil to your heart... to your kendo.
"Mute" It brings turmoil to your heart... to your kendo.
"Mute" "Record" It brings turmoil to your heart... to your kendo.
There is something very savage about your throat strikes.
It is possessed by an Asura demon.
No... What it's possessed by is probably Braver.
Not to mention, that's a Namahage demon...
At any rate, be careful in the future.
Though, it's a good thing that you've changed since starting high school.
Have I... changed?
Yes...
How have I changed?
You've become more like a high school student.
I can't say this to her face,
but I feel like she's become easier to talk to than before.
It's a good direction for her, Mother.
Sis, I'm hungry.
Hang in there for a bit.
I feel bad. You had a competition and now, you're making dinner.
But you're making this easy for me.
You can just rest, Mom.
I'm hungry!
Hungry!
You two can help out.
Okay!
We lost, but...
...we're just getting started, right?
Yup, just getting started!
Oh, it's Kirino. What's up?
We should make some things for
Chapter Two of the Muroe High kendo team.
Mm-hm, like what?
First, a mascot for the team!
Oh, but we've got the cat for that, so never mind.
Mm-hm.
Also, a theme song for the Muroe High kendo team!
Let's all talk it over tomorrow! Bye!
"Theme" Let's all talk it over tomorrow! Bye!
"Theme" Theme song!
"Song" Theme song!
This is...
Th-This is...
...a request for me to compose it, right?!
Wait for me, everyone.
"Muroe Private High School"
What happened, senpai?
You're half dead.
Yeah, I sort of didn't get any sleep.
That's no good, Saya. It's bad for your skin.
"Collagen Plus" That's no good, Saya. It's bad for your skin.
Here.
Surely, she has absolutely no inkling!
That I've composed the theme song in just one night!
But I'm keeping it a secret for now!
We're not all here, so I'll make the big announcement at practice!
Until then... you have to be patient, Sayako!
Seriously, what's gotten into you, senpai?
But I'm super confident of this piece!
I can't wait to show it off! To sing it!
Oh, that's right,
I was thinking of coming up with a theme song for the team...
Now?! I have to say it now, Kirino?!
But I'm not ready for it!
You surprise girl, you!
I think it's got to be this.
Oh? What is it?
"Paused" "Super Sword Squadron Blade Bravers" "Blade Bravers" "Super Sword Squadron Soundtrack"
The opening song to "Blade Bravers"!
When it comes to Muroe High's kendo team, it's got to be this song, right?
It came to me this morning and I got it off the net.
Wow, what's it like?
Want to listen to it?
What? Weren't you asking me to compose it?
Then, uh, what about this?
The effort I put into this yesterday...
Why did I pull an all-nighter?
"Lending color and adorning the blue sky"
"The cherry blossoms scatter along the breezy little path"
"I was looking up from the classroom window"
"A path stretching on and on"
"A path expanding freely"
Wait!
"Surely, it leads to the future" Wait!
"My track, but right now, I still want to stay here" Wait!
"My track, but right now, I still want to stay here"
"I don't want to leave this world"
"I still don't know this world that well, either"
"When I've found the courage, I'll step forward into the next world"
"My track, I'm going to keep going on this bicycle for now"
"To the very ends of this world"
Huh?! Saya fell in the fountain?!
What happened?!
Who knows?
We have no clue, either.
What could have made Saya-senpai feel so cornered?
People jump into fountains when they feel cornered?
Even if she doesn't say it, you can see the signs that she's troubled.
She's a delicate barricade, after all.
You're her friends, so you need to look out for her.
- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!
All right, then for practice...
I didn't know you were here, Tama.
You can skip practice until your foot's completely healed, you know.
Um...
But...
All right, then you'll be the teacher today.
Forget about upperclassmen and lowerclassmen. Crack that whip!
Got it, everyone?!
- Yes, sir! - Yes, sir!
Is something wrong with the wall, sensei?
Yeah...
Just thinking it's a little bare.
My school's kendo team was pretty strong,
so the walls were covered with award certificates.
There was calligraphy by our teacher, too.
Not that I could read it, because it was so skillfully written.
Sensei, if it's calligraphy, Yuuji's good at it, too.
Oh?
Then, you want to write something?
Uh, sure... then, maybe tomorrow.
Oh, sensei, if it's an award certificate, Tama-chan has one.
Oh, she does! From the individuals tournament the other day!
Tama!
Yes?
Found it...
Thank goodness...
Yes?
Tamaki, that regional tournament from a while back...
What are you going to do with that award certificate?
I'm taking it to school tomorrow...
I see.
Um, was there something?
No, it's nothing. Go take a bath first.
Yes, sir.
Then, I'm going to take a bath first.
S-Sure...
"Kendo Dojo"
Ooh! This is good, Yuuji!
"Each throw, imbued with spirit" Ooh! This is good, Yuuji!
Nah...
It's got nothing to do with kendo, but I guess that's okay.
Let's put it up right away.
Sensei, sensei, put mine up, too!
We did drawings of things we like in art class today.
A drawing?
Of what?
Of Miya-miya, of course!
Dan-kun!
It's pointlessly good...
But a drawing in the dojo is kind of...
It's a drawing that Dan-kun put his heart into!
Put it up for him!
All right, all right! You're scary, you damn delinquent!
"Each throw, imbued with spirit"
What the heck is this?
"Each throw, imbued with spirit" Pardon me for being late.
"Each throw, imbued with spirit" Ah!
I've been waiting for you!
You brought the award certificate, right?
Um...
"Award Certificate" "28th Murakoshi Cup Kendo Tournament""Girls Individuals" "Winner Tamaki Kawazoe"
"You have achieved the aforementioned level of excellence in the athletic tournament noted here. Thus, you have been awarded this certificate in honor of that distinction."
She's turned into a really good girl, Mother.
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
Hey there, it's Saya.
Starting with next week's "The Armadillo and the Pangolin,"
the anime Bamboo Blade is headed into an original story arc!
So, I've composed yet another song! Please listen to it!
? The armadillo and the pangolin.?
? They seem similar, but they're a bit different.?
? What's different, you ask??
? Their coat of hair is different. Their countries are different.?
? Their histories are different.?
? That's the way things armadillo. Forever!?
Thank you!