That's what I heard. And...
Oh, Miyako, it's been a while. Want to come to the store with us?
Oh, sorry, I've got practice to go to now.
What? Kendo? You were still doing that?
Nothing really wrong with that, is there?
Why so serious about some stupid team?
Well, you know...
Miya-miya!
Dan-kun!
You were taking a long time, so I came to get you!
Thank you! Dan-kun, you're so nice!
Who the heck was that?
Miyako's boyfriend.
That guy?! Why?!
Well...
I heard this from someone Miyako used to hang with in middle school.
They said she used to be a lot wilder back then.
Miyako was?
Apparently, someone she cared a lot about died.
Someone Miyako cared about...
And that acorn is supposedly a dead ringer of the late Kotaro.
Hold on a second!
You're not going to tell me
the punch line is that this Kotaro was a dog, are you?
It's nothing so cliché.
He was a pangolin.
A pangolin?
What is that?
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
All right, so everyone's here?
Yes, sir!
Well, a lot of things happened, but we've got Saya back now.
Sorry for worrying you guys.
So, what was actually the reason anyway?
What?!
Nah, I can't tell you! I can't tell you that now! Please, don't make me!
Well, at any rate, Tama's foot will be healed up soon, too.
I'll be seeing the doctor after this today and then I'll be good to go.
Man, thank goodness!
The Muroe High kendo team is seriously off to a fresh start now!
That's exactly right!
With a positive attitude, we'll forget about that last tournament!
And...
Our next objective is the Kanto Tournament!
After that, it's the Shoryuki Tournament!
And for that, we'll be having one practice match after another!
Brace yourselves!
Don't count on getting any breaks from here on out!
Or so I was thinking, but I'm still young...
...and I don't have any connections or anything...
Even if I want to set up matches, I can't set up that many.
S-Sensei...
Okay, now, time for practice!
Sensei, cheer up.
You can have this candy. It's apple flavored.
Please don't sulk.
And I wanted to let Tamaki fight stronger opponents, too...
Sensei...
If only we'd advanced in the tournament a little more,
Tama could've fought someone who was more than her match.
A girl her own age and not some adult.
Excuse me...
Tama.
What do you mean by that?
Oh, no, it's nothing.
I know! You probably want to get this over with, right?
I'll drive you to the hospital.
But...
Men!
Kirino, I'm heading out for a bit, so I'm leaving the rest to you!
Sure thing!
He offered to drive you, so you should take him up on it.
Okay, got it.
Hang in there, Tama-chan!
Take care!
Now, Team Captain, what shall we do until the teacher gets back?
Hmm, let me think...
It's been a while, so you wanna do a round-robin tournament?
Ooh, good idea! Tama-chan aside,
this will tell us how our members are ranked in terms of strength.
Yup.
Um, so what about us?
Yeah, you boys do your own tournament.
What?
But that makes it no different than usual...
Ranked by strength...
...exciting, isn't it?
Yeah...
A round-robin tournament, huh?
Come to think of it, I've never scored a point off this one yet...
I-Is there something?
No, nothing.
It's up ahead, right, Tama?
Yes.
All right.
Um, you can leave me here, so please go on back to school.
Why? I'll take you home afterwards.
No, because I'll have to keep you waiting.
Please go back and instruct the others.
Tama...
I can catch a taxi on my own and get home.
I see. All right.
Then I'll see you tomorrow at school.
Yes, sir. Thank you very much.
Kote!
Wrist strike!
That was too bad. But I scored a point off Yuuji!
Uh, yeah...
"Nakata Eiga" "(M) K M"
Man, I guess Dan-kun's steadily improving.
Yeah, no kidding. Time sure flies, doesn't it?
But even so...
"Miyazaki" But even so...
Well, I kind of figured it might turn out like this, though.
Maybe Miya-miya wasn't quite at her full strength today.
Yeah, yeah. And there were a lot of times where she got close, too.
Besides, once Tama-chan's back,
none of us will be significantly better compared to her.
It's fine. You don't have to be so considerate.
Oh, that wasn't our intent...
Um, Miyazaki-san, you can't just swing around your shinai,
I think you should loosen up a little...
I don't want to hear this from you!
Yes, ma'am!
It's too bad, since she's the most fearsome in person...
Miya-miya...
Dan-kun...
Let's cheer up.
Look, it's all torn up.
Let's go buy a new one later.
And with a new shinai, you can work on becoming a new Miya-miya!
Dan-kun...
Yes!
All right, that's the spirit, Miya-miya!
"Lkeda General Hospital"
Thank you very much.
All right, take care now.
It's over.
Hey.
Oh...
So you've been coming here, too.
Yes.
Well, I had heard from Kojiro, though.
I see, so you're all better.
Yes, thank you.
I'm here about a bit of a bruise.
The doctor here is good, so I come by every so often.
I see.
All right.
I'll take you back. Where do you live?
What? But...
Don't be shy about accepting. Besides...
There's something I want to talk to you about.
Something you want to talk to me about?
Traffic's kind of jammed, huh?
Yes.
Oh, was that the first time you'd lost?
I did not lose, because it was a withdrawal.
So if you'd continued, you'd have won?
Yes.
I'd bet.
What are you looking at?
Pardon me. I don't have very many opportunities to ride in cars,
so this is a rare experience.
I see.
It would be better if you lose for real once.
Why is that?
There are some things you'll only begin to see when you lose.
Men!
There are some things you'll learn from losing.
For someone your age, that can be important, too.
I don't really understand what you mean.
I see. Well, that's fine. Forget I mentioned it.
I do not want to lose.
I'm sure you don't.
"Sakaguchi Kendo Equipment" "Kendo"
Yum!
Not too thick and not too thin!
First, the superbly well-balanced soft rice cake
brings joy to my tongue!
And the sweet red bean paste that comes after
brings a gradual sweetness that surges in!
It's like a jack-in-the-box of red bean paste!
Damn it! Oh, how you hold me in thrall, rice cakes with bean paste!
"Nectar" Damn it! Oh, how you hold me in thrall, rice cakes with bean paste!
Hey, grandpa, we're here!
So they've come, enticed by the smell!
H-Hey, you're from Tama-chan's school...
Hello, would you mind if we take a look at the shinai?
It's for Miya-miya!
Sure, sure. Feel free to look around.
Okay.
You're not looking at wooden swords today?
N-Now, let's see where the shinai for me is...
Hey! Hey! What about some rice cakes with bean paste?!
I don't have any today!
Not even one?
- Not even one! - After all, it'll be lame if I never win a match at this rate.
Oh, this one.
Huh?
A foreigner?
A foreigner? A foreigner? A foreigner?
A foreigner?
What the? She's really strong!
Hey!
You know!
Let go! I saw it first!
English?!
Get yourself another one! Let go!
I-I don't know what the hell you're saying!
You're in Japan, so speak Japanese, you idiot!
Stop fight!
D-Dan-kun...
Let's talk together. Okay?
Wh-What?
You are...
Wh-What the?
Wh-What?
Anderson!
Anderson! Anderson!
Wh-Who the hell are you? What's this Anderson?
People call me Carrie Nishikawa.
Oh, so you can speak Japanese...
I've lived in Japan for 8 years, after all.
But I'm from America, so I tend to blurt out English when I get excited.
And Anderson is my beloved pet armadillo that I had back in California.
Armadillo?!
This simple form...
Stable center of gravity and compact limbs...
- D-Don't touch me, please... - He's the spitting image of Anderson in every way possible!
Don't touch Dan-kun!
What about Dan-kun is an armadillo?!
Dan-kun is... Dan-kun is...
...a pangolin!
"Pangolin"
Pangolin?
"Pangolin" "Pholidota Mammalia" Pangolin?
"Pangolin" "Pholidota Mammalia" The pangolin is a member of order Pholidota, class Mammalia.
Their bodies are covered with scales like that of a pine cone,
"Their skins are covered with scales" Their bodies are covered with scales like that of a pine cone,
"Their skins are covered with scales" and the larger specimens will grow to over 80cm in length.
And the larger specimens will grow to over 80cm in length.
They are shy creatures, who break apart anthills with their forelimbs
and feed on the ants within.
"Animals of the Continent" "The End" and feed on the ants within.
"Animals of the Continent" "The End"
Never heard of them.
Miya-miya!
Anderson!
I'm telling you, he's a pangolin!
I'm human...
Hold on a second. This is a pure and righteous kendo equipment store,
so if it's a fight, could you take it outside?
Shoot! We've been interrupted.
You practice kendo, right?
What's your name? What school do you go to?
First year in Muroe High School's kendo team, Miyako Miyazaki.
She's Miya-miya.
Okay, Miya-miya.
Then I'll come to your school tomorrow.
How about we settle this then?
I'll leave Anderson in your keeping until then.
Don't run away.
Bye-bye.
Oh, and the rice cakes you were looking for are under the counter, Anderson.
Ooh...
See you.
Down we go.
They're not there! I'm telling you, they're not!
Found them!
Come join me, Miya-miya!
Miya-miya, it's not good to fight.
Don't worry, Dan-kun. It's not a fight, it's kendo.
Though, I'd win either way.
Miya-miya...
It'll be fine, Dan-kun.
Come on, let's go home!
Yeah!
Yes, I'm fine now, so...
Thank you for your help until today.
It was no problem.
I see, so you can come to practice now.
Yes.
Then, it's been a while, so you want to train together tomorrow?
Sure.
Oh, Yuuji-kun.
What is it?
How do you feel when you've lost a match?
"Yuuji Nakata" How do you feel when you've lost a match?
"Yuuji Nakata" What? That sure came out of nowhere... Hmm...
Hey, Tamaki, my friend is coming over to stay next week...
Sorry for asking such a weird question.
I'll see you tomorrow at school. Good night.
Oh, Tama-chan? Tama-chan...
What did you say?
I know, I know. You were on the phone with Yuuji-kun, right?
Yes.
Yes, yes. Tamaki, I will not say a word.
I trust you.
Still, it's such a forlorn feeling to be a father...
Take that! And that! And that!
I'm definitely!
I'm definitely winning!
Who's that?
She's waiting.
Is she here to mount a raid?
What's with her?
You boys!
Yes?!
Where's the kendo dojo?
The kendo dojo? But...
Y-Yeah...
It's the building right in front of you...
S-Sorry...
Hey, who is that?
No idea.
Sensei, please ask her.
What?! M-Me?!
You all expect me to ask her?
But there's no one else!
Yup, yup, I agree.
Good idea. You're our advisor, after all.
You're a teacher, right?
You've studied a lot more than we have, right?
Just because I've studied doesn't mean I learned anything, does it?!
Whoa, that's awful.
Here... Here... Here... Here she comes. Here she comes.
H-H-Hey!
I-I-I am a teacher! Welcome! Wreck 'em. What 'em?
You're the strongest one here, aren't you?
Huh?
She speaks Japanese...
Come on, sensei!
Where's Miya-miya?
Are you a friend of Miyazaki-san's?
She's my enemy!
Miya-miya...
So, what? She's here because of you?
Sorry, everyone. I guess my charm has international appeal.
Don't be ridiculous!
Or rather, don't bring those kinds of issues to school.
But, um...
Miyazaki-san is so serious about this.
But you know...
It's fine, isn't it, sensei?
We need to experience lots of matches, after all.
It's a situation that gets you fired up, isn't it?!
An American dojo raider!
Oh, all right.
But I'm going to have her finish this up quick and go home, okay?
Yay!
If Miya-miya wins this, it'll energize her!
But...
...she's strong.
What?
Miya-miya, fight!
It's okay for you to win this!
Oh, that person...
"Carrie"
Two-sword style?!
I've never seen it before!
Miya-miya...
Begin!
What is this?! I've never seen this two-sword style!
How am I supposed to attack her?!
Miya-miya, steamroll her with brute force! Knowing you, you can do it!
First, I'll flick the short sword aside and look for an opening!
With just her left hand?!
Men!
Head strike!
The two-sword style isn't just for show, you know.
I've had far more training than you.
How about it?
Whoever wins this match gets to have him for her boyfriend.
Don't be ridiculous!
Stow the chitchat, Miya-miya!
Miya-miya...
Round two!
She's fast!
She hits fast and hard!
Now, come at me, Miya-miya!
If I lunge at her carelessly, she'll get me like she did last time.
But if I don't attack, she'll win with her one point.
- Go for it! - Dan-kun!
Watch me!
- Tsuki! - No!
- Her form's broken! - Doh!
Men!
Miya-miya...
Dan-kun...
I'm sorry!
Miya-miya...
Anderson, come with me!
Please, don't hug me.
What?
Sorry. I'm no Anderson. And...
My lover's only one.
Miya-miya forever.
Dan-kun...
Dan-kun!
Anderson...
Sorry, Carrie.
No.
Don't apologize. Or I'll fall in love with you even more.
What's with the cheap, hammy performance?
I know...
I think maybe it's a little romantic...
I won the match, but I suffered a complete loss in love.
But don't forget.
Someday, I'll steal Dan-kun away from you.
Oh, and I'll have you know...
...I'll beat you for sure! Just you watch!
I'll look forward to it.
Let's meet at some tournament next time.
Well, then, bye!
Carrie, that was a nice fight!
She's gone...
- Satori. - Yes?
What would I have to do to become able to beat her?
Would you teach me?
Yes!
You really do beat all, Dan-kun.
Yuuji-kun, Yuuji-kun.
What is it, Tama-chan?
Um, for high school students,
isn't the two-sword style prohibited in official matches?
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 and thank you, Japanese audience!
My name is Carrie. I was born in California, USA.
I like sushi, tempura, Japanese pizza, Mt. Fuji!
And I love kendo!
The way of the warrior, swordplay, topknots, Akihabara!
Next Bamboo Blade is...
"Braver and Shinaider."
You must see this episode! Have a nice day.