01x08 - Score!

[bunniefuu]

Taiki just...

took a game off of Haryu.

You'd better not lose before you face me.

I won't!

Am I putting up a decent fight?

BLUE BOX

BLUE BOX

EPISODE 8
SCORE!

ALARM - SNOOZE
STOP

Let's go.

Good morning.

Morning!

So healthy.

Chinatsu Senpai! Good morning.

I was feeling a bit restless.

I thought my body would be all stiff
from the nerves.

CALISTHENICS

But now that the big day is here,
I'm just so excited!

Let me join you!

So cute.

You have doubles today?

Yes. The singles event is tomorrow.

How many people can make it to nationals?

One pair for doubles,
and two players for singles.

That's not many.

It's tough for you too.

Basketball's a team game, though.

But I heard Kagohara was strong.

Yeah, we'll face them in the finals,
so we need to win.

That's tomorrow, right?

Yeah, tomorrow.

It's coming up quick.

Chinatsu Senpai.

Could I ask you something
once it's all over tomorrow?

I need to know

what she meant by that.

Not now?

No.

Okay.

Can I ask you something now, then?

Do you have cheers in badminton?

Well, there's "score," I guess.

"Score"?

I see.

Taiki, score!

What?

These exercises are refreshing.

Why is she doing this to my heart?

SHITAO SPORTS PARK GYMNASIUM

ONE SCORE AT A TIME

DAUNTLESS COURAGE
HEART, SKILL, STRENGTH - PLAY FOR THE WIN!

FLY - EVERY SHOT COUNTS

It's so hot!

How can it be this hot
in the middle of June?

Summer is scary.

Plus they can't open the windows.

But I have to say...

I like this atmosphere.
It really feels like a tournament.

KENGO HARYU - TAIKI INOMATA
[EIMEI]

SHOTA HYODO - YUKI TATEYAMA
[SAJIKAWA]

I guess it's about time to go.

Where are you going?

Why don't you come with?

Here should be fine.

He wanted to watch a match?

But whose?

Now calling.

Match number 21.

Sajikawa High School.

Mr. Hyodo and Mr. Tateyama.

It's Hyodo and his partner.

They've got a different aura.

They're huge.

Hyodo's the one Haryu Senpai
has never beaten.

If it isn't Haryu.

You came all this way just to lose?

I hope you brought back the trophy
I'm going to take from you.

I did, but I gave it back to management.

That's not what I meant.

Hyodo! Get ready.

If you're gonna watch,
try to come up with a strategy to beat me.

He seems confident.

That's because he's good.

I only have trick shots in my arsenal...

but Hyodo can do trick shots,
straight shots, you name it.

If we had stats like in a video game

for technique, intuition,

physicality, and speed...

The only one whose stats
would all be maxed out...

is him.

He's on another level!

I'd give up before trying.

Those guys are unlucky.

They could've advanced further
against anyone else.

Let's see how many points they can get.

At least they'll have the memory
of facing a future Olympian.

Wow, he hit it there?

I would've hit the opposite side.

What a shame! He popped it up!

What if he'd gone for
a cross shot instead?

I wish I could play!

Talk is cheap.

All right, I see he's still strong.

Let's go warm up.

Okay.

And I'll get Nishida
to record video for me.

He's not even letting Nishida Senpai
grieve his loss.

Match number 28.

He dropped his wallet.

I should tell him, right?

He should be more careful.

Excuse me.

You dropped your wallet.

How kind of you.

It's nothing.

Let's go, Taiki!

Coming!

Bye, then.

What a kind person.

There you are.

Don't tell me you were
sleeping again, Yusa.

Coach was looking for you.

I'm coming.

SAJIKAWA

But kind people
aren't suited for badminton.

SHITAO SPORTS PARK GYMNASIUM

Yusa!

What are you doing with that string?

We need to go cheer on Hyodo's match.

Don't give me that attitude!

How about you watch your teammate
and learn from his game!

I do.

Plus he's facing Haryu from Eimei.

It's going to be a good one.

DAUNTLESS COURAGE

How's the game?

First game, 16 to 9.

We'll probably win easily at this rate.

Poor Haryu.

He's never beaten Hyodo
in an official match, right?

He's talented, though.

If he went to our school,
he could've paired up with Hyodo

and gone to nationals.

Isn't that a first-year
he's partnered with?

They've barely scored half the points
we have.

They don't seem that far behind.

The game itself isn't going that badly.

They're able to keep the rally going.

They just need a decisive hit.

He returned it!

They keep getting pushed,

but Haryu's handling it.

Nice, Taiki!

Thanks!

Keep it up!

Nice, Haryu!

Yeah, that first-year's
hanging in there pretty well.

He's not very precise,
but he hits it over the net.

And Haryu follows him up.

Nice, Haryu!

Stay on the attack!

Dang it, so close! They're down a game.

Don't worry about it!

Change courts.

Dang it!

We just started catching up.

I have to learn to hit those.

Get your head back in it.

We're winning the second game.

Okay!

That was close.

It was a good smash.

If they can hit that in the second game,
it could be a good match.

I'm home.

Welcome back, Chinatsu.

Congrats on making the finals.

Good luck tomorrow.

Thanks!

I'm just going to the convenience store.

Wait.

How did Taiki do today?

He lost.

Taiki...

He's asleep.

"You're still a first-year."

"There's still the singles."

I'm sure that's not
what he wants to hear right now.

It's just...

MAKE SURE MY SMASHES SCORE!!

Right.

You're not the type to dwell on the past.

Taiki.

Sleeping there will affect
your performance tomorrow.

Right.

Was I just dreaming about Chinatsu Senpai?

MAKE SURE MY SMASHES SCORE!!

AND I'LL MAKE SURE I MAKE MY SHOTS!!

Even her handwriting feels powerful.

SHITAO SPORTS PARK GYMNASIUM

Listen, Taiki.

You face me in the finals.

That means

you need to beat Hyodo in the semi-finals.

We lost to him in doubles--

Don't worry.

I'm going to play to beat him.

I need to focus on the first round.

After losing in doubles,

I thought he'd be more discouraged
to play Hyodo.

That's just like Taiki.

I want to win.

Even if my opponent is one
of the best in the country,

I just need to hang in there
and give it my all, to the very end.

I'm sure Chinatsu Senpai
is doing the same.

That's why...

Winner, Mr. Yusa
from Sajikawa High School.

Winner, Mr. Yusa
from Sajikawa High School.

It's over already?

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

Winner, sign here, please.

He's got terrible handwriting.

Now that I've lost,

I have to help with judging.

PLAY FOR THE WIN!

Huh?

It's over?

Chono.

Rhythmic gymnastics girl.

Kyo!

There's still more games, right?

Like a round-robin by blocks?

Taiki looked like he was still warming up.

There's nothing like that.

But he worked so hard.

I'm sure you understand
as a fellow athlete.

Tournaments end in a flash.

Being able to play your best
is part of it.

Just because you tried hard
or worked hard doesn't matter.

That's sports.

Say hi or something.

Are you playing Red Light, Green Light?

I don't play children's games.

Yeah, you do.

Should you be saying this?

I brought you a treat.

Did you actually make a bento for me?

I was planning to,

but I got lazy and bought
you snacks instead.

Oh, thank god.

I can eat this safely, then.

What are you trying to say?

Just how happy I am.

Sorry, I know you brought these for me.

It's fine.

Honestly, part of me thought

making it to nationals would be hard
at my skill level.

I thought having a lofty goal
would help motivate me.

It makes me feel like

I have no choice
but to work toward my goal.

And I think I've actually gotten better.

When I took a game off of Haryu Senpai,

I started to think
I could actually make it to nationals.

Maybe that means...

I was just fooling myself.

This is good. I'll get this one next time.

The way you keep looking forward,

putting your head down and working hard...

That's what makes you special.

PLAY FOR THE WIN!
HEART, SKILL, STRENGTH

I guess Sajikawa will win again this year.

Hyodo was too strong.

Haryu fought well,

plus he qualified for nationals
as a second year.

Once Hyodo retires next year,
he'll be the top dog.

But Yusa from Sajikawa
shows promise for next year too.

He may have lost to Hyodo this tournament,
but it was a close match.

I can't wait to see where it goes.

Winner, Mr. Hyodo
from Sajikawa High School.

I'll k*ll him at nationals.

That's his face after finishing second.

He probably can't stand
losing to Hyodo again.

Let's go eat.

Where's Taiki?

I was gonna treat him to lunch.

He already went home.

He's probably super depressed.

Yeah?

SHOPPING DISTRICT

I can't feel down forever.

I need to get my head back in the game
and practice hard.

Just keep at it!

Then I'll try again next year.

INOMATA

I'm still a first-year after all.

I have two more chances.

PREFECTURAL QUALIFIERS

Even if Chinatsu Senpai won't be here...

You're working so hard! It's amazing!

I'm so proud of you!

I'm rooting for you so hard!

You have to build your strength
before the nationals.

We'll have a feast tonight.

Thank you.

Oh, good.

Chinatsu Senpai made it to nationals.

I'm so glad.

Thank goodness!

She's amazing.

Amazing!

She accomplished what she set out to do.

That's so cool!

And yet...

And yet...

And yet...

Here I am.

I lost.