01x09 - I'll Be Rooting for You

[bunniefuu]

INOMATA

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...

Winner, Mr. Yusa
from Sajikawa High School.

And yet...

And yet...

Here I am.

I lost.

BLUE BOX

BLUE BOX

EPISODE 9
I'LL BE ROOTING FOR YOU

Hurry!

Wait!

Hurry up!

OYASU SHRINE

I can't do it anymore.

I've hit my limit.

I'll just have to give up.

Screw final exams!

FINALS IN 7 DAYS

Why is there a test
right after our tournament?

That's why I told you
to study little by little.

Let's go to practice now.

Studying little by little
is the hardest thing to do.

You make it sound easy.

You wouldn't understand.

Quit sulking.

Were you waiting long?

Not at all.

Which category are you entering?

Maybe recitation?

MATHEMATICS

I still have practice during finals.

I have no motivation to study
once I get home.

But you find time to work out.

Hina!

ENGLISH

Mind not talking to me right now?

I'm using all my brainpower
to study English vocab.

Glad I'm not the only one.

Don't group me in with you!

I've never failed a test before!

- I've never--
- Eighth grade, first semester.

I had a stomachache!

Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say.

- Don't give up!
- Keep going!

- Over here!
- Okay!

The girls' basketball team
is practicing already.

- Keep moving!
- Okay!

Focus!

- Defense!
- Ready?

Nationals are less than two months away.

Their practices go even later than usual.

MATHEMATICS

We can't lag behind.

Now, it's time to forget about studying
and focus on practice!

He's not over it yet, is he?

He tried to brush it off,

saying he knew it was possible
that he'd lose the prefectural qualifiers.

But Chinatsu Senpai made it to nationals.

I bet it's awkward at home.

Doesn't seem like he's had much chance
to talk to her, though.

They've been busy with exams and practice.

Right.

She's not the type
to take joy in something like this.

Taiki will be fine.

That's one of his greatest strengths.
He can get over anything quick.

You're right.

Everyone, gather round.

Kengo Haryu,
congrats on making it to nationals!

Thank goodness.

I would've hated to see Sajikawa
take all the spots.

Seriously?

It's thanks to all of you, really.

I'll probably be a pain
until the nationals,

but I hope I can count on your help.

Bring it in!

I'll pass.

What? Come on!

I guess no doubles for a while.

Probably not.

Okay...

Now that the tournament's over,

I want everyone to write their goals
and pin them up here.

Goals, huh? What should I put?

Well, you want it
to be something big, right?

WITH FORTITUDE AND RESOLUTION
- KASAHARA

What's that even say?

"With fortitude and resolution."

There we go.

Seriously, Nishida?

MAKE NATIONALS!!
- NISHIDA

Rewrite it if you made a mistake.

The important thing
is that it's heartfelt!

What about you, Haryu?

WIN NATIONALS [THIS YEAR IF POSSIBLE]
- HARYU

Could you not post yours above mine?

Let's post yours on the ceiling.

Like he's above all of us?

Yeah.

There.

Taiki, can I get the tape?

Sure.

INCREASE MY SMASH PRECISION
- INOMATA

Actually, add "Don't fail any tests"
on there.

I can't write down something I can't do.

Nishida, you're hopeless.

Here.

Thanks.

Fight!

Who said that so fluently?

Fight!

Am I getting a cold?

I should take a break.

Welcome home, Chinatsu.

Practicing late, huh?

Sorry it's so late.

It's totally fine! Don't worry about us.

It's all for nationals!

Thank you.

TAIKI
CHINATSU

It's over!

We worked really hard!

Yeah.

And we never missed practice
despite having finals.

No matter the results,

just getting through it
is an accomplishment.

- Yeah!
- Yeah!

Let's go celebrate by getting some food.

Sounds good.

Nishida's treat!

I'm down!

Why would I treat you?

What do you want to do, Taiki?

I'll pass.

You okay?

Just a little sleep deprived.

I'll be fine after a nap.

It's back to working hard
at practice tomorrow.

Good work, everyone!

- See ya!
- Bye.

- We should go too.
- Yeah.

INOMATA

My head hurts.

I think I have a fever.

I want a sports drink.

But nobody else is home.

I absolutely cannot pass this on
to Chinatsu Senpai.

Oh, crap.

It's bringing back...

bad memories.

I managed to push it
from my mind during finals.

If I felt well,

I'd go clear my head by running.

Please make it to the nationals!

Thank you, Taiki Inomata.

Don't go treasuring it too much.

I'll win next time.

That's the spirit!

I think Taiki's going to be good.

Okay!

So stop overthinking things
and go show them what you can do.

Please...

Please let both Chinatsu Senpai
and me make it to nationals.

Taiki, score!

I'm so lame.

No, you're not.

You're burning up.

Good work.

Chinatsu Senpai?

Don't come near me! I'm not feeling well.

I can't pass this on to you.

- Please leave!
- I'm fine.

Now, calm down before you get even sicker.

Yes, ma'am.

COOLING PATCH

Come in.

We had udon noodles,
so I made you something to eat.

Noodles?

Chinatsu Senpai's homemade cooking?

Okay.

Yukiko won't be home until late.

Sorry, it's nothing fancy.

Thank you.

Her home cooking.

Thank you for the food.

My nose is too stuffed to taste anything.

Just let me know
if you want anything else.

Thank you.

Nothing.

It's been a while
since we've been this close.

Is two pills the right amount?

Um...

I'm really okay now.

You can go back to your room.

I'll stay until you fall asleep.

You might get worse.

But I'm not sleepy.

Then, can we talk?

We haven't talked lately
because of all the tournaments and tests.

Besides, remember what you told me?

You said you wanted to ask me something
once the tournament was over.

Chinatsu Senpai.

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

Did I now?

Hey, don't play dumb!

I'm not.

It's just that...

I had the confidence to ask before.

Seeing Chono made me jealous.

Then can I ask you something instead?

Sure.

Today, I looked
at the badminton team's goals.

I thought you would write
that you wanted to make nationals.

So I was wondering why you didn't.

Well...

There were a number of times
in my match that I thought,

"If only I'd landed that smash."

I feel like maybe nationals
was a little out of my reach.

When I played in the tournament,

I realized how many
players were better than me.

You learned how tough
nationals was as a freshman.

And you were still prepared to take it on.

I just wanted to go, just wanted to win.

I didn't realize I was out of my depth.

Did you just... laugh at me?

Sorry!

So even you think about stuff like that.

Thanks for the meal.

You're welcome.

I mean, I thought you did.

But you never showed it.

That's not...

It's the new you.

Having a lofty goal
while still seeing yourself as you are.

But a lofty goal for me now...

You said I was prepared.

There was always
a little voice in my head...

telling me I was out of my depth

or that it was all just impossible.

So that preparedness turned into pressure.

I always thought
it'd be so much easier to give up.

And then hated myself for thinking that.

But I knew
that I wanted to go to nationals.

That drive helped me get up early.

If there are things you want to do,
things you want to become,

then I want you to value that.

I don't want you to be afraid
to have lofty goals.

No matter how out of your depth you feel,
if that's what drives you,

then it's enough.

And I want to root for people like that.

Are you okay?

Yes.

Sorry. You should go to sleep.

You know...

this is what I like about her.

It's because she has firsthand experience

of struggling with these issues
and working through them

that she can empathize with others.

And be kind to them.

I'll be sure to add to my goal sheet.

Copy that.

Okay, I'll go wash these.

Let me do that.

No, you just rest.

But...

I'm sorry.

I got dizzy.