01x01 - A Genius on the Ice

[bunniefuu]

[TV viewer narrating] On the ice,

it's hard for even the world's

best athletes to land

every move successfully.

There are so many elements to consider.

But if you can do tricks

that other skaters never could,

if you can dance so beautifully and freely

that it makes people forget

you're on the ice at all,

that's real magic.

That's what it means

to be a world-class figure skater.

[spectators cheering]

In order to reach that beautiful moment,

little kids from all over jumped right in,

too young to realize that

achieving their dreams means

that they and their families will

have to pay a great and terrible price.

[cheering stops]

A GENIUS ON THE ICE

[sighs]

Four o'clock already.

No wonder there are

so many kids out on the ice.

-[clanks]

-[groans]

[grunts]

[crying]

[whimpering]

-[wails]

-[grunts]

At least say you're sorry.

[crying]

[skater] She's got to be about five.

If I had started when I was that young,

I'd be in a way more successful

position right now.

You're 14? And you're a total beginner?

You can just forget it.

[sighs]

-[grunts, groans]

-[gasps]

-[grunting]

-[whimpering]

[skater] I'm going home.

Came all the way from Yokohama

because they said there was a skating job,

and now they don't even want to talk?

What am I supposed to do?

Just hang around until tomorrow?

Guess I could go to a net café.

-[door opens]

-Huh?

[door creaks]

[breathes shakily]

Okay. What's a kid doing

behind the rental counter?

[grunts]

[child chuckling, humming]

[skater] Hello there.

[gasps]

Sorry to bother you.

I just want to ask you

a couple of questions.

[breathing shakily]

-So, where are your parents?

-[gasps]

Let's take a look at your entry ticket,

why don't we?

[gasps]

Oh, dear. Did you pay?

[gasping]

-Hey! Where are you going?

-[panting]

I have to have a whole a*s job

to pay for these entrance fees.

I don't care if she is a little kid,

no one skates for free on my watch!

-[panting]

-You get back here!

-Please. Wait, sir. Let me explain.

-What?

[panting, grunting]

[gasps]

[skater] No way.

[grunts] Dang it!

[grunts] Come on.

She can't have gotten that far yet.

-[metal clangs]

-Huh?

Must be hearing things.

Huh? Huh?

-[whimpering]

-Hey! What do you think you're doing?

Get down from there.

-[gasps]

-[rubble clattering]

[screaming]

[grunts]

[groans]

-[groaning]

-[child crying]

-[splashing]

-[crying continues]

Please don't die.

Stop crying. I'm fine.

-Really, I'm not hurt or any-- [gurgling]

-[crying continues]

-[gurgling intensifies]

-[gasps]

So you're giving bags of worms

to the old guy at the reception desk,

and because he lets you

into the rink with that,

you're technically not skating for free.

Is that it? Because--

Please believe me.

I'm telling you the truth!

He has lots of pet birds

and so I dig them up.

See? I've got them right here.

Whoa! Okay!

I believe you, now put them away.

I'd bet money he's just using that

as an excuse to be nice to her.

I'm kind of surprised

they managed to get away with it.

No one's caught on?

Hey, uh, you're trembling pretty bad.

Are you feeling okay?

I don't like wiggly stuff

like worms and snakes,

so please keep those away from me forever.

Okay.

-[skater] Anyhow…

-Huh?

You did run away, which means that

you must know what you're doing is wrong.

[sighs]

You really need to quit that.

If everyone tried to pay with worms,

the skating rink would go broke.

-Okay.

-[skater] At least she listens.

Hmm? Hey.

That book…

Oh, yes!

Talk about a blast from the past.

I had this book too.

[gasps] These notes…

RIGHT LEG FORWARD/

OUTSIDE/THREE-TURN

[child] Yeah.

I really want to do figure skating.

But my mom says I can't

because she doesn't want me to get hurt.

So I thought if I just followed the book,

I could learn by myself.

-Have you told her that?

-Huh?

Did you tell your mom

how badly you want to skate?

[gasps]

[sighs]

Here, take this.

It's a list of phone numbers for

all the figure skating clubs in Nagoya.

Talk to your mom and have her reach out

to see which one might have

the right program for you.

Which skating club do you coach at?

I could just go to yours.

Huh? Wait. Who, me?

Yeah.

I'm not a coach.

You wouldn't want me anyway.

-[beeping]

-Huh?

It's already 6:00?

[grunts] Anyway, no more worms.

You hear me?

[stammers] Yes, sir.

[skater grunts]

-Hey, what grade are you in?

-Huh?

The fifth.

[skater] So ten or 11?

If you're serious about going pro,

you're right at the cutoff age.

[gasps]

I mean it. Talk to your mom

first thing, okay?

-See ya.

-[footsteps depart]

Hi, Mom.

Welcome back.

You were out for a long time.

Yeah.

I want to ask. Can you--

[Mom] I can't help you

with your homework right now.

I'll review it after dinner, okay?

-Okay.

-[paper rustles]

[birds chirping]

GROUP PRESENTATIONS

-[chattering]

-[child] Sorry, what should I be doing?

[student 1] Huh?

You don't have to do anything.

[student 2] You wouldn't be

very good at it anyway.

[student 3] It'll be fine. We can do

the whole presentation ourselves.

[student 1] You can just sit and wait.

[sighs] Okay.

Did your drawing turn out good?

Yeah, it's good enough.

[sighs]

I just want to go skate.

[gasps, grunts]

I'll dig up a whole bunch of worms.

Then I can skate as long as I want.

What you're doing is wrong,

and I think you know it.

You're gonna have to cut that out.

[child gasps]

[sobs]

[skater] If you're serious

about going pro,

you're right at the cutoff age.

[sobbing continues]

ICE SKATING RINK

[skater] An assistant coach?

[colleague] Yeah.

The fact that you went to nationals

for ice dancing,

and the fact that you did that with me,

if I recommend you for this,

they're going to hire you on the spot.

-[sighs] I don't know.

-What?

You don't want to?

I'm not qualified.

The only reason I made it to nationals

in the first place was because of you.

Ice dancing is

a two-person sport, Tsukasa.

Yeah. But that was just a fluke.

So what? You're going to work dead-end

part-time jobs until you pass auditions?

[sighs]

Look, you're 26 years old and you're not

making much of a living right now.

[grunts]

I'm not saying you should quit doing

ice shows if that's what you want to do.

Only, being an assistant coach

is just as good a skating job.

-[grunts]

-[door opens]

-[person] Excuse me.

-[Tsukasa] Huh?

Are you Coach Takamine

from Lux Higashiyama?

I'm Yuitsuka.

I called earlier asking to meet.

-Oh! Yes, hello!

-[Tsukasa grunts]

I've been expecting you. Come in.

Oh, good. This won't take very long.

Inori.

[Inori grunts]

-[shouts]

-[all gasp]

What? Do you know this girl?

Uh, yeah, kind of.

Then why don't you sit and talk with us?

I bet you'll pick up the coaching role

before you even know it.

[Tsukasa] Here, want a snack?

[whispers] I see you told her after all.

Great job.

-[Inori sighs]

-Hmm?

FIGURE SKATING SCHOOL

[colleague] Take a look.

I recommend this school for beginners.

The lesson fees here are low

if she's enrolled once a week.

It would take a full two years

for her to graduate though.

Oh, I see you've done your research.

Well, I know because my

eldest daughter used to figure skate.

Oh, is that so?

Yes, I started her when she was only five.

-[skate grates]

-[crash]

[both gasp]

[Ms. Yuitsuka] She had worked so hard.

But she had an accident and had to quit.

You see? I couldn't bear to put Inori

through all that too.

Besides, she's not doing

very well in school.

Her teachers have been worried

about her grades for a long time already.

To add skating on top of all that

would just be too much.

[Tsukasa] Then why are you--

She's been so insistent about it.

So I'm taking her to different clubs.

I figured if the coaches tell her "no",

then maybe she'll finally drop it.

[gasps]

Well, it's just a theory, but if she joins

a club and starts private lessons--

-What for?

-[gulps]

Her sister did this for years,

so I know how the figure skating world is.

There's no way she'll be able to catch up.

Her peers will all have started

at five or six and she'll be left behind.

[Tsukasa sighs]

Inori, look out there.

See how good they are.

So small and already practicing jumps.

Think of how miserable you'd be

if you joined them.

-Wouldn't you be embarrassed?

-[sniffles, cries]

[gasps]

You know what?

Let's just see what she can do.

Uh, but…

I'm not ready to believe she's hopeless.

I'll decide that for myself.

[breathes shakily]

-Hey there, Coach. A word, please.

-[gasps]

I'm sorry.

I couldn't just sit there

and listen to that any longer.

Check out the big brain on you, smarty.

You're going to butter up that kid and

toss her right in the club, aren't ya?

See? I know what I'm talking about.

You're going to be

a great assistant coach.

No. My mouth just started moving

before I had a chance

to think about what I was saying.

-But be careful what you say to her!

-[gasps]

The eyes of the ice moms

are ever watchful.

If they think one of our coaches

is playing favorites,

I'm never gonna hear the end of it.

I know how loud you can get,

so I need a verbal confirmation

that you get it.

Yeah. I got it.

Good. And I don't need to remind you

how expensive figure skating can be

for those who take it seriously.

If she can't hack it, her family

will suffer just as much as her.

Just keep that in mind.

I know.

Doesn't look like we have a 21 back there,

so are you okay with a 22?

Uh-huh.

[Tsukasa] That is not a happy face.

I wish I could cheer her up,

but I have to remember what Hitomi said.

-[Inori] I'm really sorry.

-Huh?

I should have told my mom a long time ago,

because if I had,

maybe I would actually have a chance.

I wasted so much time.

[applause]

[Tsukasa] If I had only started earlier…

[sighs]

Let's get these on.

[gasps] Mm-hmm.

[Tsukasa] I talked to you

like I knew better,

but I couldn't tell my parents

when I was young either.

Huh?

You're brave. Way more than you know.

[gasps]

-[chattering]

-[breathes shakily]

[Tsukasa] All right. Are you ready?

I think so.

Wait. What about her helmet?

Oh! Hey! Wait a sec!

She's fast.

She's just gliding, but it looks like

she's leaving a trail of stars behind her.

Who is this girl?

She's a completely different

person on the ice!

[giggles]

If you ask me, she's got it.

-Huh?

-Huh?

And you're not forcing compliments

just so she'll join the club, right?

[chuckles] Of course not.

-Tsukasa! Choose your words wisely!

-[Tsukasa grunts]

[clears throat]

Okay then.

Let's test you on some of the basics.

Forward swizzle. Know it?

Yeah.

[Tsukasa] Single forward.

Backward swizzle.

T-stop.

-See, she doesn't need skating school!

-[Inori gasps]

Let's admit her to the club right now.

Hey! Keep it down!

I don't know that

I've ever been more stunned.

When did she get so good?

[Tsukasa] Two-foot slalom.

Forward crossover.

[shouts] I'm telling you! She's a natural!

Would you stop yelling?

Yeah. She's got no fear in her at all.

I've already seen her do stuff that a

normal beginner would be too scared to do.

All self-taught.

All right, what do you say

we try a little skating?

[Inori] Skating?

I thought that's what I was doing.

[panting]

You are, but I'll show you how a figure

skater moves all fancy and graceful.

Look here. You're going to be using

both edges of the blade on the skates

for different things.

The inside edge

and this is the outside edge.

The first step to skating

is to distinguish

how they're used to propel you.

[grunts]

First, place your feet

at a 45-degree angle. Like this.

Then, firmly bend your knees,

stick your arms out.

Now lean your ankle in

towards your big toe,

then you're on the inside edge.

And then push off the ice

with the entire blade.

Now eventually,

you'll be able to raise your free leg.

That looks really cool.

But that takes muscle,

so don't push yourself at first.

[gasps] Wow. Long legs.

Once you start moving,

stretch the gliding leg all the way up

and bring your free leg in to meet it.

When you're steady on both legs,

you can lean your gliding leg

to the inside edge this time

and push off again.

Glide along until you're ready to

bring that leg back in and repeat like so.

-Now you give it a try.

-[Inori] Uh, do my leg like this…

[shakily] Um, I'm not moving at all.

Am I doing this right? [whimpers]

Yeah, if you lean forward like that,

that's what puts on the brakes.

Just try to keep your head up.

Keep my head… [grunts]

Hey, kid! That looked painful.

Are you okay?

[grunts, inhales]

My mom was right.

I guess I can't do this after all.

[Tsukasa] This girl's moods

are kind of extreme.

This isn't something

you can master on your first day.

No one can.

You have to find your center,

keep practicing

and refine it every time you skate.

Before you know it, you'll be flying.

-Let's try again.

-[sighs]

[chuckles] Yeah!

Bend your knees and push!

Now try to straighten

your leg out a little more.

[grunts] Okay.

She's picking it up so fast.

This is fun!

Inori, you're doing amazing!

[gasps]

What did you say?

Did you just compliment me, Mom?

I said you're doing amazing.

You've really impressed me, Inori.

And it's so good to see you smile again.

-[gasps] Does that mean that I can--

-Absolutely not.

-What?

-What?

I've made up my mind.

And I do not want my daughter

to figure skate.

-[Tsukasa stutters] But you just--

-Inori's sister worked so hard.

From the time she was five, she had

absolutely no time to play or be a kid.

She gave everything to this sport.

And in the end… [sighs]

And in the end,

she had nothing to show for it.

[Tsukasa sighs]

I just think Inori hasn't

found a dream other than skating yet.

I want her to experience

other things she could enjoy.

I don't want her time or money wasted.

I'm trying to do

what's best for my daughter.

[Hitomi sighs]

She's got a point.

It's going to be hard

to start skating at 11.

I should know.

She could still find something

with a lower barrier of entry.

-Something else she could love.

-[Inori] I…

I don't like myself right now. [cries]

Inori?

[gasping, crying]

Listen to me. I've always wanted…

I've always wanted to skate,

no matter what it takes.

[crying continues]

I-I know that skating is really hard.

I know a lot of people quit. I get it.

And I know that I'm causing

a lot of trouble for you, Mom.

And my teachers too.

I feel so bad all the time.

I don't want to make you worry.

I don't want to complain.

And I know I'm not

very good at anything. [sobs]

But I've always wanted to do this!

It's the only thing that makes me happy!

When I think about skating,

I can ignore all the bad stuff at school.

I get to think,

"I could do something they can't."

But I can't do it either.

I'm just faking it.

[sobbing] I'm just useless!

But I want to be better.

I want to have something I'm not bad at.

Something I love

where no one's going to talk down to me.

I want to have something

that I'm actually good at.

I don't want to be embarrassed of myself!

I just want to skate.

[sobbing continues]

[Tsukasa sighs]

-Ms. Yuitsuka.

-Huh?

Let's just get her a*s in here already.

Beg your pardon?

Watch your language!

Here's the thing.

I can't guarantee that she's going to

become an Olympic athlete or anything.

And yet, she already has everything she

needs to be successful as a figure skater.

She has dedication for the rink.

And it's true.

Figure skating takes up way more time

and money than other extracurriculars do.

So if you want to overcome that,

your skater is going to need

a lot of optimism and an iron will.

But the other children have been skating

for so much longer.

[Tsukasa] You keep saying that, but look.

[wailing] I wanna go home.

Most kids that age

can't practice a damn thing.

You can't act like

they're serious about it.

-[Ms. Yuitsuka grunts]

-I'm begging, be quiet.

Am I stupid?

Why did I hesitate?

I should have jumped in way sooner.

I know how this girl feels

better than anyone.

It never mattered how old

or how insecure I was.

I wasn't going to give up!

What was it? What did I need back then?

What was I hoping for?

[grunts]

Screw it, then! If you let her stay,

I'll teach her myself!

Let me be her skating coach! I'm begging!

-[Ms. Yuitsuka breathes shakily]

-[Hitomi gasps]

This girl has learned some much already

entirely on her own.

She can absolutely still catch up!

She's got loads of talent,

and I know she'll only get better.

She's not afraid to get hurt.

She has great core strength.

She listens. And she has the ambition.

As long as you can bring her to practice,

we can take care of the rest, okay?

I think your daughter is going to be

an incredible skater some day.

In fact,

mark my words.

I'm going to make her a qualifier

in the National Championship.

I'll do whatever it takes!

[breathing heavily]

[gasps]

[screams]

[stammers] You really mean that?

Then sure, if you insist, Coach.

[gasps]

[gasps]

Let's do it!

[crying]

-Isn't that great?

-[crying continues]

Oh, hey, uh, what's your name?

-Inori.

-Huh?

I'm Inori Yuitsuka!

[gasps]

[chuckles]

-[sighs]

-[Tsukasa] That's a very good name.

[chuckles]

[bell chiming]

[student] Rise.

-Bow.

-[Inori] See you!

She took off.

I've never seen her act like that before.

Yeah, she's been a lot happier than usual.

-[Inori panting]

-I guess she has something fun going on.

[Hitomi] Do you have any idea

what you put me through?

The other parents have been

breathing down my neck all week. It sucks.

You can't make it sound like

you're giving her preferential treatment.

-Do you hear me?

-What?

Oh, yeah. Don't worry about it.

Maybe I'll stop worrying about it

when you stop making me worry about it,

you absolute baboon.

-[Inori] I'm here, Coach!

-Huh?

I'm ready to go!

[gasps]

Now that's a gold medal smile, kid!

What did I literally just tell you

not to do?