01x09 - You and the Cultural Stage.

[bunniefuu]

♪

Hikage dojo.

♪

[sighs]

[clanking]

[Naka gasps]

[clanking]

♪

That's not good enough.

What is your name?

Naka Hikage!

So it is.

Now tell me

your brother's name.

My brother

is called Tatsu Hikage.

That is correct.

We siblings are proud heirs

of the three-hundred-year-old

Hikage style of martial arts.

We must never fail

to demonstrate

our family's superior

self-discipline.

[NAKA]

I swear I will do my best

to live up

to our legacy, Brother.

Good, I expect no less.

♪

[NAKA] Once again

I've disappointed

my dear brother.

[footfall]

[TATSU]

That was far too close!

They're lucky

that mishap did not mar

my precious Naka's

adorable little face!

[KATSUDA FESTIVAL EMCEE]

We will now commence

the Ogiso Private

High School Katsuda

Grand Triple Festival!

The event for this year's

inter-class competition

is "cops and robbers"!

It starts at 2 P.M. sharp!

Join us to find out

which class will seize

a glorious victory!

[NISHIKI] Are you sure

you're okay with this?

This year,

you'll be the only cop.

These special rules mean

all of the other students

will be robbers.

Don't you think

that's too much of a handicap?

I'm not worried.

The real issue

is this "Yuki Yokoya."

She transferred in

as Hitoyoshi Yokoya's cousin.

Everything else

about her background

remains an enigma.

[TATSU]

Class 1-A.

The same one as my dear Naka.

[NISHIKI] She's participating

in today's competition.

Be careful.

Indeed.

It is possible that she's

one of our family's enemies

seeking out revenge.

I must know now.

So, I will be

investigating her personally

during my patrol.

♪

[door closes]

It's unusual for him

to handle this himself.

As suspected

Yuki Yokoya is likely

no mere student.

[NISHIKI] By the way,

what is Naka's class

doing for the event?

If I'm not mistaken.

Welcome to the

Mascot Cafe, meow!

[FEMALE STUDENT 9A]

Customers can choose

whichever headwear

they like best!

♪

[NAKA]

You see, the thing is,

I'm pretty sure my brother

doesn't like me very much.

By your brother

you mean President Hikage?

[NAKA]

Yes, him.

My brother has always

been obsessed with results,

a real perfectionist.

But me, I'm just his puny

and weak little sister.

[HITOYOSHI] I'm guessing that's

why you wanna win so badly?

That's right!

I know winning won't be easy,

but if I can show him

I'm capable

maybe he'll finally

see me as someone

who's a teeny

little bit worthy.

And also

[squeals]

Never mind, forget about it!

[HITOYOSHI] Sure seems like

Hikage has a hard time

talking in front of Ms. Yuki.

Don't worry!

Thanks to you, we scored

the info we needed

to win this thing.

True, winning

at cops and robbers

is about athletic prowess.

And each class has to choose

their best three participants.

[Yuki trembling]

[echoing]

You're Katsuda's Sauce?

[TAIGA (KATSUDA-MAN)]

I'm Katsuda-Man!

[HITOYOSHI]

Whoa, is that you, Taiga?

You're seriously

gonna compete like that?

Of course I'm gonna compete

dressed as the

invincible Katsuda-Man!

Oh, Kurokawa!

Wait and see!

[TAIGA] Yuki, Hikage,

and I are the golden trio!

We'll beat the crap

outta Mr. President for sure!

By the way, it occurs to me

that I've never really seen you

in action in any

of our gym classes.

That's because

I was always scared

I'd stand out too much.

[TOGETHER] Hmm.

[NAKA] Um, I'm not as fast

as my brother or anything,

but I'm really good at running.

I promise I won't let you down!

[YUKI] Do not worry.

- Uh?

- Hm?

When the outlook seemed bleak,

you parted all the clouds

with a ray of hope for victory.

I promise

to give it my all, too.

So let us join forces

to "beat the crap"

out of the student

council president.

Ms. Yuki.

Of course, you're right!

I will never "beat the crap"

out of my big brother

if I give up before I even try!

[YUKI] There!

That's the spirit!

[FEMALE STUDENT 9B]

Welcome to our cafe!

Let me get a menu for you.

[trembling]

[TATSU]

How dare you beguile my Naka,

teach her to use

such crude language

and scheme to drive a wedge

between two siblings!

Yuki Yokoya,

I will not forget this!

[birds chirping]

Taiga, so you're not really

competing as Katsuda-Man, yeah?

Sure, I am!

The Katsuda Festival

is all about the sauce!

It's on TV!

So, it's my chance to become

the number one local mascot!

[HITOYOSHI]

Dumbest idea ever.

Oh! TV!

I had forgotten

all about that part.

Is Ms. Yuki gonna be

cool being on camera?

Hey, Ms. Yuki, are you

[RIKO] Oh, I spy my big bro

and Ms. Yuki!

I looked everywhere for you!

Kobachi told me you've

all been slacking off bad.

[gasps]

What delinquents!

Yeah well we were in charge

of running the cafe

all morning,

so we're off duty

for the afternoon.

Ms. Yuki is in the

competition later.

[RIKO] Boo, so I can't see you

all at the cafe then?

[TAIGA] Sorry, kiddo!

[grunts]

You'll have to make do

with this little one.

Put me down now.

[RIKO] Aww, I get it.

Yeah, you got it, lil missy.

He's pouty.

Stop patting my head, Taiga!

- [laughing]

- That's it, I'm leaving!

Hey, we're sorry,

don't go, Kobachi!

Look at that.

You're all quite close,

aren't you?

Yes.

[laughing]

Say, um

Do you

have people you would

consider friends, Ms. Yuki?

Do I have friends?

Oh! Forgive me!

I didn't mean

to imply that you didn't.

I was just curious,

so I asked a dumb question!

[trembling]

[sighing]

Truth is

the one who doesn't

have friends here

is actually me.

[NAKA] If you

wouldn't mind terribly, um

[groans]

Could you maybe

be friends with me?

If that's okay.

[sighs]

Yes, sounds lovely.

Let's be friends.

[gasps]

[HITOYOSHI] Ms. Yuki!

[NAKA] I have a friend.

[HITOYOSHI] Riko wants

to go to the festival with us.

- [Naka giggles]

- Understood.

Then off we go.

Wanna come along, Hikage?

It'll be lotsa fun!

[NAKA] Sorry, I still have

lots of things to check,

so I've gotta go right now!

[panting]

Huh.

She seemed stoked on something.

What was that all about?

[sighs]

Master Hitoyoshi.

Perhaps you could explain

what it means

to be friends with someone.

[HITOYOSHI] Huh?

[Naka giggles]

[NAKA] I'm really

friends with Yuki now!

My own friend.

But wait, if she somehow

finds out about the real me,

we can still be friends,

can't we?

Just to be safe.

I've gotta win this competition

and show Yuki

how useful I can be!

♪

The Katsuda Festival

Executive Committee.

Their meeting room

is a bit far.

But if I focus, I should

still be able to hear them.

Competition rules?

♪

[gasps]

Ha?

[gasps]

Oh, no!

[crowd cheering]

Almost time

for today's main event.

The inter-class

cops-and-robbers competition

is about to begin!

We've got a special guest.

Say hi, Nazca!

Hello, Katsuda family!

Are you enjoying

that tasty sauce?

Nazca loves you!

[crowd cheering]

Today's rules are super simple!

[KATSUDA FESTIVAL EMCEE]

If President Hikage catches

all the robbers

and throws them in jail,

the cops win.

But if any escape,

the robbers win!

Don't forget,

to shake things up,

a robber can escape from jail

if they're touched by a free

robber from the same class.

My, doesn't that put

the robbers at an advantage?

Yep!

And there's one more rule,

which Nazca will be

announcing right now!

Here it is.

The new rule requires

the following.

All contestants must wear

whatever they wore

for their class store,

with absolutely no exceptions!

I'm sorry.

If I had gotten ahold

of this information sooner

we could have used it

to our advantage.

[NAKA]

I'm fine, but as for you two.

[TAIGA (KATSUDA-MAN)]

I was already planning

on rocking this getup, remember?

[Yuki sighs]

I'll tell you what a friend is.

♪

[YUKI] Ms. Hikage, you have

nothing to apologize for.

We're friends, after all.

And a friend is someone

who helps out

when their friend is in need.

So, let us work together

to claim victory

over your brother.

Ms. Yuki.

[YUKI] Besides.

It's kinda bulky,

but you can hide your face.

We don't want any other

assassins spotting you.

[YUKI] Master felt that

it would be ill-advised

for me to appear on television.

[TAIGA (KATSUDA-MAN)]

Katsuda-Man is here!

[YUKI] This mascot onesie

actually works in my favor.

[KATSUDA FESTIVAL EMCEE]

All righty!

Is everyone ready to roll?

The time limit

is fifteen minutes!

Which class will make Student

Council President Hikage

suffer cruel defeat?

[sighs]

♪

[TATSU]

Naka is so dang cute!

[NAKA] Hoppity hop!

Hm?

[Tatsu chuckles]

[TATSU] Smiley Smiley.

[sighs]

[gasps]

[screaming]

Is there something

bothering you?

[NAKA] No, I'm all right.

But if I look

at my brother right now,

I might lose my nerve

and freeze in place.

[TATSU]

Have I been shunned?

Why are you hiding

behind another?

Tell me, Naka!

Ya?

[gasps]

Her, Yuki Yokoya!

You are the root of all evil!

Your sins

shall not go unpunished!

Wow, it seems the prez

is totally fired up this year!

Yes, indeed!

[HITOYOSHI] The president

may be at a huge disadvantage,

but I can't help

feeling anxious.

Go get 'em, Ms. Yuki!

[KATSUDA FESTIVAL EMCEE]

Without further ado.

Robbers, please scatter!

[running footsteps]

[NISHIKI]

Why does Tatsu look so angry?

[MIZUCHI] Who knows?

[KATSUDA FESTIVAL EMCEE]

Um, excuse me!

Enome siblings, you're heading

straight for the cop!

It's not against the rules

to get caught on purpose.

[NISHIKI] As members

of the student council,

we can't afford to get injured.

So, we intend

to support our president

from within the jail.

Hurry up and begin.

Ahh, well, um.

Okay.

[KATSUDA FESTIVAL EMCEE]

As I was saying,

let the match begin now!

[growling]

What the?

[screaming]

[KATSUDA FESTIVAL EMCEE]

Holy moly, how unexpected!

We're witnessing

a superhuman power play!

What the what?

He's a human bulldozer!

This isn't good.

[KATSUDA FESTIVAL EMCEE]

The prez is unstoppable!

The robbers are losing

their will to fight!

[groaning]

Oh, come on, people!

What is this?

[KATSUDA FESTIVAL EMCEE]

We're just three minutes in,

and there are only

three robbers left!

And all three are from

Class 1-A's Mascot cafe!

[NAZCA] Yay,

fight the good fight,

Katsuda's Sauce!

[Taiga gasps]

[TAIGA] Whoa, Nazca

is looking right at me!

She's expecting greatness!

Oh, yeah!

You can count on Katsuda-Man!

You're going down!

I'm gonna destroy you, bro!

Because I am

[growling]

[screaming]

[gasping]

♪

[TATSU] You'll pay dearly

for ensnaring my sweet Naka.

Yuki Yokoya!

[screaming]

[thudding]

Um, Ms. Yuki?

Maybe we should split up now.

No.

It is far too late for that.

♪

[growls]

♪

Please, stop!

♪

Ah?

[TATSU]

What is this aura I feel?

No matter.

I'll shut you down,

here and now, for good!

[NAKA] I should escape

but

Yes sounds lovely.

Let's be friends.

[expl*si*n]

[TATSU] Ah!

That smoke could only be

[squeaks]

[TATSU] Ha?

- [screaming]

- Wait, what the heck?

What is even

going on right now?

An illusion!

One second,

there's a huge smokescreen,

and the next, bam!

The widdle bunny

went flying into the air

instead of the wolf!

[YUKI] Was that Ms. Hikage?

I'll tell you what a friend is.

Someone you can be

a complete fool around.

Ya get it?

[YUKI] A fool?

[HITOYOSHI]

Well, that's just one example.

People can have a bunch of

different kinds of friendships.

Back in the day, folks

called my friends and me

"The Three Stooges."

[YUKI] Can you only be friends

if you've been acquainted

for a long time?

Oh no, that definitely

isn't the case.

But you see,

I've been through

some especially

tough times in the past

and yet those two guys

never gave up on me.

[HITOYOSHI]

They changed my life,

and I could never

thank them enough.

So, I hope if they

ever need my help one day

I can be there for them just

like they were there for me.

Anyway, that's what

friendship means to me.

♪

Could you maybe

be friends with me,

if that's okay?

[YUKI] I believe I know

what friendship means.

[TATSU]

Darling Naka!

Try not to push yourself

too hard.

It is just a silly festival.

But you're wrong.

♪

This is important.

It means something.

♪

[Tatsu growling]

♪

[KATSUDA FESTIVAL EMCEE]

And with that bunny toss,

we're at the ten-minute mark!

The prez has completely frozen!

What in the world

is happening here?

Oh my gosh!

Is this one of those

showdown kind of things?

First to blink loses?

I can't believe

[HITOYOSHI]

I dunno, looks like the dude

is in a wicked state of shock.

But even weirder, Ms. Yuki

seems like she's distracted.

♪

[Tatsu grunting]

Little Naka.

[YUKI]

Winning is my top priority,

I need only evade him

for two more minutes.

One problem.

I must do so

while avoiding exposure.

And more pressingly,

I must avoid a man

who exudes the scent

of Katsuda's Sauce.

Is that aroma

intended to ensnare me?

Stay vigilant.

That girl's impressive.

She's giving Tatsu a hard time.

That's right,

Ms. Yuki is amazing.

Yeah, Ms. Yuki,

I know you can do it!

[Tatsu grunts]

[sighs]

[growling]

[KATSUDA FESTIVAL EMCEE]

That tense silence has been

broken at last!

The prez and the mysterious

wolf are evenly matched!

Just who is this person?

[TATSU] This woman

isn't giving an inch!

[YUKI] Takoyaki.

Okonomiyaki.

Yakisoba.

I'm so hungry.

[TATSU]

I don't know what foul plans

you have for Naka

but know this!

The bond between

the Hikage siblings

cannot be broken.

Not by the likes of you,

wolfie!

[grunts]

[YUKI]

I wonder what's for dinner.

There's just

one thing I don't get.

[trembling]

♪

How can you casually

hang around my sister

as though

you're already friends?

[TATSU] To be her friend

is to be special to her.

It's nonsense!

What do you know of her?

Nothing!

You don't know a single thing

about her pain and suffering!

It's just a matter of time

until you plunge her

into despair!

A friend is someone

Perhaps you could explain

what it means

to be friends with someone.

[Yuki whispers]

special.

So back off!

I'll stop you

before that happens.

[thudding]

[grunts]

No way.

Whoa, did she just throw Tatsu?

Oh jeez.

Prez was thrown to the ground

like an old sack of potatoes!

[KATSUDA FESTIVAL EMCEE] Who is

this mysterious wolf warrior?

Coward!

Don't you dare

run away from this!

[grunts]

I won't let you win!

Only twenty seconds left!

Is the wolf going

to attempt a prison break?

Go for it!

[gasps]

♪

[YUKI] Ms. Naka.

When I answered your request,

the truth is I did not truly

understand what friendship was.

Now, I do.

At least, I am starting to.

Because I have someone

who's special to me.

If I could become someone

like that to you one day,

that would make me happy.

And so I must ask,

if you don't mind,

will you be my friend?

[trembling]

[growls]

[whistle blowing]

♪

[KATSUDA FESTIVAL EMCEE]

Game over!

That was so intense!

All the way

until the final whistle!

[panting]

It's over?

I don't get what happened.

I'm pretty sure

that our class just won.

She tagged Hikage

to break her out of jail.

She must have done it

on purpose, yeah?

Yeah, maybe.

But aren't they

in the slammer right now?

They were both definitely

one-hundred thousand percent

in jail when that whistle blew.

So, Ms. Yuki maybe

didn't really understand

the rules in the end?

[KATSUDA FESTIVAL EMCEE]

The winner is President Hikage!

The student council,

class 2-E,

has won for the second year

in a row!

[crowd cheering]

Ha!

Now, let's go have a word

with that brave wolf!

What a great competition!

Don't stop rolling!

- [TOGETHER] Right!

- Man, not good!

[HITOYOSHI] If she gets

interviewed while catatonic,

they'll eat her for breakfast!

Talk to us, Prez.

Wolfie, what was going

through your heads back there?

[NAKA] Cameras.

Master felt it would be

ill-advised for me

to appear on television.

[Taiga groan]

[NAKA]

I have to help Ms. Yuki!

♪

[expl*si*n]

Ah, it's that pink

smokescreen again!

You monster!

You made my sister

- Ah?

- Aw, man!

It's an angry gorilla!

Where on Earth

is that cursed woman?

[RIKO] Where's Ms. Yuki?

I can't see anything

with all this smoke!

Today's been so weird.

- [NAKA] Hey, Yokoya!

- Huh?

- Ms. Yuki is Katsuda-Man.

- Ah?

[NAKA] Now please

help me get this giant

condiment out of here.

[HITOYOSHI] Of course!

[HITOYOSHI] Riko, you too!

[RIKO] Roger that!

♪

[MALE FESTIVAL GOER 9A ]

Okay?

[MALE FESTIVAL GOER 9B]

For real, what's going on?

[NAKA] I'm so sorry.

It's all my fault

we lost back there.

[YUKI] No, it was all due

to my own misunderstanding.

[groans]

I know just how it happened.

[YUKI] All I could think

about was saving you.

Ha!

[YUKI] You should know

that I wanted you

to like me as well.

And so,

let's share responsibility

like we share friendship.

Oh, okay!

- [TATSU] Naka!

- Ha?

- [NAKA] Big Brother?

- You must be feeling exhausted.

Let us go home.

[NAKA] Yes, sir!

[TATSU]

This cunning woman

refuses to leave

my sister alone.

I mustn't take her lightly!

Be warned!

I will show no mercy

to those like you

who would dare lead

others astray, Yuki Yokoya.

[NAKA]

What he means is, "Good night!"

- [YUKI] Ms. Naka!

- Hm?

Good night!

I will see you at school, okay?

[gasps]

[giggles]

All right!

See ya later!

♪

[laughing]

[crowd cheering]

♪

[HITOYOSHI] Ms. Yuki!

[YUKI] Yes, Master?

Aren't you going to the show?

I'll watch here.

Thank you.

[sighs]

[HITOYOSHI] Be honest.

Are you doing all right?

♪

I thought you might be down.

Y'know, after losing

the cops and robbers game.

♪

I know I should be

disappointed,

but I can't help feeling

something else instead.

[YUKI] For a while now.

Since I learned

of the Katsuda Festival,

my heart's been fluttering.

It won't stop.

It's a slightly

different sensation

than being with you, Master.

And after the battle

was finally over,

I felt this strange emotion.

And you don't

want it to end.

- That right?

- Yeah.

♪

If you ask me,

you were just having

a whole lotta fun.

You were so excited

you misunderstood the rules.

♪

[YUKI] I see.

This whole time.

I was really and truly

having fun.

It is going to end soon.

The festival.

[HITOYOSHI]

I mean, this was only

our first cultural

festival together.

We lost this year, yes,

but there is always next year.

Next year?

We can devise

an even better plan of attack

and take our revenge

against the president's class!

I've never had to think

as far ahead

as next year before.

[YUKI] I lived as though

I could die at any moment.

But here,

my former reality feels

as distant as a fading dream.

In this world, you can

reach out for tomorrow

and a future

with infinite possibilities.

I can think about things

like tonight's dinner

and make arrangements

to see my friends again

because the future is mine.

Speaking of dinner,

I'm starving.

I think I want tonkatsu!

How about you?

[Yuki chuckles]

♪

You know something?

♪

[YUKI]

I feel the exact same way.

[wind howling]