01x14 - What's the Connection?

[bunniefuu]

BLUE BOX

EPISODE 14
WHAT'S THE CONNECTION?

In the second round tomorrow,

you'll be up against last year's champion,
Minatozaki Academy.

Honestly, it's going to be a tough game.

But they're not unbeatable.

Just stay focused and don't back down.

Yes, Coach!

Nagisa! Chinatsu!

We'll be counting on you two tomorrow.

We won the first round
thanks to all the points you scored.

We couldn't have done it
without your great assists.

Well, let's hope you can do it
with or without our assists.

She can't be serious.

By the way, did you hear?

Yoshitani Senpai and Koike Senpai

are going to retire after nationals.

What?

They want to concentrate on their exams.

So we have to do our best

to stay in this tournament
as long as possible.

Not that I heard this from them directly.

It's just a rumor.

Natsu curled up like a pill bug!

FYI!

I haven't seen her like this
since our last junior high game.

CHINATSU CURLS UP UNDER PRESSURE!

Ms. Chinatsu, you don't have
to shoulder all of this.

I can't do it.

This is because
she always keeps things bottled up.

But I guess Chinatsu chose to separate
from her family to reach nationals.

And she's only a second-year,

but she's our top scorer.

She's carrying a huge load.

Nagisa.

Basketball's fun, right?

Of course.

Right?

For a while now, I've had this anxiety
in the back of my mind.

But after winning the first round
and feeling that adrenaline rush...

I know what you mean.

It's because of all the time
we put in practicing.

Yoshitani Senpai passes me the ball,

then Koike Senpai sets a screen
on my defender so I can take a shot.

If I miss, you're there
to grab the rebound.

It made me feel like

I wanted to play basketball
like that forever.

Well, that's not possible.

Now get up already!

Can't you let me lie here a little longer?

You can't play basketball lying down.

Keep this up and you'll make
your poor ankle bracelet cry.

Don't worry.

I'll be good to go tomorrow.

You'd better be.

Taiki, the court's open.

Okay!

So, Hyodo won it all in the end, huh.

I bet Haryu feels better
knowing he lost to the champion.

Never say that to him.

Now the girls' basketball team
is the only one left in nationals.

I think their game starts at 4:00.

What about Chono?

Do you know her results?

She hasn't texted me or anything.

I messaged her before her meet, but...

Hey!

They're working on the gym today.

You need to be out of here by 4:00.

Yes, Coach!

I don't think I forgot anything.

I wonder if Chinatsu Senpai
is warming up right now.

That's bad luck!

I have to make one by 4:00!

My luck doesn't matter.

I'm sure Chinatsu Senpai
will make her shots.

She practiced so much every day.

She's one year older,

goes at her own pace,

and keeps strangely distant...

Though I never know what she's thinking,

she can be surprisingly childish

and almost overly considerate.

She hates to lose,

and when she plays basketball,

she's incredibly cool.

That's the Chinatsu Senpai

I...

love.

What the heck am I doing?!

Practicing my love confession
feels so creepy!

I didn't want to hear this part of me!

Especially not in public!

I can't even tell her anything directly!

Now I feel even worse about everything.

Whatcha doing over there, weirdo?

Hina!

Yo!

The gym's closed for today.

I already knew that!

They told me to report my results
to the principal.

Our school's a real stickler
for that stuff.

So... how did you do?

Taiki.

Treat me to taiyaki.

Taiyaki?

The game between

Minatozaki Academy and Eimei High
will begin shortly.

Let's have a good game.

I thought it was weird
that you wanted taiyaki in the summer.

I didn't expect that.

There's no way red bean and ice cream
wouldn't go together!

This is my little treat
now that nationals are over!

Sweet, sweet sugar!

She hasn't told me her results.

Did she not do that well?

If she had done well,
she would've told me right away.

It almost seems like she's eating to cope.

By the way, I finished third.

Third?

At nationals.

I just realized I hadn't told you yet.

She's being way too nonchalant!

Third is amazing!

That's third in the whole country!

You think I'm satisfied with third?

My apologies.

It's better than I've finished before,

and I know that my performance
has improved as well.

So next year,

I'll do even better.

Not being satisfied with third
is what makes you amazing.

But from the outside,
third is plenty impressive.

Let me celebrate your achievement.

Congratulations.

Thanks.

That's not her usual expression.

Let's go eat at the park.

Hold on.

They're probably in the third quarter now.

MINATOZAKI - EIMEI

That was delicious!

Thanks for the treat.

You're welcome.

The swings are open!

I'm glad she's having fun.

Stop!

What?

I could almost see your underwear.

What?!

I'm wearing shorts underneath!

That's not the issue!

You're a girl!

You should be more careful!

It's not like you...

to treat me like a girl.

Why wouldn't I?

You're a girl after all.

You worried about the time?

Not really...

Is Chinatsu Senpai playing today?

Yeah, she is.

The fourth quarter
should be starting about now.

They're up against last year's champions.

It's a really big game for them.

I see.

Not that I can do anything about it.

Then let's see who can kick
their shoe the farthest.

What's the connection?

Chinatsu Senpai's battling it out.

So the connection is that you should too.

But don't look at my panties.

I wouldn't.

If you lose,

you have to reveal an embarrassing secret.
Something you've never told anyone.

We're adding stakes to this?

By the way, I know about what happened
at training camp in junior high.

Stop!

You start.

Well, as long as Hina's having fun...

But it feels like

she's acting differently today.

That went pretty far.

You wish.

You need to work on your distance,
not height.

What are you, an expert?

EIMEI

MINATOZAKI

My turn next.

Natsu!

Go ahead, kick it out of the park.

Go!

Watch this!

I've never told anyone this.

I love you.

MINATOZAKI - EIMEI

It didn't come true.

It didn't come true at all.

I love you, Taiki.

You mean like...

Romantically?

Romantically.

I bet you let your guard down
because we're besties!

Well, nobody's more surprised than me.

Me, in love with Taiki, of all people?

How 'bout that? Surprise!

What's with that face?

It was so unexpected
that I don't know what to say.

This is the first time
someone's ever confessed their love to me.

Honestly, I'm flustered.

This is so out of the blue.

I already know
that you like Chinatsu Senpai.

You don't need to give me an answer now.

I just thought that if I didn't tell you,
nothing would ever change.

Don't look at me as a friend anymore,

but as a girl who likes you.

Okay, time for me to go home now.

Treat me to a parfait next time
when I get first place!

Hina!

Someone saying they love you
is so nerve-racking!

Hina likes me?

Were there any signs?

I mean, since when?

Did she have feelings for me
during the fireworks festival?

Say that again!

Just thinking that she... loved me then...

really hits me in the chest.

Now that I think about it,
I'm kind of horrible.

So, she liked me then too?

...is...

what makes you cool.

She's a good person.

As a friend, as an athlete,
as a human being.

She's easy to talk to, earnest,
and someone you can admire.

And someone like that loves...?

INOMATA

Don't do that in public.

Don't do what, exactly?

Work out.

That's not what I'm doing.

I'm home.

I didn't want Mom to see me
thinking about my love life.

By the way, I got a call.

Chinatsu lost.

Give her your condolences
when she gets home.

Okay.

CHINATSU

What the heck.

I feel so guilty...

even though I didn't do anything.

How am I supposed to act
the next time I see her?

I have no idea.

Good thing there's
no rhythmic gymnastics today.

If I saw Hina now,

I doubt I could even talk to her.

I need some time.

All right.

What are you looking at?

You're blocking the entrance.
How's this my fault?

I thought you had today off.

I had other business here.

You could've just said hi!

It's kind of awkward for me!

Why?!

Why? Because...

Right.

You carry on feeling that way.

I want your heart pounding
every time you see me.

It's not pounding!

Even if it's not,

just remember

that I love you.

Boom! Got you again!

It's not pounding!

Good, good.

My confession worked like a charm.

Keep your voice down!