01x04 - The Source of Strength

[bunniefuu]

Osaka High School Field 2

Yujiro!

We can't go that way.

I promised not to watch him practice.

So let's leave him in peace.

Good work!

Oh, you...

Welcome back, Sano!

Here. For you.

So he noticed!

Wait, is a dude leaving a towel out
for another dude weird?

Is that kind of thing
more of a girly gesture?

I just don't know what to say to a girl...

Wait, wait. It's not like he knows I'm a girl.

But it's not like she even knows
that I know that she's a girl.

I guess it's fine.

Ten more seconds.

Three.

Two.

One.

All right, perfect.

You ready?

Yeah.

I've gotten used to speed-changing.

Okay, let's go—

Wait.

Where do you think you're going
with this bird's nest?

Sheesh.

Stop treating me like a kid!

Here you go.

That looks good.

What did you get?

Oh, kitsune udon.

I'll take one too.

Coming right up.

A lot's happened, and Sano
has rejoined the track team.

My dream of witnessing his heroic figure
is on the verge of coming true!

When it comes to udon,
kitsune is the only way to go.

As long as there's tempura, I'll take soba.

I can't believe you guys can
eat this soy sauce broth.

Udon should have a clear broth where
you can taste the bonito stock!

You don't have to eat it!

The Kansai version always leaves
something to be desired.

I even like the Kansai kind.

Ashiya, pass the shichimi spice, please.

Here you go.

Thanks.

Hey, where are we going next?

Let's see...

Next week's softball game
should be a goldmine.

Then I guess we'll go cheer on
the softball team next.

We won't need our uniforms, right?

What are you going to wear?

Hey, so...

I've noticed that whenever
there's some sort of game going on,

the guys get excited about going to watch.

Why is that?

What are you talking about?!

If we're playing a coed school,

there are obviously going
to be girls in the crowd!

And?

And we're an all-boys school.

We've got no opportunities to meet girls.

So a game against a coed school means
a chance to find someone!

Sometimes, I feel like the guys going to watch
are more serious than us athletes.

Right, Nakatsu?

Huh? Y-Yeah, totally.

What do we have next for fifth period again?

World history.

Oh man... I'm so sleepy.

Definitely don't fall asleep now.

Come on, Shuichi!

Why are you getting all flustered
about saying something to a guy friend?!

Right, he's just a guy friend!

Just a...

M-Mizuki!

W-We've got a soccer match
against another school this Sunday.

Uh, so I was wondering...

if you'd come... cheer for us?

Yeah! I'll be there!

Nice!

I'm so glad I mustered the courage to ask!

Thank you, God!

Osaka High & Tokyo High
Interschool Soccer Match

Tokyo Public High School

Th-Thanks for coming...

all of you.

Yup!

You better win.

Don't look so happy to see us.

God, you idiot!

We will now begin the match between
Tokyo High School and Osaka High School!

Fine!

I'm just going to score shot after shot
to show off my good side!

This is incredible!

Osaka High's young lion is going all out!

Nakatsu's really going for it, huh?

Yeah.

Hey, so, where do you go to school?

We go to Osaka.

Uh...

Oh yeah?

You won. Congratulations.

Thanks, but it was just
an interschool match.

It was still impressive.

I guess.

These guys got me riled up
over nothing special.

Nakatsu.

Hmm?

You were really cool out there.

Mizuki!

I knew it! You're the only one on my side!

You okay, dude?

Yo.

If it ain't Sano.

Heard you're back on the track team.

Kagurazaka!

Who's that?

Him and Sano fought over the
gold medal in the high jump.

They did?

Can you even jump now?

Or you gonna get spooked and run again?

Hey, hold it!

Who do you think you are?

Look who's getting spooked and running.

Yeah, Sano threw in the towel
with the track team before.

But now that he's back,

the scared boy on the block is you!

Oh crap!

How girly must I sound right now?!

Full of fire with a cute face like that.

Hey, there he is!

Kagurazaka-kun!

Whoops.

Oh, good. Looks like he's not onto me.

Hope we meet again, teach.

You too, missy.

Just try to scare me off, Sano.

That guy was such a jerk!

You followed Sano all the way to Japan
but didn't know about Kagurazaka?

Never heard of him.

He's so good that nobody his age
ever beat his records.

Until Sano showed up three years ago, that is.

Ever since then, Kagurazaka's
viewed him as his rival.

Though it doesn't seem
like Sano pays it any mind.

Gosh, just thinking about it pisses me off.

I can't do my homework like this!

Ashiya, the shower's free.

Okay, I'll take one now.

You're looking like a monkey.

I swear. It's because you pulled that stunt.

You dumbass.

But... I...

Thanks though.

The Source
of Strength

Man, he's so coy!

Lemons?

Kayashima said his family
mailed them from back home.

Wow, they sent a ton again.

It's not like you can eat that many lemons.

Right?

Even if we use them for cooking and tea,

I'm not sure we'd get through them all.

Isn't there something good
we can do with them?

Yeah.

It would be a shame not to.

Hmm...

Hey, Mizuki.

Oh, Nakatsu.

What do you think of this?

Might be a way to use Kayashima's lemons.

Huh.

So this is Osaka High School, is it?

Trying them in hot pot sounds interesting.

We could have a hot pot party!

I don't think I've done one before.

Good luck with practice.

Y-Yeah.

I see...

A party isn't a bad idea.

A party, huh?

This'll be fun.

Hey, runt.

Who are you calling a runt?!

Oh, you...

Where's the track team practice?

K-Kagurazaka?

Wait, you're a guy?

I could've sworn you were a chick.

The hell are you doing here?

Scouting out the enemy.

Ha, like I'd tell you anything!

Blah!

I see how it is.

Now, why don't you be my guide?

Let me down! You little...

Osaka High School Field 2

Idiot! You—

Put me down!

Hey, Sano.

I'm sorry, Sano!

I didn't want him anywhere near you,
but he grabbed me!

This dude's so thin and squishy,

totally like a girl.

Kagurazaka!

Can you give him back now?

Huh?

What are you getting all serious about?

What do you think you were doing?

You as*h*le!

I feel better now.

That hurt.

You better watch yourself, brat!

Back off, Kagurazaka.

Sano...

Huh. So that's what we have here.

I'll admit he's cute and spirited.

Let me borrow him next time, Sano-san.

I told you to back off.

Take your own advice.

And remember this.

I'm going to crush you
with everything I've got.

That is, if you're even worth it
in your current state.

Sano.

I expect a good time, you hear?

What the heck? What gives?

You're just going to let him
talk to you like that, Sano?

I... I can't stand it!

Kagurazaka!

The likes of you could never crush Sano!

You better remember that!

Right, right.

Get lost twice, you stumpy-legged kitsune!

Kitsune with stump legs!

Y-You do have a sharp tongue, missy.

Idiot! Dumbass!

Take that!

Just see what happens!

Oh no! Did I make him mad again?

Uh, Sano?

He's laughing?

Why?

Did I do something funny?

S-Stumpy-legged kitsune...

Kitsune with stump legs...

Sano?

Let's go home.

Osaka High School Student Dormitory

Kitsune udon, huh?

S-Sano?

What's up with this guy?

He's actually laughing.

Guess we're all at that age where
the dumbest thing can make us laugh.

Yikes, scary.

I'm taking the bathroom first.

Oh, sure.

Good. It looks like he doesn't care
about all that stuff Kagurazaka said.

Sano, I'm going to go check on Yujiro.

Okay.

And then I just gave
Kagurazaka a real earful.

Say, did I ever tell you?

About why I followed Sano here?

Three years ago, I was watching
TV at my grandmother's house.

Middle School Track and Field Tournament

Boys High Jump Finals



That's where I saw Sano Izumi.

I was in awe.

That was the first time I saw
beauty in the way someone jumps.

Right around then, I got into a fight
with a friend in class.

Every time Sano hit another personal best,

I got this little rush and felt like
I could try my hardest too.

Like I couldn't give up.

My friend from back then
is my best friend now.

And the one who made
that possible by giving me

the courage to talk to her was Sano.

Ever since then,
Sano's been my source of strength.

There you are.

Sano!

Man, it's cold.

You're going to catch a cold if you
stay out here without more layers.

You're lucky you have fur.

Come with me tomorrow.

Huh?

I'll show you my high jump.

Oh, wow! I can't believe this!

I'm about to see it with my own eyes!

Here I go.

Damn it.

Sano...

Damn it!

That's enough.

I get it.

Enough...

How pathetic.

I can't even clear a mid-height jump like this.

You can.

You'll be able to do it again!

So please...

Come on.

A guy in high school shouldn't
be whimpering like this.

You gave me this chance.

A way forward for me,
not running from my past.

You're the one who showed me how
to face the high jump again.

So chin up.

You're a man, aren't you?

Yeah.

He's right.

Whimpering isn't going to do anything.

Infirmary

But...

It sounds like a mental thing.

Mental?

His body remembers
the intense pain it experienced,

and so it acts on its own,
unconsciously trying to avoid more.

The body and the mind
are connected in subtle ways.

What's a man to do?

Hey!

Let's keep on dancing!

Are you ready?!

Where did you even get that outfit?!

I had a college reunion yesterday.

And boy, they really loved it!

Is this him being considerate? Really?

You're overthinking things.

Yes, you.

What good is spinning your wheels going to do?

Everyone has obstacles that
they themselves must overcome.

But isn't that when they most need someone
who's ready and waiting to catch them?

I don't know if I can do that...

Then just start with what you can do.

Infirmary

What can I do?

Let me think.
Cheer him up and stuff, I guess?

Huh? My sister?

Io

I send you a gift from France and you
can't even be bothered to say thanks?

A gift?

Io

I don't remember having such a heartless
little brother

Oh yeah. Minami mentioned something.

Delicious

Oh, sorry, I forgot.

I'll leave it at the dorm's front desk,
so go grab it whenever.

Hey! Watch your tone with your unc—

Still, cheering him up?

What exactly makes Sano laugh?

What'd he think was so funny
about kitsune udon?

I'm so sorry!

You gotta watch out.

What's all this?

Hot pot party tonight, remember?

You bought all this for that?

Shh! Keep it down!

We don't want anyone else finding out.

Thanks.

We got lots of drinks too.

That was heavy.

Is that alcohol?!

Of course not.

Oh, it's alcohol free.

It's for the vibe, see?

Got it.

Everyone!

I got the pot and the electric stove!

All right!

Noe, Kayashima. Help me carry these.

Got it.

I'll change real quick and come over.

Okay.

Let's hurry up and get ready.

Seriously?

For real?

It's not hot pot without octopus.

No, it's gotta be mochi.

What's that?

Cheese.

Fancy!

Whoa, hey, don't put weird crap in there!

What about meat?

All we need is octopus!

This is starting to seem more
like a dare than hot pot.

I've never done this before.

I'm sure it'll taste interesting.

This actually turned out pretty good.

I'll be honest.
I wasn't sure about lemon hot pot.

I love the smell of the lemons.

Looks better than I expected.

Doesn't it?

All right, let's toast.

I'll take this one.

Which do you want, Sano?

Anything's fine.

Wow, this grape juice looks expensive.

Then I'll take that.

That's good!

Izumi? What's wrong?

Sano?

I'm fine.

Excuse me.

Hey, Minami.

I'm not seeing my sister's present anywhere.

No, I know I put it there.

What the hell?

Something's weird.

Izumi's not coming back, huh?

Too long to be in the toilet.

Maybe he's sick?

I'll go check on him.

I'm sure of it...

Sano?

Sano! What's wrong?

Are you okay?

Your face is really red.

Are you not feeling well?

What are you guys doing?

Nanba-senpai!

Shh! We're having a hot pot party.

Hot pot party?

Shh! Keep it down!

Hey, man, would the RA like to join us?

Hey, Kayashima!

Get chopsticks!

We have some over here.

I don't really have time to—

It's uncorked?

Are you sick?

Sano?

What's—

The random hot pot was better than I thought!

The next time we do this,

it should be by candlelight.

After we purify them, we'll throw
fish and animals into the pot...

Just say "meat" like a normal person!

It'd be fun.

How, exactly?!

Next Time

Do They Hate Me?