01x02 - You Have to Go to Nationals

[bunniefuu]

Thanks for taking me in.

I'm Chinatsu Kano.

Welcome to the Inomata family!

I brought a small gift...

You really didn't have to!

She really is beautiful.

Just like Grandma when she was younger.

The house feels brighter already.
Doesn't it, Taiki?

Are you kidding me?

Seeing Chinatsu Senpai

in her casual clothes
is a big enough deal,

but now she's going up the stairs
in my house,

standing with my mom in the kitchen,

and eating sushi!

How can I endure this?

BLUE BOX

BLUE BOX

EPISODE 2
YOU HAVE TO GO TO NATIONALS

Is this going to continue for two years?

Till she graduates?

Until recently, I was ecstatic
just to make it to the second round.

But now we're living under the same roof?
That's Olympic tier!

Taiki!

Your mom said you can take a bath now.

She's in loungewear?

And fresh out of the bath,
she's even more alluring than usual...

I'll go after reading this.

Is that this week's Jump?

I've been busy with the move,
so I haven't read this week's yet.

She's so close...

You can borrow it!

Really?

Of course!

It'll be bad if she gets any closer.

What is it?

I'm glad.

It's nerve-wracking
living in someone else's house.

Even though our parents are close,
I've only met yours a few times.

So, having someone here
who I usually see at morning practice,

and who lends me the latest Jump comic,

makes me feel relieved.

Relieved?

Well, good night.

I feel so guilty.

I'm a guy, too, but...

I wonder if Chinatsu Senpai
doesn't think anything

of living together with a guy.

If so, then I'm the only one
acting like an idiot.

Yes!

Why are you so cheerful?

Aren't you supposed to be down right now?

I can't help it. I'm happy.

I get that you're excited,

but don't let the others
find out you're living together.

Why's that?

Don't be so naive. Look over there.

She's so cool.

Not her. Zoom out.

I told you Chinatsu Senpai is popular.

If her other admirers were to find out...

Don't move, target...

Still, you're lucky.

Even if it's because of her parents,
you get to live with the girl you like.

Maybe you end up going out--

That's not happening.

Chinatsu Senpai chose
to stay in Japan on her own.

After seeing her determination,
I just can't turn around

and ask her out.

That's why I've decided
I'll make it to nationals this summer too.

What?

If I don't do that,
I won't be able to measure up to her.

Listen...

Only a few people
have ever made it to the nationals

in their first year.

And honestly, at your current level...

That might be true,

but there's nothing
stopping me from trying.

And so, another round!

Rest is an essential part of practice.

Come on!

Taiki! Let's play singles!

Okay!

He's playing with someone else now.

Hasn't he been playing for a while now?

Once he sets a goal,
he goes straight for it.

Goal?

Making it to the nationals this year.

So...

Do you think he can pull it off?

He's one reckless guy, isn't he?

In the end, those that stay true
to themselves are the strongest.

In everything.

Forty-five.

Forty-six.

Forty-seven.

WORKOUT ROUTINE

Forty-eight. Forty-nine.

Fifty!

I'm exhausted...

But I need to train harder.
With my current level of play,

my dream of going to the nationals
will remain just a dream!

Chinatsu Senpai!

What's that you're watching?

Nothing in particular!

I had someone film me play,
so I was just reviewing it...

I wanna see!

No way! That's embarrassing!

Come on!

I'm always watching you at the gym anyway.

I thought I was the only one watching.

That's amazing.

Look at you darting around the court,
reacting to the speed of the shuttlecock.

No, I'm still too slow.

If I don't move more quickly,
my shots will lose accuracy.

I need to hit the shuttle with ease,
not just chase after it.

Or I'll never make it to the nationals...

The nationals?

No, I mean...

I wasn't going to tell her
until I had at least some results.

You said it.

What?

You said you'll make it to the nationals.

Not really.

So you won't go?

Even after what you said to me?

Chinatsu Senpai!

Please make it to the nationals!

Fine, I'll go, all right?

Jeez...

Why do I act so uncool in front of her?

Hold on a minute.

Here, take this.

A good luck bracelet?

I made this
when I decided to stay in Japan.

I thought I'd turn my resolve
into something tangible.

If you don't like it...

I accept it!

A gift from Chinatsu Senpai!
And hand-made at that!

I will cherish it for the rest of my life!

You'll cut off your blood circulation.

Taiki...

please make it to the nationals as well.

Done.

Look.

We're matching.

Don't go treasuring it too much.

Good night.

Good night...

I've got to work hard.

Enough that this bracelet...

breaks and falls off.

If she keeps this up,
I'll fall for her completely.

I'll do 30 sit-ups

every time distracting thoughts
pop into my mind.

Are you leaving already?

You're up early for spring break.

I'm one of the juniors,
so I've got to help with the setup.

Besides, I want to get in some practice.

Take care.

Thanks...

It's like we're married.

What are you doing?

I'm fighting off distracting thoughts!

Distracting thoughts?

National preliminaries are coming up.

I need to pull myself together.

Did something happen between you
and that senior from the basketball team?

So I'm right?

What happened?

Nothing.

Did you find out her phone passcode?

I'm not a stalker!

This is bad.

All hell will break lose
if Hina finds out we're living together!

What an interesting development!

This is the love story of a certain man.

He's in the badminton team...

- It's him.
- It's got to be him!

I've got to somehow keep it secret.

You forgot your wallet at home--

I thought I dropped it somewhere!

Thanks for finding it!

You're welcome.

Was I... too standoffish just now?

You finally managed to talk with her.
My, how you've grown.

You idiot...

You really suck
at this sort of thing, don't you?

Should've told her in advance that you
wanted to keep living together a secret.

I couldn't bring myself to.

I messed up, didn't I?

Well, let's just put it like this...

If you suddenly start avoiding her
and hiding the truth,

she might think
you don't like living with her.

Worst case scenario,
she might think that you don't want

anything to do with her.

If anything, it's the opposite!

PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO SEE
SENPAI'S SLEEPY SIDE

You two.

What's the matter?

Help me carry these.

They're for next week's orientation.

We're actually freshmen.

Is that so? Congratulations.

He ain't listening.

Hey, you two as well.

I'm counting on you athletes.

I have to clear things up.

I don't want Chinatsu Senpai to think
that I want nothing to do with her.

Hey, I can carry another one.

Thanks.

She's even angrier than I thought!

- Should we leave them at the entrance?
- Yeah.

Maybe she's reading the room
and pretending to be a stranger.

I never imagined
she would dislike me for that.

You're enjoying this, aren't you?

Chinatsu Senpai, right?

Yes.

- Can I ask you something?
- Sure.

Do you have a boyfriend?

Idiot!

I don't.

Where does she get the nerve?

Asking something like that
from a senior she's just met.

I mean, she's in
the rhythmic gymnastics team.

What does that even mean?

Don't you want a boyfriend?

You can go home together
and hang out together.

Right now, I'm only focused on basketball.

Don't look so embarrassed
after bringing up the topic yourself.

Besides...

I knew she would say that.

You guys in the sports clubs?

Good for you, working over spring break.

Now they've got us running errands
even during our break.

That's commendable.

By the way, Inomata, Coach Yuasa
had good things to say about you.

He mentioned your shuttles have gotten
a lot more powerful lately.

Really?

Yup.

He said you're shaping up to where
you could compete at high school level.

He expects you to make the team
for the upcoming national preliminaries.

Did you hear that, Senpai?

She's already leaving!

Hey, what's going on between those two?

She seems to really hate him.

I actually thought they make
a surprisingly good match.

He's really fired up.

Well, he'll be starting high school soon.

Thank you.

You know, at this point,
I'm starting to get annoyed myself.

It's not like I don't want it out
in the open.

Honestly, I wish I could brag about it.

- Are you okay?
- Yeah.

You look concerned.

But you can't say anything to her,
since you're just strangers after all.

Thanks for rubbing it in.

Are you all right?

I saw you fall earlier.

I'm all right, but...

Weren't we... pretending to be strangers?

I'm sorry.

For acting like that out of the blue.

Living together is kind of embarrassing,

and you have
more influence than you think.

If people found out,
they'd gossip and make a fuss about it,

and we wouldn't be
able to focus on our training.

So I...

Wait, is that your only reason?

Is there something else?

No way.

I was so sure

it was because you liked that girl
from the rhythmic gymnastics team.

Excuse me?

I mean, you started acting like
we were strangers in front of her.

That was because...

She even asked if I had a boyfriend.

I thought she was prying
because she liked you too.

I totally get wanting to hide that we live
together from the person you like.

I kept my distance from you
so it wouldn't look suspicious.

I thought I could sleep in the shed
or look for a super cheap rental.

So she was acting like that...

out of concern for me and Hina?

Dammit... that's adorable.

That's just plain silly, Senpai.

What?

You're laughing too much.

Man, I mean...

Shouldn't have even bothered.

I'm sorry.

Congrats on your admission, everyone.

It's a busy time, but the national
preliminaries are drawing near.

Intradepartmental matches
will start next week.

We'll be deciding on the team members,
so prepare accordingly.

Yes, sir!

It's a long road to the nationals.

Becoming a starting player.

Making it to top 16
in the regional preliminaries.

Then to the top two
in the prefectural qualifiers.

At the very least,
you have to defeat Haryu Senpai,

the second-year who placed third
in the prefectural qualifiers.

On the other hand,

if I can defeat Haryu Senpai,
I'll have a chance at the nationals.

It's a simple objective.

How's your record been so far?

Don't ask!

Hey, isn't the gallery crowded today?

They're here to watch the newcomers play.

But most of them have ulterior motives...

Her fans keep increasing every year.

As for the rest...

Splendid!

Just splendid, Hina!

Our star athlete!

Blessed by the goddess
of rhythmic gymnastics!

Let's work hard together
to become the best in Japan!

They really do have high hopes for her.

Man, it sucks being her Senpai.

She placed fourth nationally.

Apparently, her father used to be in
the Japanese national gymnastics team.

It's like she's the chosen one.

Viewing fee is 2,000 yen.

Who's gonna pay!

But you were looking at me
so passionately.

I wasn't!

I understand being drawn
to beautiful things.

Narcissistic, much?

Why are you so...

The gymnastics team is amazing.

For sure!

Time for practice.

Get it together.

Seeing that sort of thing is what gives
Chinatsu Senpai the wrong idea.

Gotcha!

Hina! What are you doing here?

Don't you live in the other direction?

Well, a famous chiropractor
just opened a practice in the Azuma area.

That's close to my place.

sh**t!

What if Hina sees Chinatsu Senpai
entering my house?

I have to get Hina away from here quickly!

Senpai is still at school!

Let's head there before it gets busy.

Okay.

So cute!

Hey!

He looks like Uncle Shuhei.

No one knows who the heck
you're talking about.

Bye-bye!

Classic youngest child, blood type B,
born early in the school year.

PREJUDICED

Anyway. Hina doesn't know my situation.

Looks yummy.

She's doing it on purpose!

They've got chunky red bean paste.

All right!

I'll get it for you, so let's just hurry.

TAIYAKI

I don't want it.

Your face says otherwise.

Thing is...

I'll go over my daily calorie intake.

Even if each taiyaki
only has 40 grams of sugar...

Do you always think like that?

Of course.

If I gain even a few hundred grams,

my movement will get sloppy,
and it'd be a hassle to train

just to lose that weight.

Besides, I don't want that
to lead to an injury or a slump.

I'm not good at working hard,

so if I can just endure it, then I should.

What's with that expression?

I... just thought you sounded pretty cool.

You sure don't look that way.

I mean, just the fact that you're
not eating taiyaki is commendable.

If you don't see that as hard work,
it shows how tough you are on yourself.

When I think about the difference
in standards of "normal" between me

and those who are stronger,
I get a bit anxious.

At the same time,
I think you're super cool

for competing at that level, Hina.

What was that about?

You got all sentimental on me.

Cut it out!

Stop reacting so calmly!

I won't say that ever again.

But you're even cooler, Taiki Senpai.

Boldly talking to Chinatsu Senpai
who's totally out of your league.

Now you're just picking a fight.

Just say the word
and I've got your back, big bro!

Start by ditching the bro talk.

Besides, you've got nothing to gain
by helping me.

Well, that's true.

But listen here, boss.

Going back to what you said earlier...

Who're you calling "boss"?

I also think you're cool
when you're taking on new challenges.

As your bestie,
I'm rooting for you to win.

Hina, who's the sentimental one now?

- What is it?
- Hold on a sec!

Chinatsu Senpai and Haryu Senpai?