01x18 - I Know

[bunniefuu]

Is it just me, or is Yusa
even better than before?

He's gotten bigger too.

And somehow even faster.

I don't even think our second-years
could take him on.

- Thank you very much.
- Thank you very much.

You're in peak form, Yusa.

But you could've held your opponent
to five fewer points just now.

Like that cut you played near the end.

I would've smashed it in his face.

Don't go to sleep!

I don't have time to listen
to you, Yakushiji Senpai.

Sleeping is proof you have time!

I'm obviously just resting.

I want to conserve my energy
so I'm in my best shape

when I go up against him.

Haryu, huh?

Well, he's definitely
the strongest at Eimei.

He annoyingly made nationals.

He always aims
for the hard-to-reach spots.

It's really fun.

No, it's not!

Are you crazy?

Yusa.

Sorry, but you're up again.

Against who?

Inomata. He's a first-year like you.

Inomata?

I'm ready.

That's the guy who showed me to the gym.

BLUE BOX

EPISODE 18
I KNOW

Let's go!

Let's have a good game!

Yes, let's.

He's playing.

Looks like it's just about to start.

What are you doing?

I thought you promised to cheer him on.

I said I'd come watch him,
not that I'd cheer him on.

It's the same thing.

He's facing the guy who defeated him
in the prefectural qualifiers, right?

Yeah.

I know, but...

I don't want to see him like that.

I had no idea what to say to him.

Why are you assuming
he's going to lose again?

I'm not!

They started.

You don't need to worry about
what to say to him.

You should watch him for your own sake.

He's returning the shots.

They're all playing pretty well.

I hear this guy's
one of the best in the prefecture.

He got a point!

Which court are you watching?

The second one from the left.

Let me see.

Yeah!

Look, sorry if I have this wrong, but...

No, it can't be.

What?

Were you by any chance

hanging out with him on your birthday?

Right when we hung up,

I heard a voice.

Are you two dating or something?
You could've told me!

You don't need to be so shy
just because we share a gym.

It's not like that.

The family I've been staying with...

is his.

Our moms are friends,
and they had a spare room available, so--

GRAB

Are you stupid?

I'm super happy you stayed in Japan,

but seriously, who lives
with a guy her own age?

What if something happened?!

Someone great once said
that men are animals!

My little brother is always...
and... around the house!

If something happened?

Nothing has.

That was a loaded pause.

Look, it's not like I know
the whole situation here.

But you could've told me sooner.

I'm sorry about that.

It's still early,
but his opponent is dictating the pace.

Still,

I can't believe you decided
to live with a stranger like that.

It's not like I had no idea who he was.

So close!

He's able to keep up a rally,
but can't get the point.

None of it matters
if you don't get the point.

Haryu, you could be
a little nicer to your junior.

- I've already seen you lose to him once!
- Hey!

It may just be a practice game,
but if you don't make any progress here,

you'll get left behind again, Taiki.

I want to punch myself for saying
I wanted to make nationals

like it was nothing.

I can't make it unless
I'm on his level or better.

When I took a set off of Haryu Senpai,

I let myself believe I had a chance.

As a result,
while everyone went to nationals,

I was stuck watching from the sidelines.

On top of that...

I was happy.

I was surprised, but happy.

But somewhere deep inside,

I asked, "Why me?"

Is your roommate going to be okay?

He's playing kind of rough.

Like he's desperate.

He'll be fine as long as
he keeps moving his feet.

Even then.

Chinatsu lost.

When Chinatsu Senpai was down...

Not there!

What is he doing?

Yusa played that well.

He's getting outplayed.

I was happy when she reached out to me.

I wanted to cheer her up.

But...

who do I think I am?

You okay?

Yes.

Badminton's so tough.

It must be exhausting.

How can they keep up with the shuttlecock?

The Taiki I know

is the guy who has fun through it all.

I've never seen him like this before.

Dang it, out!

What a waste! That was his chance.

Missing the shot after a long rally
can hit you mentally.

He already used
a lot of stamina in the first game.

Now I understand what Taiki meant before.

Standing alone on the badminton court,

with all the responsibility
bearing down on me.

I know

how hard you worked
every morning during practice.

In the beginning, I just thought of you
as someone who was always there.

But you really did show up every day.

So I left earlier the next day
to try to beat you there.

I remember what you said to me.

Chinatsu Senpai,

weren't you practicing the day
after you retired from junior high?

But I saw you too.

You were practicing
after your final game of junior high too.

- Keep it up!
- That's the stuff!

Good eye!

It's uncanny.

He's getting faster and faster.

In the rain,

in the wind...

- Keep it up, Taiki!
- Taiki!

No matter what.

I know...

you never stopped moving forward.

It's a close final game.

Feels like something awakened in him.

He wasn't even one
of the players on our radar.

He's just gained another rival
for next year's nationals.

Why does he look so happy?

That's a crazy rally.

Taiki's keeping up.

Actually, I'd say Taiki's the one who's...

Taiki won!

Great job!

Good game!

Wow! Inomata won!

Okay, let's go back to rehearsal.

You're not going to say anything to him?

Hina?

Nice one, Taiki!

Honestly, I didn't think
you were going to win.

It was a great game.

I never thought you were going to win.

You've grown so much.

- Taiki, go thank him.
- Right!

Thank you.

Listen...

I'm not satisfied yet.

Then let's go again!

Are you stupid?

You're exhausted.

You too, Yusa.

Get some rest. You're playing me next.

I can't move.

I'm getting better, right?

I won!

You'll catch a cold sleeping like that.

Chinatsu Senpai!

Right, she mentioned she'd come see me.

Left or right, pick one.

Huh?

I got you something.

You have two options.

The right one, then.

The right one?

Thank you.

I was just feeling thirsty.

What was the left one?

This.

They're the same!

There's that childlike side of hers.

They're not the same.

The one on the right was charged
with special appreciative energy.

No wonder I'm feeling more energized.

Why do sports drinks
taste so sweet normally,

but they're not sweet at all
when you drink them after working out?

It's because you're tired.

Yeah, I get that.

You've been sweating so much,

you need to rehydrate.

Sorry, I must stink...

You've got nothing to apologize for.

You were cool out there.

Thank you.

But I think I owe you for that win.

Watching you practice every morning,

and run hard after school...

Seeing you do all that

pushed me to do things
I wouldn't have done on my own.

So I'll keep learning from your example
and push myself more.

I only barely won today.

Next time, I want to win big.

Yeah.

This song...

The music club is practicing
for the culture festival.

The big day's almost here.

It's a lot cooler compared to August.

I'm surprised you're...

not a good singer.

You didn't have to say it!

Sorry, sorry.

I'm happy to see
this new side to Chinatsu Senpai.

Are you a good singer?

I'm average.

That sounds dubious.

I swear.

Chono is actually good.

She does seem like she would be.

Speaking of, she came
and watched you play too.

She mentioned she'd come
between rehearsals--

Do you want to do it for real?

So...

I think everyone's support helped me win.

Calm down!

It's not like you actually kissed.

How's the play coming along?

I saw you making some of the scenery
in the courtyard.

It's coming together.

I can't wait.

I'll definitely come.

Please do.

Some of the twists are pretty fun.

How's the kiss--

We haven't kissed!

I was just wondering
how you were handling it in the play.

They'll just pretend to do it.

Taiki! Where'd you go?

I need to get back!

Yeah.

Thank you for today.

Likewise.

Let's go.

This way.

Yusa.

You forgot this.

It's yours, right?

Thanks.

No worries.

Inomata!

Bye, then.

Inomata.

Yes?

Is...

your name written with the characters
for "boar" and "groin"?

Yeah.

I have a hard time remembering names
unless I visualize the kanji characters.

See you again, Inomata.

Yeah, see ya.

Next time, in an official match.

- You want me to do that, Haryu Senpai?
- Leave him alone!

Why?

Haryu just lost to Yusa,
so he's in a bad mood.

Taiki, dinner's ready!

Taiki!

He's probably sleeping.

His dinner will go cold.

Let him sleep.

He had a practice match today, right?

He seemed pretty tired.

It's the national qualifiers!

What a hotly contested game!

A tremendous rally,
and Inomata just scored!

The winner is Eimei's Taiki Inomata!

You got me, Inomata.

You're the better player.

Let's play again sometime.

How about now?

Well...

Taiki.

Chinatsu Senpai.

You came.

Yeah, congratulations on your win.

You were cool out there.

Thank you.

Now for a celebratory kiss.

What?!

Wait.

We can't.

Chinatsu Senpa--

TUG

I don't think so!

Hina?

What a dream.