01x10 - Prelims

[bunniefuu]

SOGAWA

INTER-HIGH DANCE BATTLE

Ichirin High School's good to go.

[dance music playing]

CLUB & LIVE HOUSE EVENT SPACE

INTER-HIGH DANCE BATTLE

[Kabo] The booming bass

shakes me down to the bone.

I can't escape it.

Let's get started, folks.

Inter-High Dance Battle begins now!

We're kicking off

with judge introductions.

The first judge is…

-Banri!

-[cheering]

Banri's style is locking.

He's a proven dancer

who regularly competes on Dance D-LITE.

-[MC] The next judge is Abi!

-[cheering]

[Iori] Abi's style is breaking.

-[MC] And last but not least, Assay!

-[cheering]

[Iori] We all know

this legendary hip-hop dancer.

[MC] Please give a big round of applause

to our magnificent three judges!

Mr. Assay also judged

at the recent contest.

I have full confidence in

today's judge panel.

Today, we're going

to be judged by

these adult professional dancers.

In an Open-Style Dance Battle,

you may dance to

a type of music you're not used to.

Think of it as stepping out of

your comfort zone and enjoy.

I'm looking forward to your performances.

[cheering]

[MC] Inter-High Dance Battle solo division

prelims is divided into four blocks,

each of which will form a cypher.

Each contestant then dances once.

INTER-HIGH DANCE BATTLE

When everyone has finished,

the judges will go around

and tap the winners on the shoulder.

Four dancers from each block

move on to the tournament.

All right, here we go!

Prelims, Block A. Start!

PRELIMS BLOCK A

[dance music playing]

Now, watch me!

No, me!

T-They're really trying to stand out.

[MC] That's it for Block A!

Dancers who get a pat on the shoulder by

a judge will advance on to the tournament.

Yes!

PRELIMS BLOCK B

[Assay] Every time I see him,

this kid brings a fresh nuance.

He must spend every day

really studying dance.

[MC] That's it for Block B!

[Kabo] Amazing. As expected,

both On and Iori passed the prelims.

PRELIMS BLOCK C

Let's see it. Hikari Wanda's first round.

You've got this.

Will she get in the center

before anyone else?

Oh, no.

She's waiting for the right timing.

[MC] That's it!

[cheering, applauding]

Wanda, yeah!

Wanda is amazing.

The crowd went wild for her performance.

Kabe was also hyped

the moment he stepped on the floor.

His power moves were awesome like always.

Hmm?

Oh… [grunts]

[Gaku sighs]

[MC] It's time for prelims, Block D.

-Contestants, please gather around.

-[gasps]

[stutters] That's my cue.

You can do it, Kabo!

Show 'em what you've got, Kabo.

Huh? Where's Wanda?

Oh…

[gasps]

[On] Hmm?

-Ah… Um… [grunts]

-Hurry, hurry! Go, go, go, go.

[MC] Prelims, Block D, start.

PRELIMS BLOCK D

[rap music playing]

Is pushing yourself to be first

part of the judging criteria?

I wonder if Wanda's watching.

Whoa, slick.

Next…

I'll take the floor next.

He's stepping out. Now's my chance!

Oh, oh, oh… We went at the same time!

Finally, he's out. My turn.

I… I wasn't paying attention to

the song at all.

Where's the beat? I gotta find a "one."

Catch the "and" count…

Calm down, calm down.

Ah…

Wait, wait, wait!

[music ends]

[MC] That's it.

I wasn't chosen.

It was so hard.

Making an impression on the judges…

It's a bit different from a dance battle

or being in a cypher.

I couldn't quite nail it.

You were great.

You did good work in there.

Leave the rest to me.

I'll win for both of us.

[sighs]

Maybe Kabe was right.

If I had a set prepared,

maybe I could've danced a round

without my brain going haywire.

Guess this is it for today.

[sighs]

-[Ogino] That him?

-[Usen] Oh, there he is.

Yo! Kabo!

[grunts]

You really k*lled it at the contest,

so I was looking forward to your dance.

-Today ain't your day, huh?

-[gasps]

[breathes shakily]

Don't let it get to ya, Kabo.

[stutters]

I can't get my words out.

STUTTER CARD

Oh, yeah… the card!

No good. I left it in my bag.

Hey. You okay?

[whispering] Hey. Let's just go.

[stammering]

Sorry.

Why?

I got knocked out.

I was watching you.

From the monitor in the lobby.

A dancer from a different school

approached me before Block D started.

It was so loud in that room,

we had to step out.

Then your block started

so I tried to get back inside,

but it was too crowded by then.

Sorry I couldn't watch you in person.

[gasps]

[sighs]

I'm glad.

That's right. Now I understand.

I thought I was doing this because

I wanted to make a career out of dance.

But right now, I just want

Wanda to see how much I've grown.

That's all I want.

Contestants who

didn't make it past prelims,

you have a chance to return in the

Comeback Round which starts immediately.

There's just one slot.

If you want to have another go,

gather around!

Seriously? There's a Comeback Round?

Yeah! I'll crush 'em!

Oh!

[chuckles]

Oh…

[MC] Is this everyone

who wants to make a comeback?

We got some serious contenders!

-This round is about to get heated!

-Kabo.

Just because the others

are gearing to bulldoze their way through

doesn't mean you have to.

You'll just get steamrolled anyway.

Makes sense. It'll make me stand out less.

I just need to stick to my style.

COMEBACK ROUND

[MC] There are no turns assigned.

Anyone who's up for a challenge

can jump in and show us how it's done!

[Kabo] Like…

I don't have these technical tricks,

or any flashy crowd-pleasers.

No, I'm just gonna enjoy it.

I'm lucky just to be given another shot.

This song…

At first I thought vibing to it

would be a bit difficult.

But it's nice. I like it.

Oh, I can go in now.

[Gaku gasps]

Interesting.

[no audible dialogue]

[Kabo gasps]

I made it.

I'm happy.

I'm so happy.

[MC] First match of Round One.

Wanda versus Macchin!

[exhales slowly]

[MC in English] Yo, DJ! Let's go!

["I'm Just Into" playing]

A mysterious, mellow female vocal line.

Whoa, this song gets me super fired up!

Yeah.

That girl over there,

I wonder if she can actually freestyle.

Neither dancer is stepping up.

It's time to spin the bottle!

WHEN NEITHER CONTESTANT ENTERS,

FIRST DANCER DECIDED

BY SPINNING THE BOTTLE

The first one on the floor is Macchin!

[music continues playing]

[chuckles]

[cheering]

Oh, crud.

He's totes provoking her.

[Kabo] Wanda's not gonna lose.

[gasps]

[MC] Going second, Wanda!

Whoa. Funky.

Is she voguing?

[crowd gasps, cheers]

[Banri] When a young dancer like her tries

her hand at these technique-heavy styles,

it often becomes move-driven

and off the beat.

But she has an incredible aptitude

for "listening."

As she listens, the parts of the track

rise up all around her.

When she hits them like a rhythm game,

it automatically becomes a dance.

It's almost like synesthesia.

[Kabo] Wanda.

-[cheering]

-[Kabo gasps]

What is this feeling?

["All or None" playing]

[MC] Change! All right, Macchin,

it's your final round!

Looks like competing against Hikari Wanda

messed up Macchin's groove.

It's not so much that

he was competing against her,

but he was influenced

by Wanda's musicality.

Hey, so how many years

has Hikari Wanda been dancing?

[Kabo] Actually, I'm not sure.

Though I hear she took up dance

before she entered middle school.

But I also heard she learned on her own.

What? You guys aren't even that close?

I don't get you two.

[music fades]

[Kabo] What he said is true.

I don't know much

about Wanda's background.

Wanda "understands" me

even if we don't talk.

And just as

Wanda never pries into my life,

I never pry into hers.

I wonder how she feels about me.

Does she think we're good dance partners?

Or…

[MC] That's it!

Judges!

Winner: Wanda!

-[crowd cheers, applauds]

-Yeah! She's advancing to the next round!

Well? What did you think of

your dance partner's first battle?

-I'm jealous.

-Huh?

-[Kabo] Not of Wanda.

-[both chuckle]

But her opponent.

Because there's something deeper…

-Good going, Wanda!

-…than dance to a battle.

[cheering continues]

When I see Wanda talking with

a guy I don't know at school…

or hear rumors that someone asked her out,

I never lose my cool because

I always have dance to fall back on.

But seeing Wanda in this place

gives me the urge to snatch her away.

[MC] Inter-High Dance Battle

is already lit in the first match!

Give it up for the contestants

when they give an amazing performance!

It has been off the charts

-from start to finish today.

-[student] Hurry! It's gonna start!

-[MC] Everyone here is seriously hyped.

-[student] We made it.

[crowd murmuring]

No way.

On's first opponent is Usen?

Usen? He was the champ last year.

On.

[Iori] Finally, On's gonna battle.

Now I can finally tell her,

"Battling's pretty fun, isn't it?"

But who could've guessed,

in her first match, she's up against…

[inhales sharply]

Inter-High Dance Battle,

second match of Round One!

Usen versus On!

Yo, DJ, let's go!

["Dogs Will Be Dogs" playing]

'Ey, hey, hey, hey.

[chuckles]

[music continues playing]

[chuckles]

[MC] Neither dancer

is stepping onto the floor.

Is it time to spin the bottle?

[huffs]

[MC] Well, well! Okay!

Let's go, Usen!

[crowd cheers, whoops]

[Usen laughs]

Usen's strength

has got to be his personality.

Personality?

[Iori] He's always laid-back

and moves kinda wacky.

But somehow, he turns it around

and makes it look cool and mature.

[Usen] Whoo-hoo!

That's right. Our Usen's

an awesome, seasoned guy!

[Usen grunts]

[gasps, groans]

[Usen] Hey, yo.

[MC] Three, two, one… All right, change.

[On] It's true, I wish I could pull off

a laid-back style like him.

But that style isn't for everyone.

So I'll hit him with me!

[crowd gasps, whoops]

She's picking up the beats like crazy.

Her shoulder mobility is insane!

-[crowd cheers]

-That's sick.

Uh-oh. I might lose.

[crowd cheers, applauds]

[Wanda, Kabo gasp]

[Iori] I get shivers whenever

On flips her switch on!

Whoo!

[On chuckles]

[crowd continues cheering, whistling]

["Wondrous" playing]