Medalist (メダリスト)

ICE SKATING RINK

Okay, let's begin.

Okay!

These extra difficult jumps are absolutely necessary

to close the 20-point gap with Hikaru Kamisaki.

Jumps like the triple flip and the triple Lutz.

If that coach can help her move towards success, even a little…

Wait, what?

Huh? She's got the hang of the triple flip?

Okay, let's move on to the triple Lutz.

Okay.

Try to make more use of the twist when moving to the outer edge.

Next, we'll try without the harness.

Right.

TRIPLE FLIP - LANDED

TRIPLE LUTZ - LANDED

No way!

Wait, did I just land a triple flip and triple Lutz?

It took me over five months to get the double Axel,

and now as soon as I try more difficult jumps…

What's happening? What's going on?

ALL-JAPANS NOVICE A STRATEGY

EXTRA DIFFICULT JUMP TRAINING ARC COMPLETE

What?

Even Miss Inori the super-fast learner

is confused by how fast she's improving.

THE FROZEN LAKE

This is so fun!

Every single student has overcome their problem jumps

in just one day.

- Is the harness really such… - Is the harness really such

- a miraculous piece of equipment? - …a miraculous piece of equipment?

I'm happy I could show you how much a harness can help.

As you can see, it can dramatically improve the efficiency of jump practice.

That's true, but by this much?

What's happening now feels a little unreal.

You think so?

I mean, Miss Inori's nailed two difficult jumps in one setting on the same day?

You don't see that every day.

But in my experience as a coach, it happens a lot.

A lot?

I mean, this is how I make my living.

If I don't produce these kinds of results in a day, I can't exactly call it a job.

Is he some kind of isekai reincarnation

who came from a skating world where quintuple jumps are the norm?

I pulled it off again.

The next goal is to be able to put a Lutz into a triple combination.

Now I can do all the triple jumps Coach said I need in order to win.

With this card, I can build a hand to play against Hikaru!

Thank you so, so much!

If you have any more trouble, feel free to get in touch.

Whether a skater can land jumps or not determines the course of their career.

Don't worry.

Whatever sort of trouble you find yourself drowning in, I'll reel you in myself.

- See you again! - Come see us again!

Goodbye, wandering harness master.

There's an aura about him that reminds me of Snufkin.

He's gone.

I wonder when he'll be back.

I want to do the harness again.

ICE SKATING RINK YONEDA - YONEDA COFFEE

- Wow! - Wow!

TSUKASA OBTAINED A HARNESS

Harness! Harness! Harness! Harness! Harness!

- How did you get hold of that? - I just bought it myself.

All right! Then let's reel you in one by one!

So fun!

You can do it just like Coach Uobuchi!

I watched him do it so many times that I managed to get the timing down.

I think it helps that I'm used to skating next to someone from my ice dancing days.

Thank goodness you're so talented, Tsukasa.

Okay, let's try it on Yuki next.

Yes, please.

Okay!

I wasn't here the day the harness coach came because of cram school.

I'm so happy I get to try it.

We'll have to get Coach Uobuchi to come again, huh?

Yes!

Yuki has been struggling with her double Axel since before the training camp.

Maybe this can be the boost she needs to overcome it.

Right, whenever you're ready.

Got it!

Amazing!

Now try it without the harness!

Incredible!

She did it.

I never thought I'd be able to do a double Axel!

I'm already in the throes of exam prep, so when I didn't pass level six…

I was ready to give up skating…

Now I can really go for it again.

Thank you… Coach Tsukasa.

Whether a skater can land jumps or not at the necessary time

determines the course of their career.

I can't land difficult jumps,

but maybe with this harness, I'll be able to train the skaters

in a way that makes the best use of my talents.

I'm totally going to master this!

Coach, I'm up next!

Sorry.

No, that was on me.

Will you try once more?

Like Coach Uobuchi said, make sure you focus on your twist.

Okay!

Mmm. Miss Inori's more difficult to manage somewhat.

When Miss Inori jumps,

she covers more distance on the ice than the other skaters,

so she pulls on the harness with extra force. It makes the timing more difficult.

Not again! A dent in the ice?

I'm gonna fall!

But if I let go to break my fall,

the pole will be pulled forward as she rotates.

It'll hit her!

I can't let that happen!

Huh?

What was that sound?

Who fell over?

Wait, Coach?

Coach Tsukasa, are you okay?

Tsukasa!

Can you get up?

Yuki, go and get a member of staff.

Okay!

Tsukasa! Are you okay?

Don't tell me you hit your head…

Coach…

I had the wind knocked out of me.

Sorry!

- I… - It's okay.

Sorry for startling you.

We can carry on now.

You will do no such thing!

Tsukasa, you're going to the hospital right away!

I didn't hurt you, did I, Miss Inori?

THE NEXT DAY

A cracked rib?

Yes.

Are you sure you're okay to do your usual classes?

Yeah. Apparently, you just wait for ribs to heal on their own.

Does it still hurt?

I said I'm fine.

Look, totally fine…

No, I'm really fine.

Coach…

Sorry for startling you.

Let's work extra hard today to make up for yesterday!

Okay…

Miss Ino…

It's my fault.

I used the harness without having proper guidance,

and I ended up throwing off Miss Inori's sense of balance.

Coach Uobuchi is a coach who specializes in jumps.

It can't possibly be as simple as just copying what he did.

You…

You're aware that you have an extremely rare talent, aren't you?

I got too big for my boots.

Miss Inori.

Sorry.

Somehow today's not going well.

Let's take a break from testing your landing technique for now.

Let's check your arm movements and the position of your toe.

Okay.

A FEW DAYS LATER

Inori, where's Coach Tsukasa?

Uh, uh…

He's talking to Coach Uobuchi about a jump I'm having trouble landing.

Coach Tsukasa will be able to help you land it again in no time!