Medalist (メダリスト)

On the ice,

it's hard for even the world's best athletes to land

every move successfully.

There are so many elements to consider.

But if you can do tricks

that other skaters never could,

if you can dance so beautifully and freely

that it makes people forget you're on the ice at all,

that's real magic.

That's what it means to be a world-class figure skater.

In order to reach that beautiful moment,

little kids from all over jumped right in,

too young to realize that achieving their dreams means

that they and their families will have to pay a great and terrible price.

A GENIUS ON THE ICE

Four o'clock already.

No wonder there are so many kids out on the ice.

- -

- -

At least say you're sorry.

She's got to be about five.

If I had started when I was that young,

I'd be in a way more successful position right now.

You're 14? And you're a total beginner?

You can just forget it.

- -

- -

I'm going home.

Came all the way from Yokohama because they said there was a skating job,

and now they don't even want to talk?

What am I supposed to do? Just hang around until tomorrow?

Guess I could go to a net café.

- - Huh?

Okay. What's a kid doing behind the rental counter?

Hello there.

Sorry to bother you.

I just want to ask you a couple of questions.

- So, where are your parents? -

Let's take a look at your entry ticket, why don't we?

Oh, dear. Did you pay?

- Hey! Where are you going? -

I have to have a whole ass job to pay for these entrance fees.

I don't care if she is a little kid, no one skates for free on my watch!

- - You get back here!

- Please. Wait, sir. Let me explain. - What?

No way.

Dang it!

Come on. She can't have gotten that far yet.

- - Huh?

Must be hearing things.

Huh? Huh?

- - Hey! What do you think you're doing?

Get down from there.

- -

- -

- -

Please don't die.

Stop crying. I'm fine.

- Really, I'm not hurt or any-- -

- -

So you're giving bags of worms to the old guy at the reception desk,

and because he lets you into the rink with that,

you're technically not skating for free.

Is that it? Because--

Please believe me. I'm telling you the truth!

He has lots of pet birds and so I dig them up.

See? I've got them right here.

Whoa! Okay! I believe you, now put them away.

I'd bet money he's just using that as an excuse to be nice to her.

I'm kind of surprised they managed to get away with it.

No one's caught on?

Hey, uh, you're trembling pretty bad.

Are you feeling okay?

I don't like wiggly stuff like worms and snakes,

so please keep those away from me forever.

Okay.

- Anyhow... - Huh?

You did run away, which means that you must know what you're doing is wrong.

You really need to quit that.

If everyone tried to pay with worms, the skating rink would go broke.

- Okay. - At least she listens.

Hmm? Hey.

That book...

Oh, yes!

Talk about a blast from the past.

I had this book too.

These notes...

RIGHT LEG FORWARD/ OUTSIDE/THREE-TURN

Yeah. I really want to do figure skating.

But my mom says I can't because she doesn't want me to get hurt.

So I thought if I just followed the book, I could learn by myself.

- Have you told her that? - Huh?

Did you tell your mom how badly you want to skate?

Here, take this.

It's a list of phone numbers for all the figure skating clubs in Nagoya.

Talk to your mom and have her reach out

to see which one might have the right program for you.

Which skating club do you coach at? I could just go to yours.

Huh? Wait. Who, me?

Yeah.

I'm not a coach. You wouldn't want me anyway.

- - Huh?

It's already 6:00?

Anyway, no more worms. You hear me?

Yes, sir.

- Hey, what grade are you in? - Huh?

The fifth.

So ten or 11?

If you're serious about going pro, you're right at the cutoff age.

I mean it. Talk to your mom first thing, okay?

- See ya. -

Hi, Mom.

Welcome back. You were out for a long time.

Yeah.

I want to ask. Can you--

I can't help you with your homework right now.

I'll review it after dinner, okay?

- Okay. -

GROUP PRESENTATIONS

- - Sorry, what should I be doing?

Huh?

You don't have to do anything.

You wouldn't be very good at it anyway.

It'll be fine. We can do the whole presentation ourselves.

You can just sit and wait.

Okay.

Did your drawing turn out good?

Yeah, it's good enough.

I just want to go skate.

I'll dig up a whole bunch of worms. Then I can skate as long as I want.

What you're doing is wrong, and I think you know it.

You're gonna have to cut that out.

If you're serious about going pro,

you're right at the cutoff age.

ICE SKATING RINK

An assistant coach?

Yeah.

The fact that you went to nationals for ice dancing,

and the fact that you did that with me,

if I recommend you for this, they're going to hire you on the spot.

- I don't know. - What?

You don't want to?

I'm not qualified.

The only reason I made it to nationals in the first place was because of you.

Ice dancing is a two-person sport, Tsukasa.

Yeah. But that was just a fluke.

So what? You're going to work dead-end part-time jobs until you pass auditions?

Look, you're 26 years old and you're not making much of a living right now.

I'm not saying you should quit doing ice shows if that's what you want to do.

Only, being an assistant coach is just as good a skating job.

- -

- Excuse me. - Huh?

Are you Coach Takamine from Lux Higashiyama?

I'm Yuitsuka. I called earlier asking to meet.

- Oh! Yes, hello! -

I've been expecting you. Come in.

Oh, good. This won't take very long.

Inori.

- -

What? Do you know this girl?

Uh, yeah, kind of.

Then why don't you sit and talk with us?

I bet you'll pick up the coaching role before you even know it.

Here, want a snack?

I see you told her after all. Great job.

- - Hmm?

FIGURE SKATING SCHOOL

Take a look. I recommend this school for beginners.

The lesson fees here are low if she's enrolled once a week.

It would take a full two years for her to graduate though.

Oh, I see you've done your research.

Well, I know because my eldest daughter used to figure skate.

Oh, is that so?

Yes, I started her when she was only five.

- -

She had worked so hard.

But she had an accident and had to quit.

You see? I couldn't bear to put Inori through all that too.

Besides, she's not doing very well in school.