GROW UP SHOW -Sunflower Circus- (グロウアップショウ ～ひまわりのサーカス団～)

Great job, Ms. Shizuku.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO

SEVERAL YEARS AGO SUMERAGI CIRCUS

Thanks.

And thanks for the towel.

Of course!

My, how popular you are.

No point in being popular with anyone but you.

Well, well.

I see you've been attempting extremely difficult tricks.

Miss Nanami?

Nanami? The daughter of the Sumeragi family?

Aren't you afraid of getting hurt?

I couldn't work in a circus if I were afraid of getting hurt.

If I give my all during practice,

I think I can find a trick that will thrill the audience.

How backwards that is.

Excuse me?

My apologies. What I meant to say was

that it would only defeat the purpose if you were to hurt yourself during practice.

It's just as important to hold yourself back to accommodate your own skill level.

I appreciate the warning.

Your arrogance will one day end up robbing you of the circus.

You have been warned.

Pardon me.

Hey.

How are you feeling?

They say it's a torn rotator cuff.

With surgery, I'll be able to live a normal life.

If my rehab goes well, I can even get back on the trapeze.

No, I will.

So you plan on going for the career-ending injury next?

Not only that, but to fill the void you've left,

you've caused untold problems for everyone else.

Yet you still have no intention of changing your ways?

None.

I see.

That's unfortunate.

In that case, there's no place for you at Sumeragi.

Sumeragi will be going through a transition.

It's the kind that you probably wouldn't approve of.

Don't look at me like that.

I can perform in any circus.

I... have someone in mind.

Someone who would embrace the kind of circus that you've been seeking.

- Are you ready now? - Is this the right spot?

I'm gonna let go now!

All right.

It's going well, huh?

Yes. Looks like we'll be ready in time for the shows.

SUNFLOWER CIRCUS

We're making changes to the posters, too.

HIRAO-CHO, TOYOKAWA-SHI KALMIA HOUSE GROUNDS

The enemy is...

Shiny Lavender!

This grudge over the theft of our circus grounds...

How can we not settle the score?

They picked this fight with us.

And we're gonna take them on!

So dazzling.

It's going to be tough trying to take customers away from this.

W-We'll figure out a way.

You people there.

A horse.

- A white horse. - Pony.

A steed?

Welcome, members of the Dandelion Circus.

That's "Sunflower Circus."

I was told that some observers would be here.

But as it turns out, you're our colleagues.

- So cute. - I want to touch it.

- Pure white. - Look at those huge eyes.

My name is Mutsumi Kongoji.

The ringmaster of Shiny Lavender, as well as its star.

The aerial acrobatics master who dances in the skies.

Is that right? I'm Maria, the ringmaster of the Sunflower Circus.

We really owe you one this time around, don't we?

Oh, my apologies.

Quite by accident, we ended up pilfering your venue.

Oh, please don't give it another thought.

Since we've found a way to hold our own performances.

Oh, my, have you now?

You have my most heartfelt congratulations.

Really, you are too kind.

Now please, enjoy.

Wait, aren't you...

Shizuku Sakawa?

Those eyelashes!

Yeah. It's been a while.

It's been ages since we last saw you

and now here you are, with the Dandelion Circus, eh?

That's "Sunflower Circus."

I'll be praying for you to not end up a loser again this time.

What did she mean by "loser"?

No clue.

What did you mean by "loser"?

Where on earth did you come from?

Dismount now!

Shoo. Shoo.

She really can't read the room, can she?

Even I'm embarrassed by her.

Hey, we're back!

Welcome home.

Well? Can we blow them out of the water?

Not by a long shot.

They'll definitely bankrupt us.

They've got better facilities, and their animals are well-trained.

We're gonna beat them no matter what.

Come up with a strategy by the end of the day.

I'll pay you this much.

I'll do it.

Just like that. Can you really do it?

Imari, I need you to prepare something for me.

Pay off debt.

Pay off debt.

Why an outdoor bath?

I mean, there's a proper bathtub right next door.

This won't work.

But if we go with this one, the difficulty level will be too high for Ouka.

Mizuka? Mizuka.

What are you scribbling on that pad?

The program for our next show, and the concepts for our acts.

What? You're changing them now?

Yes.

In terms of facilities, setup and advertising power, they've got us beat in every way.

Probably in terms of talent, too.

So even if we have to be a little reckless, we need to go all in to win.

Cooking up an evil plot?

Ms. Shizuku.

Here goes.

Move over a little.

Um, listen...

- It's cramped in here. - Yes, it is.

I bet it is.

So? A strategy meeting in the bathtub?

Yes.

About the new acts and program?

Yes.

In that case, there's a trick that I want to try.

What? What kind of trick?

Give me your pencil.

A trick from my flying days, way back when.

See? First, like this...

Oh, I see.

It's a difficult trick.

Can you handle it, Ms. Shizuku?

Jeez, what a smart aleck.

Look, you, show a little respect to your elders.

Something like this, then?

Yes.

Um, by the way, Ms. Shizuku.

Do you know that glitzy goldilocks lady?

Oh, right, Svietlana and I used to be with the Sumeragi Circus.

We were pretty popular, you know.

Oh, really?

Why did you quit?

I heard her call you "loser," too.

Mizuka. The room. Read the room.

What?

In that case, there's no place for you at Sumeragi.

Well, stuff happens.

Mizuka.

Yes?

If we do it your way, we can beat Sumeragi, right?

As long as you and Ouka do exactly as I say.

That's what I like to hear.

We're changing all of the acts?

Starting now?

Yes.

Did you know?

I heard about it from Imari.

Changing the program is one thing,

but the aerial act is too difficult.

You can do it.

You and Ms. Shizuku can, for sure.

Uh, yeah. I'll do my best.

We're opening with my aerial silk act?

We want to grab the audience from the get-go with your performance.

Until now,

Sister Svie's always shown up in the middle, after the crowd's been warmed up.

But it's going to be a huge responsibility for us and Isuzu, since we're right after her.

Right?

It'll be fine.

Even if there's a lull,

we can finish with something spectacular, and the gap will actually play it up.

You picking a fight?

My aerial act with Ms. Shizuku is a little on the long side, isn't it?

I'll gladly take on the challenge.

Ouka, let's start practicing.

Right.