Run! T High School Basketball Club (走れ t校バスケット部)

Mom.

Can you hear my voice?

I want you to know

about my life up until now.

Yoichi!

Not yet!

Look around you! Good!

Yoichi, run!

I loved basketball

when I was little, didn't I?

Nothing made me happier than seeing

you smile when you cheered me on.

They kept cheating by fouling.

I wouldn't like it if you won by cheating.

Even though you lost,

you played better by playing fair.

I was so impressed.

-Really? -Yes.

Like a hero standing up to bad guys.

So admirable.

Hey, look. A dog.

What? Are you embarrassed?

Don't hide how you feel.

Can I play video games?

Sure.

You were always like that

but you passed away when I was 10.

Dad even stopped being a workaholic

-and did his best to fill your shoes. -Make sure your lunch box doesn't spill.

-Yes. -Take care.

-But Dad wanted me to focus -Be careful!

on studying, not basketball.

He was worried about me.

When I got into Hakusui High,

regular nationals contenders,

he didn't stop me, but he wasn't happy.

Don't let me down.

I won't.

I wanted to impress Dad,

so I trained harder than ever.

-Toru Honjo. -Here.

I made the team in my first year,

and all seemed to be going well.

But then, in spring of my second year...

Don't!

Nice!

Hey! What's going on?

I saw a friend of mine since junior high getting bullied.

I couldn't just let it happen.

You're scaring Kimizuka!

Leave him alone!

Are you okay?

Oh, I slipped.

-From that day on, -Watch where you step.

I became their target.

You better watch yourself.

Hey! Here!

-Kono! -Hey!

Nice pass!

-Nice shot! -Nice!

What?

I put up with it, until...

I'm counting on you, Okada.

Yes.

No. 12, Toru Honjo.

Yes.

Kimizuka?

Look at you!

-Damn, dude! -Are you a mushroom?

-You getting this, Kimizuka? -Yes.

-I'm getting it. -You're getting this?

-It looks great! -Isn't that amazing?

That was the moment that broke me.

Hey, Yoichi. I made your lunch.

What's wrong?

Basketball was everything to me,

but I began to hate it more and more.

I couldn't trust anyone anymore.

Dad was the only person I could count on.

Principal.

I'd like to talk to the students

involved in the assault.

You're exaggerating it.

I don't think I am.

It's no wonder bullying won't end

if that's how you look at it.

Coach Iwata has led our team to success...

That's irrelevant, isn't it?

If so, let me speak to those boys.

Or are you trying to hide something?

Are you sure you're not

blinded by your loyalty to your son?

-What do you mean? -You know our school's status

in this prefecture, don't you?

Other students' honors are also at stake.

We'll take responsibility

and investigate this matter thoroughly.

Will that satisfy you?

Quitting basketball and studying hard

will put Dad at ease.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing for me or Dad.

That's what I told myself.

-Dad. -Yes?

Can I quit this school?

You want to transfer?

I'm sorry.

It's not you who needs to apologize.

I won't do club activities.

I'll focus on studying.

Okay.

And so I transferred to a local school,

Tadano High, aka T High.

TOCHIGI PREFECTURAL TADANO HIGH SCHOOL

YEAR 2 CLASS C

From today,

you'll have a new classmate.

Go on, introduce yourself.

Okay.

Well...

I transferred for family reasons.

I'm Yoichi Tadokoro.

Nice to meet you.

Applause!

If you need to talk, I'm here for you.

Stop teasing me!

Hey, sir. Can we talk?

No, we can't. Sit.

-But it's serious. -Sit!

-That's your desk. -Okay.

If he's fallen behind,

show him your notes, okay?

-Yes, sir. -Okay.

Let's get started.

Page 54 in your textbooks.

Hey. Have you chosen a club yet?

No.

You're tall. Basketball?

We're in the basketball club.

We don't have enough members. We need new recruits.

No clubs for me.

What? What a waste! You should join.

-Right? -Yes.

What?

I think you would fit right in.

And girls love basketballers.

-Right? -Yes, sure they do.

Sorry. I'm not interested.

For real?

What's wrong?

Oh, nothing.

Back then,

T High's basketball club wasn't anywhere near Hakusui High's level.

Welcome, freshman.

-I'll teach you handling. -Really?

Kyrie Irving's the king of handling, but you know that.

I've never heard of him.

Not another one.

Whatever.

Just try to steal the ball.

-You won't though. -Okay!

-Here we go. -Okay.

What?

That's odd.

OSAMU NEGORO

Well, you get the idea.

I'm shredded!

Check me out!

These are just mosquito bites.

-Hey, basketballer! -Can you see that?

Basketballer!

Don't interrupt our practice.

Okay.

Shouldn't you be practicing seriously too?

Hey!

Hey, Shunsuke! Way to go, future captain!

SHUNSUKE YAJIMA

Toru!

Sprint practice!

Oh, I'll be right there!

Sorry. I've got to go.

Okay.

Shunsuke, catch you later.

Hey!

Which is more important, track or basketball?

Sorry!

Don't let him go so easily.

He's got a track meet.

Nobody is motivated.

Don't worry. I'll whip us into shape.

-Really? -You bet.

I'll do my best.

-Hiroko! -Yes?

-Come here. -Okay.

Yes, you're right.

You've got to do your best, right?

You've got to show that you mean business, right?

What do you mean?

What do I mean? Man!

What do I mean?

Hiroko!