Tumbling (Shintaiso ga, oretachi o otoko ni shita / タンブリング / 新体操が、オレ達をオトコにした)

You know Yashiro, don't you?

Did you use Yashiro to frame Nippori and Ryosuke?

And if I did?

Gonna punch me?

Yeah. Just try and punch him.

We won't interfere.

Don't ever...

...try to interfere with the rhythmic gymnastics club again.

Let's meet again.

Kaicho, please wait. My team has done nothing wrong.

- ...why must they withdraw? - Sensei...

As I've said many times before, it is to uphold the dignity of rhythmic gymnastics.

But, my team hasn't done anything...

We are not saying that you are banned from competing.

We simply recommend that you withdraw.

If you would like to compete, then please do so.

However...

If anything should occur...

...you will take full responsibility for everything.

So Akabane was pulling the strings after all?

That bastard.

Why did Akabane end up like that?

Huh?

We were friends. We always used to hang out, right?

So why...

He's not your friend. He's trying to take out our boss.

Yeah! He's lowlife scum!

You don't know what he's capable of if provoked.

The Kantou Tournament is close.

The only thing we can do is try to stay away from him.

Yeah. I guess so.

Okay. Let's practice.

All right!

You're really into it.

Yeah. I haven't practiced for a while.

It's good you passed your make-up exams.

Of course I was going to pass!

Push off from the floor harder...

...and try imagining doing it with more speed.

I've always been really bad at multiple back flips...

Let's do our best.

Again.

Vice Principal, won't you please reconsider?

It wouldn't be good for the girl's team to be under suspicion too if we oppose the Rhythmic Gymnastics Association.

Once the principal comes back from his business trip, we'll submit the withdrawal.

But... My team has worked so hard to make it as far as the Kantou Tournament.

Then it'd be better to tell them sooner than later.

No. I don't intend to tell them.

I won't do anything to kill their motivation.

So, please reconsider. Vice Principal, please...

- Vice Principal... - Kashiwagi-sensei.

There's a phone call for you.

It's from Coach Nakamura at Washizu Academy.

Does that mean we're lending our gym to Washizu?

- Yes... - What is that?

Just for a day. They're holding the Artistic Gymnastics Prefectural Tournament at Washizu, so they can't...

That's not our problem.

Don't joke around. Just say no.

Kashiwagi! Refuse!

Well, about that...

You already said it was okay.

Topknot, what about our practice?

Kashiwagi! What about it?

We'll be able to check them out fair and square, though, so this might be a good thing.

You do have a point.

Don't say cowardly stuff like that. I'm completely against it.

Who's being cowardly? You're both in a bad position.

You don't have enemies or allies.

In the world, you've got to help each other out.

Kashiwagi! Save them!

Don't betray us like that!

You should play along, Student Uniform!

Shige-chan, you're being annoying.

Sorry...

I thought being able to watch Washizu practice may turn out to be an advantage for you all. Sorry...

Sensei.

We understand.

Group Performance members, tumbling!

Yes.

About the practice we'll be doing...

Coach!

I can't accept your decision.

Why are you letting a first year...

...compete instead of me?

Tsurumi... What do you have to say, as captain?

He's better than you. That's all there is to say.

What's that? How can you talk to a teammate like that?

But, Tsurumi-san's attitude towards achieving victory is impressive.

I don't think winning is everything.

What?

I'm going.

- That's no good. Concentrate. - Yes, sir.

1... 2... 3 times.

That's a national-level triple back handspring.

Guys...

Can I have a sec?

I think we should include a triple back flip for the Kantou Tournament too.

If we can't do that, we can't stand in the same arena as Washizu.

I've also decided to choose who is competing based on who can do a triple back flip.

I was thinking of having team tryouts next week.

Does that mean that I have a chance?

Of course.

Wait a sec.

It doesn't make sense to change the team after all of the practicing we've done.

I also think this lineup is best.

Besides, what about the group techniques?

That's right. If we don't have Kaneko, we can't complete those successfully.

If he doesn't make it, we can't do them.

The triple back flip will make more of an impression on the judges than the group technique.

If I had to choose what to include, it'd be the triple back flip.

Basically, if we don't do the triple back flip, we can't beat Washizu.

Fine. I get it.

Let's do that tryout thing or whatever.

Tumbling Episode 10

I think it'd be good to include the triple back flip in this section.

What do you think, Mizusawa?

I can't agree with your decision.

Kaneko has practiced with us since our first year.

We're going to retire after this year. Yet...

Of all things, you're going to do team tryouts based on the triple back handspring, which he's not good at.

When I think of Kaneko's feelings... It just seems unbearable...

Hey.

Kaneko isn't the kind of guy who'll get disheartened by something like that.

You need to believe in him more.

I'm going home. Excuse me for leaving before you.

I didn't make this decision easily.

Of course I thought about how Kaneko would feel.

But, I thought this is the only way we can all make it to Nationals.

Then that's fine.

Yuuta. You're not wrong.

Mizusawa'll understand one day.

Thanks.

It might be hard to convince the vice principal.

Appearances are the most important thing to him.

If I don't do something soon...

We really will have to withdraw from the Kantou Tournament like this...

What do you mean, "withdraw?"

Didn't you go settle that?

I'm sorry. I didn't want to cause you additional pressure.

We're absolutely not withdrawing. I'll go settle this tomorrow.

If you do that, you'll just make it worse.

Azuma-kun... Takenaka-kun...

As your coach, I will take care of this.

So, please concentrate on practicing.

I promise you, I won't let them make you withdraw.

Be stronger in the spiral.

In order to win the Kantou Tournament, I've decide to include the triple back handspring.

Would you judge the competition please, Shoko-sensei?

All right!

- That was beautiful. - Yay!

- You did it. - That's amazing.

If I'm serious about it, it's a piece of cake.

This'll be super easy during tomorrow's tryouts.

But, you didn't have quite enough speed.

Also, your legs were kind of crooked.

If you're not conscious of your form down to your toes, then..

Don't criticize every little thing.

Besides, how can you lecture me when you can't even do it?

I was just... trying to give you some advice.

You know, you should be more concerned about yourself than others.

If that makes you mad...

Don't make excuses, and just perfect the triple back handspring.

You don't have to go that far!

You always get things right away, Ryosuke-san, so...

...you may not understand how it feels to fail, but we're doing the best we can!

Anyone would get mad being told something that insensitive.

What? You're going to complain too?

- Stop it! - Ryosuke.

This isn't the time to fight about stupid stuff like that.

I can understand why Ryosuke's angry. He has natural ability.

But natural ability will only take you so far.

Ryosuke puts his all into practice too.

Takenaka-kun!

I heard in the teacher's room...

Are you really withdrawing from the Kantou Tournament?

Yuuta, what's going on?

Yuuta.

I'm sorry for not saying anything.

Sorry.

We didn't want to make you worry if you didn't have to.

"If we didn't have to"? This is really important.

You knew we might have to withdraw, and you still wanted to do tryouts?

- But it hasn't been decided for sure yet, right? - Not for sure yet?

That's the sort of thing you need to talk to us about.

- What I meant... - Whatever. Let's just quit.

- Let's just stop the tryouts. - Ryosuke, wait.

- Then what're we supposed to do? - Cut it out!

Fighting isn't going to help anything.

What are you going to do, Captain?

We'll do the tryouts as planned.

That's what Yuuta, as boss, says.

We're doing it.

Shoko-sensei.

Thank you for helping us.

Thank you.

Then, tryouts will now commence.

Everyone, begin at the end of the first tumbling pass and finish at the transition.

What?

I'll test you on the routine from the prefectural tournament.

What? You're not going to test on the triple back handspring?