HANEBADO! (はねバド！)

A smash?

A cut?

How are you feeling?

I'm okay now.

I see. That's good.

I wonder what you'll get me on your trip this time...

The chocolates you brought last time were so good...

I didn't really lose.

I mean, I beat her every other time.

I was sick of it already, so I stopped playing hard.

But she got so worked up...

So I didn't really lose.

You're... coming back, right?

Mom!

Don't go...

I didn't expect such sneaky badminton from you, Nagisa-chan.

You don't want me to see your smash?

Stay calm.

If she riles you, you'll lose control of the game.

She's going force her way through?!

It curved?

As if it... ran away from her racket...

#12 "Step Forward Already!"

Why did you leave Ayano behind?

Elena-chan.

You've been with Ayano all this time, then?

Thank you.

I wanted to develop Ayano's talent as much as I could.

Okay, that's all for today.

Aw, no fair!

More!

If you want to play more,

you'll have to get a whole lot better!

Mom!

Mom, that's not fair!

She must be going at it.

She started doing badminton for my sake.

And that's why you ran away from Ayano?

1-2!

Did you see that, Kaoruko-chan?!

It was all like vroom zwee!

It was a cut smash.

But my cut smashes don't curve like that!

That's likely because you're right-handed.

What do you mean?

I need to turn things around.

Not good.

Hanesaki's going to notice that uncertainty.

It curved again!

The feathers on a shuttle are arranged counterclockwise.

So a cut smash from a southpaw gives the shuttle a wild spin.

It's called a crossfire.

If I let this bother me,

I'll lose even more initiative.

One more time... Go on the attack!

She's powering through!

It's really stretched out.

Did she just hit it while jumping backwards?

By taking her feet off the ground, she softened the repellent force,

while also giving herself enough space to return the shot...

What an absolute monster she is!

She didn't just make that move up on the fly.

Hanesaki has practiced that move in the past.

Sweat, please.

I won't be surprised by any move you bring at me.

I was never under the delusion that I could overwhelm you!

Bring it on!

I'm better than Connie.

Better than Nagisa-chan.

But I'm never coming back!

I might be an awful parent.

I put badminton over my relationship with my daughter.

But I wanted her to see...

what having great skill can open your eyes to.

What are you talking about?

It's just a sport, isn't it?

Only a very small number of people can make a living playing sports.

And even if you make it your career, one injury can ruin everything.

Dedicating your life to a sport hardly seems worthwhile, right?

But feeling your body move any way you want it,

controlling the shuttle like an extension of yourself...

Throwing everything you have against a difficult opponent...

I feel like there is purpose to be found in those moments.

Game point!

Hanesaki-san seems more determined than usual.

She does, but...

Aragaki-san's calm is equally intriguing.

Nagisa!

Do your best!

Go on the attack!

She returned it!

Game!

First game won by Hanesaki!

21-16!

She's outpacing me.

No way!

You played great!

But is your knee okay?

Yeah, it's fine.

A-Ayanon...

I'm her senpai, but I'm terrified.

G-Good work in the first set!

Thanks.

How are you feeling?

Fine, I guess.

Nagisa-chan's been playing sneaky,

but there's no way I'll lose.

I knew she couldn't compare to Mom.

I know I've done something unforgivable.

But I have no regrets.

Right now, she's on the verge of taking a new step.

That's thanks to you, and the members...

...of her club, who stayed by her side.

Let's head back.

I bet they're having a great match.

Second game!

Love-all! Play!

If I take this set, I win the game.

Let's have some fun.

She's still not smashing it!

Then I guess I'll do it!

Enough already!

Aragaki's really hanging in there.

It's become a really good match.

Yes. Hanesaki's winning for now, but...

She's been forced into a style of badminton she doesn't usually play.

That's true. Hanesaki-san is attacking,

and Aragaki-san is on defense.

It's like the opposite of their usual play styles.

Huh? She didn't smash it?

Yes!

She's getting desperate.

What's wrong with Ayanon?

She misunderstands what terrifies her opponent.

The most frightening way to face her is in a rally.