HANEBADO! (はねバド！)

21-17.

Game set. Nagisa wins!

Yes!

You're amazing, Nagisa.

Most people can't hit that angle.

It's gotta be talent.

She practices a ton, too!

That was really close, Nozomi.

I could barely even follow the shuttle.

You almost had that last smash, too...

I just can't beat Nagisa, I guess.

I've got it!

Ishizawa!

Pattern B!

Lob!

Hurry, hurry!

Okay!

Nice! Nice cut, Ishizawa!

Yeah, yeah, yeah!

Keep it going! Just like that!

What a loudmouth of a coach.

Great!

If it keeps up like this, the semifinals will be Nozomi and...

I'm gonna warm up a little.

Another!

#8 "The Badminton I Want to Play"

Your signature.

Good luck in the semis.

Though I wish it didn't have to end yet for me.

Ishizawa

Aragaki-san seems really worked up about this.

Ishizawa Nozomi, the girl from Zushi Sogo she's facing in the semifinals,

went to the same middle school as the two of us.

Old rivals meet again, huh?

Doesn't it get your heart racing?

Rivals?

I suppose you could call them that.

Am I wrong?

In middle school, Nagisa had been favored to receive a scholarship to Zushi Sogo.

But...

Ishizawa!

Nozomi was chosen instead.

Nozomi was so well-rounded as a player.

I couldn't compete with her.

But to be honest...

Even from a distance,

I could tell that Nagisa was the better player.

Nozomi knew that, too.

I think it hurt Nagisa to see Nozomi accepted over her.

And Nozomi also...

What's wrong?

Nervous?

Not particularly.

Whoever wins the semifinals goes to nationals.

It hurts, doesn't it?

I told you, I'm fine.

An athlete's career rides on their knees.

If I decide you're through,

I'm stopping you right away.

Tough break, huh?

You almost made it to the top four...

Ishizawa really is good, huh?

But she goes to Zushi Sogo, so of course she is.

But all she does is follow her coach's orders.

The ability to follow directions is pretty amazing, too.

You may be right,

but badminton with a backseat driver can't be much fun.

Got it? Side to side.

Focus on scattered combinations...

...to C2 through C4 to make Aragaki run side to side.

She'll wear out her knee sooner or later.

Got it?

Yes, sir.

Put continuous pressure where your opponent is weakest.

That's what strategy is.

Yes, sir.

Why have you come this far?

Win and show me.

Yes, sir.

Ayano-chan is just amazing...

Riko. Next.

Oh, sorry...

Play is suspended.

You pulled it?

Yes...

Is there anything else? Can you still play?

Yes...

You need my signature, right?

No, the game's still...

You're through, aren't you?

I'm fine! I can play!

Is there really a point to it, though?

You can't possibly win.

Ayano?

What was that all about?

What do you mean? I won.

I'd have liked to go longer, but she forfeited, so...

Why are you acting this way?

This again?

Lately, when you're playing badminton...

You seem so cold.

You're kind of...

...scary.

That's a selfish thing to say.

You're the one who brought me here, Elena.

I've never played badminton before.

I don't know much about sports, either.

But I think you need to consider your opponent's feelings.

Well, I'm not playing badminton to make friends.

But the team's important, right?

Look, there's no point in doing it if you're not good.

Then what are you getting good for?

It's been a while.

Let's both leave here with no regrets.

Oh, please. You don't even see me.

What's wrong, Elena-chan?

Oh? Um... Well...

I'm a little hungry, I guess!

Go! Go, go, go, Ishizawa!

C! C!

Focus on C!

Make her run! Rotate, C1 through C6!

Wear her down! Wear down her stamina!

Go!

Go, Ishizawa!

I knew that's what they'd be after.

But...

It's not over yet! Keep it going!

Aragaki...

Kanagawa Zushi Sogo High School

Great one, Ishizawa!

Shake her! Shake her!

Focus on placement! Placement!

Great job out there, Ayanon!

Bunch of nonsense... Honestly, who cares?

There's a seat next to me if you want to...

Boy, Nagisa-chan is dumb!

Returning all those shots is pointless.

She's getting beaten anyway.

9-7!

See?

Hey, hey, hey!

Focus on C!

Rotate, C1 to C6!

Make her run!

Make her run more!

10-7!

Nagisa... She's acting a little strange, isn't she?

That's the way! More!

Make her run more!

Aragaki is finished.

To be frank, she's at risk of ending her athletic career.

Despite her height and build,

Aragaki throws herself at every shuttle over the net, no matter how difficult.

There are two potential reasons for this.

One is a bad eye for what's in and what's out.

The other is...

It's out!

Personality, perhaps?

Either way, the strain Aragaki puts on her legs is much greater than yours.

This nonsense...

Great one! Hang in there, hang in there!

Even if I don't play that way...

I can still...

11-8. Interval.

Why didn't you make her run?

Are you going to follow my instructions or not?