KYOTO UJI ICE ARENA
I didn't decide against the high-scoring jumps
because I don't think you can do them.
Huh?
If you can perfect the jumps that you're already doing,
it'll get you more points than something flashy.
Oh... Really?
Make sure you take off from the correct edge, one.
And two, think about the flow into your landings.
If you can just focus in on those two little things, that's extra points.
Just focus.
Yep. So get out there and nail it like I know you can.
And you're gonna knock the socks off all these guys.
Keep calm and skate on.
[Inori] That face.
He really believes I can win. I can tell.
[announcer] Number 24, Inori Yuitsuka...
- [grunts] - ...from Lux Higashiyama FSC.
- Knock 'em dead! - Okay!
What did you... Oh.
I'm going to do my absolute best!
[gasps]
- [grunting] - [all gasp]
Wait. What?
- Why did I fall? [gasps] - [Tsukasa] Inori!
Your set hasn't started. It's okay!
Just get in place quick!
[Inori gasps] Okay.
[Ms. Yuitsuka] Well, that took a few years off my life...
[Sekoma] I think that just about killed me.
What a huge burst of speed.
How did I do that?
I was focusing on my skates, making sure I started out firm...
Wait. That's the stuff Coach Tsukasa's always telling me to do.
Her victory today is riding on a perfect run.
No falls, no missteps, no mistakes.
Please recover.
- [Sekoma grunts] - You can do it.
[sighs]
[inhales sharply]
WESTERN POWERHOUSES (PART 2)
["Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity" playing]
First jump, single Axel.
Yes!
[Tsukasa] Good, an effortless landing.
Keep it up. Here comes the hard one.
[Inori] Double Salchow!
- [Tsukasa] Perfect! - [Inori] I've got it now.
If I just put all my weight on the edge I'm skating on,
I can go faster and faster.
It's really effective.
But
it's really exhausting!
I'm gliding smoother than usual, though, so I gotta keep up.
[grunts]
- [Tsukasa] Nice! - [audience applauds]
The right point of balance will maximize your speed and your grace.
So find your center and just keep practicing.
Before you know it, you'll be flying.
[Inori] Of course.
Align your weight. Keep your core strong...
"Get it right, and the ice and your blades will do all the work for you."
I think I finally understand what you were saying, Coach.
My skates are working with me. They're making me stronger!
[Tsukasa] Those two double jumps were her biggest challenges today.
And they were the best she's ever done 'em.
Next, she'll tackle the step sequence,
which is a required program element from here on out.
Not that I'm worried about it.
Our taiyaki method is gonna make this a great new source of points for Inori.
Oh, no. She's tired.
It's probably muscle fatigue.
Please, hang in there.
[Inori] My legs are like jelly.
I feel like I'm about to mess up.
But I don't want all my taiyaki practice to go to waste!
How does Coach do it?
His hands were so beautiful.
It was mesmerizing, like magic.
But I bet I can do that, too.
[gasps]
Inori...
[Inori] Graceful skating has both fast and slow movements.
And the slow ones take strength.
I may not have the muscles for that yet, but I will one day!
For now, I just gotta show them what I do have!
[Tsukasa] One more big push!
[grunts]
- Whoa! - Is that a flying sit spin?
[Inori] Come on, come on, come on!
Extend your arm way out, arch your back as far as you can...
For the tougher, elevated broken leg that we worked so hard on!
That's my girl!
- Oh! - [audience applauding, cheering]
[Ms. Yuitsuka, Sekoma laughing]
[applause continues]
[breathing heavily]
It's over.
Huh?
Coach Tsukasa...
- [grunts] - [gasps]
- [Ms. Yuitsuka] Inori. - [Sekoma gasps]
How you feeling? You okay?
- [grunts] - [gasps]
[Tsukasa] Hold on.
Where are we going?
[gasps]
Is Inori hurt?
She'll be fine. You need to focus on your own performance now.
Okay.
[announcer] Inori Yuitsuka's score is
24.32.
She is currently in first place.
NURSE'S OFFICE
[nurse] Looks like you sprained your ankle.
I might recommend going to the hospital for an X-ray, though, just in case.
Okay, thank you.
- Sorry, Inori. - Hmm?
I think it's best if you skip the award ceremony.
[sighs] Okay.
I'll go get her things and arrange for a taxi.
- [Inori] Um, Coach? - [door opens]
Is it okay if I stay long enough to watch Ema's performance?
[Tsukasa stammers]
[Inori] She goes last, and I at least wanna know what place I got.
Yeah, you got it.
[nurse] Do you hurt anywhere else besides your leg?
Oh, no. Mostly I'm just sore, but it's fine.
I noticed the pain kinda goes away after I've warmed up.
[gasps]
[nurse] I don't see a problem with her staying longer to watch,
but it's possible that she may have shin splints.
Um, Coach, what's a shin splint?
We can get into that later.
But it's almost time for Ema to skate.
Let's go talk to your mom and find a good spot in the audience.
- [door opens] - Ah...
- [door closes] - [sighs]
Hey. Mr. Sekoma!
Are you feeling all right, Inori?
Yep. Thank you for coming. I'm happy to see you.
- [sighs] - [announcer] Number 32. Ema Yamato
- from Rengecha FSC. - Wow, we're right on time.
You got this, Ema. Debut the new you, and let's win this thing.
You want to introduce her to a different club? Seriously?
She's gonna hear that as, "You're not good enough to stay here with us."
Rengecha FSC picks up 20 new skaters a year.
And they all whip past level one. But Ema's been in Prelim how long, now?
[grunts]
[Rengecha coach] I'm only thinking about what's best for her.
- [Yudai] Howdy! - Oh...
How ya doing? Is that leg still bugging ya?
It's okay.
[grunts] There's something I wanted to ask you about.
Hmm?
What's with this? Practice starts in ten minutes.
You should eat up.
[Ema] Nah.
Huh?
When I eat a lot, I get taller. And it makes my legs hurt.
So if eating is gonna keep me from skating,
then I'll stop.
[grunts] Ema...
I...
- [sighs] - What's the matter?
[Yudai] You're being awful silly.
We're gonna make you a brilliant skater no matter how tall you might get, you hear?
So you don't gotta go and do something dumb like that.
Now get this down, and let's keep at it.
[sighs]
She's been through so much.
But with how far she's come, she can take it easy and win no problem.
[soft instrumental music playing]
- [audience applauds] - That Lutz was ridiculous!
Yeah, she didn't even look like she was trying!
A double Lutz...
A Lutz takes off from the right outer edge and twists leftward,
which is tough to pull off
and even harder to land.
Yet she made it look so simple.
They'll never know how much blood, sweat, and tears went into this.
LEVEL ONE - ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS TEST RESULTS: FAIL
[Yudai] This was just a bad day for growing pains, huh?
I really hate how bad I am at this right now.
But it's fine. I'm gonna keep doing it. And I'll never hate skating.
[gasps]
[Inori] Ema,
I thought you were like me because we took the level one test together.
But you're not. You're so much better.
Your moves, your jumps...
It's impossible to do what you do overnight.
You mastered a million things, and then put them all together.
Stuff I'm just now learning, you've been able to do for a long time.
[Ema] With as much as I've practiced, all the work I've done,
even the hard jumps are nothing special to me.
[gasps]
- [audience applauds] - A double flip/double toe loop combo!
Those are the highest difficulty jumps level one will allow this year.
[Yudai] Take that pain, the experience,
the hurt, and leave it all out there on the ice.
[Ema] Not being able to practice, getting left behind by other skaters,
other coaches, I'll put everything into this performance.
[gasps]
[Tsukasa] A flying camel spin!
[song ends]
Yeah!
[audience applauding, cheering]
- Never mind. - Hmm?
I take back what I said about level one sucking.
There weren't no triples in there,
but you can't deny that girl's skill. Level don't matter skating like that.
[Miihi] Hmm.
You know, I can't stand you when you act all mature.
[Ema sobs, chuckles]
[both chuckle]
That was amazing.
[announcer] Ema Yamato's score is
25.57.
She is currently in first place.
- [gasps] - [cheering]
You were wonderful.
Thank you.
[chuckles]
CHANGING ROOM
- [camera shutters clicking] - [people chattering]
[photographer] One more, look.
- Right at the camera, please. - This rules!
This sucks!
I can't believe I didn't even make the podium!
Big fish left the small pond.
I'd like to see you try!
- [coach] Ah, Miss Ritsuki. - Huh?
These young ladies are going to be your new clubmates soon.
Meet Seira Shishido and Miihi Kurosawa.
Hey! Why's your face look so familiar to me?
'Cause you hit her face with your face.
[screams]
[coach] They've decided to commit to figure skating over speed skating.
So they'll be transferring from Hiroshima next month.
Wanna be friends with me?
I need your name and favorite color. And favorite dinosaur if you got one!
Nice to meet you.
[Ritsuki screaming] No!
KYOTO UJI ICE ARENA
[announcer] The Women's Novice B Free Skating Competition
will begin shortly.
Suzu, don't get carried away out there.
Remember that this is our last practice match before nationals.
Focus on the details.
[Suzu] Don't you worry none!
I told you this would be the year that I finally surpass Hikaru as Novice Queen,
didn't I?
Why would I let my guard down now?
I've got this, Coach.
[announcer] Athletes in group one, your practice period starts now.
- You have six minutes on the ice. - [grunts]
[attendant] There we go!
Thank you very much for that.
[no audible dialogue]
- [Tsukasa] Inori. - Huh?
Starting tomorrow, I want you to take a break.
No practice till the fall.
What? Take a break?
But summer vacation is the only time I get to practice all day.
Why are we stopping now?
Do you remember what the nurse said this afternoon?
That you could have shin splints?
Oh, yeah. What about them?
[Tsukasa] Shin splints are a result of overusing the muscle.
Everything in there is strained and swollen right now.
If we ignore that, it could lead to a stress fracture.
[gasps] A fracture...
The pain you've been feeling in your other leg?
That could be an early symptom of an issue.
And if you wind up with a stress fracture,
you'll be out of practice for months.
We cannot let that happen.
So, a break is good...
- [Tsukasa] Inori. - Yeah?
Forgive me. I learned an important lesson today
about what I'm lacking as a coach.
In the future, I'll be focusing more about how to prevent accidents and injuries.
Yeah, I think this competition taught me a lot as well.
I'm not the only one who dreams of being a great figure skater.
Not at all.
- There are lots of kids who love skating. - [door closes]
- [shouts] - And they're working hard, too.
I'm pushing myself to the limit
- to keep up with everyone. - Okay! Huddle up tight!
And so are they.
- Now say cheese! - [Inori] And there are some
who couldn't practice how they wanted, but kept it up anyway.
[chuckles]
I'm never gonna surpass the skaters
who have built up all their skills from an early age.
I started later than normal, and it's not like I can get that time back.
There's just gonna be a gap there, and that's okay.
But...
I'll work through it. And I'll never use it as a reason to quit.
[sighs]
Some things are just out of my control,
so I won't panic or get upset over them anymore.
I'll keep believing that, late or not,
I can win my next fight exactly as I am.
[Tsukasa's coach] You sure you wanna do this?
Yes. I want to believe and I want to try.
Good.
'Cause I believe in you, too.
[chuckles]
[Ms. Yuitsuka] Your sister said she can come pick us up at the station.
Oh, that's good.
[Tsukasa] In that case,
we gotta get ready to show off your medal.
[Inori] Really? Right now?
[Tsukasa clears throat] The bullet train award ceremony will now begin!
[Tsukasa imitating Bugler's Dream Olympic Fanfare Pastiche]
Inori Yuitsuka, LHFSC.
Present.
I present you with this silver medal!
[squeals]
[Tsukasa chuckles] The first medal of many.
[Inori] Yeah.
You should be very proud of that silver.
But we'll take the gold next time.
What do you say?
Yes!
FIVE DAYS LATER
UJI NO MACHI STATION
What? Are you for real?
You came all the way to Kyoto to apologize?
Yes. I also want to express my gratitude...
- What is that guy's deal? - ...and report to you.
Did you say "report to me"?
[Tsukasa] Just take them!
FROGGYCOOKIE
So, I talked to Inori. And we decided to abstain from winter meets.
We're just going to focus on progressing through the Badge Tests for now.
[Yudai] I see. That's your report?
It is.
Oh and by the way, thank you for sharing Ema's story with me.
It's filled me with determination.
And that's the gratitude.
Well, then, this box of snacks ain't gonna cut it.
- [gasps] - Tell ya what will, though,
if you and Inori's progress a year from now blows my doors off.
Think y'all can do that for me?
Yes, sir.
That's the plan. We'll spend this year finding our new normal.
And the next time I see you, it'll be at the All-Japans.
[Yudai] Good!
[commentator] A triple Axel! Beautifully done.
[audience applauding]
This is the second victory for Hikaru Kamisaki.
[straining]
[grunts]
[Inori] Hikaru...
CERTIFICATE OF HONOR
[no audible dialogue]
[Rioh] Piece of shit.