It's been a year since the last competition.
Now I'm entering my second Meikoh cup.
Double flip, double toe loop, double loop!
A successful triple combo!
Yuitsuka Inori-san's score is 58.19.
She's currently in first place.
I did it!
You did it!
We will begin the girl's level 5 free skating award ceremony.
The winner is Lux Higashiyama FSC's Yuitsukai Inori-san.
Thank you!
I moved up to 6th grade and passed the level 5 badge test.
There's only one level left before I can challenge Hikaru-chan.
Inori-chan sure is amazing.
Him!
Hey.
Leave Hikaru alone and get out of Nagoya.
You shitty old bastard.
Hikaru can become a Medalist without you.
Sneaking around instead of going to meets...
and you call yourself a coach?
What are you trying to accomplish? Why are you even coaching Hikaru?
You're not interested in raising students.
And you're not just obsessed with skating like my dad!
Hey, don't ignore me!
You're in Hikaru's way, shitty old man!
Even though you ran away from skating!
I guess you won't understand unless I tell you.
Hikaru's biggest obstacle...
is your misunderstanding of her.
Suddenly, the double-bladed shoes tarnish and rust, as the rain traces their edge
kizukeba kutsu wa yogore sabitsuita moroha wo tsutau ame
Our desire never dwindles, waking up only makes us dream again
akogare wa sono mama de yume kara mezameta saki ni wa yume
I hear the sound of your cry, fading into the sky that swallows it whole
kikoeta sono nakigoe kieiru temae no kubosuru sora e
Only to find you curled up, overwhelmed by the depths of your desire
akogare no sono saki e uzukumaru kimi wo mitsukeru tame
Go! Go!
yuke yuke
Let your impulses propel you and soar at unreachable speeds
oitsukenai sokudo de tobe inparusu kasoku shite yuke
Embrace this moment before it fades away
kieta kono toki wo kanjiru tame ni
You were born for this
umarete kitan da
Rise above expectations, carve your destiny as the wind sweeps through your hair
mirai wo tsukande kitaichi wo koete hitai ni fukisasu kaze
In this moment, nobody can deny your brilliance
ima ni mina yo kitto kimi no mabushisa ni daremo ga kizuku darou
Let your voice radiate your worth, glide through the endless sky and rise above everyone's gaze
fusawashii koe de shisen wo oikoshite kokuu wo koete ike
I release your hands
michigaeteku kimi no yubi kara ima
As I watch you take flight
te o hanasu
Howl Into The Night
A triple combo jump and camel spin.
It was tough work training for those jumps in the second half.
But being able to see the results of all that hard work makes it all worth it.
I can't wait to see this moment in her documentary!
Only one more badge test level to go.
When she reaches level 6, she'll be able to compete in the All-Japan Novice A.
But...
there's a big hurdle to get to level 6.
Even skaters who have been training since they were five mostly give up on their dreams here.
And that's because of the Axel.
Above the toe loop, Salchow, loop, flip, and Lutz.
The most difficult jump.
The final boss jump.
To pass level 6, you have to be able to perform a double Axel.
Now matter how I try to land it, I fall.
Unlike the other five types of jumps, the Axel requires you take off going forwards.
Which means you have to do an extra half rotation in order to make the landing.
Want to take a break?
Yeah.
That extra half spin...
To the athlete, it feels almost like a whole extra spin.
I thought this doing the single too...
but the double Axel really feels more like a triple than a two-and-a-half.
Sure does.
That's what it feels like anyway.
It's dramatically more difficult than the other five jumps.
I feel like my speed in the run up is improving, but...
When your speed goes up, so does the strength of your centrifugal force.
Centrifugal force?
Think about when you're spinning in amusement park teacups.
Your body gets pushed towards the outside, right?
But if you stay in the center...
You're not pulled outwards!
Smart as always, Inori-san!
Correct, if you want to spin faster,
finding the center of your axis is better than adding more speed.
Let me try it one more time!
You've really grown strong.
Tsukasa-ku~n!
Yes?
Come here, just a little bit, over here.
Nice to meet you.
I'm Sonidori.
And this is my son, Rioh.
Surprised?
He's the real deal. The real Coach Sonidori.
You're a big fan, right, Tsukasa-kun?
The Olympic silver medalist...
Yes. Although today I'm not here as a coach,
but as a parent.
A-Uh... S-Sorry!
Well then, once again, this is our assistant coach, Aki-...
Aka-...
Ah... I'm Akeuraji Tsukasa.
I wonder if she'll ever remember my last name.
Umm... What did you want from me?
Of course, recently my son's not been making much progress with his skating.
So he wants to practice at Lux for a week or so.
Actually, I'd rather transfer outright, but...
They said no to that.
I wonder what made him want that.
Why did you choose Lux?
Because Souta-kun's there.
Ah, Souta-san?
You two were in the same skating class at Meikoh, right?
Well, it didn't really matter where it was.
As long as I can get away from that old bastard at Meikoh.
Rioh.
That old bastard?
Doesn't sound like he's talking about his father.
Could it be Yodaka Jun?
If I remember right, Kamisaki Hikaru's official coach is Sonidori Shinichiro.
Something's definitely going on there.
My club currently provides the highest level training for boys,
but if it will help boost his motivation I figured it would be alright to have him train with you, Coach Takamine.
Personally, I don't mind one bit,
but would you be fine with Coach Tsukasa coaching him instead?
It's only his first year of coaching,
and he only formally became an instructor the other day,
but in that one year he's taken a student all the way from beginner to level 5.
If you're hoping to spark a change in Rioh-kun, I believe Coach Tsukasa is the right choice.
Right?
Since Coach Takamine is recommend you so strongly,
then I'll gladly accept.
Eh? N-No! The pleasure is mine!
No way.
If I won't be under the head coach, no way.
Rioh! You're being rude!
W-Well I guess he's not interested then, oh well!
Well, do whatever you want.
I don't have any talent like my dad or Hikaru.
Coach Akeuraji.
Y-Yes!
It's fine, stay where you are.
I've failed to teach him well and sincerely apologize for the rudeness.
Please take care of Rioh in whatever way you can.
An O-Olympic silver medalist is bowing his head to me?
So with that said,
starting today, you'll be having group lessons with Sonidori Rioh-san.
Th-This boy...
Shut your mouth! Ugly fried shrimp!
You'll be doing next week's training camp together too.
Souta-kun.
Oh? Rioh-kun, what're you doing here?
I decided to practice here at this club for a while.
Oh? Really? Hey, did you bring your Switch?
Yeah, I brought it, but let's hurry up and go skate.
Souta-kun! Souta-kun!
You'd definitely jump better if you held your hands in front of you, Souta-kun.
He certainly seems to like having other boy skater friends around.
That looks fun.
Rioh-san's said he's also level 5!
Really?
Comradery
I think you'd be better off that way.
I'll give it a try.
Rioh-kun.
Inori-chan.
So you're level 5 like me, huh?
Hehe, let's get alo-
Who are you?
Yuitsuka... Inori...
He can get back into form right after landing a beautiful double axel.
The way he uses his flexible ankles to do a beautiful check pose must come from his dad.
Really?
Yep, really takes me back.
Woo! That's freakin' cool!
I was enamored by it in middle school.
Coach Sonidori's height allows him to set his axis of rotation for a dynamic quadruple,
but his son's jumping style is a little different.
It's just, regardless of the style...
if he could set up his axis a bit earlier, then he'd have a greater ability to spin.
Wow, Rioh-kun, you can do a double axel!
It's nothing.
If I can't do triples, there's no point.
T-Triples?!
For the boys level 6, you have to do a combination of triples and doubles to pass.
I-It's that hard?
Just because we're both level 5, don't think we're the same.
Unlike girls, boys can skate in Novice A at level 4.
Oh.. is that right...
With that said, Rioh-san, your current goal is passing the level 6 exam, right?
Let's both do our best to pass.
Rioh-san, that last jump of yours was wonderful.
Yes, yes, just like Sonidori Shinichiro, right?
Just like last time...
It's quite a different style from your dad, isn't it?
Huh?
Coach Sonidori utilizes his vertical height to do high jumps.
Rioh-san, you prioritize horizontal distance to do long jumps.
Plus, you've got a great sense for adjusting your posture on the fly in mid-air.
It just goes to show how hard you've practiced, it's very admirable.
Furthermore! You keep the angle of your leg in mind on the check pose.
That shows your attention to detail!
It's wasteful to put pure physicality above that great expressiveness!
I'm sure you'll become a splendid skater!
I-I got so much praise from an adult!
I'm so happy... I'm so happy!
But I feel like I can't let it show on my face!
Being this mindful of and concentrating on your limbs...
Ahh, if someone saw me here right now...
Hikaru's biggest obstacle is your misunderstanding of her.
A splendid skater?
Huh?
Most skaters that started at the same time as me are already level 6.
For a thoroughbred like me, this is the end.
Ah.. Rioh-san.
Please stop saying irresponsible things!
He just praised me a bit.
What am I getting so happy for?
It not like that praise is a guarantee for my future.
Hikaru?
Did you see?
Yes.
Remember it.
Yes!
Yodaka Jun. Kamisaki Hikaru.
Faced with the abilities of those two, I can't possibly see a future for myself.
Just because my performances are kinda good, I can't bring myself to feel proud of it.
Rioh-kun? Rioh-kun?
What's wrong?
Nothing really.
My lessons are over, so I'm going home.
Already?
But hey, that coach. Who is he?
Um, well...
A... Aki... Ake... Coach Tsukasa!
What's he done?
Uh. Ice dancing.
Is that all?
What a pain.
I'm getting taught some weird stuff by a nobody.
Weird?
I don't really get what you mean, but don't worry!
Coach Tsukasa's skating is really pretty! And also...
From a skater who sucks as bad as you, any coach would look great.
That's not true.
Then tell me, can he even do a double axel?
Well...
I knew it.
You've only got one shot at being a skater.
Entrusting your career to someone with no achievements is insane.
If you really are aiming for the top, why not switch coaches?
Later.
I'm gonna win!
I will... I will...
We will win.
We will!
Against Yodaka Jun-san's student, Hikaru-chan, we'll win!
We'll win!
Hikaru-chan, congrats on reaching level 7.
Did you really pass every level in one try?
Ehhh? She's a genius!
You can't do it!
I can do it!
No, you can't!
Yes, I can!
I'm going to land a double axel and enter into the All-Japan Novices.
And then, I'll beat Hikaru-chan.
Do you understand what the novice level is?
Doing a double axel and passing level 6 isn't nearly enough-
I'm gonna win!
Has she even seen any of Hikaru's performances?
She's got no basis for this!
Emotion alone won't let you win...
How... How can she say that? How can she truly believe that?
If only I could say things like that too...
Hm? Inori-san? And Rioh-san?
Rioh-kun, your coach is your dad right?
He's stood on the podium next to Yodaka-san many times.
What about it?
Then!
I'll land a triple-double combo jump before you do, Rioh-kun!
And prove to you that Coach Tsukasa is amazing!
Inori-san?
Hold it! What are you fighting about?
Coach Tsukasa.
What's this all about?
Um, well... It doesn't involve you, Coach Tsukasa!
Well you sure were saying my name a lot!
It doesn't involve you!
I-Inori-san!
Ah, the changing room...
Oh. Rioh-san.
This is awkward. Awkward. Awkward.
What is it?
No, I just wanted to talk with you a bit.
About the fight? Well then...
Well, there's that too.
But mostly I want to hear more about you, Rioh-san.
For example, what made you start skating.
Huh? My dad was an Olympic skater, of course I'd do skating too.
Really. Talking with you gets me so frustrated.
I'll still come to practice, but I'd seriously appreciate it if you left me alone.
Coach Tsukasa!
I want to earn level 6 this summer no matter what!
I'll memorize triples and doubles, and then participate in this year's national novices tournament!
And so... I'll be counting on you!
Goodbye!
Huh! I-Inori-san!
Your stuff!
I-I'm sorry...
About what you were just saying...
Is it going to be too hard after all?
Considering your current pace,
it'll take lots and lots of practice to finish the double Axel and get level 6.
The triple-double you'll need for the All-Japan Novices...
But if I just tried even harder!
I understand how you feel.
But, Inori-san, you're already practicing as much as you can.
If you do any more than this, you'll run the risk of shin splints.
Shin splints...
Of course, we can try different training routines.
There are some that might speed up your progress.
But the way I see it...
you're already growing at an explosive rate.
Reaching level 5 in your first year was incredibly fast.
What were you and Rioh-san fighting about?
Something happened that made you want to participate in this years Novices, right?
With nationals approaching, things have gotten tense.
Maybe the atmosphere is making her rush things.
Although, wait...
It looks like she's desperately biting her tongue.
What is it? What do you want to say?
Um, well. I....
Hm?
I've grown four centimeters since last year!
And not just that!
I did really well on endurance tests too, like running and mat exercises.
Also... I was in the top five for my class and got praised for it!
The girl who had nothing has become a girl who's good at athletics!
I believe I've changed completely from who I used to be.
Not just on the ice, I can do more on the ground too!
That's why...!
A double Axel?
Yes. On the ground, I can jump it.
So I'll show you I can do triple-double combos as well!
You did it! You did a double axel jump, Inori-san!
You just spun two and a half rotations!
Well, I managed to do one just a bit ago.
Though I'm still working on doing it on ice.
How can this be.
I thought she couldn't do them because she lacked the muscle...
but if she can jump it on the ground, she has the strength!
I wasn't looking at what was going on beyond the ice.
Inori-san, next week's training camp will be special.
Special?
Yeah.
Let's aim for the All-Japan Novices!
You'll stand on the same stage as Kamisaki Hikaru!
pajama na kokoro no atashi no kiru doresu wa sekai de ichiban da
Wearing the prettiest dress in the world, my pajama-wrapped heart never stops dreaming
akogare kogarete ano ko to choujousen
It burns with desire for a showdown with her
akogare kogarete ano ko to choujousen
It burns with desire for a showdown with her
akogare kogarete ano ko to choujousen
It burns with desire for a showdown with her
miryoukuteki na sensu de shoubu kiseki teki na chansu de shoubu
A match woven from the threads of fate and chance
miryoukuteki na sensu de shoubu kiseki teki na chansu de shoubu
A match woven from the threads of fate and chance
akogare no konpetishon nekketsu no sensei to
It's a competition my coach and I long for
namihazure senseishon chou suka agaru mochibenshon
Feelings of love and motivation are an extraordinary sensation
yumemiru shoujo de itai itai itai
I want to stay a dreamer forever and ever and ever!
yumemiru shoujo de itai itai itai
I want to stay a dreamer forever and ever and ever!
yumemiru shoujo de itai itai itai
I want to stay a dreamer forever and ever and ever!
dakara kimeru
I made my decision!
mune no chikuchiku ga
My chest is tingling!
hajike kimochi ii ne
I will prove you wrong!
odorokasetai ne kurawanai dis tatakau wa rinku
You can't diss me, I only fight in the rink!
mune no tokimeki de
With a throbbing heart
mata hikaru eye wa ice o aisuru aizu da
With a twinkle in my eye, I prove my love for the ice
mata hikaru eye wa ice o aisuru aizu da
With a twinkle in my eye, I prove my love for the ice
mata hikaru eye wa ice o aisuru aizu da
With a twinkle in my eye, I prove my love for the ice
mi ni matou pinku tatakau wa rinku
Wrapped in pink, I face my opponents in the rink
mi ni matou pinku tatakau wa rinku
Wrapped in pink, I face my opponents in the rink
pajama na kokoro no atashi no kiru doresu wa sekai de ichiban da
Wearing the prettiest dress in the world, my pajama-wrapped heart never stops dreaming
pajama na kokoro no atashi no kiru doresu wa sekai de ichiban da
Wearing the prettiest dress in the world, my pajama-wrapped heart never stops dreaming