The Inter-High prefectural qualifiers will be taking place after Golden Week.
Like we do every year,
we'll be playing ranking matches to determine our lineup.
All team members, both singles and doubles players,
will play one-game matches in a round robin.
I believe it's the fairest way to pick our regulars, and one that'll satisfy everyone.
I won't hold back.
Whoever I play, they're getting crushed!
Episode 4
Ranking Match
Can you really use one-game matches to measure someone's ability?
It does seem like it'd favor fast starters.
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Higashiyama Taichi
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Yokohama Minato High School 1st Year
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Higashiyama Yoji
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Yokohama Minato High School 1st Year
Yeah, seems that way.
This could be our chance.
Our chance?
Yusa
Our chance to strike a blow against that rotten prince!
Strike a blow?
If it's just the one game, even if we can't win, we can at least leave a mark on him.
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Mizushima Ryo
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Yokohama Minato High School 1st Year
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Sakaki Shohei
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Yokohama Minato High School 1st Year
Yusa
"Constant dripping wears away a stone."
I'm not lettin' that rotten prince look down on us a moment longer! Right, Mizushima?
Huh? Uh, yeah...
Us first-years don't even have lockers.
I can't endure these conditions any longer, either.
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Uchida Akira
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Yokohama Minato High School 1st Year
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Matsuda Koki
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Yokohama Minato High School 1st Year
We demand better service.
Ooh! I want a microwave in the clubroom.
In that case, maybe I'll try my hand at singles.
Yeah! I'm counting on you, Higashiyama twins.
This'll be the first-years' first team match.
Yeah!
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Yusa Kento
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Yokohama Minato High School 2nd Year
Bye.
You start wrapping from the bottom.
Yes, right. There's a wide end and a thin end.
There's a big difference between them, right?
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Mizushima Rika
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Ryo's Sister
A round robin? Will you be playing Yusa, too?
I mean, yeah. I'm playing everyone.
You'd better beat Yusa.
Th-That's impossible.
Sheesh. You're always so timid.
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Mizushima Asako
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Ryo's Mom
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Mizushima Kazuma
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Ryo's Dad
I'm going for a run.
Do your best.
And so, the first-to-21 one-game round robin ranking matches began.
Ranking Matches Singles Day 1
Court A
Yusa
Uchida
Love all. Play.
Man, playing the rotten prince right away...
Unlucky Akira!
Court B
Tsutsui
Matsuda
Court C
Tamura
Mizushima
Court D
Hongo
Tanaka
20, match point, love.
Court A
Yusa
Uchida
Akira!
Akira! Just one point!
Uchida Akira, if you lose this game to love...
I'll call you Aki-love from now on.
It's not over yet!
This is the end.
Push... for-ward!
Uh, 1-20.
I did it! I scored a point!
A total frame shot!
Beginners are so scary.
All right! You avoided getting the nickname "Aki-love," Akira.
Akira.
The prince is pissed.
Game won by Yusa.
Thank you for the game!
This cornered rat bit back!
Nicely done! You sure showed him.
Yusa
Yoshimura
Yusa
Tamura
Yusa
Uchida
Yusa-san's won three already.
He hasn't lost yet?
Ah! I'm meant to be refereeing next.
Court B
Matsuda
Yokokawa
First-year Matsuda is doing well against Yokokawa.
Matsuda really sticks to the basics.
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Hongo Kazuki
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Yokohama Minato Badminton Team Captain
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Ebihara Jin
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Yokohama Minato Badminton Team Coach
He's seeing the shuttle clearly, too.
That's out.
In?
It was out. Out!
He plays like he's in low power mode, without running around needlessly.
I usually think of Yokokawa-san as Yusa-san's doubles partner,
but he's strong in his own right.
His defense is impregnable. Plus, he keeps a cool head.
You should learn from him, Sakaki-kun.
Seriously, Akira...
Sakaki, it's your turn to referee.
Gotcha.
Mizushima-kun's game is close.
Court C
Mizushima
Kobayashi
Cross-court.
He predicted it?
Oh, crap!
What a waste.
Mizushima's lost all his matches so far.
Really? I guess Mizushima's not very good after all.
I messed up.
Mizushima-kun sure is interesting, isn't he?
Mizushima. All he's got is his name.
Court D
Taichi
Yoji
Game won by Mizushima.
Yes!
All right!
Aw, man!
What? Uh...
Taichi-kun was the one who scored.
Oh, right. Game won by Higashiyama Taichi.
Oh, Matsuda, you done? How was your game with Yokokawa-senpai?
He's good. He's a very impressive player.
I waited for him to make a mistake, but he never did.
How did you do?
I managed to win one.
What? One win? I see.
What? But...
I'm just getting started.
Court A
Sakaki
Yusa
Damn it!
Yeah!
Damn it!
Hey.
Shut up!
Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.
After the first day of singles ranking matches, Yusa-san had won all five games,
Matsuda had four wins,
Sakaki had three wins,
the twins and I had two wins each,
and Akira had lost all his games.
I'm playing you tomorrow, Mizushima.
Yes, sir. I'm looking forward to it.
So am I, Mizushima.
Hey, Mizushima.
Yes?
I heard the badminton team's playing ranking games right now.
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Kamishiro Ayumi
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Yokohama Minato High School 1st Year
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Fujiwara Saori
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Yokohama Minato High School 1st Year
Uh, yeah. All this week.
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Isshiki Haruto
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Yokohama Minato High School 1st Year
You shoulda said. Are you winning?
I'm winning some and losing some.
You've lost more than you've won. Try harder.
I'm doing my best.
I'm so hungry. What should I get to eat?
I'm starving, too. I've been hungry all morning.
I'll come cheer you on in your ranking matches.
Cheer him on?
Yusa-san!
S-Senpai!
Seven minutes, Mizushima.
Huh?
I'll finish you off in seven minutes.
Uh... Oh, right! I've got, you know, uh... I'm meeting a girl.
See you later, Mizushima!
Uh, hey, Isshiki-kun!
Isshiki-kun...
Hurry, or there'll be no seats left in the cafeteria.
Seriously, man. But, uh, why seven minutes?
Just a feeling.
But I'm Yusa-san's next opponent.
Seven minutes, my ass!
How dare he taunt you like that...
His personality really stinks, doesn't it?
One game in seven minutes? There's no way.
I don't think you need to worry about it.
Yeah, it's fine. I guess I have a goal now. I'll strike a blow against him!
Nicely put!
Wait, are you gonna eat both of those?
What? Don't you get hungry?
My stomach's delicate, okay?
You two always get what the other one gets.
Wrong!
Curry udon.
Curry soba.
They look similar, but they're quite different.
Akira-kun, did you bring a lunch?
Yeah.
You Can Do It
A home-cooked meal from your mom!
You Can Do It
That looks so good!
You Can Do It
Thanks for the food.
Hm? By the way, where's Matsuda?
Yusa Kento
Yokohama Minato
Okazaki Shuji
Hojo
Kanagawa Tournament
Boys Singles Finals
Yokohama Minato High School
Yusa Kento
First Year
He doesn't have a single weakness?
Is that even possible?
Ranking Matches Singles Day 2
Court A
Yusa
Matsuda
This is brutal. He just doesn't stop attacking.
No matter where I hit it, he returns.
You'll never beat Yusa playing defensively!
Court B
Mizushima
Hongo
Go on, run.
Don't worry about it. You nearly got that one.
Yes, sir.
Game won by Yusa.
Thank you for the game.
You're predictable.
Relying too much on the basics is a problem.
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Yokokawa Yusuke
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Yokohama Minato High School 2nd Year
By contrast, don't you think Captain Hongo has raised Mizushima's game?
Okay, okay, okay!
Hey, Mizushima-kun.
Hey, could you do something for me?
Court D
Yusa
Mizushima
It's my last game of the second day. I'm finally playing Yusa-san.
He really is amazing. It's like he's a different person than during practice!
Hmph. Matsuda's just a pretty face.
She's cute.
What class is she in?
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Nonomura Satoru
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Yokohama Minato High School 1st Year
Huh? Wh-Who?
It's coming.
A drop shot!
Damn it!
Get up.
Yusa's toying with him.
No, I think Yusa-kun's taking this seriously.
Could you time seven minutes for me?
I'll finish you off in seven minutes.
I'll strike a blow against him!
Four, three, two...
It's been seven minutes!
You little...
This is my chance to strike a blow against him!
Game won by Yusa.
Aw, shucks.
On the second day of ranking matches,
I only managed to score five points against Yusa-san.
But that night, I was so excited, my head wouldn't stop buzzing.
Oh, Matsuda! Hey, Matsuda!
The singles ranking matches end today.
I'm sure our efforts have made an impression on the older players and Ebihara-sensei.
Dunno about that.
As someone who hasn't won a single game yet, I can't loudly proclaim I've tried hard.
What d'ya mean? You stopped him from calling you "Aki-love."
And as for you, you lasted seven minutes against the rotten prince.
Well, I guess.
Right, Matsuda?
I'm trying to place fourth in these ranking matches.
Huh?
Fourth?
I see.
So that's your plan?
What do you mean?
The top three players get to play singles at the regional tournament.
On our team, that'll be Yusa-san, Yokokawa-san, and Captain Hongo.
But to be honest, from fourth down, it's all up for grabs.
If you rank fourth, depending on the situation, you might get on the bench.
So even as a first-year, you'd get a shot at playing in the Inter-High.
Wow. That's what you've been thinking about?
You're so carefree, Mizushima.
It does mean winning the rest of my games, though.
So I won't lose to you.
It's a declaration of war!
Hey now, wait a minute. I'm playing Mizushima next.
Class is starting.
Ah, I should go, too.
Later!
See you after class.
Once the ranking matches are over, we're all on the same team, y'know!
Ranking Matches Singles Day 3
Court A
Sakaki
Mizushima
Match point.
Short.
Deep next.
He's effectively making him run back and forth.
Looks like the ranking matches are finally beginning to have an effect.
It's a little late in the day, though.
Go!
Game won by Mizushima.
Yes! I beat Sakaki!
Damn it!
Same team, remember?
I know.
Court C
Matsuda
Tamura
Excuse me.
The final singles game is being played on Court A.
On the third day of ranking matches, my final opponent was Matsuda.
Love all.
Play.
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Next Time
The final game of the ranking matches begins.
Mizushima-kun demonstrates great perseverance, while Matsuda-kun plays
with a passion that's hard to believe, given his usually cool demeanor.
You won't be able to tear your eyes away from their back and forth game.
Good luck, both of you.
Next time on LOVE ALL PLAY Episode 5: "Two."
Episode 5
Two
How will their game and the ranking matches end?
Push forward!