I want to see how well I can hold my own against you.
What are you, my henchman or something?
Okazaki would've made a better opponent.
You don't understand what it means to compete.
I didn't stand a chance against him.
Mizushima, the doubles final is starting.
Episode 18
How the Wind Blows
They're still not starting?
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Mizushima Rika
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Ryo's Sister
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Mizushima Asako
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Ryo's Mom
They're all really pumped up, huh?
Their world will change if they conquer that mountain. It won't be easy, though.
We should at least keep our energy levels high.
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Mizushima Ryo
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Yokohama Minato High School 2nd Year
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Sakurai Hana
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Yokohama Minato Badminton Team Manager
Sakurai-san, I'm sorry, but...
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Uchida Akira
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Yokohama Minato High School 2nd Year
But they've worked pretty hard up to now.
Maybe there'll be a role reversal and the lowerclassmen will beat their seniors.
I can improve my technique and shotmaking in practice.
But that bloodthirsty intensity isn't something you can attain through hard work.
Which means there's no way I or the twins can win.
The twins are playing pretty well.
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Sakaki Shohei
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Yokohama Minato High School 2nd Year
Hm? What's wrong?
This is where the upperclassmen start getting scary.
Facing that bloodthirstiness paralyzes you with fear.
Yes!
Nice!
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokokawa Yusuke
Yusa Kento
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokokawa Yusuke
Yusa Kento
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokokawa Yusuke
Yusa Kento
Yokohama \h\hMinato
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokokawa Yusuke
Yusa Kento
What?
Wow!
All right. Let's keep this up!
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Higashiyama Taichi
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Yokohama Minato High School 2nd Year
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Higashiyama Yoji
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Yokohama Minato High School 2nd Year
Right.
You're kidding. They have a lead over the upperclassmen?
What's he so worried about?
What?
I'm talking about Ryo. This is his problem.
Hold on. If they keep this up, it'll be an upset!
It's tough, but they're not letting themselves be overwhelmed by the upperclassmen.
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Matsuda Koki
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Yokohama Minato High School 2nd Year
You can do it!
How are they fine?
Leave!
What is Yusa doing?
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokokawa Yusuke
Yusa Kento
First game won by Higashiyama Taichi and Yoji of Yokohama Minato High School, 21-19.
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokokawa Yusuke
Yusa Kento
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokokawa Yusuke
Yusa Kento
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokokawa Yusuke
Yusa Kento
Not bad.
Wow!
We did it!
Yes!
That was impressive! It's rare to see Yusa and Yoko timidly leave a shot like that.
They might actually do this.
What makes them different from me?
Coach said to consider what's essential to being an ace.
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Yusa Kento
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Yokohama Minato High School 3rd Year
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Yokokawa Yusuke
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Yokohama Minato Badminton Team Captain
Seriously? A riddle?
Huh? Rika-san's so disgusted, she's leaving!
What?
Just kidding.
Man, that's good.
Thanks to your little joke, the tension in my shoulder's gone.
Shall we have some fun?
It's gonna be a long game.
I'll keep my promise.
Second game. Love all. Play.
Yokokawa Yusuke
Yusa Kento
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
Yokokawa Yusuke
Yusa Kento
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
Yokokawa Yusuke
Yusa Kento
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
(Kana- \h\hgawa)
Yusa Kento
Yokokawa Yusuke
Yokohama \h\hMinato
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
Yusa Kento
Yokokawa Yusuke
Yusa Kento
(Kana- gawa)
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
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Ebihara Jin
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Yokohama Minato Badminton Team Coach
They're being cautious. They're not attacking when they normally would.
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Okazaki Shoji
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Hojo High School 3rd Year
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Arimura Tetsuya
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Hojo High School 3rd Year
Someday, I'll cook him good.
I knew it. The match was never going to end like that.
They're screwed!
Come on!
Higashiyama Taichi
Higashiyama Yoji
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Second game won by Yusa and Yokokawa of Yokohama Minato High School, 21-17.
Yeah!
The twins are playing pretty well, but...
Yeah. What are they supposed to do?
This is the strength of players who know how to compete.
The next game could end up being pretty one-sided.
Your opponents are used to playing brutal matches. The next game will be tough.
Yes, sir.
All we can do is believe in ourselves.
That's the spirit.
Keep thinking that until the final point.
Yes, sir!
I was right.
(Kana- \h\hgawa)
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
In the final game, Yusa-san and Yokokawa-san
shut down everything the twins tried to do and crushed them easily.
Final game won by Yusa and Yokokawa of Yokohama Minato, 21-15.
Yeah!
You did a good job remembering you're the ace.
Thank you.
But the fact I needed to be told that shows I still have a long way to go.
We'll get better.
You played well.
Well fought.
Good work!
Good work.
They were really strong.
We spent so long thinking of ways to beat 'em, too.
But you managed to take a game off them. I think you can be proud of that.
I agree.
No, that isn't good enough.
Results are everything.
How does it feel to drop a game against your juniors?
I have things I need to fix, but I'll win the next one, too.
A true hero lets his teammates taste victory, right?
What?
There's no point unless the whole team gets stronger.
I'm not so easy to please that I'd be satisfied by just you winning.
Such a sadistic goddess.
Just kidding.
For the first time, I'm glad you're his senior. Look after my weakling of a brother for me.
Later.
Huh? What? What?!
Did you hear that?! Did you hear what she just said?!
Oh, yeah, sure.
R-Rika-san s-said she's g-g-glad.
Right? That's what she said, right? She complimented me, right?
Well, not exactly.
Rika-san!
Carrot and stick.
I'm home.
It's a good thing Dad couldn't make it to today's match.
What?
You must be the only one not making any progress.
You don't know what you're talking about.
There's nothing I don't know.
You're always talking down to me!
Keep your opinions to yourself!
Huh.
I need you to win, or I'm screwed, too!
That's it!
Keep going!
Yusacchi's crazy excited.
Rika-san's got a lot to answer for.
Come on!
That's the spirit!
Inter-High Prefectural Qualifier Team Event
Mizushima.
You can win. It's all in the mind.
It's all in the mind.
I know that.
Mizushima.
Show me what winning nationals looks like.
I know you can do it.
Huh? Uh, sure.
They're right. I can't afford to be in such low spirits right now.
Team Event Semifinals Singles 1
I need to focus on doing what I can right now.
Game and match won by Mizushima-kun of Yokohama Minato High School, 21-18.
Yeah!
Nice!
Mizushima!
You did it, Mizushima. We're into the finals now.
It's because the twins and Team Yusa and Yoko won.
What are you talking about? You won, too.
But I don't feel good about it.
Why not?
Because I lack intensity and tenacity.
That's not true.
You've got all that stuff.
Anyway, team meeting in the lobby.
Nobody understands how I feel.
Good work, everyone.
As expected, our opponent in the team event finals is Hojo.
I'll announce the order we'll play in later on, but—
Sir.
We'd like to take on Okazaki and Arimura.
What?
These finals are our only opportunity to get revenge on Okazaki and Arimura.
We don't want to end them on a loss.
And besides...
If we can't beat Hojo's ace, then winning nationals is pie in the sky.
Very well. I'll consider it.
Thank you.
Say, why do you want to play Okazaki and Arimura?
Honestly, aren't you scared? Your previous loss against them was brutal.
Huh?
If you get scared, you've already lost.
Every time we take to the court, we're just determined to win.
Aren't you the same?
Don't you want to play Yusa and Yokokawa again?
What?
If I lack Yusa-san's intensity and the twins' strength of will, then...
Oh, did I bother you? Sorry.
I'll lock up. You can head home.
What should I do? How I escape from these feelings?
I want to reach the top someday, too.
That day, during his singles match against Matsuda-kun,
Mizushima-kun made the wind blow.
I believe that wind will blow again someday.
Where's Ryo?
I think he might be a little stuck this time.
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Mizushima Kazuma
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Ryo's Dad
He's been like this for a while now. Maybe he's working too hard.
I'm worried he's going to strain himself.
We're eating without you.
Okay. I'll be right there.
Ryo.
I'm coming to watch the team event finals.
What?
Inter-High Prefectural Qualifier Team Event Finals
Court A
Doubles 1\h\h\h1st Game
Higashiyama Taichi + Yoji
Okazaki + Arimura
"I actually wanted to play against Yusa and Yokokawa."
"You don't stand a chance against us."
"Hojo will be going to nationals."
...is what he's trying to say, probably.
We're not the players we used to be.
We're a brand new team.
What?
Court B
Doubles 2\h\h\h1st Game
Yusa + Yokokawa
Haga + Onoda
(Kana- \h\h\hgawa)
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
Game won by Higashiyama Taichi and Yoji of Yokohama Minato High School, 21-19.
Damn it!
A brand new team?
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
Yokohama Minato
(Kana- \hgawa)
Okazaki Shoji
Arimura Tetsuya
Game and match won by Yusa and Yokokawa of Yokohama Minato High School. 21-12, 21-13.
Come on!
Yeah!
Is it over?
We won't lose.
We'll do whatever it takes to win this match!
(Kana- \h\hgawa)
Arimura Tetsuya
Okazaki Shoji
(Kana- \h\hgawa)
Higashiyama Taichi
Higashiyama Yoji
We'll catch up, damn it!
Mine!
Right!
All right!
We won!
Higashiyama Yoji
Higashiyama Taichi
Yokohama Minato
(Kana- \h\hgawa)
Hojo
(Kana- gawa)
Arimura Tetsuya
Okazaki Shoji
Game and match won by Higashiyama Taichi and Yoji
Damn it!
of Yokohama Minato High School. 21-19, 21-18.
Hey.
Not bad. That was fun.
But I won't lose next time.
I can't lose to a team with an unreliable loser on it.
See you later.
Don't let it get to you.
Coach, I...
I want to go to nationals with the others.
It's up to you whether or not you utilize or waste your experience.
Yes, sir.
On my right, Mizushima-kun of Yokohama Minato High School.
Singles 1\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h1st Game
Mizushima Ryo
Amagi Satoshi
On my left, Amagi-kun of Hojo High School.
Mizushima-kun to serve.
Love all. Play.
Out.
Honestly, I still don't know what I should do.
I can't see anything.
But no matter how disgraceful or lame I look...
Right now, all I can do... is chase down the shuttle in front of me.
Mizushima!
Jeez, I thought you were gonna lose.
Thanks for coming today.
You worked hard. Congratulations.
I didn't play well enough to deserve your praise.
What are you talking about? You punched your ticket to nationals.
You've been studying hard, too. It's impressive.
Right, honey?
Dad, I...
I like to think I know a little bit about how tough sports can be.
Sometimes, you enter a long tunnel and fail, no matter how hard you struggle.
It's hard to believe in yourself when that happens.
But if you give up, you have no future.
You keep going when it gets difficult and painful.
In my view, that's more admirable than achieving results.
What?
Your choices up to now haven't been wrong.
You're spending your adolescence the right way.
Dad.
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Next Time
I'm running out of time...
I'm running out of time!
I need more practice.
One more month until the Inter-High.
I'll do whatever it takes to acquire the key quality I lack.
Otherwise I'll never surpass Yusa-san.
Episode 19
Light Breeze
Next time on LOVE ALL PLAY Episode 19: "Light Breeze."
There's a wind blowing inside me. Push forward!