Before we knew it, summer vacation was upon us,
Congrats!
On Advancing to the Inter-High
and the day we'd been waiting for arrived.
You Can Do It!
Matsuda-kun
You guys had better win!
Yeah!
We'll be rooting for you from here.
We'll do our best.
Hana, support the team on our behalf, too.
You can count on me.
We'll have to settle for watching on our phones.
I wish we could've gone and cheered them on in person.
Okay, everyone. Look at the camera, please.
It's nearly time.
Now then...
Congrats!
You Can Do It!
Matsuda-kun
is
the best in Japan
Good luck!
Today, we're departing for the Inter-High.
See you later!
Episode 20
Departure
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Mizushima Ryo
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Yokohama Minato High School 2nd Year
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Sakaki Shohei
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Yokohama Minato High School 2nd Year
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Uchida Akira
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Yokohama Minato High School 2nd Year
Hey, Matsuda. Check it out. Sakaki's face looks ridiculous.
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Higashiyama Yoji
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Yokohama Minato High School 2nd Year
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Matsuda Koki
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Yokohama Minato High School 2nd Year
Huh?
Matsuda?
He seems like his usual self...
...but there's something different about him.
Huh? Matsuda, are you afraid of flying, too?
What? How adorably out of character!
Idiots! Keep your voices down.
For real?
You act so cool all the time, but you're afraid of flying?
That's hilarious.
Should you really be saying that?
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Higashiyama Taichi
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Yokohama Minato High School 2nd Year
Sh-Shut up. Unlike y-you, I—
Shut up.
Yes, sir.
He did an impressive job fulfilling that promise.
Yusa-san really is amazing.
Is it possible for me to learn to be like him?
No, Yusa-san and I are different.
I'm going to play my way. That's the decision I made.
Isn't your strength all "Rika-san power"?
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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
There's that, too.
It's been a while, but I still remember it like it was yesterday.
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Ebihara Jin
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Yokohama Minato Badminton Team Coach
The day I saw you rooted to the spot by that poster.
S-Sir!
Yusa-kun.
Oh, uh, yes, sir.
That was also the day you two met.
Today, two middle schoolers will be joining us for practice.
Yokokawa
I'm Yusa Kento. Nice to meet you.
Yokokawa
I'm Yokokawa Yusuke. Nice to meet you.
Yokokawa
Now that I think about it,
the doubles team we formed on a trial basis then was how it all started.
Yeah.
We fit so well together, it felt like it wasn't our first time playing together.
Same here. That was the first time I thought I wouldn't mind playing doubles.
What is this? I'm having so much fun.
But we just couldn't beat Hishikawa-san.
That frustrated me, but even more than that, I enjoyed it from the bottom of my heart.
To the Inter-High!!
Yusa-kun.
I'm the team's captain, Hishikawa. I'm glad I got to play with you today.
I'd be even happier if you decided to come to Yokohama Minato, though.
Thank you.
Our team may seem inadequate to you, but it's better than you think.
I guarantee it.
Now that I think about it...
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Hishikawa Shinichi
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Yokohama Minato alumnus & Sokyo Uni 2nd Year
Hishikawa-san totally tricked me back then.
He must've really wanted to lock you in.
At heart, he's an egoist.
I was surprised once I joined the team.
Speaking of surprises...
This.
Oh, right.
You're favoring your right leg a little, aren't you?
The mind is a complicated thing.
It can be fine one day and not fine the next.
You were probably a little nervous
and unconsciously protecting the right foot you injured previously.
I did feel like something was a little off during that match.
I didn't realize what it was myself.
You were the one who told me what was wrong, Ebihara-sensei.
Did I say that?
I visited a lot of schools,
but there was no one I felt I could trust more than you.
I'd already made up my mind that day.
Listen, I want to play badminton with you.
M-Me, too.
All right then! I'll study hard for the entrance exam.
Sure. Wait, entrance exam?
Are you pursuing the academic advancement course?
No, the advanced placement course.
Advanced placement?!
You're gonna get in on advanced placement and play for a school team?
Yeah, that's right. Work hard, play hard, right?
Let's aim for the top in doubles, too.
Yeah.
And you really did get into the advanced placement course.
On top of that, you've kept your promise to Ebihara-sensei.
It's impressive, Yusa.
By the way, about that promise...
Why did you choose those guys?
I've been wondering about that, too.
In doubles, we already had your unbeatable team,
but I wanted another pair to make sure we could win.
So I recruited the overachieving and accomplished Higashiyama brothers,
who would be immediately useful to the team.
Then, there's Sakaki-kun, whose innate power and gutsiness is the basis
for the straightforward play style that's his charm.
He was apparently being scouted by Hojo High School,
but telling him about Mizushima-kun seems to have sold him on us.
Matsuda-kun had achieved impressive results at tournaments in China.
At that time, his abilities alone made him stand out from the rest.
And finally, there's Mizushima-kun.
He seemed to enjoy playing badminton more than anyone else.
And above all, his legs are good.
What? His legs?
Yes, his legs.
I'm surprised, though.
I thought you'd recruit Misaki, too.
I was looking to build a team around you.
He didn't seem like someone who could harmonize with the rest of the team.
Either way, I doubt he would've come.
I understand how he feels.
You're the number one reason I decided to focus on doubles, Yusa.
It's sad, but there are some walls you can't get over, no matter how hard you try.
When I ran up against that wall, I gave up on singles.
But because of that, I think we're closer to winning a team event.
I simply did what I could to improve the team.
Yokokawa...
In other words, between you and those overachievers,
there wasn't any room left for me.
He was so scared earlier.
He must've worn himself out.
From today, these five middle schoolers will be joining our practices once a week.
I won't hold back.
Whoever I play, they're getting crushed!
You guys had better come at me with everything you've got!
No, no. That's not it.
You sure you didn't go to the wrong place?
Would you guys quit whining?
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Kobayashi Masakazu
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Yokohama Minato High School 3rd Year
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Shiba Rintaro
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Yokohama Minato High School 1st Year
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Kasuga Tomokazu
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Yokohama Minato High School 1st Year
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Ichinose Shunsuke
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Yokohama Minato High School 1st Year
All of you need to shut up.
S-Sorry.
You sure you didn't go to the wrong place?
Wait, those words sound familiar...
You sure you didn't join the wrong high school, Yusa Kento?
What's wrong?
Nothing.
He should be landing soon.
Did he say he'd finished most of his assignments before he left?
He's matured a lot this last year.
You're right.
That's why I wish we could've gone to support him.
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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
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Mizushima Kazuma
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Ryo's Dad
Yeah, but Okinawa's a bit far.
Yeesh, it's hot there.
Naha City
Partly Cloudy
High
Low
Mensore
Welcome
Hey, that's mine.
I was just grabbing it for you.
Which one's mine?
What?
This one's yours.
Oh, thanks.
Man, you expect others to do everything for you, both on the court and off.
What does that mean?
Mensore Okinawa
Welcome to Okinawa
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Sakurai Hana
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Yokohama Minato Badminton Team Manager
We've got a little bit of time until check-in.
Let's go get some lunch and do some sightseeing.
I totally agree.
This is my first time in Okinawa.
Me, too.
It's over there.
Huh?
The bathroom.
H-He's telepathic.
He totally got lost.
Wasn't the bathroom straight down the hall?
How could anyone get lost?
I'll go look for him!
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Misaki Shogo
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Hirayama High School 2nd Year
Misa—
What's his problem?
Yusa-san!
Hey, I've been looking for you.
You mean I've been looking for you. You went the wrong way.
What's the matter?
Nothing. Just ran into an old acquaintance.
What? Who?
Yusa-san.
Wow.
Incredible.
Thanks for the food!
Man, I'm stuffed.
Senpai, that's mine.
Yusa-senpai, this is your bag.
Oh, thanks.
Yokohama Minato High School
Yusa Kento
Now you won't get mixed up.
Uh, yeah.
I've got enough for everyone.
What?
Thank you.
No problem.
Hey, they're selling gelato over there.
Let's go check it out.
They're just tourists as this point.
I wish I could've come here with Rika-san.
Yusa-san, we're leaving.
Oh, right.
It's so hot.
Seriously.
Huh? What's this? Did someone forget their bag?
There's even a name tag on it.
"Yokohama Minato High School... Yusa Kento."
Yokohama Minato High School
Yusa Kento
Yusa Kento? As in the Yusa?!
What's with this name tag?
Oh well. Guess we can do our opponent a favor and reunite him with his bag.
Misaki, could you handle this?
Huh?
I'm sure he's around here somewhere.
Uh, wait, senpai...
Thanks.
Seriously?
Huh? Where's your bag?
Crap, my bag!
You didn't even grab the wrong one this time.
I'll go look for it.
You don't need to do that, Mizushima.
It's your bag. Go get it yourself.
Yeah, yeah.
Yokohama Minato High School
Yusa Kento
Yokohama Minato High School
Yusa Kento
Because I'm shy, I've always been alone.
But I had badminton.
It was everything to me.
So I didn't mind when we suddenly moved.
As long as I had badminton, I could make it anywhere.
Shogo-kun
Good luck with badminton even after you transfer schools
Or that's what I believed...
Kanagawa Prefectural Middle School Championship
Badminton
...until that day.
Game and match won by Yusa Kento-kun.
In my heart, I heard the sound of something precious to me shattering.
Once Yusa graduated, I easily became the prefectural champion.
But I knew once I entered high school, Yusa's nightmarish reign would resume.
I couldn't stand it.
So I ran as far as I could from Yusa Kento.
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Hirayama High School
Entrance Ceremony
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Hirayama High School
Entrance Ceremony
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Hirayama High School
Entrance Ceremony
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Hirayama High School
Entrance Ceremony
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Hirayama High School
Entrance Ceremony
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Hirayama High School
Entrance Ceremony
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Hirayama High School
Entrance Ceremony
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Hirayama High School
Entrance Ceremony
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Hirayama High School
Entrance Ceremony
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Hirayama High School
Entrance Ceremony
At least, I thought I had.
I knew I'd have to face him again someday.
I was prepared for it.
But I thought it'd be on the court.
This... this...
I wasn't prepared for this.
Brace yourself. You can do this.
Huh? Misaki-kun?
It is you. Good to see you again. I haven't seen you since that one time.
Yokohama Minato High School
Yusa Kento
That's Yusa-san's bag.
Were you holding onto it for him? Thanks.
Oh, did you run into Yusa-san earlier?
He said he ran into an old acquaintance.
So he does remember me.
Don't scare me like that. Why'd you come back for the bag, anyway?
Because Yusa-san always gets lost.
Lost?
I know you.
Well, yeah. We bumped into each other that one time.
I remembered back then, I mean.
Uh...
When I was in middle school, I was obsessed with Yusa.
But aside from Yusa, there was one other person who caught my attention.
Oh, yeah?
Wait, you don't mean...
Aw, man. I wish your career had ended with you being someone who was only sort of good.
But Yokohama Minato found you.
Yokohama Minato, the school Yusa went to.
Yokohama Minato, the school that didn't recruit me.
Not that I would've gone even if I'd been recruited.
What?
Nothing. Anyway, take this.
Ah, Misaki-kun...
E-Ever since middle school, I've always thought you were amazing.
That's why I'm working so hard at Yokohama Minato.
Okay, and?
Uh, so, y'know...
I won't lose.
If we play each other in the future, I won't lose.
Well, I don't plan to lose, either. I've got my pride and Hirayama's to defend.
I can do this.
Our goal is to win the team event. That's our first priority.
I'm counting on you guys to fulfill my long-cherished wish.
Yes, sir.
Laugh or cry, this year's our last chance.
Then, let's end it with a laugh!
Okinawa
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Welcome
National High School Sports Tournament
Takamatsunomiya Memorial Cup
National Badminton Championship
Badminton Championship
Tournament Dates: 7/30 (Sun)
The day has finally arrived.
It's my first Inter-High.
Yusa-san's drive isn't something I can easily acquire.
I'll do what I can right now my way.
I'll carry the hopes of my seniors, believe in myself,
believe in my teammates, and seize victory.
Focus.
Well, well. If it isn't Yokohama Minato High School.
Well, well. If it isn't Futaba Academy.
It's been a while.
It's good to see you again.
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Miyagi Ren
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Saitama Futaba Academy 2nd Year
Are you finally adding one plus one and getting two?
Yes.
Interesting.
I finally made it here.
I chose Yokohama Minato because it was the right place for me.
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Date Haruomi
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Saitama Futaba Academy 3rd Year
Along with my teammates, I'll prove I didn't make the wrong choice.
Ebihara-sensei, I'll keep my promise to you.
Badminton Championship
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Next Time
All right, time for the semifinals.
We're nearly national champions, guys.
This year, let's make the dream that started with our seniors come true.
Who's the next team we have to beat to take a big step
toward achieving that long-cherished dream?
I knew it.
Episode 21
Whirlwind
Next time on LOVE ALL PLAY: Episode 21, "Whirlwind."
Our opponent is Hirayama.
You'll get to see an old friend of yours, Yusa.