Wow, it's gigantic.
So this is where we get to do our intensive training.
Is Hikaru coming?
Um, she should, right?
If you tell me where Coach Akeuraji is first, then maybe I can tell you.
You're not even his student anymore, so quit hogging him.
Ha! You think just because you're in the same club,
you're the only one who has a special teacher-student bond with him?
Shut up already!
Where are your parents, you noisy twerps?
Shut your traps or I'll shut them for you. You understand?
JAPAN SKATING FEDERATION SELECTION DESIGNATED SKATER A - IRUKA OKAZAKI
Listen, you.
Don't go picking fights with the international kids in Italy.
Whatever.
Italy?
The Junior Grand Prix series.
Representing Japan in a world championship...
So cool.
One day, when I'm a junior skater...
- Wait. That's next year! - Wait. That's next year!
When I level up next year,
I'll have to try to beat a bunch of actual world-class skaters...
The juniors are so scary.
INTENSIVE TRAINING
Hikaru...
Only a few special people get picked to be here,
and I'm here with Hikaru.
Finally, after all this time.
How does she get her free leg that high?
This proves it.
Back then, and that other time,
she didn't just seem incredibly good to me because I wasn't as good as her.
Hikaru's just not normal.
She's amazing.
I'm done losing.
The Chubu Block results aren't everything.
The real competition is the All-Japans.
Very well done.
You're getting there.
Hey, Rinna. Quick break.
Sure.
Keep at it, Main.
Your triple Lutz just keeps improving.
Uh, thank you.
Wait.
Am I the only one?
Everybody else can land a triple Lutz?
Yuna's triple Lutz-triple loop is getting to be rock solid.
There's a chance that two of Shinichiro's skaters make it
onto the podium.
She should have it perfected by the time the All-Japans come around.
All good!
Your timing's getting much better!
Thanks!
Inori Yuitsuka performed beautifully at the Chubu Block.
Her win was well-earned.
That said, she was probably so focused
on polishing the program she used there that she didn't get
to practice the triple flip or triple Lutz at all.
Those jumps weren't in her routine.
Looking ahead to the All-Japans,
Manaka worked on her triple Lutz even as she prepped for the Chubu Block.
Inori, on the other hand, will be building from the ground up.
Seems the strategy that put her at the top of the podium at the Chubu Block
may well end up holding her back.
- Inori! - Oh.
Remember to keep that toe pointed down, all right?
Okay!
The All-Japans are what matter.
She shouldn't have pushed for such a high level of perfection in the prelims.
Coach Tsukasa overlooked something important.
If he's not careful,
she'll end up feeling choked by that medal she won.
That's that. Good job, everyone.
- Thank you very much. - Thank you very much.
Your jumps looked really good today.
Huh? Hang on. Is Hikaru not here?
Hey, Rioh!
Where's Hikaru?
Huh? She went home halfway through...
Uh! Why are you so frigging sweaty?
What?
You're the only one sweating.
What's wrong with you?
I was trying to see how long I could skate for without stopping...
Not one step closer!
Why did Hikaru go home? I wanted to...
Uh, hey!
Yeah! You guessed it.
Mika's my older sister. That's right.
I knew it!
I've been trying to figure this out ever since I first heard your last name!
- So cool. - Uh. Wha...
So, uh, how exactly do you know her?
Actually, it was watching Mika and Marika perform at the Nagoya Ice Fest
that made me decide to get into skating.
Wha...
I also got into skating because I wanted to be like my sister!
We're totally twins!
We totally are!
- But wait a sec... - Huh? Uh...
It feels like you've changed a lot since the last time I saw you.
- I'm ready to flex it! - Well, I kinda had a lot going on...
This is really neat though.
We must have both been watching
- the same ice show, don't you think? - Yep.
It was amazing, right?
Like nothing I've seen.
Yeah, it was unforgettable.
I see.
- It all makes sense now. - Huh?
It's really not a surprise that you're so good at skating.
I mean, of course you'd be.
You're Mika's sister, after all.
Huh? Oh, uh, I'm not that...
Well, this is a surprise.
Maybe I should have guessed since you have her last name.
- Huh? - Huh.
That does explain it.
It's no wonder you're such a cute kid.
I see it now.
You are Mika's sister, aren't you?
That's why you have such a cute little face.
It's why you braid your hair like this.
And it's why you kinda suck at jumping.
Girls who can't figure out how to jump properly
usually end up quitting pretty fast.
No surprise there.
You're...
You're wrong about her.
My sister was never bad at doing her jumps.
Huh.
She had an injury.
She broke a bone.
That's why she quit.
It wasn't her fault.
If only she...
If only she'd kept skating, she'd be just as good as you are!
Inori...
Ice skating's about defying the odds.
There are no "if onlys".
Tell me. When you lose,
are you going to make excuses like you did for her just now?
I won't.
My sister was never bad at jumps.
And I'm just like her, so I'm not bad at them either.
I can land difficult jumps when it matters.
That's why I won gold, so you'll never hear an excuse out of me.
Hmm.
You've got a mouth on you.
I'll give you that.
What makes you so confident?
Mostly...
It's because I've got a six-pack too!
- Huh? Uh... - Huh?
I know landing jumps takes strength!
And that's why I work out!
That was crazy.
You are so, so, so cute!
You got me, kid.
That is definitely a six-pack.
So I'm sure you can land all the jumps.
No doubt.
Go get 'em, tiger.
Huh?
Hey. Catching up on your homework, Inori?
Uh, listen, Coach.
Huh?
Now that I'm writing it down, I can see how little time we have
until the All-Japans, and I'm kind of nervous.
Yeah, that's pretty fair.
Time definitely isn't on our side with this one.
When Hikaru Kamisaki lands a triple Axel,
she can score eight points with a single jump.
The double Axel, Euler, triple Salchow combination you landed the other day
got a similar score. 8.1.
You need to learn more difficult jumps,
but that won't be enough to beat Kamisaki at the All-Japans.
You'll either have to polish your form and score GOE points,
or you'll need to bundle your jumps into combinations.
So yeah.
You really do need to figure out the triple flip
and triple Lutz either today or tomorrow.
I... I know this might be impossible,
and I'm grateful and amazed that I've made it as far as I have, but...
Hmm?
I really want to land the triple Lutz and to figure out the triple flip as well.
I've got to put up a fight against Hikaru.
Inori.
I showed everyone my belly button, all right?
Your what now? Uh, what do you mean?
Uh. Nothing...
- Well, I don't think it's impossible. - Huh?
Back when we were training at summer camp, I saw that, as fast as you are,
you wouldn't have time to work on your triple Lutz
or triple flip for the Block event.
So we're on schedule, even if that schedule's tight.
There's a schedule?
There is.
We'll ramp up your training over the course of the next month.
Our focus is nailing down the jumps you haven't mastered yet.
This is all made possible by your win at the Chubu Block Tournament.
Uh, why would that win help me with my training?
Because it builds up your reputation.
The best coaches will be willing to make time for you now.
So, we're gonna bring in other coaches then?
That's right. Since you proved yourself at the Chubu Block,
we can get you the support you need most.
I found a specialist who can turn our weak points into strengths.
Are you saying that...
There's a jump specialist, who's in high demand among top skaters.
He's gonna work with us and get you up to speed.
That sounds awesome.
We're well-positioned to take on this new challenge.
But before we move to the next stage, there's just one last thing we need.
Determination. Is that right?
Right. You have it?
Yeah!
I'm gonna earn a plus five GOE!
I'll burn through their training with everything I've got!
The All-Japans Novice group.
That's where Inori will face Hikaru Kamisaki,
the skater she's been chasing this entire time.
Her score for this year's Meikoh Cup was 101.16.
Inori got an 81.20 at the Chubu Block, so there's about a 20-point gap.
And not much time to overcome it.
No version of her Chubu Block program can bridge the gap.
Mastering new, extra-difficult jumps is essential.
Triple flip.
Triple Lutz.
These jumps offer a shared challenge.
You have to take off with your right leg out,
the opposite of the way you'll be spinning,
making it hard to establish an axis.
It's really hard to get a good spin going, and with all that centrifugal force,
I can't reach the middle of the teacup while I'm in the air.
SUCCESS!!
Inori, watch me.
For a Lutz, you want to stick your toe out...
here.
No way.
Awesome.
When a tall skater jumps, you can really feel the impact, you know?
How was it? I know it was just a single, but did it help?
Yes.
Seeing that made it easier to understand.
Thank you, Coach.
Uh...
Glad to hear it!
Best thing to do is try it again while it's still fresh in your mind then, right?
Uh-huh.
Nice! Much better.
Good. So having an example to follow does have its merits.
Though to be honest, I'm feeling a little embarrassed about Inori's reaction.
Or lack thereof.
She seemed pretty underwhelmed.
I was being arrogant.
If I want to set a true example for her, I need to train much harder!
I'm so happy.
Coach Tsukasa showed me another jump today!
I wonder if I managed to keep a straight face.
Coach Tsukasa suddenly started doing jumps for me after the championship.
But I'm scared that if I overreact, he might get embarrassed and stop.
You're the best coach ever!
Therefore, I gotta pretend not to care.
You can do it, come on...
Their wires are oh-so-crossed.
I guess the reason he's changing his approach now...
You okay?
- ...is because of the All-Japans. - Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry.
Which means, I need to change too.
Inori.
Listen. I'll be back in time for our night practice slot.
I need to go pick up our guest coach.
Guest coach?
Oh, the jump specialist you told me about?
Yeah.
He was a designated skater during his performing career,
and he's still pretty famous.
He used to do quads and he's helped a lot of skaters improve their jumps.
- Wow! - Uh...
Yep. There's the smile I was hoping to see earlier...
Hmm? Is there something wrong?
He's gonna come here before he works with anybody else.
You'll get to work with a coach who can actually jump, so...
Let's make the most of it.
Mmm... Uh, okay.
He seems so upset.
What happened?
Their wires are still oh-so-crossed.
Hmm... Is this the meeting spot?
It doesn't look right.
But the pin's right here.
Hmm? A middle schooler?
Guess I'll ask him.
Huh! What the heck splashes that much?
A shark?
Watch out!
- Stop! It's dangerous. - Huh?
- Don't come closer! - Huh?
Off you go.
You really just released it?
Well, yeah.
I was just having a little fun with it.
Uh... Wait.
- Are you, uh... - Uh...
- Yeah, you are. - Hmm?
You're Coach Akeuraji from Lux Higashiyama, right?
Nice to meet you.
All right, good news, everyone.
We have a special guest here today.
Coach Uobuchi's here to help with jumps.
It's very nice to meet you all.
- Nice to meet you, Coach Uobuchi! - You're a coach?
You look more like a student.
You look so young. Can you tell us how old you are?
I get asked that a lot.
Believe it or not, I'm 32.
He's a full-grown man?
If he's for real, then there's only four years between him and Coach Sonidori?
4 YEARS LATER SHINICHIRO (36) - KAKERU
I'm never guessing anyone's age again.
Okay, tonight we're going to practice with this cool piece of gear.
How does it work?
It's a special sort of harness.
A harness?
Yeah!
It's tough to explain, but it makes sense once you see it in action.
Uh, I think I'm gonna like this thing.
- It's a great tool. - Wow.
Lots of international skaters use harnesses like this
to practice their jumps.
Are you comfy in there?
Yeah, I'm feeling good!
This is actually super exciting!
Okay, but how do you skate with it on?
It looks like he's a fisherman and you're something he just caught!
Well, let's go ahead and begin.
Why don't we start with a single rotation and find your pivot point?
So I'll jump a single?
You got it.
It feels weird to skate with someone this close behind me...
Now jump whenever you're ready.
Okay.
Guess I'm supposed to jump normally.
Wow!
I'm so much higher than usual!
With this harness, you get pulled
right into the middle of the teacup with a whoosh.
That was so much fun!
It was like you cast a magic spell on me
that made me jump way better out of nowhere!
Cool, right?
Is it hard to lift her like that?
Not at all.
Contrary to what it looks like,
I'm not physically lifting her to extend her flight time.
She provides the power.
I just adjust her axis to better suit the jump.
Thanks to this neat piece of tech,
I can offer midair adjustments that build confidence.
These are insights I've gleaned from all across Japan.
You don't need height or muscles to use this thing.
I can even lift you up with it, Coach Tsukasa.
Uh...
I feel like seeing that would be really useful.
- Like, for my education? - Huh?
- Oh, no way. This is your time, Inori. - Please, Coach.
- As your coach, I really shouldn't.
It's not about me. There's no way I could...
Wahoo!
That's amazing!
You're really lifting him!
It doesn't take strength to lift someone
who's already got an upward momentum, you see?
Hence why ice dancers are able to pick up their partners
even if they aren't super brawny.
But it has to help, right, Coach?
Not so much.
Just to avoid confusion, I'll tell you.
Working out and building muscle is a hobby for me.
A hobby, huh?
Now then, ready to get back to work?
Let's do some flips.
Mm-hmm.
We've finally reached the triple flip, and the triple Lutz.
If we're gonna close the 20-point gap with Hikaru Kamisaki,
we absolutely need these jumps.
I know that it won't be easy.
But if this coach has the tools to help nudge her towards success, then...
Okay, ready to start?
Yeah!