# E14 - Towards Victory
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/watch/GRVD5J87R/towards-victory)
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
**[00:07] ---**
Nabe and Chucky both ditched
the training camp?!
**[00:10] ---**
It's better to leave them be.
**[00:12] ---**
They're only going to get in our way
if we let them loaf around here.
**[00:15] ---**
Even if you found those two,
what are you planning to say to them?
**[00:20] ---**
That shouldn't matter, we
can't just leave them hanging!
**[00:26] ---**
We're so damn pathetic...
**[00:28] ---**
Yep.
**[00:34] ---**
Chucky! Nabe!
**[01:02] ---**
Ahiru no Sora
**[02:12] ---**
You're quitting?
**[02:13] ---**
Yeah... it's just like Kite said.
**[02:13] ---**
Towards Victory
**[02:15] ---**
Having us around is only going
to drag the rest of you down.
**[02:18] ---**
That's ridiculous! You know that Kite
wasn't totally serious when he said all that...
**[02:22] ---**
Nah, we're done now.
**[02:24] ---**
We got taught a real lesson about how much
we underestimated the game of basketball.
**[02:28] ---**
Huh?
**[02:29] ---**
Speaking of, how long have
you been playing for?
**[02:33] ---**
I think probably since I
was about three-years old.
**[02:36] ---**
Three-years old? He's been
playing for 12 years, then...
**[02:40] ---**
That figures. High school basketball clubs
are meant for guys like you.
**[02:44] ---**
Total noobs like us can practice all we want,
but we'll never catch up to the rest of you.
**[02:49] ---**
Not to mention all the stress
and pain it takes to get good.
**[02:52] ---**
Neither of us is determined enough for that.
**[02:58] ---**
P-please just wait! Um...
**[03:00] ---**
Huh?
**[03:01] ---**
U-uh... so...
**[03:04] ---**
Tell me... do you think basketball is fun?
**[03:15] ---**
It bores me out of my mind, dude.
**[03:17] ---**
Yep.
**[03:34] ---**
Shit! Goddammit!
**[03:43] ---**
Shit, why the hell did I dream about that...?
**[03:49] ---**
This sucks...
**[03:50] ---**
Yep.
**[03:53] ---**
Hey, you hungry?
**[03:55] ---**
Yep.
**[03:57] ---**
Let's go get ramen or something.
**[04:00] ---**
Nah... ramen's bad news, ain't it?
**[04:03] ---**
Huh?
**[04:04] ---**
Ramen Shop
Rairaiken
**[04:04] ---**
Remember what Nao told us?
**[04:06] ---**
We shouldn't be eating
super oily food like ramen.
**[04:08] ---**
Are you stupid? None of what she said
applies to us anymore.
**[04:12] ---**
Oh, that's right...
**[04:18] ---**
Those kids at the park were really good.
**[04:21] ---**
Yep.
**[04:22] ---**
But you know, we had a huge
height advantage on all of them.
**[04:26] ---**
Maybe we should've just focused
on blocking passes they made to the sides?
**[04:30] ---**
You know it's not that easy, man.
**[04:32] ---**
For example, those times
when the ball comes in like this...
**[04:35] ---**
Chili Oil
**[04:35] ---**
We can't do much until we learn
how to deal with those screen things.
**[04:39] ---**
Oh yeah, totally.
**[04:42] ---**
What the hell are we even doing?
**[04:44] ---**
It shouldn't matter to us anymore.
**[04:51] ---**
This sucks...
**[04:54] ---**
We have a whole 8 days of vacation left,
**[04:55] ---**
but we already did all
the fun stuff yesterday.
**[04:59] ---**
Tell me... do you think basketball is fun?
**[05:09] ---**
Whatever. Let's hit the arcade or something-
**[05:11] ---**
OMG, I can't believe you!
**[05:14] ---**
I told you that I wanted to go on a date
to the amusement park!
**[05:16] ---**
I didn't have a choice!
You know that I can't just skip practice.
**[05:20] ---**
Boo!
**[05:21] ---**
Wait, that's the kid from yesterday!
**[05:23] ---**
How's a middle school punk
already got a girl like that?!
**[05:26] ---**
Trust me... when I get to high school,
I'm going to the inter-high no matter what!
**[05:31] ---**
The inter-high, huh? That's awesome.
**[05:34] ---**
I just can't get enough of basketball players,
they're so cool!
**[05:42] ---**
Don't cling to me so much...
**[05:43] ---**
Hey, Nabe...
You don't like it?
**[05:44] ---**
Huh?
**[05:45] ---**
Listen, I've been hiding something from you
for a long time now.
**[05:49] ---**
You, too? Same for me, to be honest.
**[05:52] ---**
I see... Okay, so let's confess on 3.
**[05:55] ---**
Okay!
**[05:57] ---**
Here we go? 1... 2...!
**[05:59] ---**
The truth is...
**[06:01] ---**
...my dream is to go to the
inter-high basketball tourney!
**[06:08] ---**
I'm begging you!
**[06:10] ---**
If this keeps up any longer,
then those two really will quit!
**[06:13] ---**
If you consider them friends,
then you should say something to them!
**[06:16] ---**
No way. Too much effort, dude.
**[06:18] ---**
It's because I'm their friend
that I don't want to say nothin'.
**[06:22] ---**
Yasuhara...
**[06:28] ---**
Hello? Is this Madoka?
**[06:31] ---**
Yeah. I'm on my way to the hospital
to check on Momoharu.
**[06:35] ---**
Chitose Central Park
**[06:35] ---**
No, that's not why I'm calling.
Actually, I'm at Chitose park and...
***SIGN*** Shinjo Middle 22 Kuzu High
**[06:43] ---**
Shit!
**[06:46] ---**
Dammit!
**[06:51] ---**
It's Nabe and Chucky...
they're both playing...
**[06:56] ---**
Hey, are you done yet?
**[06:58] ---**
Nothing's gonna change if we keep this up.
**[07:00] ---**
Shut up!
**[07:01] ---**
We've only summoned up 10% of our full power!
**[07:04] ---**
It makes sense that we
can't score any baskets...
**[07:06] ---**
...but why the hell are we powerless
to stop them from taking any shots?!
**[07:11] ---**
This is pointless.
**[07:13] ---**
They can spend a whole
lifetime and still never win.
**[07:15] ---**
Kite...
**[07:19] ---**
I don't understand how they're
getting past us so easily.
**[07:21] ---**
We should at least have some advantage
based on our overwhelming height!
**[07:27] ---**
Am I wrong?
**[07:29] ---**
Is our height the reason
they keep getting past us?
**[07:31] ---**
In that case...
**[07:35] ---**
He went low!
**[07:39] ---**
That was a perfect cross step just now!
**[07:43] ---**
Come on, kid! Hand that ball over! It's mine!
**[07:47] ---**
Dammit!
**[07:52] ---**
Shit, I don't know how to
actually score a basket...
**[07:54] ---**
Pass it here, Chucky!
**[08:02] ---**
Huh?
**[08:04] ---**
All right!
We won!
**[08:06] ---**
Yay!
**[08:06] ---**
Cut the crap!
**[08:08] ---**
You can't just barge in out of nowhere!
**[08:10] ---**
Sorry... it seemed like a lot
of fun, so I just went for it.
**[08:15] ---**
Don't you think so too, you guys?
**[08:17] ---**
Basketball is a lot of fun, right?!
**[08:19] ---**
W-well, it's a good way to kill some time.
**[08:22] ---**
Yep.
**[08:25] ---**
Seriously? I thought you two
were done with basketball.
**[08:29] ---**
Your footwork is sloppy
and you move like snails.
**[08:32] ---**
Your body just can't keep up
because you don't train properly.
**[08:35] ---**
Gah! This jackass!
**[08:37] ---**
Although...
**[08:39] ---**
...well, your defense was a
lot better than it was before.
**[08:47] ---**
This is great news. Right, Yasuhara?
**[08:49] ---**
They both came back to the team!
**[08:51] ---**
Huh? Yeah, sure, but they've always been
half-assed about everything.
**[08:56] ---**
Worrying about them causes more problems
than it solves, usually.
**[08:59] ---**
Huh?
**[09:00] ---**
The only reason you guys hopped back on board
was cuz of a lady, ain't it?
**[09:04] ---**
You know it, Yasu!
**[09:05] ---**
You're the only one on this
team that really gets us!
**[09:14] ---**
I'm back from the brink.
**[09:16] ---**
I pulled myself out of the depths of Hell itself,
and now I fear nothing!
**[09:21] ---**
This is my chance to leave them all in awe
at the strength of their captain!
**[09:27] ---**
Hey! You bums!
**[09:28] ---**
Get ready to train your asses off!
**[09:42] ---**
Huh? Oh, hey there, Momoharu.
**[09:44] ---**
You got released from the hospital already?
**[09:47] ---**
What kind of reaction is that?!
I'll have you know that I-
**[09:50] ---**
Gorilla chop!
**[09:52] ---**
You bastard! What the hell was that for?!
**[09:55] ---**
That's what you get for slacking
off for 3 days, Captain.
**[09:59] ---**
Here, take this.
***SIGN*** Momoharu's Training Schedule Stretches - 20 minutes Court run with hands up - 25 down and back Shuttle runs - 25 sets Jumping exercises (5 sets of each) Knee Jumps 10 Standing Broad Jump 10 Go for it!
**[10:00] ---**
It's a training schedule
especially for you, Momoharu.
**[10:02] ---**
Seriously...?
**[10:08] ---**
Stop, that's wrong.
You can't just try to jump as high as you can.
**[10:12] ---**
You need the right timing.
**[10:13] ---**
Timing?
**[10:15] ---**
Whenever you jump, there will always
be a moment that you stop in midair.
**[10:19] ---**
That's when you should shoot.
**[10:20] ---**
The moment that I stop, huh?
**[10:24] ---**
Also, it's better to aim for the backboard
than go for the basket directly.
**[10:30] ---**
The same basic ideas apply
to both free throws and jump shots.
**[10:34] ---**
Once you get the hang of it, you can start doing
the same thing from a farther distance.
**[10:37] ---**
I can handle shots near the basket,
but distance is another problem.
**[10:41] ---**
I still don't get what you mean
by shooting being all in the knees...
**[10:45] ---**
You've already got a good
example to follow, over there.
**[10:53] ---**
You could even say it's perfect.
**[10:55] ---**
Th-that's incredible...
**[10:57] ---**
I never realized just how much
he was bending his knees.
**[11:00] ---**
It's like one smooth motion from the moment he catches
to the moment he shoots.
**[11:05] ---**
I still can't believe we have
such an incredible player here!
**[11:09] ---**
He really did shoot 1,000 of them!
**[11:11] ---**
He's a monster, that's for sure.
**[11:19] ---**
I'm done... my legs won't move anymore.
**[11:28] ---**
It's really dark, isn't it?
The night sky in this area.
**[11:32] ---**
Madoka...
**[11:33] ---**
You're originally from Nagano, right, Sora?
**[11:36] ---**
I bet the night sky out there
is full of beautiful stars.
**[11:39] ---**
Th-that's right. Although I never really took
the time to stop and look at it closely.
**[11:44] ---**
I think it's probably very beautiful.
**[11:48] ---**
I'm jealous...
**[11:51] ---**
Behold the great sport of Dribbling Sumo!
Bring it on!
**[12:03] ---**
Actually... I think I prefer
how things are over here.
**[12:06] ---**
I like the sky a lot more the way it is here.
**[12:16] ---**
It would be great if you
guys went to the inter-high.
**[12:24] ---**
Right?
**[12:25] ---**
Y-yeah.
**[12:27] ---**
She's so pretty...
**[12:29] ---**
Hm? Did you say something?
**[12:31] ---**
No! N-nothing at all!
**[12:36] ---**
I knew it...
**[12:37] ---**
...coming here was the right decision.
**[12:43] ---**
A practice match?
**[12:44] ---**
Yeah. We're already halfway
through our training camp,
**[12:47] ---**
so tomorrow we'll start focusing more
on strategy and tactics.
**[12:51] ---**
I thought having a match on the very last day
would be a fitting conclusion to everything.
**[12:55] ---**
Are there even any teams out there
who would be willing to face us?
**[12:59] ---**
Can't we just ask those middle schoolers
from the other day?
**[13:01] ---**
Please at least have a shred of pride!
**[13:06] ---**
Um, actually, I already-
**[13:08] ---**
I've missed you so much, Naopei.
**[13:11] ---**
Huh?!
**[13:12] ---**
Wha-?!
**[13:15] ---**
T-Taro!
**[13:17] ---**
Wassup, long time, no see!
**[13:19] ---**
Oh jeez, you didn't need
to come all the way here!
**[13:22] ---**
Don't be like that, I went out of my way
so I could see you.
**[13:24] ---**
We haven't seen each other
since spring vacation,
**[13:26] ---**
I wanted to see how you've been filling out.
**[13:29] ---**
Just who the hell are you, pal?!
**[13:32] ---**
Oh, sorry.
**[13:34] ---**
My name is Taro Kabachi. I'm the ace
of the Kitasumiyoshi High basketball team.
**[13:38] ---**
Nao is one of my cousins. Nice to meetcha.
**[13:42] ---**
A cousin?!
**[13:44] ---**
Then tell me this.
Have you ever been in the bath with her?
**[13:47] ---**
Yeah, when we were really young.
**[13:49] ---**
What kind of body did she have?
Can you draw me a little sketch from memory?
**[13:53] ---**
As I recall, she's got a mole
on her butt and her chest.
**[13:54] ---**
S-stop it!
**[13:55] ---**
Don't say another word!
**[13:57] ---**
I know that's not what you
came here to talk about!
**[13:59] ---**
Right.
**[14:00] ---**
Well, since you asked me about
setting up a practice match,
**[14:04] ---**
I just came to see what we're dealing with.
**[14:08] ---**
I dunno why, but something
about his hairstyle kind of irks me.
**[14:12] ---**
Now, then...
**[14:16] ---**
...you there!
**[14:16] ---**
Huh? Me?!
**[14:18] ---**
You smell like the resident ace of this team.
**[14:21] ---**
Huh?
**[14:23] ---**
How about it?
**[14:25] ---**
Let's say we have a showdown
between aces in a one-on-one.
**[14:28] ---**
And if you meet my standards,
then our team will agree to have a match with yours.
**[14:34] ---**
Just step in and shut him down.
**[14:38] ---**
All right, then. Let's do this thing!
**[14:40] ---**
R-right!
**[14:42] ---**
You can do it, Nabe!
**[14:46] ---**
This way, huh?!
**[14:49] ---**
A dribble through the legs
into a spin... he's slick!
**[14:55] ---**
Huh...?
**[15:00] ---**
Th-this is a pretty nice
court you've got here.
**[15:02] ---**
With a court this clean, then I'm sure
all your skills must be equally as impressive.
**[15:07] ---**
Okay! We accept a practice
match with your team!
**[15:12] ---**
Thank you so much!
**[15:13] ---**
Huh?
**[15:17] ---**
You've got real guts, kid.
**[15:19] ---**
Bring some tissues to
cry into after you lose!
**[15:22] ---**
Later!
**[15:23] ---**
Later!
**[15:24] ---**
Yo, somebody say something to him.
**[15:25] ---**
Later!
**[15:26] ---**
Is the team at his school even any good?
**[15:27] ---**
LATER!
**[15:28] ---**
How did they manage in the Kanto tourney?
**[15:30] ---**
They lost in the very
first round. To Maru High.
**[15:33] ---**
Oh yeah? Then they're nothing but chumps!
**[15:35] ---**
We totally managed to hold
our own against Maru High!
**[15:38] ---**
Yep!
**[15:39] ---**
Oh, but...
**[15:40] ---**
Huh?
**[15:41] ---**
The only time that Maru High
was forced into overtime during the tourney
**[15:43] ---**
was when they played against Taro's team
at Kitasumiyoshi High.
**[15:49] ---**
Seriously?!
**[15:50] ---**
The final score was 112 to 107.
**[15:52] ---**
I think it was an intense game
that either team could have won.
**[15:56] ---**
Then maybe we should aim
a little bit lower...
**[15:58] ---**
Don't be silly!
**[16:00] ---**
Both Maru High and Kitasumi are
**[16:01] ---**
opponents that we have to
fight against sooner or later!
**[16:05] ---**
So basically, that means...
**[16:07] ---**
...we better start practicing
how to shoot a basket properly.
**[16:14] ---**
Who said anything about
learning how to dunk?!
**[16:17] ---**
Right now, everyone is going
to start practicing how to screen!
**[16:23] ---**
The first screen we'll do is a fundamental
move known as the "pick and roll."
**[16:27] ---**
As the screener, Momoharu will send a sign
to the ball-handler, Natsume,
**[16:31] ---**
before he starts to make his move.
**[16:34] ---**
Then he'll sneak directly behind
the defensive player, Kurumatani.
**[16:38] ---**
The ball-handler will confirm that the
**[16:41] ---**
screener is in position, with
their arms down and feet planted.
**[16:46] ---**
Then the ball-handler will pass
by the screener as closely as possible.
**[16:50] ---**
The screener will "pick" off the defense
and then "roll" quickly to the basket.
**[16:54] ---**
It will be a successful play if they manage
to create a situation where it becomes 2-on-1.
**[16:59] ---**
Wow!
**[17:00] ---**
So if we learn how to do this screen thing,
then it should lead to Sora and Kite
**[17:04] ---**
having more chances to score, right?
**[17:06] ---**
Naturally!
**[17:07] ---**
We may not be able to actually
score any points, but...
**[17:10] ---**
...we'll do all the other stuff
that only we can accomplish!
**[17:14] ---**
Despite what they may think, this means
they'll be directly involved in scoring points!
**[17:21] ---**
Oh?
**[17:24] ---**
Quit showing off.
**[17:25] ---**
You've gotten really good at
dribbling the ball, Yasuhara!
**[17:28] ---**
That was some quick thinking.
**[17:31] ---**
You've got the smarts to
be a forward, Yasuhara.
**[17:33] ---**
Oh yeah?
**[17:34] ---**
You can't get too careless
around him anymore, Tinytown.
**[17:35] ---**
The team is starting to come together.
Those guys are really getting the hang of it.
**[17:36] ---**
That's true.
**[17:39] ---**
They really are.
**[17:40] ---**
I think the idea of a practice
match in the near future
**[17:43] ---**
motivated them a lot more
than a stretch goal like the inter-high.
**[17:47] ---**
Kitasumiyoshi High has a pretty well-known reputation
around here for being tough.
**[17:50] ---**
Yeah.
**[17:51] ---**
Apparently, they've been recruiting
**[17:53] ---**
really fast players to help
boost their offense this year.
**[17:56] ---**
I'm not so sure our team
will be good enough to handle them...
**[17:59] ---**
It's okay. We can win, no doubt!
**[18:07] ---**
Things are totally different
from when we played against Maru High.
**[18:11] ---**
Everyone is putting their best
into the game for the team's sake!
**[18:14] ---**
Each time a pass goes through, or a screen works,
it helps us to build confidence!
**[18:20] ---**
This must be the "teamwork"
that Nanao has been talking about!
**[18:25] ---**
I know that this team...
**[18:27] ---**
...can become really incredible!
**[18:40] ---**
To sum it up, our offense will be centered around
Kurumatani and Natsume
**[18:43] ---**
and we'll use a series of
basic screens to back them up.
**[18:47] ---**
I'm a little concerned about
the lack of pass windows available to Natusme, but...
**[18:50] ---**
Why's that? If you just give me the ball,
then I'll keep scoring the points.
**[18:55] ---**
Regardless of how things go during the match,
**[18:58] ---**
our team has to be able to
at least score 70 points
**[19:00] ---**
or we won't make any progress.
**[19:02] ---**
I think we can manage that with two scorers.
**[19:05] ---**
I can get 30 points and Tinytown can get 20.
**[19:09] ---**
The remaining 20 points can be scored randomly
amongst the others.
**[19:14] ---**
However, that doesn't solve all our problems.
**[19:17] ---**
There's still one major
weakness that our team has.
**[19:20] ---**
Yes, our defense.
**[19:23] ---**
Think back to the game we played
against the girls' team.
**[19:26] ---**
Putting aside the fact you didn't
use your height advantage,
**[19:28] ---**
the other team still scored too often.
**[19:31] ---**
Sora's lack of height is a
pretty big problem for us, huh?
**[19:35] ---**
If I coached the other team,
that is definitely where I would focus my attack.
**[19:40] ---**
So that means you're on the bench!
**[19:42] ---**
No! Anything but that!
**[19:44] ---**
Needless to say, we can't afford
to just leave Kurumatani off the court.
**[19:47] ---**
Having a three-point shooter like him
is a huge benefit to us.
**[19:53] ---**
We also need him out there to help spread out
the other team's defense.
**[19:57] ---**
With that said,
**[19:58] ---**
I'm proposing that we make this
the basic pattern for our defense.
**[20:00] ---**
Take a look.
**[20:03] ---**
Interesting. That's a good plan.
**[20:05] ---**
Wait a sec, does this mean that I...?
**[20:07] ---**
Starting tomorrow, we'll practice
this formation together with our offense
**[20:10] ---**
until everyone has mastered it completely.
**[20:13] ---**
And in order to make this
defense absolutely perfect...
**[20:16] ---**
...Kurumatani will need to return back to doing
footwork practice by himself tomorrow.
**[20:26] ---**
The defense is getting shaken off!
Look carefully before you pass!
**[20:48] ---**
The water went in my nose!
**[20:51] ---**
Here, use this.
**[20:55] ---**
Th-thanks...
**[20:57] ---**
Sorry. Are you mad?
**[20:59] ---**
Huh?! I'm not mad at all.
**[21:01] ---**
Why?
**[21:02] ---**
I mean... I made you practice separately
from everyone else.
**[21:06] ---**
I feel like I'm being a bully...
**[21:08] ---**
I don't mind, since that's
what we need to win.
**[21:10] ---**
But...
**[21:12] ---**
I want to win... really bad.
**[21:16] ---**
It becomes clearer the
longer that we practice.
**[21:18] ---**
Everyone is gradually starting
to trust each other more as they play.
**[21:22] ---**
I can tell everyone has started to believe...
that our team really has a shot at this.
**[21:31] ---**
Back when we played against Maru High,
there was really nothing that went in our favor.
**[21:34] ---**
But despite all of that,
it was still really frustrating to lose.
**[21:38] ---**
Back then, if we had a stronger defense...
**[21:41] ---**
Back then, if my shots
hadn't missed the mark...
**[21:45] ---**
I want to experience more
than just regrets like those.
**[21:47] ---**
I want to know what it feels like
to share the joy of victory with a team.
**[21:52] ---**
Yeah.
**[21:53] ---**
You guys can definitely win.
**[21:57] ---**
Yeah!
**[23:30] ---**
Ahiru no Sora
Next Time: The Boys' Spirit
**[23:31] ---**
Next time: "The Boys' Spirit."