E31 - What Must Be Protected
Source: Crunchyroll
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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.)
[00:05] ---
Defense! Defense! Defense! Defense!
[00:13] ---
We're doin' a player substitution.
[00:14] ---
Natsume?
[00:16] ---
It's been long enough. I'm good.
[00:19] ---
Me, too... I'm ready.
[00:21] ---
Shigeyoshi...
[00:24] ---
Just stay put!
[00:26] ---
If our lead is still shrinking
after 3 minutes from now,
[00:29] ---
then go ahead and put
Bro or the beanstalk in.
[00:32] ---
But until then, I'll find a way
to hold the other team off.
[00:36] ---
Shot-clock violation!
[00:37] ---
Huh? Already?!
[00:40] ---
Player substitution! Kuzuryu High School!
[00:47] ---
Just "hold them off"?
[00:49] ---
Not "stretch out our lead even further"?
[00:56] ---
It's not wrong
[00:59] ---
So that one step you took
and endured today is
[01:02] ---
The sound of a footstep
that radiates brilliantly
[01:08] ---
It's not wrong
[01:12] ---
So the world you blindly
jumped into must be right
[01:19] ---
The plans I held for the
future when I was greedy
[01:21] ---
Ahiru no Sora
[01:25] ---
Was soiled by my days of
attentiveness to others
[01:32] ---
Those that sought the
same dream have long ago
[01:35] ---
Started on new paths
[01:38] ---
Sighs color the sky a dark gray
[01:44] ---
But it's not the end yet
[01:50] ---
Today must be the day, so I pray as I sing
[01:59] ---
It's not wrong
[02:02] ---
So that one step you took
and endured today is
[02:05] ---
The sound of a footstep
that radiates brilliantly
[02:11] ---
It's not wrong
[02:14] ---
The world you blindly
jumped into must be right
[02:23] ---
What Must Be Protected
[02:25] ---
It's a real shame.
[02:27] ---
You've got so much amazing talent,
[02:29] ---
but not enough stamina to
run for 40 minutes, huh?
[02:33] ---
Wait, let me guess!
[02:34] ---
Back in middle school, you
skipped out on practice thinking
[02:36] ---
you were too good for it.
[02:38] ---
Just buzz off.
[02:40] ---
I'm really purr-ceptive!
[02:42] ---
Well, considering that you've been the one
scoring on us the most,
[02:45] ---
it really helps to have you
get all tuckered out now.
[02:48] ---
Uh-oh, better keep your eyes on the prize!
[02:58] ---
Going above my head again... dammit!
[03:03] ---
Get outta my way, ya big lump!
[03:05] ---
Don't you dare, sideburns!
[03:08] ---
He's wide open!
[03:12] ---
Nobody gets a free shot
as long as I'm on the court, dammit!
[03:16] ---
They stopped it!
[03:18] ---
Defensive foul! #4!
[03:20] ---
Shit, he got free-throws?
[03:22] ---
That was a nice block, Momoharu.
[03:24] ---
Thanks.
[03:26] ---
I'll run like hell if the second shot misses,
[03:28] ---
so chuck the ball as hard as you can.
[03:30] ---
Every point counts,
Kazushi. Don't miss these.
[03:36] ---
Two free-throws!
[03:44] ---
You talking about Kashiwagi?
He's bad news, for sure.
[03:47] ---
Did you hear? He caused a big brawl.
[03:49] ---
What a thug...
[03:51] ---
I hate being stuck in the same class as him.
[04:00] ---
Oh?
[04:01] ---
What's up? You hoping to join the team?
[04:04] ---
Wait! You can't let that guy in!
[04:07] ---
His name is Kashiwagi and he's done nothing
but cause trouble lately.
[04:10] ---
Whatever, that's nothing a bit
of old fashion discipline won't cure.
[04:13] ---
I guarantee that won't work on him!
[04:15] ---
He totally beat the snot out of 3 guys
from West High the other day.
[04:18] ---
Ouch!
[04:19] ---
Oops, sorry.
[04:21] ---
That hurt, asswipe!
[04:23] ---
Sorry, my bad. But you should
watch where you're going, too.
[04:27] ---
Huh?
[04:32] ---
If you're interested in playing,
then why not come join us?
[04:34] ---
Huh?
[04:36] ---
I know the feeling. I got into basketball
because of that same manga!
[04:46] ---
He missed the first shot!
[04:48] ---
Aw, man, they needed that!
[04:50] ---
Stay calm, Kazushi!
[04:51] ---
Take deep breaths and shoot
carefully. You'll be fine!
[04:58] ---
Back on that fateful day,
if you hadn't reached out to me like you did...
[05:04] ---
...then I'm sure my high school life
would've been the pits.
[05:12] ---
Even a hopeless punk like me
can find something to be passionate about!
[05:16] ---
He missed the second one, too!
[05:18] ---
Rebound it! We have to hold them off!
[05:21] ---
Dammit!
[05:24] ---
Shit, it's a fast break!
Don't let him pass it!
[05:33] ---
Yukio!
[05:34] ---
Oh no, Tamo!
[05:35] ---
Out of bounds! White team's ball!
[05:38] ---
He took Momoharu's full-force
throw right to the face...
[05:40] ---
That's the 10th guy I've seen him
put out of commission like that.
[05:43] ---
For real?!
[05:45] ---
Don't die on us, Yukio!
[05:47] ---
Say something, Yukio!
[05:49] ---
I'm all right. I know how
to roll with the punches.
[05:53] ---
If they scored with a fast break now,
[05:55] ---
it would totally kill all the
momentum that Kazushi built for us.
[06:01] ---
How adorable, he's so shy.
[06:07] ---
Defense! Defense! Defense! Defense!
[06:11] ---
A'ight! We're gonna crush their streak!
Keep your voices and spirits high!
[06:16] ---
We WILL catch up! Nobody call it quits now!
[06:19] ---
What is the thing that
I'm supposed to protect?
[06:23] ---
I already abandoned
basketball once, didn't I?
[06:26] ---
Yasuhara, you gotta get further inside!
[06:28] ---
So why exactly am I here right now?
[06:31] ---
You're going down.
[06:34] ---
A three!
[06:36] ---
No way!
[06:41] ---
It went in!
[06:42] ---
A 10 point lead! Now they're
back in the double digits!
[06:48] ---
Eat shit.
[06:50] ---
That smug bastard!
[06:52] ---
I didn't skip out on practice
because I was lazy. It's just...
[06:57] ---
...there was a time I almost
let go of the precious
[07:00] ---
little hand that I was
supposed to hold tight.
[07:03] ---
I won't lose her! Never again!
[07:06] ---
There's only 3 minutes left,
guys! Stay confident and-
[07:08] ---
Everybody move up!
[07:10] ---
We can't just keep the same defense!
We gotta lay on more pressure!
[07:13] ---
Hey Chucky! Yasuhara! We're
doing man-to-man now!
[07:16] ---
Roger that!
[07:21] ---
Kuzu High is going all out!
[07:22] ---
They're in the endgame now!
[07:24] ---
Oh jeez, that's way too reckless.
Especially when they have the lead.
[07:27] ---
With the players who are on the court now,
[07:29] ---
there's hardly any difference
between zone and man-to-man.
[07:32] ---
Well, I suppose this allows
them to suppress Kojima
[07:34] ---
and hope his knee puts him on the bench soon.
[07:37] ---
But of course, that's only if
they have enough stamina left to run at this point.
[07:42] ---
Hey, Madoka?
[07:44] ---
Uh, yes?
[07:45] ---
The one who shot that last three...
[07:47] ---
What's the name of that boy
who has his hair all braided up?
[07:50] ---
Oh, uh, that's Kenji Natsume.
Everyone calls him "Kite," though.
[07:56] ---
He's in the same grade as Sora.
[07:58] ---
Is he really just a
freshman? He's so skilled!
[08:02] ---
There was a lot of trouble
leading up to him joining the team, though.
[08:05] ---
What about that other one?
The boy who made the amazing block.
[08:08] ---
Momoharu Hanazono. He's the
team captain and center.
[08:11] ---
He's actually twins with the afro boy
who's sitting on the bench now.
[08:15] ---
That one's name is Chiaki Hanazono,
he's the point guard.
[08:19] ---
They don't look very similar...
[08:20] ---
And then, the really tall boy
is Kaname Shigeyoshi. He's also a freshman.
[08:26] ---
Wow!
[08:27] ---
That's all of 'em!
[08:32] ---
Uh-oh, they got by Sora!
[08:34] ---
My legs...!
[08:36] ---
Another basket for us!
[08:38] ---
I said we should switch our defense,
but then I let them get right by me.
[08:42] ---
Kite's gonna be so pissed...
[08:44] ---
Don't sweat it.
[08:46] ---
I wouldn't be surprised if they came at us
with a full-court press anytime now.
[08:50] ---
These final 3 minutes are when you gotta show them
what a point guard can really do.
[08:54] ---
Throw me some good passes.
[08:56] ---
Right!
[08:58] ---
So, Kite and Shigeyoshi.
[09:00] ---
Momoharu and Chiaki.
[09:02] ---
And then Yasuhara, Nabeshima, and Saki.
[09:06] ---
Finally, little Nao.
[09:07] ---
Okay, I'll remember them!
[09:09] ---
Ms. Yuka, are you doing all right?
You're starting to look sweaty...
[09:13] ---
Well, all the excitement
is making it hot in here.
[09:19] ---
We need to start laying on defensive pressure,
or else it'll be too late.
[09:23] ---
But... it's not realistic for us to do
a full-court press with Koji's leg.
[09:27] ---
We have to find another way to...
[09:30] ---
No skin off my bones!
[09:32] ---
Koji?
[09:33] ---
Just take a good look at their faces.
[09:36] ---
We had them running their
asses off in the first half,
[09:38] ---
so there's no way they'll
last the full 40 minutes.
[09:40] ---
A lion with a busted leg or
a bunch of weak-ass rabbits.
[09:43] ---
Who do you think is gonna get eaten?
[09:46] ---
They both seem helpless to me.
[09:48] ---
And rabbits are herbivores, anyway.
[09:50] ---
Either way, it's all over
for us if we lose here.
[09:54] ---
Save the complaining for
after we win this damn thing.
[09:58] ---
Regrets and sacrifices. I've dealt with
enough of those to hate both of them.
[10:03] ---
Maybe the only thing that
we get out of winning...
[10:06] ---
is small and cheap in the long run.
[10:10] ---
But even so, all we can do
is keep striving for it.
[10:13] ---
Not good!
[10:14] ---
Miss, miss, miss!
[10:17] ---
Go in!
[10:17] ---
Go in, go in, go in!
[10:19] ---
Miss!
[10:20] ---
Go in!
[10:27] ---
Counterattack!
[10:29] ---
Never missing a shot! Being
the fastest man on the court!
[10:33] ---
For a small player like myself...
[10:37] ---
...that's the only way to stay alive!
[10:40] ---
I want to be useful to the team!
[10:45] ---
Reach, reach!
[10:47] ---
REACH!
[10:54] ---
A 6-point gap!
[10:56] ---
We're almost there!
[10:57] ---
Ka-Kashiwagi!
[11:08] ---
Kurumatani!
[11:11] ---
Uh-oh...
[11:13] ---
They've closed the gap even further now.
We have to widen it back up.
[11:16] ---
10 points... no, is it 8 points now?
[11:20] ---
I've gotta protect our lead...
how many minutes left?
[11:24] ---
Huh? Someone is... calling my name...
[11:27] ---
What's wrong with me? Everything
feels... so far away...
[11:31] ---
Have to protect it... have to protect it...
[11:37] ---
You did well out there. Leave the rest to me.
[11:41] ---
Chiaki...
[11:47] ---
That #7 with 4 fouls is coming back in.
[11:50] ---
And now, there's no way of telling
how this match will play out.
[11:53] ---
Feh, pathetic!
[11:55] ---
They've only got 3 subs on the bench.
[11:57] ---
This situation was unavoidable for them.
[11:59] ---
There's less than 3 minutes left now,
[12:02] ---
but that's still too much time to
defend a 6 point lead to the end.
[12:05] ---
And even if they do manage to win,
this is still just the first round.
[12:09] ---
Let me tell you something.
These guys don't have a future.
[12:14] ---
There's no way a team like this
can make it anywhere near the top.
[12:19] ---
She must be worried about Sora.
It doesn't look like he got injured, though.
[12:24] ---
Um, I'm going down to have a closer look.
[12:27] ---
I'll check and see if Sora's
okay. I won't be gone long!
[12:30] ---
Stupid...
[12:31] ---
Huh?
[12:32] ---
That stupid blockhead!
[12:34] ---
Huh?!
[12:35] ---
Can't even last for 40 minutes...!
[12:38] ---
He should know better, I always
said that practicing for
[12:40] ---
lengthy runs is absolutely
vital in basketball!
[12:43] ---
Studying for school entrance exams
must have made him slack off!
[12:46] ---
I think that's pretty
ordinary for every kid...
[12:51] ---
He can't afford to be ordinary.
[12:53] ---
Huh?
[12:54] ---
It's just like Sakam... ahem,
Mr. Sakamaki was saying earlier.
[12:58] ---
It would basically take a
miracle for Sora to get on the
[13:01] ---
starting lineup of most any team.
[13:02] ---
And it's not just him,
[13:04] ---
every shorter player inevitably
comes up against that same hurdle.
[13:08] ---
If Sora wants to secure his
own place on the court,
[13:12] ---
then he can't just do
the same things everyone else does.
[13:15] ---
Although, I know fully well
that he won't discover
[13:19] ---
what he should do all by himself.
[13:23] ---
Then you should focus on getting better,
[13:26] ---
so you can come to Kuzu High and
become their coach, Ms. Yuka.
[13:29] ---
Huh?
[13:30] ---
Both our boys' and girls' basketball teams
don't have a proper coach.
[13:34] ---
Our advisors are just math
and history teachers.
[13:37] ---
The boys' team has Nao serving
as both manager and coach, but...
[13:41] ---
There's a limit to what she can do on her own
[13:43] ---
and she's been very frank about her concerns.
[13:47] ---
If Sora and his team are serious
about aiming for the top,
[13:50] ---
then they need a good coach to lead them.
[13:53] ---
If you could come to our school
and do that, Ms. Yuka...
[13:55] ---
Uh, well... the girls' team
would love to learn from you, too!
[14:00] ---
So please, do everything you
can to start feeling better!
[14:05] ---
Me? A coach?
[14:08] ---
I think it's a great idea.
You should take them up on it.
[14:12] ---
But I...
[14:16] ---
The future is built on hope.
[14:19] ---
And hope is born from life.
[14:22] ---
As long as you strive for a dream,
then tomorrow will come.
[14:29] ---
The job given to us adults
is to protect the future of all the kids.
[14:36] ---
Listen up, boys.
[14:40] ---
We've all lost sight of hope
once in our lives already.
[14:44] ---
We had no place to belong,
[14:46] ---
and spent a year without
knowing what we wanted to do.
[14:50] ---
To be real with you,
[14:52] ---
there's no guarantee that winning this
match will change anything for us.
[14:57] ---
However!
[14:59] ---
We know for sure nothing
will change unless we win.
[15:03] ---
Take this to heart. The lead we have now
represents our future!
[15:08] ---
Defend it with your very lives!
[15:38] ---
Hey, Bro! Be careful with those fouls.
[15:40] ---
You think the threat of ejection
is enough to scare me?
[15:43] ---
He's a damn good guard.
[15:45] ---
Now I'm getting pumped!
[15:47] ---
They've rallied up some morale.
[15:49] ---
Their team must trust that #7 wholeheartedly.
[15:52] ---
And that #15, too. I gotta admit,
they're a real solid team.
[15:59] ---
Okay, let's do this! Time
for the final battle!
[16:02] ---
Excuse me, Fujita? The girls' team
is about to start their game.
[16:06] ---
All right, let's go.
[16:07] ---
What? Aren't we gonna watch the end?
[16:09] ---
Regardless of which team wins,
it doesn't change what we must do.
[16:14] ---
Good point.
[16:20] ---
Say, Mokichi. How big is our lead?
[16:24] ---
8 points.
[16:26] ---
And now, it's down to 6 points.
[16:29] ---
Do you think we'll win?
[16:31] ---
Yeah... well, I'm not so sure.
[16:35] ---
It really kills me.
[16:37] ---
If only I could move as fast as Kite does...
[16:40] ---
If only I could jump as
high as Momoharu does...
[16:43] ---
If only I could pass as
well as Chiaki does...
[16:48] ---
If only I could grow as
tall as you are, Mokichi...
[16:53] ---
Hey, Kurumatani.
[16:55] ---
Do you remember the conversation we had...
when we first met?
[17:00] ---
You said you were jealous of me.
[17:03] ---
And then I replied by saying
I was jealous of you.
[17:08] ---
Ever since the day I first started basketball,
I've always played center.
[17:13] ---
I was never allowed to experiment
with other positions, even if I wanted to.
[17:17] ---
But what I've always dreamed of...
[17:20] ---
...was to become an all-rounder,
like that guy is.
[17:25] ---
Mokichi...
[17:26] ---
From now on, as you keep growing taller,
[17:29] ---
you'll find yourself able to
play a variety of positions.
[17:33] ---
And then, you'll eventually reach it.
[17:35] ---
The peak of what a basketball player can be.
[17:39] ---
You are full of nothing but potential.
[17:42] ---
And that... is what I'm jealous of.
[17:46] ---
But it's okay. I'm not giving up.
[17:50] ---
"Potential"...
[17:55] ---
Defensive foul! #6!
[17:56] ---
Sweet!
[17:57] ---
Time for free-throws!
[18:01] ---
S-sorry, you guys!
[18:03] ---
It happens. Shake it off!
[18:05] ---
Nice, Roku!
[18:06] ---
Thanks.
[18:09] ---
Player substitution, Kuzuryu High School!
[18:11] ---
Shigeyoshi!
[18:12] ---
Right. I know.
[18:18] ---
Just 1 minute left! Here
comes the giant once again!
[18:22] ---
I dragged us down out there.
And at such a crucial time...
[18:25] ---
If we end up losing now, it's
basically gonna be my fault!
[18:29] ---
Senpai.
[18:30] ---
Huh?
[18:30] ---
Your defense... was solid.
[18:36] ---
You can drop the act!
[18:38] ---
I can't dribble and I can't shoot,
so I know I'm not worth shit out there!
[18:42] ---
I get it...
[18:43] ---
He wasn't being sarcastic.
[18:45] ---
Our team doesn't have
anybody who would be at a time like this!
[18:49] ---
Goddammit!
[18:51] ---
Don't be so impatient, Chucky.
[18:53] ---
What lies beyond this line is
like a holy ground of sorts.
[18:56] ---
It's a battlefield where only those
[18:58] ---
who've spent years
of intense training are allowed to fight.
[19:03] ---
That's more or less how I see it.
[19:06] ---
Half-assed guys like us could never compete
on the same level as them.
[19:13] ---
Well, that's what the old me
would say and then give up.
[19:16] ---
But after watching how Chiaki and Kite
played in this game, I felt motivated.
[19:21] ---
Nabe...
[19:23] ---
I wanna pull off sick
moves just like they do.
[19:25] ---
Then turn around and have them say to me...
[19:28] ---
"Nice job, Nabe!" and get
showered with their praise.
[19:29] ---
You're the best, Nabe!
[19:31] ---
Way to go, dude.
[19:32] ---
Not half-bad.
[19:33] ---
You've got skills!
[19:34] ---
I've been bested.
[19:35] ---
I'm in love...
[19:37] ---
Totally.
[19:40] ---
It'd be nice to actually be
of some use someday, huh?
[19:43] ---
Yeah.
[19:46] ---
He sunk it!
[19:47] ---
Now we're only 5 points behind!
[19:49] ---
Don't miss this.
[19:50] ---
Sink it or get an ass whoopin'!
[19:53] ---
When I found out this team only
had 2 members at the start,
[19:55] ---
I thought they were out of their minds.
[19:59] ---
But now, I can't help but feel driven...
to keep playing with them!
[20:06] ---
Go in! Please go in!
[20:15] ---
OMG, I'm totally starting to cry right now!
[20:18] ---
Me, too!
[20:19] ---
This match is so crazy...
it's rare to ever see two teams go at it like this!
[21:06] ---
Are you sure? You don't
want to see how it ends?
[21:10] ---
I was already cheating by
going in the first place.
[21:13] ---
"Cheating"?
[21:13] ---
Even though I went, I still want to hear my son
tell me the results himself.
[21:18] ---
In any case, I'm surprised you went
without seeing him for so long.
[21:22] ---
I'm sorry that we had to
impose on you like this.
[21:24] ---
It's okay.
[21:28] ---
Doctor...
[21:31] ---
At the arena, my old college friend...
he gave me the same advice you once did.
[21:38] ---
That having hope and dreams
breathes life into us.
[21:42] ---
That the importance of life is found
in the precious things we protect.
[21:49] ---
Doctor... I did it...
[21:54] ---
I found a dream that... I want to pursue.
[22:01] ---
I want to convey them to you
[22:04] ---
Lay all of my feelings bare
[22:07] ---
Whether I have to lie or sin,
I just want you to smile
[22:14] ---
By using these wings that you gave me
[22:17] ---
And embracing the "promise"
that ties us together
[22:19] ---
I'll stretch up to the sky!
[22:23] ---
Towards where only light shines
[22:28] ---
I was suffocating myself
[22:34] ---
In the empty corner of a cage
[22:38] ---
Yeah... it was as if
[22:39] ---
"I'm just like a bird that can't fly"
[22:43] ---
I nearly locked myself
in with all the excuses
[22:49] ---
I want to change
[22:51] ---
I cannot change
[22:52] ---
Even if I become stained in lies
[22:55] ---
I want to fall apart
[22:56] ---
I cannot fall apart
[22:58] ---
Now... I set flight
[23:01] ---
Sailing into the open sky
[23:03] ---
On these ugly wings
[23:06] ---
To assure I never go through
the same pain again
[23:13] ---
Still so very fragile and ephemeral
[23:16] ---
But no matter how dirty or pathetic
[23:19] ---
I'll fight! I'll rise!
[23:22] ---
Towards where there is a tiny glimmer
[23:31] ---
Ahiru no Sora
[23:31] ---
Next episode: "Time limit."