E9 - A Battle of Wills

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.)
SIGN    This story is a work of fiction. All persons and organizations are imagined. 
    The kabaddi and game rules which appear in this anime are drawn from the original work.
[00:07] Misumi
    How many points did he just take from us?
[00:11] Ojo
    Kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi...
[00:11] Misumi
    This is no time to worry about that!
[00:13] Misumi
    I have to look for an opening and strike!
[00:17] Misumi
    If I can stop him for even a split second,
    then, just like always, he'll...
[00:22] Ojo
    Kabaddi!
[00:23] narrator
    Struggle!
SIGN    Date
SIGN    Misumi
[00:26] Misumi
    Damn it!
[00:28] Iura
    Okay, time for a break!
[00:31] narrator
    Ojo has been raiding during the team's
     defense practice game since last week.
[00:37] narrator
    The first-years have a good handle
     on how to develop themselves.
[00:41] narrator
    However, Misumi, who has been paired
    on defense with Date all this time,
[00:46] narrator
    is unsure how to move as
    an anti in this new lineup.
[00:53] Misumi
    What did I used to do...
[00:56] Misumi
    before this guy was around?
SIGN    April, one year earlier
[02:29] (Flashback) Misumi's mom
    Thank you.
SIGN    A Battle 
         of Wills
[02:33] (Flashback) Misumi's mom
    You'll be living in a dorm, so you're
    going to have to look after yourself.
[02:37] (Flashback) Misumi's mom
    And if you cause any trouble,
    you're not getting off easy.
[02:39] (Flashback) Misumi
    I get it already, Mom.
[02:42] (Flashback) Misumi's mom
    But don't go hanging out
    with any snooty dweebs.
[02:45] (Flashback) Misumi
    You sure have a lot of demands.
    Quit worrying about me!
SIGN    Noukin High School
[02:50] (Flashback) Misumi
    Middle school was the end
    of my wild days, okay?
[02:53] (Flashback) Misumi's mom
    I'll leave you to it, then.
[02:57] (Flashback) Misumi
    Sure thing. I'll spend my
    high school days happily.
[03:05] (Flashback) Misumi
    Then how about you give me your number...
[03:06] (Flashback) Iura
    You're Misumi Kyohei-kun, right?
[03:09] (Flashback) Misumi
    Huh?
[03:11] Misumi
    My happy days ended quickly.
[03:17] Misumi
    What?
[03:19] Misumi
    I'll kill you!
[03:21] (Flashback) Iura
    What truly splendid defensive moves!
[03:24] (Flashback) Iura
    So splendid, I want to show
    them to all kinds of people!
[03:27] (Flashback) Misumi
    Wh-What do you want here?
[03:34] (Flashback) Iura
    Have you heard of kabaddi?
[03:40] Misumi
    Two senpai from the year above me, and...
[03:43] Misumi
    sometimes a few extra players from
    outside the club, that was the team.
[03:47] Misumi
    All right! I took him down!
[03:49] Misumi
    How was that? Good?
[03:51] Misumi
    My brain stung from having to constantly
    strategize from second to second,
[03:56] Misumi
    which suited my thrill-seeking
    personality very well.
[04:00] Misumi
    In terms of power, I'm the best.
[04:04] Iura
    Here he comes!
[04:05] (Flashback) Ojo
    Kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi...
[04:09] (Flashback) Ojo
    Kabaddi.
[04:10] Misumi
    Strikers!
[04:13] (Flashback) Ojo
    Kabaddi.
[04:14] narrator
    Struggle!
[04:18] Misumi
    Even without him,
    I wasn't afraid of anything.
[04:23] Iura
    Don't just attack directly.
    Use feints, too.
[04:26] Misumi
    Sir!
[04:30] Azemichi
    We're losing fewer points, but we still
    haven't taken the captain down even once.
[04:34] Misumi
    Yeah, that's true.
[04:37] Misumi
    The way kabaddi is, if the defense is
    no good, there's no way to catch up.
[04:44] Misumi
    In our first competition...
[04:46] Misumi
    we got matched up with a team of monsters.
[04:49] Misumi
    Our side was mostly players
    from outside the team,
[04:52] Misumi
    and I was an absolute sitting duck.
[04:56] Misumi
    I was sent off the court over and over.
[05:01] Misumi
    And every time, the captain managed
    to bring me back, scoring on raids.
[05:08] Misumi
    Over and over again...
[05:12] Misumi
    It was like I went back just
    to have points taken from me.
[05:16] Misumi
    I started thinking that it would
    be better if I wasn't there.
[05:25] Misumi
    After the tournament, the players who
    weren't part of the team disappeared.
[05:28] Misumi
    Scraping together a mishmash
    of players won't be enough.
[05:31] Misumi
    We need a person with strong defensive
    capabilities who won't give up points.
[05:35] Misumi
    I don't ever want to feel
    that miserable again!
[05:39] Misumi
    It's time to go scouting.
[05:42] Misumi
    I already knew who I wanted to target.
[05:48] (Flashback) Misumi
    H-Hey, Date.
[05:50] (Flashback) Misumi
    What is it you're always
    doing with that thing?
[05:54] (Flashback) Date
    Rehab for my tendons.
[05:56] (Flashback) Date
    They're already healed,
    but it's become a habit.
[05:59] Misumi
    It's hard to make an opening
    gambit from "rehab."
[06:02] (Flashback) Misumi
    Are you in a club or on a team?
[06:05] (Flashback) Date
    I was.
[06:06] (Flashback) Date
    Baseball. I was a pitcher.
[06:08] (Flashback) Date
    But I can't move precisely
    enough anymore, so...
[06:11] Misumi
    That's heavy!
[06:13] (Flashback) Date
    I'm thinking about what I want to do.
[06:15] Misumi
    This is the second term!
    That's too much thinking!
[06:18] (Flashback) Misumi
    You know...
[06:20] (Flashback) Misumi
    if you haven't decided
    what you want to do yet...
[06:25] (Flashback) Iura
    Come on!
[06:27] (Flashback) Iura
    You'll be slow on the catch! Don't get scared!
[06:30] (Flashback) Date
    Yes, sir!
[06:31] Misumi
    That guy... All he's got is the build, huh?
[06:34] Misumi
    And he's the clumsy type that
    can't put anything into practice.
[06:40] (Flashback) Misumi's mom
    But don't go hanging out
    with any snooty dweebs.
[06:44] Misumi
    You don't need to tell me.
[06:46] Misumi
    I'd be better off making moves on my own.
SIGN    Winter Kabaddi Tournament
    High School Division
[06:53] Misumi
    At our second competition...
[06:57] Misumi
    I made exactly the same mistakes.
[07:04] Misumi
    All that happened was we
    had more sitting ducks.
SIGN    Winter High School
    Kabaddi Tournament
    ← Venue
SIGN    Gymnasium
[07:08] (Flashback) Misumi
    Do you feel like quitting?
[07:10] (Flashback) Date
    A little.
[07:12] (Flashback) Misumi
    Really?
[07:13] (Flashback) Misumi
    If you quit now, it'd be the
    same as baseball, wouldn't it?
[07:16] (Flashback) Date
    The reason I quit baseball was—
[07:18] (Flashback) Misumi
    Because you got injured, right?
[07:20] (Flashback) Misumi
    But if you could have played a
     different position if you wanted.
[07:24] (Flashback) Date
    Don't say it like it's so easy!
    You are a flippant, foolish man!
[07:27] (Flashback) Date
    Have you ever seriously
    devoted yourself to anything?!
[07:31] (Flashback) Misumi
    No, I haven't. What of it?
[07:33] (Flashback) Date
    That's why you can say it like it's nothing!
[07:36] (Flashback) Iura
    Hey! Stop it, you two!
[07:38] (Flashback) Date
    Let go of me!
[07:41] (Flashback) Misumi
    Oh, there was something.
[07:43] (Flashback) Misumi
    Something I really threw myself into...
[07:48] (Flashback) Misumi
    Brawling!
[07:51] (Flashback) Date
    I figured you might be that kind of person!
[07:53] (Flashback) Misumi
    Our experiences are different,
    you snooty dweeb!
[07:57] Misumi
    He's got so much power!
[08:02] (Flashback) Misumi
    I'll beat you to death!
[08:12] (Flashback) Ojo
    A fighting spirit is important in kabaddi,
[08:15] (Flashback) Ojo
    but punching is against the rules.
[08:17] (Flashback) Ojo
    We're all sharing in this frustration,
[08:20] (Flashback) Ojo
    aren't we?
[08:26] Misumi
    This isn't something I can tell the new guys.
[08:29] Azemichi
    Misumi-senpai?
[08:30] Azemichi
    What's wrong? You stopped talking.
[08:32] Misumi
    Huh? Oh.
[08:35] Misumi
    Should we try to come up with some kind
    of strategy to take down the captain?
[08:38] Azemichi
    Sir!
[08:47] Date
    Hey, Misumi.
[08:50] Misumi
    Huh? You out running, too?
[08:52] Date
    Yeah.
[08:54] Misumi
    Hey, Shin...
[08:55] Misumi
    The captain's arms are really
    scrawny, aren't they?
[08:58] Date
    What is this all of a sudden?
[09:00] Misumi
    You remember that time we stopped
    fighting before we realized it?
[09:03] Date
    Ah, you mean that time, huh?
[09:05] Date
    It's embarrassing, so I don't
    really want to remember.
[09:09] Misumi
    But you know, after that, we started
    being able to work together for real.
[09:13] Misumi
    While we were out goofing around,
[09:15] Misumi
    we ended up becoming buddies
    without even realizing it.
[09:18] Misumi
    Let's forget that for a while.
[09:21] Misumi
    I'll end up connecting with
    you again eventually, Shin.
[09:25] Misumi
    Right now, growing and assisting the captain
     is the coolest thing we can do, right?
[09:30] Date
    That's true.
[09:32] Misumi
    So, who will be the first
    to take down the captain?
[09:36] Date
    Are we competing?
[09:37] Misumi
    Huh? No.
[09:40] Misumi
    I'm saying we should go back
    to how we were way back then.
[09:43] Date
    Huh?
[09:44] Misumi
    What I'm saying is...
[09:46] Misumi
    this is a brawl.
[09:50] Date
    I see.
[09:59] Date
    Hey, Hitomi. Come here a sec.
[10:02] Iura
    They seem to have changed quite
    a bit over the last few days.
[10:05] Ojo
    They do.
[10:07] Ojo
    Yoigoshi seems to be consciously making
    plays that help those around him shine.
[10:12] Iura
    And that cautious Date
[10:13] Iura
    has started moving decisively,
    without worrying about how he looks.
[10:18] Ojo
    It's not just those two, either.
[10:20] Misumi
    Captain!
[10:22] Misumi
    If you would!
[10:25] Ojo
    Sure!
[10:25] Ojo
    Team Kyohei, I'm coming to raid.
[10:30] Azemichi; Misumi
    Thank you for your help!
[10:37] Ojo
    Kabaddi, kabaddi...
[10:41] Iura
    Both Azemichi and Misumi have
    always had a high skill level,
[10:44] Iura
    but there's something that's
    overwhelmingly lacking.
[10:48] Iura
    That is...
[10:50] Iura
    the ability to strategize.
[10:53] Ojo
    He's coming!
[10:56] Iura
    "I'm coming in for a tackle now."
[10:59] Iura
    They unconsciously send
    the enemy those signals.
[11:02] Ojo
    Kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi...
[11:03] Iura
    Through continuous threats,
[11:05] Iura
    they could divert attention
    from their real catch attempt.
[11:08] Ojo
    Kabaddi... Kabaddi!
[11:09] Iura
    But...
[11:14] Ojo
    Kabaddi!
[11:15] narrator
    Struggle!
[11:18] Ojo
    Experience allows one to see
    through a moment's inattention.
[11:22] Ojo
    Kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi...
[11:22] Misumi
    Blast it!
[11:28] Ojo
    Okay, next, Shinji's team!
[11:30] team
    Sir!
[11:32] Iura
    This team has a long history in sports.
[11:35] Iura
    They can make plans and
    move together, but...
[11:38] Ojo
    Kabaddi, kabaddi...
[11:41] Iura
    You're letting him rest!
    Go put some pressure on him!
[11:44] Iura
    They understand how to set up traps for
    their opponents, but, conversely...
[11:47] Yoigoshi
    Is he retreating?
[11:50] Ojo
    Kabaddi.
[11:51] Iura
    They're not good at
    confronting the unexpected.
[11:54] Ojo
    Kabaddi.
[11:54] narrator
    Struggle!
[11:55] Iura
    Staying calm and rational isn't enough.
[11:58] Iura
    Being bold and dauntless isn't enough, either.
[12:01] Iura
    A combination of wildness and
    rationality is the ideal in kabaddi.
[12:06] Iura
    Everyone has their own disposition.
[12:08] Iura
    It isn't something that can
    be achieved with words alone.
[12:12] Yoigoshi
    I'm not letting you get back!
[12:13] Iura
    The one closest to the ideal is Yoigoshi.
[12:16] Iura
    The perfect ideal is...
[12:18] Iura
    Masato...
[12:23] Iura
    I'm not sure we have any members
    who can reach Masato's level.
[12:28] Iura
    Hitomi, step out for a minute.
[12:31] Mitomi
    Oh. Yes, sir.
[12:35] Ojo
    Okay.
[12:37] Ojo
    Team Kyohei...
[12:39] Date
    He's taking breaks in between, but...
[12:42] Misumi
    ...the captain doesn't look tired at all.
[12:45] Misumi
    What do you think, Azemichi?
[12:47] Azemichi
    It's working. That face.
[12:49] Azemichi
    We've been using it to
    intimidate him this whole time.
[12:52] Azemichi
    I'm exhausted.
[12:54] Misumi
    I guess I really just don't get it.
[12:58] Misumi
    It doesn't show on his face.
[13:00] Misumi
    Since forever ago,
[13:02] Misumi
    you've charged toward the enemy
    with a nonchalant expression
[13:06] Misumi
    and saved us countless times.
[13:09] Ojo
    Kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi...
[13:12] Misumi
    There's no way it was so easy, right?
[13:15] Misumi
    You were desperate because our
    defense was so weak, right?
[13:18] Ojo
    Another threat?
[13:20] Ojo
    His center of gravity is forward.
[13:22] Ojo
    He's really coming in for a catch—
[13:26] Ojo
    Kyohei was a decoy!
[13:27] Ojo
    Kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi...
[13:33] Ojo
    He came in at the same time
    as Soma and Ban-kun.
[13:37] Ojo
    If Kyohei wasn't meant to be a decoy, then...
[13:40] Ojo
    they used him as a decoy at the last minute.
[13:43] Ojo
    Did they do it on instinct?
[13:46] Azemichi
    Sorry. I knew it was coming, but...
[13:49] Misumi
    That was more than enough.
    You managed to surprise him. That's amazing!
[13:52] Misumi
    Now we just have to do what we planned.
[13:55] Ojo
    Kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi...
[13:59] Azemichi
    He's coming!
[14:01] Ojo
    Kabaddi.
[14:11] Ojo
    It seems Soma really can read my movements.
[14:14] Ojo
    That's good teamwork.
    I've got nowhere to run.
[14:19] Ojo
    First, I'll use a counter
    to put Kyohei behind me.
[14:24] Ojo
    He stopped?!
[14:26] Ojo
    Kabaddi...
[14:27] Azemichi
    Take the lead and grab his leg,
[14:29] Azemichi
    right, Misumi-senpai?
[14:34] Iura
    Those guys...
[14:36] Iura
    are strategizing?
[14:40] Azemichi
    He used a counter!
[14:44] Misumi
    Maybe... if I weren't here...
[14:48] Misumi
    everything would be better...
[14:56] Misumi
    I'm sorry for putting up
    such a pathetic defense!
[14:59] Misumi
    From now on...
[15:01] Misumi
    I'll be able to take you down...
[15:03] Misumi
    with this strength!
[15:10] Misumi
    I will repay my debt to you.
[15:14] Misumi
    The opponent's territory! It's so close!
[15:15] Ojo
    Kabaddi.
[15:16] Misumi
    I won't let you reach it!
[15:17] Ojo
    Kabaddi.
[15:18] Misumi
    If I let him make it back,
[15:19] Misumi
    then I'll still be my pathetic self
    who's always saved by the captain!
[15:24] Misumi
    I will become a strength for the captain!
[15:27] Misumi
    A strong man!
[15:29] Misumi
    A cool man! That's what I will become!
[15:32] Ojo
    Kabaddi.
[15:39] Azemichi
    He made it back.
[15:43] Ojo
    Kyohei.
[15:44] Misumi
    Yeah?
[15:49] Ojo
    I didn't think you'd force me
     into a battle of wills.
[15:57] Misumi
    It wasn't just skills
    I lack in... but will, too?
[16:01] Misumi
    Damn it! I am so uncool!
[16:04] Date
    Uncool?
[16:06] Date
    He's on the ground.
[16:08] Date
    That's a man that neither of us
    could do anything against before.
[16:13] Date
    You pushed him all the way
    into a battle of wills.
[16:17] Date
    Isn't that what you'd call cool?
[16:23] Misumi
    No one asked you.
[16:24] Misumi
    Quit saying stuff like that.
[16:30] Misumi
    I told you, this is a brawl.
[16:33] Date
    I'm not cut out for such a thing.
[16:37] Ojo
    Let's stop doing this kind of practice.
[16:40] Yoigoshi
    What?
[16:41] Ojo
    There's no weight to my raids.
[16:44] Ojo
    If you get too used to me, you'll have
    a hard time with other types of raiders.
[16:48] Ojo
    Time for the next step.
[16:51] Ojo
    When you're in a group,
    your individual quirks stand out.
[16:54] Ojo
    Based on the quirks I've seen,
    I'll give each of you a technique.
[17:02] Yoigoshi
    Techniques, huh?
[17:05] Ojo
    You want something more stimulating?
[17:07] Iura
    Something overwhelmingly electrifying.
[17:09] Iura
    A practice match.
[17:11] Ojo
    But...
[17:12] Ojo
    We already played Souwa earlier, so...
[17:15] Ojo
    there isn't anywhere else that would play us.
[17:18] Iura
    There's somewhere we could try.
[17:19] Ojo
    You're kidding!
[17:20] Iura
    I'm sure you must be wanting
    to see them by now.
[17:24] Ojo
    Oh! Do you mean...
[17:28] (Flashback) Uto
    Thanks for everything you've done for us.
[17:30] (Flashback) Ojo
    Sakura-kun! We'll be waiting
    for you in high school!
[17:34] (Flashback) Sakura
    Yes, sir.
[17:36] (Flashback) Sakura
    I will become a raider that can
    be a strength for you, Ojo-san,
[17:40] (Flashback) Sakura
    then I will come see you.
[17:43] Ojo
    Our plans have changed
    quite a bit from back then.
SIGN    m 0 0 l 30 0 l 30 230 l 0 230
SIGN    A
    k
    a
    g
    a
    k
    u
    b
    o
SIGN    Akagakubo Station
[18:02] Azemichi
    We're here!
[18:04] Yoigoshi
    Are there strong players
    in a place like this?
[18:06] Iura
    Yeah. At a place called
    Saitama Kouyou High School.
[18:10] Yoigoshi
    Never heard of it.
[18:11] Misumi
    Saitama Kouyou?!
[18:13] Misumi
    They were quarterfinalists in the
     Kanto Winter Tournament last year!
[18:17] Yoigoshi
    Souwa placed fourth,
    making them better, right?
[18:19] Date
    In terms of placing, yes, but...
[18:22] Date
    They started their team last year,
    and their oldest members are second-years.
[18:26] Date
    When they made the quarterfinals
    last year, they were all first-years.
[18:31] Iura
    And two of them are our juniors
    from the national selections.
[18:35] Ojo
    We used those connections again for today.
[18:37] Misumi
    No wonder they're so strong.
[18:40] Iura
    Here they are.
[18:45] Uto; Sakura
    Welcome to everyone from Noukin High School!
SIGN    Saitama Kouyou High School Second-Year
    Sakura Manabu
SIGN    Saitama Kouyou High School Second-Year, Captain
    Uto Hiromoto
[18:49] Uto; Sakura
    We're from Saitama Kouyou!
[18:51] Uto; Sakura
    We're pleased to have you!
[18:54] Ojo
    We're from Noukin High School.
    Thank you for having us!
[18:58] Noukin
    Thank you!
[19:02] Sakura
    Hey, Hiro...
[19:03] Uto
    D-Did you hear that, Sakura?
[19:06] Uto
    Masato-san and Kei-san used
    polite language with us!
[19:11] Iura
    We're from different schools!
    What else did you expect?
[19:13] Sakura
    Ojo-san.
SIGN    Health and Long Life
[19:19] Sakura
    I made a promise to become a
    raider who would be a strength for you,
[19:23] Sakura
    but I couldn't keep it...
[19:24] Sakura
    I'm very sorry.
[19:26] Ojo
    I feel like I only ever see you bowing to me.
[19:32] Ojo
    Don't worry about it.
[19:33] Ojo
    You had to deal with a lot concerning
    your grandma, too, right?
[19:35] Ojo
    I'm just glad you came back.
[19:39] Ojo
    And I've been raising up some other raiders.
[19:42] Sakura
    Him, you mean?
[19:49] Sakura
    I know it's strange for me to say this
    when I'm from another school, but...
[19:54] Sakura
    please work hard so that you
    will be a strength for Ojo-san.
[19:58] Sakura
    I'll leave it to you.
[20:00] Yoigoshi
    Huh? Uh, sure.
[20:04] Iura
    Sakura is a raider, just like you are.
[20:07] Iura
    He'll be an interesting opponent.
[20:09] Yoigoshi
    An interesting opponent?
[20:11] Ban
    Iura-senpai's strategy makes sense.
[20:14] Ban
    By omitting any detailed
    explanations for us rookies,
[20:17] Ban
    he applies a moderate sense
    of anxiety and tension.
[20:20] Ban
    He is a person who has done that endlessly...
[20:23] Ban
    For Yoigoshi-san, going up against another
    raider will create a sense of tension...
[20:24] Seki
    We should brace ourselves. too.
[20:26] Hitomi
    Yeah.
[20:34] Seki
    We finally...
[20:36] Hitomi
    ...made it!
SIGN    Ojo
[20:37] Azemichi
    Whoa! It sure is huge.
[20:40] Yoigoshi
    Why is it so deep in the mountains?
[20:43] Uto
    This place is used for elementary and
     middle school field trips and nature camps.
[20:47] Uto
    It's a nature park.
[20:48] Uto
    And there's a gym. We use it all the time.
[20:52] Uto
    If we're going to have our
    practice match in the afternoon,
[20:55] Uto
    then we can have a
    group practice first, right?
[20:58] Iura
    Yeah.
SIGN    Keep the
    Locker Rooms
    Clean!!
[21:02] Yoigoshi
    I wonder what kind of training those guys do.
[21:05] Iura
    Who knows?
[21:06] Misumi
    You saw them climb the mountain paths like
    it was nothing, like Azemichi, right?
[21:11] Date
    If they can gain that kind of stamina,
    they'll do pretty well.
[21:14] Yoigoshi
    Does that mean everyone
    around here's like Azemichi?
[21:19] Yoigoshi
    Is that what you meant earlier when you
    said he'd be an interesting opponent?
[21:22] Iura
    Well, there is that, but...
[21:24] Iura
    Sakura really admired one particular raider
    and learned most of his skills from him.
[21:30] Iura
    Just like you, he learned from Ojo Masato.
[21:38] Iura
    You guys are sort of like fellow apprentices.
[21:40] Iura
    It'll make for a good match, right?
[21:44] Yoigoshi
    He suddenly sounds like a much
    more troublesome player to me.
[21:53] Ojo
    We'll start with defense training.
[21:55] Ojo
    Is there anyone willing to be the raider?
[21:59] Sakura
    I'd like to.
[22:13] Sakura
    Kabaddi...
SIGN    Next Time "Because He's the Ace"
[23:49] background
    Kabaddi, kabaddi, kabaddi...
[23:50] Yoigoshi
    Next time, "Because He's the Ace!"
[23:52] background
    Kabaddi!