Sayako begins this episode with some creative storytelling. According to Saya, Satori Azuma quit Kendo because of the sudden death of her father. Saya’s classmates don’t think too highly of her fictional scenario though. Elsewhere, we get a glimpse of Seimei High’s strict training regimen under the watchful eye of Hayashi-sensei. Several of their freshmen have quit the club and we see two young girls in particular, Mei and Nozomi, that are already thinking about quitting.
Back at Muroe High, Kirino and Saya finally find Azuma and they attempt to drag her off to the Kendo club. Koujirou stops them in their tracks and says that for specific reasons, Azuma cannot join the club. Azuma tells the two girls that she has always loved Kendo, but she made a promise to her parents that she wouldn’t join a club in high school. Nevertheless, Kirino and Saya still abduct her under the pretense of just “observing” the club.
Azuma is suited up to spar against Kirino and Saya. A storm begins to brew as Azuma gets serious against the pair. Yuuji hears screaming from inside the dojo where he, Dan, and Miya witness Saya’s defeat at the hands of a very skilled opponent. Yuuji challenges Azuma and defeats her when her concentration starts to waiver.
Azuma rushes back home after the sparring session, and Yuuji admits that she is indeed very skilled. The rest of the team laments that she can’t officially join the club though. Koujirou tells everyone present that Azuma’s grades are very poor so she has to focus exclusively on her studies. Yuuji seems confident that Azuma will return because of what he experienced during his sparring match with her. Returning back home, Azuma has the fire in her heart reignited and thinks about her match with Yuuji and the others.
It is the day of the practice match between Muroe and Seimei. Mei finds out rather suddenly that Nozomi quit the club, so she is now the only freshmen girl. Azuma also shows up to watch the practice match after being asked by Kirino and Saya (and threatened by Miya). Reimi approaches Yuuji on the street and shares an umbrella with him, still thinking that he is Miya’s boyfriend. Coincidentally enough, they see Miya and Dan on the other side of the street. Yuuji gets smacked by Reimi for wasting her time when he tells her that Miyako and Dan are dating.
The Seimei girls arrive at the Muroe dojo for the practice match, and Azuma is suited up against her wishes. Reimi shows up to take photos, putting Miya on edge. Azuma’s teacher also shows up to observe the match. The meek Mei starts to doubt herself and thinks about quitting before she is approached by Tama who requests to spar with her. Likewise, all the other girls congregate with one another and the match is soon underway.
After all the build up to Azuma’s Kendo debut, I’m glad we finally get to see what she can do. This match will probably seal the deal and give her the final spot in the team. Likewise, Mei will probably reconsider he decision after sparring with Tama.
Just a side note: Way too many chibi scenes in the episode. It’s all right in small doses but is just way too distracting when overused like this.
Tags: bamboo blade
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