Huh? Um... What?!
Wh-What was that for?!
So... the rumors were true.
Rumors?
That you lost your memories.
Yeah, Chinu-san! That's why your kiss shocked me!
You know my name?
Well, I saw you in a magazine.
I see.
Hmm?
Were we like "that"?
"That"?
I take it we had something special going on?
If so, I probably dropped the "san" from your name, right?
Do I dare say it?
Chinu... Chinu... Chinu... Chinu--
Um, in your dreams. Chinu... Chinu... Chinu... Chinu--
Huh?
I hardly know you. It's our third time talking.
Huh?
The first time was in 9th grade at a spring event.
You dropped your chamois towel.
When I said, Hey, your shammy.
You said, "Oh, thanks."
That was it.
Uh...
The second time was over there.
Huh?
That summer, you came to my school...
You said, "I liked you ever since," and sorta confessed.
"Sorta"?
But when I refused, you said:
"When I'm Japan's best water polo player, you owe me a kiss."
That sounds like something I might've said.
And, "I'll pay you 110,000 yen if I fail," so I agreed to shut you up.
Argh, I'm the worst! What a weird number 110,000.
It's "plus tax."
Sounds like me.
So, since you won the Momotaro Cup, I kept my part of the promise.
I see.
Isn't that Yamanami's uniform?
Hmm?
Why? Their team isn't strong.
I'm not playing. It's close to home.
You're not playing?!
For starters, I don't even remember the rules!
It's hopeless for me.
Huh?
Then, I guess I won the bet.
Huh?
An accident? Here I thought he was too dumb for high school.
Not quite.
So that's why he won't play?!
Seems to be.
Oh my god! And he was my star of hope!
Unfortunately, I think he's stepping away from water polo for good...
Huh?
Hmm? He's coming this way.
I'll join!
What'd he say?
I'll join!
Huh?
What?!
I'll join the water polo club!
Eh?
"Episode 2: I'm No Prodigy"
Then, I guess I won the bet.
You don't remember the other half?
The other half?
"If I'm Japan's Best in High School, you've gotta date me."
Huh?!
And when I refused, you said, "I'll pay you 220,000 yen if I'm not."
That bet doesn't hold up!
Huh? I kissed you! I held up my end!
There's no way I could pull that off now.
Since when were you this pathetic?
You didn't used to be like this.
You disappoint me. Goodbye.
Um, fine!
I'll pay up!
Unbelievable!
Start playing water polo again! Why give up?
C'mon! "Japan's best"?
Then, Okayama's best.
Still...
Then, dish out the money!
"Club Enrollment Form" "Water Polo"
Guess I've to go.
I started by telling my family I was picking up water polo again.
That made it so I couldn't quit on a whim.
No need to force yourself. Don't do it for us.
I'm totally not. It's because... water polo is calling me.
Rather, it's got me by the wallet.
Oh, really?
That's my dumb brother.
Hey!
But... I know you'll work hard, Big Bro.
Yup!
If everyone's this happy, I'm glad I decided to start.
Having said that, how does one work hard at water polo?
Swimming? Lifting? Or something else--
There he is!
Hmm?
Kiyomizu, you're a star!
Hey, prodigy!
Huh? What?
These were on our desks.
"Hey Dudes!!"
"If you wanna go to Nationals, join the water polo club.
We've got Minato Kiyomizu, who was #1 in Japan during junior high.
With him, we'll make it to Nationals. Don't miss this chance.
See you at the pool. Water Polo Captain, Jo Jojima."
"Here!" "Water Polo Club!!"
What the hell?!
Hey, blondie boy!
You scared me!
Can you not distribute these? It's annoying.
C'mon, man! You're our ace!
I'm not an ace. And it's annoying that you're calling--
There he is! The one on the right is the prodigy, Minato!
About that--
Gentlemen! Welcome to the future-water-polo-champions club!
Let's work hard with our prodigy, Minato!
Yeah!
Cut it out!
Huh?
I'm no prodigy.
I might've been before, but my muscles atrophied from the accident
and I can't even remember playing it.
Everyone's high expectations are tough on me.
So... can you not get your hopes up?
Lame.
Bummer.
Then I'm out.
Me, too!
No point. Yeah.
Uh...
H-Hey, wait!
I'm sorry.
I tried to get members without considering your feelings.
It's okay. But since everyone left, what's the plan now?
Not everyone.
See?
Whoa! You guys stayed behind!
You're huge!
I'm Class 1-A, Yutaka Babayaro Inomata. My dad's Nigerian.
I kinda got dragged along.
Your words inspired me to join.
Huh? What words? I said something inspirational?
"The dough's fermenting. You gotta wait for it to rise."
Huh?
I'm quoting a pâtissier.
Yeah?
Why quote a pâtissier? What a mystery.
to meet you.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Nobody even heard you talk!
In a louder voice, please!
Class 1-C, Yoshiharu Ushimado. My dad's Japanese. Nice to meet you.
Do we need to know about dads?
Why join water polo?
Just... because.
That's it?
If that's bad, I'll go.
Wait, wait, wait!
Yet another mysterious guy!
Just forget it, Captain. I know! Show us the pool!
Good idea! C'mon, let's go!
Okay!
Pool! Pool! Pool!
"Water Polo Club"
Club life is about to begin!
Yeah! Let's do this!
Behold! Here's our magnificent playing field!
Huh?
Where is it?
Apparently, the pool was once used for classes, but it got old and forgotten.
Since it was deep, some students wanted to use it for water polo,
"Principal's Office"
Since it was deep, some students wanted to use it for water polo,
"Water Polo Club"
so they got the school's permission to use it.
But being outside, it's cold for most the year.
So they laid out a blue cover to keep the water warm.
They also built a little shack with a bath.
Even when it's cold, they train by wearing wet suits.
Or so blondie boy says.
Is everyone still with me?
Yeah.
Water polo sounds rough.
I've never heard of a pool like this.
When I started school here last year, the club had been disbanded for 10 years!
Hmm?
In other words, I'm the one who revived it!
Play water polo! It's fun!
It was pretty rough.
Um... Please! Please!
I asked everyone in sight.
Somehow, I got the seven people needed to restart the club.
Yeah! Let's do this, guys!
If we're gonna do this, let's aim to be the best in Japan! The best!
Thing is, none of them really got into it.
And they quit in a flash.
"Resignation" "I quit" "I can't keep up. I quit." "I'm out."
Soon enough, it was only me.
Since I couldn't compete, I kept the pool clean and trained all by myself.
Huh?
And I did it because I believed that new members would come!
"Wishing for 7 members"
Then you guys joined! Thank you!
Um! Sorry to spoil the moment.
Huh?
Are you the only upperclassmen?
Yup.
So, this is everyone?
Yup.
Water polo takes seven?
Yes.
We're short.
Yes.
What do you mean, "Yes"?! We don't have enough to play!
Yup.
Oy!
Now I need a job for that 220,000!
Sounds cool!
Huh?
If joining means you're a regular, it's got that minor sport vibe!
I was just passing by. The name's Takekazu Ejiri. Count me in!
Woo! Here's our sixth! Come on in!
Oh, man! He looks like a troublemaker. Do they normally play sports?
Captain! Can I make a request?
Hell yeah! What's up?
I wanna play keeper. We'll never lose if no one scores on us.
Sorry, I'm our keeper. Pick another position.
Huh? Who decided on that?
Well, it kinda was the only thing I could train on my own.
In other words, you gave yourself the position, pal.
"Pal"?
This ain't right. I might be better than you.
Oh, yeah?
Let's compete with PKs.
Huh?
Oh?! What now?
Huh? How should I know?!
Have you played water polo?
Nope. But with my talent, it'll be easy.
Listen here. Water--
Don't underestimate water polo!
Okay! We'll have a contest! Right, Senpai?
Who made you boss?!
It'll be fine! Show us your skills and kick his butt!
Don't pressure me!
Minato here can take the shots.
Huh?!
We need the same shooter so it's fair.
But me, shooting?
You haven't been in the water yet, right?
Your body might remember once you're in.
All right.
Mmm.
His body makes the cut.
We've really gotta wear these dorky things?
It's either that or you can't play.
Yeah, yeah.
He's ripped.
I used to be seriously into baseball.
These hats don't fit very well.
It's on backward!
Huh? Really?
Was his body always this slender?
All right.
What if my memory really comes back?
Huh? What?
Whoa! This feeling...
Brr!
Don't go jumping in! It's dangerous!
Sorry!
The cold packs a punch this time of year. Let's make this quick.
Works for me.
Ejiri goes first, and Captain, second. We'll compete with sudden death.
It's bigger and harder than I thought.
All right, Minato-senpai! Go ahead and throw!
Huh? Oh, right.
Even with that body, I bet he's an awesome shot.
Uh...
Hell yeah!
That counts as me blocking, right?!
Whatever.
Huh? How am I supposed to throw?! It's too deep to get footing!
You've gotta eggbeater and jump!
What's an eggbeater?!
For real?
For real...?
Hurry up and throw! I'm freezing!
Sorry!
It's against the rules, but use two hands to throw if that helps.
Two hands... All right.
Here goes!
Nice arc!
That's in!
Whoa!
He wasn't kidding about training.
I'd be scared to go up against him.
Mmm.
How do you jump that high in water?
That last shot might be trouble.
I know! If I move back...
Perfect!
In that case...
Yes!
Dammit.
Why can't I sit on the bench?!
Unfortunately, there're lots of players of your caliber.
Even I wanna feel talented at something...
That's why I ditched baseball.
Dammit!
Yeah! I did it! That felt great!
H-Huh? Is he hurt?
He'll drown.
He's fine. Just a leg cramp.
Phew!
I've never seen him in such a sad state.
Sorry about that.
Don't mention it.
But now we can't finish the PKs.
It's over.
Huh?
I can't jump like that in the water, or kick off the wall like him.
It's clear I won't win. I've got no talent for water polo.
I joined with ulterior motives. I thought I'd be big in a minor sport.
Sorry for underestimating water polo.
I resign.
Huh?
It was brief, but thank you.
Too brief!
Peace out.
Please, stay on!
But--
I don't care about your motives!
Please! I don't wanna have to train alone again!
"Wishing for 7 members"
Help me actually play in a match! Please!
But--
Don't give up! It's your first time! You might have talent for it!
If you leave, you'll miss out on seeing something your talents could make.
Hmm?
What's that?
A splash.
Oh, man! He seriously made that joke?!
I'll stay.
It hooked 'em!
Yeah!
You can brag about stopping me when I'm the best player, Captain!
Yeah!
Let's rock! Water polo, here I come!
But aren't we a person short?
Oh, yeah...
Leave that to your captain! I've got my eyes on someone.
Oh?
Shugo Amihama. Ranked 3rd in last year's junior high 100-meter freestyle.
Ooh!
Fast swimmers have a big advantage in polo!
If he joins us, we'll be super strong!
Awesome!
But...
It looks like he joined track.
Huh?