| Title: | Suzuka |
| Episode: | 23: Encouragement |
| Synopsis | |
| Yamato is in tunnel vision, since becoming the best sprinter of Japan is his goal now. So he's enthused when Soichi comes up with some research data explaining why he's losing speed during the second half of every heat: His speed distribution over the 100m distance [image1] differs from the one that both the world record holder and Yamato's rival Arima are using! Changing that would require a modification of his running style, and the metropolitan competition is already near... but Yamato claims he can do it, so Soichi starts a special training menu for him as of today. Yamato instantly reports this new insight to Asahina [image2], only to hear that it doesn't matter to her how he's running.
With Akitsuki practicing ad nauseam, Honoka tries to bring him a towel but has to observe that Miki actively fishes for praise from Yamato, claiming to be responsible for his relay performance... could she be a new rival? Yamato laughing heartily makes Honoka aware how distant she's now from this boy [image3]. But no luck for Miki either: When she helps Yamato with his extended practice she notices his change of attitude [image4], and correctly links it to him still being in love with Asahina. Yamato explains that he needs to achieve his goal to feel Asahina's equal and then confess to her again. And Honoka happens to overhear their conversation. Later that evening she gives her best friend Nana a call, and when she explains how dedicated Yamato is to Asahina and that she doesn't see a place for her between these two Nana gives her the advice [image5] to just forget about that guy who won't even look at her - she would sure be able to find a better boyfriend. Akitsuki is now practicing day and night, falling asleep at class, and even Hattori is impressed how much effort "Mr. Full of It" is showing now. Soichi delivers the latest performance graph, and it looks like Yamato's change of running style is showing good results. As always Yamato instantly tells Asahina, only to learn he shouldn't act all excited because of a small improvement during practice. Soichi invites Yamato for dinner but the boy prefers to continue practicing. As Asahina is extending her practice as well Yamato tries to cheer her on - but in return Asahina scolds him for losing his concentration during his complex process of changing his running style. Her words really get to Yamato who silently continues with his practice - and then Asahina even telling him to go home as more practice would only have negative effects was the last straw... [image6] | |
| Comments | |
| (2005-12-16, Devil Doll:)
The mood between Yamato and Asahina is growing more tense, the climax is already near, and in the last scene at the track&field club we can see Asahina's defense crumbling already. Yamato gets pretty low marks from me in this episode - he's almost a parody of Forrest Gump now. How dense can he be? Okay, the boy has set a new goal for himself, becoming the number one sprinter of Japan. But if he were serious about this goal, what about reading the rules of the tournament this time? What about talking to more experienced teammates (after all, Soichi invited him to dinner, probably to do exactly that)? Every time he has a bit of new information about his running style he delivers it instantly to Asahina even though being told she doesn't care a bit! Why doesn't he just focus on his performance so that he might complete at least one goal in his life? Stay away from Asahina as far as you can, baka! Talking to her now will only distract you. The one time you didn't brag about your performance earned you the first encouragement from Asahina... what about eventually using your brain and learn from this experience? Without being aware of it Yamato behaves like a puppy drooling at Asahina's sight and begging for a stroke... it's so embarassing. The one constant thing about the whole series is that he doesn't have a clue. Everyone is telling him not to overdo practicing (Soichi, Miki, Asahina), but is he listening? Not at all. What's more, he doesn't have any right to be disappointed about Asahina not acknowledging his effort - she didn't ask for that after all! Miki is dead right that Asahina wouldn't just fall for the number one athlete in Japan... the current holder of this position is Arima, and we know too well how she thinks about this guy. It would be so damn great if Soichi were actually right with his fear about Yamato injuring himself before the competition. Again, Soichi tries to fill up Kazuki's shoes, and again he is failing. Yes, his studies about Yamato's performance curve are helpful, and that's a part Soichi can play in this series. But he can't guide his younger teammate, he can't tell him to stop practicing and do something more important instead. He can't tell Yamato to just listen to his advice and experience. When Miki was actively fishing for praise about Yamato's relay performance we all could see the shock in Honoka's eyes - she sensed a new competitor! And she was right, judging from Miki's disappointment about Yamato working so hard just for Asahina's sake. As long as Miki believes to have a chance that Yamato might ultimately fall for her she wouldn't mind working overtime for his dreams, but now being told she's just a tool for the baka doesn't substantially increase her motivation. Honoka finally learned that she was right about Yamato doing everything for Asahina, and encouraged by Nana she might now be ready to give up on him. Which doesn't mean she won't be important any more... she could still carpet Asahina for her behaviour towards Yamato (hey, that would be funny!). It's interesting to see that Hattori didn't give any advice to Yamato this time while teasing Miki in the closing scene. Now that Yamato has put himself into tunnel vision Hattori's time is up, and he can focus on his own issues. Such as getting a girlfriend, for example. And finally, our Ice Queen fighting a lost battle against her emotions. This new and serious Yamato resembles Kazuki a lot less less than before, surpassed his 100m dash record already, and with his new attitude he might even become a rival for Arima now... is that really what Asahina wanted? Where's the careless guy gone whom she was fooling around with during the first episodes? What's more, Yamato is even about to surpass Asahina in respect of track&field success! It's funny to listen to Yamato telling Miki he needs this success for being able to confess to Asahina once more, losing his contact with said Asahina in the process. Looking closer at what Asahina is telling Yamato during the four scenes when they are talking, she's actually providing valuable information (unfortunately packaged in snappish words): It will be a risk to change the running style so quickly, he shouldn't expect too much from it, and he must not lose his concentration or else the whole project will backfire. It's a pity that we don't have a middle course between Soichi and Asahina to successfully deliver this message to Yamato. ============================================================================= | |
