Episode 15 "The Last Piece: The Hidden Board" - "The Courage of That Day, Wavering Between the Waves"


--Sensei Shuji Kurokawa,
A few days passed after it was discovered that the theft had been committed.

Sin is sin.
The uproar in the school grew so great that the teacher himself was confirmed to be under house arrest.
The surfing club members were devastated by the unexpected ending.

 

However, the Inter-High qualifying round looms relentlessly.

Captain Akira Shinoda (Akira Shinoda) has serious pain in his leg,
I have no intention of giving up on the "now or never" game.

The surfing club is on the verge of losing its pillar of support, its advisor,
How do we get through the final adjustments?

And--
Will Shinoda-senpai's legs really hold up?

 

"Even if the board comes back, this leg is not going to ......"
Still, he laughs and says.
It's all I've got.

 

The theft caused by the teacher's "distorted love" is a case in point,
It has been resolved for the time being, though,

The aftermath was still engulfing the entire department.

 


 

1. club room without a teacher

 

The morning of the suspension began,
The surfing club's clubroom was deserted.

Before, Dr. Kurokawa used to call out to us early in the morning, telling us to take good care of the keys,
Now there is no sign of it.

 

In the hallway, Tomoki Ohtani (大谷知樹) says with a troubled look on his face.

What are you going to do with the key? Isn't it hard to use them when your advisor isn't around?"

 

Kouhei--I give them the information I got in the classroom.

Apparently, the assistant advisor is now in charge of the keys on my behalf," he said.
There is a rumor that there is a teacher who is an assistant advisor "just for form's sake".
But since I'm practically not involved in the surfing department, I might not be able to count on it."

 

I see. .......
Key control was also the source of the incident, and it looks like we're in for another mess."

 

Ohtani laments, and heads for the club room at a brisk pace.
A few members of the club had already gathered there,Akira Shinoda, senioralso shows up.

Of course, a big wrap of taping on the right leg.
It's painful, but he's strong and grumpy, saying, "I wanted to practice in the morning, but it took me so long to get the keys.

 

I'll keep going even after the doctor is gone."
 We're the only ones who can run the club."

Shinoda-senpai says this and throws in the towel to inspire the club members.
I'm going to the beach after school today, even if just for a little bit. My feet hurt, but at least I should get some feeling back."

 

Even though the members of the club around us were worried, "Are you sure you're okay ......?" even if they worry verbally,
The senior kicked him out, saying, "It's okay.
He is so serious that there are no words to stop him.

 

The manager, Hinata Tachibana, rushed to her side,

"Senpai, I still think we should bring some icing products or something with us. I want to be able to cool it down right away. ......"
When I suggested this, the senior smiled slightly and said, "That would be helpful.

 

If you look at it, its legs are worse than you can imagine.
The way he moves clearly hurts his muscles, but his seniors are strong.

(I can painfully see why the teacher tried so hard to stop it: ......)

Kohei = I am painfully aware of this, but I cannot say anything and watch in silence.


 

2. to the sea even if you have to push your leg

 

After school, Shinoda-senpai leaves the club room with the board.
This time, the assistant advisor handed over the key management only as a formality, and it seems that going to the sea for practice was tolerated.

 

However, Saki (Saki Kawakubo), a senior student, asks with concern, "What is it that you want to do?

I asked him, "Senpai, is it okay if I just taped your ankle properly?
 If you don't secure it more perfectly, you're in trouble if you fall over in the ocean if you're not careful."

 

I don't know, I'll just get on with it.
 Besides, on the day of the competition, I would have to fool around with painkillers anyway.
 You've got to get used to it now."

 

Seeing his hard-line stance, the club members around him flinched.
Hinata, holding a towel and cooling spray, said, "I'm going with you. Let's take a break on the way! But the senior was in a bad mood, saying, "Shut up, I know what you're talking about.

 

All right, let's go then. Kohei, you coming with me?"

Shinoda-senpai looked back at me.
I'm momentarily confused. I have almost no surfing experience and can only observe or support .......

 

What, are you sure? You're not bothering me. ......"

 

I'm not annoyed. You helped me a lot during the incident.
 The teacher is in this situation, and there is some anxiety if it's just us.
 It's not like you can drive, but it would be nice if you were here."

 

I understand. Then I will go with you."

 

With that, the senior breaks down a bit and says, "Don't ask.
His face is quite tired and you can tell he is inwardly impatient, but there is nothing he can do about it.


 

3. awkward sea practice

 

We gather our belongings and move to the sea in the form of several club members + Shinoda senpai & Kohei & Hinata.
The location is on the beach near the school. It is the usual practice ground, but the advisor is not there.

 

Although there are no high waves coming in, the conditions may be tough for Shinoda-senpai, whose legs are not in perfect condition.

 

...... Now the taping is OK, and I took some painkillers.
 Let's go."

 

The senior laughs, gets into his wetsuit, and holds his board.
"Are you sure you're okay?" was the question that ran through my head, but my senpai entered the sea without mercy.

 

Hinata and other club members prepare towels and first aid kits on the beach in case of emergency.
I'm not crazy about it either, "It's probably a doctor's stop. ......", but we'll just have to wait and see.

 

The first takeoff, again, shows the struggle.
I can't get enough strength in my ankles, or I can't ride out and miss the wave.
Still, he paddles several times to tackle the wave, but the moment he stands up, he loses his balance and falls into the sea.

 

Wow. ......!"

 

A splash of water rises and the senior figure is swallowed by the waves.
Hinata involuntarily screamed, "Senpai, are you okay!" and almost ran out.

 

Soon after, the senior floats up, looks pained, but exclaims, "I'm fine!" he exclaims.
It's as if he's talking to himself.
Back on the beach, I limp and bite my lip.

 

Damn ...... I can't move at all.
 But it's still possible. It's the next wave."

 

Normally, a few failed attempts would not be a problem, but this time, every severe pain in the leg could increase the fatal damage.
It makes my stomach churn to watch.


 

4. the shadow of the teacher that haunts

 

In the midst of all this, Otani suddenly said, "Hey, ......, don't you see anyone over there?" and pointed to the edge of the beach.
From a distance, a standing suit.
I looked at him, thinking it couldn't be him, and saw that it was Dr. Kurokawa from .......

 

"Sir, I see you're under house arrest and yet you're here at ....... I knew you came to see me."

 

Kohei gazes at the shadow with a complicated heart.
The teacher is concerned about us, but seems to just stare at the ocean without speaking to us.

 

I wonder if ...... seniors are aware."

Hinata says worriedly.
Shinoda-senpai is apparently so frantic getting in and out of the sea that he is busy facing his own feet.
You don't even have time to notice the teacher.

 

I can't see the teacher's expression clearly, though,
I felt that his appearance exuded strong feelings of sorrow, regret, and prayer.

 

(Maybe he thinks he's not qualified to call on you now. ......)

 

A tingle runs through the back of my chest.
To the teacher's regret, Shinoda-senpai is developing out of control.
Moreover, the senior is clearly in pain, unable to ride the waves satisfactorily and growing frustrated.


 

5. senior Shinoda explodes with frustration

 

Sure enough, the number of times he missed the wave increased and the senior fell over several times.
The conditions are challenging while protecting your legs.
After an hour or so of trial and error, with little success.

 

Shinoda-senpai, coming up from the sea, unintentionally tapped his board on the beach and said, "Damn it ......! and exhaled roughly.

 

"Why doesn't it work so well?" ......!
 I can tolerate the pain, but I can't stand on my feet.
 This won't do anything at the convention. ......"

 

Hinata and Saki-senpai offer her a towel and gently say, "Let's take a break," but the senpai cannot hide her irritation.

 

"I've only got a few days left and if I don't ...... this, I'll ......"

 

A senior shakes with frustration.
There, Otani almost points a finger at him, "Oh, there's ......," but he hurriedly keeps his mouth shut.
Apparently, Dr. Kurokawa is still there and seems to be coming a little closer to us.

 

Shinoda-senpai, however, does not seem to notice.
I'm consumed with anger at my feet and the situation.

 

I said, "...... Enough. Let's go home today.
 If my legs don't work, I can't practice."

 

The senior picks up his crutches and starts walking unsteadily with his board.
Even when those around him try hard to help, he shuns them, saying, "Leave me alone.
Behind him is the shadow of a teacher watching from afar--
But the seniors don't look back.


 

6. teacher's gaze, invisible reconciliation

 

When Kohei glanced at the teacher, the teacher was standing there with slight tears in his eyes.
I took a step forward to call out to him, but the teacher gave me a small signal to shake my head.

 

(I'm under house arrest and can't face my seniors ......?)

 

Such silent exchanges are filled with teeth.
Although the teacher wishes that he didn't want him to break his leg, he is no longer qualified to stop him and can only watch from the shadows.
Shinoda-senpai also pushed forward, saying, "I'll definitely get out," but the pain in his leg got in the way.

 

(What's going to happen to ...... if this keeps up?)

 

Otani and Hinata support their seniors and carry them to their cars and leave the beach.
The teacher did not say anything and seemed to remain quietly downcast.


 

7. kohei and hinata comforting each other

 

That evening.
Me and Hinata walk along the shopping street near the school on our way home.

Both of us are just gloomy about our seniority.
There is a great sense of helplessness in the face of a senior who is suffering because he cannot move his legs.

 

Hey, Kohei: ......
 If a senior rides a wave with a leg like that on the day of a competition, it's really going to aggravate his injury, isn't it?"

 

Hinata asks with tears in her eyes, and I nod as I block it out.

I honestly think it's a bad idea as it is."
 But my seniors are acting like I shouldn't stop them, and the teacher is suspended and can't say anything.
 I don't think the club members would listen if I tried to convince them. ......"

 

How did I end up in such a bad situation?
 Even if the teacher didn't have to do something strange like theft, there would have been plenty of ways for the seniors to get to the tournament while fixing their legs.
 That's sad."

 

Hinata seems to be crying a lot.
It's like they are enduring because there are passersby around them.

I put my hand on her shoulder and call out softly.

 

"...... but seniors and teachers really love surfing, don't they?
 They both have different ways of doing things, and it's a big conflict, but their feelings are pure.
 So ...... that purity has, on the contrary, led to tragedy."

 

Yeah, ......, I know."
 I guess all we can do is watch and wait."

 

Maybe it is."
 However, to prevent the senior staff from aggravating the injury, I let them take breaks and helped with icing,
 Let's support them as much as we can.
 After the inter-high qualifiers, if my leg breaks, my seniors say they'll be happy, but that's just too hard."

 

I myself don't want to deny my seniors the challenge.
But if the result is a life-ending injury, the teacher's suffering and regret would be even deeper, and I doubt the senior would really agree.

 

Hinata nodded her head and said, "Yes. Let's do what we can do," I replied.
Wipe away tears,
Thank you, Kohei.
 It's always dark, but it's reassuring to know that you're thinking about it with me."

 

His words make my heart flutter with excitement.
The romantic comedy is about to progress, but right now we are in a post-incident cleanup mode.
I still can't honestly rejoice.

 


 

8. the teacher's recollection -- the truth about the serious injury

 

Meanwhile, that night, Dr. Kurokawa was packing up his belongings before his house arrest and opening his old photo albums alone at home.
A photo of me with my friends and coaches in high school.
There I am, with a brilliant smile on my face.

 

...... my life changed because I took on that wave.
 But that doesn't mean no one stopped me.
 Rather, my friends and surroundings were supportive.
 And yet I'm the one who failed.

 

The voice in my heart won't stop.
The teacher recalls those days.
I had been told that I could be a professional, and I was trying to force myself to ride the big wave,
He was seriously injured.

 

Even after his injuries healed, his leg never fully returned to normal, and his offer to become a professional surfer was squashed.
The adults around them are to blame: "Why didn't anyone stop them?
The teacher himself was disappointed, saying, "I wish I could have stopped it.
That is a bitter memory from high school.

 

"I can't ...... believe that Shinoda would be the same ...... and go on a theft spree like that.
 I suck."

 

In a dark room, the teacher holds his head up.
I don't know if the suspension will be lifted, but it may be difficult to continue as an advisor anymore.
Still, I am concerned about Shinoda's qualifying.
I feel guilty ...... that I have driven myself irrevocably into a direction as a result of my trauma.

 

In the end, the teacher cannot fall asleep, and he spends the rest of the night.


 

9.--Finally, the tournament begins.

 

Thus, the teacher sinks into remorse as he recalls his past serious injuries,
Shinoda-senpai pushed through the pain in his leg and repeatedly practiced in the sea, and was about to face the day of the inter-high school qualifying rounds.
Kohei and Hinata can only support them by standing next to them.

The board theft case was solved, though,
The real "bitter decision" is yet to be made.

Is Shinoda-senpai really safe to compete?
What will be the teacher's thoughts?
The anxiety of the club members grows day by day, though,
Time does not stop.

Just before the tournament, the wave is definitely approaching.
Everyone has a secret feeling in their hearts,
Finally, the Inter-High School Preliminary Round gets underway.

 

--Episode 15 End--

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