Episode 19 "Ride the Wave, the Last Stage" - "Flickering between the Waves, the Courage of That Day"

--Day of the inter-high school qualifying round.

Captain Akira Shinoda, a senior, was forced to compete despite a leg injury,

He repeatedly fell over every time he attempted a wave,

Finally, he retired due to such severe pain that he could not stand up on his own.

In the end, his tournament ended with almost no scoring.

I insisted on taking on the challenge, even though I was injured,
The disastrous end of the fall.
Still, the senior said, "I have no regrets."

Meanwhile, Shuji Kurokawa, a teacher under house arrest
Sneak out and visit the convention site,
I saw the cruelty of my seniors--

Nothing was said to him,
They disappeared.

In a situation where no one around is saved,
The tournament is still going on.
Saki (Saki Kawakubo), a senior, made it through the qualifying round and will be challenging for the main competition.

The youth of the surfing club never stops.
But what are the thoughts of the captain, Shinoda Senpai, who is now being carried out with an injured leg?

None of us know exactly.

Will there ever be a day when you can stand up again, beyond the pain?"

--The long day of the club members comes to an end with such a question in mind.

But the story is not over yet.

1. medical tents and hospital feed

Behind the tent at the venue of the inter-high school qualifying round.
Shinoda-senpai was pulled out of the surf and iced, though,
The pain in the legs is unusual.
His breathing is ragged and sweat is pouring down his face.

"Seniors, you need to go to the hospital ......!"
When Kohei (Kohei Aizawa) desperately calls out to him,
The senior bit his lip in pain and said, "It's okay, I'm ...... in denial.

However, the medical staff strongly recommended that he should not go to the convention,
Shinoda-senpai was finally given a notion and was treated as a first-aid room and transported directly to the hospital.

The tournament is over, so you don't have to ...... push yourself, seniors."

The manager, Hinata Tachibana (Hinata Tachibana), accompanies her with a tearful look on her face.
The senior laughs slightly as he turns away.

'You're pathetic, ......, bothering everyone.
　But I just did it. ......"

No one can argue with those words.
The ankle is swollen and there is a strong suspicion that ligaments and even muscles are injured.
Eventually, I saw a senior leave the venue in an ambulance car,
A large group of club members and spectators sigh in sympathy and disappointment.

"Is this going to be the 'last stage' of your senior year ......?"

Kouhei is in a state of distress,
He was sent off with Hinata and Tomoki Ohtani (大谷知樹).

2. the feelings of Saki senior -- the ace who made it to the main competition

Meanwhile, Saki Kawakubo (川久保沙季) is challenging the same competition,
The team won the qualifying rounds and earned a place in the main competition.
He had no leg problems and showed his talent without regret.

I see that Shinoda-senpai was taken away in an ambulance.
　I'm the one who has to get the results, but it's kind of complicated."

Are you in no mood to be pleased with your own performance?
Saki-senpai mumbles as she takes off her wetsuit with a grim look on her face.

The same club members praised him, saying "Congratulations," and "That's my senior Saki! but
Saki-senpai simply replies with a short "thanks," and her expression remains unflattering.

I can't believe Shinoda-senpai ended up that way. ......
　I can understand why Dr. Kurokawa wanted to stop him.
　But she says she has no regrets, right?　I wonder if that's really true."

Saki, a senior who won the tournament brilliantly with her own talent, and Shinoda, a senior who broke his leg and had to leave the tournament midway through.
I hear that the two once dreamed of "standing shoulder to shoulder on the national stage.
I wonder if that dream has thus faded away ephemerally...

...... doesn't clear things up at all."

Saki-senpai murmured at the end,
As I finish getting dressed, I ask myself, "Should I go visit my senior?" I ask myself.
People around him comforted him, saying, "I'm sure it will help," and "When your leg heals, you'll be able to ...... again,
The senior sighs and says nothing.

3. departure of Dr. Kurokawa -- disappears while under house arrest

After the conclusion of the competition.
On the beach, where the cleanup work is in progress,
Kohei and Otani glanced around to see if they could see Dr. Kurokawa's hat, but it was already gone.
Apparently, the senior took off at the same time he was being transported.

I wonder what he thought of it, "...... doctor.
　I even stole it and tried to stop him, but the senior ended up getting hurt and retired. ......"

Otani mutters bitterly.
Kohei also feels helpless.

Yes.
　Frankly, I didn't want to see my senior's leg broken, so I stole it,
　It's made it even worse, and I can't even begin to fathom what Dr. ...... is going through."

Hinata interjects from the side while folding the tent.
"I'm sure the teacher ...... regrets it. I'm sure you took time away from your seniors to practice because of yourself and this ...... is the result.
　It really doesn't end well for anyone."

"But the senior himself says, 'I have no regrets.
　The teacher's guilt won't help him anymore."

Members of the surfing club leave the competition site with a heavy atmosphere.
No one in the car uttered a word.
However, there are still doubts about whether the seniors are really convinced and the teacher is not able to appear in the public eye.
The situation was frustrating to no end.

4. senior staff of Shinoda at the hospital

The next day, Shinoda-senpai was undergoing tests at the hospital where he was admitted.
Kohei and Hinata get permission to visit during their lunch break and head to the hospital room.

When I open the door, the senior is in bed, throwing out his right leg, which is in a cast.
His expression is calm, but he is clearly in pain.

"Seniors,...... feet, does it still affect the ligaments?"
When Hinata asks in a concerned tone, Senpai replies in a throwaway tone.

He said, "I have a slight tear. It will take some time for it to heal.
　The doctor lectured me, saying, 'This is what happens when you push yourself too hard.
　But I don't care. I've done my part."

I've done it.
Is there really no regret behind those words? I inquired inwardly, but the senior's eyes were somewhat vacant.
Is it the painkillers or fatigue? I don't have my usual strength.

Senior, please heal slowly.
　Otani and senior Saki are also worried.
　And when your leg heals, you'll go back to the beach. ......?"

Kohei tries to be cheerful.
The senior then moves his eyebrows for a moment, but quickly turns away.

"...... Come on.
　My high school career is over and this injury might not make me a pro.
　But I just wanted to be in this tournament, so I didn't really care.
　I've had enough of this."

Words have no power.
A smile with just a hint of sarcasm.
Are you really satisfied?" I wanted to ask, but the heavy atmosphere would not allow it.

5. impatience of Kohei: "Do you understand my feelings, Sensei?"

After a short pause of silence, Hinata offered me a bath towel and a drink and said, "It still hurts, doesn't it?" and gently follows up with, "It still hurts, doesn't it?
The senior whispered a little "thanks" and that was it.

Determined, Kohei opens his mouth.

I was at the convention site after all," said Kurokawa Sensei, a senior ....... I was watching from afar.
　I'm sure he didn't want to see his senior get hurt, but he did.
　I'm sure he regrets trying to stop it by way of ...... theft and not being able to save his seniors."

The senior grabs the comforter and interrupts, "I don't want to talk about that guy. ......

I don't have anything to do with him anymore.
　He's that guy, he just imposed his past on me. I went to the convention and this is what happened.
　That's all there is to it."

His words are filled with strength, but his expression is one of exhaustion.
Kohei's chest aches, but he steps further.

But if my seniors will never be able to surf again, it will be a disservice to them," he said.
　Are you sure you won't regret it?　I think you should make that clear to your teacher.
　If ...... your senior has any regrets at all, I hope you'll talk to your teacher."

The senior subtly raises his eyebrows, clicks his tongue, and punches the bed.

I'm sorry ......, but it's been a tough day.
　My legs hurt and I can't think straight. I can't afford to talk to the doctor.
　Go home."

Hinata nodded sadly at his rejection,
Kohei also has no choice but to leave the hospital room.
I simply said, "I'll be back," and closed the door.

6. the air in the club room--Saki's sorrow

Shinoda-senpai is no longer in the club room.
Senior Saki is in charge as acting captain, but the advisor is suspended,
Captains are in the hospital, motivation is at its lowest level.

Saki senior, I'd like to practice for the main competition. ......
Kouhei says it as if he is concerned, but the senior exhales heavily.

I have to go my own way. I have to go my own way.
But I still can't split it up. I can't believe Shinoda-senpai ended up ...... that way.
And the doctor has disappeared again."

Saki-senpai looks bitter herself and chokes on her words.

I used to dream of going to the nationals with Shinoda-senpai, but somehow it ended up completely different.
Dr. Kurokawa also went out of control and even caused an incident: ......
No one was to blame, but everyone seemed to have run in the wrong direction.
I really can't do it."

The club members look down.
A development with no redeeming qualities.
The teacher's desire to "protect the legs" backfired,
Shinoda's "now or never" challenge ended in the form of an injury.

And there is another presence in the department--thesailingThere is a -- there is a -- there is a -- there is a -- there is a -- there is a -- there is a
While following the case, he somehow came to think that he wanted to surf as well, but he could not find the right time to join the club under such circumstances.

7. whereabouts of the teacher--leaving a letter

Then one day, he hears that a piece of mail "addressed to the teacher" has arrived at the club room and that the staff room is having trouble keeping it.
Because he is under house arrest and the teacher won't come to pick it up.

'Doctor, I wonder where he is? Maybe at home. ......
Hinata asked, 'Can I go visit you?' and the principal said no."
Otani's mouth twitches.

Afterwards, senior Saki shakes her head and says, "I haven't heard from the teacher.
As expected, he is still an advisor on paper, but since he is under house arrest, he is cut off from any contact with the department.
The uproar at the parent-teacher conference has calmed down, but there are zero prospects for the teacher to return to the department.

(I wonder, is the teacher just going to leave?
(Even if Shinoda-senpai recovers from his injuries, will they ever speak again?)

Kohei continues to feel vaguely anxious and frustrated.

8. a turning point in the hospital room--"once more to the waves"

A few days later, Hinata said, "I want to meet Shinoda-senpai,
Kohei and I decided to stop by the hospital on our way home from school.
His leg may be feeling a little better, and he was not able to tell me anything last time, but he wanted to try again.

I knocked at the front of the hospital room, and when I entered, the senior was still in a cast.
His expression is calmer than before, but he is slumped over in bed, looking serious.

"Oh, ...... Hinata and Kohei. Sorry, you look like this."

Seniors are less verbal.
But he doesn't seem to be as frustrated as he was last time.

Hinata asks, "How are your legs, ......?" The senior responds with a sigh.

The doctor told me it would take several months to fully recover."
　If I'm not good enough, I might not be able to fight as hard in the surf as I used to.
　I thought I was going to have a lifetime of regrets, but I'm surprisingly calm."

Kohei's heart was stirred by these words.
I wonder what kind of state of mind he is in when he says, "I'm surprisingly calm."

The senior continues.

It sure hurts and I'm sad, but I was able to ride the wave of ...... "that time".
　That was my last challenge. I think if my legs were over the limit after that one, I don't blame them.
　I didn't back down because I was afraid of the pain."

I have no regrets, repeats the senior.
However, there appears to be a hint of moisture in his eyes.

I see. ...... So you're just going to give up surfing now?"
When Kohei asks without thinking, the senior falls silent with his eyes slightly downcast.

The doctor said, "If you don't push yourself too hard, it's possible.
　But I'm a senior in high school, right? I'm graduating, going to college or getting a job. ......
　I haven't decided yet if I'm going to go back to surfing that much.
　I'm going to rehab anyway."

Rehabilitation--
I heard that Dr. Kurokawa also worked hard for rehabilitation after giving up the professional career due to an injury a long time ago.
I wonder if the seniors will also follow the path taken by the teacher.

Hinata bit her lip and said tearfully, "I'll wait forever if senpai will come back to me. ......

The senior gives a small smile and says, "Thank you.

9. budding reconciliation -- a word to the teacher

Kouhei cuts to the chase with his intention.

Senior, are you interested in meeting Dr. Kurokawa?
　The teacher says, "You have no right to stop me." I'm still in hiding, under house arrest,
　The truth is, I think they're pretty shocked to see their senior injured."

The senior thinks for a moment and looks up at the ceiling.

I'm sure you're right." ......
　He couldn't stop me in the end. I had stolen time by means of theft, and this is the result.
　That must be a shock."

Why don't you meet him and talk to him?"
　If you tell him that you have no regrets, maybe he will feel a little better. ......

At this suggestion, the senior closes his eyes for a moment.
Hinata urges, "Yes, Sensei would have really wanted to see senpai's smile.

The senior smiled faintly,

You guys are on the teacher's side.
　Well, okay. I have some complaints about that guy, to be honest. ......
　But I think about it a little too. If the doctor hadn't been there, maybe I wouldn't have hurt my leg as much, or on the other hand, maybe he would have stopped me from pushing myself in the first place. ......"

As if choosing his words, the senior continues.

I got hurt, but I also rode that wave."
　If I were to see the doctor, I would say, 'I have no regrets,' but to be honest, it's complicated.
　But it might be worth talking to ...... at least once.
　It's a little late for that, but I just wanted to make sure I got it right."

That one word was truly a "step toward reconciliation" for the senpai.
Kohei and Hinata look at each other and laugh a little.
Relieved, he said, "Thank goodness ...... seniors are willing to talk to me properly."

10. last scene -- preparation for reunion

As he leaves the hospital, a senior tells him that his discharge is still some time away, but that he may be able to go out once he is able to move around on crutches.
Then I'll see the doctor," he promised,
Kohei and Hinata felt a light go off in their hearts.

He said, "Be sure to do your best in rehabilitation, seniors.
　We'll be waiting for you."

The senior responds with a bashful "thanks".

While walking outside in the city at sunset, Kohei looks at Hinata and breathes a sigh of relief.

'Finally, it looks like we'll have an avenue for seniors to talk to their teachers,' he said.
　That's where the real reconciliation comes in."

I'm sure that if you hear from your seniors that they have no regrets, you will feel a little better.
　But even seniors, I think, are actually in pain from their injuries and anxious about the future,
　If you could share your thoughts with the doctor, maybe something would change."

Hinata says this with hope,
Kohei nodded, "Yeah, I hope so.

The case is over, but I am still scarred and lost.
However, the "wounds" may be healed through communication.

--Episode 19 The End