Ice Revolution 5

1
Ice Revolution
act 5: Condition for Taking the Stage
[Insert text: My body reflected on the surface of the rink... / Someday, I will make it shine]

2
[SFX: ding-do~~ng // ding-do~~ng // ding-do~~ng]
Saionji: ...Ugh... can you not read the damn sign?
[Sign: No newspapers or evangelists, OK?]
Masaki: Ah!
[Insert text: A mysterious young girl comes calling in the middle of the night...?!]
Saionji: Whooa?!

3
Masaki: E - Erm...
Saionji: Y... Yes? // (Who is this girl? Could it be... a fan of mine?!)
Masaki: Look, the thing is... // I've got somethin' to ask of you!
Saionji: M... Masaki?! What's with the outfit?!

4
Saionji: Whaaaaaaaaaaat?! // Y... You're... // A GIRL~~~~~~~~?!
Masaki: ......... // P... Please don't tell me... // You... actually thought I was a guy... this whole time...?
Saionji: WELL, OF COURSE I DID~~~~!!
Masaki: That's terrible! Come on, that's terrible! We've been hanging around each other all the damn time recently, you could at least notice that much!
Saionji: Well, it's all very well saying that, but HOW exactly was I supposed to work it out, huh?!

5
Masaki: Nghh...
Flashback!Masaki: Ore Ore Ore // [aside]gyahahahahah![/aside]
[Labels: man-sitting!! / guffawing!]
Saionji: .........Ughh...
[ShatteredDream!Banner: Shining Star of Men's Figure-Skating!]
ShatteredDream!Saionji: [aside]that's my pupil all right![/aside]
Saionji: ...Honestly... / You could at least have noticed that I hadn't noticed...! // Didn't you think it was strange when I gave you a pair of black boots?
Masaki: What's so strange about that?
Saionji: ......Huh? // D... Didn't you know? // Black skating boots are for the men... women usually wear white ones.

6
Masaki: (Ahh!) // YOU DUMBASS~~~~~~~~!! THAT'S why Kaoru went and thought I was a guy as well~~~!!
Saionji: Well, don't look at me! // Besides, weren't you and Kaoru both going on about "us guys sticking together" or something...? // What's with that, huh?
Masaki: Yes, well, that was... I was just too weak...
Saionji: Weak?
Masaki: But...... even starting at this late stage, I want Kaoru to properly understand that I'm a girl... // That's why I've gone and had this whole makeover...

7
Saionji: (.........Of course! // I'd been thinking all this time that it was Saaya he was chasing after... but she was actually...) // Come to think of it, weren't you just saying you had a request to make of me or something?
Masaki: Ah - that's right! // We're going to the rink, right now!
Saionji: Huh?
Masaki: I'm gonna go start... ah, I mean... // I am going to go and start a serious training programme right now... // ...so that I can skate beautifully out there like a proper girl!!
[TN: Ore/atashi distinction again.]

8
Saionji: Wait, you... / You've been sneaking in here through the boiler room?!
Masaki: Sure.
Saionji: I can't believe...
Masaki: ...Ugh!
Saaya: ............ // ?
Masaki: Katakura! What the hell are you doin' in here?! What time d'you think this is?! How did you even get in, huh?!
Saaya: !

9
Saaya: .................. // Pfft...
Masaki: [aside]nghh...[/aside] // Huh, whaddaya know... / She made herself a key... // [aside]not half bad...[/aside]
Saionji: Wha - ?! // (What do these two think they're playing at...?! // Don't tell me this is all... my responsibility~~?!)

10
Masaki: There - I'm all changed! / Now come on... teach me some real cute moves already!
Saionji: It... It's all very well saying that, but... // It's not like I can just up and teach you that kind of thing in ten minutes! // Depending on the routine, it can take months to prepare these kind of things, you know!
Masaki: ......... // All right!
Saaya: !

11
Saaya: ......... // .........
Masaki: Heheh...
Saionji: Whoa there, Masaki! // You can't just go stealing Saaya's routine! That's not nice!
Saaya: Heh... // (If you think you can...)

12
Saaya: (...then just you try!)
Saionji: (Performing crossovers at high velocity... simple enough for Saaya, but... // ...it's not the sort of thing that an amateur can copy very easily... // However!)
Saaya: !

13
Masaki: Heheheh! // Outside edge on the first step, inside on the second. // I get it!
Saionji: (As I thought... her athletic ability is beyond the usual... // Beyond any guy her age... // And on top of that, the way she picks things up... // The speed is terrific.)

14
Saaya: (No way... it's all over the place, but she actually managed to do it on her first try...)
Masaki: Hahahah! / Come on then, what's next?
Saaya: (......tch...)
Masaki: Hm?

15
[no text just spin]

16
Saionji: (! // A double Axel!!)


17-18
[no text just moar spin]

19
Masaki: All right! I did it!! // (Not that different from a roundhouse kick in karate. // You just have to pull in your arms and legs for this version...)
Saaya: (Wh... // What is this girl...? // How long does she think it took me to be able to perform that jump?)
Saionji: (A double spin and a brilliant landing to boot! // It really wasn't just a fluke before... this girl really is incredible...!)

20
Saionji: (...but still...)
Saaya: (............ // I won't let her copy me... // I'm not going to get anywhere in the future... // ...with the kind of moves that can just be copied off the bat by a girl like this! // I won't let her copy me!)

21
Masaki: Ngh... / Owww...
Saionji: (That's right... in women's figure skating, a unique feminine grace is absolutely essential. // A delicate and flexible expressive ability is the most important element of the art... // And Masaki doesn't have... // ............one shred of it!)
Masaki: Huh~~~? // Dammitall...

22
Masaki: (This isn't right... // It's feeling more and more wrong...) // Aahhh... // (It's no good... // I just can't seem to keep up... // Why?! // .....................!)

23
[Box: The next day]
Saionji: You certainly are sudden...
Masaki: I know it... the crucial difference between me and Katakura lies in one place, and one place alone.
Saionji: Oh......?
Masaki: It's the shoes! Those white shoes!
Saionji: I don't think that's it... // But well, why not. You can only find figure skating boots in specialist stores, and they're not too easy to find. / I'll show you where to find one. // Here.
[Shop: Sakai Skate Shop]
Saionji: This is the place.

24
Saionji: Hey there~!
Sakai: My, my, if it isn't Tarou-kun! // Hiroshi!
Hiroshi: Hey there, Saionji! It's been a while!
Masaki: Saionji Tarou... cute name you've got there.
Saionji: Shaddup...
Hiroshi: Hm? Is this a new student of yours?
Saionji: Yep. / This is Masaki.
Masaki: Good to meet'cha! Osu!
Hiroshi: Ossu! // [aside]nice and lively, huh?[/aside] // So, where's the lovely Saaya-chan today?
Masaki: Hm...? What, you know Katakura, do you?
Hiroshi: Well, sure we do...!

25
Hiroshi: Saaya-chan... // ...was the winner of the Novice A* the year before last! She's the world number one!
[Note: * Novice A: A tournament for skaters from the fifth year of primary school to the first year of middle school (ages 11-12) with a 4-kyu or above in Singles.]
Masaki: Wha?! // (The world number one!! // The same as me! (though mine's in karate...) Is she really that incredible?!)
Saionji: We're after a pair of boots for Masaki today.
Hiroshi: Fair do's, leave it to us! / So...
Masaki: So?
Hiroshi: Well, ah............ // White or black?

26
Masaki: WHITE~~~~~!!!
Hiroshi: Gotcha!
Saionji: ............
Masaki: !
Sakai: Would you like to see something interesting?

27
Saionji: ! // Sakai-san...
Sakai: This skater, you know... // ...took first place in the boys' figure-skating singles fifteen years ago. // [aside]by the way, my son, Horishi, took third.[/aside]
Masaki: Wow~~~~!

28
Masaki: Wow...
Sakai: Brilliant, isn't he?
Masaki: ...Yeah.

29
Sakai: That's Tarou-kun.
Masaki: He's called Tarou, huh... // Hm...? // Haven't I heard that name some... // AH!
Saionji: [aside]hey there~![/aside]
Masaki: WHAAAAAAAAAAT?! // Y... You're kidding me... This kid doesn't have his... shadiness... at all...
Saionji: Why, you...
Sakai: Hohoho... // I know, right? Figure skating works in mysterious ways... // [aside]hohoho[/aside]
Saionji: What?! Both of you?!

30
Masaki: (I knew Katakura was like that... // But him too, huh... // Figure skating really can... // ...make you a totally different person!)
Sakai: There's one important thing you have to understand about figure skating. // It's a spectator sport; the people watching are everything.
Masaki: A spectator sport?
Saionji: [aside]I can't see...[/aside]
Sakai: And I'm not just talking about the judges marking your performance... // Here.

31
Sakai: Just take a look at all the people who've come to see him perform.
Masaki: You're right... / Man, how many are there?
Sakai: Both Tarou-kun and Saaya-chan have truly moved me many times. // Because figure skating is a spectator sport... / ...the truly wonderful part... // ...is when you give everything that you have, and make the people watching truly happy through your performance.

32
Masaki: (To give everything you have... // ...and make the people watching happy...)

33
[no text just cheering]

34
Masaki: W... Wow... // Just listen to them all! // No, I don't even have to listen... // I can tell... // ...just how much effort he's put in... // Tens, hundreds of times more than the likes of me... // .........
Hiroshi: All right - they're ready!

35
Hiroshi: Here they are... // Your white boots!
Sakai: Come back sometime~!
Masaki: Hey...
Saionji: Hm?
Masaki: W... Well...

36
Masaki: C... Coachin...
Saionji: What am I, a chicken...?
[TN: Bad pun?]
Masaki: Your outfit back then was kind of plain, but... you were really cool.
Saionji: !
Masaki: And that made me realise... // I've... been blaming it all on my appearance, or on my shoes... // ...but it's me myself who really needs to change.
Saionji: .........
Masaki: So I'll ask you once more. // Make me... // No...

37
Masaki: Please... // ...make me a woman!!
[TN: Ore/atashi distinction again. Also, luls.]
Saionji: !! // [aside]hey... not so loud...![/aside]
Police: Could we have a word? // You're... a middle-schooler, yes?
Saionji: L - Look, I think you may be getting the wrong idea...!
[Sign: Tokiwa Skate Rink]
Saionji: Now, I still have doubts about this, but... well, we're out of time, so... just for this Ice Show, all right?

38
Saionji: The routine will be largely the same as Saaya's... // ...but it won't be identical. // Saaya's specialty is those supple, flexible movements. // You, on the other hand, favour the kind of full-bodied, forceful movements you've cultivated through your karate. // Even if I tried to make the routines identical, they'd naturally turn out different! // So we're going to really bring out that individuality of yours! // [aside]let's really go for this![/aside]
Masaki: Yeah!
Saionji: Here goes then, Masaki... see how you like this!

39
Saionji: Even without any jumps, just skating in time to the music... // ...can really allow you to put on a display! // This is where the basic art of figure skating lies! Don't you forget it!
Masaki: Osu!
Saionji: Now I'm going to teach you the most important thing... / ...you're going to need in the world of women's skating.

40
Saionji: The art of uniquely feminine grace.
Masaki: Bring it on!!
Saionji: Not so fast! // You need to take it slowly... / Smoothly!
Masaki: ...Unhh...
Saionji: Un, deux, trois! // Let your head lag behind, extend your leg, and spin!

41
Masaki: Nn...ghhhh...
Saionji: Too stiff, too stiff!
Masaki: Yaaaahhhhhhh!!
Saionji: What are you playing at?! // Being feminine and graceful isn't something you can achieve in a day! // You have to accumulate it through your everyday life! // Saaya is always conscious of the fact that there are eyes on her. // You, too, need to be conscious of the people observing you, even in your daily life! // Don't slouch like that! What are you, an armadillo?! // Stick out your chest - your chest!!

42
Saionji: Reach your hand out straight, don't bend your knees, and keep your chin raised!!
Masaki: *pant* // *pant* // *pant* // (I know it's weird... // ...but I just can't figure out how to look feminine...)

43-44
Saionji: Stay right where you are. / And don't you go calling this sexual harassment.

45
Masaki: (Whoa!)
Saionji: Now, don't forget that posture. // Beauty is something acquired through steady effort. // You should be able to pick it up if you keep at it.
Masaki: Wo~~~w!
Saionji: Can you do it again? // Relax your shoulders... // Keep it controlled, right down to your toes... // ......Wh... What...?

46
Masaki: Thank you... // Coach!
Saionji: Hahah... // That's the first time you've called me that!!
[Box: And then... // The day of the Ice Show arrived.]
[Side text: The serious training has fostered a strong teacher-student relationship. And now for the real test!!]