Medalist (2025) s01e05 Episode Script

1
[announcer]
Inori Yuitsuka's score is 12.64.
She is currently in first place.
[crowd applauding]
It's fine. You're the only one in Prelim
with a double combo.
She can't touch that.
[sighs]
So you got nothing to be nervous about.
Go show 'em how it's done.
Yeah, you don't have to tell me.
Oh.
They think they're so smart.
They don't know anything.
Teacher, Ryoka took our bear away
and ripped it up.
-[teacher gasps]
-What? Nuh-uh.
That wasn't all my fault.
You're supposed to wait your turn.
Go on, say you're sorry.
[grunts] You got to be joking!
Why do I gotta say sorry for anything?
[inhales, sighs]
I can do this on my own.
MEIKOH CUP
JUNIOR WOMEN'S
PRELIM FREE SKATING (PART TWO)
[announcer] Hina Kamiya's score is 8.40.
-She is currently in 12th place.
-[crowd applauding]
Number 18, from Gravity Sakuradori FSC,
Ryoka Miketa.
Oh, that pose is super cute.
[grunts]
My little Miké-taro-bun was treated
like a problem child at Meijo Crown.
She may have an attitude,
but she's got the skills to back it.
Go, girl.
Give 'em the showstopper
they've been waiting for.
-Unleash that ultimate weapon.
-[sighs]
[energetic orchestral music playing]
The perfect marriage
of rhythm and athleticism!
You're so theatrical,
your timing's insane,
and your stamina is endless!
Dance up a storm, baby!
Whoa, that jump.
She's adorable. I love this girl.
Mittens is awesome.
[Mittens] My heart won't stop pounding.
But that's okay. I'm making all my jumps.
My body remembers
the whole program on its own.
I can win with my combos!
[grunts]
[gasps]
She's getting serious air.
[Tsukasa] Oh, no.
[grunts, exclaims]
[Nacchin]
No, that should have been a combo.
Double Sal, single Axel.
What happened to the Axel?
[grunts] She worked so hard on that too.
What a bummer.
But we're okay. She's okay.
She landed her double Salchow.
She knows how to recover.
She can turn her next single jump
into a combination.
We are golden.
[gasps]
What is that face?
[Mittens] No. What happened?
Why couldn't I make that jump?
I've never missed it at practice,
not even once.
And I needed that combination.
I can't win no more.
[Nacchin] Hey, hey, hey, hey!
Don't you dare give up!
Recovery jump! Recovery jump!
You landed the double Salchow!
You'll get the points for it.
Literally all you have to do now
is accelerate off the last flip
for a plain old single Axel and you win!
Come on, remember we went over this!
[Mittens]
Why did that have to happen today?
Mommy and Daddy are watching.
I've always been able to land those.
I know I can do it.
I'm not supposed to be like this.
I want a do-over.
I want a do-over
on all the things I've messed up.
I can fix it.
I can do better next time.
I can be better.
[Nacchin] Add an Axel to the last flip!
Add an Axel to the last flip!
Add an Axel to the last flip!
[Mittens] I want a do-over!
[gasps] No, no, no. What are you doing?
[sighs]
Another double Salchow and a single Axel.
She's redoing it?
Yeah.
She's not gonna get any points for that.
That Sal is invalid.
Poor girl.
-[Mittens panting]
-[crowd applauding]
Okay, good job out there, girlie.
-[Mittens groans, whimpers]
-Hey! Where do you think you're going?
Hold up!
[Mittens] Let me go.
I'm not angry with you.
I just wanna do a little postmortem.
-Yeah?
-[Mittens, Nacchin grunt]
So, what happened, huh?
Did you just forget your recovery moves?
I remembered when it was over.
I see.
Well, now you know
how important recovery can be.
And that's a really good thing
for you to learn.
So no more back talk about it
in practice, 'kay?
Okay. I'll do whatever you want.
[gasps] Who are you?
Sorry, Coach. I messed up.
I stumbled, and I panicked, and then I…
Oh, whoa! That's enough of that.
What's gotten into you?
Did you bump your head or something?
I'm sorry.
Ah.
You were right, Coach.
I should've practiced recovering.
I really thought I'd be able to win today,
but I did bad.
[crying] I'm always like this,
and I hate it.
Taro.
I really gotta fix my entire personality.
You're supposed to wait your turn.
Go on, say you're sorry.
[grunts] You got to be joking!
Why do I gotta say sorry for anything?
Bleh.
[grunts]
[yelps]
-Ryoka, no!
-[kindergartener crying]
What's with this attitude?
[Mittens] I can't get grown-ups on my side
like everyone else.
So I have to be able to
do everything alone.
No one ever wants to listen to me,
and it makes me so mad.
[crying] But…
now a bunch of people hate me,
and I don't know what to do.
I guess I can't do anything by myself.
I was wrong about everything.
-You goober!
-Don't call me that!
Are you kidding me?
[imitating Mittens]
"I've been a bad little girl."
Come on. It's way past time for that crap.
Stop it. That's not what I sound like!
What you're really scolding yourself for
right now is your strength.
That "screw everyone" attitude of yours is
exactly what makes you such a good skater.
A unique skater.
What do you want?
If you came to yell at me, don't bother.
I just want to skate.
You really don't think
you did anything wrong in there?
No, obviously.
Figure skating is a one-man sport.
Why do I gotta play nice with them?
This is gonna be fun.
Huh?
Wanna be my student?
It'd just be us.
All my previous students
left for other coaches
'cause I like to run my mouth too.
[Mittens grunts]
[Nacchin] We don't see girls like you.
All fiery and bratty and pigheaded.
In a sport where only
a handful of people have what it takes.
That's a huge boon.
Why would you wanna bury
that part of yourself
just to make other people
more comfortable?
I don't know.
I know losing hurts.
I do. It can make you feel
like you're wrong somehow.
But don't lose that fire.
'Cause here's the secret.
Your strengths
are what will make you right.
You can grow and be strong
exactly the way you are. You hear me?
And when you win, you get to say,
"See, I told you I wasn't wrong,
you buttheads."
[crying]
If you don't wanna bend on something,
then don't. We'll figure it out together.
[crying] Nacchin, you're so weird.
You almost sound like a regular grown-up.
'Cause I am one.
-[gasps]
-No, you're a goober like me.
[announcer] Ryoka Miketa's score is 11.17.
She is in third place.
This is the final ranking.
[crowd applauding]
[Nacchin] Now, wipe those tears.
Get up on that podium.
Mm-hmm.
-Um, hey, Mittens?
-[gasps]
[grunts]
[stammers] Inori!
[Inori gasps]
Um, I just wanted to say
I had a lot of fun when you talked to me.
I really liked practicing with you
and skating together.
So I guess I was just wondering
if you'd wanna skate with me again?
[gasps]
[squeals, cries]
Does that mean yes?
[giggling]
Aw, you guys are like a little cen-taro.
[announcer]
These are out Prelim category winners.
In first place, from Lux Higashiyama FSC,
Inori Yuitsuka.
-[chuckles]
-[crowd applauds]
[announcer] In second place,
-from Meijo Crown FSC, Hime Sakurai.
-[gasps]
[Mittens grunts]
[announcer] In third place…
-[Inori] Hey, Mittens.
-…from Gravity Sakuradori FSC,
Ryoka Miketa.
[giggles]
Hmm?
Everyone, look right here.
Say cheese.
[grunts] Huh.
There are a lot more people now.
Inori, is she not
starting to get too heavy for you?
No, she's fine.
Whoa, look what's going on there.
[Sota] The camera.
I think they're from a TV station.
[Inori] You're right!
Wow, they just popped up out of nowhere.
The Novice level
is an entirely different world.
There are real expectations on those kids.
Yeah,
but last year wasn't nearly this crowded.
It is crazy here today. I wonder what for.
It's because Hikaru's here.
-Oh, hey, Rioh.
-Hmm? [gasps]
I thought
the Men's Novice didn't start till 8:00.
-Why are you here so early?
-[Inori breathes shakily]
Just came to say hi to everyone.
Once Hikaru's done, I'm out.
[Inori] It's that Rioh boy.
You ugly shrimp!
-[breathes shakily]
-Inori,
has anyone introduced you to Rioh yet?
[gasps]
Uh, uh, hello.
Yeah, hey. Who are you?
[shrieks]
Is it just me or is your dad's hair
even grayer than last time?
No, you're right. It's, like, way worse.
I hope that's not gonna happen to me.
[Tsukasa] Whoa! He's here.
Shinichiro Sonidori in the flesh.
I remember the year
he won silver at the Olympics.
That guy just oozes epic!
[applause through television]
[gasps]
[announcer]
Now introducing our group one athletes.
First up, Haruka Shibasaki
from Meijo Crown FSC.
Second, Hikaru Kamisaki
from Meikoh Wind FSC.
[crowd gasps]
[Inori] Oh, wow.
The crowd is getting fired up
like this is the senior division.
I can wait to watch
all of Hikaru's jumps again in person.
She caught me off guard the first time,
but today I'm gonna watch her real close.
[announcer]
Haruka Shibasaki's score is 78.44.
She is currently in first place.
[Inori] Okay, here she comes.
Better cheer real loud so she can hear me.
[announcer] Number two, Hikaru Kamisaki
from Meikoh Wind.
Hikaru!
-[Rioh] Let's go! Let's go!
-[Sota] You're gonna crush it, Hikaru.
Let's freaking go!
Hikaru!
Hikaru!
[mischievous orchestral music playing]
[breathes shakily]
[crowd applauding]
[sighs]
[stammers, gasps]
[gasps]
[Mittens gasps]
[grunts]
[crowd applauding]
Did you see that?
Her triple Lutz and triple loop
landed on the same leg.
I know. It's like
her legs are made out of pure iron.
[Inori] But also,
she blended all of those tricks into
the rest of her choreography perfectly.
She's so powerful,
but she still looks so gentle.
I want to see it again.
[announcer]
Hikaru Kamisaki's score is 97.23.
She is currently in first place.
[crowd applauding] Whoa! Wow.
She scored in the 90s?
In the very first meet of the season.
[Inori] It's like witnessing a miracle.
I really hope you get to join me
in competitions soon, Inori!
I wonder why she said that
to someone like me.
[Hikaru] Oh! [giggles]
[gasps, breathes shakily]
[giggles]
Mmm.
[sighs]
[Tsukasa] It wasn't just the jumps.
Every movement was a highlight.
That was incredible. But…
CHOREOGRAPHY:
SHINICHIRO SONIDORI
…it says Sonidori is both
her coach and her choreographer.
I don't think those were his moves.
[Inori panting]
I wanna see her again.
I wanna talk to her.
I gotta find her before she leaves.
[grunts]
[panting]
[gasps]
[shrieks]
[gasps]
[body thuds]
[grunts, gasps]
[grunts]
Huh?
I-Is he dead?
HE IS NOT DEAD
[gasps]
[whimpers] W-W-What do I do?
[breathes shakily]
[gasps]
[breathes shakily]
[whimpers]
I swear I saw Inori come down here.
[Inori pants]
Hey, there you are. What are you…
What are you doing?
[Inori whimpers] He fell.
I was just trying to wake him up.
Barley tea is not a healing potion--
Whoa! [grunts]
That's great. Another death.
HE IS NOT DEAD
[grunts]
[grunts]
[Tsukasa] Déjà vu.
Inori.
-Your…
-[Inori breaths shakily]
[Tsukasa] The hell is this?
[grunts]
Do you have a towel in there?
Uh, yeah, I do.
[grunts]
[grunts]
[gasps]
With your hair pushed back,
you look like that gold medalist.
Jun Yodaka.
Yeah, I get that a lot.
I'd guess because that's who I am.
Jun Yodaka.
Now, you. You're a competitive ice dancer,
aren't you?
Huh?
[Jun] I remember you
from the Japan Championships,
the year you screwed up that lift.
But for some reason,
that performance really stuck with me.
I can't believe you remember that,
or even saw it.
[gasps]
[gasps] Wait, Hikaru!
-I sent Hikaru home already.
-Oh.
She's got a lesson later tonight.
Mr. Yodaka, is it really true
that you're Hikaru's coach?
[Tsukasa] Yeah, that makes more sense.
That choreo was his.
Then, um, would you please
give her a message for me?
Please tell her thank you
for saying that she can't wait
to skate with me in competition
and to please wait a little longer
because I'm working really hard.
What level are you in?
Oh, Prelim still.
[Jun] Are you telling me
you mean to win against Hikaru?
Yes, someday.
[Jun] That's cute, but it's naive.
Look at you.
-You're not built for this world.
-[grunts]
You could train your entire life
and you'd never out-skate Hikaru.
You take that back.
She's naïve? Are you kidding me?
You of all people should know better
than to say things like that.
You're an Olympic gold medalist,
you know the power your words carry.
I think you may have
gotten the wrong idea.
I am Hikaru Kamisaki's coach.
-Who are you?
-[grunts]
[Jun] If you think
this girl can win against Hikaru,
you're essentially
saying you could win against me.
[Tsukasa gasps]
-Huh. That's a new feeling. I guess…
-[Inori sighs]
…this is courage enough
to fight for two lives.
Great, then just try us.
I don't care who you are.
And it matters even less who I am.
But I will spend the rest of my life
leading this girl to victory!
You'll see. You don't decide the future!