1. It's been a year
since my first competition,
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2. and now I'm at my second Meikoh Cup.
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3. Yes! A double flip, double toe loop,
and double loop.
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4. It's like she was born
with that combo in her!
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5. Inori Yuitsuka's score is 58.19.
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6. She is currently in first place.
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7. Awesome!
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8. Right on!
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9. We will now commence
the award ceremony
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10. for the Level Five Women's Free Skate.
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11. In first place, from Lux Higashiyama FSC,
Inori Yuitsuka.
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12. Thank you.
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13. I entered the sixth grade
and I passed my fifth Badge Test.
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14. Only one more level to go
and then I can compete against Hikaru.
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15. Inori's really amazing, isn't she?
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16. That asshole.
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17. Hey, get out of Nagoya,
you shit-for-brains.
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18. Leave Hikaru alone.
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19. You know Hikaru doesn't even need you,
to become an Olympian, right?
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20. How dare you call yourself a coach!
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21. You don't even come to meets.
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22. So what's your deal?
What are you getting out of coaching?
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23. It's obvious that you don't
even wanna be here.
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24. You don't even love skating
like my dad does.
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25. Hey! Don't ignore me!
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26. You're in Hikaru's way, you bastard!
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27. After you all but ran from skating!
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28. Do you need me to spell it out for you?
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29. You're reading Hikaru entirely wrong,
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30. which makes you
the biggest thing in her way.
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31. HOWLING AT NIGHT
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32. A triple combo
and a flying camel spin.
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33. It took a lot of intense training to jam
all that in the last half of her program,
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34. but she really pushed herself.
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35. I'm honored to have gotten a front-row
seat to all of Inori's progress this year.
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36. I can't wait to see it all
again in the documentary!
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37. THE ROAD TO BECOMING A MEDALIST
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38. She only has one Badge Test to go.
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39. Once she reaches level six, she'll be able
to compete in Novice A at the All-Japans.
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40. But getting to that next level
is gonna be one heck of a challenge.
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41. Even athletes who started
at the right time hit a wall at level six,
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42. and a lot of them give up.
That wall is the Axel.
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43. Toe loop. Salchow. Loop. Flip. Lutz.
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44. Those are hard enough,
but the final boss of jumps is the Axel.
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45. Lots of skaters quit
because they can't master the double.
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46. I don't understand
why I'm still not landing it.
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47. The first five jumps start backwards,
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48. but the Axel requires you
to be facing forward at takeoff,
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49. meaning you have to add
an extra half rotation
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50. to the spins you're already doing
in order to land it.
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51. - You wanna take a little break?
- Yes.
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52. For the athlete, though,
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53. the extra half rotation takes about
the same power as a full rotation.
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54. Something occurred to me
while I was practicing just now.
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55. About the double Axel?
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56. Instead of two-and-a-half rotations,
it's more like three minus some.
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57. Sounds about right.
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58. Which is why an Axel will always feel
so much harder than other jumps.
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59. Even when they all count as doubles.
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60. And I do feel like my approach
is faster than it was before.
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61. It is.
But the higher your speed,
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62. the greater your centrifugal force.
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63. What's that mean?
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64. Let's see. You know how
when you get going on a teacup ride
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65. and it feels like you're getting pushed
to the outside of the cup?
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66. - Oh, yeah.
- And yet, if you stay in the center...
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67. Then you don't get pushed anywhere!
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68. Bingo! Sharp as always!
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69. To execute faster rotations,
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70. it's more important to focus on your axis
rather than your velocity.
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71. Okay! I wanna try that!
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72. Look at her. She's so strong.
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73. - Tsukasa!
- Uh, whatcha need?
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74. - Nothing! It's lunch time! Let's go!
- Okay...
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75. Nice to meet you.
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76. Shinichiro Sonidori.
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77. And this here is my son Rioh.
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78. Surprise!
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79. He asked to meet,
so I wanted to bring you along too,
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80. 'cause I know you were a huge fan.
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81. The Olympian. The silver medalist.
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82. Yes.
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83. Though I'm here today
as a parent, not a skater,
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84. and I hope that you can understand.
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85. Yes, sir! Of course, sir! I'm so sorry!
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86. Let me properly introduce you.
This is our assistant coach, Mr. Aki...
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87. Aka...
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88. - Oh... I'm Tsukasa Akeuraji.
- That's it.
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89. All these years and she still can't
figure out how to say my last name.
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90. So, uh, what is it
that brings you out here today?
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91. Right. My son has been concerned
with his progress at Meikoh
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92. so he's interested in training
with you at Lux Higashiyama.
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93. I told him he could for a week or two.
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94. What I actually want is to transfer there
permanently. But Dad says I can't.
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95. Sounds like there's a story in there.
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96. Why is it that you wanna come to Lux?
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97. Mostly just 'cause Sota's there.
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98. - Oh, are you buddies then?
- Yay!
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99. You haven't gotten to skate together
since you were beginners,
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100. so I'm sure you miss him these days!
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101. I guess, but it doesn't really matter
what club I join.
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102. Long as I can get away from
that crabby old fart at Meikoh.
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103. Rioh!
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104. "Old fart"?
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105. He's obviously not talking about his dad.
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106. Does he mean... Jun Yodaka?
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107. I remember seeing that
Sonidori is listed as Hikaru's coach,
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108. so... something's definitely weird here.
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109. Currently, all the other boys
in my club are seniors.
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110. There's no one Rioh's age.
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111. So for the sake of his motivation,
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112. I thought it would be best if he skate
with you for a while, Coach Takamine.
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113. Well, that's not a problem at all,
we would love to have him.
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114. But would you mind if he works
with Tsukasa instead?
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115. - Huh?
- He's a little green.
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116. It's only his first year coaching.
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117. But he's already proven himself
a great asset to the club.
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118. During his probation period,
he took his very first student from Prelim
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119. all the way up to level five like that.
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120. If you want to see
Rioh transform even a little,
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121. Coach Tsukasa is the man for the job.
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122. - Right?
- Hey...
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123. That's all right by me.
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124. If he comes with your recommendation,
Coach, I couldn't ask for more.
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125. So if you're on board...
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126. Oh, gosh! It would be my honor.
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127. Not him.
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128. Uh?
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129. I only want to be trained
by the head coach. 'Kay?
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130. Rioh! Don't be rude!
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131. Hmm, well, if he doesn't want Tsukasa,
that's that!
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132. I don't actually care. Do whatever.
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133. It's not like I have Dad's
or Hikaru's talent anyway.
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134. - Coach Akeuraji.
- Oh, yes, sir.
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135. No, no. Please.
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136. I apologize that my failings as
an instructor now fall to you to remedy.
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137. Forgive me. I hope
Rioh will flourish under you.
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138. An Olympic silver medalist
is bowing to me.
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139. ICE SKATING RINK
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140. So starting today, we'll be doing
group lessons for a little while!
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141. Say hello to Rioh Sonidori.
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142. He...
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143. I wasn't talking to you, you ugly shrimp!
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144. He'll be at training camp
with you next week, too!
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145. Sota!
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146. Rioh! What's up? Why are you here?
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147. I got sick of Meikoh so I'm gonna be
practicing with you guys for a while.
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148. What? That's awesome!
Hey, you got your Switch?
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149. I do, but let's hurry up
and get out on the ice!
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150. Sota, this is great!
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151. You'll definitely jump better if you keep
your hands closer to your chest.
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152. His dad's right, he does look happy
to be skating with another boy his age.
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153. He's having fun.
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154. You know, Rioh said
he's in level five, too.
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155. Is he really?
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156. FRIEND RADAR
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157. You slow yourself down, otherwise.
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158. Yeah, I'll give it a shot.
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159. - So, Rioh.
- Hey, Inori.
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160. A little birdie told me
we're both in level five.
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161. - We should be friend—
- Uh, who are you?
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162. Inori Yuitsuka.
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163. Wow!
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164. A beautiful double Axel
with a smooth extension on the landing.
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165. The elegance of that check pose
makes me think
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166. he definitely got
his dad's flexible ankles.
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167. How can you tell?
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168. Well, I watched him a lot.
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169. I was kinda obsessed with him
in middle school.
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170. DISTANCE - HEIGHT
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171. But they are different. Coach Sonidori's
rotations rely on a higher jump
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172. with a super precise axis,
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173. whereas Rioh's all about range.
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174. Either way, that was clean,
though I bet Rioh could get a tighter spin
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175. if he works on establishing his axis
just a little earlier.
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176. That was amazing, Rioh.
You can do a double Axel.
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177. It's whatever.
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178. Huh?
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179. If I can't do a triple at this point,
I'm wasting my time.
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180. What? Why do you need a triple?
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181. Part of the men's level six Badge Test
is doing a triple-double combination,
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182. and if you can't do it,
they don't pass you.
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183. Really? Is that true?
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184. Don't act like we're the same just because
we're both in level five right now.
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185. Men's skating is harder than women's,
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186. and we're allowed to compete
in Novice A from level four.
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187. I see. I didn't know.
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188. Well, in that case, I take it the next big
milestone for you is passing level six.
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189. Hmm?
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190. Then we still have the same goal.
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191. Rioh! That really was
a beautiful jump earlier.
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192. Yeah, yeah. "It's just like
Shinichiro Sonidori's," I know.
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193. - I've heard that a million times...
- No,
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194. it's a totally different jump
from your dad's!
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195. Wha—
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196. HEIGHT
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197. When it comes to your dad, he's got
a high jump with a really tall vertical.
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198. But you luxuriate in a long jump
and cover a ton of distance,
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199. which is awesome.
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200. I was also really impressed how smoothly
you can adjust your stance in midair.
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201. That must have taken a lot
of trial and error to figure out,
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202. and it really paid off!
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203. And on top of that, all the angles
in your check pose are great!
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204. That commitment to detail is a beaut.
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205. It's not enough to explain your skills
in terms that are purely physical!
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206. I just know you're gonna become
an incredible athlete!
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207. This grown-ass adult is
complimenting me so much.
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208. I'm so happy.
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209. But... ... I don't feel like
I can fully accept any of this.
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210. - Like... what if someone sees...
- It takes a lot of effort...
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211. how it's affecting me?
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212. You're reading Hikaru entirely wrong.
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213. You're the biggest thing in her way.
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214. - "Incredible athlete"...
- What?
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215. Do you realize how many boys my age
have already blown way past level six?
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216. With my pedigree, I should
have managed it a long time ago.
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217. Oh. I don't think—
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218. Yeah, obviously you didn't think
that one through!
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219. Don't get all excited
just 'cause he praised you a little.
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220. It's not like it means anything.
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221. The only reason he can act that positive
is because he doesn't know what I know.
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222. Hikaru?
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223. See?
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224. Yes, sir.
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225. Then learn it.
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226. Yes, sir!
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227. Jun Yodaka. Hikaru Kamisaki.
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228. Once I had seen
that kind of inhuman talent,
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229. I knew I'd never be optimistic
about my future again.
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230. I'm not gonna be pleased with myself
just because I learned
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231. - a couple of tricks.
- Rioh?
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232. Rioh!
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233. What's the matter?
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234. Nothing. My lesson's over
so I'm going home.
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235. Now?
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236. So, your coach. Who is that guy? Spill it.
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237. Oh! He's, uh... Coach Aki... I mean Ake...
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238. That's Coach Tsukasa!
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239. What all has he done?
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240. Uh, he used to ice dance.
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241. Wow, that's it?
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242. Awful.
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243. So this random dude with no real career
is gonna teach me a bunch of bad habits?
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244. He won't!
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245. Maybe I don't get what you mean,
but don't worry!
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246. I've been working with him for a while
and his skating's really pretty.
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247. - Coach Tsuk—
- Yeah, well, I bet any coach
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248. would look that way
to someone as crappy as you are, so...
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249. You don't know what you're talking about.
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250. Okay, so fill me in.
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251. Have you seen him jump? Can he do an Axel?
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252. I'm not sure, but...
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253. That's what I thought.
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254. You only get one athletic career.
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255. Putting your fate in the hands of someone
with no achievements is a huge gamble.
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256. Seriously. If you're going for the top,
you should switch coaches now.
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257. See ya.
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258. I'm gonna win!
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259. I will. Just wait.
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260. Great! Then just try us!
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261. I can win just fine! I'm gonna beat Hikaru
whether Jun Yodaka is teaching her or not!
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262. What?
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263. We'll show you all!
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264. Congratulations on passing
level seven, Hikaru.
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265. Is it true you passed them all
on your first try?
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266. What? You're a genius!
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267. FAIL
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268. You don't stand a chance!
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269. - Yes, I do!
- You're gonna fail!
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270. I'm gonna win!
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271. I'm gonna land that double Axel
and compete at the All-Japans in Novice A.
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272. You hear me?
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273. And I'll beat Hikaru!
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274. What the hell?
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275. You're crazy. You obviously don't know
what you're up against.
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276. Being level six or landing a double Axel
is the bare minimum you—
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277. I can do it!
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278. What is wrong with her?
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279. Has she never seen Hikaru perform?
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280. It's not like you can win
with determination alone.
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281. She's deluding herself!
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282. I just don't get it.
How can she talk like that?
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283. And how does she actually believe it?
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284. I wish
I could be that confident.
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285. Hmm? Inori? What's going on?
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286. Your dad is your coach, right?
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287. And he was on the podium with Mr. Yodaka
a whole lot back in the day,
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288. - in the Olympics...
- Yeah. What's your point?
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289. My point... is that
even if you do have Coach Sonidori,
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290. I'm gonna land a triple-double
combination before you!
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291. I'm gonna prove to you
just how great Coach Tsukasa is!
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292. That's not good.
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293. Hey, hey! You two better not be fighting!
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294. Coach Tsukasa.
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295. What's the problem here?
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296. I, um... It's nothing! Don't worry about it!
It's none of your business, okay?
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297. I heard my name a little too much
for that to be the case!
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298. I said
it's none of your business!
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299. Inori, wait!
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300. Not the changing room.
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301. Rioh.
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302. Oh. This is so awkward.
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303. What do you want?
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304. Nothing. Let's just talk
for a second before you leave.
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305. Is this about the argument?
'Cause if it is...
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306. Well, that too, I guess.
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307. But, mostly,
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308. I just want to get to know you better.
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309. For starters, why don't you tell me
why it is you started skating?
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310. Huh? My dad is an Olympian, so
he literally forced me to start, why else?
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311. Can I go? 'Cause talking to you
is, like, super irritating.
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312. I'll still come to practice,
but for real, leave me alone.
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313. Coach Tsukasa!
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314. Listen! I wanna pass level six
this summer no matter what!
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315. And I wanna learn a triple-double combo
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316. so I can compete
at the All-Japans in Novice A!
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317. So, please help me make that happen!
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318. Goodbye!
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319. W-wait, Inori! Your books!
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320. Oof, I'm sorry.
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321. Now let's talk about
what you were saying earlier...
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322. Do you think
that'll be too difficult?
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323. Well, considering
our current pace,
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324. nailing the double Axel for your next exam
is gonna be work enough.
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325. I'm not so sure it would be wise to try
to cram a triple double in there too.
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326. And what if I start
practicing even harder?
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327. I understand how you feel, I do.
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328. But you're already at max capacity
when it comes to training.
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329. If you push it any further,
you'll risk shin splints again.
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330. Yeah, I don't want that.
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331. Now, we could change up
our practice methods,
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332. maybe speed up your progression
a little bit that way.
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333. But, I gotta tell ya, you're already
progressing at an incredibly fast rate.
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334. Prelims to level five
in a single year is pretty insane.
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335. RATE OF GROWTH
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336. Will you tell me what
you and Rioh were fighting about?
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337. 'Cause if he said something
that hurt your feelings, Inori,
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338. we can figure it out together.
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339. Tensions are rising on the rink
as people gear up for nationals.
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340. Maybe it's just the atmosphere
that's getting to her.
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341. But I mean... She's obviously got
something bottled up in there.
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342. What! What were they talking about?
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343. - Um... I... Well, I...
- Hmm?
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344. I'm taller than I was last year!
I grew four whole centimeters!
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345. Not only that, but I passed my endurance
test at school with flying colors.
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346. And they said that for stuff
like running and mat exercises,
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347. I'm in the top five of all the kids
in my entire grade level!
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348. I went from the girl who can't do anything
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349. to the girl who's good at sports!
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350. I'm a totally different person
than I was a year ago.
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351. I'm trying to tell you I'm better at stuff
now, whether I'm on the ice or not!
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352. Watch this!
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353. A double Axel? Inori, you...
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354. See? I can do it on land.
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355. And I'm gonna prove to you
that I can do a triple-double combo, too!
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356. That was incredible!
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357. Inori, that was a straight-up double Axel!
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358. Two and a half rotations,
how'd you do that?
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359. I finally got it down just the other day.
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360. But I still can't do it on ice, obviously.
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361. I can't believe this.
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362. I thought she couldn't do it because
she didn't have the muscle tone yet,
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363. but if she can do it on land,
she's more than capable.
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364. So it's technique.
We can do so much more with this.
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365. I take it back. Let's do
a mini-intensive at training camp.
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366. Intensive?
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367. Yeah. Let's do it. All-Japans Novice.
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368. The same stage as Hikaru Kamisaki.
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