Overview:
Hikaru is one of the best performers of Inori’s generation, and Inori is eager to catch up. However, she worries about how far behind she is in her skill level compared to others her age. Tsukasa suggests Inori compete in a competition immediately after passing the level one badge test.
Our Take:
Once again, we are reminded that Tsukasa is the best coach around. His support for Inori is fantastic, and their dynamic together has been a lot of fun to watch grow. I think many more athletes would have more fulfilling sports lives if they all had coaches like Tsukasa. But what made Tsukasa the way he is? Something had to happen to teach him the morals he has, and that’s what we got in this episode.
Once upon a time, Tsukasa longed to be an ice skater. But he started late and ice skating is an expensive sport to get into. His family couldn’t pay for the lessons or equipment so he started working part-time. He met a woman named Meiko and started working for her husband. Meiko, her husband, and their daughter all believed in Tsukasa and as long as he kept skating he could stay with them. But after Meiko passed away Tsukasa felt like he failed her and cut off contact with the family thinking they might hate him, only they saw him on TV during the competition. Kouichi (Meiko’s husband) tracked down Tsukasa and set him straight. I’m not quite sure where Tsukasa’s blood relatives are but he has a caring family right in front of him and I couldn’t be happier for him. Now we know why he roots for Inori the way he does.