I Hate the Night (Japanese: 夜が嫌い Yoru ga Kirai) is the eleventh chapter of the Medalist manga.
Characters[]
(flashback)
Story[]
One night, Rioh Sonidori confronts Jun Yodaka alone, demanding that he leave Hikaru alone and get out of Nagoya. He believes Jun contributes nothing as a coach, given his habit of sneaking around, skipping meets, and showing no real care for either skating or the club. He accuses Jun of being in Hikaru's way, but Jun counters that it is actually Rioh who is misinterpreting Hikaru and obstructing her.
In the next scene, Tsukasa attends the Meikoh Cup Level 5 award ceremony, where Inori has won first place. She is now just one level away from qualifying for national Novice A competitions, but a significant obstacle lies ahead in the form of a Double Axel, a jump that consists of two and a half rotations. Inori finds herself struggling with rotation speed, so Tsukasa advises her to focus on her central axis and avoid being slowed down by centrifugal force.
| Order | Element | Base Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1A1A | 1.10 |
| 2 | 2S2S | 1.30 |
| 3 | 2Lz2Lz | 2.10 |
| 4 | FCSp2FCSp2 | 2.30 |
| 5 | 2F2F | 1.80 |
| 6 | StSq2StSq2 | 2.60 |
| 7 | LSp3LSp3 | 2.40 |
| 8 | 2Lz2Lz + 2Lo2Lo | 3.80 |
| 9 | 2S2S + 2T2T | 2.60 |
| 10 | 2F2F + 2T2T + 2Lo2Lo | 4.80 |
| 11 | CCoSp4CCoSp4 | 3.50 |
On top of teaching Inori, Tsukasa has now become a full-fledged instructor at Lux Higashiyama FSC, occasionally assigned introductory lessons. However, the children all prefer Hitomi, leaving Inori as his only student. One day, Hitomi invites Tsukasa to a meeting, and much to his shock, the other attendees are Shinichiro Sonidori and his son Rioh.
Shinichiro explains that his son's progress has been slow lately, and he wants to skate at Lux Higashiyama for a week. Rioh explains that he wanted to transfer entirely but wasn't allowed, and he's choosing Lux because his friend Sota is here. Ultimately though, he just wants to get away from "that grandpa," Jun Yodaka. Learning their situation, Hitomi casually suggests having Tsukasa coach Rioh. Rioh bluntly expresses dissatisfaction that the head coach won't be teaching him, but then decides he doesn't care. To Tsukasa's further astonishment, Shinichiro then stands up and deeply bows before him.
When Tsukasa introduces Rioh to Inori, she is horrified, but Rioh pays her no mind and immediately goes to hang out with Sota. Inori learns that Rioh is also at Level 5 and attempts to talk to him, but he has once again forgotten who she is. His Double Axel impresses Inori, but Rioh himself is not thrilled, as he still needs a Triple + Double combo to pass boys' Level 6. He also tells Inori not to address him as equals, because boys only need Level 4 to skate in Novice A.
Tsukasa also praises Rioh's jump, prompting him to assumes he'd liken it to Shinichiro's, as everyone else does. However, Tsukasa instead eagerly points out how different it is, catching him completely off-guard and leaving him struggling to respond with his usual sarcasm. Eventually, Rioh dismisses Tsukasa as overly optimistic and ignorant, bitterly declaring that his career is essentially over since he has yet to reach Level 6 despite his pedigree. He storms off, his thoughts fixated on Jun Yodaka and a certain "talent" of Hikaru's.
When Inori follows after him, Rioh questions Tsukasa's qualifications. Inori jumps to his defense, but Rioh challenges her by asking whether Tsukasa can even perform a Double Axel, doubting how he can teach something he cannot do himself. He argues that relying on a coach with no achievements is too great a gamble and suggests that Inori find a different coach.
These words strike a nerve with Inori, and she boldly proclaims that they will defeat Hikaru regardless. Rioh is stunned by this statement and, recalling his own repeated failures at Level 6 while Hikaru passed all her Badge Tests on the first try, he adamantly insists that she cannot. As their argument escalates, Rioh is bewildered by Inori's unfounded confidence, yet finds himself subtly longing for it. Drawn by the commotion, Tsukasa arrives just in time to hear Inori's declaration, that she'll prove Coach Tsukasa's greatness by landing a triple-double combo before Rioh.