Howling at the Night (Japanese: 夜に吠える Yoru ni Hoeru) is the twelfth chapter of the Medalist manga.
Characters[]
(mentioned)
Story[]
Tsukasa finds Inori and Rioh arguing over him and has to break them up. Inori insists its none of his business while Rioh faces him awkwardly. Inori declares her intention to learn a triple-double combo and join this year's All-Japan Novice before running off. Tsukasa attempts to start a conversation with Rioh but immediately missteps by asking why he started skating. Irritated, Rioh bluntly states that it was because his Olympian father forced him to. He then tells Tsukasa he's annoying to talk to and asks to be left alone.
Later, Tsukasa has a discussion with Inori. He acknowledges the challenge of adding a triple-double and preparing for All-Japans when they are already preoccupied with the Double Axel and Level 6 test. Increasing practice time is not an option due to risks of shin splints, and he doubts changing their practice approach will be effective given how fast Inori is already progressing.
When Tsukasa asks what she and Rioh talked about, Inori remains reluctant to answer. Instead, she changes the topic and tells Tsukasa how much her athleticism has improved on land and how she's now recognized for it at school. To demonstrate, she performs a Double Axel on land, shocking Tsukasa. Since gaining speed on land is harder than on ice, he realizes that Inori's issue isn't a lack of strength but technique. With this new perspective, he decides to implement specialized training at next week's camp and agrees to aim for the All-Japan Novice.
On the first day of the training camp, Lux Higashiyama FSC arrives at New Sunpia Tsuruga. Hitomi asks everyone to share their goal sheets. Inori says Double Axel, sparking more beef with Rioh, which is soon interrupted by the arrival of Ryoka Miketa and Mario Nachi. Ryoka declares her goal is a Triple Salchow, while Mario is introduced as their special guest, personally requested by Tsukasa to teach jumps.
Ryoka asks Rioh if he's not attending the Nagano camp, a crucial stepping stone toward top-level success and the Olympic path. Inori had missed the opportunity due to not meeting the level requirement before the deadline and will be too old to qualify next year. Rioh soon grows annoyed of Ryoka too and calls her a "mendako face," enraging her. As Tsukasa reviews the goal sheets, he notices Rioh's is blank.
When practice begins, Mario instructs the skaters on straight jumps, which help improve control against centrifugal force and prevent over-turning on landings. After rounds of pursuit drills, where the coach closely follows the skaters on the ice, Tsukasa remains full of energy, but Hitomi and Mario find the exercise exhausting. Mario comments on Tsukasa's positiveness, but Hitomi explains that while he can be optimistic for the sake of others, he becomes extremely pessimistic when it comes to himself.
As the day winds down, Tsukasa joins Rioh in the bath and brings up his goal sheet. Rioh admits he has goals but prefers to keep them to himself. Tsukasa expresses understanding but encourages him to share so they can better help him. However, Rioh then questions Tsukasa about his singles skating badge level. When Tsukasa reveals it's only Preliminary Level — even lower than Rioh expected — Rioh remarks that Inori would be disappointed, but Tsukasa states that she already knows.
Meanwhile, in the girls' room, Ryoka shares that Mario reached Level 7 in sixth grade, and asks when Tsukasa earned his. Hesitating, Inori confesses that if she fails Level 6 multiple times, people will start blaming her coach, which fuels her frustration over her struggle with the Double Axel.
Rioh leaves the bath, scoffing that if Inori is aware and still wants to beat Hikaru, it's not happening. He tells Tsukasa to not worry about him, believing he's already reached his ceiling. He comments on Tsukasa's flashy muscles, mocking that he's better suited for building his body than building athletes. Left alone, Tsukasa broods over his wasted time without a coach and how Inori faced the same struggle. Growing frustrated, he abruptly stands, storms out, and sprints up a hill, shouting out his irritation at Rioh's attitude. He missteps at the top of a steep slope, loses his footing, and slides down. Lying in the grass, he resolves to prove himself by making Rioh land a triple-double combo under his instruction.
The next morning, Tsukasa, having completely slept away his anger, eagerly approaches Rioh and bombards him with advice for the triple-double. Later, Inori finally succeeds in landing a Double Axel.