Meikoh Cup, Junior Women's Prelim Free Skating (Part One) (Japanese: 名港杯 初級女子FS（前） Meikou-hai Shokyuu Joshi FS (Mae)) is the fourth episode of the Medalist anime.
Synopsis[]
Characters[]
Story[]
A flashback shows a young Inori taken by her mother to watch her older sister Mika's skating competition. Seeing Mika perform in front of a large crowd was nerve-wracking, but her effortless grace captivated the audience with ease. The moment left a deep impression on Inori, inspiring her to pursue the beauty she witnessed that day.
In the present, Inori is woken up by an affectionate and enthusiastic Mika, who has returned from Canada to watch her compete at the upcoming Meikoh Cup. She mentions currently working as a model, while also assuring her mother that she's keeping up with her studies. Inori tries on her new skating outfit, which their mother had stayed up all night adjusting. Exhausted, Nozomi leaves her husband to take Inori to the competition while she briefly rests. Mika assures Inori that despite her appearance of disinterest, Nozomi is actually very invested in Inori's skating and happy that she finally found her passion.
Arriving at the venue, Inori immediately feels a wave of nervousness as she parts ways with Mika. She spots Ryoka Miketa, who remains silent, and wonders if they will be able to mend their friendship once the competition is over. Tsukasa arrives along with Hitomi, instructing her to start warming up.
Inori is designated to perform last in Group 2. Nozomi joins Mika in the audience, and Inori's clubmates are also there to cheer her on. However, during practice time, Inori struggles more than ever, falling repeatedly, even when attempting a flying sit spin which she has never failed before.
After practice time, Nozomi calls Tsukasa aside, asking him to lower the difficulty of Inori's program. Protective of her daughter, she insists that she doesn't want Inori's newfound love for skating to turn into a painful memory. She argues that at her age, what matters is for Inori to have fun, and competition isn't necessary. Inori overhears the exchange, growing frustrated that she's not good enough, and that she cannot change.
Just then, a mother and her young daughter pass by. They comment on Inori's prettiness, and the little girl tells her mother that she wants to be like Inori and learn how to skate. In a moment of clarity, Inori realizes that she, in fact, has already changed. Reminded of how she wished to stop feeling worthless, Inori confronts her mother, assuring her that she'll be fine — even if she makes mistakes, doesn't always win, and still has much to learn, it is her wish to compete and become a worthy medalist. She asks Nozomi to watch her, to see her finally being good at something. Internally, she recognizes that it wasn't skating itself that felt special. It was Mika who made it feel that way, and now, it is her turn to do the same.
Before her turn, Inori once again grabs Tsukasa's hoodie strings to calm her nerves, but the anxiety lingers. Tsukasa reassures her that it's okay to make mistakes under pressure, and promises that he'll guide her to her goals no matter how she performs today.
Finally, it is Inori's turn to perform. Her music is Gustav Holst's Jupiter. She falls on her first Axel, but quickly recovers and executes the rest of her program flawlessly. When she reaches her final element, the Flying Sit Spin, she shocks everyone by transitioning into a Broken Leg position, a move she had never been taught, having only seen Tsukasa perform it once.
| Order | Element | Base Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1A1A | 1.10 |
| 2 | 1Lo1Lo | 0.50 |
| 3 | 1Lz1Lz + 1A1A | 1.70 |
| 4 | 1F1F | 0.50 |
| 5 | FSSp2FSSp2 | 2.30 |
Inori's performance earns a lasting round of applause from the audience, including the mother and daughter from earlier. Witnessing Inori's determination, Nozomi tears up, realizing that she in fact had been the weak one. Tsukasa, too, is brought to the verge of tears as he and Inori exchange bright smiles and a fist bump. Nozomi joins them along with Mika, asking Inori what kind of medalist she wants to become. Caught off guard, she hesitantly stammers her honest response: an Olympic medalist.
Acknowledging her answer, Nozomi embraces Inori, telling her how wonderful she was and acknowledging her hard work. She apologizes for not being there for her while she worked so hard on her own, and promises that from now on, she will do everything she can to support her dreams.
Meanwhile, the judges announce the results: Inori scores 12.64, placing her in first.
Trivia[]
Deviations from Source Material[]
- In the manga, Inori had in fact attempted the Broken Leg once during practice.[1]
- In the manga, Tsukasa bursts into a massive flood of tears after the fist bump, which was omitted in the anime.[1]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chapter 4: Meikoh Cup, Girls' Preliminary (Part 1)
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