That Crushing Feeling
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Chapter Info
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| Volume: | Volume 10 |
| Chapter: | 57 |
| Total Pages: | |
| Release Date: | January 2012 |
Chapter Chronology
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| ← Previous | Next → |
Synopsis[]
This chapter opens with a demonstation of Rikos athletic excellence, which has been mentioned before but never explored. It seems that when the schedule of her preferred Disciplinary Commitee club allows she is known to help out other athletic clubs when they need an extra player due to injury or what-not. The title illustation shows she has participated in tennis, basketball, kendo, softball, and swimming with often excellent results. In this case she helps the volleyball club with winning style. Unfortunately, she carries the competitive enthusiasm into the next days P.E. class where she accidently injures another student with a wicked spike. Apparently the other girl is a member of the rhythmic gymnastics club, and now she won't be able to participate in the upcoming weekends meet, in turn meaning the team will not be able to participate. So Riko volunteers to fill her spot for the sake of the team and the school.
As Riko is explaining the situation to her siblings at home, her sister is aware right away that there will be a problem. Ako knows that Riko has stage fright and will likely crumble when performing in front of a crowd, especially when wearing the required form fitting leotard. Keita tries to be encouraging, but Riko, still suspicious of his relationship with Kiryuu Sensei, is not interested in his concern.
The next day, her natural athletic talent and intelligence see that she learns the routine quickly and can perform the elements well and by the end of her first practice is looking for nothing more that style improvements. Ako is pleasantly surprised to hear things are going as well as they are. But when Riko asks Ako (as student council president) to let her into the gym for after hours practice on her own, Ako begins to believe again that Rikos performance phobia will still be a problem. We next see Riko practicing the routine solo, wearing her bathing suit (to simulate the leotard) and things seem to be going well, until she tries to visualize a crowd of spectators, when she quickly collapses and sobs in shame, frustration, and regret.
But int he midst of her crisis, Keita arrives to help her work through her issues, however she may feel about him at the moment.
Referbacks[]
references to previous chapters