Episode 2

**"Believe in Yourself"** (自分を信じて, *Jibun o Shinjite*) is the second episode of the *Hang On! Sport Climbing Girls* anime series.

## Characters

* Anne Kurusu
* Konomi Kasahara
* Nonoka Sugiura
* Sayo Yotsuba
* Jun Uehara
* Chinari Iwamine
* Akane Uchimura

## Summary

The sport climbing club shows Konomi a video of Anne Kurusu and explain that even though she is a high schooler like them, she is also a pro known as the Climbing Princess and had won several international competitions.

On the competition day, Chinari Iwamine approaches Konomi, stating that she feels different than the rest and she feels Konomi will be amusing. Nonoka quickly jumps in telling Chinari to stay away from their newbie. Sayo comments that Chinari's school isn't in this region and not part of the tournament and wonders if she got the wrong address, however Chinari states she is there to see their adorable faces when they fall. Jun explains to Konomi that Chinari is runner-up at last years All-Japan Invitationals, while Sayo was the winner. Last year, Sayo and Nonoka also took the first places in the current competition, but this year they are also aiming at to become team champions too. Last year, they were only two members, while team rankings take the top three individual scores and having the first two places wasn't enough. However, this year they have four members and they can attempt to become the champion team.

Nonoka and Sayo successfully pass their prelims. Konomi is impressed by their skills and starts to think on how she will climb the wall. Akane Uchimura sits next to her and guesses she is thinking on how to get past the formidable crux and guesses she is a first year at her first competition. Akane introduces herself and continues to talk about the crux, commenting that she likely need to jump at it. Akane also states that a lot of girls wilt under the pressure and quit, but doesn't want Konomi to fall under it and encourages her to do their best.

Konomi is then called as its her turn. Seeing the girls cheering her, she starts climbing dynamically using jumps. Sayo wonders why is she doing that, as her analytic skills were supposed to be her biggest asset and at his point she will run out of gas. Sayo proceeds and makes another jump at where Akane suggested, but ends up falling. Jun wonders why Konomi climbed so strangely and sees Akane smiling. She asks Konomi if a girl from another school gave her strange ideas and particularly one that speaks with cat puns and seeing Konomi's expression, she realizes its true and its annoyed at Akane. Jun encourages Konomi and shows her the Egyptian move and that she needs to listen to her instincts and not others.

Jun goes to speak with Akane and asks her if she is still trying to drive newbies out of the sport. Akane pretends she doesn't know what she is talking about, but recalls how when she was young she was the best in climbing in school, but then Jun came and beat her and since then she decided to destroy every newbie she came across. Meanwhile, Konomi starts her second wall climbing and even manages to use the new move Jun though her. She ends up climbing higher than Akane, which really annoys her, but falls soon after it. Akane angry, ends up bumping into Chinari, who tells her she needs to apologize, but instead Akane insults her. Chinari finds her cute and decides to take her into the dressing room, while Akane starts to apologize, but its too late.

The competition ends with Sayo, Nonoka and Jun taking the first three places and also becoming the champion team, while Konomi couldn't even make it to the finals. Sayo asks Konomi if she still wants to continue climbing and explains that their next goal is to become Japan's champion team and then head into the international level. As she explains her dream, Konomi agrees.