Round 16

**Round 16** is the sixteenth episode of the Hi Score Girl (anime).

## Netflix Synopsis

*Moemi has pushed Akira to excel her whole life, but all she cared about was arcade games. She still likes games, but she also likes Haruo.*

## Summary

A flashback of the year 1991, shows Akira being admonished by Jīya to stay away from arcades due to their unscrupulous nature and repute. At Akira's Mansion, a didactic Moemi lectures a lackadaisical Makoto. The elder sibling proclaims that while she'll fulfill her schoolwork, she'll live her life as she so pleases. Just then Akira arrives with Jīya and Makoto announces that she's renouncing her duties as the head of the family and leaves the responsibilities to her. Disappointed by this turn of events, Moemi turns to Akira to succeed where Makoto has left off.

As Shōgakkō-sensei passes back the scored tests of his class, he claims that the only one in class with a perfect score was Akira. This garnishes her praise by her fellow students, especially Genta who tries to ask her out for a movie. However, he's interrupted by a belligerent Chihiro who demands to know if there's a "bone" in his wiener. Reflecting on the arcade that she saw, Haruo gets reprimanded for his failed test score. Back at her mansion, Akira follows her daily responsibilities. This all continues until a fed-up Akira runs away from home and following her whim, goes to an arcade center. Mesmerized by the game SF II, Akira plays arcade mode as Zangief, and manages to completely beat it. She then plays Final Fight until Jīya arrives to pick her up. Being driven home and elaborated on how Moemi is seething mad, Akira pays no mind to the elaboration. Akira's spirits were high from her first experiences in the arcade. A few weeks later, Akira faces off against a classmate of hers named Haruo, who beats her consecutive record with Guile. In the present, Akira reflects on the times she spent with Haruo as she looks at the ring he once gave her.

The year is now 1996, both Haruo and Kōtarō play Virtua Cop 2 together and Kōtarō asks Haruo about how his "progress" with Akira is. Hearing this flusters Haruo as it ruins his gameplay focus. Finished playing in the arcade center, the two talk about how people their age are starting to be in relationships. Soon, the two go to the Hidaka Mart where an irritated Hoharu is behind the counter. Her irritation is duly noted after she slaps Haruo in the face because it looked so "complacent". Kōtarō then invites Koharu to join them as they head to Haruo's house and a tad sheepish, she agrees to tag along. Outside of the store, Haruo triggers a memory of Koharu when they skip Kōtarō's Christmas Party to play arcade games outside her store. On their way to Haruo's house, Kōtarō tries to instigate a conversation with Koharu, who answers his questions bluntly. Standing in the streetway to his house, Guile tries to warn Haruo not to return home. Still, however, the group does and when they arrive in his house, they hear Haruo's mother talking with someone. Koharu and Kōtarō head up to Haruo's room as Haruo sees who the guest is. That guest or rather guests are Makoto and Akira.

It's decided by Makoto that Akira and her join them in Haruo's room, which causes an extremely tense and awkward scene for everyone.

## Characters

* Yaguchi Haruo
* Ōno Akira
* Hidaka Koharu
* Jīya
* Gōda Moemi
* Doi Genta
* Ōno Makoto
* Shōgakkō-sensei
* Onizuka Chihiro
* Miyao Kōtarō
* Yaguchi Namie