Round 17

**Round 17** is the seventeenth episode of the Hi Score Girl (anime).

## Netflix Synopsis

*Completely oblivious, Haruo watches in awe as Koharu and Akira duke it out on Virtua Fighter 2. At the game center, Koharu can't help, but taunt him.*

## Summary

Disconcerted by the tension and awkward Kōtarō abruptly leaves Haruo's room. While Haruo chases after Kōtarō, Makoto analyzes the situation and to her dismay realizes the love triangle between Akira, Haruo, and Haruo. Uneasy by this sudden revelation, Makoto heads downstairs to continue her talk with Haruo's mother. But before she does that, she socks Haruo in the head, much to his confusion. Downstairs, Haruo's mother is informed of the situation upstairs and the two decide to continue playing dirty word letter chain games together.

Back in Haruo's room, Haruo is sandwiched between the intense vibes emanating from both Koharu and Akira. Koharu then speaks up and requests a match with Akira, the game is Virtua Fighter 2 for the Sega Saturn. As Haruo sets up the game he notes that he only has one gamepad controller and one joystick. Surprisingly, Akira chooses the gamepad controller and plays as Akira, while Koharu chooses Sarah. The first match is won by Akira, the second by Koharu, and ultimately the final match is won by Akira. Afterward, as they all leave Haruo's house Koharu asks Akira for the chance to face off against each other again, to which, she agrees.

At the arcade center, Haruo is confronted by a group of livid gamers who plan to overpower him in Dark Stalkers 2 with Pyron. Felicia arrives with Koharu and breaks up the confrontation. Haruo then challenges Koharu to a game of Virtua Fighter 2, but she declines in favor of playing Samurai Showdown III. The gamers then provoke Haruo claiming that Koharu doesn't want to play with Haruo and she half-heartedly agrees. Upset, Haruo leaves the arcade center, much to the gamers' approval, but not so much to Koharu who is criticized by Felicia. Koharu then admits that she's developed some sadistic notions as of late, which disconcerts Felicia. As Haruo walks home, he reflects on the world of fighting games is a harsh and brutal world and how he should be independent like Akira.

In Shibuya, Haruo heads to the game center there to train himself so he can cultivate his skills enough to beat the gamers back in his home turf. Inside the game center, he watches a game of Global Champion and is sequentially confronted by the player and his friends. Being roped into playing the game himself, Haruo plays the game and beats it. His display impresses the gamers there and they ask if they can join their team. One of the gamers reveals that a rival team is out to usurp their location, which happens to be in his hometown of Mizokunichi. Elsewhere, Koharu is informed of the situation by Felicia who believes she's getting coaxed into joining a turf war. Koharu also starts to feel remorseful for her ill-tempered actions towards Haruo the otherday.

Back in Shibuya, Genta and Kōtarō meet up with Haruo who has officially joined the gamer team in Shibuya. Later Haruo shows Kōtarō his newfound gaming skills in shooter games such as Astro City, while Genta laments being roped into another game arcade. As Haruo and Kōtarō talk about games in the arcade, Genta has been pantsed by a trio of gyarus. Haruo and his friends confront the girls and are soon helped by their former teacher Mr. Numata who is easily beaten by the girls. Their other former teacher Reiko then arrives and takes out the gyarus. Once the gyarus are gone, Reiko disciplines her former students. Returning to the arcade center, Haruo is notified about the games that will be played in the turf war, SF II Alpha, Samurai Showndown III, and Fighting Vipers. At that time, Koharu is informed by Felicia that, Haruo is part of Team Shibuya.

## Characters

* Yaguchi Haruo
* Ōno Akira
* Hidaka Koharu
* Hidaka Koharu
* Ōno Makoto
* Futakotamagawa Felicia
* Yaguchi Namie
* Ma-kun
* Doi Genta
* Miyao Kōtarō
* Numata