Reels and Casting

> "Be careful, Look behind before you cast"
>
> ~ Makoto

**Reels and Casting** (リールとキャスティング, *Rīru to Kyasutingu*) is the second episode of the Houkago Teibou Nisshi anime.

## Overview

Hina learns from her father that in his high school days, he was a member of the Embankment Club and later along with Natsuki untangle fishing lines. She later learns how to properly cast a line and in the process unintentionally angers Natsumi.

## Summary

At her home, Hina takes a bath to relax and a flashback shows Hina presenting her mother all of the fish that she caught that day. Hina's Mother is surprised that she not only caught so many fish, but has joined the Embankment Club. As it turns out, Hina's Father enters the scene and details that he was once part of the club in his youth.

The following day, Hina rides her bike throughout the town and is soon joined by Natsumi. Hina details that her mother made her Nanbanzuke for with the Lil' Horsies that she caught the previous day. They continue on with their conversation about their fishing experience the day before until they reach the school. Amid their discussion, they talk about Hina's thrilling feeling she felt while fishing and Natsumi freaks Hina out mentioning the Wharf Roaches.

Afterward, a physical examination is held for all of the students, and Hina struggles through all of it. Both Hina and Natsumi enjoy lunch together and Natsumi shares a Namero with the forlorn Hina, in turn, Hina shares her Nanbanzuke. The two then enjoy their exchanged treats and later that day head to the club site, which is halfway across the town from the school. On their way there, Hina complains about the long distance, noting her introverted ways keep her physically inactive.

Arriving at the clubhouse, the two girls catch Yūki lazily laying on the couch. When Hina asks what they're going to catch that day, Yūki responds that she's too tired to do anything due to the physical examination. Despondent, Hina notes that she shouldn't be surprised and yet figures that's how Yūki normally is. Yūki then remembers that a bunch of fishing reels are tangled up and tasks both Hina and Natsumi to untangle them. Natsumi tries to bail with Hina, however, Yūki details that her task is a tradition among the club to make newbies do it. Although Natsumi doesn't believe Yūki and wants to bail, Hina is enthusiastic to try. Wasting no time, Hina instantly nearly untangles all of the reels at a lightning-fast speed; to her admission, Hina loves untangling things. The reels that are entangled on the inside are taken apart by Natsumi and Hina then finishes untangling them. Curious to know where Makoto is, Natsumi details to Hina that she's fulfilling her Student Council duties. Once they finish untangling the lines, Yūki examines one of them and thanks them, which Natsumi as she believes it wasn't meant in the thankful context. Makoto then arrives and Yūki tries to sheepishly abscond as Makoto reveals that the president delegated her responsibilities to the girls. It turns out that Yūki did the same thing to Makoto the year prior and that the reels belonged to Yūki. In her defense, Yūki claims that it was a good experience for Hina to learn something new. To show her gratitude toward Hina, Yūki gives the newest member one of her reels. When Natsumi asks for her own reel as gratitude for helping, she's shafted by Yūki. To help Hina get used to her new reel, Yūki suggests she teach Hina about casting. Natsumi tries to reassure the hesitant Hina that it's easy, but it brings up the notion of how physically inept she is. Therefore, Yūki cheers Hina up, and the club members go out for some casting practice.

By the pier, Makoto gives some advice on how to cast and gives a demonstration on it as well. Following Makoto's advice, Hina gives it a try only to have her hook latch onto Natsumi. Once the hook is unlatched from Natsumi, Makoto gives a flustered Hina more advice on how to cast. However, the advice Makoto gives perplexes Hina, so Yūki gives her own advice to Hina and when she tries again, her hook whacks Natsumi on the head. Also in the sequential tries, the hook keeps hurting Natsumi, leaving her bruised and agitated, while Hina is despondent and feeling self-conscious.

Thinking innovatively, Yūki tasks Natsumi with collecting a buoy and rope from the old men by the pier. Once they're collected, Yūki then draws Natsumi's face on the buoy, ties the rope onto the buoy, and then casts it out to sea. This idea works and so Natsumi gets her rod and casts it out too. Natsumi hopes to get a big fish, which leaves Hina scared she may snag one, however, Makoto reassures her that her line has no hook on it.

As dusk starts to settle, the group reel in their lines, and Natsumi is upset that she didn't catch a thing. Just then Natsumi's line catches a fish and just as she nearly reels it in, it gets away. The fish was a Sea Bass and Hina notes how scary it was. This makes Makoto take a mental note of how Hina is scared of fish. In light of this, Makoto details that the fish was smaller than expected, to which Natsumi tries to argue against, but Yūki stops her. On their way back to the clubhouse, Yūki decides that the next fish they'll catch are "Flatheads".

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Tsurugi Hina
* Hina's Mother
* Hina's Father
* Hodaka Natsumi
* Kuroiwa Yūki
* Ōno Makoto