Episode 2

**Innocent Tyrant** (無邪気な暴君 *Mujaki na Bōkun*) is the second episode of the anime Birdie Wing.

## Plot

Aoi, who was shocked by the driver shot released by Eve, immediately offered a match. The two will play openly on the 14th hole, which is the most difficult part of the course. Eve who attacks with her unconventional forcible golf and Aoi who hits a divine shot with proper judgment. Although the play styles were completely different, the match between the two seemed to be almost equal. However, Aoi's exclusive caddy, Amane Shinjo, sees that Aoi has a certain ability (gift) that no player can match...?

## Summary

On one of the holes at the Nafrece National Golf Course, Aoi is lining up a practice putt and visualizing the path it will take. As she studies her shot, her Mother's voice is heard as Amane recalls their conversation before their flight. She tells her that Aoi was born with two gifts, the bloodlines of her family, the Amawashis, and her father, the Late Hodaka Kazuhiko, which will aid her in becoming the top golfer in the world. She tells her that she will be there to watch her development.

As she continues her practice round, Aoi is not feeling enthusiastic about the upcoming Under-15's Junior Championships she is participating in. As she and Amane approach the next tee box, they see Eve's tee shot she made during her match with Helene Robert. Amane tries to identify her amongst the tournament entrants, but can find no record of her. She wonders who the girl is that made Helene forfeit their match, and comments that she's not dressed like a golfer. Aoi, on the other hand, is giddy with excitement at Eve's tee shot. She runs up to the tee box and asks if she wants to play with her. Eve asks how much she wants to bet on their match and Aoi stuns her by saying she doesn't bet, as she views golf as sacred, and betting would be an insult.

She proceeds to set up her tee shot and pulls her 48-inch driver, much to Amane's chagrin. Her shot lands just over a yard or two ahead of Eve's ball. The two face each other, and Aoi suggests the two play the rest of the course, but Amane says that would impact her practice schedule and that one hole will be sufficient to judge each others' skill, then threatens Aoi to tell her Mother about this. Aoi reluctantly agrees and the two head to the toughest hole on the course, the 490 yard, Par 5, 14th Hole.

Amane analyzes the hole, a massive L-shaped hole that overlooks the ocean, with a large grove of trees on the right hand side, and a steep, bunker-laden hill at the apex of the fairway. Amane knows from her research for the tournament that the safest path to the pin is to lay up and land between the bunkers 270 yards from the green and try for a birdie. Eve Tees oiff first and to Amane's shock, aims directly for the pin through the trees. As she tees off, she sees Aoi's smile, thinking she's being arrogant and fires a Blue Bullet through the trees, that goes 210 yards but smashes a branch and falls in the tress, 150 yards shy of the green.

Aoi is beside herself with excitement at Eve's shot, wanting to do her best to keep up. She hasn't felt this much excitement for the game since the last time she played with her father, She blasts her tee shot into the air and to Eve and Lily's shock, the ball slices cleanly around the trees, and bounces perfectly between the forwad bunkers, rolling to just under 140 yards from the pin. Amane tells herself that Aoi has a third gift, a Heart that truly loves golf and never feels the pressure from playing, and an innocent smile that crushes her oppoents' hearts, referring to her as "The Innocent Tyrant."

Aoi follows Eve and Lily into the trees to see her second shot. Aoi suggests slicing the ball to the right, but Eve tells her to be quiet, and Uses the Heaven's Red Bullet to blast out of the trees. However, as Aoi points out, Eve's shot went to the left and landed in the rough. Amane taunts Eve by saying her smile has crushed her will. On Aoi's second shot, she takes a 9 Iron for her shot, again shocking Eve. Her shot deliberately lands just shy of the hole, and brings a smile to Eve's lips, surprising Amane. The two sincerely compliment each other on their skills, and formally introduce themselves.

Eve takes her putter for her third shot, and launches an Insatiable Green Bullet. Amane thinks she's missed, but Aoi, who hasn't taken her eyes off of Eve's shots, is captivated as the shot hits a swale and bounces off the flag, landing just outside the hole. Eve lost the match, but found something else, a kindred spirit, and a renewed sense of enjoyment for golf.

Two nights later, Eve interrupts Anri's rigged putting contest, destroying her set up but asking to see her boss Rose instead of the 1000 Eurus she would have won for sinking the putt. In the manager's office of the Rose Golf Shop, Rose Aleon polishes one of her irons as Eve walks in. She tells her she heard about her being beaten by Aoi and turns on the TV, showing the highlights of the day's round of the Junior Championships, which Aoi leads after a 7-under par round, landing 5 birdies and an eagle despite the notorious winds of the seasside course. Rose also tells her Aoi's background, the daughter of two top-level Golfers, and Seira's position as CEO of the Athena Golf Corporation.

Eve tells her she doesn't just want information, she wants a rematch. Rose reminds her that they don't belong in Aoi's world, that they don't follow the rules and regulations she lives by. When asked why it's so important for her to beat her, Eve recalls the end of their one-hole match, that Aoi wanted to play a full round of golf with her, Rose realizes that Eve needs help from her boss, Catherine, who is the big sponsor of the Junior Championship. Rose tells her that she will owe her big for this favor, which Eve agrees to.

The following morning, the Final Round of the Junior Championships kicks off with Aoi teeing off with the last group. Aoi and Amane are finishing up breakfast in the clubhouse as Aoi prepares for her round. She suddenly stops in front of one of the monitors in the dining room showing the feed from the course. She breaks into a run as another group tees off. She's sure of who she saw on the montior. As she arrives, the girl tees off, sending a familiar winged logo ball into the air with a familiar blue streak. Aoi knows it's Eve.

## Characters

* Eve
* Lily Lipman
* Aoi Amawashi
* Amane Shinjo
* Helene Robert
* Seira Amawashi
* Kazuhiko Hodaka (Photo/Flashback)
* Rose Aleon

## Trivia

There is no logo on the ball hit during the opening credits.

## Matches

*Winners in* **bold.** *Caddies in parenthesis.*

* Eve (w/ Lily Lipman) vs. **Aoi Amawashi** (w/ Amane Shinjo)