Episode 23

**To Make Dreams Come True** (夢を叶えるために *Yume o kanaeru tame ni*) is the twenty-third episode of the anime Birdie Wing.

## Plot

Eve won the "European Ladies Open" and fulfilled the requirements to become a professional. However, the cost of pushing herself too hard was too great, and she was diagnosed with a four-month recovery period, including rehabilitation. On the other hand, Aoi was found by Amane when she collapsed in the bathroom. When she undergoes a thorough examination at the hospital, a small shadow is found on her brain. Amane leaves Aoi in Seira's care and goes to Nafrece by herself.

## Summary

As Eve's Over the Rainbow shot flies to secure her victory in the European Women's Open, Aisha Khambatta watches as she realizes what she has been battling a veritable beast for the last four days. She tells herself that she can smell the defeat, and sees Leo watching her. She begins to cry as she thinks that Leo is going to leave her for his former protégé, as Leo watches Eve hoist the Trophy after the tournament. A little later, she and Leo confront Eve, Alan Harvey, and Ichina, who are both helping Eve make it back to the player's cabin she's been in for the last few days. Leo concedes defeat and finally answers Eve's biggest question, why did Leo take her on as a student. Leo tells her that it was her father, Kazuhiko Hodaka, who wanted him to teach her the sport, in hopes that she would develop her own golfing style based both His and Leo's golfing styles, an ultimate fusion, as Kazuhiko called it in a flashback. He then says that the cruise ship disaster that caused Eve's memory loss, also cost her the memories of her father's golf style. Despite his efforts, after three years, her memories failed to return and he left her behind in Nafrece, only to discover that they returned after she pushed herself to her limits. He congratulates her on achieving her father's dream, saying it was excellent to see. Eve dismisses his praise, telling him he can retire now that he's seen it happen, but he says he won't until He and Aisha beat her, surprising Aisha, who assumed that Leo would leave her to go back to training Eve. As they walk off, she tells him that he's welcome to try but she intends to beat him every time. As she leaves and subsequently collapses from the strain put on her body by the golf shots, Leo says that it's a shame because her injuries are the price she must pay for achieving that shot.

Twenty days later, back in Japan, it's the final round of the Namco Classic, and Aoi is on the 18th hole of the Course, and has led the entire tournament, current sitting atop the leaderboard at Twenty-One Under Par (-21), eight shots ahead of her next competitor. As she addresses the ball, in her mind, asks her father, Reiya Amuro, if he's watching. Amuro, in his bed at the hospital where he continues to recover from the attack of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex he suffered during the Girls' Doubles Championship four months earlier, is watching, along with the soon-to-be former Club President of the Raiou Academy Girls' Golf team, Kinue Jinguji. She asks her Mother, Seira Amawashi, is watching as well, who is at her desk at Athens Headquarters in Tokyo, watching her daughter on her laptop. She tells them that this is her golf style, as her Shining Wings shot sends her Pakkun Logo Ball flying onto the green, where it power rolls into the cup for an eagle and the victory, ending the tournament at Twenty-Three Under Par (-23). As the Crowd roars, her rival golfers from Nadan Academy and Koran Academy watch in their respective team clubhouses, while her grandfather, Gozo Amawashi, cheers from his mansion in the Kanto Region. Aoi talks to Eve in her mind, as she hoists the trophy for the tournament, saying that now that she's become a pro in Europe, they can finally face off in their competition. She wants her to come to Japan and play on the Tour as an invitee from Athens Golf, so they can play together.

Back in Nafrece, it's Evening at the Burton Family Mansion, and Patriarch and Arios CEO Michael Burton, Eve's Maternal Grandfather, is getting a report from Alan Harvey on the extent of Eve's injuries. Eve has suffered a sever case of Golfer's Elbow, or Medial Epicondylitis. on top of that, the force she was applying to her swings resulted in strains on her wrists, waist, neck and ankles. as Alan is informing him, Eve is in her bedroom above Klein's bar, The White Hart, bandaged up with her left forearm in a cast. Burton asks how long it will be before she can golf again. Harvey tells him the injury itself will need only two months to heal, but she will need another two months of physical therapy and conditioning in order for her body to be strong enough to play golf again. Burton asks if she can make a return next season, which Harvey says yes, it's possible, but further use of her Rainbow Burst shot will result in another injury, potentially more catastrophic that this one. Burton tells him to make sure she doesn't use the shot, but Harvey tells him that Eve is willing to risk injury in order to win. He then tells him that Eve's body will need to be strengthened in order to handle the Burst shot, but doesn't know how long it will take to get her into that good a condition.

Back at the White Hart, Ichina gets a phone call from Amane Shinjo, Aoi's friend and Caddy, as Eve's adopted sister Lily is ecstatic that her Gundam model collection has finally been upgraded as she shows off a new GP class Gunpla kit. Amane, speaking to her from the lobby of the hotel where they were staying for the Namco classic is calling about Eve now turning pro, congratulating her classmates on their achievement, and inviting them to come play in Japan. She tells her that she promised Aoi that if she won the Namco classic, Amane would see to it that Eve and Ichina were invited to play in the next big golf tournament in Japan. As she's relaying this offer, Aoi is in the shower of her hotel suite when she suddenly grabs her forehead and stumbles backward into the glass wall of the shower, collapsing to the tile floor. Amane teases Ichina that they are one win ahead of Eve and asks if they can come. Not wanting to admit that Eve is severely injured from her new golf swing, and remembering that Eve does not want to show weakness to Aoi, Ichina tells her that they have a lot of Sponsorship obligations remaining for the season, but before she can say more, Lily comes out and tells her they need help inside. She apologizes to Amane and hangs up, flustering her classmate a bit.

As she enters their hotel suite, Amane is disappointed that Eve can't come out this season and knows Aoi will be upset. She then sees a trail of clothing leading to the bathroom, dropped by the Innocent Tyrant herself, annoying Amane as she picks up her clothing off the floor. She hears the shower still running ands tarts to tell her that she spoke with Ichina, but she then hears a loud thud and opens the door to find Aoi unconscious on the floor of the shower. She tries to wake her up, then realizes to her horror that the same issue she had at the Doubles Championship is back again.

Aoi is rushed to a nearby hospital and undergoes a series of CT scans , where a small black shadow was detected in her brain. She tries to keep up her positive attitude as Amane, Seira and her executive Assistant gather around her bed. Seira tells her that unlike her father's disease, she's suffered from dysautonomia, brought on by the stress and overstimulation of her pro debut. Aoi tells her mother that she wasn't nervous during the round, having an eight-stroke lead. She says that it's weird that she only gets these intense headaches when she's playing golf, which makes it hard for her to stay standing. Aoi recalls the same symptoms her father suffered from his own bout with the disease. Amane tries to remain optimistic, telling her the results were not in yet and that the doctors haven't determined what the cause is, but Aoi is convinced she has inherited her father's condition as she says she collapsed like he did. She then finds it ironic that she not only inherited his golf skills but also the disease that ended his own career, which now could end up ending hers as well. As tears begin to fall, she apologizes to Amane for not being able to keep her promise of getting her to the pro tour, and to Seira for failing to live up to her expectations. She begins to cry out loud as she realizes she can no longer play golf anymore.

Outside her room, Seira asks how this could have happened. Her assistant says that they should wait to hear from the doctors then figure out the best way to cure Aoi, Beside her, Amane is getting angry, asking herself why someone like Aoi, who loves golf so much, has to have it taken away, asking what she did wrong to deserve such a punishment. She can't forgive this reality, then stands and tells Seira to take care of Aoi for a few days and begins to walk off. She tells herself she won't change anything by crying or trying to blame someone for something out of everyone's control. She refuses to let Aoi's dream die here and vows to do anything to get her back on the course.

A few days later, at the White Hart, Ichina is trying to restrain Eve from leaving with her clubs. Eve claims she just going out to buy something, but as Ichina struggles to hold her back, Amane arrives, and sees a bandaged Eve, using a walking crutch, figuring out the real reason for turning down their invitation. Both girls are shock to see their former classmate in Nafrece.

A couple days before flying to Nafrece, Amane visits Coach Amuro at his hospital room, telling him about Aoi's condition. She asks him how long Aoi could have left to play, based on how long he was playing after his own diagnosis. He tells her that the disease forced him to retire from the pro tour after a year, being unable to handle the pressures of the four days of a tournament. It took seven months for the doctors to identify the condition he was suffering from, and he continued to compete that whole time. He says that the stresses from those seven months aggravated his condition and made things worse. She theorizes that they might be able to extend her career by carefully managing her playing time and monitoring her condition to keep her as healthy as possible. He says it could work in her favor, but reminds her that the disease affects 1 in 30 million people Worldwide, and there's little data on what happens to the body after the onset, but he does tell her one thing for certain, He has survived the longest with the disease and asks her if she knows why. She shakes her head, and he tells her that he made a promise to his best friend that they would play golf again, that man being Eve's father and Aoi's step father, Kazuhiko. He tells her the will makes a man strong, and a strong conviction uplifts life.

Back in the present, Amane tells Eve that she's challenging her on Aoi's behalf to settle their match once and for all at the Women's British Open the following year. Eve gladly accepts, reminding her that this battle has been postponed for far too long. She wants to do this on as big a stage as possible, to which Amane agrees. She then admonishes Eve not to injure herself and let Aoi win without a fight, intentionally poking at her one weakness, her inability to recognize when she's being goaded into something, as Amane calls her a reckless daredevil who broke her arm with her swing.

The taunt fires Eve up who says in response that her arms are already better, but Ichina grabs at her warning her not to injure herself further. As she turns and walks away, Amane tells her to stay healthy, as a win over a wounded Eve would be meaningless. Eve asks Ichina what it will take to get to the Open. Ichina tells her she'll figure out the fastest way there, but tells her she needs to strengthen her body in order to handle the stresses put on her joints by her shot. As she says this, a car pulls up and out pops Alan Harvey, asking if he can assist Eve in achieving that objective. Ichina smiles as she tells Eve that they're going to the British Open, but as Eve walks over to the car, Ichina gets a message on her phone.

Aoi has been moved to the same hospital her father is being treated at when Amane returns. She walks into the room, and Aoi asks if she's taken care of the paperwork to return to school, even though she was only gone for a month. Amane adjusts her glasses then asks if she's gained weight from her constant indulgence of sweets while she was gone. Aoi tries to deny it but Amane pushes further, reminding her that she told her she needed to take better care of her health. Aoi looks away as she says that she can't play golf anymore, so it doesn't matter. She tells her that she went to see Eve, telling her that she formally challenged her to a showdown at the next Women's British Open. Aoi begins to say that it's Impossible, but Amane, jumping up from her chair, tells her forcefully that Eve is waiting for her. As long as she takes good care of her body she can keep playing golf, and reaching the top five on the Japanese Tour the following season will get her a ticket to the Most prestigious Tournament in Europe. She grabs her, telling her she can still fight, or does she want to run away. She asks Amane if she can do it, and she tells her yes, she can defeat Eve and become the best golfer in the world. The thought of reuniting with Eve and the prospect of beating her fires Aoi up, and she says she wants to do it. Amane turns to the side, asking if they heard that, and the voice of her father says yes. He gets wheeled in by her mother, bringing their family together for the first time in years. Amuro vows to oversee Aoi's condition since he's had the most experience with it, while Seira tells her that Athens golf will put everything they can behind her. Amuro tells her that she needs to do this not for anyone else, but for herself. She tells her Parents she wants to play with Eve and all of the best golfers in the world. Seira tells her she will.

Back in Nafrece, Ichina is reading the message Amane sent her. Amane tells her, Caddy to Caddy, that Eve needs to reach the British Open, as this may be the last tournament Aoi may play in. She admits to her fellow Caddy that the goal of playing with Eve at the British Open is what's keeping Aoi from collapsing. She asks her friend to make this dream come true. As she reads the message, the year closes out with Eve using free weights to increase her muscle strength, as Ichina records her progress in her caddy book.

The scene shifts to the following March in Japan, as Aoi has returned to play at the Bandai Namco Women's Open, Being held at the Athens Golf Resort. Aoi sinks a putt on the final day to claim the victory, but staggers a bit as she raises her hand in triumph, prompting Amane to help steady her from behind. As Aoi is struggling to keep herself composed, Eve is at a driving range in Nafrece, as Ichina and Alan look on as she launches a Rainbow Burst. Ichina says she can hit it now with little to no damage, but Alan says she's still straining to use it consecutively. She will need more physical training, and she should stay off the pro tour for the time being, instead focusing on strength training and setting sight on entering the British Women's Masters, which will be held in seven months. A win there guarantees Eve a place at the Majors. Three Months later, Aoi wins the Build Strike Cup, putting her into the top five in Japan. However, she struggles to walk after leaving the court, prompting Amane to tell Seira's assistant, who was at the tournament to cancel the press conference. Aoi asks if Eve will be at the Open and Amane tells her she will be, Aoi is struggling to stand and falls to the floor in Amane's arms, wanting to play with Eve again. Amane continues her promise that Eve will be there.

It's the week of the Women's British Masters and Eve Enters the Clubhouse like The Kurrgan entering the Lands of the McLeods. The golfers all turn to see the girl enter, including two familiar faces. Aisha is registering at the desk, while Helene Robert, the one Time European Amateur Champion looks on with disgust at the upstart girl who humiliated her over a year ago. Aisha declares that she won't lose today, and Eve sports a grin as she declares that she'll defeat everyone in the room.

At Raiou Academy, Eve is saying goodbye to her father before she leaves for Scotland to play at the British Open. He wishes her and Amane luck in their match then tells Kinue to get the gift. He tells her that this is his final gift to his daughter, as Kinue presents her with a new 48-inch Shining Wings driver. The girl is overcome as she stares open mouthed at the driver, emblazoned with her "Shining Wings" logo on the club head. He tells her to use this to gain the flying distance she'll need to take on the world-class golfers she'll be playing against in the Tournament. At Narita Airport, Aoi and Amane's plane takes off for Europe as Seira and her Assistant watch from outside the terminal. Seira berates herself, saying she is a horrible mother, for letting her life, her lover and her child, all be destroyed by golf, but admitting there was nothing she could do to prevent it. Her Assistant tells her something Aoi said, "Because I was born into the Amawashi Family, I was able to meet My most beloved golf so soon." He reminds her that Aoi loves golf from the bottom of her heart, and she isn't playing because she's forced to, she's using the sport she loves the most to make her and her grandfather proud.

On the plane, Aoi has three desserts in from of her, but Amane tells her she can only have one. Aoi pleads that this is her last supper, which Amane tells her not to say something that could be unlucky. Later that week, Aoi and Amane stand upon the ground of the Royal and Ancient St, Annlies Golf Course, the host course for the Open. Both girls are in Awe as they stand upon what Aoi calls, "The Mecca of Golf." From behind them, Eve asks what she's lamenting about, as she and Ichina stand there on the beach that lines the course. She tells Aoi she can't believe she's had to wait as long as she had for this moment to come at last. She says it's time for them to find out who will win the Open, as the two face each other. Amane reminds them that they've forgotten one thing, if either of them want to win the Open, they first have to knock off the queen of the links herself, the three-time Champion of the American Tour, The "Empress of the Moon" herself, Juha Hamilai, who has arrived on her own personal jumbo Jet and is ready to claim the Open Title.

## Characters

* Eve
* Aoi Amawashi
* Amane Shinjo
* Ichina Saotome
* Reiya Amuro
* Kinue Jinguji
* Seira Amawashi
* Gozo Amawashi
* Lily Lipman
* Klein Clara
* Michael Burton
* Alan Harvey
* Leo Millafoden
* Aisha Khambatta
* Mizuho Himekawa
* Kaede Oikawa
* Kaoruko Iijima
* Kuyou Iseshiba
* Akihiro Date
* Helene Robert
* Juha Hamilail

## Trivia

* The Golf Ball Logo featured in the Opening Credits is Aoi's Pakkun ball.
* The Course depicted as St. Annlies bears a striking resemblance to the Old Course at the Royal and Ancient St. Andrews Golf Course, However, there is a course on the rotation for the Men's British Open, Royal Lytham and St. Annes, where the name could refer to.