Episode 15

**The Reason Just Playing Golf Makes Me So Happy** (ただゴルフができるということがこれほどまでに幸福な理由 *Tada gorufu ga dekiru to iu koto ga kore hodo made ni kōfukuna riyū*) is the fifteenth episode of the anime Birdie Wing.

## Plot

It's the Doubles Championship Finals between the team of Eve and Aoi and the team of Mizuho and Kaede. However, after Eve sunk the ball with her Rainbow Shot, the truth between her and Aoi has been revealed.

## Summary

The crowd watching Eve's shot are in shock as the ball falls from the flag into the pin. Every golfer, caddy and coach are collectively stunned as the shot secures the victory for the girls from Raiou Academy. Ichina runs up to Eve to congratulate her, but Eve is frozen in place, still processing the memories that the shot released. She asks what happened, then she remembers that she used the Orange Bullet shot and demands that Ichina tell her if they won or not. Ichina, scared by how Eve is holding the club, tells her they won by one shot. Kuyo, however is in her hands and knees, in tears, lamenting that she failed to score on her last shot, apologizing to her teammate. Kaoruko consoles her, telling her that she has nothing to apologize for, they played beyond their own limits but still lost, and there is nothing to regret about leaving everything out on the course, all the while as her own tears are forming. Aoi, being helped by COach Amuro, joins EVe to congratulate her, but Eve reminds her she's eating all the hamburgers she wants. Aoi laughs and calls her a glutton, but them loses consciousness.

Aoi is dreaming of herself as a little girl, hearing her father, Kazuhiko, talk about golf. He tells her that golf is a sport that you play against yourself, and not someone else. He says that missed shots expose the weaknesses in a golfer's heart. She asks how she can strengthen her heart, and he says there are two ways. He says she can either keep the conviction in her heart at all times that she wants to make her wish come true, or enjoy golf from the bottom of her heart, regardless if she wins or loses. As his image begins to fade into the light, he tells her he wants her to play with an innocent heart, because a heart sharpened by Conviction can sometimes shatter. the light Kazuhiko disappears into fills her consciousness and is revealed to be the lights inside an examination room, where Aoi is strapped down to an CT Scanner that's running an examination of her,

Out in the waiting area, Coach Amuro, Team Captain Jinguji, and Amane are waiting word about Aoi's condition. Kinue is still fixated on the coach calling Aoi by her first name, and berates herself for being obsessed with that when she should be worried about her teammate. Amane is going over her own notes, saying that Aoi is examined every three months, and nothing's been found, and is optimistic of her chances for recovery. Back at the headquarter for Athena Golf, Aoi's Mother, Seira, is informed of her collapse, but after her examination, the doctor's can't find anything wrong with her as suspect that she suffered a Neurally mediated Syncope, brought on by her body being under a tremendous amount of tension for a long period of time. Her assistant asks if she plans to head to the Championship site early to be with Aoi, but Seira declines, citing an important meeting she has to attend. As he leaves she tells herself that it's too soon for Aoi to have these symptoms, that someone she referred to only as "him," didn't develop the same symptoms until he was in his 20's. She's worried aobut the health of her only daughter.

Later that evening,after Aoi is released from the hospital, she, Eve, Amane, and Ichina, are eating hamburgers at a nearby pub-style restaurant. Aoi apologizes for worrying everyone and Eve tells her she was worried that they'd keep her overnight and ruin her opportunity to have some hamburgers, making Aoi upset that she wasn't more concerned with her. Amane tells her to forget about Eve's teasing. she needs to rest for the Finals in two days. Eve tells her if she wants to collapse, to wait until after they win the Finals, which again upsets Aoi.

The following morning sees the second semi-final match, this time between Nadaminami and Kagawa. Mizuho and kede lead 5-up heading to the 401-year,par 4 13th hole. A Kaede tees off, Amane andI china are watching along with Eve. Both caddies are trying to devise a strategy to deal with Nadan, who are playing on the hole for the first time in the tournament. Eve, However, tells them not to worry, as she assures them they will win. Kaede and Mizuho both admit to each other that the tournament has been a bore for both, but Aoi's collapse the day before is concerning, especially to Mizuho, who tells Kaede that a wounded animal is very dangerous. Mizuho's shot lands close to the pin and both caddies consider the match over.

Lining up her putt, Mizuho looks over at Eve, who remained behind to watch the end of the round, and wonders how she learned Kazuhiko's swing. She remembers that it's what he used to win the British Open one year. She wonders if she got lessons from him with her ewas overseas on the pro tour. Back at the hotel, Aoi is bored and alone but Coach Amuro shows up and asks if she can come with her to talk. As Ichina and Amane are crossing the bridge between the resort and the course, Amane sees Aoi and Coach walking towards the practice range. She excuses herself from Ichina and follows them.

At the driving range, Coach tells Aoi that there is nothing more that she can learn from Him, but that he is going to "put a little spell" on her. He pulls out an iron from the golf bag he's carrying. He hits two balls and Aoi instantly recognizes the golf form of both her Mother and Father. as he turns back, the club in his hand catches the light and shines in Aoi's eyes, disorienting her for a moment. He swings and lights up in her eyes, stunning the girl. She asks who's shot that is, and he tells her that it's her own shot. He then tells her that her golf isn't complete, but that the idea of a new form for her must excite her. He hands her the club and tells her to wing away,until she's done about 50 shots, then go rest of for the Finals the next day. as He leaves, Amane, ducks into the bushes to hide from him.

Aoi looks at the Iron, it's the same model as her own clubs, but when she swings the club, the ball soars off. She realizes that even though she's done nothing the swing Coach just showed her fits her body much better. She then proceeds to hit ball after ball into the 150-yard marker on the range, Amane is stunned as Aoi sudden;y improves from being shown three swings after the research trainers spent months developing the swing that Aoi was using previously. Not long after he left her, Coach Amuro himself collapses to one knee, in pain from just the three swings he took. Jinguji sees him and comes running to help him, he reassures her that he's fine,

In their hotel room, Nadan's Coach, who is just a figurehead for the team, congratulates Mizuho and Kaede on their victory. Kaede tells her to rest up for tomorrow, flustering the COach who was not aware that she would have to be at the Awards Ceremony. She begins to panic as she has not brought anything to wear. This gives both golfers some enjoyment watching her panic. Ichina comes into the room she shares with Eve and tells her that she can't come up with a way to beat Nadan in the Finals. Eve asks her if she's trying to pick a fight with her, but Ichina asks if she can make the Orange Bullet shot two more times. Eve pauses a moment, smiles and asks what happens if she does. Ichina tells her they will win. Eve smiles and says if it will help beat Mizuho, she shoot it as many ties as needed.

The Finals arrive and Coach Amuro is giving his golfers some final words of encouragement. He tells them the goal of a Championship win is still their objective, despite playing Nadaminami. He tells Aoi to enjoy her new golf form and imparts something that his best friend once said, "A swing without uncertainty leaves a rainbow in its wake." Eve looks stunned as she hears those words. Midway through the match, Seira arrives at the course, delayed by the meeting she mentioned previously. She asks one of the tournament officials where the round is at, and she's told that the teams are at the 370-yard Par 4, 9th Hole. Seira arrives to see the girls are leading 1-Up as Aoi's approach shot find the cup for an Eagle. Seira recognizes Amuro's swing instantly then sees him, who deftly puts a finger to his lips and smiles at her. There's a look of understanding from him to her, and she is stunned. Kaede is livid, Aoi is not playing like she had in the previous rounds, wondering how she can change her game in the middle of the tournament. MIzuho wonders if Aoi has abandoned her father's golf style. Back at hos office at the Koran Academy, Coach Date watches as Aoi continues to dominate the game, and reminisces about Kazuhiko, but states that Reiya Amuro was the only man he considered a rival. Back on the course, Seira and Amuro seem to have a conversation in their heads, with Seira stating she never thought she'd see "the golf I love" again, and Amuro apologizing for showing Aoi the golf form before she reached the Women's Pro Tour stop in Japan. Coach Date, however, is cursing out Coach Amuro, saying that Aoi's body cannot handle this new golf form.

As Aoi prepares her next shot on the 512-yard, Par 5, 12th Hole, she remembers the word so her father, "Enjoy golf from the bottom of your heart, whether you win or lose," and suddenly remembers that her father was not the only one who taught her golf, as she remembers that it was Coach Amuro who told her to enjoy golf with an innocent heart. she realize that Coach Amuro has been teaching her as well, all those years ago. Her shot rolls just to the pin, but runs out of momentum before it and sink. Eve is excited that this is the Aoi she's wanted to face since they met.

At the Koran Academy practice range, Kuyo and Kaoruko watch as Mizuho and Kaede approach the 13th hole. Kuyo wonders if Aoi is controlling the game this time around. Kaoruko says she is, but that everything about her is different, her form, her swing, she's like a different person out there now. On the course, Aoi is aiming her shot at the flag, commenting to herself that the distance in Eve's tee shots make it easier for her to aim her own approach shots, calling the two of them to be the perfect pair. Her shot lands on the green and hits the flag pole, landing close to the pin again, making Mizuho even more frustrated. She remembers her own meeting with Kazuhiko as a young girl as well, when she was being called the "Genius Girl from Kochi." He shows her his "Rainbow swing," and tells her the same thing he told Aoi, and what Coach Amuro told Eve. She asks if she can do the same thing, and he tells her she can with hard work. SHe starts her backsing, wishing she could make that shot, and the ball lands a few yards back of Aoi's, further frustrating her. Coach Date comments as he watches that Mizuho is getting crushed like an ant by a creature far greater than herself, and that she exists only to make Aoi look strong by comparison.

Back in Nafrece, Klein and Lily are watching the Match at Klein's bar, The White Hart. Lily is excited as Eve increases their lead to 3-Up after 13 Holes. She asks Klein how much in prize money Eve will make when she wins, and Klein had to tell her that there is no prize money in Amateur golf. Lily complains that Eve should just turn pro, but Klein reminds her that it's impossible, because Eve has a price on ehr head, thanks to Katherine, who wants revenge for her beating Rose and losing her hold on the Casino being constructed.

The teams reach the 502-yard, Par 5 15th Hole, with Eve and Aoi still in the Lead, 3-Up. Aoi prepares her approach shot but begins to wobble, she realizes that she can't play much more, so she leaves it in Eve's hands. She hits her shot and Eve catches her, telling her to hang on until she can end the match. Kaede responds by getting on the green in two, putting them in contention for a potential eagle and the continuation of the match. Eve tells Aoi that she will end it here so she can rest. Aoi reminds her she wants a kiss too, but Eve tells her she's being greedy. She begins aiming for the flag again, like she did in the semi-finals, as she prepares to swing, she's hit with another Memory trigger. This time, she sees her mother, Eleanor Burton, for the first time since before she lost her memory. She is apologizing to her for never telling her something. She then see a vision of her father, only she realizes that it's the Man who is Aoi's Father, Kazuhiko Hodaka. SHe hears his words again, "A Swing without Uncertainty leaves a Rainbow in its wake," as she remembers more and more. She swings and releases her Father's Rainbow shot, which all who know his golf game recognize instantly. The ball soars over the flag and lands at the back of the green, but then in an incredible display of backspin, the ball goes flying back into the cup for the eagle. At the bar, where he's been watching the Finals, Leo says that EVe has taken her past back,then turns to a young girl sitting next to him, telling her that she will eventually face her on the course. the girl, named Aisha, smiles and say she's ready for it.

Aoi runs up to Eve to congratulate her, but Eve tells her that she's remembered her real name, adn introduces herself as Evangeline Burton. She tells her that her mother was Eleanor Burton and her father was Kazuhiko Hodaka, stunning Aoi.

## Matches

### All-Japan Girls High School Doubles Tournament (Match Play)

#### Semifinals

* **Mizuho Himekawa and Kaede Oikawa** vs. Kagawa Girls High, 6 and 5

#### Finals

* Eve and Aoi Amawashi vs. Mizuho Himekawa and Kaede Oikawa

## Characters

* Eve
* Aoi Amawashi
* Amane Shinjo
* Ichina Saotome
* Reiya Amuro
* Kinue Jinguji
* Mizuho Himekawa
* Kaede Oikawa
* Kazuhiko Hodaka (flashback)
* Seira Amawashi
* Kaoruko Iijima
* Kuyou Iseshiba
* Akihiro Date
* Leo Millafoden
* Aisha Khambatta

## Trivia

* The logo featured on the golf ball during the opening credits is the Logo of the Nadaminami Girls' Sports Academy,