Episode 4

**"Powerhouse Climbers"** (強豪クライマー, *Kyōgō Kuraimā*) is the fourth episode of the *Hang On! Sport Climbing Girls* anime series.

## Characters

* Konomi Kasahara
* Sayo Yotsuba
* Jun Uehara
* Nonoka Sugiura
* Juzo Goto
* Kikuko Goto
* Asuka Fujimura
* Rina Samura
* Masumi Fujita
* Kurea Ooba
* Akane Uchimura
* Kaoru Niijima
* Chinari Iwamine
* Chigusa Kumagai
* Maruno Satou
* Anne Kurusu
* Hifumi Benibana

## Summary

While heading towards the Anti-Monkey Rock, Konomi has a bad dream about gaining too much muscles and ending in bodybuilding competition, but still loosing to Jun. Kikuko Goto asks Konomi if she made a decision about what she asked her last time and Konomi apologizes for not answering before, but now will answer her and asks her to wait on top of the rock. Konomi then attempts to climb it. She still ends up fearing the fall, but manages to overcome it and believe in her body and succeeds in climbing the rock. Kikuko comes on top of the rock and Konomi looking at the view, explains she realizes why she is into rock climbing, but apologizes for not being able to accept her offer as she has a dream on her own to become the best in Japan. She still wants to be friends and invites Kikuko to come and watch the Kanto Bouldering Championship next week and show her that sports climbing can also be fun. Kikuko tries to explain its fine and she doesn't need to come, but Konomi plays it that she is her master and a student needs to come and cheer for their master and Kikuko accepts.

The group takes a day break from practice and go Rockaround Rock, one of the biggest climbing gyms in Japan. There, they meet Asuka Fujimura, the owner. She then feels Konomi's legs in order to good shoes for her. She recommends a downturned shoes and Konomi tries them and realizes the difference between the shoes she was using until now and the new shoes.

At the day of the championship, Kikuko comes with Juzo Goto, who had shaved and the girls can't recognize him as he became more attractive. Kikuko asks Konomi if she now wants to marry him, but Konomi still declines. Akane comes telling them they shouldn't look at men before the event, but Kaoru Niijima apologizes for Akane words, stating that their club's motto is "climb your dreams". Akane finds that meaningless without winning and Chinari Iwamine agrees. Seeing her, Akane runs in fear. Sayo asks Chinari and her team how motivated they are to win today. Chinari and Chigusa they aren't really motivated, but Maruno Satou states she is and she had seen all of the exploits of Sayo's team, but as their team is participating their "exploits" will be "patched". Chinari congratulate Maruno on her words, which makes Maruno happy. Chinari confirms that since they are participating, they will be taking the top spots and will be happy to see their loosing faces. Masumi Fujita disagrees with that. Nonoka comments that Chinari, Sayo and Masumi are the Three Climbing Dames, the name of the three girls in their generation that are head and shoulders above the rest. The announcer tells everyone to take their positions and prepare and the girls disperse. Jun tells Konomi that even of those are big and famous, she will ultimately face the walls and not them and to follow her own brand of climbing.

In the dressing room, one of the St. Caterno members approach Konomi greeting her and commenting she didn't believe they will be reunited here. As Konomi can't remember who she is, the girl introduces herself as Kurea Ooba and that she was in the same ballet school as Konomi. She explains Konomi used to have better pique turn than her, but in climbing Kurea is the better one.