Episode 21

**Rainbow and Bullet** (虹と弾丸 *Niji to dangan*) is the twenty first episode of the anime Birdie Wing.

## Plot

The European Women's Open Golf Tournament has begun, and already Eve is struggling even with her usual skills. In order to defeat Aisha and win the championship, Eve must learn a new technique by combining her former master Leo's Rainbow Bullet and her father Kazuhiko's Rainbow Shot.

## Summary

It's the day after Aoi's win at the Japan Women's Open and she's sitting with Coach Amuro in his room at the hospital near the Golf Course. While she is inside, Amane waits outside the room. After an awkward silence, Amuro congratulates her on her win, and she asks if he's her real father. He tells her the truth, he Is her biological father, and she embraces him as she starts to cry. He tells her that he is sorry for keeping the truth from her and that He will tell her everything about how loved she truly is, bringing the girl to tears.

As Aoi and her father bond, Eve, Allen, and Ichina are in a cabin alongside the New Luminous Club Course at CCG Scotland, host of the European Women's Open. Ichina is studying a detailed layout of the course. As the newest course on the Tour, it is exceedingly difficult. She cite the 30-foot elevation difference throughout the course, as well as the 13 water hazards and nearly 100 bunkers spread out over the 18 holes. She also notes the narrow fairways and the nearly impossible greens that are protected by a combination of both sand and water hazards, making any shot treacherous and definitely difficult for Eve’s style of golfing, and she'll need at least a score of four Under par (-4) to win. Despite her efforts to get Eve to listen, she responds to Ichina’s course strategy by saying she will maintain her golf style, because she says that she can't win unless she goes all out against her.

On another part of the golf club, Aisha is chowing down on a steak at the bar where she and Leo watched Eve and Aoi win the Doubles Championship, telling her to fuel up for this contest. He recalls the conversation he had with Eve's father, Kazuhiko, after their legendary match, where he asks him to train Eve in his golf style if she shows an interest in playing golf. Kazuhiko tells Leo that he can't always be there for his daughter, due to the nature of his marriage to Seira back in Japan. He tells Leo that he wants to see her combine his golfing style with Leo's to create the ultimate fusion of styles, Kazuhiko's Rainbow Swing, and Leo's Bullet shots.

The first day of the Women's Open begins with Eve on the 430-yard, Par 4 4th Hole. As she prepares her tee shot, she is complaining to herself that the elevation on the course is preventing her from even seeing the fairway. What's worse, Eve's Direct Strike Blue Bullet is buffeted by the strong crosswinds and lands in the high rough. Ichina tells her that she can recover and save par by playing it safe and aiming for the fairway, but Eve grabs for her 3 wood, telling her caddy that she's aiming for the pin instead. She launches another Blue Bullet, butt his one lands in the sand trap just in front of the green. Eve is frustrated that the course may be her undoing.

As Eve struggles with her shots, over at the tee box for the 505-yard, Par 5 13th Hole, Allen Harvey is observing Aisha's round, as per Eve's orders. He watches her running tee shot, akin to a certain former hockey player turned golfer from a very popular movie in America. A traditionalist when it comes to the sport, Harvey dismisses her swing as reckless but admits that despite its inaccurate nature, it does produce a good amount of distance. He then sees Leo acting as her caddy. Both men make eye contact, clearly acknowledging one another.

Eve has progressed to the 510-yard, Par 5 6th Hole, where she sits about 250 yards from the pin, but faces a massive water hazard in front of the elevated green and two huge sand traps flanking it. Ichina tells her to get the ball into a good position but as usual, Eve decides to go all out, launching an Indigo Bullet to try to skip it across the hazard, but the distance is too great and the ball falls short into the water. The frustration is evident on Eve's face as she stares at the ripples on the water where the ball sank.

At a hotel in Tokyo, Aoi is announcing her intent to turn pro at a press conference, saying that she will be taking a leave of absence from school to pursue her career. She also confirms that she will be sponsored by her family's company, Athens/Athena\* for her equipment. Outside the press conference, Amane is meeting with Seira, informing her that Aoi's registration for the Pro Tour will be approved in two weeks, but they are entering the Namco Classic that will occur during the upcoming weekend. Seira tells her she is looking forward to her daughter's debut. Amane tells her that the two of them are free now and that they are not going to blindly live up to anyone's expectations but their own. Seira agrees, promising to keep Aoi's grandfather from meddling, but reminds her that they are expected to abide by the terms of the sponsorship contract. Amane acknowledges that, saying that the two of them are professionals now and will play their part,

Seira comments that Aoi never complained about having to conform to the expectations placed on her growing up. Amane tells her that she never complained because she was happy to play, that she heeded the words of her father to enjoy playing golf from the bottom of her heart. She also thanks Seira for allowing her to meet Aoi and become her friend and confidant all those years. after leaving her, She and Aoi are talking in her hotel room. Aoi is exhausted from the presser but Amane surprises her with some good news, as she holds up her tablet, showing Eve is at the European Women's Open. Aoi can clearly see her favorite blonde golf monster teeing off as the video is being shot from over Ichina's shoulder. Aoi is shocked, however to learn that after the first round, Eve is in 18th place, three shots behind the leader, finishing the course at Two over par (+2). She is upset at her performance and doesn't understand what she's doing.

Back at the Luminous course, Eve is frustrated as Ichina goes over the day's results, Eve landed a single birdie but also got three bogeys for her first go-round. Eve asks Allen about Aisha's golf style. He tells her that her style is unconventional but it does give her the distance needed to get to the green quickly, and if she lands in a sand trap, she gets out by brute force. Allen does point out that despite her efforts, she ended up at Even Par for the round, getting four birdies, but two bogeys and a double bogey on the course. Without those three mistakes, Aisha would be atop the leaderboard and no one would be able to touch her.

Eve recalls the meeting with Leo after the round, He told her that if she doesn't catch up to her by the third round of the tournament, it will be a disappointment, if she can't beat her head-to-head. She wants to know where he gets off training her then disappearing, only to resurface to challenge her now. He tells her that where she is at in terms of her golf skills, she won't be able to compete with the other pros around the world. He tells her that unless he figures it out, she'll continue to struggle, then clues her in about Aisha's talent. He says that she uses artillery shells and that bullets are no match for them.

Outside the cabin, she recognizes that Aisha uses advanced bullets and that she has the advantage. She then remembers that day on the roof of her mother's apartment when her father showed her his Rainbow Swing technique, remembering his words as the memory floods her. She decides to change the nature of her golf. Ichina comes out to check on her telling her that she needs to rest or else she won't be effective on the course in the morning. Eve tells her she's going to change the nature of her golf game, and Ichina responds by saying she'll adjust their strategy,

Eve and Ichina stand at the tee box for the 440-yard, Par 4, 17th Hole, where Vipère is watching along with her boyfriend. She tells him that she's fallen two strokes further back after the 16th hole and is now at Four over (+4) and in 32nd place, in danger of missing the cut. Vipère notes that her swing is different from before. On her approach shot, she manages to create a rainbow which lands her on the green, but tells Ichina she's only 40% there, but she's getting closer to finding her swing. she vows to make it up further on the front nine.

At Coach Amuro's hospital room, Aoi and Amane inform him of their leave of absence from school, telling him they may not be able to visit as often as before. He tells her not to worry about him and tells Amane that he was surprised to hear she is taking a leave of absence as well. She tells him that it's fine that she has a strategy to get Aoi into the top five on the Japan Tour by next year and qualify for the British Open. He figures that she'll be ab le to challenge Eve there, which makes both girls laugh as he's already figured out his daughter's real objective. Club President Jinguji arrives with a vase of flowers for the Coach's room as the two are departing. She tells her to take the Team's dreams and hopes with her. Aoi says she won't stop until she reaches the British Open, she then tells her that she's leaving her father in her care and will be rooting for their relationship, which shocks and surprises her. Outside the hospital, Amane tells Aoi that Eve has recovered and sits in 7th place at Even Par after the second round. Aoi is excited for her and wants to go practice, but Amane tells her that she has seven commercials to shoot in Tokyo first, which upsets the girl.

The Third Round of the tournament finds Eve at the 170-yard Par 3 9th Hole. Aisha has dropped to two under (-2) and eve feels that she will face her tomorrow in the final round. Ichina says that there's still a chance that Eve can close in on the projected winning score of Four Under (-4). Vipère, who is again watching from the gallery, tells her boyfriend that Eve is definitely aiming for something more than just the lead. Eve launches a rainbow shot that gets on the green setting up a putt for birdie. Allen is on the phone to Michael Burton, Eve's Grandfather and head of Arios Golf, to relay his granddaughter's current status on the course, sitting in 5th Place at One Under (-1). He tells him that Eve is trying to "break out of her cocoon by her own will and strength."

He also tells him that someone is guiding her, but has to hang up as Leo approaches him. They greet each other as if they've known one another for many years. Leo is surprised to see him involved with eve, but Alan says he's just looking after her welfare and that he's retired from golf permanently. Leo advises him to teach her how to break out of her cocoon, but Alan says that's what he was gong to tell him. Leo declines politely as he's her opponent in this tournament, which makes Alan laugh as Leo departs, who also manages a smile to his face.

That evening, Eve and Ichina are at the practice range, where a ton of balls are littered over the range, A glowing rainbow emanates from an exhausted Eve as she launches a shot that overwhelms Ichina, knocking her to the floor. The ball careens through the sky and smashes through the 250-yard marker out on the range. Eve collapses from exhaustion, finally pleased that she has created her own unique golf shot, a melding of Her father's Rainbow Swing, and Leo's Bullets, the Rainbow Bullet: Burst.

In the morning, at the White Hart in Nafrece, Lily, Klein and the girls are up to watch their sister compete. Klein recognizes Leo as they show Aisha preparing for her tee shot from the 500-yard, Par 5 1st hole, eating a banana. the girls all go crazy as eve is then shown with Ichina, preparing for their round as well. Leo acknowledges Eve, surprised that she caught up. She tells him that she's not done yet, that she ahs a new rainbow to show him. Aisha launches her cannon shot and Ichina is rightfully displeased with her shot, but eve says she doesn't mind, prompting Ichina to tell her not to learn from Aisha. Eve tells her she has no intentions of doing that. As she prepared for her shot, Leo speculates on what kind of shot she plans on using, saying that she can't rely on the past for her strategy, as golf is always evolving. Eve gives him a look, which snaps him out of his thoughts, She powers up her shot, and Leo realizes that her shot is neither his nor Kazuhiko's shot, but one of her own making. The crowd is awed as the ball flies through the skies like a missile, landing past Aisha's shot easily. Leo realizes that she has achieved her father's dream of fusing their two golf styles. Vipère is amazed at Eve's now power, and the girls all cheer, thinking that Eve has won based on the tee shot, only to have Lily explain that there's still more shots to come. Aisha is also upset, but Leo reminds her that it only counts after the putting.

On their shots from the fairway, Aisha's shot overshoots the pin and ends up rolling down the side of the green, while Eve's Direct Strike Rainbow Bullet lands in a sand trap just outside the green. Leo thinks that Eve made a mistake, but in fact, she planned on it, as the ball position allows her to aim for the flag now. Eve uses her father's shot to land the ball behind the pin and back spin into the cup for the first eagle of the tournament. Eve says to herself that her new shot and the techniques her father taught her will let her do what she desires most, to compete with Aoi and take care of her sisters. Vipère walks away from the gallery, telling her boyfriend that they're leaving. He asks why she doesn't want to stay until the end of the round, she tells him that the tournament is over, no one can surpass Eve now. Alan looks aside at the pair then turns back to look at Eve, who has Ichina in a headlock.

(\*Note - I am going to be using both names as it occurs to Me that the company could be using Athena specifically for their Female Division, and Athens for the Male Division.)

## Matches

### Arios Europe Women's Open, GGC Scotland Luminous Club

* Eve (w/ Ichina Saotome) vs. Aisha Khambatta (w/ Leo Millafoden)

## Characters

* Eve
* Aoi Amawashi
* Amane Shinjo
* Ichina Saotome
* Reiya Amuro
* Kinue Jinguji
* Seira Amawashi
* Lily Lipman
* Klein Clara
* Emily
* Jessica
* Charlotte
* Alan Harvey
* Aisha Khambatta
* Leo Millafoden
* Kazuhiko Hodaka (flashback)

## Trivia

* The logo featured in the opening is a Double Swords crossed on a shield, but the ball is not seen in the episode. It is speculated that the ball is used by Leo Millafoden, but there is no evidence to support that.