Episode 5

VR
--

**VR** (Virtual Reality) is the fifth episode of the anime Birdie Wing.

## Plot

Eve and Aoi deal with the fallout over their missed golf round until Eve discovers Virtual Reality, and the two end up getting a second chance to face each other, but Eve's future in Nafrece is threatened.

## Summary

Aoi and Amane arrive back in Japan after the Junior Championships, but Aoi wants to return to Nafrece and see Eve. Amane won't allow it, but before Aoi can argue further, the Press descend on the two, asking for Aoi to comment on her victory. Amane tells the press that there will be a formal press conference later, as she pulls Aoi away. As they head for baggage claim, they run into two other rivals, the defending Japanese Amateur Champion, Mizuho HImekawa, and Kaede Oikawa, her doubles partner. Himekawa congratulates her on the win but tells her she will be defending her title against her.

After a ride into town, Aoi and Amane meet with the head of Athena Apparel, Seira Amawashi, who is also Aoi's mother. She asks her daughter if she enjoyed the game. Aoi beams as she tells her about meeting Eve, but Amane cuts her off when she starts gushing. Seira has her company investigators look into Eve's background, intent on preventing anyone from stopping Aoi from reaching the pinnacle of the sport, as she speaks to a portrait of her husband, Aoi's father. During the limo ride home, Aoi still can't get her mind off Eve, but Amane tells her that she was only in the tournament on a sponsor's exemption for that round. She tells her she needs to focus on the PR campaign she'll have to deal with for the next few days and not on some nobody who she'll never see again.

Back in Nafrece, Eve is sulking on the couch, still hurt over not being able to keep her promise to Aoi. Lily doesn't understand why she's like that. Her sister Klein tells her she's only seen her play a few times, but she could tell immediately that she enjoyed playing against Aoi, by the way she took her play so seriously. Kevin calls for another match at the Train Hole, where Eve beat Chris Christina, but Eve doesn't want to play. However, the orphans unintentionally shame her into playing.

After Kevin's tee shot falls way short, Eve is distracted by her memories of Aoi telling her golf is sacred to her, and her shot lands in the sand trap. Kevin feels confident from the shot, but Eve assuages Lily by saying she's giving him a handicap, but her mind continues to be on Aoi and the realization that golf doesn't mean the same to her anymore.

At Catherine's Tower home, Rose is receiving her cut of the money from the match against Nicolas. while Catherine not only tells her that they now have the deed to the land where the casino is going to be built, but also thanks her for introducing Eve to her. She suggests that Eve come work for her exclusively, that she can get "dolled up" and attract fans, and even if she loses, she can "service" them as well. Rose tells her that would not work with Eve. As she departs, Rose offers her boss a "friendly warning" not to try to recruit Eve. Catherine believes that Rose must like her to warn her off.

Lily brings home a celebratory pizza for the orphans, but Eve isn't hungry and sits at the bar with Klein, who brings up the subject of Virtual Reality. She tells her how the Japanese are crazy for VR, especially VR Golf, which sends Eve out into the entertainment District of the city. There she finds a VR Arcade and get outfitted with the gear needed. The game attendant asks her what kind of outfit she wants to wear, but Eve doesn't understand, and tells the attendant to just pick something.

She logs in and is briefly disoriented as she experiences VR movement, but then finds herself dressed as a kitty maid, which the game attendant did as per her request. She begins playing the course and is surprised at the feel of the club, managing to fire her Blue Bullet tee shot for 250 yards, which made her even more impressed. While Eve is deep into her session, Rose shows up at the bar, handing Klein a wad of bills, thanking her for nudging Eve into trying VR Golf. Klein is worried about Rose's Motives in manipulating Eve in this manner, but Rose tells her not to worry, it's for Eve's benefit as well as hers, calling her actions a "win-win" for them both.

Eve finishes the round and realizes that she isn't even tired after 18 holes. Looking over her score card for the round, she discovers that her 10-under score has her in second place for the day. She looks up the player, someone name Althea, who's currently on the 14th hole of the virtual course, so she opens a portal to the hole and arrives in time to see the person make their tee shot. She's stopped dead in her tracks as she recognizes the 48-inch driver, the trajectory of the ball, the follow-through on the swing. She doesn't believe it. It's Aoi Amawashi.

As she finishes her shot, "Althea" turns and sees Eve standing there and runs to hug her. Eve doesn't recognize her in the Avatar she's using, a sort of winged Neon Genesis Evangelion style suit with winged mask. Aoi asks her why she was late, telling her she waited until the last minute for her to arrive. Eve now realizes that it really is Aoi. Aoi tells her she's dressed this way so that nobody recognizes her since she's famous in Japan. Eve tells her that she didn't think she'd ever see her again, which surprises Aoi, who tells her that she got her invitation to play an hour before. Eve denies sending it because she had no idea how to reach her.

Aoi tells her that she's mad at her for breaking her promise. Eve apologizes to her, telling her she tried to get there after her match with Vipère, without getting into detail about the underground match, but couldn't get there in time, Eve tells her that she was really mad, telling her she thought she lied to her after being up all night excited for the round, but she forgives her because they can now play their round together. Even though Eve doesn't consider this real golf, Aoi nonetheless tells her that it doesn't matter, what matters is they're together, playing the game they love, as Aoi tees off, her avatar's skirt wings flare out as she hits her tee shot. Somewhere outside, Rose is listening and recording their VR conversation, quietly encouraging her, her motives behind this VR "date" still unclear.

At Athena HQ, Siera meets with the head of the company's investigative department. Kuchinishi, He tells her that there is no teenage girl named Eve Aleon who lives in Nafrece, and that the name may be fake. He tells her that her entry was insisted upon by one of the corporate sponsors in Nafrece, which Seira tells him to contact directly. He tells her they are untouchable because of their alleged ties to the Mafia, which shocks Seira. Seira assumes that the two girls will never cross paths, giving her some relief in the fear that she could be a hinderance to realizing Aoi's potential in becoming a world champion at Golf.

Both Eve and Aoi are lying on a virtual green, exhausted from their round, something Aoi has never experienced before. Eve can't accept a virtual game, win or lose. She wants to play Aoi, the real Aoi, in real time, together. Aoi sits up, smiling, telling her that she will wait for her to come to her so they can play as real players, not on a special invite like at the Junior Championships. Eve is taken aback by the proposal, and Aoi doubles down with an extended pinkie finger, telling her not to break her promise. But before she can agree to the promise, she is logged out of the system. She takes off her headset to discover a crying Lily who tells he that they're losing their home.

## Characters

* Eve
* Aoi Amawashi
* Amane Shinjo
* Lily Lipman
* Rose Aleon
* Klein Clara
* Mizuho Himekawa
* Kaede Oikawa
* Seira Amawashi

## Matches

* Eve (w/ Lily Lipman) vs. Kevin
* Eve vs. Althea (Aoi Amawashi)

## Trivia

* The Golf Ball Logo featured in the Opening Credits is Aoi's Pakkun ball.