Episode 19

**Shining Wings** (輝ける翼 *Kagayakeru Tsubasa*) is the nineteenth episode of the anime Birdie Wing.

## Plot

The Japan Women's Open Golf Tournament has begun, but after finding out that Reiya might be her real father, Aoi has been throwing herself off her game. However, when Reiya recovered, Aoi has unlocked her new golf skill that may rival Eve's golf skill.

## Summary

At the Burton Family Mansion, Allen Harvey is relating the results of Eve's match against Remelda. He tells him that not only did she defeat Remelda, but is on another level of golf skill than any underground golfer, stating that no other underground golfer can beat her. Burton tells him to give her everything she'll need between that moment and the European Women's Open. Harvey tells him that she declined the offer, and Burton smiles, saying that she intends to forge her own path.

At the White Hart, Klein, Lily, Charlotte, Jessica, and Emily are listening to Eve tell them that the mafia trouble is over and that she's home again. the girls rush to hug their big sister, while Lily asks where her MG Gunpla model is. Eve then introduces Ichina, deliberately forgetting her name, which sets her off. Outside the pub, Vipère and her boyfriend sit in her car, her head laying on her arms across the steering wheel. He says that there is no need for them anymore, and she agrees that it's better this way, as Eve's destiny lays on a different path from them, exiting her life quietly as they drive off.

The scene transitions to a studio in Tokyo, where a series of promotional shoots are underway with current top golfer Reika Shikishima. Two of the PR Managers are discussing Reika's success at only 20 years old, while she goes through the product endorsement shoots. the female manager mentions that sales are up since signing Reika, but her male counterpart that this might be their last year using Reika as a spokesperson. The upper management is hoping to replace Reika with Aoi, based on the results of the Japan Womens' Open.

Later that day, at one of the Amawashi Group's hotels in Tokyo, Reika meets with Amane, her Niece. She asks about her school life and if she has a boyfriend yet. Amane tells her that she's at a Girls' academy so that's not an option for her, disappointing her aunt. Amane hands her a flash drive, saying it has the information she requested. Reika says she's surprised that her niece is Aoi's personal manager, but Amane tells her that she didn't have a choice in the matter, that she's forced to do it in order to go to school and survive. The scene then flashes back five years to the funeral of Amane's father, Koichi Shinjo. At the services, which Reika Seira speaks to a younger Amane telling her how her father had saved her during her career when he served as her personal caddy. She tells her that if there's anything she can do to help, that she need only ask, while a young Aoi offers her own prayers at the funeral altar.

In the present, Reika apologizes to her for not being able to help her at the time, since her family were also financially struggling. Amane tells her that she was still in high school and there was nothing she could do. Reika asks her what the terms of her contract are, and is told that Amane is to help her on and off the course in preparations to become a pro golfer. Reika assumes that she'll be with her for a while longer, which garners a response from Amane, stating that the current prize queen is rather confident. Reika then quotes Sun Tzu, "If you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of 100 battles," then tells her that she will be winning the Japan Women's Open. She then offers Amane an opportunity to join her as her personal caddy once her contract with Athens is up, for a 30% cut of her prize winnings. Amane tells her that the information she gave her was not to help her, but to see exactly who she'll be facing off against. She departs telling her she will see her at the Open.

Amane arrives at Amawashi Group Headquarters, where she meets with Seira. She apologizes from bringing her out to Tokyo, but Amane waves it off since there was no practice scheduled today and Aoi is off enjoying her cakes. Seira admonishes her to keep Aoi's sugar intake down, but she says she tries unsuccessfully, then reports on her training, She tells Seira that the headache-like symptoms she suffered during the Doubles Championship have not resurfaced since then, then tells her that Eve's departure also affected her progress, but that is passing. She asks Seira why she was summoned to headquarters. Seira presents with a new set of clubs that Coach Amuro designed exclusively for Aoi, the Shining Wings. Amane worries about Aoi changing clubs so close tot he tournament, but Seira tells her that Coach Amuro said she would be able to master them with no trouble. As she packs the clubs into the trunk, Seira tells her to say hello to Reika for her, surprising Amane, who wasn't aware that the CEO knew of her familial connection. She does say that she met with Reika prior to coming to headquarters, and that she'll be surprised by the info she gave her. As they are talking, Reika is poring over the information about Aoi,. Reika is surprised to see that her numbers have improved since the doubles tournament, realizing that she's going to be a worthy opponent after all. Mentioning that the tournament will take place at the Maihama Country Club in Chiba Prefecture, Reika surmises that Aoi will be at a disadvantage being on the tour for the first time, and that given all of the circumstances surrounding her, it will be fun.

Back at the Raiou Academy practice range, Aoi is overjoyed at seeing the new clubs that Amane brought back from Tokyo, even going to far as to smell the clubs for that "New Club Smell," annoying Amane with her childish antics. Coach arrives, pleased to see the "New Type" has been rolled out. He asks her to test them out, starting with the driver as he takes a seat on the bench behind her. Aoi swings and immediately feels a difference with the clubs, like they are an extension of her body. Coach, with his eyes closed and listening to the impact of the clubs on the balls, says that they are a perfect fit for her. He opens his eyes to watch his daughter swing away, as he says internally that these clubs are a present from her parents, the first and last gift she'll get from them. He recalls Kazuhiko visiting him in the hospital after his collapse. He told his friend that he wasn't going to take the win while their game wasn't finished, and wanted him to get better so they could play again. She smiles as she says that he thinks that their daughters will be able to keep that promise as he collapses onto the ground.

Amuro is lying unconscious in a hospital bed as Team President Jinguji explains to Aoi and Amane that the coach suffers from a rare variant of a disease known as Tuberous Sclerosis complex. His late night working on the Shining Wings clubs aggravated his condition, and further stress could become fatal. Amane recalls Seira's words about Coach designing the clubs exclusively for Aoi and realizes that he did this for her in order for her to turn pro. She tells Aoi to let the President keep watch on him, that she needs to prepare for the tournament, because what he wanted more than anything was for her to win the Open, even more than his own life. Aoi starts to cry as she says she knows that but she doesn't want to leave him, not when she needs to know the truth as to if he is her real father or not.

One month later, Ichina is still in Nafrece with Eve, having become part of the family now. As she narrates her life with Eve and her sisters, we see the six girls all asleep in the same bedroom, Eve, Lily, and the girls all entangled with each other, while Ichina is on the side in a separate mattress, out of the range of Eve's kicks. During the day, she and Eve are training together, running and hitting balls at her makeshift practice range. She then works on Eve's body with a massage before heading downstairs to join Lily and Klein by helping out at the bar, where she washes dishes and has added a couple of favorite Japanese dishes to the menu, which has gone over well with some of the clientele. She says that Klein and Lily have been really good to her but her focus remains on getting Eve ready to turn pro, as she stays up late studying the European Tour courses while Eve sleeps.

The following day, as Eve is out hitting balls at the tree on her practice range, Ichina gets an alert about the results of the first day of the Women's Open in Japan. Eve asks who's winning and Ichina says that Reika is atop the leader board at 5 under, but Aoi is tied for 89th at 4 over. Eve is shocked and wonders what is going on with her. Out on the course, Reika sees Aoi struggling and thinks she can't handle the pressure, not knowing about the existential crisis the young golfer is going through with regards to Coach Amuro. Amane is on the phone with Seira who is worried about Aoi's performance after the first day. Seira asks her what's wring and Amane tells her straight up that physically, she's fine but she's making mistakes because she's not focused on the game, and it started when Coach Amuro collapsed, and says that Aoi is worried about the man who could be her biological father.

Seira is dumbfounded and asks her what she means, and she tells her that there's too much circumstantial evidence to not come to the conclusion that Coach Amuro is her real father. Seira asks if Aoi knows, Amane says that she has no evidence but she seems to think that it's true. She says that if she knew he was her father, she would have quit the tournament to be at his bedside, and that's the type of girl Aoi is, but since she doesn't know, she's torn about where she should be and as a result, she's making mistakes. Seira tells her that she'll be there in the morning but Amane tells her forcefully not to come, that being there will hurt her more and cost her a shot at catching Reika. then hangs up the phone. She curses her father for being obsessed with Kazuhiko's golf legacy and not on Aoi's best interests. a few minutes later, Gozo's personal secretary is on the phone saying that the chairman is infuriated with his granddaughter's performance on the first day. Seira angrily retorts to tell him that there are still three days left in the tournament, and hangs up. She feels that she and Aoi have been ruined by the Golf Company, and her father's obsessions.

Aoi is unable to sleep, sitting on the edge of the bed, as Amane walks into the bedroom. Amane is conflicted as to what to say to her, as she thinks that any attempts at sympathy would just sound as hollow. Aoi asks if there's any update on Coach's condition, and she tells her that the Team President would call when he wakes up. Amane tells Aoi that Coach was the one who designed the clubs just for her, so that she could use them for the first time at her pro tour debut and that they were filled with his love. She turns and sees that Aoi has now gotten under the covers and is going to sleep now so she can do her best in the morning. As she looks at her friend, Amane says to herself that she told her and put a chain around her heart to keep her from running away. She regrets her harsh words to Seira, and as she tears up, says that she wants to believe in those clubs, that they will help Aoi retake her light and soar into the sky.

At the opening of the second round of the tournament, Aoi is in the afternoon group, teeing off from the 412-Yard, Par 4, 10th hole. As the announcer talks about Aoi's parentage, Kaoruko Iijima, Kuyou Iseshiba, and Coach Akihiro Date are all watching the feed at the club room at Koran Academy. Date is complaining that Aoi's parentage has nothing to do with her being there. Over at Koichi Nadan Academy, Mizuho Himekawa and Kaede Oikawa are commenting on Aoi's potential to overcome her early deficit. Kaede is confident that she can recover, which Mizuho agrees, stating that the two of them know how terrifying her strength can be better than anyone else. Amane hands her the driver as she prepares for her first shot. Seira watches from her office, heeding Amane's admonition not to come to the course for her sake. Gozo is watching from his home in Kanto, urging his granddaughter to press on and recover. As Aoi steps toward the tee box, she asks what Eve would say to her, and in her head she sees Eve sarcastically chastise her for struggling and saying that she'll be the first to turn pro before the image walks away. Aoi says that's exactly what Eve would tell her. She says to herself that she's there for the sake of the golf brand, and her mother's and grandfather's hopes, but more importantly, she loves playing golf, but as she swings she questions her real reasons for being there, as her shot lands off the fairway, into the rough. Reika watches from the clubhouse, surprised at where the ball landed, sure that Aoi's hopes are dashed now. As they walk up to the ball, Aoi apologizes to Amane, who tells her just to focus and not worry, she can recover and shoot for a birdie easily. AS they walk, for the time in her life, Aoi is questioning why she's playing. She says that whether she wins or loses, nothing will change because the person she really wants to be praised by isn't here, as he is lying unconscious in a hospital bed, possibly dying and she says that golf is not fun for her.

Amane breaks her out of her thoughts and motions over to the gallery along the fairway. There, still in a robe and in a wheelchair, sits Coach Amuro. In a seemingly telepathic link between father and daughter, Amuro tells her not to think that she's no good, to just enjoy golf like he taught her. He says that the Shining Wings will make her light shine even brighter.

Amane hands her an 8-iron as he tells her to take flight with those wings he's made for her. She say that when she wins the game, she wants to ask him if he is her father, as she addresses the ball, He says that he will tell her the truth, as both father and daughter combine their stances into her as a shimmering pair of wings spreads out from behind Aoi as the two say to each other that for now she just focuses on enjoying golf again. As she swings, the club transforms into a silver bird as she impacts the ball and sends it flying straight and true towards the flag. Amane watches the ball soar, saying that this was what she wanted to see, that although she had been forced to become a servant and had her own dreams taken from her, that she cursed her unlucky life, she wants to stay with Aoi and help her build her future together. All of the crowd, her family and her golf rivals all watch as the ball lands just short of the cup, setting up an opportunity for a birdie.

Reika is out on the putting green when her caddy comes up to tell her that Aoi is almost through the back nine going 4-under after eight holes. She wonders what kind of magic her niece used to get her out of her slump, still not aware of the truth. Out at the 18th hole, Amane tells Aoi that Reika is now at 10-under par after the second round. She tells her that they need another 4-under on the front nine to have a shot at catching her. As Aoi takes her second shot on the hole, Coach Amuro looks on as he watches her launch her own signature shot, the Shining Shot, towards the hole.

## Matches

### Athens Japan Women's Open, Maihama Country Club, Chiba Prefecture

* 1st Round T89 (+4)
* 2nd Round TBD (-4 after 8 Holes, Even Par Overall)

## Characters

* Eve
* Aoi Amawashi
* Amane Shinjo
* Ichina Saotome
* Klein Clara
* Lily Lipman
* Emily
* Jessica
* Charlotte
* Seira Amawashi
* Reiya Amuro
* Kinue Jinguji
* Reika Shikishima
* Kaoruko Iijima
* Kuyou Iseshiba
* Akihiro Date
* Mizuho Himekawa
* Kaede Oikawa

## Trivia

* The golf ball logo featured in the opening credits is the "SR" branded ball of Reika Shikishima
* There are two time skips from the previous episode. The first moves the story up a month to September as both girls prepare for their respective Pro debuts. Amane mentions that Aoi's stats dropped after Eve's "departure," but they recovered in the month since that occurred. The second time skip moves the story to October, when the Athens Japan Women's Open occurs.
* The full quote from Sun Tzu that Reika references in the episode is as follows, *“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”*