Episode 5

Episode 5 of the Wave!! anime.

## Summary

Upon the absence of someone close to him, Masaki loses the motivation to surf. The school year flies by and Nalu reassures Masaki until he's ready to surf again. Graduation comes: Masaki decides to go to the private school Kosuke and Yuta invited him to in the Shonan prefecture, and Nalu leaves to attend school in Hawaii. With new places come new waves to ride- Masaki goes surfing with Kosuke and Yuta the minute arrives.

 Recap

Months have passed since Sho died in an accident while surfing during a severe winter storm. There is no trace of all of the energy or happiness Masaki had before the death of his friend. No longer dose he get up a 4am and hit the waves. Instead he has his alarm set for 6:30, which he then shuts off and goes back to sleep. Sakura is already and out the door before Masaki is even out of bed. Masaki apologizes to Isokichi for not being able to take him for a walk before school, as he is already running late. He promise to take him out latter. Masaki just manages to make it to school before the late bell rings.

After school, we see just how sad shadow of his former self, Masaki has become. Were once he ran with excitement to the fantasy island surf shop, with Sho and Nalu, he now just keeps an extremely slow pace home. After he finally arrives at home, Masaki takes Isokichi for the promised walk. It is a "walk" to the middle school, unlike before, when he would challenge Isokichi to a race to sun beach. Fortunately, Isokichi has other ideas. Not liking the slow pace or were they are going, he brakes free and charges toward sun beach. This forces Masaki to run after him. Masaki finally catches up to Isokichi at the beach.

At the beach Nalu who appears to still be his old self, comes up from behind and gives him a friendly soft punch. He askes Masaki if he is going to go surfing. Masaki agrees the waves are good but, declines the offer. He seems, however, to enjoy watching Nalu ride the waves. He then gives a tug on Isokichi's leash and they head back home. That night, we see Masaki lying on his bed looking up at the roof of his room clearly depressed and troubled.

Day after day, Masaki repeats this routine over and over again. walking to the beach with Isokichi, watching  Nalu surf and returning home. Passing by fantasy island each time, much to the concern of Shoko and his uncle who see he is not doing well. The season soon changes to spring.

Finally, one spring night,  Masaki seemingly finally having had enough, goes out side to  his surfboard. He touches it to find it covered with dirt. He takes the board to sun beach, still in his full clothes', not his wetsuit. He wades out to water up to his neck. He then pushes the board out to sea. Masaki Wishes he had never taken up surfing. then a wave comes and knock him over and into the water. Masaki lacks the will to try and save himself. As he lets him self sink to the bottom, he sees a vision of Sho diving down to save him, before beginning to drown.

Suddenly, Nalu appears and pull's him out of the water, he jokes that Masaki is "Not dressed for surfing". (We now hear what has been troubling Masaki.)  Masaki, who begins to cry, asks Nalu why Sho went out in such bad weather especially after he went after Masaki so aggressively for doing the same. He also wonders why, if Sho was depress, he did not come to ether of them for help? Did Sho really consider them friends? He then tells Nalu that he hates surfing for taking his friend away but still likes the sport. He brakes down again and tells Nalu he doesn't know what to do?

Nalu confesses he has felt the same way, despite acting like every thing is was ok. He tells Masaki that as Sho told them, they are all in the same ocean and he can feel Sho's presence when he surfs. He also tells Masaki not to say he's quitting as he will make Sho sad. Masaki starts crying again. Nalu bends down to put his arm around Masaki to comfort him.

Nalu looks up to see several surfers from the forest cup approaching the beach. Shoko and Masaki's uncle are with them. she tells them they are for Sho. The surfers begin to preform Sho's signature areal twist move, as a tribute to him. As this is happening, they see that Masaki's board has been pushed ashore by a wave. Nalu tells Masaki they should surf with them. Masaki, now in his winter wetsuit, begins to ride waves and is notably happier. Shoko tells Masaki's sister and mother, who have come to watch, that Masaki will be ok now. When they ask why, his uncle tells them he's a surfer.

After surfing for a while, everyone gathers around a fire wrapped in towels. Masaki sneezes to the laughter of his fellow surfers. His sister scolds him for going out like he did and worrying them. Masaki apologizes for worrying them.

Not long after, Masaki and his classmates graduate from middle school. Masaki has decided to attend a private high school that Yuta and Kosuke invited him to. The school is far away in Shonan prefecture, requiring him to move there to attend it. He will be staying with a legendary surfboard maker. On arrival, the first thing Masaki wants to do, not surprisingly, is to go surfing. which he does with Yuta and Kosuke