Original subtitles

Okay, the balls are arranged in the same way they were

when you missed that shot in the tournament the other day.

But with your skill, it shouldn't have been difficult for you at all.

All right, give it a try.

As I recall, put the eight ball in the pocket, and you win.

However, the smallest error on this shot,

and you hand the other player a golden opportunity.

You're so cruel, Father! Putting such pressure on me!

You're usually so tough.

Falling apart under pressure is something you got from your mother.

Right, I get my good looks and beauty from her too.

My, my...

I'll show you how to do it, so watch me from there.

Yes, Sir.

Father, hold on! Come on, Father!

Father!

Close! It was so close!

Look here, what'd you go buying something like this for?

What's wrong with it? Billiards is really popular now.

So you get rid of the dining table and stick this here?

Where are we supposed to eat?!

Take it easy, we still have the kitchen, don't we?

Anyway, it's time. Shall we go?

Go? Where do you mean?

Come on, I was just telling you!

We're meeting a client at the Stardust Pool Bar at eight.

I'm not going! The client is some old guy, right?

A pool bar some old fart would go to

won't have any girls in high-cut bathing suits.

You see, a pool bar isn't a pool where you swim...

You may not know it, but a pool bar has got girls in high-cut suits,

not to mention a lot of popular girls, some even going topless!

Topless?

Kaori, we're keeping our client waiting! Hurry!

Kaori, stop dawdling!

What if the topless girls are gone when we get there?

I'm starting to get a little worried now.

We're here! Here's the Stardust!

Listen, Ryo, a pool bar isn't really a...

Here you go!

What's this?

This is my bathing suit!

What, Kaori?! Why did you bring a bathing suit?

A pool bar means billiards, you know?!

What?!

Can you believe it? She thought a pool bar was a place to swim!

She even brought a swimsuit.

Ryo, all along you were playing a joke on me!

You, you're good at running away!

Look...

The ultimate, mokkori, hustler babe!

Punishment!

Wow, that's our client?

I see, so our client is your father?

Yes, my father asked me to be here to meet you.

And what is the job?

He wants you to protect me from a man named Ginji.

Ginji?

He was a rival of my father's when he was an active player.

Apparently, after losing a match against my father,

his luck deserted him,

and in the end he left little mark on the world of billiards.

So, you think it was him who put explosives in that ball?

But we don't have any proof.

Only recently, Ginji challenged my father to a match for the Stardust.

He's taken notice of the recent boom in billiards,

and he's been using a variety of underhanded methods

to get his hands on other pool bars it appears.

Since your father's been injured,

does that mean you'll be facing Ginji instead?

Well, no, that hasn't been...

In any event, that's what Ginji thinks at least.

Meaning you'll be targeted next.

By the way, all the trophies and plaques here say second place.

You couldn't finish second so many times even if you tried, could you?

I'm no good.

At crucial moments, the pressure gets to me,

and I make stupid mistakes on the big shots.

It was always that way for me with sports events at school and tests.

So, when's the match?

The day after tomorrow, at Ginji's pool bar.

All right, I'll accept the job, but there's one condition.

Condition? Yes?

Ryo, what do private billiard lessons

have to do with accepting this job?

Well, I just thought these lessons would let me stick close to Yuri

making it easier for me to protect her. Or something like that.

What's more, I get paid plus I get free lessons from a pro.

Two birds with one stone, see?

Cheap!

I'm a beginner, so first teach me the rules, please.

Okay, that's fine. Let's try Eight Ball then.

First, we rack up fifteen balls.

Then, the break shot from the other end.

The trick is bending your knees slightly,

bend at the waist as if to bow

as you position your face in a line with the cue stick and cue ball.

You can see pretty good if you line your eyes up too.

You don't need to be lining your eyes up that way, Mr. Saeba!

Oh, oh, I see. I did not know that.

When another ball is extremely close to the cue ball like this,

you use a special shot called the massé shot.

Both feet must remain in contact with the floor in this situation.

Understood, my eyes are also in contact.

Mr. Saeba, where are you looking?

Just looking at your feet to make sure there's no foul.

That's right.

He's lying through his teeth.

Okay, please watch very closely.

Yes, Ma'am, I'm looking.

Oh, I'm sorry. If a ball jumps the table, that's a foul as well.

I see my enemy has changed her tactics.

Placing the waist slightly back without bending the knees is key.

Right, right, makes it easier to touch you...

One should take care not to disturb the play of one's opponent.

She's pretty good, but Ryo here remains undaunted.

The waiting player should stand with his cue vertical

to avoid being an obstacle.

Darn it! This calls for a direct frontal assault!

Yuri!

Showing your true colors, you perverted hustler!

You just have your mokkori with that wall!

Well, Yuri, let's forget about him, and have some fun just us two.

Okay.

Go ahead, go ahead. No one likes me anyway.

Boss, it looks like Okano won't get out of the hospital for a while.

That means that girl named Yuri, or whatever,

may be coming to the match the day after tomorrow.

Yes, probably.

Perhaps I should pay her a little visit tomorrow then.

Father, I can't do it.

You mean tomorrow's game?

I can't protect our bar.

Don't worry about the bar. If we lose it, we lose it, so what?

The nerves in my arm sustained a little damage.

Complete sensation won't be returning, they tell me.

Don't let it worry you so.

I understand it won't affect my daily activities that much.

You're Mr. Saeba?

Yuri seemed quite upset.

It was the increased pressure she felt

when she learned my arm won't be returning to normal.

And then, there are the memories she has of her mother in the bar.

This match could be a very hard thing for her.

She'll do it. Let's put our faith in her.

You're right.

Yuri Okano, right?

You're...

I was sorry to hear about your father.

However, without his participation in tomorrow's match,

I'm sorry to say that it appears the Stardust will be mine.

You're not getting our bar!

I'll be taking my father's place in the match!

What are you doing?!

You'd only lose anyway.

You'd do well to be a good girl and just give up.

I won't lose to the likes of you!

I'll stop you from getting our place!

Such a stubborn girl.

Guess it'll take a hurtin' like your father's so you understand.

By "hurtin", you mean something like this?

Lemme go!

There you go.

Who the hell are you?!

I'm Yuri's mokkori billiards student! Right?

Bastard, pulling that crap! I'll blow your head off!

Showing your true colors? Fine.

If you think you can shoot me, go ahead and try.

But make your first shot count.

If you don't, by the time you shoot the second one you'll be in Hell.

Damn!

That's enough!

No need to go causing a big commotion.

I'm going to win the match anyway.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow, young lady.

Look at that. They just left, just like that.

Mr. Saeba, weren't you frightened? That man had a gun!

It's because I believe in myself, so I can protect myself.

Look at you, you believed in yourself

when you told him he couldn't have the pool bar, didn't you?

Can't get to sleep?

Saeba!

Lack of sleep will hurt your game. Better get to sleep.

You're thinking about your father and the pool bar more than needed.

No, that's not...

Yuri!

Yes?

Instead, why not try thinking about the man you love?

I will be the medicine that helps you sleep.

You're the reason she can't get to sleep!

Is Saeba really okay?

He's fine, fine. This kind of thing will never kill Ryo.

But make sure you keep your door locked good and tight at least.

It's like you're living in a savage beast's cage.

Okay, goodnight then.

A savage beast's cage?

Ryo Saeba...

What a fancy breakfast! Did you make all of this, Yuri?

Yes!

Delicious!

I'm so happy! Scrambled eggs are my specialty!

She's really cheerful this morning. I wonder why?

The way she's acting, maybe she's not feeling any pressure.

Please have all you like!

You have to eat a proper breakfast to get the energy you need.

Okay, here I go!

Let's eat!

Is everything ready?

Yes, Sir!

Okay, Boss, please aim the ball at this chalk.

At the chalk, you say?

With the electromagnet in this table,

the cue ball's speed and direction can be controlled from anywhere.

As you would expect, this cue ball contains a piece of metal.

The bartender will control it from behind the bar.

Anyway, if you get behind in the match,

use that and you'll be sinking every shot.

Excellent!

They're here.

Welcome, let's decide matters today fair and square on the pool table.

I certainly hope it goes that way.

The game is Eight Ball.

The first player to win twenty racks is the victor.

Ryo, they're trying to put pressure on Yuri.

Let's just watch for now.

But...

Wow, she's not feeling any pressure at all!

Eight ball in the top left pocket.

Looks like the first rack goes to me.

A daughter to make Okano proud all right.

It looks like Yuri has the advantage at this point.

Fun and games are over.

Now he's making all of his shots!

I'd like a dry martini.

The bar's not open today.

You're back there controlling the shots instead?

What'd you say?!

I think it's time you stop your little tricks!

Bastard!

Okay, time to settle matters fair and square!

Damn!

Of all the...

If I... if I sink this one, I win, and we keep the bar.

What a cute tush!

What are you doing, Saeba?!

If you miss this shot, I get one mokkori!

Ryo, this is no time for that!

Fine, Saeba, I accept that bet.

Yuri?

Eight ball, top left pocket.

You did it! You sank it! Yuri wins!

Mr. Ginji, I'd like you to promise

that you'll keep your hands off the Stardust from now on.

Silence, silence! I won't accept this! Get them!

Didn't you say, when a ball jumps the table, it's a foul?

Saeba, you're...

Jerk!

If you ever commit any more fouls against her,

my gun's going to commit a foul of its own.

A foul?

Okay, what are you going to do?

Give up? Or is it going to be lead slugs?

Okay, okay! I give up!

Don't shoot! Don't shoot! Help!

Yuri, it looks like you didn't feel any pressure at all.

When I imagined that even if I lost,

Ryo's mokkori would be waiting, it made me relax.

Oh, no!

What?!

I didn't know his mokkori could have that effect.

But morally speaking I just can't allow it!

This job is really dangerous!

Being a guard for a young widow is just my thing.

That's why it's dangerous. I can just imagine what you'll do.

But what a shame it is for her to be in mourning for her husband

when she's only twenty-two.

This calls for my help!

Aren't you supposed to be taking care of a thief?

Piece of cake. My main mission here is opening up Masumi's heart.

I should have known. What do I do with you?

Don't miss it!