Akebi's Sailor Uniform Episode 11 - Training With Friends

Akebi’s Sailor Uniform episode 11 sees Akebi and the volleyball team taking some time off of school to train together. At Akebi’s elementary school gym, they practice for the athletics festival. There, a nice surprise awaits Akebi at the end. Let’s talk about what went down this week in a spoiler-filled discussion!

Getting the team together

Akebi’s Sailor Uniform episode 11 opens off with a reminder that Akebi and volleyball team are nowhere near ready to properly compete in the athletics festival. With this in mind, Akebi suggests that the team practice together at her old elementary school gym.

That evening, she calls her old teacher and asks if she could use the gym. The teacher heartily agrees, expressing through tears of joy that she’s happy that Akebi now has friends to invite, implying that she didn’t before. The tears that well up in Akebi’s eyes confirm this, and this sets up the emotional narrative of the story.

Given that we’re almost at the end of the season, seeing how Akebi’s managed to make so many friends throughout her journey and then learning about her struggle to do so in the past makes it so much easier to root for her. It creates emotional investment in what is a simple training session with her friends, which is another example of how this show elevates its simple premise.

Akebi’s friends

The volleyball team all gets together at the gym (along with Akebi’s little sister, Kao). Together, they manage to work up a sweat, train hard, and strengthen their bonds with each other. This fills Akebi with joy, as she expresses that this old elementary school that was meant to host hundreds is going to be torn down in the summer. The idea that this little volleyball training session with half a dozen people can now be a part of her memories of the school fills her with a semblance of joy.

However, Touko surprises Akebi by revealing later on that she invited the entire class to come along with them. And they all turned up. All the faces of the friends Akebi’s made along the way are present. Seeing them all come together here really cashes in on the emotional potential the show has been setting up all this way, and there’s a swell of heartwarming comfort seeing Akebi so thrilled with her friends.

Of course, one friend is missing from this big event. Erika sits alone in her room all this time, diligently practicing on her piano for Akebi’s dance performance. And boy, is this little piano practice session presented in such eye catching fashion. A beautiful animated sequence featuring Erika’s idea of Akebi dancing and frolicking around her as she plays the piano is truly the standout moment from Akebi’s Sailor Uniform episode 11.

The sequence really highlights just how much effort Cloverworks put into the show, and reminds audiences everywhere of just how beautiful this story can be, both visually and inherently.

The start of the festival

Akebi’s Sailor Uniform episode 11 ends with Akebi standing in front of the school. Above her is a banner that declares the beginning of the Roubei athletics festival. Taking a deep breath to strengthen her resolve, she steps forward to enter. All the work that was put in for this one moment has led here, and now, she and her friends will truly be put to the test.

There’s so much emotional weight put into what is a simple school event, which is a testament to how well this show is written. Viewers who have seen Akebi’s entire journey up until this point is surely rooting for her, and the festival feels like such a monumental moment. It’s exciting to see how this will pay off. We’ll have to wait until the weekend to finally see if Akebi and friends deliver in their moments of truth.

You can watch Akebi’s Sailor Uniform on Funimation and Crunchyroll. Episode 12 will air on March 27th, 2022.
© Hiroshi/Shueisha, “Akebi’s Sailor Uniform” Production Committee