Episode 10

THE GREAT DODGEBALL PLAN (MISSION: 10　ドッジボール大作戦) is the tenth episode of the SPY x FAMILY TV anime series and the tenth episode of the first cour.

Synopsis
A rumor spreads amongst the first graders at Eden Academy saying that if they do well in their next PE class, they will get rewarded with Stella Stars. Anya is determined to get a Stella Star, so she trains with Yor. Thus begins the dodgeball match between Cecile Hall and Wald Hall! Anya and her classmates are determined to win, but they are faced with the giant, Bill Watkins.

Summary
At 5:34 AM, Henry Henderson is taking a jog around Eden Academy. After completing his jog, he heads to Cecile Hall's dormitory to take a shower. After his shower, he puts on his suit and starts making some tea. The dorm tutor walks in, and the two greet each other a good morning. Henry invites the tutor to have tea, and the tutor gladly joins.

Henry pours hot water into the kettle, puts his tea blend into their teacups, and then pours water from the kettle into the cups. The tutor comments on how it has been a while since Henry was in charge of the grade school children and asks how they are, and Henry says they have a promise. The tutor then mentions how Henry had to give Anya a Tonitrus Bolt on her first day. Henry admits that it was a rare occurrence for their school and only did what was necessary; good deeds shall be praised, and misconduct will be met with punishment. The tutor says he has much to learn from Henry, while Henry says that as the elementary students continue to learn true elegance every day, the school traditions will live on.

In the dorm common room, Damian looks solemnly at the group photo taken during orientation, where he stands alone. Ewen and Emile ran to him with a photo album. They show Damian a photo of his older brother and find more photos of him in the album, awed by his accomplishments and status as an Imperial Scholar, while Damian wears a sad look. Ewen tells Damian that he is sure that Damian will become an Imperial Scholar even faster and be the first to get a Stella in their grade. Emile mentions that they still have a while until exams and says his first opportunity will be in P.E. class next week, where there will be a dodgeball tournament with the other classes. Ewen then discloses that he heard from his friend who heard from their friend that the MVP of the game will be rewarded a Stella.

At 7:58 AM, he reads a book on the history of Eden while listening to music on his phonograph. He finishes reading and looks out the window, ready for another elegant day at Eden Academy. However, he is instead greeted by Damian, Emile, and Ewen fighting with Anya and Becky. Henry gives a look of disappointment at having to deal with this so early in the day.

Anya returns home to tell Loid a rumor she heard from Becky that she has a chance to earn a Stella Star in P.E. class. Loid doubts this, but Yor is determined to help an excited Anya do well, and the two train for the dodgeball game. Yor puts Anya through several training methods and teaches her a "killer move."

On the day of the game, Anya, Becky, and Damian's gang have a bit of an argument before they line up on the court. Henderson announces that he will be overseeing the interclass dodgeball match between Cecile Hall and Wald Hall as Coach Bobby is out sick.

Damian throws the first ball of the game, aiming for Bill Watkins, a large muscular student from Wald Hall, who easily catches it. Bill throws the ball back at Cecile's team, eliminating 4 of its members. Bill is confident in his victory and thinks back to his training for the game and his father's words of encouragement. Becky attempts to take him out, but he ends up catching the ball and throwing it right back at her, eliminating her. Damian, Ewen, and Emile try to take out Bill together, but Ewen and Emile end up getting eliminated, leaving only Damian, Anya, and another student left in the Cecile Hall team.

While Damian plans to survive and stand out, Bill decides to go after Anya next. He throws a low ball at her, but she reads his mind and jumps to avoid it. He throws three more shots, but they all miss her, with the final one hitting the unnamed student. Damian compliments her dodging skills while Anya inches closer to out of bounds. Becky notices this and yells at Anya to watch out for the people out of bounds. Anya tries to step back but trips and falls. Bill sees his chance and hurls a ball toward Anya, yelling: "Die!!!" Damian looks at her pitifully but ultimately jumps in the way of the ball and tries to catch it. He ends up failing to do so and eliminates himself. Damian realizes that he cannot get MVP now, which upsets him.

Anya acknowledges Damian's selfless act and announces that she will get revenge for Damian's 'death.' After thinking back to Yor's training, Anya uses her "killer move" and throws the ball at Bill. However, the ball hits the ground and bounces toward Bill, who throws the ball right back and hits her. Bill and his team were excited, thinking he was going to get a Stella Star. However, Henry informs them that they do not give out Stella Stars for a simple P.E. game, but he may need to give Bill a Tonitrus Bolt for his improper language. Damian rushes over to Anya and yells at her for wasting his sacrifice. As their friends join in and start to argue, Henry changes his mind after considering the children worthy of a Stella Star for their teamwork.

Anime Notes

 * The beginning of the episode adapts Short Mission 4 with some altered dialogue and scenes, as in the manga, the short chapter takes place after Eden's midterm exams instead of before the dodgeball game. In addition, Cecile Dorm Mother's cameo and Henry writing to his family was cut from the episode.
 * This is also the first episode to adapt a Short Mission.
 * Anime-exclusive content:
 * The scene of Damian looking at the photo from Episode 6 (which itself deviates from the manga by including him), and Emile and Ewen looking at a yearbook.
 * When Emile goes to point at the date of the dodgeball game on the calendar, one of the characters drawn on it closely resembles Danpei Ichigeki, the main character of Tetsura Koshita's Honō no Tōkyūji: Dodge Danpei, which this episode also pays tribute to.
 * While Henderson reads in his office, the song "Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043 (II. Largo ma non tanto)" plays in the background on his gramophone.
 * The sequences of Yor training Anya for the game. In the manga, Yor's training is only briefly alluded to right before Anya throws the ball at Bill. Some of the dialogue shown at that point in the manga is moved in the anime to right after Anya tells Loid and Yor about the dodgeball match.
 * All the scenes showing Bill's backstory and his father, who is a character mentioned but not shown in the manga.
 * The flashbacks of Damian, Emile, and Ewen preparing and training for the game, as well as all their practiced moves that fail to hit Bill. The scene of Emile and Ewen being taken out by Bill is changed and expanded.

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