Gundam Build Real Ep. 1: Reunion

The development of Gunplasky particles allowed Gunpla Battle to take off as an e-sport in Japan. In the Tokai region, high schoolers Hiro Suzuki, Kentaro Narita and Taichi Nakamaru ride the bus and watch a video from several years earlier when they competed in Gunpla Battle as team BRIGHT. In the video, they talked about Gunpla, speed assembled an RX-78-2 kit, and conducted shooting and beam saber practice with a drone. In one part of the videos, Sota Matsumoto boasted about how he had massively improved the power of the RX-78’s hyper bazooka. Hiro noted that tomorrow would be their final competition in elementary school and declared that they would definitely win. As the video plays, Kentaro comments that at the time, they had no idea what would happen next. He asks them about preparing for high school, and Taicihi comments that he’s going to have fun and not be a boys’ school nerd like Kentaro. The three return to their old school building, which is now abandoned, and while Taichi feels nostalgic, Kentaro comments that he didn’t grow enough in four years to feel so emotional now. The three enter a classroom and find their old friend Takumi Shimizu waiting for them. Hiro thinks back to years ago when the BRIGHT team argued over their missing RX-78, and Hiro blamed Takumi for losing it. They concluded that they’d never be able to build a replacement in three hours for the tournament, so BRIGHT was over. Sota enters the classroom and Kentaro asks why he asked them all to meet. Sota explains that he thought they should meet because they hadn’t seen each other since graduation. Taichi asks about Imaizumi, but Sota explains that he won’t be coming because he moved abroad. Sota produces a case that Imaizumi sent him and he asks Hiro to open it. Hiro opens the case, and everyone is surprised to see their old RX-78 kit that went missing. Outside the school, Sota asks Hiro if he has anything to say to Takumi. The rest watch a video of a battle involving team MONSTRE, which won last year’s tournament. Kentaro asks what they’re going to do about Imaizumi since he’s responsible for BRIGHT having broken up. Sota notes that there was no return address on the package, so he doesn’t know where Imaizumi is. Taichi asks Sota what he’s going to do with the RX-78, and Sota hands it over to Hiro and says he still has all the weapons for it. Hiro tells him to keep the weapons for now, but Taichi suggests they all meet again. The next day, Hiro rides the bus and is accidentally hit by tossed lipstick, which causes him to glance over at schoolgirl Satsuki Kanamori. Later, Hiro sits alone on the school rooftop and looks at the RX-78. He then takes the RX-78 to Tasuke Yatabe’s hobby shop. Yatabe remembers when Hiro used to compete and suggests getting back into Gunpla Battle, which has been increasing in popularity. Yatabe suggests that winning big will help get girls, but first Hiro would have to win the regional tournament. Hiro is excited now, and Yatabe suggests competing in the local Solomon Cup tournament as a warmup. Hiro sees one of Sota’s weapons on display, and at that moment Sota walks into the shop.

The two go have dinner at local restaurant Taku-chan, and Sota explains that after BRIGHT disbanded he started building non-Gunpla models like planes and military stuff. Takumi’s mother Ryoko, who co-owns the restaurant, commends Sota for sticking with model building and asks him to talk to Takumi because he won’t listen to her. Ryoko comments that Takumi’s father, Takuji, was the most upset when Takumi quit Gunpla building. Takumi’s sister, Maiko, notes that he always listened to Hiro, but Hiro responds that he’s not one to talk. Ryoko suggests they all come over when Takumi is around and bring the rest of the old team with them. Maiko thinks that’s silly because they’re all in high school now. After dinner, Sota goes back to Yatabe’s shop to retrieve his bazooka. Hiro texts the others about the tournament, but they reply that they can’t make it. At the tournament, the RX-78 is scanned into the Gunpla Battle system and Hiro tells Sota that he needs to see this through as his last battle. A bunch of tournament participants are amazed to see Sota there and take pictures. Hiro is surprised to see Takumi show up, and Takumi examines the RX-78. He asks about a weird streak of paint, and Hiro explains that he thinks Imaizumi did it. Hiro is called to battle against team LUMINOUS and their Unicorn Gundam. He puts on a VR headset, and his opponent comments that only kids do that these days. The announcer notes that this is BRIGHT’s first competition in four years and that people are excited about “Young Armageddon” Sota. The AR battle is streamed outside for everyone to see, and Hiro immediately demonstrates how rusty he is by fumbling for a beam saber. Hiro blocks a beam saber attack and then jumps back to attack with his beam rifle. The Unicorn Gundam jumps and dodges all of his attacks before slicing apart his beam rifle. He then kicks away the Unicorn Gundam’s beam saber, ending round one. Takumi quickly works on repairs during the pit stop period, and Hiro scans Sota’s bazooka to change weapons in round two. Hiro fires the bazooka and misses, and Sota reminds him to fight “dirty and real” like the old days. Hiro gets in close and uses the bazooka as a club to smack the Unicorn Gundam, sending it into a freefall. He then fires the bazooka, but its strength blows off the RX-78’s arm. The Unicorn Gundam then activates Destroy Mode and is able to move faster while still getting in blows. The Unicorn Gundam performs a double beam saber attack and destroys the RX-78, ending the battle. Hiro apologizes to Takumi, and Takumi says it’s fine because today wasn’t about winning or losing. Hiro clarifies that’s not what he’s apologizing about and repeats that he’s sorry. Takumi calls out to Sota, who is talking to someone, that it’s time to go. Sota and Hiro walk home, and Sota says that he hopes they can get together again like old times. The two pass the building where BRIGHT was based out of. They go inside to check it out and are surprised to see that it looks mostly the same. Taichi asks what they’re doing here, and Hiro explains that BRIGHT is back and they’re gonna win the regionals and head to Tokyo. Hiro opens a curtain to another room and sees Satsuki sitting in there. It’s only then that Taichi finally processes what Hiro said about team BRIGHT coming back.