HANEBADO! Season 1 Episode 1 Incredible Talent!

Incredible Talent!, the first episode of HANEBADO! introduces us to Ayano Hanesaki, a high school first-year student who quit her badminton club after her mother passed away. Despite her natural talent for the sport, Ayano isolates herself from it and refuses to play. One day, her childhood friend, Nagisa Aragaki, invites her to watch her new school's badminton club. While watching the club's practice, Ayano is noticed by the team's captain, Miyako Taroumaru, who approaches her and challenges her to a match.

Ayano reluctantly agrees to play, but soon gets swept up in the joy of the game as her natural talent resurfaces. Miyako is impressed at Ayano's abilities, and asks her to join the club. However, Ayano refuses, stating that she has no interest in playing badminton ever again.

Later that day, Ayano's mother's friend, Kentarou Tachibana, stops by her house and encourages her to play badminton once more. Kentarou had been her mother's badminton coach, and sees Ayano's potential as a great player. He even suggests that she transfer to his school, Kitakomachi, where he is the badminton coach.

But Ayano is hesitant - the thought of losing again, of trying to live up to her mother's legacy, is too much for her to handle. She even has a nightmare where she is playing badminton as a child against her mother, only to lose and have her mother abandon her. Ayano wakes up crying, realizing that the pressure and stress of badminton is too much for her to handle.

The next day, Ayano decides to visit Kitakomachi and see the badminton club. She meets the members of the club, including an intense and competitive player named Elena Fujisawa. Elena challenges Ayano to a match, and once again, Ayano's talent shines through. But the hedonistic joy of playing is quickly overtaken by the deep-seated anxiety Ayano has about being watched and judged by others.

Ayano runs off the court and away from the school. But Kentarou catches up to her, and encourages her to keep playing badminton. He even gives her a shuttlecock, telling her to use it to remember to always have fun and enjoy the game. And with that, Ayano decides to transfer to Kitakomachi and join the badminton club.

The first episode of HANEBADO! introduces us to Ayano's struggle with her natural abilities and her fear of failure. The vibrant animation and intense music sets the stage for a thrilling sports anime that explores the psychological aspects of competition. Will Ayano be able to overcome her fears and become the badminton player she was meant to be? Only time will tell in this gripping and emotional anime.