Oh, Ei-chan!
Welcome back!
Thanks.
It feels like it's been forever!
So how was Florida?
Did you have fun?
Yeah, I had a great time.
Wh-What?
You don't look that different.
My appearance wouldn't change in just two weeks.
Oh? Listen to you.
Coach Aoi!
I had a great experience, thanks to you.
I don't need gratitude or anything.
You came home stronger, right?
Yes.
With that excess energy gone, his form is much smoother.
That's proof he gained some confidence over there.
Sending him to America was the right choice.
But frankly, I think he's still a long way from winning the All-Japan Junior.
I know, but...
That's his goal.
From a normal perspective,
given his lack of experience, Maruo-kun winning is near impossible.
That's why I called you.
Well, I'll do everything I can.
We have two and a half months until the Kanagawa Junior Tennis Tournament.
Yukichi, starting tomorrow, we'll bump up both your regular regimen
and your strength-building regimen.
R-Right!
Maruo-kun, you'll start a muscle-building regimen
and strengthen the offensive control regimen you followed in Florida.
We'll add other special regimens from there, so be ready.
Okay.
Two and a half months will go by before you know it.
October STC Cup Kanagawa Tournament November All-Japan Junior Kanto Region Indoor Qualifier January All-Japan Junior Indoor Qualifier March Kanagawa Junior Tennis Tournament July Kanto Junior Tennis Tournament August All-Japan Junior Tennis Tournament
We don't have a second to waste.
Right!
Takuma's Decision
You're hitting harder than before, Bro.
Really?
That's one of the things I learned in Florida.
Sorry for the wait, Ei-chan!
Ready to go?
Yeah.
Okay, we're off!
See you tomorrow.
Good practice today!
It's so cold. Want to take a bus?
No, let's walk home.
I want to hear all about Florida.
Hey, have you seen Natsu?
Nat-chan just left with Bro.
With Maruo?
Those two seem to be pretty close lately, don't they?
What'd you do that for, Takuma-san?!
You've gotten a lot better, Ei-chan.
Really?
I'm really glad.
I-It's been so long, I feel like I might start grinning!
So, did you have any trouble living abroad?
Oh... There was a Japanese guy there named Atsushi-san.
He helped me out a lot, so it was okay.
I see!
We were all worried about whether you'd get by okay over there.
We thought you'd never fit in, since you're so serious.
Well, it wasn't all fun all the time.
I got into a losing habit at one point and couldn't win at all.
A losing habit? What's that?
Huh? You've never been through that?
Yeah... You don't seem like the type to think too deeply.
I think deeply about things!
Uh, no, I didn't mean it that way!
I just thought maybe not thinking deeply was a way out of that habit.
I think it's amazing!
Well, okay, then...
And?
Oh... I played a match against Ike-kun over there,
and he told me that if I wanted to thank someone, I should thank you.
You guys worked together somehow, didn't you?
Ah... What could you mean by that?
Huh?
You didn't ask Ike-kun to do something?
I don't remember.
You do too remember!
No idea what you mean.
Well, whatever...
Thanks to that, I got to have a really good experience.
Thanks.
Sure!
How was So-chan? Good?
More than good. He clobbered me.
Mentally, too.
What did he do to you?!
What... well... he said you were his fiancée...
Me? So-chan's fiancée?
You believed him, didn't you?
It's not totally a lie, though.
Wh-What?!
It was when we were little, of course!
That whole, "When we grow up, I'm gonna marry So-chan" thing!
Kids like to say stuff like that!
But I don't like to hear it at all!
So-chan was the boy closest to me.
I didn't even really know what marriage meant,
but I kept saying that.
No Pedestrian Crossing Please use the pedestrian bridge to cross.
When we started middle school, he was still my closest friend,
so I started to think it might really happen.
Middle school? That wasn't so long ago...
When So-chan decided to go to America, I knew
that we made more sense as friends than as a couple.
Does that... make you jealous?
Huh?
Y-Yes! Of course it does!
I-It does?
N-Nat-chan!
I've always felt that I should tell you...
I...
I really...
li—
...think you're amazing.
T-Takuma-san.
Takuma...
Sh-Shall we go?
Y-Yeah.
I-I feel like I just had a perfect opportunity to win
and hit it straight into the net!
No! I did my best!
I took a step... No, half a step forward, for sure!
Don't panic... Don't panic!
He works faster than I expected.
I really...
li—
That bastard. I've known her for ten years.
Takuma! Let's go to practice!
Game, set. Winner: Egawa.
Egawa Takuma Ike Soji
I'm really glad I won today.
I heard Egawa Takuma was sorely defeated.
We can't restrict Ike Soji to Japan any longer.
You're not gonna practice?
Huh?
Your injury's healed now, right?
You said you were gonna go pro.
Shut up!
Are you doing okay?
You haven't been coming to practice much lately.
Coach Miura is really worried.
I'm worried, too.
Takuma!
Oh, Takuma!
Thank goodness!
Your injury's better now, right?
I guess.
Oh, hey! I'm gonna go to the same high school as you!
You'd better start calling me "Takuma-senpai," then.
What? I can't just start doing that now!
You're still Takuma, just like always.
I went to practice because Natsu was worried about me.
Just hitting serves was fun...
But I was still running away from going pro.
Am I going to run away without trying anything again?
No!
"How do you feel about Maruo?"
That was fast!
I like him. But I can't tell him yet, so keep it secret!
Out! Twenty push-ups!
I screwed up again!
This is killing me!
I understand that you guys feel like you're dying.
But this is the only chance you have to push your bodies hard,
in these two and a half months before the tournament.
If you're in danger, I'll stop you.
So go as far as you can.
Right!
Right...
We have a practice match this afternoon.
Maruo-kun, I want you to challenge your opponent yourself.
Him.
Takuma-san?
But he turned me down before...
Are you okay with leaving it that way forever?
And your schedule from now on...
Um, excuse me!
I need to talk to Takuma-san.
Maruo-kun...
All right. There's something I want to ask you, too.
Come with me.
Huh?
U-Um—
You...
haven't told Natsu you like her yet?
So you were listening yesterday?
Idiot. Just so you know, it was a coincidence.
Oh...
And? What happened after that?
Well, uh...
I-I haven't!
You haven't told her?
No.
I can't believe this.
Yeah...
Um, was that really all you wanted to ask me?
I'm talking about romance with Takuma-san?
Yeah. I'm done.
Um, there's something I want to say to you, too.
Please... play a match against me!
Takuma-san!
It made sense that you turned me down last time.
But in order for me to go pro,
I can't lose any more matches from now on.
The same way a pro like you would,
I have to show results in a match with my life on the line.
So I beg of you, just one match!
Then I'll ask you this.
Do you think you can beat me now?
I don't know.
But if I can't at least beat you, I can't become a pro.
I see.
If that's the case, I'll play you.
What? Really?!
Well, I just happen to be
in the mood to crush you to pulp.
Come to Court 1 at sundown.
Hey, Takuma.
Sorry to ask this of you, but thanks.
Hello, Aoi-san.
Go ahead and beat the hell out of him.
Whose side are you on?
Takuma's ranked number 500 in the world right now.
The way you're going, you could shoot above him in no time.
500?!
Even Alex is only ranked number 890 in the world...
Three-set match.
Takuma to serve.
A year and a half ago,
I didn't even know how far from me he was,
but I can't say things like that now.
I've grown, too.
I've believed in myself and sharpened my instincts.
15-love.
What is this?!
30-love.
This makes all the other serves I've ever been given seem like nothing!
They're that fast!
40-love.
This is more than I expected.
If innate physical ability can be called talent,
there's no one else as blessed with talent as this.
He dragged his feet for a while,
but now that he's over it, this is what he's capable of.
Game: Takuma. 1-0.
C-Can I break serve like this?
No, I can't think negatively.
All I have to do is hold my own serve.
Keep shots deep for the most part,
and watch my course on short shots.
He hits hard!
But I gained experience with that in Florida!
Control!
Good one.
15-love.
Yes!
The control I learned in Florida works on Takuma-san, too!
So he goes on the attack without waiting around for an opportunity now.
Well, this is the guy who made it to the top of the juniors in under two years.
I thought he had no talent, but...
Ei-chan!
Did you decide to pick up tennis?
Huh?
Oh, I haven't applied to join yet.
Who are you?
Are you also looking to go pro?
Pro?
That's none of your business.
So for now, I'll cram as much training as I can into my schedule,
and see if it's truly impossible after that.
Honestly, he was a really annoying kid.
But I have to admit he's evolved at an amazing speed.
Evolved at amazing speed...
He was the same way.
Ike Soji.
I thought there wasn't much difference in the talent we were born with,
but he surpassed me before I even knew it.
I've been told I should do this and that because I have talent,
but that doesn't really mean anything.
In the end, you, Ike, and I each have something different!
The only question is whether we can make a living with it!
Right?!
15-all.
Nat-chan, you're done already?
The national invitational is coming up soon.
Oh, yeah. Good luck.
Game: Takuma. 5-2.
Takuma leads.
The reason Takuma's been able to win in the pros lately
is definitely his serve.
Yeah.
The serve he loves so much that he couldn't stop practicing, even when he was out of form,
is vital to him in the professional world.
It took him a long time, but he finally realized that.
That's how he was finally able to become
the best server in Japan.
When it's my serve,
he returns it easily, taking away my advantage,
so I don't get to use my control.
Takuma-san wins points easily with his powerful serves.
The game count is 5-2.
That deficit is the difference between our serves.
I want... I want a serve like that, too!
A serve that gives me a huge advantage!
Time.
To play at the pro level,
even if you don't have power or confidence,
a strong serve is indispensable.
In that case...
I'll hit as hard as I can!
Oh, he put a lot of power into that one.
Has he realized it, then?
Crap! I can't put too much power into these!
The stroke and rhythm are important, too.
And I'd say the higher I connect, the better!
Double fault. Love-15.
Damn it!
I need to follow a rhythm
and put my whole body into that same point of contact...
Fault.
It's not working!
But I can't win this match if my serve doesn't improve!
Double fault. Love-30.
Come on, are you trying to abandon this game for some serve practice?
Considering his chances of winning,
maybe this was the only way for him.
I did want him to realize that,
but realizing it too well is a problem, too.
Double fault. Love-40.
All I can do is make up for my lack of height and power with efficient movements.
He's fast!
Double fault.
First set winner: Takuma.
Count: 6-2.
Little by little, it's getting better.
I wanted to hit some more, but I can't help that.
Instead, I'll take thorough notes of what I just did
and make my reason memorize it,
so I can move by instinct alone as soon as possible.
Time.
It's my return game.
First, I need to watch his serve closely and return it!
He always tosses with the same rhythm,
and gathers power in his lower body by bending his knees at the same time.
The moment his knees extend,
right after that power is released to his upper body,
his shoulders begin the swing.
That power travels to his elbow,
then his wrist, like the flexing of a whip,
giving the racket speed as it keeps going higher.
Then, at the highest point, where it has the most speed,
he makes impact!
15-love.
I was completely lost in watching it!
But I see it now!
Out. 30-love.
I need to watch more closely!
He flexes like a whip,
and there's the crack!
Out. 40-love.
Damn it! Almost there!
He's able to send them back now.
Actually, back then, too...
A total rookie of only one month
managed to reach my serve.
Damn... This kid just never stops pissing me off!
Go in!
Game: Takuma. 1-0.
Using the image burned in my mind of Takuma-san's serve,
what will my body do?
Okay!
Make my whole body flex...
It made it!
It's short! I can go for it!
Control!
15-love.
Yes!
Not enough! Go faster!
Not bad. Keep the same image in mind for my second.
15-all.
This speed isn't enough for my second serve.
This is how much difference a serve can make in a match!
I need a faster serve!
Flex not just my shoulder, elbow, and wrist,
but my waist, making my whole body move like a single whip!
30-15.
Yes!
Fault.
If I can't get enough speed on my second serve,
then put spin on it!
Or make it look that way, but keep it loose to be safe!
Yes! His timing was off!
Straight?
A drop shot!
Whoa!
30-all.
Takuma! I told you to use drop shots only when you have a greater advantage!
Desperate shots can become a habit!
I know that!
I thought so! He did that because he didn't know what to do!
I have the advantage on my serve!
I can do this! Make the next serve fast!
Stop right there.
Let's call this match here.
What?!
U-Um, how can you say that now?
Sorry, but I want you to call it off... rather, put it on hold.
Why?!
If you keep this up, I'm afraid you're going to hurt yourself.
Huh?
Takuma-san, please wait!
I'm not hurt at all!
You don't have a choice. Aoi-san said so.
Besides, it's not cancelled. Just on hold.
I don't feel good about it, either.
I'll continue this with you any time.
Sorry to do this after I asked you to play him.
It's fine. Thanks for the game.
Come on, Coach Aoi!
Hey, calm down.
I'll explain why I did it.
All right.
Next Time
Oh, it's Shimizu-san.
You know her, Nat-chan?
Yeah. She's the first seed in the next women's tournament.
I've been up against her four times in three years, but never won.
You lost all four matches?!
I want to beat her just once before I go pro, if I can.
I didn't know you had an opponent like Nabae-kun is for me...
Next time on Baby Steps,
First Encounter by Scouting
"First Encounter by Scouting."
End