Snowing, snowing!
Oh, yeah, Nat-chan. I heard you made the top four for the All-Japan Junior!
Oh, yeah.
That's your personal best! Congratulations!
Thanks.
But I lost to Shimizu-san again.
Shimizu-san? That girl from...
Um, sorry for causing you trouble.
I'll be going now.
Thank you for your help.
This one was the most frustrating yet.
I was so close...
Then let's win the All-Japan Junior!
And let's both win and go pro together!
Yeah!
Ten sprints!
The brackets for the Kanagawa Junior came in.
Okay.
The top sixty-four players from the prefectural junior ranking can participate.
The sixteen best players get to move on to the Kanto Junior,
the qualifier for the All-Japan Junior.
Which means if I win twice, I can participate in the Kanto Junior.
I knew I'd need to win regardless of who I'd be facing,
but of all people, and all times...
Maruo Eiichiro
Miyagawa Takuya
Miyagawa-kun, who's seeded third, is in the second-round draw...
No, before that, I have to think about the first round.
All the participants in this tournament are accomplished players.
And yet there's no data on my opponent, Nishimura-kun.
Nishimura Koji
Revenge at the Critical Moment
Araya-san.
Is this "Maruo Eiichiro"
the one who ranked in the top four in last year's Kanazawa Junior Circuit?
Yeah, I faced him in the semifinals.
I won, of course.
And he went on to win the STC Cup in the fall.
He lost in the first round of the Kanto Junior Indoor Invitational in winter.
But his opponent was Nabae, after all.
That's not something an unseeded player can accomplish so easily.
Well, he hasn't competed a lot yet.
What was it like playing against him?
What type of player is he?
He mainly plays defensively.
His serves weren't anything special,
so you'll probably get a chance to break without a problem.
Right.
You've gotten a lot better.
Not yet. I've got a long way to go.
Can we keep going a bit longer?
For me, this will be the challenge of a lifetime.
The battle that will determine my future is about to begin.
Hey, Maruo.
How are you doing?
That's a huge group you're with.
Yeah, we have a lot of participants from our club this year.
They're mostly underclassmen.
Speaking of, are you unseeded this time because you weren't in enough tournaments?
Yeah, that's what my coach said.
You got a tough draw because of that, huh?
Miyagawa's in there, too.
Yeah, that's right.
Araya-san.
I'm glad I'm on the other side of that block.
Araya-san?
Hey, Araya-san!
Shut it!
I'm talking here!
Y-You don't have to get that angry...
That scared me.
Sorry about that.
So, what is it?
Well, isn't this Maruo-san?
Can you introduce us?
Huh? Oh, yeah.
This is Nishimura Koji, from our club.
Hey.
You two are up against each other in the first round, right?
So this is...
I watched your match against Araya-san last year.
And I played in the STC Cup, where you won.
I was only in the top eight, though.
I'm super interested in those notes of yours!
Anyway, I'm looking forward to our match!
Uh, yes... Looking forward to it, too.
I'm gonna go warm up now.
Jeez, he just does whatever he wants. Sorry about that.
As expected from a guy in Araya-kun's club.
But you shouldn't take him lightly.
He hasn't been playing long, but he's incredibly athletic, and he's strong-willed.
He's a good fit in our club.
He's also grown the fastest.
Huh...
But most importantly, I told him about all your weak points!
Wh-What did you tell him?!
Good morning, Araya-kun, Maruo-kun.
Huh?
Miyagawa-kun?!
It's been a while!
You cut your hair?
Yeah, chopped it all off.
I think you look more mature now.
You think so?
Hmm... So he's the famous Maruo-kun.
It's nice to meet you. I'm Mogami Norihiko.
He and I are in the same club.
Incidentally...
Whoa, Yukichi-kun?!
He's the second seed here.
Araya-kun is the first seed.
And Miyagawa is the third seed.
Yep.
In any case, I'm looking forward to today, Maruo-kun.
Yeah, me too.
Since Takuma-san isn't here, we all have a chance this year!
Right, Araya-kun?
Huh?
At the very least, I don't think you've got one.
Sure I do!
That's something you say after you beat me, the second seed.
Hey, there you are, Ei-chan!
Oh, Nat-chan!
It's finally time!
Let's do our best!
I'm gonna go register!
'Kay...
Oh?
What was that nice mood going on there?
Looks like things are going well for you.
Really? Is that what that is?
N-No, uh... I, um...
I-I'm gonna go start warming up!
He ran away.
I know nothing.
Attention, players:
No. 43, Ishigami-kun,
and No. 44, Nishino-kun, please report to Court 2.
No. 45, Maruo-kun,
and No. 46, Nishimura-kun, please report to Court 3 to begin your match.
All right!
I'm not fatigued anymore, thanks to the last two days of adjusting.
I ate a solid meal three hours ago,
and I did my full warm-up routine.
Before a match, Nat-chan always tells me to try my best.
But today she said, "Let's do our best."
She considers me someone she can aim for the nationals with because
she knows how much I've done to get here.
If I lose, I'll have to give up on going pro.
I thought I'd be deathly nervous, but...
I'm actually calm. That's probably because...
I've done everything I possibly can.
Court 3... Is this where Maruo-kun is?
Yeah, we made it just in time!
Now I just
have to believe in myself and fight!
One-set match. Nishimura to serve.
All right, first serve!
This is a return game for me, but I have to play it steady.
Being taken by the opponent's rhythm could mean life or death in a one-set match.
First, to avoid risk, use my 1/36 control and...
Go deep!
Out!
Love-15.
An error from the get-go?
Why?
Was my ball harder to hit than he expected?
Or is he planning something?
1/36!
How he reacts to this will tell me why that happened.
It's short!
The only thing to do with a chance this easy is
score!
Love-30.
Judging by his lack of stability,
it must be both.
He's having trouble returning my heavy offensive hits,
and he's also too focused on being first, so he's flustered.
A return game, and I'm two points in the lead.
He hasn't overcome it yet.
Which means...
This could already be the turning point!
All right!
I won't let this chance slip away.
Go!
He's making a return dash!
He's moving up already?!
Love-40.
Yes! My high-risk offensive shot was a success!
Just as I thought.
Maruo-kun's continued to evolve since then.
Game: Maruo. 1-0.
Yes!
Break!
Now I'm in the lead.
As long as I can hold serve, there's no way I can lose!
Even if he breaks my serve this game, it'll result in a tie.
That means...
I can go all-out!
Flex my body like a whip...
15-love.
Whoa, that was awesome.
With that body... Are you serious?
Yes... I'm in good form today!
Y-You've gotta be kidding me!
How are these serves "not anything special"?!
30-love.
What about his play is "defensive"?!
40-love.
A slice now!
His serves aren't just fast, they're varied, too.
His strokes are focused on control, but he's still cornering me.
Game: Maruo. 2-0.
This isn't like what I was told at all!
Okay, 2-0. I can do this.
I'll break here, and go straight for the win!
Game: Maruo. 3-0.
Araya-san, you idiot!
Game: Maruo. 4-0.
You big fat liar!
He's gonna be quite the formidable opponent.
You're right.
Love-15.
Even during our match last year,
Maruo-kun was trying to change and improve.
Whereas I just used my clumsiness as an excuse
to keep falling back on my stroke while ignoring my shortcomings.
I knew the truth.
That I needed to improve areas other than my stroke in order to get stronger.
Back then, by losing to Maruo-kun, I realized
that I was ignoring my shortcomings and not even trying to change.
Game: Maruo. 5-0.
At the time, I tried to appear calm and cool.
But inside, the frustration of losing
and the desperate desire to win all came surging forth together.
Even I was surprised at how intense my feelings were.
From then on, I tried numerous different ways to change how I played tennis.
Since I'm a defensive baseliner, I practiced different shots that would
bring me toward the net, but...
It didn't work out very well.
Go in!
Game, set, and match.
Damn it!
Winner: Ikemoto.
Score: 6-3, 7-5.
Damn it.
It's no good.
Oobayashi-senpai...
What's wrong?
Lately, you haven't been playing like yourself,
and it's ruining your game.
Are you trying to change your playing style?
No matter what I try, it doesn't work.
I guess it's not that easy to find a new weapon...
I'm starting to think this was too high a hurdle for me.
Maybe... it's better that I give up...
Hey, Miyagawa.
You know, I gave up in the end.
I'm in my third year of high school, so I was thinking about my future.
I did want to go pro, if only slightly.
But I gave up on that completely, and decided to go to college
and think about my future while continuing to playing tennis.
I didn't have the skills to rank among the top players in Kanagawa, after all.
So wanting to go pro was a little presumptuous.
That's not true!
But you have the skill,
and you still have plenty of time to reach for your dreams.
Do your absolute best for another year.
I don't think you're wrong to
practice your volleys so you can overcome your weak point.
But your strokes are top notch.
I think it's worth it to make better use of that stroke.
Oobayashi-senpai...
Senpai...
I want to see results from the training I've done for this past year.
For that to happen,
I have to defeat Maruo-kun!
Nishimura Maruo
Game, set, and match.
Winner: Maruo. Score: 6-0.
Yes! Maruo-kun did it!
Yeah, he bageled him!
Well, he's gotta be able to do that much.
Congratulations!
You didn't even break a sweat!
Maruo
Nishino Akira Maruo Eiichiro Nishimura Koji Suda Keigo Miyagawa Takuya
Hey, Ei-chan!
Miyagawa-kun's match is starting!
Okay, I'll be right there!
How's the match?
Love-30.
Wow, as expected from the beast of strokes!
According to last year's data...
Speciality: Multiple Stroke Types Spin, Side Spin, Top Spin, Slice, Side Slice, Cut, Flat
His height gave him powerful ambidextrous forehand and backhand strokes.
He had seven different full-swing strokes that rarely missed.
He must've learned something new within the last year.
Love-40.
Yes!
But as of now, I don't see any huge changes.
His strokes themselves have clearly improved, but other than that...
Game: Miyagawa. 4-0.
Their difference in strength ends it too quickly...
Hey, Maruo-kun!
It's been a while. How are you?
Oh, hey!
Who's that?
He's the first person Ei-chan ever played against.
Are you here to support Miyagawa-kun?
Yep!
And I have a few other underclassmen here, too.
Like Mogami.
I got accepted to university, so I'm rather free nowadays.
You're done with entrance exams?
Well, it was more an athletic referral than an exam.
Last year, I had trouble deciding what to do,
but this seems like the right choice.
I had no idea.
By the way, I saw the tournament bracket.
Miyagawa's looking pretty good, too.
If he keeps this up, you'll face him next.
Yeah.
I'd better put some effort into cheering Miyagawa on this year.
He was so frustrated when he lost to you last year.
Oh, no, that was like a miracle, really...
But the way Miyagawa's playing today, he'll be pretty tough to beat.
If he can't move on to the Kanto Junior from here,
he has to start reconsidering his future.
His future?
Well, of course.
I think the All-Japan Junior is a huge deciding factor for a lot of players.
It measures how you rank against your generation,
and the outcome has a huge influence on players' futures.
Everyone's got a lot riding on this.
Miyagawa's no exception.
Which is why, this time,
he'll come at you with all he's got.
Game, set, and match.
Winner: Miyagawa. Score: 6-0.
Looks like you have your opponent.
I can't let my body cool off or tire too much before the second match.
I have to give up on going pro if I lose today, too.
I wonder if this is how Araya-kun felt facing Takuma-san last year.
From this point on, everyone's future will be on the line.
I've done all I could because I knew I needed to win matches like that, right?
Hey, you!
Y-Yes?!
You have a scary look on your face.
It doesn't matter how scary your face looks.
Your opponent won't be intimidated.
That's not why I look like this!
Listen.
Anyone in your position would be a little nervous.
But remember that in the end, the one who enjoys their time the most is the winner.
Right.
Also remember that before you met me,
even if it was a miracle, you beat Miyagawa.
How much do you think we've accomplished since you met me?
Just thinking about it logically, there's no way you could lose.
No. 45, Maruo-kun, and No. 48, Miyagawa-kun,
please report to Court 6 to begin your match.
It's finally time. Go win it, Ei-chan.
Yeah.
Go secure your spot in the Kanto Junior!
Right!
I'll get my revenge today.
Yeah. I won't lose, either.
Good luck!
One-set match.
Maruo to serve.
He's on a totally different level from my first round opponent.
If my game is too steady, I'll be cornered by his stroke.
I'll go into the second round at full throttle right from the start!
15-love.
His serve is even faster than it was in his first round.
That speed with that physique...
He made fast serves his weapon by figuring out how to use his body and flexibility.
To think he turned his past weakness into a weapon this powerful.
That was too close.
If this were the first round, that would've easily been an ace.
Looks like I should try out different shots before he gets used to my speed.
Then, next, I'll go for a slice down the center!
It's not fast...
But it's getting away from me!
Out. 30-love.
He hit it back one-handed!
And it was incredibly accurate...
Since he has long limbs, he already had a wider range of coverage than most.
So now that coverage area is a step wider on each side?
Which means that slower serves will have a higher chance of being returned.
I'm feeling confident today, so let's go with a flat serve.
Damn, I put too much power into it.
No, a flat serve is riskier than other serves.
Focus and move onto the second serve.
Make up for the reduced speed with solid aim, and...
Spin!
Here it comes!
A powerful flat shot!
Moving up?!
A defensive baseliner like Miyagawa-kun is moving up!
But this is all expected!
Now it comes down to Miyagawa-kun's volley and my practiced footwork!
Here it comes!
30-15.
A d-drive volley?!
This is my new weapon that's going to help me change!
Next Time
Maruo-kun is amazing
to be able to evolve his tennis this far in such a short time.
I should consider him a different person from who he was last year.
Miyagawa-kun is as strong as I expected.
My condition for going pro,
a win at the All-Japan Junior...
I absolutely have to win this match in order to get there!
In a match like this, there's no telling what will happen!
Next time on Baby Steps,
The Speed of Evolution
"The Speed of Evolution."
End