Oh? You're over an hour early today.
Oh, well, break's over, and I'm free today,
so I was hoping someone could play against me.
Play against? Like a rally? Someone to feed you the ball?
Oh, I meant a match.
You want a match?
You just played in the finals two days ago.
I was thinking of ways to change the pace in a game,
and I came up with a few tactics I think I can use.
As tired as I was after losing the final,
I'd still rather play again than rest.
Looks like you're addicted to playing matches.
Huh?
Addicted?
An intense battle like that final match two days ago
is both frightening and stressful,
but it's also a thrill you can't experience elsewhere.
Oh...
Regardless, I understand how you feel.
I am a former pro, after all.
Can't help it if no one else is here.
I'll play you.
You, Aoi-san?
What, is that a problem?
Not at all. Is your injury okay?
I can handle one set.
Go warm up already.
O-Okay!
Gathering of Rivals
All right, I won!
Damn it...
He's a former pro, all right.
Guess I've still got it, so long as it's a one-set match.
Thank you very much.
Oh, Bro! You're here early.
Yukichi-kun!
He doesn't have a lot of tournament experience in the first place.
You practice changing the pace
by getting the opportunity to hit different shots.
He needs to learn how to deal with left-handed play, too.
I'll have to help him out.
If I don't win the All-Japan Junior, I'll have to give up on going pro.
Can I really quit trying to go pro?
So you're in Class 2, Ei-chan?
And you're in Class 4.
I'm in Class 3.
Looks like we're all split up this year.
And you're in Class 6, the science class.
What's wrong, Ei-chan?
Are you sad that we're all in separate classes?
That hurts, Kageyama.
Don't worry!
I'll still come to your matches to cheer you on.
Me, too!
I'll cheer you on, too...
Maruo-kun.
Okay, thanks.
Congratulations on advancing to the next grade.
Today, you begin your third year of high school.
A year from now, you'll all be walking your own paths.
I'd like you all to keep that in mind
as you consider how you'll spend this year.
I had to enroll in the cram school by the train station.
Guess I'll have to start buckling down after club's over.
Everyone's starting to switch in exam mode.
Man, you're way behind.
I have to go to an open campus tour over spring break, too.
I sort of feel like I'm fighting the current with all my might.
Ei-chan, ready to go?
Yeah.
Everyone's suddenly talking about entrance exams now that we're third-years.
It sort of feels like we're being alienated.
Yeah...
It was like this during the field trip too, but...
Hey, are you listening, Ei-chan?
What? Yeah!
I'm listening.
My class is in exam mode, too.
Yeah... I thought so.
If I have to give up on going pro...
Could I still stay by Nat-chan's side?
I caught it, I caught it!
I'm not surprised. You have great hand-eye coordination.
All right, gather 'round.
Starting today, we're going to train a little differently.
Oh?
We're going to go practical,
so you should all have individual goals in mind.
Practical?
Hey!
Oh, they're here.
Thanks for having us!
A-Araya-kun!
Hey.
And Miyagawa-kun and Mogami-kun!
Hi.
Huh? Even Iwasa-kun?
What? Why?
There was a meeting of Kanagawa tennis clubs the other day.
It was decided that, starting this year, players would train more
with other clubs to help strengthen junior players.
If you do well at the Kanto tournament or the nationals,
you'll earn more opportunities to compete in Kanagawa.
Then what about Iwasa-kun?
He isn't a junior player, is he?
I invited him.
I'm here because they agreed to allow me to sketch during my free time.
I didn't get into art school, so I have lots of time on my hands.
I really think he can give you some good hints about changing the pace.
Of course, STC will be sending players to other clubs, as well.
This is awesome.
If we do this often,
I'll get to play a lot of matches!
And there should be one more girl coming...
I'm sorry we're late.
A... girl?
Thank you for coming all this way.
Not at all. Thank you for inviting us.
We were planning a trip to Tokyo anyway,
so the timing is perfect.
Come on, introduce yourself, too.
My hair's stuck...
Aki-chan!
It's Nat-chan's rival, Shimizu-san.
Isn't she the top-ranked player in the girls' division?
We have about three months left until the Kanto Junior.
Starting today, Kanagawa will treat these three months
as an enhanced training period with regular inter-club practices.
Only players who have achieved results of a certain level are here today.
After basic training, you'll be playing matches,
so when your name is called, head to the designated court.
This is my chance to get some match experience!
Hey, Araya-kun!
You're yelling too loud. No one can concentrate!
There are plenty of people who yell out loud!
I'm saying you're too loud, Araya-kun!
You won't get any stronger if you can't ignore the little things!
You won't get any girls that way!
What?!
Hey, you two! Take this seriously!
Maybe there's something neither of them will yield, as fellow baseliners.
But their rallies are really high-level.
Well, Maruo-kun, want to start?
Whenever you're ready!
Iwasa-kun can hit any shot at any speed,
along any course, at any timing.
That's a skill I'll need in order to be able to change the pace of a match.
First, a flat power shot!
Impressive!
It should be easier to return a fast ball with a fast ball,
but he easily slowed the pace and went deep.
How about a low slice, then?
He keeps changing the pace without breaking a sweat!
All right, I should start by watching him.
How does Iwasa-kun change the pace so easily?
What does he do differently from me and everyone else?
What's the most effective way to change the pace?
Um, Iwasa-kun!
Is there a trick to returning fast shots slowly?
Er, what?
Returning fast shots... slowly?
Yeah!
Grab it, then throw it...
I guess.
Grab it...
then throw it?
What?
Um, it'd be great if you could be more specific.
Huh? I thought I was being pretty specific just now.
Oh! He plays intuitively, just like Nat-chan.
Maruo, you're facing Araya next.
O-Okay.
I guess I just have to figure it out myself.
Araya-kun is the top left-handed player in the nation.
He's the best training partner to get me used to left-handed players.
I don't know what kinds of players I'll face from here on.
No matter who I face, I want to be able to control the ball
and change the pace to whatever I want it to be.
Amazing...
The list of things I need to do
in the next three months just keeps growing.
Aki-chan, what's wrong?
You were spacing out.
Oh, nothing...
I just thought it was impressive, taking notes and stuff.
Oh, you mean Ei-chan?
He really is impressive.
Ei-chan-san...
He's really into tennis.
He only started playing two years ago, but he just keeps getting better.
Ei-chan-san seems to be having a lot of fun.
So anyway, what's it like having your mom as your coach?
Huh? What it's like?
It's been that way for as long as I can remember, so...
Yeah? Now that you mention it, I've been at STC as long as I can remember, too.
I'm sorry I wasn't any help.
Oh, don't worry about it.
I get that there's nothing you can compare it to.
Ready to have them switch us in?
Oh, sure.
Thank you for including Aki in this today.
The pleasure is all ours.
Having Japan's best player come in is more than we could ask for.
The truth is, for a long time,
I've wanted an opportunity to observe Takasaki Natsu-san's training environment.
Natsu's?
Why is that?
I believe the only player capable of defeating Aki at the All-Japan Junior
this year is Natsu-san.
The difference in ability between them is smaller every year.
And yet Aki herself doesn't seem to be worried about it at all.
So I thought it might spark something in her if she saw how her rival trained.
I see.
But why isn't she worried, I wonder?
She's been training solely with me since she was young,
so I think she lacks a competitive spirit toward players her own age.
I've spoken to her about this before, but...
Perhaps she's just at that age.
I don't know if it's because she's starting to think for herself now,
but she takes her time on every little thing she does.
It's quite frustrating to watch.
Ah, what a nice breeze!
Hello.
Oh, hello.
Um, do you remember me?
Yeah, we met at the indoor invitational.
Shimizu-san, right?
You dropped your cell phone battery near the courts.
That's right.
Yesterday, my mother told me we'd be going to STC,
and I was wondering whether I'd run into you again.
I'm surprised that I did!
I was surprised, too!
This will be the second time.
That's right.
Well, good luck with your practice matches.
W-Wait a second, please!
Um... I mean...
You really... love tennis, don't you?
Huh?
Well, yeah, I do.
Oh... I'm sorry.
That must be true of everyone here, right?
Wh-What?
I saw you playing earlier,
and you looked like you were having so much fun, so I just...
Huh? Oh, did I?
But you love it too, don't you, Shimizu-san?
When you're that good, it must be really fun.
I'm actually not really sure.
Oh, it's not that I hate it.
But by the time I realized it, my mother was already my coach,
and being on the court was a part of my everyday life.
Tennis is all I've ever done.
Aki! It's almost time.
Oh...
See you later.
Here!
Does that mean Shimizu-san's been playing tennis constantly since she was little?
If that's been her everyday life, it's no wonder she's so good.
Okay, let's start the matches on each court.
I wonder if I said something strange earlier.
Tennis always took priority for me,
and there were times I didn't like having a different lifestyle from everyone else.
But because I was always guided in the right direction,
in the end, I thought I was happier than everyone else.
But I wonder what it is...
Something is different.
Is this really what's fun for me?
Yeah!
Damn. I lost, huh?
All right, that's it for today!
I want to train at your club one day, too!
Yeah, definitely!
Thank you very much for today.
Not at all. I hope we were of help to you, too.
Bye, Bro. I'm heading out.
See you tomorrow.
Um... Maruo-kun?
Oh, Shimizu-san.
Um...
Aki! Let's go.
Th-Thank you for today!
Oh, uh, sure...
It seemed like she wanted to say something.
Today was such a surprise.
But it was a great experience.
Yeah.
What?
You beat Shimizu-san today?
But Aki-chan wasn't in top form today.
Maybe she's working through things by trial and error.
Come to think of it...
You really... love tennis, don't you?
Hey.
You love tennis, right, Nat-chan?
Of course I do.
I knew you'd say that.
How about you, Miyagawa-kun and Araya-kun?
I'm amazed you can ask such a question so lightly.
Y-Yeah? You think so?
I don't think quite as simple as just saying I love it.
Really?
Well, considering I've been playing since I was a kid,
there were times that were rough,
and even times I wanted to quit.
To be honest, I can't describe it in a word.
For me, it's not about loving it or hating it anymore.
It's sort of like my blood, or my flesh.
It's a big part of what makes me who I am.
That's convincing, coming from a guy with a body built for tennis!
But at the end of the day, since we've all kept it up this long,
we can safely say that we all love it.
I see.
That's right.
Tennis brings me joy.
For the next two months, we're going to push your bodies to the limits!
Be careful not to injure yourselves.
Give it all you've got so you'll have nothing to regret!
Control!
Yes!
Hey!
Thanks for coming!
Mom?
We aren't going to train at STC anymore?
There's no reason to go there anymore.
Oh...
Did it inspire you?
Huh?
Yeah...
You'll probably see them all again at the All-Japan Junior.
You're the first seed, Natsu.
Are you in the opposite block, Akiko?
Yeah.
Bro!
The Kanto Junior match-ups were announced!
What?!
A tournament with sixty-four of the best players in Kanto.
Among them, sixteen players will be able to participate in the All-Japan Junior.
In other words,
winning twice and making it into the top sixteen players is the minimum goal.
Abe Yudai Yagawa Tadanori Maruo Eiichiro Matsuda Takahiro Ide Yoshiaki
The first seed is Nabae-kun.
Second seed is Okada-kun.
Third seed is our very own Araya-kun.
It's pretty much what was expected.
You're up against the fifth-seeded Ide in your second match,
which will determine whether you go on to the All-Japan.
Ide-kun, as in
one of the top eight of the All-Japan Indoor Invitational?
It's pretty rigorous, isn't it?
As the runner-up in Kanagawa, you're as good as a seeded player.
But the Kanto Junior seed order is determined by ranking.
If you'd won, it would've been a different story.
Ide dropped down to the top eight at the Saitama Junior this year.
He's content being a fifth seed, but in reality, he's much better than that.
I honestly can't say it's a good match-up,
but you're aiming to win the nationals, after all.
Right.
Like you, I'm also unseeded.
Let's both do our best and go to nationals together!
Egawa-kun just keeps getting better.
Yes, he does.
Oh, Takuma!
It's been a while.
Hey.
Look at that entourage of adults.
Takuma-san looks more and more like a pro.
Just the other day, he won his second match
and made it into Japan's top ten players.
Top ten?!
He must be here today for contracts and press and stuff.
Have a seat right over there.
Um, Takuma-san!
I know you must be busy,
but sometime soon, can we finish our match from last time?
Last time... Oh, that.
The kid went after it on his own...
I won't be in Japan starting next week, so...
It's gotta be today.
T-Today?!
Uh, okay!
See you later, then.
You mean the match that Coach Aoi called off and made you so frustrated?
Yeah.
My mind feels more settled after talking to Takuma-san.
If I lose at Kanto
and lose my chance at nationals,
no companies would want to sign me to a contract.
Which means I can't be a player everyone places their hopes on, like Takuma-san.
Three-set match.
Egawa to serve!
I thought I might not be able to give up on going pro even after losing,
but if I'm not good enough to make it to nationals,
I shouldn't be aiming to go pro.
But...
I'll become a pro, no matter what!
Next Time
The quality of Takuma-san's serve is totally different from a few months ago!
It stretches away from my reach after the bounce, just like Ike-kun's!
Takuma-san is incredible.
It's all I can do just to hold serve!
Ei-chan's getting better and better!
It's been two years since he started tennis.
Which means... That's right!
I've known Ei-chan for two years now.
Next time on Baby Steps,
Moonlight and the Sound of Waves
"Moonlight and the Sound of Waves."
End