15-love.
Wow, Egawa-kun's serves never fail to mesmerize me!
In terms of speed alone, he might be number one in Japan.
There aren't many Japanese who have a physique like his and can move like that.
Yes, he may be the one to follow Ike Soji in taking on the world.
Right, Miura-san?
He must be starting to take on a professional mindset, too.
I can't wait to see Bro show the results of his hard work
and find out how well he can hold out against Takuma-san!
Yeah.
Moonlight and the Sound of Waves
First set winner: Egawa. 6-2.
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.
But it's not something I can't return.
If I change the pace so I don't give him a chance to move up...
Bro hasn't given up at all against Takuma-san.
Yeah.
Okay!
Second set.
I'm gonna be aggressive!
Before he can grasp the timing of my topspin shots,
use a slice!
Change the pace from a high-arcing topspin to a slice that stays in the air longer
and doesn't bounce high.
And when his speed drops to match my timing,
waste no time striking with a flat shot!
Love-15.
Yes!
He's looking good out there!
Yeah!
Maruo-kun is doing a fine job of changing the pace!
He's hitting a variety of shots.
Return his shots!
What I lack in power, I can make up for in control.
He's made remarkable improvements since I last saw him.
Has he been a member of STC for long?
No, he's been playing for only two years.
He's our most promising player.
Only two years?
Yes.
I never knew that.
That's right.
I've known Ei-chan for two years now.
Incredible.
Not only is he returning Egawa-kun's shots,
but he's actually going for points.
He has a surprising variety of shots and amazing accuracy.
He may be good enough to write an article about soon.
That's true!
Yes!
Game: Maruo. 3-all.
Now!
Yeah!
Game: Maruo. 4-all.
Wow!
Game: Egawa. 5-4.
Takuma-san is incredible.
It's all I can do just to hold serve!
Wow, they're on fire!
Egawa Maruo
If Egawa-kun can break serve now, he'll win.
Get the timing right again for another flat shot!
Yeah!
Game: Maruo. 5-all.
Ei-chan's amazing!
Egawa Maruo
He did it!
Bro's really getting into his game with Takuma-san.
Keep it up, Ei-chan!
Game, set, and match.
Winner: Egawa.
Score: 6-2, 7-5.
Egawa Maruo
I was right to use my data from the first set in the second set.
But there's still a bigger difference in strength than the scores show.
You've gotten a lot better.
Thanks!
Takuma-san! That was a pretty intense match!
One week remains until the Kanto Junior.
I need to focus!
Yes!
Maruo-kun, you're able to hit the ball right where it hurts now.
Thanks!
Maruo-kun.
What's up, Iwasa-kun?
I just realized something as I was sketching you.
You're hitting all your forehand shots with the same form.
Really?
Also, these are great!
They look just like you!
Yeah!
We're in an adjustment period focusing on pratice matches,
but with Miyagawa-kun and Iwasa-kun joining us,
it's been a very fulfilling experience.
Knowing you, I'm certain you won't forget,
but be sure to keep your first round opponent in mind.
Right!
Here it is.
This is a video of your first round opponent.
Yakabe to serve.
Yakabe Tadanori.
He made top eight at the Tokyo Junior,
and he's number 36 in the Kanto Junior ranking
as a third-year in high school.
Okay.
I think we also have video of Ide,
the guy you're likely to face in the second round,
but you've seen him in person a few times, right?
Yeah, but I'll still watch what we have.
It's better to have as much data on my opponents as possible.
Okay, I'm gonna get back to practice.
Thanks, Yukichi-kun.
Ide Yoshiaki.
He made the top eight at the All-Japan Junior Indoor Invitational,
but at the Saitama Junior, he lost in the top eight.
Double fault.
Advantage: Chiba.
A power shot on the second serve got him a double fault at deuce with the score 5-5?
I can't believe he'd take a risk that huge at such a crucial moment.
Yes!
Deuce!
But that high confidence is proving effective.
It's fun to watch players who aren't afraid of missing, which hypes up the crowd.
Then Ide-kun gets just as hyped up,
and the synergistic effect makes him play better and better.
That allows him to win all the high-pressure points.
Game: Ide. 6-5.
He's a type of player I've never faced before.
All right! It's summer break... Ah...
Are you two going to spend your whole break playing tennis again?
Yep, that's right.
The Kanto Junior's coming up.
Is that an important match?
Yeah. Players who finish in the top sixteen
get to participate in the All-Japan Junior in mid-August.
It's the tournament that determines the best high school player in Japan.
Wow! I had no idea you had both reached that stage!
That's only if we win, though.
Didn't Ei-chan say if he doesn't win that tournament,
he has to give up on going pro?
I'll come cheer you on!
I will, too!
Thanks!
Let's do our best, Ei-chan!
Yep!
It's almost time for that tennis tournament, isn't it?
Oh... Yeah.
You'll have to make a lot of decisions over this summer break.
Are you really going to give up on the pros if you don't win?
I intend to.
Well, do your very best.
We're rooting for you.
Okay.
I have to win!
I'll win and go pro!
Everyone got your stuff loaded?
Yes!
All right, let's go.
Sure is a lot of traffic.
Y-Yeah...
Are you getting carsick?
Oh, nah.
It's my first time staying overnight for a tennis match,
so I'm just a little nervous.
Huh?
We're only going to Chiba.
You went to Florida. What are you so worked up about?
Master Ike and Takuma-san travel all over the world!
Once you go pro, you'll be traveling a lot more,
so you'd better get used to it!
Getting over being ruled by your surroundings isn't enough.
You've gotta be able to use them to your advantage.
Anyway, isn't this fun? It's like a vacation.
The car in front of us is moving! Eyes front!
You'll be fine, Ei-chan.
Huh?
Florida was your first trip overseas,
but you came back looking totally comfortable.
I worried about you all that time for nothing.
True, as attuned to detail as you are,
you can be pretty dense about things, Bro.
A-Am I?
Yep, you are.
You're actually pretty slow!
I am not!
Welcome
Ayano TC STC Seishiro Academy
Thanks for having us.
All right,
for today, you'll spend the next two hours working up a sweat on the courts.
Make sure to get plenty of carbs at dinner,
and get to bed as early as you can.
Tomorrow, be sure to finish breakfast at least three hours before your match begins,
and warm up thoroughly before your match.
And those who lose will immediately hop on a train back home.
That is all.
Hey, you're our coach! Don't say ominous things like that!
That part is different from a vacation.
Huh?!
How can you make such casual remarks?!
This is about survival!
That's right.
Isn't that kinda cool? It's like a game.
Okay, drop off your stuff in your rooms, then meet in the lobby.
We'll be staying here for up to seven days.
There's a laundromat on the first floor.
Kanto Junior Tennis Tournament
So hot...
There are so many people here already.
So this is the venue for tomorrow's matches.
Nabae-kun's here!
Yo!
Araya-kun!
How're you feeling?
It's hot, so don't wear yourself out practicing.
Let's play a round later!
Sure!
Bro, let's warm up.
Okay.
This is great.
Wash off all your fatigue!
Yeah.
Nothing beats a bath after practice!
Yeah, it feels great.
Aren't tours like these fun?
How's it going for you?
Yeah, it's fun.
Actually, when I think we have matches starting tomorrow,
I have to wonder whether we should be having this much fun.
That's the problem with you newbies.
Listen. On tours, you have fun when you're meant to have fun,
and work hard when you need to work hard.
I see...
Start by just relaxing.
Okay.
It's like a school field trip, isn't it?
Yeah, it is.
Okay, I'll call you again tomorrow.
Yeah.
Yeah, I know.
I know, I know!
Okay, bye.
Oh, Ei-chan. What's up?
I was just calling home. What about you?
I came to get a drink.
So it finally starts tomorrow.
Yeah. For the past year, I've trained for this...
No, I've trained for the All-Japan Junior,
so there's a lot on my mind.
Oh, yeah!
Ei-chan, come with me for a bit.
I'll show you something really cool.
Huh? Where are we going?
If we're going out, shouldn't we let the coach know?
It'll be fine.
This isn't school.
Oh, you're right.
Or do you not want to see something cool?
N-No, I do! I want to see it!
Then let's go.
It's really close. We'll be fine.
Okay.
So what's this cool thing?
You'll find out soon.
By the way, what were you planning to do for the rest of tonight?
Huh? Well, I hadn't really thought about it.
I'll probably go over my notes and stuff to prepare for tomorrow.
But you don't feel like there's anything left you could do?
Well, sure, but I can't fall asleep at 8:00 in the evening,
and I wouldn't feel ready for my match tomorrow if I did nothing.
Yeah, I know what you mean.
I talked to Aoi-san about that not long ago.
He said that once you go pro and start touring more,
the ability to use your extra time wisely becomes really important.
The ability to use time wisely?
It's not good to have too much running through your head before a match, right?
But you can't just think about nothing, either.
He said you should learn how to relax in your own way while continuing to focus.
Oh...
Tennis 60
College Entrance Exam English Vocabulary
I think I sort of understand.
I can't just spend the rest of the day looking at my notes,
so I was thinking of going running or borrowing a manga from Yukichi-kun.
You see?
So I wanted to show you that there's something like this here, too.
Wow! It's the ocean!
This place is amazing!
I didn't know it was so close to the ocean!
Oh, there are a lot of people, and they all look like tennis players!
I think it's because, at night,
the ocean looks the same whether you're in Kanagawa or Chiba...
But coming here really calms me down.
Yeah, I can see why!
This is great!
Isn't it?
Whoa, it's cold!
But it feels good!
Hey, don't hurt yourself.
I know.
The ocean at night...
Hey, don't come up here!
Nat-chan having fun...
I-Is this... my chance to tell her how I feel?!
Instinct
If that's what you think, then spit it out! Go!
Reason
No, no, no! Something that important needs to be planned ahead!
Besides, it's the day before your match!
It's not a matter of when you should say it!
No, no! Nat-chan invited me out here to help me relax!
Okay, I'll ask you this.
If I lose the Kanto tournament and only Nat-chan goes pro,
can you say with conviction that you won't regret confessing today?
Ei-chan?
Ei-chan!
What's wrong, Ei-chan? You look so serious.
Oh, just...
Um... Nat-chan...
Thanks for always being there.
What? Where's this coming from all of a sudden?
It's not sudden.
I feel like you're always helping me out.
When I lost matches, when I went to Florida, and even right now.
It's embarrassing when you come out and say it like that.
I want to do something for you, too.
So if you need anything, tell me, okay?
If you need a hitting partner, I'll do it anytime.
Oh, I think I'd appreciate that.
Okay, then...
Go out with me.
If that's all, of course I...
Huh?
Huh?!
What?! G-Go out?!
U-Um, you mean...
Wh-What?! Wh-Why?! You just... You're kidding!
I'm not kidding.
Then... you mean it?
Yep.
She beat me to it.
Huh?
I mean, all this time, I'd planned to say it first.
What does it matter who says it first?
B-But I was thinking of saying it all that time!
And before, you said I was "cheating"...
So I thought, this time...
That was because you were asking about my feelings without telling me your own.
Then why is it okay now?
Because you told me how you felt not long ago.
Even if you only got the "li—" out.
Y-Yeah, but... I didn't get any further than "li."
But I understood it.
What do words matter, as long as the point gets across?
I want to say it properly!
Okay... Then say it again.
Huh? Oh...
I like you! Please go out with me!
Okay, I will.
Hey! Why are you laughing?
Because...
Hey, did you know it's already 9:00?
Huh? It's already that late?
But this was a lot better than stressing out over your notes, wasn't it?
Huh? Oh, yeah.
Hey, Ei-chan...
What?
I want to thank you, too.
Huh?
When you were practicing with Takuma before, and even before that...
Ever since I first met you,
seeing you work hard has always made me want to work hard, too.
Even when I've got it rough, I can tell myself to overcome it.
So when you win, I'm as happy as if I had won,
and that always gives me strength!
I feel like...
I might cry.
Well, I'll see you tomorrow.
Yeah.
Let's both do our best!
Yep!
Welcome back, Bro.
You were gone a while.
Yeah... I went for a walk and ended up at the beach.
The beach, huh?
If we win tomorrow, want to light fireworks?
Sounds good!
I never expected this to happen the day before my match.
Life never goes the way you'd expect.
All right! I'll do my best tomorrow!
Morning, Ei-chan.
Oh... Morning!
I'm digging in!
This miso soup is good, isn't it?
Y-Yeah. It is good.
I-I think I'll go get seconds!
It's unusual for you to get seconds.
Huh? Oh...
They're acting weird.
Wow, look at all these people!
Well, all the representatives of each age group from seven prefectures are here.
But that number will be cut in half today.
Half...
Yeah.
Listen up!
All the STC players will survive to the end!
Right!
Okay!
Let's do this!
Next Time
All right! I'm ready!
Five minutes until we start!
Here I go!
Ei-chan! Ei-chan!
Kageyama?
What's wrong? My match is about to start.
There's some big trouble with your next match!
Huh?
Your opponent isn't here yet!
They say there was a traffic accident near where he was warming up!
What?! No way!
Next time on Baby Steps,
A Hero and Loud Cheers
"A Hero and Loud Cheers."
End