Not again!
There's not a ball I can't return, young one.
Serves you right, kid!
My dad was called the Golden Retriever of Meguro!
Golden
Retriever?
SEISHUNDAI TENNIS CLUB
Your dad's amazing, Kachiro.
He's the pro at a great club like this?!
Aww, it's nothing. He's just the coach.
Sorry, sorry We're late.
Did you wait long?
Osakada What's that you're carrying?
Lunch.
Lunch?!
You're not going to eat all that yourself?
Are you kidding? It's for everyone.
I have so many siblings, I'm used to doing this.
So Ryoma, practice as hard as you can.
Then eat lots and lots of the food that I so lovingly prepared!
I spent a whole week figuring out the menu.
I worked really hard and I know you'll like it.
My brothers will vouch for its good taste.
Who told them about this place?
I dunno
I did. It's more fun with a big group, right?
Momo says he'll come later.
M-Momo too?
Then there's
There's more?
Kachiro!
Oh, Dad!
Glad you could all come.
Hello! Hello.
So, you're Echizen?
My son's told me about you. He says you're really strong.
Well
Well, have fun today. Follow me and I'll show you to your court.
Oh? I see
Uncle?
Huh? Did you want something?
There you go, reading those books again.
Here Aunty wants you to take this to Ryoma.
Yeah, right Why do I have to be Ryoma's messenger?
Aunty said to tell you something else.
If you don't take the lunchbox to Ryoma by noon,
she's going to throw out all of your girlie magazines.
Wh-What?! You should have said that sooner!
And she really did throw them out the last time!
I'm off!
You may use this court.
Yes! How great to be able to play on such a big court!
However, please don't interfere with our other guests.
Hey, Echizen! Teach us that twist serve, will you?
Nope!
Ryoma! Go for it!
Coach Kato
Yes?
I'm looking forward to a good lesson today.
Certainly, Mr. Sasabe. Please wait for me at Court F.
Court F? What do you mean?
Why can't we stay here on Court A?
Why do we have to walk all the way to Court F?
We'll play right here. All right?
Oh
Take that bag to the locker, will you?
It'll get dirty, so don't put it on the floor.
Who was that?
One of our regular customers.
He's so selfish and very unpleasant.
We can move to Court F
Nope. I'll just tell him!
Come on. Hurry up, will you?
What a guy!
He acts so big!
I don't like him.
Sorry about this.
I thought he was going to tell him.
I'm sorry. Let's all move to Court F.
Don't worry about it.
People like that are common.
Hey! Outta my way!
Oww! Geez! Watch where you're going, monk!
Hey kid, I'm in a hurry. Let me pass, huh?
Huh? After banging into me? No way!
Get out of the way!
What?!
Besides, a young man like you shouldn't be riding a bike.
Train your body!
Huh? Why you--!
Just who do you think you're talking to?!
Hey Hey Take that
Listen to what I have to say!
Shut up! Move! Take that
Move!
Damn monk!
Echizen 6 6 4 Horio 0 0 0
Ryoma is so cool!
Echizen, time for a break! I'm exhausted.
You talk big, but you sure lack stamina.
You're so cool, Ryoma!
Hey Sakuno, you're always prompt, but why were you late today?
Huh? No reason
Hmm? Something's fishy
Oh! That bag! Here!
Let me see! Tomo, stop it!
I knew it! Lunch for two
I get it. You were late because you were making this.
Who's it for? Ryoma?
N-No!
Then who?
Horio? Kachiro? Katsuo?
Hey, not to worry!
This is how Ryoma will get more fans.
What?! You refuse to listen to me?
What was that?
That voice
It came from Court A.
Let's go see!
That's enough! We can't keep doing all these exercises.
Enough warm-ups. We didn't come here just for this.
But if you don't warm up properly,
it could lead to pulled muscles or other injuries.
What?! Pulled muscles?
Oh come off it! Don't lump us together with the weaklings.
You're so right.
It's Mr. Sasabe and his gang.
He thinks he owns the courts.
Someone should stop it.
Coach Kato, I may not look it,
but I made it to the inter-high championships.
Consider that when you coach, will you?
Of course, but if you don't warm up properly
Oh You charge us a high tuition, but you don't want to teach us?
Forget the boring stuff, just teach us dynamic things like the topspin.
Show us how the pros do the topspin, Coach Kato.
That old man didn't come here to learn.
He just wants to cause trouble for Coach Kato.
You can't do it?
I heard you didn't turn pro because of an injury,
but you probably just did warm-ups.
That's a terrible thing to say!
I hear your son's in the Seigaku tennis club.
But if he's your son, he'll probably spend three years chasing balls.
It must be hard having no talent.
And I hear they're using a seventh grader as a regular.
Seigaku sure has fallen on hard times.
Wait, Ryoma.
Mr. Sasabe
You can say whatever you want about me,
but I won't allow you to criticize my son or his school!
What's that attitude towards a customer?!
Hah! He can't take a joke.
Oh
Hey, Dad! What are you doing?
Oh, well this damn coach refuses to teach us.
Hmm What a coach, huh?
Oh, that's!
Huh? You know him?
Huh?
Oh, Ryoma!
Forget it, Dad.
With your abilities, you don't need any lessons.
Well, it's certain that I'm better than him.
Say Did you learn how to grip a racket?
How to grip it properly Did you learn it?
Oh? Someone you know?
I dunno
Hey mister
Won't you teach me how to play tennis?
You want me to teach you?
Dad, you'd better not
What're you saying?
That boy can't learn anything from the coach,
so he's depending on me to teach him.
All right. I'll teach you.
I'll show you the beautiful techniques
that made me runner-up in the inter-high finals.
Uh-oh
This is not good.
Go easy on me.
I wonder if Uncle has met up with Ryoma yet.
Let me pass, brat!
Shut up! You lazy monk!
Take that back! It's worldly monk!
What?! You take it back, you stupid monk!
Look at these muscles! This is a body that's trained!
You little twerp! Look at this miraculous body!
Excuse me!
Please let me through.
Huh? It's Momoshiro and Nanjiro.
What are you doing?
What's wrong?
I'm in a hurry. Would you move out of the way?
We're busy, woman. Stay out of this.
Woman, stay out of this?!
That's sexual harassment!
This is between us men.
So women can stay out of it!
What did you say?!
Look you! You're discriminating against women.
Correct what you just said! Take it back!
Shut up! I don't give a damn! Just get lost, will you?
Forget this! Let me through!
Me! Let me through!
Best-of-one set match. Echizen's service
Ryoma
Go, Ryoma! Beat that terrible jerk!
Mr. Sasabe, take it easy now.
He's just a kid, you know.
Okay. Just give it all you've got.
Will Ryoma be all right?
Just watch, Dad. Ryoma is amazing!
His right hand
There you go! That was a good shot.
Not bad.
Ohh
Here!
Don't hold back. Come at me with all you've got.
Why didn't Ryoma use his twist serve?
I see
Huh?
He is a very intelligent player.
That's why he started with a regular serve.
No matter how good the player,
he can't win without information about his opponent.
He's gathering information about that player right now.
He's something else.
Of course! After all, he's a regular on the Seigaku team.
That's nothing for you to brag about.
He placed that ball right in the corner.
Oh!
Don't take me lightly!
Pretty good.
This world's not that easy.
Love Fifteen.
Yes, Dad!
Did you see that, Tomoka?
Oh, he was just lucky.
That old man will soon be out of breath.
Young one, I'll keep training you.
Take that!
Yes! Bet he can't return that ball.
There!
Love - Thirty.
What's going on?
That'sthe Retriever!
Retriever?
Okay, kid. Let's see you pass this test.
You know the dog called a golden retriever, don't you?
A retriever is a hunting dog.
A hunting dog?
Yes. Someone who can catch any ball and bring it back like a hunting dog
is called a retriever.
Bjorn Borg was called the world's greatest retriever.
Any ball? Oh boy
He placed 2nd place in the inter-high championship.
He's not just boasting.
There's no ball I can't return, little kid.
Hah! Good for you, brat!
My dad was called the Golden Retriever of Meguro!
Golden
Retriever?
Ohh
He's golden, all right.
That gold tooth's blinding me.
Save comments like that till after you win a point.
Oh yeah?
Here!
He really is a retriever. He's keeping up with all the balls.
But something's strange about Ryoma.
What?
Well, Ryoma has the serve.
He could use his twist serve to ace it.
Why isn't he using it?
He's going to the net!
He's planning to end it.
Hah! You took my bait!
Here it goes!
Oh!
A passing shot.
That's it
Retriever stays close to his baseline, returning every ball.
Then, when his opponent approaches the net, he gets him with a passing shot.
It's not like Ryoma to drop his service!
Game count: One game to Love.
Sasabe a.k.a. Golden Retriever of Meguro leads.
I didn't need to worry.
Dad! Smash him!
I guess it's about time.
Look at Ryoma's perspiration!
What's the matter, Ryoma?
I get it So that's what he's doing!
Here it comes!
Fool!
Didn't you get the power of my shot?!
Love - Fifteen.
Huh?
Way to go, Ryoma!
What's with this kid?
He wasn't just analyzing his opponent's game.
He was warming up.
Huh?
Look at how he's sweating.
His engine is running at full speed.
He was warming up while studying the Retriever's characteristics.
That's why he didn't use the twist serve?
Man! So practicing with us isn't warming up?
Damn! I was too relaxed because I thought he was just a kid.
Mister, you've been hugging the baseline all the time.
What?
You should come to the net from time to time.
Shut up!
Mr. Retriever, you stay back because you can't take the front, right?
H-He figured it out!
Damn!
You've still got a ways to go.
Game to Echizen!
Oww!
Hey, Dad! Hang in there!
Oww! I pulled a muscle!
You pulled a muscle because you didn't warm up properly.
Maybe that's why you didn't win the inter-high championship.
Both father and son should go back to the basics.
Father and son?
Right?
No wonder you're a Seigaku regular, Ryoma.
Seigaku regular?!
He's the 7th grader who made the first team?
Damn! Shucks!
He did it! Ryoma won!
Ryoma, you're so cool!
Hurry up and move!
Shut up, old man. You move!
You're the one who's in the way!
Aww! If I don't hurry, my treasures will be!
Your treasures?
Delicious! This is great, Osakada!
You're a terrific cook, aren't you?
Savor the flavors, okay?
It really is good!
He's eating it. I'm so glad.
Ryoma, umm
Umm H-How does it taste?
You've still got a ways to go.
My backhand stroke isn't there yet.
Ohmy lunch
Boy
That Ryoma
I know
Something's
Don't you think?
I know
Ohh! Stupid Ryoma!
Hello, everyone. I'm Sakuno Ryuzaki.
Ryoma and Momoshiro Senpai are going at it in a burger shop.
I wonder what's going on?
On top of that, he's going to play a match against students from another school.
Oh dear!
Next on The Prince of Tennis: Ryoma vs. Momoshiro
Will Ryoma be all right?