Echizen, why do you play tennis?
Why?
Why?!
Theres someone I want to beat.
You play tennis just because theres someone you want to beat?
Are you satisfied with that? Echizen?
What do you mean?
And what will motivate you after that?
Rather than the future...
I need to focus
on the enemy at hand!
Stop it, Tezuka! You shouldnt hit a drop shot yet
Echizen...
see if you can beat me.
Well, I guess its time for the young to leave their nest.
The Golden Age of Japanese tennis
The legendary man who sent shock waves around the world
Nanjiro Echizen
That kid... hes really just like his father.
Whats that? You mean you know Echizens father?
Yes His father was a professional tennis player.
What? A former pro player?
What sort of player was he?
Was he an aggressive player like Ryoma is?
An aggressive player?
The word endure wasnt in his vocabulary
All he did was attack.
He was absolutely flawless.
He had natural instincts, speed, and power.
And, most of all, he had an extraordinary ability to absorb.
He was that great?
Yesa person who comes along once in ten years
No, he had an even rarer genius.
But Nanjiro Echizen was an even greater monster than I thought he was.
Huh?!
Ive decided Im going to play with both hands from today.
Youre saying Nanjiro Echizen developed this two-handed method himself?
Thats right.
And not only did he overcome his weak backhand.
World-class players always overcome hurdles like that.
Thats the kind of boy Echizens father was.
Finally, I understand.
Huh? Understand what?
That its Nanjiro Echizen whos playing on the court now.
His power, speed, reflexes
He far exceeds most players in all of these areas.
His ability to take advantage of his opponents predictions is also flawless.
Ryomas tennis is a carbon copy of Nanjiro Echizens.
Its unusual for you to make such a strong assertion.
But when Echizen manages to climb over that wall,
what will be...waiting for him?
I wonder
What could be beyond that?
Thats enough, Tezuka. Dont hit any more drop shots.
Otherwise, your joint will
Come on, Echizen.
Im home.
Yo, kid. Youre back late. Did you have a date?
Sort of
He is...
at that age, I guess.
Youre good, Captain.
But
Im not going to lose like this.
Show methe kind of tennis that only Ryoma Echizen can play!
Your own tennis!
So you watched our game
I didnt hear that youd be playing at full power.
What are you going to do if your arm gets worse?
The problem with my joint is only a small matter.
Tezuka!
If you hadnt played hard, you wouldve lost the match
Am I right?
Echizens just recovered from an eye injury.
I wish you could have avoided playing this sort of match.
We needed to play that match.
If I hadnt played seriously, it would have meant nothing.
That was all I could do for him.
Tezuka, will Echizen be able to get through this?
Even though this is for the sake of his future,
he must be a little bit in shock.
It looks like hes never lost a match before.
Are you listening, Tezuka?
The game is over.
ECHIZEN, BECOME THE PILLAR OF SEIGAKU!
Whaaat?!
The Captain and Echizen are off again?
Whats going on?
I have no idea.
Well, get ready and start practicing!
Regulars, run around the grounds 10 times.
And you others, swing your rackets! Now!
Yes!
Echizen, become the pillar of Seigaku!
BANNO HOSPITAL
Dad
Youre home early, young man.
What are you doing here now?
Lets play a game!
Its unusual for you to be asking me for a game.
Youve finally come to respect your daddy.
Ms. Ryuzaki, where is Tezuka?
He went to the hospital.
Hospital?!
Dont worry. The doctor already told me Tezuka has made a full recovery.
I guess he just wants to talk to him.
Whats wrong with Ryoma?
Its strange hes missed two days of practice.
Those two must know something.
By the way, youre in the same class as him.
Did you notice anything different about him?
He was the same as usual today,
so Im suspicious that he called in sick to practice.
I see
Stop it, you guys.
At times like these, upperclassmen should give quiet support.
Outsiders should be quiet.
What? Outsiders? Are you challenging me to a fight?
Hiss
Calm down, Momo Senpai!
The little guy theres something going on with him.
I guess so.
We have the Metropolitan Tournaments very soon,
but hes missed practice for two days.
Theres only one thing I can think of in this situation.
Whats that, Inui? Tell us! Tell us!
Theres no rush. Echizen will probably give us the answer at the Metro Tournament.
This is a serious match.
Okay. How about a handicap?
Dont need it.
Easy does it!
You underestimate me!
Echizen, show me your own tennis. Ryoma Echizens own tennis.
His shot is different than usual!
There ya go.
Here!
This guy
You still have a ways to go.
Ms. Ryuzaki
Oh, Mr. Inoue
I visited Mr. Nanjiro.
Really You saw that bum? And?
Mr. Nanjiro told me before that Ryoma was missing something.
Ryoma is missing something?
Yes. I thought I figured out what it was,
but it was something totally different.
So thats why you came to see me?
Exactly. What is it that Ryoma is missing?
What Ryoma is missing, eh?
Theres someone else whos been talking about the same thing.
What? Who?
He is
Someone who is closest to the Nanjiro of the old days, I think.
Any pain?
No. I just wanted you to have a look in case.
It looks okay.
But even though its healed, if you overwork it,
your efforts to recover will be wasted.
I understand. Thank you very much.
I dont want Shuichiro to know about my visit today.
I understand. Its not easy being Captain, is it?
Well, I must be going.
You hit drop shots, didnt you?
Im sorry.
Why did you do that?
As your doctor, I think I have the right to ask.
Hit the shot to me, Echizen.
Hit the kind of shot I cant return.
Hit it to me, Echizen!
Hit it!
A tennis player should improve his abilities.
And I think a young player must establish
a new era of tennis rather than just trying to catch up to a former great player.
Thats why I had to do it.
Echizens tennis game is a copy of Nanjiro Echizens.
But he cant overtake him as he is now.
There are many strong players in the world.
I wanted to show Echizenmy tennis.
I needed to show it to him in order to get him to improve his tennis.
Even if the price was high.
Ill show you...
my tennis!
My own tennis!
Echizen
Become the pillar of Seigaku!
Hit the ball to me. Hit a ball that I cant return.
And raise your tennis game higher, Echizen!
Ill hit it!
Yes!
Dad!
I want to be a strong player! Much, much stronger!
It was the right thing to do to send him to Seigaku.
I dont know who it was, but he understood Ryomas personality,
and he did exactly the right thing for Ryoma at this stage.
That is, to motivate him.
You look happy. What happened?
Nothing really.
Im going to keep playing harder!
This boywill be reborn.
Hello, Im Ryoma.
What Kalpin likes most is taking a nap, cat treats, and foxtails.
Hey, dont follow me to school!
How did you get here, anyway?
Next on The Prince of Tennis: Kalpins Adventure
Hey, Kalpin, you still have a ways to go, too.