Oh no! This is bad!
If youre that confident, you can play me.
But if you dont have a racket
Hey, Arai!
Heres an extra racket.
Well? Arent you gonna play me?
Mr. Promising Newcomer
Arai is so dirty!
He knows that you cant play with a beat-up racket like that.
SEISHUN ACADEMY Morning! Did you do your homework?
Ryoma Echizen?
Heard of him?
Nope.
Momo says hes not your average first-year player.
Well, it must be true if he says so.
Hmm
If so, we should be happy.
I guess.
Look Sakuno!
Its Ryoma!
Hes so cool! Dont you think so, Sakuno?
Huh?
Uh-huh.
Morning practice! Man, this is tough!
I wonder if Ill hold up through my classes.
Anyway... Huh?
I thought it was strange about Momoshiro.
But I heard he hurt his leg
and had only half his power.
Huh? He was hurt?
Couldnt tell at all. Hes amazing.
Thats why he was there the other day.
The other regulars had matches and werent around.
Echizen! Are you listening?!
Not at all.
Oh well
There was no way a first-year like you
would be as good as a regular.
The tennis is at a different level here at Seigaku.
The older regulars arent even here yet,
and look how good everyone else is.
I cant wait to see a match between regulars.
Itll probably be so exciting.
And hey, did you know?
Theres a school-ranking tournament every month
with every regular position at stake!
Thats the secret of Seigakus power.
Hmm
You know so much. Im so impressed.
N-Nah Its nothing.
Some guys are all talk.
Hey!
Are you the 7th grader whos supposed to be so great?
Huh? 7th grader...?
Oh. Over there...
Huh? Oh him?
I see... The one in that flashy outfit, huh?
In Kanto, theyre already ranked in the top four.
Seigaku regulars are really something else.
Wow
Hey, 7th graders! Whatre you all doing over there?!
Leave em alone!
Gee, I wish I could play someone like Captain Tezuka.
And what if Im able to steal a point?!
H-Hey!
Huh? Huh?
Dont get too cocky, kid!
Enter the ranking competition?
Dont even think about playing during your first year!
Until summer camp, the only thing first-years get to do is
retrieve balls and conditioning.
Regular team members are selected from 8th and 9th graders.
Huh?! Thats--!
You picking on the 7th graders?
Huh?
Hey, hes the new player weve heard about.
Huh? Are you kidding?
Huh?
Hes not the one who played Momoshiro the other day.
Huh?
Over there The one with the hat.
Huh?! Why that--! Making a fool of me?!
Damn it!
Anyway, Captain Tezuka went undefeated last year!
Isnt he amazing?!
Its nothing for you to brag about, Horio.
Ill say.
But Echizen
Its not a good idea to get on the wrong side of the upperclassmen.
That Arai seems to be really strict about seniority.
Hes gonna have it in for you.
Huh?!
Oh no!
Get off it! That belongs to Arai!
Huh?
Oh
Never mind.
You should mind!
It belongs to an upperclassman
Huh?!
Darn it!
I stepped on someones racket!
That rackets really old.
No kidding. Its covered in dust.
Thank goodness!
If this belonged to Arai, Id be in big trouble.
Cmon, before classes start!
Oww!
Watch where youre going, you monkey!
Hey.
Hey! What was that?
Is that how you greet an upperclassman?!
Why you--!
Did you see his attitude? How dare he disrespect us!
Huh?! Who messed up my jersey?!
Damn! One thing after another... its pissing me off!
What was his name...that 7th grader?
Ryoma Echizen.
Momoshiros upset at me because of him.
Ive had enough!
But I heard that hes a good tennis player.
If he makes it into the matches for ranking,
our place as regulars might be...!
Hes only a first-year player! No way will that happen!
I wont let that happen!
Damn! I wish I could humiliate him in front of everyone.
Well, Tezuka
Can you split up the team members into four brackets?
This intra-school elimination will be like a regular tournament.
Itll be stressful.
Yes
Speaking of which...
Ms. Ryuzaki, dont you have someone youre rooting for?
A 7th grader, perhaps?
It doesnt matter how I feel.
In our club, first-years cant play until summer, right?
Well, its the captains decision.
Why is practice so tough here?
Youve still got a ways to go.
7th graders! No letting up!
Do 50 sit-ups!
No way!
Were still on probation!
Ryoma Echizen
I see
Until summer camp,
they can only work on conditioning.
I guess the ranking matches are impossible.
37
Agh! I cant do anymore!
50!
Hey! Echizen! Echizen! Theyre here!
Who?
The nerve of this kid! He has three rackets!
Hey! Dont get cocky just cuz you can play a little.
The regulars will be back today.
Act too cocky and Ill...
Huh?!
Yes!
H-Hes here!
Huh?!
Wow! Oh!
Oh, here are the regulars.
Hello!
I want the newcomers to get adjusted,
so find an open court and start rallying.
Yes! All right!
Hey! Hey! Hes the one!
Captain Tezuka, who went undefeated last year!
Hes the one?
He has such charisma!
Oishi!
Huh?
Lets hit some balls, too.
Good idea, Fuji. Lets warm up before Tezuka arrives.
I dont think he was Captain Tezuka.
Huh?
Get this!
Fuji, your footworks too slow!
Wow!
No matter where he lobs
he returns every one
right into that basket.
Ive never seen anyone practice hitting shots like that.
Thats what it takes to be on Seigakus team?
Theyre great!
Boy, our top players are amazing.
Hey! Do you get it now?
You may have some stupid Twist Serve,
but that doesnt mean youll make the team!
Huh? I over-hit!
That was pretty easy.
Show off! Dont get cocky!
This isnt the place for first-year twerps like you to show off!
Whats going on?
Huh?!
Captain!
Hello!
As punishment for this disturbance,
both of you, take ten laps around the grounds.
P-Please wait! He!
Twenty times.
Yessir!
Everyone else, warm up!
When youre finished, 8th and 9th graders take to the courts!
7th graders be ready to pick up balls.
Yessir!
Hes so cool!
Tezuka!
Damn that kid with the hat! Hes gonna regret this!
Too bad, huh?
Huh?
Hey guys, listen up.
Hey! 20 more!
Hey Ryoma, did you finish 20 laps?
You dont look tired at all.
7th graders have to do 100 swings.
Get started.
Yeah
Whats wrong? Forgot your racket?
No
Youve got guts coming here without a racket.
You dont think you need practice?
Well, he is the hot-shot newbie, after all.
Stop goofing off! Oh no! This is bad!
If youre that confident, you can play me.
But if you dont have a racket
Hey, Arai!
Here!
An extra racket.
Hey, thats!
The old one in the locker room.
No! The string is loose. And the frame is about to break!
You cant use that.
Well, whats the matter? Not going to play me?
Mr. Newbie Jock
Arai is so dirty!
He knows that you cant play with a beat-up racket like that.
Hey
Huh?
Arai is picking on the newbies again.
Whatll we do? Shall we stop them?
Therell be hell to pay when Captain Tezuka returns.
Hmm...
That racket is perfect for a 7th grader like you.
Now learn your lesson, and dont show off again.
Then, just maybe...
your three precious rackets will appear.
H-Hey!
Echizen, wherere you going?!
There are guys like you...
who just love to pick on the weak.
Hey!
What?!
Are you accusing me of hiding them?
Who knows...
Well, lets play then.
Huh?!
Yknow, I think Ill watch a little longer.
I figured youd say that.
Youve got guts.
But Im gonna thrash you.
The idiot!
No matter how good he is,
theres no way he can win with that racket!
Its impossible with a racket like that.
And...yesterday... Oh, Ryoma!
Huh?! Im sorry
Oww! Hey! Whats going on?
Here I come!
Huh?!
I knew it! Its impossible with a racket like that!
Whats the matter?
You talk big enough!
Lets see you finish this match!
Take that!
Its no good! He has absolutely no control!
That shot was terrible!
Even if he hits the ball squarely, its useless.
I agree.
Hmm
With that racket, he cant get any spin on the ball.
Serves you right!
Feel the shame! Squirm!
Make a fool of yourself before all these guys!
And youll never show off again!
HmmI get it.
The fool! Acting all cool!
Theres no way you can...win!
He hit it!
Ryoma!
Hey, he turned his body to add the spin.
Not bad.
Was that for real?!
He returned the ball with that beat-up racket!
Maybe that racket isnt so bad?
No
The impact didnt sound right.
What? But that ball was super fast.
Super slow
Dont kid yourself!
Just because you returned one ball
Why you--!
How did he hit a ball like that with that racket?!
As they say, only a bad workman quarrels with his tools.
That kid...hell make the team.
Yeah
Damn! Ill end up a laughingstock!
That ball is in your way.
Huh?!
Echizen has full control of that racket!
Just like when he smashed the ball into the basket.
That 7th grader is amazing!
Yay for Ryoma!
Of all the stupid...!
Emarassing the 8th graders like that!
Hey Kaido
Im going to the john.
Now then, warm-up is over.
Huh?
Echizen, your strings broken.
Huh?
Oh never mind.
Lets finish this match, Senpai.
Huh?
H-Hey, enough already.
It was just a practice match.
No.
What do you think, Tezuka?
I will not allow anyone to break the rules.
Make everyone run laps.
Huh?
Even the regulars?
Everyone.
Geez...
What...?
BRACKET D RYOMA ECHIZEN (7TH GRADE)
Yo! Im Kaido, 8th-grade team member.
In the intra-school ranking tournament,
theres a cocky first-year named Echizen in my bracket, Bracket D.
Hey you 7th graders! The ones videotaping!
Quit moving around!
Whatever you try is useless!
Ill beat you with my deadly Snake shot!
Next on The Prince of Tennis: The One Named Viper
Whos the Viper?!
Hiss!