The drop is so sudden!
Get there!
He returned it!
The kid's fast.
This is it!
Don't do it, Echizen! Not the smash!
Seigaku!
-- Fight! Fight! Fight! -- Fight! Fight! Fight!
Seigaku!
Fight! Fight!
Come on! Step lively!
Why do we have to run again today?
They want us to train harder to prepare for the Metropolitan semifinals.
Oh-ho... This is hard... It's too hard...
We're having you run today
in order to test the strength of the team members.
Those who drop out will get a special improved Penal-tea.
What...not again?!
So today's Penal-tea is a new version.
A new version?
I'd like to try it.
Are you serious?
I never want to drink it!
Lately, it seems to me Inui is enjoying making us drink that.
-- Hiss... -- Hey Viper!
I won't let you...!
I refuse to drink that!
Stop right there.
You guys are disqualified.
-- Huh? -- Wha--?!
The time for today is 55 seconds per lap.
Those who take longer will have a Penal-tea waiting for them, too.
Is he kidding?!
Sounds fun.
We've got to pick up the pace.
-- I won't drink that even if it kills me! -- ...drink that even if it kills me!
If you pick up your pace too much, you won't last.
That's true.
But I'll never drink it.
Taka! Why are you so nonchalant?
Nonchalant? Seems more like he's thinking of a girl.
A girl?
What're you saying?!
Stupid! Is this what you wanted to talk about?!
Don't make Yuki worry anymore.
No, Jin...!
Don't order me around.
Takashi... Are you all right?
That's terrible!
Oh, here he comes!
No, Momo. Don't do it!
Thanks for that treat earlier.
Seigaku?
I haven't introduced myself yet.
I'm a 7th grader at Seigaku, Ryoma Echizen.
Nice to meet you.
Jin Akutsu?
Y-Yeah. Jin Akutsu...
He quit coming to karate practice when he entered middle school,
and I've heard nothing but bad rumors since.
I never thought he'd return to tennis.
Return? What do you mean?
He had a famous coach when he was in elementary school,
so he's really good.
And the girl with him is your girlfriend?
What? Girlfriend?!
So, it's true...
No, you're wrong!
You're a sly one, aren't you, Taka?
You've got it wrong! She's...
Come on, it's okay.
Everybody goes through these phases.
These phases...?
When you fall for someone older.
Someone older, huh?
You're wrong!
That's enough!
Your pace is falling. It's our last lap!
In the end, only the regulars are left.
Of course, this mug awaits the last one in.
A deluxe Penal-tea, a super-special new version.
Oh, that's right...
Huh? Hey...wait up!
I can't lose!
Hiss...
Me neither!
Oh?
Kawamura, here's your racket.
Burning! I'm burning!
Outta my way! I'm on fire!
-- Wha--?! -- Huh?
Echizen, why'd you have to do that?!
We won't let you!
You brat!
Fuji?
Huh? What is it?
Do you like that stuff?
Inui's Penal-tea? Yeah, I do. It tastes so good.
Huh? Then why are you running so hard?
I enjoy watching other people suffer even more!
Boy, I'd better not get on the wrong side of this guy!
Hurry! We're running out of time.
Just a little further...
I'm not through yet!
I absolutely refuse...!
Who won?
What's their time?
54 seconds...
Unfortunately, they all arrived together.
This is exhausting for those of us watching.
They sure are competitive.
Are they planning to run this hard every time?
That Inui... Is he trying to kill us?
Man... I'm beat...
Hey! How long are you going to sit there?
Tezuka's right.
That match with St. Rudolph's the other day
was one that required stamina.
If we're going to aim for the nationals, we definitely have to beef up.
Now, when you're all exhausted, is the time to test your true abilities.
We'll start practice matches now.
Those who are picked, get on the court.
What? Matches?! Really? From now?
No way...
They have to play a match after running so hard?
They won't last.
Fuji!
Echizen!
We'll start off with you two.
A match between Fuji and Echizen?
No way! Practice matches between the regulars?
To think we can watch matches like these, right off!
Who's stronger, I wonder... Fuji or Echizen?
This time I get to play against the big brother.
Go easy on me.
Will Ryoma be all right?
Who do you think?
Fuji.
-- Fuji. -- Fuji.
Echizen.
-- Huh? -- What?
Let's see how far you can get with Fuji.
One set match. Fuji to serve.
Split step!
Where does he get all that stamina?
Fuji... It's okay if I beat you, right?
Echizen's rushing forward!
Does he plan to attack with his return?
I'll hit it left and right and stop him in his tracks.
Oops!
Hmm... Not bad.
But...to attack is my only option!
He's easily returning Fuji's balls.
True, his balls are insanely fast.
Not a single sign of retreat. He keeps hitting the balls right back.
And what makes it possible...is that!
His one -legged split step.
Geez. That ball was supposed to end it, but you got it easily.
This is fun.
Game to Fuji! One game to love.
Game to Echizen! One game all.
Oh... This time Echizen held his service!
It's such a tight game.
But you have a chance, Ryoma!
They're still feeling each other out.
It's a question of who will bait the other.
Who will do it first...
I'll throw him off with a Drive B.
How about a triple counter?
Oh, this is exciting. Watch them rally!
Neither is backing down an inch!
The ball speed has changed!
Okay... This is it!
Oh! Just as I thought, Echizen is attacking first!
Then I'll just aim for his feet.
Oh! That sliding is a...!
-- Drive B! Drive B!
I'll aim for the left corner.
Darn it!
Normally, a smash from that angle would send the ball out.
But Echizen's Drive B suddenly drops from there!
The drop is so sudden!
Get there!
He returned it!
The kid is fast.
This is it!
Don't do it, Echizen! Not the smash!
What...? What just happened?
I don't know. What happened?
H-He returned that smash with a volley?!
That's a move that kills the effectiveness of even my dunk smashes.
It's "counter" tennis, which utilizes his opponent's power.
The stronger the opponent,
the more striking his counter power becomes.
This is one of Fuji's triple counters...
the Brown Bear.
Fifteen - Love!
That was his Brown Bear!
He volleyed the smash! How'd he do that?
For Fuji to use that trick... shows he means business.
What's that "Brown Bear"?
The Brown Bear...
He uses his body's centrifugal force to absorb his opponent's power,
and he sends it right back.
And he sends it right behind his opponent who has come forward.
Wow! All in the blink of an eye!
That's not something a person can normally do.
That's why Fuji is a genius.
But...his Drive B is greater than I imagined.
I can't find the perfect counter to it.
I was able to return it only because
Echizen was worn out after all that running.
What are you looking at?
Nothing.
I guess Echizen can't use his smash anymore.
Huh? Why is that?
Just think about it.
What should have been totally Echizen's kill,
was cleanly returned.
I know he's good, but I doubt he'd try another smash...
There it goes! A smash!
He's even more determined than ever.
Th-That's Echizen for you...
Thirty - Love.
Another Brown Bear.
I thought for sure that was it!
Ryoma must be in shock.
You're able to kill all of my smashes, huh?
You think Echizen is easily shocked?
Nope. Not by a long shot.
Looks like he's excited and he can't wait to defeat Fuji.
Fine... Why don't you try and beat me?
Here I come.
Hey! That ball is a great chance!
That's a challenge from Fuji.
You!
Oh, that ball...!
It's a twist ball!
It's that twist smash that he used against Ibu of Fudomine.
You used your head, Echizen.
H-He returned it...
The Brown Bear again!
So long as he has that trick, smashes won't work on him at all!
Ryoma...
Forty - Love.
This guy is...strong!
More than that, he's skilled!
I really have to keep on my toes with you.
I can see why you could beat...
Yuta and Kaido, and even Inui.
I can't lower my guard to you, for even a second.
It could be the end of me in the blink of an eye.
But...it's a little too soon for you to beat me.
Oh! Here's another chance!
Did Fuji hit a lob on purpose?!
Echizen went for it!
Game to Fuji, two games to one. Fuji leads.
The Brown Bear...
Man... To think that Echizen's smashes are ineffective!
Oh! Another smash!
The result's the same, no matter how many times he does it.
As long as he has that technique.
Love - Fifteen.
N-No, Ryoma! He's persistently sticking with smashes...
So stubborn...
That's Echizen all right.
I swear I'll beat him!
Hello! This is Kachiro.
Both Fuji and Ryoma seem to be enjoying their match,
but they seem to be transforming into totally different people and I'm scared!
The practice match between Momo and Tezuka is also starting!
So many must-sees!
Next on The Prince of Tennis: "A Duel in the Rain"
Ryoma, it's raining.
Can't you hear me? Hey Ryoma!