Ryomas rushing the net.
I got it! If he goes to the net,
he might be able to catch up!
Ryomas own style of split step! Ryomas own style of split step!
Wasting your time, squirt!
How can he?!
After our kid jumped
he hit it in the opposite direction!
From that position he cant hit crosscourt!
40 - Love!
Hang in there, Echizen!
Yo, Kawamura
You think this little squirt can beat me?
seven, eight, nine, ten
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
Our senior classmates look so cool!
Theyre awesome!
But the best one is Sumoto!
Yeah! Hes the best among all the middle school guys!
Whos that?
What? Oh, thats Akutsu.
You know him?
Sort of. He lives near me.
Hey! Whats all the noise about?!
S-Sorry! Its just that weve got a visitor.
A visitor?
Are you wanting to join the club?
Our teacher isnt here right now, so you better come back later
I heard there were some tough guys here,
but you arent so tough.
You there, how long have you been studying karate?
Hey! For someone trying to join up, how dare you talk like that?!
If you wanna join, you better straighten up!
Dont order me around!
If youre gonna act so tough, you better beat me first!
Who is this kid?
If your brain doesnt listen,
then Ill have to teach your body to listen.
Hey, quit it, Sumoto! If the teacher finds out
Just leave it to me.
Man! This is turning into trouble!
This is impossible, Akutsu!
A beginner coming up against Sumoto!
Even the assistant coach defers to him!
Hey, if thats all you can do, you wont beat me!
Well! Whats wrong? Had enough?
Its not over! Come on, one more round
My arm! My arm!
Sumoto! Are you all right?! Is he okay?!
Ah! Mr. Sumoto!
Jeez! I thought you were tough. I expected more.
What did you say, punk?!
Ill teach you!
You little! Get im!
Game to Yamabukis Akutsu! Two games to Love!
Oh, Ryoma!
Dont worry! Its Ryoma were talking about!
Yeah
That guy waits until Echizen moves and then changes where he hits it!
How can he do that?!
But if Ryoma waits to move until Akutsu hits the ball,
then its too late.
Thats gotta be humiliating,
after Echizen jumped in the opposite direction!
AkutsuNo matter what you do, youre strong
UmAkutsu!
Who are you?
Its me! The sushi restaurant owners son!
Oh, yeah. Kawamura
What do you want?
Why do you do things like this?
Hey! Akutsu!
Huh? Akutsu?
Jin, please dont make any more trouble!
Shut up! Dont order me around!
Jin! Jin!
You got business with me?
Umno I just thought you are really amazing.
Youd never studied karate before,
yet you went up against those advanced guys.
But you better watch out!
If you go around doing stuff like that
Dont order me around!
I-Im not ordering you! Im worried about you.
Worried?
Who do you think youre talking to?
No matter who the opponent is, Ill never lose!
Remember that.
Is that all you can do, squirt?!
Forget it, it wont work.
And now I attack!
To the right!
30 - Love!
The other way, squirt!
N-Not again! He hit it to the opposite direction again!
Hes completely destroyed your data tennis method.
Even Echizens one-legged split step doesnt stand up
against that guys physical abilities
Echizen can instinctively tell, even at the very last minute,
which direction his opponents going to hit the ball.
With his unique one-legged split step,
hes always a step-and-a-half quicker than the average player.
But Akutsu is still way above that.
40 - Love!
I cant believe it,
but Akutsu can change his balls direction
even after Echizen has moved
What makes that possible is his innate sense of balance,
the flexibility of his muscles, the spring in his body,
and his natural gift as a tennis player.
Go Yamabuki! Yamabuki! Yamabuki!
Yay! Go for it! Yamabuki!
I told you, squirt. Im not giving you even one point.
Inui? What would you say are the chances that Ryoma will win?
Impossible! The guys invincible!
Akutsus too great!
Hang in there, Ryoma!
Oh, Ryoma
Is that all you can do? You disappoint me, squirt!
Ryoma! Prepare to hit the ball!
Ryoma?
Squirt? Dont tell me youre scared!
Way to go! Its a short lob!
A really easy one to smash!
Ah! Suddenly Ryomas moving up!
I see! Echizens narrowing the area Akutsu can hit the ball to!
Huh?! What?
When theyre both at the baseline,
they can return the ball anywhere they like.
A short lob will draw Akutsu in, and by approaching the net,
Echizen can limit where Akutsu can hit a strong shot.
I see! Youve been thinking, squirt!
However
Oh, no! Hes going to lob it over Echizens head!
Running away?
Youve got guts, squirt!
Didja see that?!
How dangerous! Is he all right?
Thats quite a squirt! First he provoked me to get around
30 - 15!
Huh?! How come?!
Echizen?
Hey, squirt! How longre you gonna pretend to be asleep?!
Hey
Didnt you say you wouldnt let me have even one point?
Li-ar.
Yippeee, Ryoma!
I shouldve known! He got a point!
I get it! He deliberately provoked him and moved up to make himself a target.
Echizen made him hit it towards his face
where he had his racket positioned in advance!
Youve still got a ways to go!
This kidis more interested in competing than winning or losing!
That one with the perfect ability
Sure enough, like father like son.
He won a point, but that strategy wont work twice!
So, it doesnt change the fact hes still in trouble.
Are you going to kill yourself for one point?
But isnt that just like you!
Well, isnt this great?!
Hes moving up again!
Whats he trying to do this time?!
Right! If he can pick up the ball early, instead of being attacked by Akutsu,
a return is his only chance to attack him back!
Itll work!
Echizen has figured it out.
That shot of Yutas
Ah! A Super Rising Shot! Ah! A Super Rising Shot!
Even Akutsu wont be able to reach that!
To the left!
Ace me? Dont make me laugh!
Oh, no! Hes going to get passed again!
Sorry, but theres no stopping Akutsu now
Show them, Echizen!
Show them your tennis
The tennis thats uniquely yours!
Dad
Take the next step, Echizen!
I want to be better!
He changed directions mid-step.
When someone meets an overwhelming opponent,
thats a chance to take a step to improve.
And now youre on your way! Show us what you can do, Echizen!
40 - 30!
Hes grown up just a tad
Those two are laughing!
What on earth are they thinking?!
Youll makea great stepping stone for me!
Im gonna squash you
Hi everybody. Im Banda.
Coach Ryuzaki, Ryomas potential seems to be on the rise.
His one-legged split step is amazing.
However, you have yet to see the end of Akutsu.
Hes got a reason why he cant possibly lose.
Next on The Prince of Tennis: I Cant Lose
Now Akutsulet them have a glimpse of your pride.