Baby Steps

1

Tennis and Notes

Maruo Eiichiro is an honor student in his first year of high school. He's a very methodical person who keeps two sets of…

2

Methodical and Unorganized

Eiichiro is unable to answer Natsu when she asks him what he enjoys doing most. He becomes interested in tennis and retu…

3

The Contest Is a Fight

Eiichiro is unable to forget how good it felt when he successfully returned Takuma's serve, and he spends all of his tim…

4

Face of Conviction

Eiichiro finds himself in a contest with Takuma. Eiichiro has fifty tries to return Takuma's serve. One successful retur…

5

A First Match Full of Surprises

Eiichirō is about to play his first match. He receives advice from the other STC members, but it only makes him more ner…

6

Diamond in the Rough

It is down to the final match of the set. Eiichirō trails 5 games to 1, but with a determination to stay on the court as…

7

Nine-Square and Reality

In order to improve Eiichirō's playing, Coach Miura has him learn control on a 9-square court. After getting the basics …

8

One Year and Twenty Notebooks

Maruo Eiichirō continues his training at STC as he tries to master every shot. At smaller tournaments he begins advancin…

9

Diligence is My Style

Eiichirō returns to the Kanagawa Junior Circuit. His first match is up against fellow high school student Koshimizu Nari…

10

Unease on the Edge

The match between Eiichirō and Miyagawa begins with each holding serve. However Eiichirō feels that something is off. Af…

11

Risk and Possibility

After managing to hold serve Eiichirō starts looking for an opportunity to break Miyagawa. Both hold serve and force a t…

12

Improvement by Memory

After defeating Miyagawa, Eiichirō returns to STC for some training that will make him better in 1 day. Eiichirō is team…

13

Art and Technique

The match between Hiromi and Eiichirō begins. Everytime Eiichirō tries to go on the attack, Hiromi hits a shot Eiichirō …

14

Putting the Pieces Together

It is match 10 of a 1-set match, and Eiichirō leads 5 games to 4. Eiichirō begins to up his speed against Hiromi, and wi…

15

Plan to be Forceful

Eiichirō overhears Araya telling Takuma that if he loses to him this tournament, he will retire from tennis. His plan is…

16

Beast and Initiative

After going up Love-15, Araya uses a number of service aces to go up 3-1 in set 2. Eiichirō holds serve, and as he gains…

17

Pro At My Age

Araya and Eiichirō end up at deuce after neither player can gain an advantage. An ace end up being huge for Araya give h…

18

Determination and Presentation

Eiichirō investigates going Pro, but his reaction from his parents is less than he expected. Eiichirō joins Natsu at the…

19

Resolve and Hell

Eiichirō manages to steal 1-point in the 10-minute match with Ike before his coaches reappear and make him stop playing …

20

Meat Buns and Yakisoba

Eiichirō participates in a tournament after 3 months of hellish training. He learns about active rest while participatin…

21

Consistency and Change

Eiichirō continues his practice and gets his next tournament schedule. As the last player to qualify he is placed up aga…

22

Fundamentals are the Weakness

Yu Nabae matches up with Eiichirō and realizes they really are two players that are virtually the same. He realizes that…

23

Reckless 100-Square

In an effort to try and reverse the tide, Eiichirō decides to go back to his idea of having 100-squares to aim for inste…

24

Duty and Desire

Eiichirō runs to watch Natsu's match when he learns she is in danger of losing. Afterwards they return to STC where he R…

25

Eiichiro and Natsu

Eiichirō and Natsu go out on their first date. When Eiichirō asks Natsu what she thinks about him, she tells him he is c…