I wish I'd never been born.
I got skunked.
The whole world's laughing at me.
Peco, do me a favour and go home. You're making it hard to breathe in here
I can't see his weaknesses
Where are they?
Hoshino Yutaka (Peco) Right-Handed Penhold Racket: Soft Front Style: Offensive, Close to Table
Hook loop!
Inside out loop!
Smash!
Backhand!
Inside out!
Forehand!
Oh, wow
He's hitting predetermined shots to predetermined spots?
He hasn't played against any of us even once.
He must think we suck or something.
Inside out!
Anyway, is Kong's rubber that one you can only get in China?
Probably not, since he doesn't represent his province anymore
Shut up! You're distracting me!
Kong can't focus. Could you keep it down a bit?
S-Sorry.
What's wrong, Wenge?
Is the chopper with glasses out today too?
Do you guys know a chopper with glasses?
Oh, yes.
Gouda! Kong's calling for you.
Let's keep going, Coach.
Where is he?
- Kong Wenge Right-Handed Chinese Penhold Racket: Double Reverse Soft Style: Offensive Drive - Kong Wenge Right-Handed Chinese Penhold Racket: Double Reverse Soft Style: Offensive Drive
It's safe and quiet here.
I really feel at ease.
It's okay.
I'm fine here.
This is where I want to be.
I'll hold my breath and be quiet, like a robot.
So...
So leave me alone!
You're wrong, Smile
Blood tastes like iron
There's hot blood flowing in your veins
Come on
When you're in a pinch, say it thrice
Enter the hero
Do that and I'll be there
Look for him yourself.
Peco's probably at the table tennis hall near Odakyuu Station.
I'll draw you a map. You go.
If you keep talking like that, I'll hit you!
But logically speaking...
Screw logic!
Yes, that's the iron-clad rule of sports clubs.
Don't go.
Mr. Tsukimoto, don't go to Tamura anymore.
Don't play against Hoshino
I don't understand why I shouldn't.
Yes, me neither.
Because you hold back when you play Hoshino.
No, I don't.
You don't even realise you're doing it, I see.
Mr. Tsukimoto, starting tomorrow, you'll be training with me every morning at five.
You lack a thirst to win, and we'll fix that weak point by the time the Interhigh comes around.
Let's get sport-spirited!
That's my proposal.
I'm looking forward to seeing you at five tomorrow morning, Mr. Tsukimoto.
I'm not coming in at 5 AM.
No problem.
I'm the devoted-husband type.
Devoted! Isn't that nice, Tsukimoto?
May you live happily ever after.
A new age has dawned, and still I can't make a decision
My path is too straight for my taste, but I'll walk it
I can't choose just yet
I have to think about it
I have no idea what I want to do
I'm going crazy!
Comparing yourself to others just makes you depressed
You're alone in this world
You're always alone here
Still you're gonna do it, right?
Maybe there's nothing that only I can do
But there's no way that I
But there's no way that I won't try to leave my mark
I just want to have my fun, whatever the times
Man, soft drinks are getting weaker.
I don't know if it's some health fad or what, but I can't stand this lightly carbonated stuff.
Hey, Smile. Is practice over?
Yes.
I bet they made you do laps outside because I played truant.
Yes.
Sucks to be you, getting harassed by the upperclassmen whenever I skip.
Yes.
Well, that ends today.
I'm giving up on table tennis.
Okay.
"Okay"? That's all?
If you don't want to play, you should quit.
No reason to force yourself to keep going.
Yes. No reason to force myself
How long until the Interhigh prelims?
Two months.
Good grief. Doesn't even give me time to sulk.
Old lady, I'm going to use Table Four.
You'll have to pay.
Today's the fourth day I've done radio exercises in the gym all by my lonesome.
Why won't you come to morning practice, Mr. Tsukimoto?
Why do I have to, Mr. Koizumi?
A coach's job only has meaning when he has an athlete to guide.
Do you understand that you're my athlete?
No.
Well, I want you to think of nothing but table tennis.
What are you thinking about now?
Question five.
Nonsense!
What good will high school English lessons ever do you?
Be quiet, Teach! We can't concentrate!
Sorry, sorry.
English Test until 40 after
I'm just passing the time.
Table tennis and learning English vocabulary are just ways to pass the time until I die.
Smile, are you a peanut man or a caramel man?
Caramel Choco Balls
Caramel.
Right? It's just common sense!
But the convenience store in my neighbourhood only sells the peanut kind.
That crunchy stuff is just wrong.
Makes me sick.
Mr. Tsukimoto, what are you eating?
A hambargar.
Not "bargar." Burger.
Vurger?
That's a lump of cholesterol, made of low-grade oil.
Wow!
Starting today, I'll make your lunch for you.
I'll feed you healthy meals so you can build a table tennis body.
I don't want that
It's love!
Yes! Love!
You look like you're having fun.
Spring has finally come for this old fool.
Spring
Koizumi Jou 72 Years Old Virgo
Oh, is that a love letter?
Let's aim for the top together. Sincerely yours
Pull ups
Two-handed curls
Two-handed presses
Full squats
Shift ups
Do these every morning. From, Koizumi Jou
To: Mr. Tsukimoto
3 sets of 20 reps
2 sets of 30 reps 3 sets of 50 reps 4 sets of 30 reps
That's some tough love.
Throw it away.
More variation!
Stick with it!
Move your feet!
Is Koizumi always like this when he gets going?
No. Maybe he's in heat? It is springtime
You're being repetitive!
You need more variation!
Smile really hates being yelled at, though.
Don't let him ace you!
Why aren't you attacking?
Don't just wait for mistakes!
You should've gone for it there!
How many times must I say it?
Do you even want to win?
Where are you going, Mr. Tsukimoto? Hey!
He fled.
Wait! Wait!
Oh well.
You can see Mt. Fuji in all its glory today.
Cheer up, Smile.
The weather's great.
Interacting with people just exhausts me lately.
And table tennis is getting more complicated too.
He may be a little hard on you,
but I think Koizumi's coaching is right on the money.
You're wrong, Peco
I'm only in it for a good time.
Having fun is enough.
I don't want to sacrifice anything or drag anyone down just to win.
Shall we?
Hello!
I'm a second-year from Kaiou Academy, Kazama Ryuuichi!
I've come today to watch you practise!
Kazama Ryuuichi Right-Handed Shakehand Style: Drive Master All-rounder
Kai-ou.
What's the Dragon doing here?
He won the Interhigh last year.
Didn't he place fourth in the World Juniors?
What's he doing at Katase?
Is he here scouting?
Hoshino?
Bet it's for me.
Nobody asked you.
But with a face like that, is he really a high school student?
Why don't we step outside, Mr. Kazama?
My students are all wimps.
Tsukimoto's not here today.
He's the one you're interested in, correct?
I first saw him at my last middle-school prefectural tournament
He lost, but his control, speed, playmaking, reflexes, concentration...
They were all far above the abilities of a middle schooler.
Honestly, I felt he was a threat.
And yet he lost
Who was he playing?
Sakuma Manabu.
He's one of our first-years now, but I heard he used to frequent the same table tennis hall as Tsukimoto.
I see.
Human reaction time maxes out at 0.1 seconds.
You reach the acme of table tennis by getting as close to that as possible.
The chairman of Kaiou Academy once said that.
Yes.
It's fundamentally different from the "table tennis" on a hot springs vacation.
Was that a dig against our school?
You're saying we're a bad fit for Tsukimoto.
To me, he looks like a swan among ducklings here.
Question for you, Mr. Kazama
What are the odds of Tsukimoto beating you in the Interhigh preliminaries in two months' time?
Nil.
I want to be No.1 on the whole planet, you understand?
I want to be the world champion!
It's my dream!
We're different that way, yes?
Yes.
In my case, it's pretty simple.
I don't care about anyone else. I just don't find losing fun.
Anyway, all's good as long as I win.
That's pretty cool.
I'm cheering you on, Peco.
Then come to the club tomorrow.
Practice is pointless without you there.
I can feel another hot summer's coming.
Smile's a Robot
As I've asked before: why do I have a different training regimen from everyone else?
Because you yourself are different from the others.
Let's hurry, honey.
We don't have time to dilly-dally.
They're training with two tables.
Looks tough.
Too slow! Too slow! Too slow!
Speed it up!
No pauses!
Keep moving!
The old man's giving him tricky ones.
I'm impressed Smile can return them.
He runs a wicked fast marathon, you know.
Where'd you get that lollipop during practice?
Crossover!
There! Go!
The convenience store.
Too slow!
No lying down, Tsukimoto!
There's no bed down there!
What will this accomplish?
You'll get stronger.
That's stupid.
Not at all.
Are awards and trophies really so important?
There are sights you can only see from the top.
I'm not interested.
You always withdraw into your shell like that
That's how I live.
It's no business of yours.
Then I challenge you to a match, Mr. Tsukimoto
If you win, I promise never to interfere with you again
What if I lose?
You'll be my dog.
Woof, woof, woof.
Koizumi Jou Right-Handed Penhold Racket: Soft Front 72 Years Old
You'll obey my every command.
Makoto Tsukimoto Right-Handed Shakehand Racket: Double Reverse Soft 16 Years Old
The best of three will now begin!
Mr. Koizumi to serve!
I'll tame you.
Ready!
Does the old geezer really think he can beat Smile?
He has no chance.
I hear he was famous back in the day, but he's no match for Tsukimoto.
Let me show you just how weak and frail your table tennis is, Mr. Tsukimoto.
Hey!
That shouldn't've been a point.
But you returned, didn't you? Didn't you?
One-love! One-love!
That was pretty immature, Coach!
He's good.
Going to get mad, Mr. Tsukimoto?
No, you'll shrink from me.
When an opponent challenges you aggressively...
There!
You get scared.
Yes!
Listen to the old-timer roar.
He knows exactly what Smile hates.
I can see it.
I can read you like a book.
You'll return a shot from this angle with a flat hit straight down the line.
There it is!
And you give up at the drop of a hat.
Accepting defeat with such good grace is naïve!
You cannot fly across an ocean on wings so thin.
Defeat and setbacks!
Loss and grief!
Amazing.
Isolation and turmoil.
Anguish and despair!
This isn't how an old man with one foot in the grave...
Nihilism and ruin!
Is supposed to play.
Five-love!
I'll show you, Mr. Tsukimoto...
Eight-love!
How naïve you are!
And the strong heart you'll need if you're to win!
It's safe and quiet here.
I really feel at ease.
Someone's coming!
It's okay.
I'm fine here.
This is where I want to be.
If I go out there, it'll happen again...
Eleven-four!
Game to Mr. Koizumi.
Enter the hero.
He might actually beat him.
You haven't changed one bit, Smile.
You're as naïve as ever.
A drive down the middle is your weak point.
You can't quickly decide whether to return it forehand or backhand.
But you always return the ball long with a backhand chop.
Utterly predictable.
Don't take me lightly!
Does your benevolence run so deep, Mr. Tsukimoto?
Are you prepared to become my dog?
When I say "shake," you'll offer me your paw!
You'll spin around three times and bark!
I'll make you do it, Tsukimoto!
I'll put a leash around your neck and take you for walks every day!
You are incredible!
A shining example of the young supporting our aging society!
Why won't anybody leave me alone?
Robot
Box
Cyborg
Where're your batteries?
Where're your privates?
Rumba
I don't do anything to them.
I don't get angry.
I don't smile.
I'm just here.
I'm even breathing silently!
I quietly do as I'm told, like a robot.
Enter the hero.
Smile, the hero isn't coming
Enter the hero.
Who's there?
Release your power
Your body is iron
You don't feel anything
No one can hurt you
You are a machine
Full throttle
Limits disengaged
Blow him away
Hand on table!
That costs you a point, Tsukimoto!
Shut up.
It's nothing to shout about.
I'd like you to be quiet too, Sir.
It's more than distracting; it's annoying.
Hey, that seriously feels against the rules!
Okay.
So cool.
Eleven-six!
Game to Tsukimoto!
Old Koizumi's finished.
He put up a good fight, though.
He's over 70, isn't he?
A close game must be rough for him.
You've surprised me, Smile.
When did you learn to play like that?
Not a very friendly boy.
Can't he even say "hello"?
He never smiles.
Table tennis?
Gently, like you're holding an egg.
Would you please get up?
It's extremely annoying how you pause after every point.
There's no bed down there.
I'm dizzy.
Could I have five minutes?
Ref! He wants to forfeit.
I was just kidding! I take it back!
Good, Mr. Tsukimoto!
Excellent! Very good!
Koizumi doesn't look so good.
He's lost his marbles.
Tsukimoto's heartless.
You get it, don't you, Mr. Tsukimoto?
That you don't chase the ball.
The ball chases you.
You will become stronger.
You can feel it, can't you, Mr. Tsukimoto?
You feel the ball chase you!
Now, show me what you can do!
That'll go past you! Prove you can return it!
That's it, Tsukimoto!
The ball chases you!
Can I be like you?
Think I can be like you, Peco?
I want to be like you, Peco.
Like you.
Hey, the coach fell over!
His head went bang when it hit!
Is he dead?
First-years, go to the nurse's office!
Move it!
But Koizumi's smiling.
You're right.
Did he land on a bad spot?
I'm going ahead, Peco.
What?
I'm leaving.
Say what? Don't be like that, Tsukimoto!
Teacher just fainted!
Are you ignoring me? Hey!
Wait! Tsukimoto!
A red sun stares at me
The world goes blurry when I yawn
My wishes fluctuate like a metronome
Everything tells me this is the end
I do have some dreams, you know
Sometimes we breathe
and just seem to inhale the smoke of someone
somewhere out of sight
Then all our great energy just seems to melt away
I don't understand this wonderland
I won't get wet even if it rains
This is a wonderland
Once I've made it through this long tunnel
I'm sure that someone will kiss me
The best part of these popsicles is that even the stew-flavored ones still have the crunchy parts.
Unlike all those people who are losing sight of themselves lately.
Come on, now.
This summer's getting heated!
Staking your life on Table Tennis is creepy