22!
88!
00!
100!
When you learn how to see it, the ball will look like it's moving slowly.
International arenas have mats!
It's completely different.
Leap out into the world.
The world's first shoes made especially for mats!
Dragon
So cool!
Uh, I mean, not cool.
888!
696!
What?
324!
Yes! I got it!
You looked before he started, didn't you, idiot?
Not good enough. Do it again.
Can I... ask one thing?
Nope.
When will you let me hit a ball?
You'll be doing this until you break the one-minute mark.
I want my game instincts back ASAP!
Quiet! Shut up, don't talk, and do what I say or I'll smack you!
Now go on! Hurry up!
Pretend I'm your honey!
Get up here and give me a squeeze!
Don't puke. Think about where you are, idiot.
Ah...
I'm not puking because I want to, old lady!
That's it, Peco! That's the spirit!
I love you!
Could we not go there?
It kills my motivation.
Why?
It'll be sunset soon.
Ready, go!
Ah!
Come on, you're almost here.
Just one more step, darling!
Show me drive!
Nice guts. Love you, baby!
Okay, one more time.
You're kidding.
Think you can hit my Ultra Super Knuckle Sinker?
Piece of cake!
Back home, back home! Hurry up!
Um, wait, I can explain...
Have a problem, do you?
Give us back our ball.
Hey, we're going to start our cool-down. Form a circle.
Hey, Oota.
You know, Tsukimoto, some fish actually choose to live in the backwater.
It is their nature, and it won't ever change!
I'm Kazama, advisor to Kaiou Academy's table tennis club.
Nice to meet you.
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 going to do it?
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
Okay!
How 'bout that?
Nailed it, didn't I?
Let's go back to the training hall.
I love you, old lady.
We make the best couple ever!
Maybe we do...
All you need to bring is yourself.
Come to Kaiou, Tsukimoto.
Your talent will wither and die if you stay in this dump.
Hey.
Does Coach Koizumi know about this?
Of course.
He agreed to the idea.
He said that, with your future in mind, it was "a very clever idea."
My future?
I must say, I was surprised to learn Koizumi was coaching here.
Who is he?
Butterfly Joe.
My hero.
Um, I...
What is it, Tsukimoto?
Well, I...
I'm sorry.
Don't worry about it.
What he's after isn't money or success.
Those aren't the only reasons to play table tennis.
The old man, Koizumi, Nori...
Table tennis comes in many forms.
He was wrong. And he had no talent.
That's not it.
Are you playing table tennis you believe in?
I'm worried about you.
He wasn't popular. That's why there are so few wreaths!
Ryuuichi, order five more
And Emiko, sick now, of all times?
Your husband was doing weird business. That's why you get weird diseases!
I'm fine.
Families have their own rules, so please, just bear it.
Who would your hero be?
There are no heroes.
I apologise if I offended you, Mr. Tsukimoto.
But this old-timer can't quite give you the coaching you deserve.
I thought you'd grow more if you went there.
Hey, Coach.
I got Sakuma kicked out.
What will happen if I go to Kaiou?
I didn't think you cared about—
Even I have feelings.
I get depressed or excited like anyone else.
Okay.
Here I go.
Hey, wait!
You'll wear yourself out running that fast!
Hey, boy!
Slow down, slow down!
Wow, Chump, this is a pretty big training hall you teach at!
Peco, this isn't a training hall!
Athletes don't get to come here unless Japan recognises their potential!
Japanese National Training Center Coach Tamura Michio
Which means Peco's been recognised.
Mother, stop. There are rules!
Wow! Ping Pong Girl!
And don't call me "Chump"!
Take him inside already.
Okay, so!
This is Hoshino, and he'll be training with us starting today!
Give him a warm welcome!
Yes, sir!
I'm Hoshino Yutaka, also known as "Peco."
Offensive, close to table style. A 16-year-old Capricorn with type-O blood.
Pleased to meet you!
Last three minutes!
Yes, sir!
Idiot! Too slow, Peco!
Come on, come on, come on!
S-So fast!
Keep your eye on the ball!
Don't hit with your gut! Look!
All right!
Kokubu, switch with me.
Yes, sir!
Ah, this is tough.
Has our robot finally gone haywire?
Might be hard to fix machinery that complex.
Smile ran away, eh?
Yes.
I tried calling his house, but no one answered.
His parents split up when he was young.
His mother doesn't come home until morning.
Tamura Table Tennis
I thought I was being considerate.
That's why he runs from you.
What?
You're always like that.
Acting timid, worried about how they feel.
That kind of attitude bothers people more than anything.
If you really like him, then grab him, squeeze him, and give him a kiss.
If you won't give him any loving, get out of his life.
This is stupid.
Peco, wake up.
Chump will be mad.
You're not supposed to call him "Chump."
We must wake Peco.
Peco.
What now?
Yes, I believe this win was made possible by the support of my fans!
My dream? Well, Olympic gold, of course!
And to appear in an Akagi Dairy commercial!
Welcome back, my boy.
Where did you go?
I couldn't get anywhere
That so?
Were you waiting for me this whole time?
I told you before: a coach's job only has meaning when he has an athlete.
Try that again, and I'll whack you.
Keep that in mind.
Do you understand, Mr. Tsukimoto?
Yes. Yes, my coach.
Good! Very good!
Yes My Coach
Good morning, Mr. Tsukimoto.
Good morning, Coach.
Nice weather today.
Yes.
It must be a pain to devote your Valentine's Day to table tennis.
Not really.
It doesn't bother you at all?
No.
Mr. Tsukimoto, what do you say to
a date with me?
Mataki Sports
Hey, Hikaru. We're shutting down the store, so go ahead and take some stuff.
I couldn't!
You play table tennis?
Hey, these are three stars!
Oh wow!
Take those, then.
Oh, no, I'll pay for them!
Nah, all the balls are changing to plastic anyway?
I heard you haven't got practice time for yourself,
so I bought a brand new table tennis robot.
I've inputted as much data as I could on Kazama from Kaiou.
Please, use it as a practice partner.
Thank you.
Here, a birthday present.
Thanks.
A thank-you gift!
You seem busy.
Thanks for Everything
What do you want to drink?
Bitter coffee.
Why'd I have to be born on Valentine's Day?
Sorry.
I end up just giving other people stuff— nobody remembers my birthday!
It's also the day Nori died.
Here, nice and bitter.
Was Uncle Nori not popular?
He was a great table tennis instructor.
Kids who learned from him are still playing as adults.
Ryuuichi's style is a lot like Nori's too.
Why's the old man so strict, though?
He's always been just as hard on himself.
Ryuu never even calls Auntie Emiko.
He promised the old man he'd only contact her on memorial service days.
Does he have to obey the old man that much?
Don't cry, Taku.
A man shouldn't let people see him cry!
Never show weakness!
They'll take advantage of you!
After the old man took responsibility for Nori's business mistakes,
our relatives made Nori's branch of the family feel like an embarrassment.
Past what was fair, frankly.
But the old man's tune changed when he discovered that Ryuuichi had a talent for table tennis.
The more Ryuuichi kept winning, the less people could disrespect Nori's family.
He's trying to carry his family, our school, and even Poseidon on his shoulders.
Well, don't like it.
I want to arrange flowers for a living.
I'm going to study in London.
We don't have that kind of money!
I'd have to ask the old man
I don't want his money.
I'll take care of it myself.
He's strict and scary, but he's a man of character.
He knows a lot about etiquette and tradition, and he's a shrewd businessman.
It never even occurred to me to sell mats and shoes that way.
So what?
One! Two! Three!
Kazama, you know what day it is today?
Since you told Yurie not to come to games,
she comes in disguise. Did you know that?
One! Two! Three! Four!
She's here!
She must be here to give you chocolate.
One! Two! Three! Four!
Go see her! What are you doing?
She left, Kazama!
What are you doing?
Wait up!
I...
I'm Kazama's teammate,
Kaiou Academy Table Tennis Club, second year, Sanada Masayuki!
Sanada Masayuki, Right Shakehand Grip, Style: Counter Driver
Current Interhigh Semifinalist All-JapanTop 16
I've always watched you from afar!
Yurie, happy birthday!
These are Casablancas! Thank you, I love them!
I'm fully aware that you like Kazama.
I simply want you to know that I exist.
You are beautiful!
Ma'am!
You can have this.
Thank you!
See you later.
This is mine now, Kazama.
What are you going to do about it?
What are you going to do about it, you table tennis junkie?
I'm taking Yurie.
I'll defeat you, and make her mine.
You got that?
What's wrong, Mr. Tsukimoto? Isn't this fun?
If you're having fun, you should smile!
If I have fun, I will.
Isn't that the truth?
Are you really having that much fun?
Will this do, Mr. Tsukimoto?
Yes, thank you.
Coach...
What is it?
Can I ask Butterfly Joe for his story?
That's what they used to call me.
They said I played so gracefully, I looked like a butterfly.
Nobody could match me, because I could hit both forehand and backhand.
I was "invincible," as they say.
I was so young...
They called me the rising star of Japanese table tennis, you know?
Everyone took for granted that I'd represent Japan at the world championships.
But I lost in the qualifiers.
My opponent was someone I'd played all my life.
He was quite good, but...
"You've injured a knee ligament. It'll take six months to fully recover," the doctor said.
You didn't withdraw?
I would have.
But I wasn't the one who wrecked my knee.
He turned a deaf ear to those around him and played.
You could easily take down someone like that by hitting deep to the forehand,
then switching to his backhand side.
Could you have done it?
Driven a stake into an old friend's injury?
Used a strategy that might end his career?
Could you have done it?
In the end, I focused my attacks on his forehand and self-destructed.
I never returned to the limelight after that.
Meanwhile, he became a hero for playing injured.
He shot up the ladder to worldwide fame.
Now he's president of Kaiou Academy and representative director of Poseidon.
His name? Kazama Ryuu.
But I want to say one thing right now:
I'm not using you as a tool for revenge.
I just want to show you a place only the talented can go.
I know.
I know that.
Oh, my!
My, my!
Is that my honey hitting those drives?
And he's playing reverse penhold backhand?
Yes!
He used to drive with inverted rubber as a boy?
He played on adult tables despite being a boy.
When I remembered that and had him try it, he got it right away!
When he's up against strong players, he gets pushed away from the table,
so I think he'll be better off if he can do drives!
And the RPB was a last resort since his backhand wasn't improving, but it clicked for him!
I get how talented he is now, Mother!
Normal players can't pull off a sudden switch in style.
But he can!
He has a child's ability to absorb things like a sponge, and masters them in no time!
That's a major construction project.
Sure it won't change the whole skyline?
I know.
His best asset is his speed!
He should play close to the table.
There must be a style that's a better fit.
I'm thinking on it.
Those are Peco's brothers playing over there.
They all have the same face. It'll give you a shock!
His mother came to pay her respects, and even she has the same face!
Peco's living here for now, so they all take turns bringing him food and clothes.
That one practicing better be the real Peco.
What?
One, two, three, four!
Five, six, seven, eight!
It's heavy.
Yep, it has two rubbers!
One, two, three, four!
Swap the blade for a carbon one under 70 grams.
Got it.
Five, six, seven, eight!
Also, that knee bandage worries me.
One, two, three, four!
He's been taping it because it "feels off," but he says it's nothing serious, so no need to worry!
Five, six, seven, eight!
You be careful.
He's still an inexperienced high school student.
Got it.
I'm leaving.
Thank you, Mother!
Later, Peco.
Listen to the coach and apply yourself.
Ah, you're leaving already?
Don't worry. I still love you.
Oh yes? You better mean that!
Yes.
These balls aren't bad, Oota.
Yes? Glad to hear it!
I thought you'd forgotten all about them.
Coach is usually in charge of equipment, so I don't...
I want to give them a light workout, so play with me.
What?
Ask the old man for that!
I'm not even dressed for it...
Just a light one.
They really are completely different.
Yes?
A lot better.
I suppose so.
I'm putting on a little spin.
Sure.
They're great. Completely different.
See?
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
Xie xie, Kong.
It's all thanks to you that I managed to get better.
You taught me how to fly!
Enter the Hero