The Interhigh singles preliminaries are approaching!
I want you to go in there ready to take all four slots again this year!
Yes, sir!
But our block is packed with tough guys like Kong of Tsujidou and Tsukimoto of Katase,
who are even better than the guys we'll face at the Interhigh!
Don't let your guard down! Got it?
Yes, sir!
Wow, they're already serving cold noodles!
I never get tired of eating here. So many seasonal options!
That's nice, Peco,
but how will you pass high school if you're always here?
It's no problem.
I've calculated how often I can skip and still graduate.
You go to Katase?
Yes.
There's a chopper there named Tsukimoto
Uh, yes.
Is he good?
They say he's on a fifty-game winning streak.
Is it true, Peco?
Yes, it is.
Well, my younger brother's on a high school team, and he played Tsukimoto once.
Said he's out of this world.
Like, superhuman!
Apparently he's so tough he made my brother wonder if he should quit.
Oh?
He said it was like playing a robot
What? This is the old lady?
She was a cutie.
Hey, no giving Peco beer!
I know we have juice and stuff!
Didn't you take a pic of Mother's bronze statue when you first got here?
Ping Pong Girl!
Yikes.
This is Mr. Koizumi
Huh?
And this is the chairman of Kaiou, Kazama's granddad.
Wow, so it is!
There, there.
Up you go!
It's a small world, huh?
They were all childhood friends
Now eat something and go to sleep!
Oh, and Mother's worried about your knee.
A knee injury's what made her quit table tennis, after all.
You sure you're okay?
Yup.
Don't sleep here.
You're always in the bath.
I hear Poseidon's providing mats for the Interhigh preliminaries.
They're doing it to promote sales.
And all the Kaiou players will be wearing special mat shoes called "Dragon."
You should play table tennis for yourself, Ryuu
I'm getting out of here!
Don't make that scary face
Huh, I didn't know Hoshino still played table tennis.
And since you didn't do your job with him, had to work my butt off.
You can't smoke in here.
All right. I'll register him too, then.
He's strangely popular with the team.
They probably won't mindâ€”they'll welcome him, even.
Question for you, Ms. Tamura.
What are the odds of this bowl-headed Hoshino of yours beating Tsukimoto at the next Interhigh?
You're the one who wrote him off.
That's not an answer.
I'm not good at predicting odds.
You can't compare that boy to other people,
so it's hard to tell.
But if we're talking about talent alone, he's far better than Kaiou's Kazama Ryuuichi.
I can say that much for sure.
No way.
I will become stronger!
Better than my farther!
Better than my grandfather!
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
Interhigh Preliminaries Kanagawa Tournament
Hey, isn't that Tsukimoto Makoto?
He's right. It's Tsukimoto of Katase High.
What is he doing?
Waiting for someone, maybe?
That was Tsukimoto, from Katase High.
Really? That's him?
Hey, Tsukimoto!
Get in here!
The vibe's kind of different from before!
Here they are. So hardcore!
Look at those heads.
You think they'll take the top four spots again this year?
I don't know about this year.
For one thing, there's Tsukimoto from Katase High?
Rumor has it that Dragon inputted Tsukimoto's data into his practice robots.
Mats!
They have mats on the floor!
I don't know, maybe it is kind of slippery?
Are you serious?
Ow! I slipped.
Seriously? You're always falling down, idiot!
Kazama said the special mat shoes felt "completely different," remember?
That was a TV commercial, idiot.
They were on sale outside?
Size 27.5, please!
World's First!
Mat Shoes
Here you are!
Size 26.5.
There you go!
International arenas have mats!
It's completely different.
Leap out into the world!
The world's first shoes made especially for mats!
Give me, gimme!
Have any 28s?
Size 26.5!
I checked out the tournament brackets!
Thanks.
I doubt the mats make a difference!
No pro athletes change their shoes based on mats vs. Bare floor!
They're just trying to whip up sales!
So how did it look?
Where's Smile?
In the stadium with Koizumi.
Ah! I wanted to say hi!
Hey!
The bracket.
Well, the first round is a first-year I know who'll be easy to beat, but...
Just spit it out.
Hey, Peco!
I saw your second round opponent!
Who is it?
It's Kong Wenge!
What's wrong, Wenge?
Homesick?
Something like that.
Really? I have China in the very second round?
But if you make it past that, it's a cakewalk until the semifinal against Kazama!
What about Smile?
If you play Smile, it'll be in the final.
There's no one in his way except maybe Sanada in the third round.
The others don't stand a chance.
Is Sanada good?
He's Kaiou's vice captain.
Oh.
Thanks, Michio.
I'm off.
What's up? There's plenty of time before your match!
I'm going to go.
Really?
Okay! Show them who's boss, then!
Make a big name for yourself, Peco!
I figured that'd get him down, but he's taking it in stride, Mother?
When you're aiming for the top, you're bound to face monsters eventually.
I guess he'd steeled himself for this.
Oh, this is bad.
Seriously?
Just kill me now...
You might not believe this,
but my team is getting pretty good.
It was like teaching babies to read and write.
Today's singles matches may be rough,
but they'll go far in the team events.
I look forward to it.
It's true.
I trust you, Wenge
Is the strongest one still that Kazama Ryuuichi?
Yes.
But this year, there's a player who's a threat to him.
Do you remember him, Coach?
Tsukimoto Makoto.
Oh, the boy with the glasses...
It's sure to be a good fight.
I won't play them until the semifinals.
First, I'll make it into the top four and head to nationals.
I look forward to it.
Just once, I'd like to beat Kazama and earn my ticket home.
Sounds good. I'm sure you can do it.
Not wearing the mat shoes?
No. Shoes make no difference to me.
It'll look dumb if we all wear them and Kazama doesn't.
I've worn Butterfly shoes since I was in China.
I wear the same ones on mats and bare floors.
Wait, really?
We bought them!
But wearing good shoes is good.
Everyone should wear good shoes.
Ball Select Station
Hey, Kong and Dragon aren't wearing mat shoes.
Kazama isn't?
The mats don't bother you?
No, they don't.
Anyway, don't you have any strategic advice, Coach?
None at all.
You're already the greatest player in my eyes, Mr. Tsukimoto.
I know you will win.
Destroy him, Kong!
Get Kaiou!
Go, Kaiou!
Blow Kong away!
It's time to dance.
Yes!
Ah. They're just drives!
I got no hope.
I'm just no match for him.
This is what world-level play is like, huh?
I finally made first string at Kaiou,
and this is how my first match goes?
Is it talent?
Will I get yelled at?
Nah, maybe I only ever made first string because Kaiou isn't what it was.
Guess nobody expects much from me.
Eleven-two!
Match goes to Kong!
Pitiful.
Tsujidou Academy Second-Year
Kong Wenge
Katase High Second-Year
Hoshino Yutaka
Katase High Second-Year
Tsukimoto Makoto
Kaiou Academy Second-Year
Nekota Shuuji
Advance to the Second Round
Kaiou Academy Second-Year
Sanada Masayuki
First Seed
First Round Bye
Kaiou Academy Third-Year
Kazama Ryuuichi
First Seed
First Round Bye
I did it! I won!
Thank you, Kong.
That was just the first round.
But I was up against Higashi from South High!
So what, idiot? Even I beat a guy from North High.
Listen up. Practise hard and you will get stronger.
That's truth.
Then if I work myself to death, will I be able to play like Tsukimoto?
Not a chance.
Joking. Who knows?
Maybe talent is sleeping somewhere inside you.
Call me when you're in a pinch!
Chant this three times in your mind!
Enter the hero!
If you do that,
I'll
come to you
Enter the Hero
The second round matches will now begin.
Players, please report to your designated tables.
I remember you.
I wish you'd forgotten.
FYI, I'm a little different from last year.
Japanese penhold with a rubber on the back! This guy...
I've been remodeled.
Keep that in mind, Kong!
Game goes to Tsukimoto!
Tsukimoto Makoto is nothing if not brilliant.
Perfectly efficient movements, stroke variations, control, and speed.
He's phenomenal at everything.
Ryuuichi.
Yes, sir.
What's wrong?
Table twelve.
Kong Wenge.
Yes, sir.
Watch closely.
You'll definitely go against him later.
I'm not so sure about that.
He's going to lose the first game.
Out!
Ten-seven, Hoshino!
Ah!
Wenge...
Hoshino? Who is that?
I don't know.
Kong's probably panicking right about now
This is someone he skunked a year ago, after all.
Is this really the same guy from last year?
He's completely different.
That guy didn't have drives. Is he someone else?
He's fast!
Ugh!
No! It's him!
He hasn't overcome his weak backhand side.
Why no RPB shots, then?
Isn't that what the rubber is for?
Does he not have a reverse side?
Does it not exist?
He doesn't really have a backhand, Wenge!
Don't let the racket fool you!
He hasn't mastered the RPB style yet!
That's it!
Ni hao.
This boy... That's it!
Right there.
Ah!
Eleven-eight!
Game goes to Hoshino!
Kong lost a game.
That penholder's using both sides of the bat!
Go over all the data on Hoshino of Katase again.
His backhand was almost like a forehand.
That punk...
I told him to test his reverse side against weaker opponents first.
The better your opponent, the more effective bluffs are.
Love you, Peco
Oh yes!
You there!
You're in the middle of a game, Tsukimoto!
Right.
I'm sorry.
Welcome back, hero.
Oh?
My, my.
He just learned the Chiquita and its reverse!
What an unbelievable boy.
He grows right before your eyes.
Yes.
It's probably a game to him.
The way he kicks people in the back to instantly climb up the ranks is terrifying.
The reasonable assumption is probably that Kong panicked and went off his game.
Yes.
However...
Yes!
Nine-six, Hoshino!
Do you remember?
The first time you play me, you can't take one point off me.
Xie xie, Kong.
It's all thanks to you that I managed to get better.
You taught me how to fly!
Talent, huh?
Done already, Mr. Tsukimoto?
Yes.
That was quick.
You didn't watch me?
No. I knew you'd win anyway.
I lost.
What?
Just kidding.
Hoshino, huh?
Yes. He's playing an interesting game.
He's an RPB... driver...
What? You're not going to watch?
I know he'll win anyway.
Out!
Ten-seven, Hoshino!
He's coming.
Yes.
Good boy.
I wish I at least got to spend my eternal exile in Europe...
Sweden or Germany or someplace.
First, I'll get into the top four and head to nationals.
Japan, huh?
You can do it, Kong!
Say hi to Kazama for me.
Huh?
Got your ticket, Wenge?
Wenge, I'll be waiting for you.
Welcome home.
Match goes to Hoshino!
Kong Wenge is Eliminated in the Second Round
Call me when you're in a pinch!
Chant this three times in your mind!
Enter the hero!
If you do that, I'll come to you!
I'll come from Planet Ping Pong!
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 we are pure determination
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
Chant this three times in your mind!
Enter the hero!
If you do that, I'll come to you!
I'll come from Planet Ping Pong!
A Little Cry