What do you mean by "change them up"?!
Who said you could mix things around?
I've got the list of pairs right here.
Huh? The pairs?
What?!
What's up?
What's it say?
Here, lemme see.
C-Captain!
I already knew the pairs.
You're imagining things again.
You can't be serious.
These are the worst...
The worst pairs you could make.
"Stars Align"
Why am I playing back?
"Episode 4" Hey, Maki! Don't you know I always play front?
And I've never played front in my life.
Are you sure about doing a 15-point match?
Yeah. That's the fastest way to play, right?
It is, but...
Are they even ready for a match right off the bat?
Katsuragi seemed pretty confident.
Where does that confidence come from?
This is bullshit... I'll smash the ball right in your face!
I bet he can't rally if his life depended on it.
Play ball!
Argh, this feels so wrong!
There!
Shingo! Don't give 'em an easy volley!
Tsk! Not my fault I'm playing back! I'm not used to it yet!
A front just hugs the net, right?
--Huh? --Hey!
Your left side was wide open!
Tsk! Shut up!
How about you aim for once?!
--Huh?! Quit blaming me for everything!
--Are you sure about this? --Huh?! Quit blaming me for everything!
It's fine.
Argh, quit hitting it that way, dammit!
Ugh, shit!
That happens 'cuz you hit it straight at 'em.
Shut up, I know that!
That punk!
Shit!
That's what happens if you don't move closer.
You don't think I know?!
Dammit, playing front's a pain in the ass.
Hey, Toma! Hit it this way!
Tsubasa, cover right!
I'm not stupid!
Having fun playing front?
Shove it.
Huh?
You little...!
Tsubasa!
I'm on it!
They scored...
That was a nice volley there.
Y-You put up a nice fight covering the back.
They're up to something.
Tsubasa, fall back!
Shoot...
They got us!
Yeah!
Hell yeah!
Oh? That was pretty good for a fluke.
It wasn't a fluke. Look!
Shingo!
Not on my watch!
Gotcha now!
Game, set.
15-10. Takenouchi/Soga pair wins.
Maybe you're suited to playing rear?
And you, too. You're pretty good at front.
Did we screw up?
I don't think so. They're just a good pair.
You think?
People that play like they do are better to have as a pair.
Since they're both self-centered players,
the other of the pair moves however they see fit.
If they can grasp that, they'll play better than they ever have before.
They've just gotta learn to give and take a little.
I get it. Pairs need to complement their partner by amplifying their strength.
That's the gist of it.
That pair has room to grow.
Anyways, we've got two more matches to play.
You held back?
Nice return, Itsuki!
Hmm. That was a bit of a surprise for me, too.
1-0!
They scored again.
What the? Itsuki's way better in front.
He's got good focus and he makes quick decisions.
Rinta's more suited for back since he plays so cautiously.
He's moving a lot more freely than when he paired up with you.
They're such a good...
They're a well-balanced pair, right?
I guess so.
Okay!
Game, set!
12-15. Futsu/Ameno pair wins.
Looks like we won.
Yeah... We won.
Oh my. We lost again.
What do we do?
What are you talking about?
Uh, um...
Ugh!
There's no way Taiyo and Nao actually win...
Sorry, I couldn't catch up to it.
I don't know where to go. Playing front is tough.
Taiyo! Get a hold of yourself!
Shingo, quit scaring him or he'll freeze up.
Betcha nobody's got their hopes up for this pair of leftovers.
That was rude, Mitsue.
I'm just speaking the truth.
0-4!
Taiyo, hang in there. It's not over yet.
Huh?
Just now, I thought of a good idea.
What's that? Both of them are playing way in the back.
0-5!
Oh? I see...
It works 'cuz Nao has good aim.
Now he's not forced to play close to the net.
Shit!
They scored!
Nice one, Nao!
Let's keep this up, Taiyo!
Yeah!
They've got similar personalities, so they know what the other is thinking.
Which means...
5-9!
8-11!
Game, set!
--Gah! --13-15! Shinjo/Katsuragi pair wins!
--So close! --13-15! Shinjo/Katsuragi pair wins!
--For real? --13-15! Shinjo/Katsuragi pair wins!
That was incredible! And so close!
It's because Nao was covering me so well.
Taiyo makes it easy with those serves of his.
You held back again?
Well, yeah. I wanted to give 'em some confidence.
A little confidence makes people better than they know they're capable of.
Plus, these blisters are killing me.
You're such a schemer, you know.
Just be glad I'm not a swindler.
I'm so beat.
Me, too.
The boys' soft tennis club is actually practicing?
If they happen to win at the summer tournament and avoid disbanding...
The budget was put together with the assumption their club would be gone.
It'll be fine.
Useless people are the result
of not having the talent nor putting forth the effort to achieve results.
Successful people have talent and will always put forth their best effort.
Useless people will turn away from that truth and continue to rot.
That's the truth of this world-- of this ruthless society.
It's great how everyone's happy with the pairs.
You're amazing, Katsuragi. You really nailed the pairs.
Let's hope so.
Asuka, don't praise him too much. He's the kinda type that gets cocky.
You're the type that dies if you can't complain.
Huh? You wanna say that again?
Enough. Quit flirting.
Eww, disgusting.
We should think of a practice schedule to use tomorrow
so the pairs can get better.
Oh, I've already got one.
What?
"Shijo Minami"
The pairs should basically stick together at all times.
That's the fastest way to improve our combinations.
If they're not in the same class?
They'll have to meet up anytime there's a break.
Jeez, math makes me so sleepy.
And I hate English. Memorizing words sucks.
I think we should try giving me some good shots near the net.
I need to practice rallies more, too.
Shijo Minami!
--Fight! Fight! Fight! --Oh! Oh! Oh!
--Look, that's the soft tennis club. --Fight! Fight! Fight! --Oh! Oh! Oh!
--Look, that's the soft tennis club. --Shijo Minami!
--They're still going at it? Weird... --Shijo Minami!
--They're still going at it? Weird... --Fight! Fight! --Oh! Oh!
Those guys sure have changed.
Because they've got some confidence now.
Such simpletons.
Guys, gather up!
Hmm?
Whatcha got, Maki? A sweet new way to practice?
Your enthusiasm is creepy.
Can we do another practice match?
Yeah, I like that idea!
Nao and I think we should go to a park in the morning and--
I had someone who knows their stuff teach me this training method.
It's to strengthen your lower body.
--That's pretty important. --Work out our legs?
Talk about these guys pulling a complete 180.
I'm home.
Welcome back, Rintaro!
Squeeze!
I'm home, Mom.
Hmm? Something happen?
Huh? Not that I know of...
Oh, jeez! You smell like sweat! Go take a bath.
Okay. I'm so hungry, I could die. Got anything?
Just a sec!
I'm home, Girl.
Have these. They're duds.
Ooh, looks tasty! Don't mind if I do!
Hot!
Why are you guys here again? Sheesh, it's unbelievable.
Having all these blisters makes it hurt to do chores.
I-I bet. Can I help?
Wash the rice.
Erm...
Shinjo, can you set the table?
Oh, all right.
Keep it up, guys.
Delicious! How'd you make such authentic mapo tofu?!
Your simmered mackerel in miso is tasty, too!
It's good!
I bought some mackerel yesterday since it was on sale.
--And tofu was so cheap today--
--I'm home! --And tofu was so cheap today--
Oh? Everyone's shoes!
Uh, thanks for having us.
Welcome home!
'Sup.
Whoa! It's mapo tofu!
I made yours a little bit spicy.
Maki! That's what makes you the best son ever!
The boys' practice seems fired up lately, Mr. Sakurai.
Ah, Mrs. Murou...
Yeah, that's for sure.
Is that all thanks to you?
Nope. I haven't done anything at all.
They're doing everything on their own.
The girls' captain Takada is kinda impressed with all they're doing.
Oh my. They'll cry tears of joy when they hear that.
Wait, don't tell them that. It'll go to their heads.
You think?
I do. Boys their age are pretty much the same as grasshoppers.
Grasshoppers?
Because they hop around without any thought, like grasshoppers.
You might have a point, but calling them grasshoppers is a bit...
Oh, it's time. Bye, Mr. Sakurai.
Later.
"Tachikawashi Middle School" "Tsukimi Middle School" "Tokaki Middle School" "Toyotanien Middle School"
"Toyotamahei Middle School" "Nanto Middle School" "Hamanagi Middle School" "Hisei Academy"
"Hontsukuni Middle School" "Matsukaze Middle School" "Misaki Academy Middle School" "Momiji Middle School"
The formula is x + 2y = 2.
By choosing values for x and y,
we can plot the points that intersect the x- and y-axis on the graph.
Once we connect those points with a straight line, we get a graph like this.
If we know the value for x in this formula, y--
"Front position on serving side" "Careful if serve lands close to edge" "Close the gap or return will get through" If we know the value for x in this formula, y--
"Misaki Academy"
Yo, Kadowaki?
Sakurai here. It's been a while!
Huh? What do I want?
Oh, come on! Can't a guy call up his trustworthy junior once in a while?
"Art Prep Room" "Art Room"
Uh, not quite. I'm not calling to beg you for money.
Yeah.
It's not every day that you come all this way. What's the problem?
Well, I kinda had an idea.
I set up a practice match.
Huh?
A practice match?! With who?!
Misaki Academy.
--Seriously? --You for real, Tacky?
Don't call me that.
You can't be serious.
What's this Misaki Academy?
They're insanely good, not to mention soft tennis champs.
We can't put up a fight, let alone win.
We'll get crushed.
Hey, come on! Don't look so pathetic! Aren't you grasshoppers?
We're grasshoppers?
Uh, well, I mean...
Come on, this is a great chance!
What?
You don't often get the chance to practice against champs, right?
Yeah, that's true.
Our opponent will be strong.
And even though we'll probably lose, you're way different than before.
We've... changed?
That's right.
Let's find out how we've changed and how much more we can change.
Can change?
It'll be good because not only will we find out our true strengths,
but it'll reveal our weaknesses.
We couldn't hope for a better chance than this.
It's the best simulation there is for the summer tournament.
You're right about that!
Such a smooth talker. Still, he's right.
Good work, Tacky!
He went the extra mile for us!
Just hope it doesn't rain.
--Thank you! --I'm all pumped up now!
Let's do our best!
--Right... Just do your best. --Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah...!
What are the boys doing?
They're jumping for joy.
I knew they were grasshoppers.
Grasshoppers.
When you of all people asked for a practice match, it caught me off guard.
Well, yeah. Just thought I should act like a real advisor once in a while.
I see. After five years ago, well...
I know. It's been different after the incident.
Clubs are meant for students to enjoy. There's no need to take it seriously.
When winning is all that matters, no good comes from it.
Even so, the kids this time are really pushing themselves.
They want to achieve something.
Saying it's fine if they don't see results
are the words of an adult who couldn't achieve anything.
Which is why, for them...
We won't be holding back even for a practice match.
Yeah, of course not. I'd appreciate that.
We want everything you've got.
We're strong though.
I'm afraid your students won't be on the same level as mine.
Kids their age are sensitive. It might be quite the shock for them.
I wonder? I think you'll find my kids more spirited than your average team.
They're grasshoppers after all.
Grasshoppers?
Everyone's changed so much since you've came. Thanks.
I don't think that's true. They're just trying their best.
You included, Toma.
To think you'll get results by putting in effort...
How childish.
You're such an adult, Mitsue.
Of course I am.
Catch!
I won't be shopping today.
All right.
We can't keep mooching dinner from you anyway.
If you pay what it costs, I don't mind.
Sign me up then.
Eat at your own place.
What? Why are you so mean to me?
Oh, shut up. Ah, shoot...
We're out of garbage bags.
I've gotta hit the supermarket. Later.
Okay. See you tomorrow!
Goodbye, Katsuragi!
Yo, Maki.
I had some errands in the area, so I thought I'd stop by.
Maki, there's more in the room, right?
There's not.
We don't have money because you take it all!
Really? That's too bad.
Let me go!
Let go of me!
Oh? Playing tennis, are we?
Stop! What are you doing?! Stop it!
A club, huh? That brings back memories...
Friendship? Effort? What else was there?
I wanted to believe.
The things you learn in school...
They don't help jack shit for getting by in this world.
Maki, you already know that, don't you?
It's because you're my son.
You've got the same genes as I do.
My filthy genes, that is.
Stop it!
So give up and throw it all away!
Give up on this shit world!
Stop it!
By tomorrow, got it?
Whatever it takes, you better have some.
"Stars Align" "Look forward to next week!"