Baby Steps

Maruo Eiichiro is an honor student in his first year of high school. He's a very methodical person who keeps two sets of notes for class and focuses entirely on his studies. One day, Eiichiro decides to participate in a free trial at South Tennis Club (STC) because he needs some exercise. There, he meets school idol and sweetheart Takasaki Natsu. Eiichiro has taken his first step into the world of tennis. Source: crunchyroll

Eiichiro is unable to answer Natsu when she asks him what he enjoys doing most. He becomes interested in tennis and returns to STC for another free trial. This time, he meets Egawa Takuma, an upperclassman who's friendly with Natsu. For some reason, he acts hostile towards Eiichiro, which is very intimidating. As Takuma watches, Natsu teaches Eiichiro how to hit the ball. Source: crunchyroll

Eiichiro is unable to forget how good it felt when he successfully returned Takuma's serve, and he spends all of his time practicing against the wall. After seeing Eiichiro practice against the wall non-stop for six hours on a Sunday, Natsu predicts that he will quickly improve. Source: crunchyroll

Eiichiro finds himself in a contest with Takuma. Eiichiro has fifty tries to return Takuma's serve. One successful return and Eiichiro wins. However, despite Eiichiro's best attempts to follow his notes and stick to the basics, he can do nothing against one of the strongest serves in the country. Source: crunchyroll

Eiichiro is about to play his first match. He receives advice from the other STC members, but it only makes him more nervous. He doesn't get a chance to calm himself down as he's soon called to the tennis court. His first opponent is Oobayashi Ryo, a player with five years of experience, the assistant captain of the tennis team at Shonan Tech, and a top eight finalist in the prefectural tournament. It's finally time for Eiichiro's first match! Source: crunchyroll

Eiichiro uses his excellent eyesight to predict his opponent's movements and drag out the game, making each point difficult for Oobayashi. Coach Miura realizes that Eiichiro's eyes are the reason he's able to hold on against the more experienced Oobayashi. Source: crunchyroll

Coach Miura tells Eiichiro that he can become a good player if he practices hard enough and instructs him to come to STC at 7 AM if he wants to improve. When Eiichiro arrives the next morning, he discovers that Coach Miura has divided one side of the tennis court into nine boxes numbered 1 through 9. Source: crunchyroll

Eiichiro has become known as the player who takes notes during matches as he spends every day playing tennis. However, he continues to struggle to win matches as his rivals are clearly well above him. After some deliberation, Eiichiro increases the time he spends running and weight building. Time passes and Eiichiro is now a second-year. It will soon be time for the Kanagawa Junior Circuit again. Source: crunchyroll

A year after his match against Oobayashi, Eiichiro has practiced hard for his return to the Kanagawa Junior Circuit, and he's doing some wall hitting to warm up. The soon runs into Miyagawa Takuya, Araya Hiroshi, and his other rivals at the tournament. When asked who will win, Natsu responds that Ei-chan will play a big role. The matches are about to begin. Source: crunchyroll

The 5th seed Miyagawa Takuya now stands in Eiichiro's way. Miyagawa is a 180 centimeter tall player who hits the ball hard. His family owns a tennis club and he's been playing since he was little. He uses Kobu tea and umeboshi to refresh himself in a match. Source: crunchyroll

Miyagawa is on the back foot after a risky attack by Eiichiro. Eiichiro has survived one difficult situation, but he has to break Miyagawa's serve if he wants to win. Eiichiro uses his sharp eyes to hang on, but neither player is able to secure a break. Source: crunchyroll

Eiichiro is looking for ways to improve, so he receives guidance from Mike, a sports psychologist who's visiting STC from Florida. Mike, who focuses on the mental side of the game, tells Eiichiro to close his eyes and remember the moment he first met Natsu. Source: crunchyroll

Eiichiro's next opponent is Iwasa Hiromi, a quiet boy who's a year older. He's a tough opponent who relies on his mind, instead of his strength and can hit all kinds of different and difficult shots. However, he has no interest in other people and doesn't care to know who his next opponent is. Source: crunchyroll

The match between Eiichiro and Iwasa drags on. Eiichiro's tenacity helped him build a solid lead, but Iwasa takes his play up another notch and immediately catches up. Eiichiro realizes that he's losing, so he takes Mike's advice and visualizes a moment when he played well. Source: crunchyroll

Arashi Hiroshi, considered a wild beast, is a southpaw and the number two player in Kanagawa. He insists on using nothing but brute strength, even when his opponent has control. His counter shot is a powerful weapon which can be used to take away control... Source: crunchyroll

Eiichiro is able to win his first point off of Araya's counter shot. However, that only serves to enrage Araya, who steps up his attack leaving Eiichiro unable to seize the initiative. Eiichiro is barely able to hold serve, but he has to break a game or he will lose. Source: crunchyroll

If Eiichiro wins this point, it will be break point. If Araya wins, it will be match point. Araya has shifted from relying on his speed and power to playing a more calculated style of tennis, and Eiichiro finds himself defending match point. However, Eiichiro will not give up. Source: crunchyroll

Eiichiro finally meets the person Natsu affectionately calls Sou-chan. He turns out to be Ike Souji, a tennis player who's been practicing in Florida the past three years and is about to make his professional debut. Eiichiro finds himself increasingly drawn to the world of professional tennis. Source: crunchyroll

Eiichiro has decided to become a pro tennis player. After playing a practice match against Ike Souji, who's the same age but pro, he realizes that his body is not strong enough. This is when Coach Miura prepares a rigorous two-month-long regimen to transform his body. Eiichiro is tense as Coach Miura says that he believe Eiichiro can do this. And then the training begins. Source: crunchyroll

Eiichiro continues training to transform his body. At school, it's time for the cultural festival. Eiichiro was on the festival committee, but he's been busy training so his classmate Sasaki Himeko has been doing all the work. Instead, Eiichiro is instructed to help out at the haunted hose and butler cafe. When Eiichiro finally has time to take a break, Natsu shows up with a present, while Himeko watches from afar. Source: crunchyroll

Eiichiro's next match is the All Japan Junior Kanto Region Indoor Invitational. His opponent in the first round is the 1st seed Nabae Yuu, who defeated Takuma to win the All Japan Junior in Osaka. Eiichiro is stunned at first, but then he begins watching footage of Nabae's play to prepare. However, Nabae was defensive in the match that Eiichiro watched, while in the match against Takuma, he played very aggressively. Source: crunchyroll

Eiichiro goes on the attack as his match against Nabae begins. He successfully breaks Nabae and holds a lead, but Nabae eventually begins his counterattack. Nabae spent the early part of the game collecting data. Once Nabae realizes that Eiichiro was playing fundamental tennis, he can predict how Eiichiro will act and quickly takes control of the game. Eiichiro realizes that Nabae can predict how he will act and that he must do something or he will lose. Source: crunchyroll

It's finally time to attempt the 1/100 control that Eiichiro once drew in his notes. However, it's incredibly difficult to pull off 1/100 control and Eiichiro's shots keep missing. Eiichiro believes that this is the only way he can win as he recalls Coach Miura saying that if he returns all shows with excellent control, the theory is that he will never lose. Source: crunchyroll

After everyone goes home, Eiichiro continues to train. However, he's worried isn't making enough progress to win a national tournament. Eiichiro decides to continue running when he notices a suspicious-looking man by the entrance. The man asks Eiichiro if Coach Miura is around. Eiichiro is wary of the suspicious-looking man who owes Coach Miura money, but then he gives Eiichiro advice about his running form. Source: crunchyroll

After being told by Coach Aoi to do only what he wants for two days and rest his body, Eiichiro ends up on a date with Natsu thanks to Kageyama's quick wit. They enjoy a movie and karaoke together, but Eiichiro is unusually conscious of Natsu after being told by Kageyama to confess his feelings to her. When Eiichiro returns to training after his break, Coach Aoi suddenly suggests that he go to America. Source: crunchyroll