Episode 001: "The Prince Appears"
summarized by:	Rachel
Two young men are playing tennis at Kaginogizaka Tennis Garden. A sign attached to the wall of the court advertises a new Tennis Class. The guys start discussing a rumor about how a 12 year old is going to be playing in a tournament for 16 year olds. One of the guys doesn't think it's possible. On another wall of the court there is an advertisement for the Kaginogizaka Junior Tennis Tournament. They doubt whether the rumor is true. The camera closes in on the match-ups for the upcoming tournament. There it says "Ishii Abare, high high school and that he's 16 and that his first opponent is Echizen Ryoma, no school's name and that he's 12. A JR train is pulling into a station. 3 rude guys from Kitakoute are discussing tennis grips and moving their rackets around while they talk. A girl is being crowded by them and doesn't say anything. (We later find out it's because she's a wimp.) One of the guys keeps practicing his swing nearly hitting the girl in the face. From across the aisle a voice calls to them. The rude teens and wimpy girl are extremely startled. The voice tells the teens that they are annoying. The teens glare at the person who is a boy wearing a baseball cap with a large tennis bag next to him. The train rattles a bit and the lead obnoxious guy drops his racket. The head guy doesn't seem to think an elementary school kid should be lecturing him. The boy says he is in elementary school and that head obnoxious guy is holding the racket incorrectly for the grip they were discussing. Head obnoxious guy looks stricken and can't believe the boy is talking back to him. The boy explains that not only does head obnoxious guy have the grip wrong he also has the name of the grip wrong. The boy gets off the train at the next stop and the obnoxious guy yells at him as he does. One of his friends teases Sasabe about the boy's remarks and the other friend realizes that this is their stop as well. Sasabe and his friends get off and the wimpy girl suddenly realizes this is her stop as well and also exits. The wimpy girl is upset because her grandmother is late to meet her. The boy from the train comes up to her and asks her if she knows where Kaginogizaka Tennis Garden is. She remembers him from the train and nearly takes out his eye and then apologizes. She too is going to the Tennis garden and starts babbling to the boy about it. The boy looks startled as she babbles, and finally gets a chance to ask her where it is. She apologizes again and gives him directions, telling him to use the south exit. This is overlaid with a picture of the yellow directional signs in the station. (Note: In Japan at most train stations there are several entrances and exits. There are yellow signs in the station informing passengers which exits are best depending on where they are trying to go.) He makes sure she said south exit, thanks her and leaves. On his bag it says Ryoma E. The wimpy girl ever the brilliant one realizes the boy's name must be Ryoma. 30 minutes later the wimpy girl's grandmother arrives. The grandmother apologizes to Sakuno and starts heading for the north exit. Sakuno is startled. Her grandmother explains that Kaginogizaka is to the north of the station. Sakuno realizes that she is an idiot and gave Ryoma the wrong directions. When Sakuno and her grandmother get to Kaginogizaka, Sakuno looks around to see if she sees Ryoma. Sakuno asks her grandmother what happens if someone is late to their match and her grandmother informs her it is a default win for the other player. Sakuno is shocked and goes running off. She sees Ryoma lying on the grass and asks him if he made it in time for his game. He tells her he was 5 minutes late. Sakuno apologizes and asks if it was her fault. Ryoma says of course it was. (Yeah I *heart* blunt New Yorkers.) Sakuno feels really stupid and offers to buy him a drink. At the vending machine Ryoma gets a can of Grape "Ponta". Sakuno thanks Ryoma for his help earlier on the train. Ryoma is confused. Sakuno tells him without his interference Sasabe would have hit her with a racket. Ryoma says "You were on the train?" Sakuno looks miserable (*snerk* get used to it dear he never notices you.) Ryoma says he asked them to be quiet because they were annoying and drinks his "Ponta". Sakuno is depressed. Her moping is interrupted when a can goes flying between them. Sasabe and his two friends are standing behind them. Sasabe sarcastically says he is sorry for being annoying. The fight music starts playing in the background. One of the friends realizes it's the brat from earlier. Sasabe lifts Ryoma's cap with his racket and says Ryoma looks like someone who lost a match. Sasabe brags that he is one of the seeds in the 16 year old match and that he's really good at tennis. Ryoma glares at him and Sasabe starts losing his cool. The longer Ryoma looks at him, the more unnerved Sasabe becomes. He moves to hit Ryoma with his racket and Sakuno cries out and hides her eyes. Ryoma of course, being Ryoma, doesn't flinch. Sakuno is amazed. One of the friends suggests they leave and Sasabe agrees. Ryoma being a snerky boy picks up the empty can and asks Sasabe if he ever got the grip right. Ryoma looks evilly at Sasabe and offers to teach him how to play tennis. Sasabe and friends look really pissed and shocked and Sakuno looks scared. On the court, one of Sasabe's friends asks if this is all right since Sasabe still has matches left to play. Sasabe says this is just the sort of fun he needs and he and his friends laugh. Sakuno tries to talk Ryoma out of playing but Ryoma feels like he should get to play someone since he came all the way out here. The match gets ready to begin and Sasabe decides that they should self-judge. (Meaning there is no impartial referee to decide what is in and what is out.) Ryoma says it's fine and starts moving his legs slightly. Sasabe promises to go easy on Ryoma and hits an easy serve to him. Ryoma looks at the ball and hits it right just inside Sasabe's line. He tells Sasabe to play for real. Everyone is surprised by Ryoma's extremely accurate shot. Sasabe says he is going to really play now. Sakuno's grandmother appears and wonders where Sakuno was, she decides this game looks interesting and that she is going to stay. Sakuno gets upset because Ryoma is facing a high school student, but her grandmother patiently explains that Ryoma must be quite good because of his return shot. Ryoma smirks and one of Sasabe's friends suggests he tries to beat Ryoma. Sasabe says of course Ryoma got in a good shot, Sasabe purposely gave him an easy serve. Ryoma says that lots of bad players use that as an excuse for why they lose. Sasabe gets really pissed now and called Ryoma brat. Sasabe does his "bullet serve" which Ryoma easily returns and in fact calls slow. The two volley the ball back and forth and Sasabe's friends are shocked that Ryoma returned the"bullet serve." Ryoma rushes to the net and hits another shot Sasabe misses. Sasabe gets angry when his friend calls the score Love-30 (Love is zero in tennis.) Sakuno is impressed, but her grandmother tells her this is nothing. Sakuno asks her grandmother if she knows Ryoma and her grandmother says that Ryoma is "The Prince of Tennis." Her grandmother tells her Ryoma is 12 years old and has competed in 4 US tournaments and won every single one of them and that he is a "genius boy." Sakuno can't believe he won 4 consecutive tournaments. Sumire explains, that Ryoma is the son of one of her past students and has only recently returned to Japan. (While saying this we get this great fake address in NY where Ryoma use to live.) Sumire explains that the only reason she came to this tournament was to see Ryoma play. Ryoma wins his first game against Sasabe. Ryoma offers to end the game quickly so Sasabe can play in his tournament game. Sasabe thinks to himself he should have no problem returning this kid's serve. Ryoma serves and Sasabe completely misses it. Sasabe's friends are amazed by the chibi. Sasabe is impressed but is determined to win (The fool!) Sasabe thinks he can use his height as an advantage if he rushes to the net. Ryoma misses the ball and Sasabe smirks evilly. Sasabe is happy because the game is now tied and makes fun of Ryoma. The score becomes 30-40. Ryoma doesn't seem impressed. Sakuno is worried. Sasabe rushes to the net and Ryoma hits the ball over him to come down right on the line. Sumire doesn't seem surprised. Sasabe and friends are concerned that Sasabe is going to lose to a 12 year old. Ryoma hits another ball over Sasabe and even though it is in, Sasabe says it is out. Sakuno tries to argue and Ryoma doesn't say anything. Sumire explains since it is self-judged Sasabe can call it out and not to argue. Sasabe thinks he has won. Ryoma just looks at him. Ryoma hits it high again and Sasabe brags he is calling it out so he's won. The ball comes to a spinning stop right before the line. Sumire is impressed. Ryoma asks if the ball is in. (Damn, I love this boy.) Ryoma continues to win against Sasabe. Sasabe in a fit of anger throws his racket at Ryoma and injures him. Sasabe pretends it is an accident. Sakuno runs to him and Ryoma tells her not to interfere with the game. Bleeding Ryoma stands up and tells Sasabe his grip is bad and he has a lot more work to do. "Mada mada dane." (Note: this is Ryoma's favorite expression and he uses it again and again and again.) Ryoma has now won 5 games. He serves and his ball comes shooting up towards Sasabe's face. Ryoma's second serve does hit Sasabe in the face. ^o^ Sasabe's friends say it was a "Twist Serve." Ryoma keeps serving "Twist Serves" and hitting Sasabe in the face. Sasabe shouts "Stop!" and crouches hiding while it proves Ryoma's final serve is a light serve. Ryoma calls him a fool. Ryoma wins the game. Sasabe tries to pretend he wasn't serious but his friends tell him to give it up. Ryoma offers to play another set and moves the racket from his right hand to his left. Sasabe is shocked. Sumire tells Sasabe he's never going to be able to beat Ryoma. Sumire tells Sasabe that Ryoma is in fact left handed. (He played the game against Sasabe with his right ^o^) Sasabe stares in shock as Ryoma serves again with his left. He starts whimpering and runs away. We flashback to one of Ryoma's past tournaments in the US. Sumire thinks things will be interesting now that Ryoma is back in Japan.