Episode 40: A Duel in the Rain



This is one of my favorite episodes so screen captures are abundant (Go at the bottom of this page to see additional screen captures of this episode). Anyway, the match between Ryoma and Fuji continues. Fuji kept on baiting Ryoma's smash by hitting lobs constantly. It's like a challenge from Fuji for Ryoma to try and break one of his Triple Counters. Ryoma's getting quite agitated to break Higuma Otoshi. Even the regulars noticed his stubborness to yield. Suddenly, one of Ryoma's smash was caught by the net which was really unlikely of him. Ryoma just smirked while Fuji thought hard for Ryoma's ulterior motive since there has to be some reason why Ryoma's smash was caught by the net. It was now Ryoma's turn to serve. Fuji lobbed the ball again, still, Ryoma smashed and Fuji used his Higuma Otoshi. It's like a video being played all over again but the difference now is that Fuji's shot went out of bounds. It was called out by the umpire. Everyone (except Ryoma) was shocked that Fuji failed to counter the smash. Again, Ryoma served, Fuji lobbed, Ryoma smashed, Fuji used Higuma Otoshi and once again, the ball was out! Everyone was boggled, but not Fuji. Fuji stepped forward to the net and told Ryoma, "You're hitting the ball right on this spot of the net. What an impossible thing to do."

Anyway, Coach Ryuzaki and Inui thought that the rest of the regulars have had enough rest and told them to get ready because they'd be playing too. Coach Ryuzaki assigned Momoshiro to play next and with whom? well, to the Seigaku's team captain, Tezuka! Next, Kaidoh was to play against Kawamura and the Golden Pair pitted against each other. The members of the club were astounded of the pairings.

As Ryoma and Fuji continue their match, Momoshiro and Tezuka's match is about to begin. Momoshiro was quite excited to be able to play against their captain and decided to go all out. Tezuka was immensely pleased with the way Momoshiro hit the balls, Tezuka thought that Momoshiro powered up considerably and that he'd be a very formidable player on the Nationals. Amazingly, somewhere on the first part of their match, Momoshiro played strategically by pulling off a drop shot which forced Tezuka to lob so that Momoshiro will be able to use his dunk smash. Anyway, as they continue on with their match, Oishi and Kikumaru readied themselves to begin their match. The club members were shocked to see that the Golden Pair plays their match as if they weren't friends nor Doubles Partner, they fight against each other as if they're real opponents! The Golden Pair's match became really interesting since they both know each other's weaknesses and was able to exploit them to an extent. Anyway, let's go to the other court where Kaidoh's playing against Kawamura. Kaidoh seemed to be losing since his Boomerang Snake always goes out of the Singles court and right into the Doubles side. So after 5 minutes they've all started, everyone was shocked to see that Tezuka's already walking outside his designated court and is walking towards his former position towards the outside of the fence to watch all of the other regulars' games. It can't be possible that he already finished his match against Momoshiro, can't it? Well, it turns out that Momoshiro lost badly since he's always guarding his formerly sprained foot therefore, couldn't move freely. But after he played Tezuka, Momoshiro resolved not to worry about his foot anymore since it's already healed and there's no need to worry.

All of a sudden, the sky began to darken, it seemed that a downpour is already on its way. Well, it seemed like the rain already arrived a tad early and it poured down heavily like there was no tomorrow. Everyone's matches sans Fuji and Ryoma's were stopped abruptly. As Tezuka and Coach Ryuzaki ordered everyone to clean up and go to the shelter, everyone was surprised that Ryoma and Fuji's still going at it at full force regardless of the rain! They watched silently as Ryoma unleashed a full forced Twist Serve towards Fuji who returned it quite easily. Undaunted by the rain, Ryoma asked Fuji if he could still play regardless of the rain, Fuji just smiled at him and told him that he could play in any weather. Fuji's gone real serious here, he's real serious about his match against Ryoma. As he prepare to return the Twist Serve Ryoma's been planning on hitting him with, Coach Ryuzaki shouted to them to stop the match. Ryoma was shocked by the sudden noise since he's been too engrossed to their match. Coach Ryuzaki told them that they were playing a practice match and not a real match! They could continue whenever they wanted and that they should remember that rain and tennis don't mix since they tend to give you injuries. Ryoma just grumbled that it's unfair since he's already making a comeback just then and it seemed quite unlucky of him that Fuji's winning 4-3. Coach Ryuzaki just pulled on his cheeks and told him to just follow what she said without any complaints.

After the practice and after everyone had left, Fuji remained in the locker room (apparently waiting for Tezuka), thinking about his match against Ryoma. He thought to himself that he hadn't had that much of a thrill before, Ryoma is really formidable. As Tezuka walk towards Fuji who was still staring at an invisible spot outside the room, Fuji asked him out of the blue if he also felt the same thrill he experience while playing against Ryoma. Tezuka seemed surprised at this, he asked Fuji if he knew. Fuji replied that he knew somewhat, a silence ensued, Tezuka never answered Fuji's question.

Momoshiro and Ryoma walked home together, Momoshiro teased Ryoma that he must be feeling sour since it stopped raining and he wasn't able to continue his match against Fuji-senpai. In turn, Ryoma teased Momoshiro about not being able to give Tezuka-buchou a challenge and that his Dunk Smash is very ineffective. Momoshiro seemed to burst a vein since he challenged Ryoma for a match right then to show him just how effective his Dunk Smash really is. Ryoma surprisingly declined, although, he told Momoshiro his reason: He's just worried that Momoshiro might go under a great shock if he loses twice on one day. Momoshiro just let Ryoma's teasing go. (How adorable!)

That night, Fuji opted to call his brother at his dorm where Yuuta's currently exercising. Yuuta seemed to be in a good mood since he just smiled at the usual "How are you"'s of his older brother. After a while, Fuji broke the light mood and told Yuuta that he played Ryoma that day. Yuuta asked Fuji for the result of the game which Syusuke ignored and just told him that Seigaku's really strong and that he should prepare. It seemed that Mizuki, the St. Rudolph's Manager, heard that Yuuta's talking to his brother and asked Yuuta to give him the phone and that he's going to talk to his older brother. After Mizuki said "hello" to the phone and before he could go on any further, Syusuke hang the phone up, this irritated Mizuki to no end that he turned towards Yuuta and told him that he "will stay all night with him" to "supervise" Yuuta's practice.

{Additional Episode 40 Screen Captures}