Episode 42: Oishi Being Targeted!



The episode started where we see Dan, the manager of Yamabuki, running and chanting "Research, Research". His head band suddenly covered his eyes and he went panicking and then tripped on the unsuspecting Ryoma. Anyway, Ryoma told Dan that his head-band went down and covered his eyes that's why he's seeing nothing. Dan gratefully pulled his band up and away from his eyes, only to focus his attention to the logo of Ryoma's t-shirt: Seigaku. Dan asked Ryoma if he's from Seigaku and if he's there to cheer on "that person". At this, Ryoma became beffudled and asked Dan, who's "that person". Dan told Ryoma, about the Seigaku regular named "Echizenya". Ryoma choked on his ponta. After a while, Dan was surprised to learn that the "Echizenya" he's talking about is only 151cm (as tall as Dan himself!), since he heard that "Echizenya" is good, he's probably as tall as Akutsu. Ryoma then asked Dan if he's from any Tennis club, Dan answered that he's only a manager of the Yamabuki tennis team since he's too short to play. Ryoma just gave him a knowing stare. As if on cue, Shiba appeared shouting "Ryoma Ryoma!". It was just then that Dan learned that the person he was talking to a while ago was the famous "Echizenya". :)

Doubles 1 just started, everyone was so nervous since they all know that Oishi was defeated by that same pair they'll be fighting against last year. During the first part of the game, Oishi couldn't concentrate and just kept remembering about what happened last year. It was then, all of a sudden, Oishi snapped out of his confusion and took control of the game to the joy of Kikumaru and of the rest of the Seigaku team. The Yamabuki pair, Minami and Higashikata was thrilled by this too since it would be somewhat of a "challenge" since they're known as one of the best Doubles pair. They've also gone to the Nationals like Seigaku's Golden Pair. As the two pairs fight off. Ryoma's gaze wandered towards where Akutsu was standing across the court. He saw the guy he was talking to before, Dan, giving Akutsu a notebook, which was filled with informations about Ryoma. Akusu took the notebook from Dan and tore the page where Dan wrote the informations about Ryoma and tore the page into tiny pieces. Akutsu told Dan never to do that again and that he'll make a fine meal out of that Echizen. They resumed to their staring contest from across the court. :)

Anyway, back to the game, Minami and Higashikata or nicknamed "Jimmies" were displaying a very good "sign play" which made the match real difficult for the Golden Pair. At first, everyone thought that Seigaku's Golden Pair wouldn't make a comback since Jimmies' sign play was so good that no one could predict what they're going to do next, but then, before Oishi could hit the ball, Kikumaru told him "Where does Kumagoro fall, Oishi?", Oishi remembered that the kumagoro that Eiji's talking about was actually the teddy bear Eiji's got in his room and that the bear always falls towards the left, so Oishi hit the ball towards the left, after that Kikumaru's acrobatic play surfaced making them the victor of the two.

As Seigaku was rejoicing the victory of the Golden Pair, Nanjiroh came face to face with Yamabuki's coach, Banji, Nanjiroh became irritated as he saw Banji and heard Banji's sharp barbs. Banji told Nanjiroh that it's such a coincidence that his team would be fighting with Nanjiroh's son. It looks like the two got some history together, and that's also what Inoue thought as he saw and heard the exchange between the two, so he called his office and asked for all the records of the teams that had been under Banda Mikiya (Banji).

All were getting ready for the start of the Singles matches between Seigaku and Yamabuki. Yamabuki's Singles 3 player is Sengoku Kiyosumi while Seigaku's Singles 3 player is Momoshiro. As Sengoku get on the court, he was grumbling how unlucky he was not to get to play Echizen, Momoshiro was pissed that he's somewhat being overlooked. It seemed as if Momoshiro's into a tough match when he's matched up with the person everyone was calling "Lucky Sengoku". Since luck seems always on his side.

Meanwhile, Inoue got the report from his office, he learned that Banji's team was the first team to ever defeat Seigaku during Nanjiroh's time. Things are going to get nasty.