Stars Align (星合の空)

No way. It'll take two months to heal?

You'll never be able to compete next month!

Sorry, guys. At a time like this...

It's not like you got injured on purpose. It happens.

But it hurts that our Shingo/Tsubasa pair can't enter the tournament.

It's a shame since Tsubasa and Shingo are a strong pair.

If Tsubasa isn't able to compete in a match,

does that mean we've gotta play as a pair in the team tournament?

That's right. Because the team tournament takes three pairs.

Good luck, Taiyo!

I don't know what to say.

But it's us...

Well, we've just gotta win a single match. It'll be fine.

Oh, yeah! Everyone's good enough that they'll win even if we lose!

We'll have none of that.

Don't hope someone else does. We all play to win.

That's right. It's a bad habit of yours to leave it to others, Nao.

I know! Won't it be better if Shingo pairs with someone else?

He's really good! If he plays in the match instead of--

You idiot!

We've trained as these pairs to work better together!

Why change 'em after all this time?!

If Tsubasa ain't playing, I ain't either!

That's what a pair's all about!

Nao, Taiyo! You have to win!

Give it your best shot in our place!

You'll be fine! You guys are much better now!

Yeah, I'll cheer you on, too! You've got my support!

I'm counting on you guys!

Hey, guys, let's do that thing!

That thing? The grasshopper?

Yeah, let's do it! Everyone up!

Fight!

Whoa!

"Stars Align"

"Episode 10"

"Episode 10" You've got a match this coming Sunday? Regional prelims?

You don't have to come. Not like it's sports day in grade school.

You're so cold.

There's an inspection on something I built that day, so I can't either way.

Sorry.

It's fine. Go bring in the dough instead.

Yup!

Oh, I know! Here.

What's with the big bucks?

You've got a match, right? Snag a new racket or something.

It being a match, I don't want a new racket.

Why not? Won't newer equipment mean you're even better?

Maybe, but it'll take some time before I get used to it.

If I changed now, it'll feel different when I hit,

and the ball won't go where I want.

Oh? The game's more delicate than I thought.

In that case, consider this a special allowance for working so hard!

Well, it's just what I need.

Hey, care to explain?

What?

Is all this for dinner?

Well, that's part of it.

And since I got extra funds,

I guess you could say... animal feed?

What are you shopping for?

A wristband. I want a new one for our match.

Well aren't you stylish.

It's not that. I don't have time to wipe sweat off during a match.

So you're not trying to look cool.

What do you think soft tennis is anyway?

Tennis?

You know what...?

It's that pair from shitty Shijo Minami!

Arashi Oji!

Hey, Maki!

Gimme some fried noodles!

Don't have any.

Why not?! Why don't you have Okinawan fried noodles?!

-Why? Why don't you, huh?!

--Normally one wouldn't. --Why? Why don't you, huh?!

Make some more for me, Maki! Okinawan fried noodles!

Fine then. When I feel like it.

When will that be?! When?! When can I eat?!

-Hey, hey, hey, hey! Maki!

--This is Misaki Academy's ace? --Hey, hey, hey, hey! Maki!

I've got it! Let's go to your place or mine and make some!

Will you make it yourself if I tell you how?

I'm against putting effort into anything except tennis!

Fine. Eventually.

What's that?

I had our housekeeper try to make it, but the taste wasn't the same!

You really like that stuff.

Hmm?

What's up?

It's them!

The Itsuse brothers!

Riku.

Hmm?

Well, well. If it isn't Arashi.

Don't fall out of the tournament till you play us.

That would be boring.

No way I'm losing in regional prelims against anyone but you!

You never change.

That's Misaki's wolf prince for you.

You're short on luck though.

Misaki Academy isn't--

Someday, I'm gonna crush you two in a match!

You've gotta find a good buddy for that, Arashi.

You can't play doubles alone.

Huh? Is that Shijo Minami?

Their boys' club used to be good.

Shinjo/Oshimi was a legendary pair, I hear.

They won nationals two years in a row.

That's all in the past. Who really cares?

Later.

Looking forward to playing against you.

Who were they?

The Itsuse brothers.

The twins, Riku and Sora Itsuse.

Last year's national champions.

They sure do look alike.

Arashi, you know the champions?

Of course I do. Because I'm awesome.

But those guys are...

...incredibly awesome.

Looking forward to your match.

It's your first real one paired up with Maki.

Well, yeah.

Maki called a while back asking how to slice a serve, so I showed him how.

He's got great game sense and he picks things up quick.

You guys might make it.

You know, all you've been talking about is Maki.

I'll be coming to watch your match. Try to enjoy it.

Well, Toma?

How's that serve?

That was awesome! It's really got a curve on it!

Yeah?

Huh? What's up?

Well, there's something we need to tell you.

What's this? Is it that serious?

It's about... your birth mother, actually.

The organization informed us that your birth mother is hoping to meet you.

My mom?

You're not done?

I can't clean like this.

Do you know why you can't eat?

Because you never eat at the same time.

You're always eating out.

It's because the food here isn't good.

What did you say?

That's why Dad doesn't eat at home either.

I don't believe that! And don't you talk that way to me!

Who do you think you're talking to?!

To you!

To you, my mother!

I never wanted to be your mother.

If only Ryoma had stayed out of it.

Huh?

"Cat055: So disappointing... I was your fan but maybe not anymore." "konomin: God is gone." "Kagura: Draw some more good stuff! That's what we want!"

"Kagura: Draw some more good stuff! That's what we want!" "Sofia: Nothing to see here! Otaku!" "It's good, but why is it so different?"

"Anti-Trash: You suck. 0 talent." "Tyranno: Next time, don't hit submit." "Yuiko: I thought I liked you, but this hurts.

"samurai: Nobody wants to see this. What happened to you?" "Violet: What is this? Pathetic..."

"Your drawings got worse???" "Early-Summer Rain: Eww! How lame!"

"Awful, lol! Disgusting, lol!" "Hiro: What's the point of drawing this trash?"

"Cat Ninja: natsuko is dead"

Screw it.

"Submit" Screw it.

Hey! Let's hear your voices!

Okay!

There!

Huh?

The student council?

Kasuga?

It's Kinuyo!

Hard at practice today are we, Toma Shinjo?

What brings you all the way out here?

Observing clubs is necessary to ensure they're producing results.

Oh, man...

Think he's got a target on his back?

Seriously?!

Even I've heard the rumors about your club.

It seems you've been working hard.

We don't want to get disbanded.

You can avoid that if you win once at the summer tournament.

I think the hurdle is set quite low.

And to think that's a challenge for your club right now.

What have you been doing till now?

Wasting club activity funds.

Am I being a bully?

No, it's exactly as you say.

The fact it's taken something like this for us to get serious is pathetic.

I regret it. All of us do.

But every day of it has been fun.

We're grateful.

Look forward to when we play.

Kinuyo's super scary when she smiles!

I think I get it.

Huh?

These are the matches for...

...the tournament bracket?

Why does this happen?

Worst luck of the draw.

Seriously.

It doesn't mean we've lost just yet!