Softenni - Soft Tennis

Fuyukawa Kurusu 7th Grade - Soft Tennis Team Member

Game #1 Morning Training

Harukaze Asuna 8th Grade Soft Tennis Club Member

What a lovely morning.

It's another great day for soft tennis.

Asuna, why are you lazing around?

Hurry up and...

Yes, ma'am.

I'm sorry.

Good.

No need to hold back. Eat all you want.

But in return, release a lot of good milk, okay?

In this world, everything should be give and take.

Huh?

ASUNAAAAAAAAA!

I've told you time and time again to quit practicing your swings with a pitchfork!

Sorry!

Oh, Mom.

I'll be going!

You're leaving really early this morning.

Morning practice starts today.

We decided to practice hard together.

I see.

Take care.

Right!

Two months until the tournament...

By running to school, I'm going to gain stamina so that I don't lose through exhaustion.

Nice try, but...

I'm not going to lose!

The End

Work hard!

You still have five more kilometers to go!

Don't lose to yourself!

Oh.

Ja-pan! Rah rah rah!

Do it, Japan!

Thanks for the support!

We will soon make a stop at Ooizumi Farm.

You're supposed to be doing running practice up until the tournament!

I-I'm sorry!

An empty school is a new experience in its own right.

Though I wouldn't want that at night.

Huh?

There's someone on the court.

Oh, it's Misshi.

Sensei, please wake up.

Mishima Kihiro Soft Tennis Club Teacher

Oh, it's Kotomi and Asuna.

Hey, why are you sleeping here?

Oh?

Well, you see, I was drinking with the principal the whole night.

My head is ringing...

Geez... You're so helpless...

And why are you two here at school already?

It's still...

uhh, 6 AM.

What are you here for?

Stretch practice?

Morning practice.

Shouldn't you know? Aren't you supposed to be the coach?

Well then, we will be changing, so don't peep!

You'd better not!

Who would?

So Chitose-san is here already...

Oh, but...

Hey Kotone-chan, isn't it about time?

Time for what?

You know, in situations like this...

Hey, Kotone!

By the way, about that-

Whoa!

S-Sorry, I'll leave immediately-

It's fine.

If it's Misshi, I don't mind being seen...

Ko...

Kotone!

M-Misshi!

Time for that.

Oh, hell no!

All right.

Oh no, I forgot to bring the balls from the club room.

Then I'll get them.

Thanks.

No problem.

5 minutes later

10 minutes later

Hey, Asuna!

How long does it take to get balls-

Breaker!

How is my form?

It's bad.

It's really bad.

Why?

For starters, you're just standing straight up.

If you're standing like that, you can't put force into your shots.

Straight up...

You have to put your hips lower and open your legs wider.

Open my legs wider...

Open them wider, will you?

L-Like this?

I-I won't be persuaded by sweet talk like that!

Adults are dirty!!!

Don't underestimate middle schoolers, please!

W-What is she talking about?

Y-Yeah, fine...

Come to think of it, Chitose-san hasn't come back yet.

It's taking too long for just a bathroom break.

Oh, is Akiyama here too?

Yes.

I don't know about Kurusu-chan, but we saw Chitose-san's belongings and her half-eaten rice, so...

Half-eaten rice?

It's surprising that she'd find something more important than eating.

No. If we're talking about her, that's impossible.

Half-eaten rice, a strange disappearance, and when you consider her characteristics...

The natural conclusion is...

Right!

It's a side dish!

Oops!

Chitose-san forgot to bring her side dish for lunch!

There's no way she'd be okay with that!

Ah! It's not fulfilling!

Then there's only one thing she would do...

She will get it at that spot!

W-What?!

All right.

If that's settled, then start your search at the river.

Right.

Oh, Kotone-chan!

It worked out just as we predicted!

Chitose-san!

We should start practice soon-

Soft Tennis Club

So, why were you doing that, Chitose-san?

Huh?

Oh, that's...

You see...

The river looked lovely, so I went in.

Then I happened to encounter a Japanese giant salamander.

So I was playing around with it for a while.

What?!

What is that reaction for?

Oh, no, nothing, just that...

Since it's you, I was sure you would...

Oh, come on.

I wouldn't do a crazy thing like eating a protected-status animal.

Of course

But really, everyone came to morning practice.

Yes, we came running here properly.

Though she used the bus part of the way...

B-But after that, I ran properly.

Since this is going to be Chitose-san's last tournament, I figured I should try my best as well.

We should aim to be in the top 16 at least!

Asuna.

Don't aim for something small like a top 16 finish.

If you're aiming for something, then aim for Wimbledon.

Huh?

Oh, but Wimbledon is...

What?

Goals are always better when they're bigger!

No, it's not like that, but...

You're right.

Goals really are always better when they're bigger.

Then...

I will aim to be champion of the tournament!

For Chitose-san, before she can begin talking about being a champion...

She has to be able to win a match first...

Huh? What is it?

N-No, it's nothing!

R-Right, it's nothing.

Oh, Kurusu-chan.

Hey Kurusu, you're late!

How could you make an upperclassman wait li-

T-That's difficult to be mad about.

Where the hell does she bring this stuff from...?

So why were you this late?

Well, it's most likely that you overslept...

Self-practice.

What?

I did a 20 kilometer run and 500 swings.

I also did push-ups, sit-ups and back training, 100 of each.

For zig-zag running and dashing front to back, left to right, I did four sets each.

And when I finally realized it, it was this late.

Ribbit...

Regardless, I was late.

I will apologize.

Well you see, if it was like that...

I will be lenient, ribbit ribbit...

I guess she can't say anything, can she?

All right,

since everyone is here, we should have some practice matches!

We won't lose!