Baby Steps
Eiichirō Maruo (nicknamed "Ei-chan" for his grades being straight "A") is an honor student, bookworm, and is not interested in anything other than studying. In order to solve his problem of lacking physical strength, he enrolled a tennis school and soon found the fascinating side of tennis. Being a tennis newbie lacking physical strength, he supplement his shortcomings with his excellent observing and analyzing skills.
Season 1 Episodes
E1
Maruo Eiichiro is an honor student in his first year of high school. He's a very methodical person who keeps two sets of…
E2
Eiichiro is unable to answer Natsu when she asks him what he enjoys doing most. He becomes interested in tennis and retu…
E3
Eiichiro is unable to forget how good it felt when he successfully returned Takuma's serve, and he spends all of his tim…
E4
Eiichiro finds himself in a contest with Takuma. Eiichiro has fifty tries to return Takuma's serve. One successful retur…
E5
Eiichirō is about to play his first match. He receives advice from the other STC members, but it only makes him more ner…
E6
It is down to the final match of the set. Eiichirō trails 5 games to 1, but with a determination to stay on the court as…
E7
In order to improve Eiichirō's playing, Coach Miura has him learn control on a 9-square court. After getting the basics …
E8
Maruo Eiichirō continues his training at STC as he tries to master every shot. At smaller tournaments he begins advancin…
E9
Eiichirō returns to the Kanagawa Junior Circuit. His first match is up against fellow high school student Koshimizu Nari…
E10
The match between Eiichirō and Miyagawa begins with each holding serve. However Eiichirō feels that something is off. Af…
E11
After managing to hold serve Eiichirō starts looking for an opportunity to break Miyagawa. Both hold serve and force a t…
E12
After defeating Miyagawa, Eiichirō returns to STC for some training that will make him better in 1 day. Eiichirō is team…
E13
The match between Hiromi and Eiichirō begins. Everytime Eiichirō tries to go on the attack, Hiromi hits a shot Eiichirō …
E14
It is match 10 of a 1-set match, and Eiichirō leads 5 games to 4. Eiichirō begins to up his speed against Hiromi, and wi…
E15
Eiichirō overhears Araya telling Takuma that if he loses to him this tournament, he will retire from tennis. His plan is…
E16
After going up Love-15, Araya uses a number of service aces to go up 3-1 in set 2. Eiichirō holds serve, and as he gains…
E17
Araya and Eiichirō end up at deuce after neither player can gain an advantage. An ace end up being huge for Araya give h…
E18
Eiichirō investigates going Pro, but his reaction from his parents is less than he expected. Eiichirō joins Natsu at the…
E19
Eiichirō manages to steal 1-point in the 10-minute match with Ike before his coaches reappear and make him stop playing …
E20
Eiichirō participates in a tournament after 3 months of hellish training. He learns about active rest while participatin…
E21
Eiichirō continues his practice and gets his next tournament schedule. As the last player to qualify he is placed up aga…
E22
Yu Nabae matches up with Eiichirō and realizes they really are two players that are virtually the same. He realizes that…
E23
In an effort to try and reverse the tide, Eiichirō decides to go back to his idea of having 100-squares to aim for inste…
E24
Eiichirō runs to watch Natsu's match when he learns she is in danger of losing. Afterwards they return to STC where he R…
E25
Eiichirō and Natsu go out on their first date. When Eiichirō asks Natsu what she thinks about him, she tells him he is c…
Cast