万年新卒女

0 years old December 31st - Born

9 years old Unexpectedly travels to Hokkaido by himself, helps a potato farmer and then returns

10 years old Happens to see Tachibana playing tennis and becomes interested

12 years old March - Graduates from Kumamoto Dai-ichi elementary school April - Enters Shishigaku middle school Takes a nap under a cherry tree, misses the school entrance ceremony May - After a huge fist fight with Tachibana at a riverbed, becomes friends with him July - Doesn’t take the end of term test, is set to take supplementary lessons September - Does a Japanese drum (wadaiko) performance with Tachibana at culture festival, wins the judges’ prize Autumn - After the newcomers’ tournament, starts getting called Kyuushuu’s wings with Tachibana

13 years old January - Finds a stray cats, takes care of it through the winter at the clubroom February - Gets Valentine chocolate from An March - Goes to Tokyo Disneyland with Tachibana, An and Miyuki by the four of them April - Proceeds to second year of middle school May - Wins championship at amateur shougi players’ western district tournament Hangs around in a nearby park, starts getting called “wooden sandal bro” (geta no niichan) by the kids July - Wins Kyuushuu district tournament, is called “Shishigaku’s second year ace” August - Proceeds to national tournament top four September - In a interschool match against Tachibana, injures his right eye and resigns from the club Restores hair to black (*1) For the sake of his eye’s treatment, transfers to a famous ophthalmological hospital in Osaka October - In order to investigate Muga no Kyouichi, has his brain waves measured at a university hospital November - In order to drive his body to the limit, plays matches throughout three days

14 years old December - Unexpectedly, goes on wandering all the way to Okinawa (*2) April - Transfers to Shitenhouji, proceeds to third year of middle school Joins the tennis club. Gets a welcome party, and somehow is made to perform a impromptu two-person comedy skit (manzai) with Kintarou Requested by Kintarou, begins his own kind of research of tasty takoyaki (*3) Breaks the dormitory’s laundry machine June - Wins the Osaka metropolitan tournament July - Kansai tournament starts Wins the Kansai tournament Is eliminated from S1 GP preliminaries (*4) Participates in a three-person comedy interview as substitute for Shiraishi’s parents (*5) July (*6) - Observes the match for Kantou tournament’s third place, Fudoumine vs Rokkaku Visits parents at home, has a (non-alcoholic) party with his hometown friends Appears in front of Tezuka, who is in the middle of rehabilitation of his shoulder Accompanies Miyuki to go to Tokyo, does sightseeing together, explores Asakusa August 17th - National tournament starts Faces Okakura on the second round Wins Yamamoto-Mizuse pair in doubles 1 Advances to quarter-finals August 18th - Quarter-finals are postponed due to rain August 19th - Plays against Fudoumine in quarter finals Wins against Tachibana in singles 2 Submits his club resignation, but it’s not accepted Proceeds to semi-finals Faces Seigaku in semi-finals Loses to Tezuka-Inui pair in doubles 1, reaches nationals tournament top 4 Participates in yakiniku party, is made to drink Inui’s special vegetable juice and retires August 23rd - Observes the nationals finals November - Participates in U-17 camp

Comment from Tachibana (placed a their fist fight): “Always from now on too, you’re my strongest opponent.”

Check 1

(Referring to brain wave study, and to Inui’s return to regulars): Strong motivation and tenacity behind the successful recovery These two overcame the crisis of whether they could participate in matches, and played and active role in the nationals. They resemble each other in that they didn’t give up on their recovery, and in word, it could be expressed by “going higher”, as well as “going deeper”, and one can think they also have a strong spirit of inquiry. Their curiosity towards the yet unknown, as well as their conviction that by gathering and analysing information they should be able to reach the answer in the end, probably made them persistent and helped in their recovery.

(Caption:) The beginning was intellectual curiosity and fixation. If that gained knowledge is applied to one’s body and put to practical use, that inevitably connects to the elevation of one’s ability.

Check 2

(Referring to facing Seigaku, and to Inui winning against Yanagi): Effort that will not betray the trust they carry Inui, knowing the importance of being a regular, and that he could not betray the expectations and trust he was carrying, kept piling up great efforts. Conversely, submitting his club resignation in the middle of the tournament, Chitose seems lacking of such resolution. Still, knowing his efforts until that point, as well as his ability, the trust from his friends (*7) didn’t waver.

(Caption:) As their allies fully know their strength, the trust from them specifically is a legitimate valuation.

TN:

*1 This seems like a mix-up between Tachibana and Chitose in the profile, since Chitose’s hair was always dark.

*2 Or “Without an aim, ends up on Okinawa on his wandering” - but is that even possible by an accident?

*3 A bit unclear.

*4 Meaning unclear to me.

*5 The impression is Shiraishi more or less makes Chitose do this.

*6 For some reason the timeline really has July twice.