New Prince of Tennis Stuff

Golden age 246: The Supremacy of Data Tennis

Jonathan wonders how Yanagi was able to collect the data of a sleeping person. Inui says there's no data Yanagi can't take, no matter the state the other person is in.

Edgard attacks with elephant art and tells Jonathan to take care of Yanagi's next return. Jonathan is fast, but Yanagi saw through their plan. He lets the ball pass, allowing Mouri to hit an acrobatic drop volley winner from behind.

Yanagi tells Mouri that his hand was 4.06mm behind the ideal return position for that shot and they high-five.

Japan continues to score and the audience observes that the atmosphere is amazing.

Finally, Japan wins the second set, 7-5, leveling the score at one set apiece.

The Japanese bench is in high spirits. France, meanwhile, has Jonathan talking at Edgard. Edgard remains calm, gives Jonathan a chop to the forehead and calls him his greatest masterpiece.

Golden age 247: Even in Defeat...

The match continues with the third set and France has taken the initiative. With Jonathan sporting a new paint mask, they have established a 5-0 lead.

It seems like this is the real difference in strength between the two teams, but Jonathan realizes something feels off. According to him, Yanagi has been playing unusually passive.

Yanagi reveals that he finally grasped Jonathan's data. It seems that even though the face paint changes Jonathan's personality, his basic abilities remain the same. In other words, the paint influences how he uses his skills rather than what he's capable of.

Yanagi is starting to attack - seemingly wrong-footing Jonathan - but Jonathan shuts him down in an instant. It's 0-15 on Yanagi's service game. And after two more quick points in their favor, France arrives at match point.

Edgard reveals that even though Jonathan's personality had changed, he continued to take Japan's data and this is the result. Horio and co. desperately wonder if Jonathan is the superior data player between the two.

Jonathan says that being unable to collect Mouri's Deep Sleep data did not end up being a disadvantage for him since he could just continue to collect Yanagi's data, who has been controlling Mouri, and get a read on Mouri that way. But Yanagi predicted what Jonathan was going to say, and saves the first match point.

Yanagi asks the French if they really thought he'd allow his own data to be collected so easily.

There's a short flashback to a change of ends. Mouri asks Yanagi why he's content with being ranked third among Rikkai's big 3 and goes on to say that he should aim for the top spot as well. Yanagi, Sanada and Yukimura are all surprised by that remark, but in the end Yanagi only smiles.

Japan is revived. Camus comments that Japan is putting on a dramatic performance themselves now, but it seems they were a bit late in pulling themselves together.

Japan's supporters go from cheering, to resignation, to shock. With the final rally concluded, Yanagi and Mouri are on the ground in exhaustion. The winner of the D1 match is... Japan.

Yanagi supports Mouri as they return to the bench, and once there, Yukimura offers Mouri a bottle of water while congratulating his teammates on having played a nice game.

At the same time, Mifune leaves the team to their celebrations and leaves the venue.

On one of the outside courts, he runs into Ryoma, Sakuno and Ludovic. The two princes have entered the court on horse back - Ludovic on his white horse and Ryoma on a black one Mifune gave him.

Golden age 244: Artist of the Court

The French are starting their counter-attack. Apparently they gave up the first five games on purpose to allow Jonathan to gather Japan's data.

Edgard plays art tennis. He has eagle, snake and leopard techniques, all of them are offensive moves. Yanagi does not manage to return the Eagle serve. Mouri manages to get his racket on the Snake shot, but does not connect properly which allows Edgard to score with the Leopard. Jonathan complains that according to the data he gave Edgard, it should have been a cheetah and gets chopped on the forehead for his comment.

France ties up the score in an instant, it's 5-5.

Yanagi attempts to score with Cicada, but Edgard counters it with another special move called Arc de Triomphe, a defensive skill.

France wins the first set 7-5.

Yanagi and Mouri are shocked by the quick comeback.

Yanagi understands that Jonathan gathered their data. However, both as a member of Rikkai and a Japanese representative, he declares he has no intention of losing.

Mouri says he'll leave the data collection up to Yanagi and that he'll go to sleep for a bit.

Byoudouin comments that he hasn't seen Mouri's serious side in quite some time.

Golden age 245: Gathering Data

Mouri stands at the front of the court with his eyes closed, leaving France puzzled.

Edgard targets Mouri with a shot painted like a tornado. However, Mouri scores. Mouri blinks, but his eyes are empty.

Edgard continues his art attack, this time painting a shark. But Mouri continues to score and Japan wins the first two games of the second set.

Byoudouin says that this is the strength of the guy who became Japan's no. 10. He goes on to explain that the zone is a deep concentration that lets you more quickly recognize the opponents movements and techniques and choose your shots accordingly. However, when the coaches researched it, they found it was more similar to deep sleep.

Ryoma leaves to warm up.

Jonathan is unable to collect Mouri's data in his sleeping state, and Edgard judges that they cannot spend more time on gathering data than in the first set.

Edgard paints on Jonathan's face, hypnotizing him. Jonathan's temperament changes as a result.

Jonathan starts attacking Yanagi and dares him to collect his data now.

Yanagi determines that he needs to discard all the data he had collected and sets out to collect new data. Mitsuya and Inui comment that Jonathan is the worst possible match-up for a data player and wonders if France held him back in the previous rounds to have an ace up their sleeve.

France manages to turn the situation around once more, now leading 5-4.

At this point, Mouri wakes up. Also, Yanagi has finished collecting the new data.

However, Edgard paints yet another pattern onto Jonathan's face to invalidate Yanagi's data again.

Golden age 242: I Will Not Forgive You

The chapter starts with a flashback to a day in the hotel. Mouri and Yanagi pass each other in the hallway. Mouri tries to greet Yanagi, but the latter keeps walking without saying a word. It's only when Mouri asks about Yukimura's condition that Yanagi finally turns around.

Yanagi's tells Mouri about Yukimura heading to America after the tournament to get another surgery and completely recover.

Mouri says he's glad to hear that. However, that remark makes Yanagi mad. It's indicated that he yells at Mouri, but there are no text bubbles to show what he's saying. Turning around and walking away, Yanagi says he never wants to hear Yukimura's name out of Mouri's mouth ever again. Ochi comes up behind Mouri and puts his hand on Mouri's shoulder as Mouri scratches his head and sighs.

In the present, the players have entered the court. The Japanese wonder if this isn't the worst possible doubles combination and Sanada questions what Mifune was thinking when pairing them up together.

Putting on his glasses, Jonathan remarks that everyone but him is as big as a tree. In response, Edgard chops Jonathan's forehead and rebukes him for talking too much. Then he orders Jonathan to put paint on his face just like him, but Jonathan thinks the paint is lame, earning himself another chop to the forehead.

Mouri tries to chat with Yanagi, but Yanagi ignores him and goes to his position - he serves first.

Yanagi's first serve is faster than Jonathan expected and he only manages to throw up a weak return. Yanagi expected that to happen with a 99.99% probability and scores with a smash - 15-0. Mouri offers a high-five, but gets ignored once again.

Edgard receives. It seems that he's only to return it cross-court, so Mouri goes for a poach, however, Edgard leaps to the side to improve his angle and manages to pull the shot down the line. Once again, Yanagi is there and scores. Japan leads 1-0. Like before, Yanagi ignores Mouri's praise and high-five attempts and instead reprimands him for being reckless, which Mouri shrugs off by saying that Yanagi read the return anyway.

The match is completely under Yanagi's control. He seems to almost single-handedly extend Japan's lead to 3-0. During the changeover, Yanagi says that while he was part of the medical team, he researched the players of all the other countries and didn't neglect practicing even a single day.

The scene shifts back to the flashback from the beginning of the chapter. Essentially, Yanagi says that while Yukimura wanted to play tennis again, he couldn't, whereas Mouri had the chance to practice in a great environment every day and didn't use it. He yells that he won't forgive Mouri for the rest of his life.

Golden age 243: The Sports Drink Fairy

This chapter also starts with a flashback, this time to the beginning of Mouri's time in high school. It seems that instead of attending practice, he collects some sort of loyalty points.

During the first round of the Kanto tournament, Mouri has to face Hyoutei's Ochi. Ochi beats him 6-0.

Having heard of Yukimura's collapse, Mouri goes to the hospital where Yukimura is treated and see how Yukimura struggles through rehab. This seems to motivate him to practice harder and he wins the fall newcomer tournament without dropping a single set. Following that, Mouri receives an invitation to the U-17 camp and the coaches decide to pair him up with Ochi.

Back in the present, Japan is still in control, leading France 5-0.

Another short flashback, now to the Rikkai members visiting Yukimura in hospital. Yukimura tells them how, every day after he returns to his room from rehab, there's a cold sports drink waiting for him.

It dawns on Yanagi that Mouri was the one leaving the drinks back then.

Mouri comments that Yanagi's strength in doubles is controlling his part like how he controlled Akaya during the nationals finals. Yanagi realizes that Mouri had been watching over them the whole time.

Golden age 240: The Odd Handsome Pair

The chapter picks up where the last one left off, showing a "replay" of France switching hands and scoring with the smash. Apparently they only used the same dominant hands during the matches so far, so Japan had no data on them being ambidextrous.

France breaks to even out the score, then holds their own service game to take a 6-5 lead.

Akaya panics in the gallery and in response Tohno hits him on the head.

Shirashi serves next. France still has trouble predicting him, so he manages to hold, taking the set to a tiebreak. Kenya, Gin and Zaizen seem shocked by how composed Shirashi is, wondering if he put his focus on mental strength. Tanegashima says that with all the high schoolers sweating, Shirashi's now the coolest guy on the court. He commends Shirashi for pacing himself so well in that heated back-and-forth.

As the tiebreak is about to start, Tristan notices Timothée's father sitting the audience.

There's a short (two pages) flashback about Timothée's father. The father is a painter. Since he has to sell his paintings on the street, his wife and daughter left him, however, Timothée chose to stay because he loves his father's paintings. Timothée wants to become a professional to support his father.

Timothée declares that today will be the first exhibition he'll prepare for his father and Tristan concludes that they mustn't lose.

The tiebreak starts. Thanks to his increased resolve, Tristan's serve becomes even stronger and Shirashi's return only finds the net.

Camus notices that before they knew it, they'd forgotten all about their posing battle.

The editor's note follows up on Camus' comment: "I want neither the spotlight nor the cheers of the audience. I only want victory!"

Golden age 241: Final Negotiation

Kimijima dives for the ball, manages to pick it up before it bounces a second time and push it over the net. Japan leads 6-5 in the tiebreak and is at set point. Tohno and Kirihara are stunned by Kimijima's intensity and Byoudouin comments that this is the first time he's seen Kimijima like this.

Flashback, continuing the negotiation between Kimijima and Tanegashima from a few chapters ago. Kimijima says he wants to apologize to Tohno for setting him up during the G10 match and requests that Tanegashima creates an opportunity for him to do so as part of their deal.

In the meantime, France has taken back two points and arrived at match point.

Kimijima rallies with Tristan and creates an opportunity to score for Shirashi.

Jumping to hit a smash, Shirashi thinks that seeing everyone else becoming stronger, he might have become impatient, but that he can now believe in his own strength and evolve further with the Star Bible.

However, while Shirashi's smash was aimed at Tristan's feet, the ball clips the net cord and suddenly France has a chance to counter-attack. Tristan hits a drop shot with a side spin on it, making the ball bounce away from Shirashi. But Kimijima once again comes leaping in from the back, barely getting his racket on the shot.

Despite Kimijima's efforts, the ball hits the cord once again and, for a moment, it rests on top of the net. Shirashi cries out, trying to will the ball to drop onto the other side, but to no avail. Kimijima's shot drops back on Japan's court and France wins the first match 6-2, 7-6 (6).

Kimijima dryly notes that negotiating with the ball isn't possible. Offering his hand to help Kimijima up, Shirashi responds that Kimijima will be able to do it soon.

Having returned to the bench, they notice that Kimijima's leg is bleeding. Oishi wants to rush in to help him, but gets blocked by Tanegashima. Instead, he asks Tohno to treat the bleeding.

Tohno asks Kimijima whether taking care of a brat was tough, but quickly turns around and says that a loss is a loss either way and Kimijima should be punished by death.

Kimijima apologizes to Tohno who, after a brief back-and-forth, seems to accept the apology, offering Kimijima to team up again once the WC is over. Tanegashima comments that Tohno seemed to have known what was on Kimijima's mind from the beginning, to which Kimijima agrees.

Golden age 238: 5 Choices

Following Shiraishi's smash winner, there's silence. Then, after a moment, the audience breaks out in cheers.

The French strike a synchronized pose and copy Shiraishi's "ecstasy."

On the next point, Tristan passes Kimijima and hits the ball into the doubles alley. However, Shiraishi catches up to the ball, with afterimages showing as he runs, and hits a clean winner on the return. It's Kenya's Speed Tennis.

Flashback to the previous night. Continuing from where we left off a few chapters ago, Tanegashima says that when you're troubled, sometimes you have a flash of inspiration just by drawing lines on the ground. Shiraishi follows his advice and adds more lines to the stat diagram Tanegashima drew. He extends the Power part, then the Speed part, and so on until all five areas are extended and a star forms.

Shiraishi continues to score. First with Chitose's Kamikakushi, then with Kintarou's Mountain Storm. The answer Shiraishi arrived at is that he can surpass his Bible Tennis thanks to his teammates at Shitenhouji, who he'd been watching for so long.

By concentrating on one stat at a time, Shiraishi can temporarily raise it to a 7. That's the Star Bible. Tristan comments that he can't read what Shiraishi's going to do next.

The chapter ends with Shiraishi exclaiming that he'll grab all the stars.

Golden age 239: Star Bible

Japan has seized the flow of the match. Towards the end of the second set, they finally get the break.

Leading 5-4, Kimijima serves. France goes on the offensive to take back the break.

Shiraishi and Kimijima continuously fend off their attacks. Finally, an opportunity presents itself. Kimijima hits a lob through the middle, aiming for the backhands of the right-handed Tristan and the left-handed Timothée, and looking for a weak backhand smash from either of them to attack.

Golden age 236: Shall We Negotiate?

Kimijima hits a shot at Tristan's feet which the latter can only block back. Kimijima doesn't waste this opportunity and hits a lob winner to even out the score at 1-1.

France holds Timothée's serve and earn a break against Shiraishi for a 3-1 lead, then solidify their break further on Tristan's service game - 4-1.

Kimijima holds serve once again, but so does Timothée.

During all this, Tristan, Timothée and Kimijima continue to strike poses every time they score a point. The crowd goes wild.

Going into Shiraishi's second service game of the match, Japan trails 2-5. Moreover, so far Kimijima has been the only one to score for the Japanese side.

Tristan hits a drop shot. While Shiraishi manages to catch up to the ball, Timothée has no trouble converting the return. France takes the first set 6-2.

Kimijima flashback.

The night before the match, Tanegashima approached Kimijima to negotiate with him.

Kimijima promises Tanegashima to buy time for Shiraishi.

End of flashback.

During the set break, Shiraishi is sitting on the bench, muttering to himself. Kintarou and Akaya try to encourage him.

Shiraishi concludes that Tristan's stats are all 6 whereas Timothee has 6s in speed, stamina and mental, a 5 in power and a 7 in technique.

Noticing this, Kimijima sees a chance. The chapter ends with him saying to Shiraishi "Shall we negotiate?"

Golden age 237: So, Attack

Having cleared his head, Shiraishi steps back onto the court and the 2nd set begins. Once again, Tristan serves first.

Shiraishi returns the ball cross-court and Tristan also attempts to go back cross-court, but Kimijima intercepts the ball by catching it with the frame of his racket.

Timothée smashes the high ball, but Kimijima gets it back once again. The French launch one attack after the other, but Kimijima holds his ground and blocks them back again and again.

After a few more blocks, Tristan smashes Kimijima's racket out of his hand. The racket flies up in the air and the French aim to drop the ball next to the defenseless Kimijima.

Kimijima takes his jersey from his waist, swings it up like a whip and grabs his racket once again. He aims a volley into the open space behind Tristan.

Timothée catches up to Kimijima's attack and throws up a lob. However, instead of going for a smash, Kimijima thinks back to his match against Marui and Kite and lets it pass.

From the back, Shiraishi launches a Hadokyuu.

Even though the ball was hidden by Kimijima's castle's walls, Tristan manages to block the shot. However, he gets launched backwards and it's another high ball for Japan.

Kimijima casually winds up for the smash. Tristan grabs his racket again and the French tighten their defenses.

Golden age 234: Melbourne Collection

It's the quarterfinals, Japan faces France.

Tokugawa asks Byoudouin why the latter isn't part of the line-up. Byoudouin responds that it was Mifune's decision. Mifune chimes in, saying that since they're facing stronger opponents from now on and the matches are going to be best of 3 sets, he wants to preserve their strength.

France's D2 steps on the court: Tristan Bardot (HS 3) and Timothé Moreau (2nd year). They strike some poses and are greeted with great cheers by the audience.

Atobe trembles at this entrance. Yushi asks him if he's jealous of them which Atobe (unconvincingly) denies.

The French ninja calls out and waves to Sanada. Yanagi asks Sanada since when Sanada has a disciple and Sanada wonders if it's about the calligraphy from the previous round. Yanagi proceeds to point out than the ninja brought along a bunch of shuriken and whatnot. The scene ends with Sanada getting upset.

France's prince checks the audience to try and spy Sakuno somewhere, but since he can't see her anywhere, he rides off on his horse.

Camus talks to his racket again.

Looking at a picture of his younger self as a fashion designer, Mifune declares that they can't lose in looks either and orders Kimijima to step on the court. Just like his French opponents, he strikes a pose and is greeted with cheers from the audience.

Mifune then says they've got a handsome middle schooler in their ranks too. Ryoma, Sanada and Yanagi all show a reaction, but ultimately the one joining Kimijima on the court is Shiraishi.

Golden age 235: Aesthetics

Shiraishi is booed as he enters the court for not striking a pose.

Apparently Kimijima had a hand in preventing Tristan being exiled from the tennis world. However, Tristan makes it clear that that and the match are different matters. Kimijima agrees, but adds that they've got a MSer here and asks Tristan not to concentrate their attacks too much.

Tohno seems happy that Kimijima has already entered negotiations.

However, Tristan responds that going easy on anyone isn't Timothé's style. He furthermore notes that there's more to tennis than age, so he wonders if Kimijima's request isn't rude towards Shiraishi.

Tristan serves first. As he tosses the ball, he notices that Shiraishi is standing on the left.

Yuta asks about the formation as well. Fuji and Saeki explain to him that when having a doubles pair consisting of a left-handed and a right-handed player, positioning them so that they can play their forehand on the outside allows for overall greater court coverage when both are at the back of the court.

Hitting his first serve, Tristan concludes that surprise tactics like that won't work on them.

He spins the ball into Shiraishi's backhand, however, following Kimijima's instructions, Shiraishi already ran around his backhand and is now waiting to return the serve with his forehand.

Shiraihi determines that he's in a good position to take the ball either down the line or cross court. Watching Timothé's movements, Shiraishi first wants to go down the line, however, he notices the Frenchman turning around just before hitting the ball and goes with a cross instead.

Timothé spins around his own axis and blasts a backhand volley in between Kimijima and Shiraishi. The audience breaks out in cheers after he strikes another pose.

Shiraishi apologizes to Kimijima who only responds that Timothé's movements are rather troubling.

Golden age 232: To All High School Reps: Charge!!

Bracket update: seems like Konomi didn't change Portugal's position last month, but rather Switzerland's. This means one of the other quarter finals will be Switzerland vs USA.

Duke asks Byoudouin to play S1 vs France, but Byoudouin says Mifune decides and goes to talk to him.

Mifune brushes Byoudouin off and says Byoudouin himself will be in S1. While Duke is strong, Camus has become even stronger. Finally, Mifune says that Byoudouin of all people should know better than letting his feelings get the better of him.

Byoudouin clenches his fist, evidently not happy about this, but accepts the decision and leaves the room. However, t turns out that all the other HSers are standing in the hallway waiting for him with a few of them (Hakamada, Mouri, Ohmagari, Irie) even trying to listen in through the walls.

Led by Kimijima, the HSers then plan on going on a spy mission to get a hold of the line-up and change it to make Duke S1 before it gets submitted.

Step 1: Sneak into Mifune's room.

Kimijima keeps Mifune busy with drinks and old pictures while Ohmagari, Ochi, Mouri and Hakamada climb up the outside of the hotel to enter Mifune's room. Note: Mifune's room is on the 13th floor, apparently.

Step 2: Replace all of Mifune's pens with pens that can be erased.

It turns out that Mifune's room is filled with hazards, which get accompanied by the pictures he's looking at. It turns out that Mifune was a member of the army when he was younger - his room is filled with landmines. Also, Mifune was part of a circus in the past - there's a lion in his bedroom. Mouri gets scared of the lion, but Ochi stares it down until it runs away. Finally, Hakamada finds a picture of Mifune with a trophy for winning a domino competition. He then promptly sets off a domino trap on the floor which leads to a doll holding lit dynamite.

Step 3: Mifune has handed the line-up written with the erasable pen to Kurobe. Intercept Kurobe and get a hold of the line-up.

Irie puts on an act in front of Kurobe, saying he's lost his contact lenses to make Kurobe take a different route. Oni and Nakagauchi dress up as yakuza and trap Kurobe in an elevator by hitting the fire alarm. Date then helps Kurobe get out again.

However, the HSers notice that the envelope they were looking for isn't in the elevator anymore and somehow got tossed into the bushes outside. They rush over only to have Tanegashima ride by on the segway and snatch it. As they are about to open the envelope, Duke comes in from behind. He thanks them for what they're trying to do for him, but also says that they shouldn't change it to preserve the honor of Japan's U-17.

However, while Duke says all this, Mouri actually pulls the line-up out of the envelope and they notice that Mifune put Duke into S1 after all. On a side note, Sanada's name appears in the row above Duke's, meaning he'll play the fourth match - not sure whether that means S2 or D1 though.

Golden age 233: Troubled Shiraishi

Tanegashima goes on a walk with Tohno as the two of them hear someone practicing at the wall.

It turns out to be Shiraishi. Shiraishi is trying to find a new style for himself, but he has little success. He seems to be frustrated, hitting his heels with his racket until they start bleeding. That's when the two HSers come in to stop him.

Tohno bandages up Shiraishi's leg while Tanegashima goes into what Shiraishi's problems are. He draws up one of the pentagon stat spreads (Shiraishi is still at all 4s) and explains that while Shiraishi is very balanced, he'll run into problems when faced with someone who has a bigger stats area than him, just like with Zeus.

Tanegashima then offers to practice with Shiraishi and to return all of Shiraishi's shots as much as he wants.

A quick note on Yushi being the final replacement for the middle schoolers. I do not think he was the one Mifune was about to announce in chapter 228. There are two reasons for this:

When Kaji, Sengoku and Yanagi are shown as replacements, they're already wearing the Japanese uniform. However, Yushi is still in his Hyoutei uniform when going after Momoshiro.

After announcing the replacements, Mifune tells the reps to practice and the non-reps to leave. Obviously, Yushi was one of the guys that left.