Tezuka in Germany: I am ridiculously full of squee over this. I don't see his laughter as being the product of relaxation; rather, I see him as so wound up with tension over the Rikkai match, then so wound up with joy that Seigaku won and his teammates are actually visiting him and he hasn't seen them in forever and they're finally here--and then Eiji's joke cracks the tension and Tezuka can't help but laugh a bit. He really does care a lot about his team; they're his best friends, even if he's not as close to them as friends might be expected to be. I see his conversation with Ryoma as perfectly serious, in the sense that he means what he says, but I don't think he's blind to the humor of it, either. We've seen from the pre-Atobe match banter that he does have a sense of humor; he just keeps it under wraps as it doesn't befit his idea of a Buchou's Dignity. I also find Hannah's comments rather telling. Tezuka probably does lecture her about drinking, being the responsible forty-year-old that he is, and when she's being defiant and doing it anyway, she quite naturally rants about it. I find it amusing that she seizes on Ryoma as being identical; I'm not sure whether Ryoma's even really listening to her babble, but I'm pretty sure that if he is, he's thinking that whoever she's whining about is undoubtedly right. Inui and Momo's moment of realization is utterly hilarious, and I refuse to believe that Tezuka doesn't know what they're talking about; on the inside, he's laughing evilly at their hasty backpedaling.
Can't really compare the returns, since I haven't seen the anime one. I agree that watching the Oishi-Tezuka match was heartbreaking, but I was breaking my heart over Eiji rather than anyone else. I think Oishi knew his wrist wasn't up to par yet, and for the sake of the Nationals, he had to accept that, as well as give Tezuka a smooth transition back. For him, it was a totally natural and logical decision; I don't see him as spending a lot of time agonizing over it. It needed to be done, so he did it. I really empathized with Eiji's reaction of absolute dismay, followed by fury, then grudging understanding that the promise to Tezuka was made earlier and takes priority, but dammit! I won't play doubles with anyone else! (All of this, of course, only fills me with further guilt over the fact that I'm rooting for Shishido-Ootori over the GP in #290. Wah!) Oishi really does keep his promises, no matter the cost. (Lovely Tezuka/Oishi, Oishi/Eiji fic about that here (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2159266/1/), by miko_no_da.)
Finally, a random note about the OVA, A Day on Survival Mountain. (What the hell does OVA stand for, anyway?) You've stated in previous posts that you don't believe Tezuka sees anything much of himself in Ryoma, apart from the whole left-handed prodigy bit. I think I disagree with that, especially in the anime, and the OVA has some of the most classic bits in support of that, with the whole challenging the dastardly university students plot. When Ryoma first challenges them, Tezuka commands him back, and Ryoma obeys. After that, Tezuka finds out that they're only going to given the courts they were promised in the afternoon, since Sasabe's being an asshole and is the son of the owner. When Sasabe reneges on that and makes the manager get down on his knees and beg, Ryoma gets pissed off and walks in to challenge them again. Tezuka then walks in as well, and instead of ordering Ryoma out, he speaks directly to the coach, with a perfectly polite but rather snide remark about "borrowing your students for a while". Then he tells a somewhat surprised, but delighted, Ryoma to go for it. Finally, there's the bit where after Seigaku has defeated all the students and the former-pro-turned-coach says he'll take on anyone, and Tezuka steps up with a "Please." Then he returns the power serve, breaking a hole in the fence, and while everyone's standing there in shock, he says deadpan, "It must be the fresh air. I'm really feeling the ball well today." Then, of course, he hands the coach his ass on a platter, 6-0. Snarky!Tezuka! I never thought I'd see the day.
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Can't really compare the returns, since I haven't seen the anime one. I agree that watching the Oishi-Tezuka match was heartbreaking, but I was breaking my heart over Eiji rather than anyone else. I think Oishi knew his wrist wasn't up to par yet, and for the sake of the Nationals, he had to accept that, as well as give Tezuka a smooth transition back. For him, it was a totally natural and logical decision; I don't see him as spending a lot of time agonizing over it. It needed to be done, so he did it. I really empathized with Eiji's reaction of absolute dismay, followed by fury, then grudging understanding that the promise to Tezuka was made earlier and takes priority, but dammit! I won't play doubles with anyone else! (All of this, of course, only fills me with further guilt over the fact that I'm rooting for Shishido-Ootori over the GP in #290. Wah!) Oishi really does keep his promises, no matter the cost. (Lovely Tezuka/Oishi, Oishi/Eiji fic about that here (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2159266/1/), by
Finally, a random note about the OVA, A Day on Survival Mountain. (What the hell does OVA stand for, anyway?) You've stated in previous posts that you don't believe Tezuka sees anything much of himself in Ryoma, apart from the whole left-handed prodigy bit. I think I disagree with that, especially in the anime, and the OVA has some of the most classic bits in support of that, with the whole challenging the dastardly university students plot. When Ryoma first challenges them, Tezuka commands him back, and Ryoma obeys. After that, Tezuka finds out that they're only going to given the courts they were promised in the afternoon, since Sasabe's being an asshole and is the son of the owner. When Sasabe reneges on that and makes the manager get down on his knees and beg, Ryoma gets pissed off and walks in to challenge them again. Tezuka then walks in as well, and instead of ordering Ryoma out, he speaks directly to the coach, with a perfectly polite but rather snide remark about "borrowing your students for a while". Then he tells a somewhat surprised, but delighted, Ryoma to go for it. Finally, there's the bit where after Seigaku has defeated all the students and the former-pro-turned-coach says he'll take on anyone, and Tezuka steps up with a "Please." Then he returns the power serve, breaking a hole in the fence, and while everyone's standing there in shock, he says deadpan, "It must be the fresh air. I'm really feeling the ball well today." Then, of course, he hands the coach his ass on a platter, 6-0. Snarky!Tezuka! I never thought I'd see the day.
*continued in yet another comment*