Kachiro gets a little blushy over it.
Kachiro is so totally Oishi to Ryouma's Tezuka. He follows him around like a puppy--so do the other ichinen, but Kachiro's the one who worries best. I also love the way Ryouma throws Arai in just for the heck of it and Arai's mixed reaction. He might have forgiven Arai, but he'll never let him forget it.

There doesn't seem to be any reaction from Tezuka over this. Does he think it's okay for Ryoma to deliberately target Akutsu?
Perhaps he expected it? He certainly seems to understand how Ryouma works, so maybe he knew that Ryouma wouldn't wait for Akutsu to strike first.

But I think Nanjiroh wants to adopt him.
More like divorce Rinko and marry Yuuki-chan. A pretty young wife and an amazing tennis-playing son. What more could he ask for?

I wonder why Akutsu had all that special tennis coaching when he was young. I wonder how his mother paid for it.
Possibly the tennis coach saw his potential and decided to develop it. Like Banji, only less creepy, and more willing to give up when Akutsu got bored and therefore violent.

Now Ryoma takes a ball to the face.
I find it interesting that this is the only time during the match that Akutsu actually tried to injure Ryouma, and it's only because Ryouma taunted him into it. It's like Ryouma's opening the match by nailing Akutsu took that option off the table: because Ryouma fought dirty, Akutsu had to fight clean, when it's usually the other way round. This could have been much more like the Kirihara-Fuji match, but Akutsu is determined never to fight by the rules his opponent sets.

Ryoma also evolves the ability to control the course of the ball telekinetically.
Buh? I must have missed that bit, what with all the hummingbird flying.

Flashback to Banji feeling Akutsu's arms and shoulders in a creepy manner.
Banji is more pedophilic than Shiba, and that's saying something. You totally know that the only reason Akutsu didn't beat him up is because he knew Banji would enjoy it.