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Tenipuri episodes 57-59
Note: There may be mild spoilers for future episodes in these write-ups. Previous: memories or tagged.
It's been a while since the last one of these. Sorry! So much InuKai this time around. If there was anything going on that wasn't InuKai, I don't think I noticed it. NB: there's a screencap behind the cut.
57. Scud Serve
Oishi apologizes to Tezuka for his injury. I stop the video and just sit for a while, sighing over them. Does Oishi's injury prefigure Tezuka's? As well, Oishi's strong influence over Eiji and Momo's play, even when he's absent, just as Tezuka influences the club in his absence.
Tezuka tells Oishi that it isn't his fault -- it's not something he can control. Which contrasts with Tezuka's situation, since his injury was (well, will be, at this point) somewhat volitional.
Instead of being jealous that Eiji and Momo are playing together so well, Oishi is paternally proud. He's so sweet.
Gakuto is running out of steam, although his wig seems to be holding up. For the most part, the Hyotei team are critical of him rather than supportive. It seems like Sakaki's method of choosing the Regulars makes them a lot more competitive with their teammates. When Eiji has endurance issues, his teammates are sympathetic. I wonder which approach is more likely to cause a change in the player, though.
Atobe wonders if he can wait until the matches are over to have his way with Momoshiro. Maybe he should have him now in the back of the limousine instead, while he's still pumped up from this match.
Kaidoh isn't watching the match. I imagine things went down like this: Damn, I just got Momoshiro off the Regulars to keep him out of Kaidoh's way, Inui thought, and now he's playing again. "Kaidoh, I think I saw a hurt bunny when we were going by those trees."
Sakaki tells off Oshitari and Gakuto. He tells Gakuto especially that if he doesn't do better next time, he won't be playing at Nationals. So much for replacing players that lose. Maybe that's just between tournaments?
Ryoma goes off to sulk. Because it's Ryoma, his sulking takes the form of tennis. Just like his relaxing, his excitement, his boredom, his love. It's how he was brought up. Probably when Nanjiroh explained the Facts of Life to Ryoma, it was by playing tennis. "See, Ryoma, there's a server and a receiver..."
Also because it is Ryoma, his entourage follow him. Unlike Atobe, he hasn't learned to enjoy having minions around. He's cranky enough that he hits Horio in the face with the ball after Horio says his sulking is cute. And Horio is right. Ryoma's sulking is very, very cute.
And now, the first of many flashbacks to Shishido's Haircut. Which I could really do without. The flashback to Inui and Kaidoh's river training, though, I could watch a thousand times.
Kaidoh is back from his bunny-rescue mission and all pumped up to play doubles with his beloved Inui-senpai. Even the ichinen trio acknowledge their love!
This match is really all about whose love is stronger. Shishido has the more tractable kohai, for sure. Kaidoh is still not quite in doubles mode, it seems.
Why doesn't Inui have better data on these two? Even Eiji remarks on it. Surely Ohtori's serve can't be a secret. Did Inui spend all the time he was supposed to be spying on Hyotei down at the river spying on Kaidoh? Foiled by hormones, Inui.
Tezuka makes a little speech to Oishi about how collecting data is not the same as playing a real game. I think he's still smarting because he had to play seriously against Inui and wants to remind everyone that he won.
Inui tells Kaidoh he wants to "predict" Ohtori's serve. I'm not sure what he means there, but Kaidoh is unimpressed. I think Kaidoh's plan involves trying to hit the ball.
Kaidoh talks back to Inui when Inui says that they can't help but let the Scud Serve control the game. On that note, we get more flashback to Inui's Marriage Proposal to Kaidoh. When Inui asks Kaidoh to play doubles with him, Kaidoh refuses. And quite bluntly. So bluntly that I'm surprised, though I shouldn't be. After all, the first thing we ever heard him say to Inui was, "Are you trying to pick a fight?"
Back in the match, Kaidoh's pride is stung. He starts doing his snaky back and forth movements. He must do that unconsciously by now. It's kind of weird and creepy. That's going to be a hard habit to break later. Or maybe he'll still be doing it at the office twenty years from now.
Kaidoh respects Inui now, but he doesn't fully trust him. And his own pride is still the most important thing to him.
58. The Worst Compatibility!?
Oh, Kaidoh is so tough and prideful and determined to shut Ohtori and Shishido up, even if he has to do it all by himself. He's so cute I could just die.
He stands at the back of the court, even though he's meant to be at the front. The trio are so, so excited -- maybe that means he's going to give them candy! Er, hit the Boomerang.
And hit it he does. Everyone is shocked as usual. Even Atobe. But it doesn't make him want to abduct and ravish Kaidoh. (I don't know why!) Momoshiro also gets het up.
And of course, Inui. Back to the river and the Proposal Scene. Inui appears to Kaidoh with the beams of the setting sun glowing behind him. However, the green tracksuit cancels any Charisma bonus that gives him. But Inui has the Vulcan Logic feat which allows him to use his Intelligence modifier instead of Charisma for Diplomacy and Bluff and so he persuades Kaidoh anyhow.
"But what will you get out of it?" Kaidoh wants to know. "Ah," Inui says. "I have my reasons for using you in return." Kaidoh is afraid, as well he might be, to ask what those reasons might be.
Back in the game, Inui wants to impress Kaidoh with his desirability as amate doubles partner, so he ditches his weighted wristband before his next serve.
Inui's serve is amazing. Kaidoh says, "Nice serve" in English, by which he means, "You are the only one worthy of my love and devotion so I will be waiting in your bedroom after the tournament. Please be gentle."
On the next serve, Inui gets a trippy sixties effect which may be meant to imply that he's an International Man of Mystery. Or maybe the animator is having an LSD flashback.
Shishido and Ohtori's love and trust is just as pure and strong as Inui and Kaidoh's. This is problematic because how can one side win if they are both so pure of heart?
Shishido's Counter Rising (or Rising Counter) takes the next few points. It's a problem! Well, it's a problem if you're Seigaku.
While I had always seen the parallel between the doubles pairs, until this time watching I hadn't twigged to the similarity between Inui and Shishido. They both lost their position on the team due to their own weakness and they both worked extremely hard to regain it. They are neither naturally gifted at tennis and so need to develop special skills to compensate.
And we get special couples training flashbacks for Ohtori and Shishido as well, with the main difference being that Atobe is spying on them. He doesn't seem like the voyeur type, though.
Back at the game, Atobe taunts Gakuto and Oshitari for losing to Ohtori and Shishido. They talk back to him like I could never imagine anyone doing to Tezuka.
2-0 for Hyotei! Oishi gives a little speech about how the Hyotei pair has the necessary element for the perfect combination: dependence. "For example," he says, "I'm dependent on Eiji for keeping me clean of bugs and ticks while he's dependent on me for indulging his needs for having sex while dressed up as Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel."
This somehow makes Momoshiro think of Kaidoh and he yells at Kaidoh to do better. Kaidoh gets so mad at this he throws his racquet on the court! Momoshiro is pleased by this reaction. Kaidoh is not completely Inui's yet, it seems.
Inui picks up Kaidoh's racquet and swears he's going to take care of Momoshiro someday, somehow. But Inui's troubles are just beginning. Kaidoh says he's going to play his own way from now on. "At least Momoshiro understands a man's pride!"
Kaidoh is running around like crazy, trying to do it all himself and getting frustrated. Did he and Inui plan this ahead of time? It doesn't seem like it. I can't think that Kaidoh would be a good enough actor. But later, it seems like it was planned.
Sweat is dripping off Kaidoh onto the court. Shishido taunts Inui that Kaidoh is finished already. Inui puts his hand on Kaidoh's shoulder, which is Affectionate Touching but still Appropriate For The Court. "Kaidoh, it seems you're done already," he says.
Kaidoh looks up with his sweet, sweet face, and says, "Data...have you collected it yet?" "Yes, all of it," Inui says.
Okay. Was this their secret plan? Was this Kaidoh's plan on his own because he knew his Inui-senpai would get the data and not let him down? Was it just luck? I truly can't figure it out just from the episode. But it's a lovely moment, just the same. Kaidoh gives a smile that's probably supposed to look cute but actually looks really, really disturbing.
In the stands, Momoshiro curses and swears to take care of Inui someday, somehow.
59. The Hidden Trouble
More InuKai training flashback goodness. For a change, Kaidoh is spying on Inui. Inui is exercising while writing in his journal. Dear Diary, Have not seen Renji for 1145 days, 17 hours, 22 minutes. Think I'm almost over him.
"What are you doing?" Kaidoh says from behind the bench. Inui bends his head backwards a surprising amount. I just tried it myself and when I leaned back, I could only see the ceiling, not Kaidoh. (Note to self: get poster of Kaidoh for the ceiling.) "Would you like to know?" Inui says. He is beyond dorky but somehow Kaidoh doesn't seem to notice.
Back to the game. Hyotei, Hyotei, etc.
Momo is ticked off that Kaidoh made him worry and then when Ryoma notes that Momo admitted to being worried, Momo freaks out. "I don't worry about that stupid snake!" he yells. "We just make out a lot, that's all. It means nothing!"
Inui has the data working for him now and the match turns around. He and Kaidoh press their fists together. I stop the episode and stare at it for a long time, trying to think of some cracked-out comment about it. But it's just too nice a moment on its own. Enjoy the tennis boys for what they are.
Seigaku talk about how Inui and Kaidoh are pretty similar. "Inui has a strong will too, eh Tezuka?" Oishi says. Tezuka turns away. He's jealous that Inui has a new obsession.
Shishido and Ohtori are shaken. Inui tells Kaidoh what to do and Kaidoh does it. They begin to win.
Atobe has this weird sequence where he goes into another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. It's blue. Here, he punches the palm of his hand and talks about Seigaku's brain, Inui. And then about Kaidoh's determination. He thinks they're interesting. Still not interesting like Momo, though.
Actually, to Atobe, they are just a gambit in the larger game that he and Tezuka are playing. I wonder if Tezuka knows about this game or if it's all in Atobe's pretty little head.
Back to the InuKai training session. Kaidoh sits on the grass while Inui lectures him about doing leg lifts in class and such. Kaidoh is seriously impressed. Inui talks about how Kaidoh is still growing, as if Inui is already 25 or so.
When Inui tells Kaidoh that he purposefully kept his training below what Kaidoh wanted because he knew that Kaidoh would do more, well, Kaidoh thinks, I guess I should just give up and sleep with him now since he's sure to manipulate me into it eventually anyhow.
Inui is a prime manipulator, I must say. "I check my body condition every day," he says. "If we train together, I can check yours too and adjust your training accordingly." So, now he's got Kaidoh agreeing to hang out with him and be felt up by him.
Inui tells Kaidoh about his obsession with Tezuka. "But that's ancient history, I swear!" They jog together down on the embankment.Shin passes them going the other way.
We get to see Inui actually feeling Kaidoh up and then ogling him. He says Kaidoh's name three times within about thirty seconds. He makes weird predictions about Kaidoh's future, probably to bind Kaidoh to him for the next seven years.
I swear, Inui does everything but outright confess his love here. I know I'm highly biased and am reading in things that aren't there. I know that these shounen sports series are all about the valourization of male friendship. I mean, I just saw a scene in another sports show that was coded way more romantically than this and I didn't get a love vibe from it. But I just think Inui is so in love here. Not Kaidoh, not yet. But Inui, yes.
And it's Ohtori's service game. But Inui even has this figured out. Just by standing in the right spot, he can make Ohtori double-fault. And Atobe can tell. He's one smart cookie, for sure.
Ohtori gets a serve in but Kaidoh returns it! And then, when the ball comes back, hits the Boomerang Snake and it's in the single's court! But Shishido returns it. Inui predicts what will happen and makes a decision, but changes his mind mid-smash. He yells! They win the game!
And then Inui tells the ref the ball was out after all. Everyone is taken aback. Except Tezuka, who has put up his cardboard standup again. And Kaidoh, in whose eyes Inui now can do no wrong.
So they lose their match but keep their pride. Inui says they don't have to play doubles anymore, since Kaidoh has perfected the Boomerang Snake. "No," Kaidoh says, "you haven't done whatever it is you were going to use me for yet."
And thus we happy fangirls look forward to many more InuKai doubles matches.
Stupid anime.
It's been a while since the last one of these. Sorry! So much InuKai this time around. If there was anything going on that wasn't InuKai, I don't think I noticed it. NB: there's a screencap behind the cut.
57. Scud Serve
Oishi apologizes to Tezuka for his injury. I stop the video and just sit for a while, sighing over them. Does Oishi's injury prefigure Tezuka's? As well, Oishi's strong influence over Eiji and Momo's play, even when he's absent, just as Tezuka influences the club in his absence.
Tezuka tells Oishi that it isn't his fault -- it's not something he can control. Which contrasts with Tezuka's situation, since his injury was (well, will be, at this point) somewhat volitional.
Instead of being jealous that Eiji and Momo are playing together so well, Oishi is paternally proud. He's so sweet.
Gakuto is running out of steam, although his wig seems to be holding up. For the most part, the Hyotei team are critical of him rather than supportive. It seems like Sakaki's method of choosing the Regulars makes them a lot more competitive with their teammates. When Eiji has endurance issues, his teammates are sympathetic. I wonder which approach is more likely to cause a change in the player, though.
Atobe wonders if he can wait until the matches are over to have his way with Momoshiro. Maybe he should have him now in the back of the limousine instead, while he's still pumped up from this match.
Kaidoh isn't watching the match. I imagine things went down like this: Damn, I just got Momoshiro off the Regulars to keep him out of Kaidoh's way, Inui thought, and now he's playing again. "Kaidoh, I think I saw a hurt bunny when we were going by those trees."
Sakaki tells off Oshitari and Gakuto. He tells Gakuto especially that if he doesn't do better next time, he won't be playing at Nationals. So much for replacing players that lose. Maybe that's just between tournaments?
Ryoma goes off to sulk. Because it's Ryoma, his sulking takes the form of tennis. Just like his relaxing, his excitement, his boredom, his love. It's how he was brought up. Probably when Nanjiroh explained the Facts of Life to Ryoma, it was by playing tennis. "See, Ryoma, there's a server and a receiver..."
Also because it is Ryoma, his entourage follow him. Unlike Atobe, he hasn't learned to enjoy having minions around. He's cranky enough that he hits Horio in the face with the ball after Horio says his sulking is cute. And Horio is right. Ryoma's sulking is very, very cute.
And now, the first of many flashbacks to Shishido's Haircut. Which I could really do without. The flashback to Inui and Kaidoh's river training, though, I could watch a thousand times.
Kaidoh is back from his bunny-rescue mission and all pumped up to play doubles with his beloved Inui-senpai. Even the ichinen trio acknowledge their love!
This match is really all about whose love is stronger. Shishido has the more tractable kohai, for sure. Kaidoh is still not quite in doubles mode, it seems.
Why doesn't Inui have better data on these two? Even Eiji remarks on it. Surely Ohtori's serve can't be a secret. Did Inui spend all the time he was supposed to be spying on Hyotei down at the river spying on Kaidoh? Foiled by hormones, Inui.
Tezuka makes a little speech to Oishi about how collecting data is not the same as playing a real game. I think he's still smarting because he had to play seriously against Inui and wants to remind everyone that he won.
Inui tells Kaidoh he wants to "predict" Ohtori's serve. I'm not sure what he means there, but Kaidoh is unimpressed. I think Kaidoh's plan involves trying to hit the ball.
Kaidoh talks back to Inui when Inui says that they can't help but let the Scud Serve control the game. On that note, we get more flashback to Inui's Marriage Proposal to Kaidoh. When Inui asks Kaidoh to play doubles with him, Kaidoh refuses. And quite bluntly. So bluntly that I'm surprised, though I shouldn't be. After all, the first thing we ever heard him say to Inui was, "Are you trying to pick a fight?"
Back in the match, Kaidoh's pride is stung. He starts doing his snaky back and forth movements. He must do that unconsciously by now. It's kind of weird and creepy. That's going to be a hard habit to break later. Or maybe he'll still be doing it at the office twenty years from now.
Kaidoh respects Inui now, but he doesn't fully trust him. And his own pride is still the most important thing to him.
58. The Worst Compatibility!?
Oh, Kaidoh is so tough and prideful and determined to shut Ohtori and Shishido up, even if he has to do it all by himself. He's so cute I could just die.
He stands at the back of the court, even though he's meant to be at the front. The trio are so, so excited -- maybe that means he's going to give them candy! Er, hit the Boomerang.
And hit it he does. Everyone is shocked as usual. Even Atobe. But it doesn't make him want to abduct and ravish Kaidoh. (I don't know why!) Momoshiro also gets het up.
And of course, Inui. Back to the river and the Proposal Scene. Inui appears to Kaidoh with the beams of the setting sun glowing behind him. However, the green tracksuit cancels any Charisma bonus that gives him. But Inui has the Vulcan Logic feat which allows him to use his Intelligence modifier instead of Charisma for Diplomacy and Bluff and so he persuades Kaidoh anyhow.
"But what will you get out of it?" Kaidoh wants to know. "Ah," Inui says. "I have my reasons for using you in return." Kaidoh is afraid, as well he might be, to ask what those reasons might be.
Back in the game, Inui wants to impress Kaidoh with his desirability as a
Inui's serve is amazing. Kaidoh says, "Nice serve" in English, by which he means, "You are the only one worthy of my love and devotion so I will be waiting in your bedroom after the tournament. Please be gentle."
On the next serve, Inui gets a trippy sixties effect which may be meant to imply that he's an International Man of Mystery. Or maybe the animator is having an LSD flashback.
Shishido and Ohtori's love and trust is just as pure and strong as Inui and Kaidoh's. This is problematic because how can one side win if they are both so pure of heart?
Shishido's Counter Rising (or Rising Counter) takes the next few points. It's a problem! Well, it's a problem if you're Seigaku.
While I had always seen the parallel between the doubles pairs, until this time watching I hadn't twigged to the similarity between Inui and Shishido. They both lost their position on the team due to their own weakness and they both worked extremely hard to regain it. They are neither naturally gifted at tennis and so need to develop special skills to compensate.
And we get special couples training flashbacks for Ohtori and Shishido as well, with the main difference being that Atobe is spying on them. He doesn't seem like the voyeur type, though.
Back at the game, Atobe taunts Gakuto and Oshitari for losing to Ohtori and Shishido. They talk back to him like I could never imagine anyone doing to Tezuka.
2-0 for Hyotei! Oishi gives a little speech about how the Hyotei pair has the necessary element for the perfect combination: dependence. "For example," he says, "I'm dependent on Eiji for keeping me clean of bugs and ticks while he's dependent on me for indulging his needs for having sex while dressed up as Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel."
This somehow makes Momoshiro think of Kaidoh and he yells at Kaidoh to do better. Kaidoh gets so mad at this he throws his racquet on the court! Momoshiro is pleased by this reaction. Kaidoh is not completely Inui's yet, it seems.
Inui picks up Kaidoh's racquet and swears he's going to take care of Momoshiro someday, somehow. But Inui's troubles are just beginning. Kaidoh says he's going to play his own way from now on. "At least Momoshiro understands a man's pride!"
Kaidoh is running around like crazy, trying to do it all himself and getting frustrated. Did he and Inui plan this ahead of time? It doesn't seem like it. I can't think that Kaidoh would be a good enough actor. But later, it seems like it was planned.
Sweat is dripping off Kaidoh onto the court. Shishido taunts Inui that Kaidoh is finished already. Inui puts his hand on Kaidoh's shoulder, which is Affectionate Touching but still Appropriate For The Court. "Kaidoh, it seems you're done already," he says.
Kaidoh looks up with his sweet, sweet face, and says, "Data...have you collected it yet?" "Yes, all of it," Inui says.
Okay. Was this their secret plan? Was this Kaidoh's plan on his own because he knew his Inui-senpai would get the data and not let him down? Was it just luck? I truly can't figure it out just from the episode. But it's a lovely moment, just the same. Kaidoh gives a smile that's probably supposed to look cute but actually looks really, really disturbing.
In the stands, Momoshiro curses and swears to take care of Inui someday, somehow.
59. The Hidden Trouble
More InuKai training flashback goodness. For a change, Kaidoh is spying on Inui. Inui is exercising while writing in his journal. Dear Diary, Have not seen Renji for 1145 days, 17 hours, 22 minutes. Think I'm almost over him.
"What are you doing?" Kaidoh says from behind the bench. Inui bends his head backwards a surprising amount. I just tried it myself and when I leaned back, I could only see the ceiling, not Kaidoh. (Note to self: get poster of Kaidoh for the ceiling.) "Would you like to know?" Inui says. He is beyond dorky but somehow Kaidoh doesn't seem to notice.
Back to the game. Hyotei, Hyotei, etc.
Momo is ticked off that Kaidoh made him worry and then when Ryoma notes that Momo admitted to being worried, Momo freaks out. "I don't worry about that stupid snake!" he yells. "We just make out a lot, that's all. It means nothing!"
Inui has the data working for him now and the match turns around. He and Kaidoh press their fists together. I stop the episode and stare at it for a long time, trying to think of some cracked-out comment about it. But it's just too nice a moment on its own. Enjoy the tennis boys for what they are.
Seigaku talk about how Inui and Kaidoh are pretty similar. "Inui has a strong will too, eh Tezuka?" Oishi says. Tezuka turns away. He's jealous that Inui has a new obsession.
Shishido and Ohtori are shaken. Inui tells Kaidoh what to do and Kaidoh does it. They begin to win.
Atobe has this weird sequence where he goes into another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. It's blue. Here, he punches the palm of his hand and talks about Seigaku's brain, Inui. And then about Kaidoh's determination. He thinks they're interesting. Still not interesting like Momo, though.
Actually, to Atobe, they are just a gambit in the larger game that he and Tezuka are playing. I wonder if Tezuka knows about this game or if it's all in Atobe's pretty little head.
Back to the InuKai training session. Kaidoh sits on the grass while Inui lectures him about doing leg lifts in class and such. Kaidoh is seriously impressed. Inui talks about how Kaidoh is still growing, as if Inui is already 25 or so.
When Inui tells Kaidoh that he purposefully kept his training below what Kaidoh wanted because he knew that Kaidoh would do more, well, Kaidoh thinks, I guess I should just give up and sleep with him now since he's sure to manipulate me into it eventually anyhow.
Inui is a prime manipulator, I must say. "I check my body condition every day," he says. "If we train together, I can check yours too and adjust your training accordingly." So, now he's got Kaidoh agreeing to hang out with him and be felt up by him.
Inui tells Kaidoh about his obsession with Tezuka. "But that's ancient history, I swear!" They jog together down on the embankment.
We get to see Inui actually feeling Kaidoh up and then ogling him. He says Kaidoh's name three times within about thirty seconds. He makes weird predictions about Kaidoh's future, probably to bind Kaidoh to him for the next seven years.
I swear, Inui does everything but outright confess his love here. I know I'm highly biased and am reading in things that aren't there. I know that these shounen sports series are all about the valourization of male friendship. I mean, I just saw a scene in another sports show that was coded way more romantically than this and I didn't get a love vibe from it. But I just think Inui is so in love here. Not Kaidoh, not yet. But Inui, yes.
And it's Ohtori's service game. But Inui even has this figured out. Just by standing in the right spot, he can make Ohtori double-fault. And Atobe can tell. He's one smart cookie, for sure.
Ohtori gets a serve in but Kaidoh returns it! And then, when the ball comes back, hits the Boomerang Snake and it's in the single's court! But Shishido returns it. Inui predicts what will happen and makes a decision, but changes his mind mid-smash. He yells! They win the game!
And then Inui tells the ref the ball was out after all. Everyone is taken aback. Except Tezuka, who has put up his cardboard standup again. And Kaidoh, in whose eyes Inui now can do no wrong.
So they lose their match but keep their pride. Inui says they don't have to play doubles anymore, since Kaidoh has perfected the Boomerang Snake. "No," Kaidoh says, "you haven't done whatever it is you were going to use me for yet."
And thus we happy fangirls look forward to many more InuKai doubles matches.
Stupid anime.
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Or maybe he'll still be doing it at the office twenty years from now.
I can just imagine. Every time he gets irritated, he doesn't pace; he hisses and sways. That'll surely scare all his collegues away. XD
"You are the only one worthy of my love and devotion so I will be waiting in your bedroom after the tournament. Please be gentle."
*dies* Although Inui probably planned to use him in that way. He would just be surprised at the other's willingness.
They jog together down on the embankment.
Shin passes them going the other way.And they both pass by Fuwa practicing with Kazamatsuri.Gawd, just imagine them meeting Inui. *dies so much* Shin and Fuwa, you dorks! We love you! *snuggles them both*And thus we happy fangirls look forward to many more InuKai doubles matches.
Stupid anime indeed. But they have a Date episode all to themselves
kinda. And the Towel Scene. And the Amnesia episode! *dies*no subject
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I wonder if Tezuka knows about this game or if it's all in Atobe's pretty little head.
So just in Atobe's head. Which is, indeed, very pretty.
Inui talks about how Kaidoh is still growing, as if Inui is already 25 or so.
Well, he does look it. And as Kaidoh-sans-bandana is pretty much the only one other than Ryoma that even sort of looks his age, maybe Inui has a point.
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Which is why I still don't understand the complete trust between Shishido and Ootori, and why the hell Ootori decided to help Shishido in the first place, let alone offer to give up his own spot. Short of love at first sight, which is not likely, given the description of his character in the fanbooks, there doesn't seem to be any explanation.
When Eiji has endurance issues, his teammates are sympathetic. I wonder which approach is more likely to cause a change in the player, though.
In the anime, Mukahi fixes his endurance problem by the time of the Rikkai training camp. In the manga, he doesn't fix it at all, but just gets paired with Hiyoshi at Nationals. And I have no idea why Eiji didn't fix his problems earlier, since it was an issue as early as the Prefecturals, and he didn't bother working on it till after Kantou. Maybe he's just a slacker.
So much for replacing players that lose. Maybe that's just between tournaments?
I think the Hyoutei policy is more about humiliating losses rather than losses in general. If the player gave it everything he had and was simply outclassed, Sakaki's not so much of an idiot as to drop him. Even when Jirou lost 6-1 to Fuji, there didn't seem to be any talk of him being dropped; it was pretty clear that Fuji was just too damn good. If Shishido hadn't been so damn cocky before and during the Tachibana match, his loss probably wouldn't have resulted in him being dropped either. Also, he probably wouldn't have lost quite so badly.
"See, Ryoma, there's a server and a receiver..."
Oh God. This is so damn true. *dies laughing* (Though really, given Nanjirou's choice of reading material, Ryouma probably figured out the mechanics a long time ago.)
Inui tells Kaidoh he wants to "predict" Ohtori's serve.
I think this is just data-collecting. He wants to see if he can read the toss and figure out exactly where Ootori's aiming. It's probably how he finds out Ootori's habit of twisting his wrist.
And we get special couples training flashbacks for Ohtori and Shishido as well
You re-watch these episodes for InuKai; I re-watch them for ShishiTori. Though the training camp flashback is better, because it has a lovesong and a manly hug!
Atobe taunts Gakuto and Oshitari for losing to Ohtori and Shishido. They talk back to him like I could never imagine anyone doing to Tezuka.
Frankly, I could never imagine Tezuka taunting any of his teammates in the first place. Just like I could never imagine Tezuka phoning up Ryuuzaki-sensei, telling her Inui lost badly, agreeing that he should be dropped, and smiling about it, all in front of a still-shell-shocked Inui. Especially when the reason that Inui lost was that Tezuka and Ryuuzaki-sensei didn't bother to consider the opponents a threat, even though they'd beaten seeded teams earlier. I so do not get the Atobe love in this fandom.
Did he and Inui plan this ahead of time?
I honestly don't know either. But it seems very like Inui to have a plan in place for if they're feeling outclassed. Kaidou's reaction to Momo might have been perfectly genuine, but his words to Inui might have been a signal for him that Kaidou's going to Plan B. You know, for all that Inui gives orders based on data that Kaidou follows obediently, it's really Kaidou that sets the flow of the match.
I wonder if Tezuka knows about this game or if it's all in Atobe's pretty little head.
Definitely all in Atobe's head. Tezuka's too taken up with Seigaku and Ryouma to spare any thoughts for Atobe.
Inui tells Kaidoh about his obsession with Tezuka. "But that's ancient history, I swear!"
He should refer Atobe to his therapist, then. Poor Tezuka; he's obsessed over by everyone.
Stupid anime.
Hell, stupid manga, too. I don't remember much of the Midoriyama match, but I don't think they showed much of it. The Higa Chuu match was glossed over in about a page and a half. Only the Hyoutei rematch was shown in any level of detail.
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Why is it that everyone always jog at embankments, anyway ?? XD
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Gakuto is running out of steam, although his wig seems to be holding up. AHAHAHAHA. I'm such a loser. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/KaseiAngel/Prince%20of%20Tennis/Wig.png)
"You are the only one worthy of my love and devotion so I will be waiting in your bedroom after the tournament. Please be gentle." ... I'm going to be hearing that whenever I watch that episode again.
I'm still confused by Hyotei's Regulars method... Er, Jirou was still in-- and he lost to Fuji. *shrugs* Guess he was too cute to get rid of.
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I've heard two theories about this. The first is that after allowing Shishido to return to the team, Sakaki got a clue and realized that eliminating his best players because they lost one match left him with only his next-best players, who are MORE likely to lose future matches, not less likely.
The other theory is that you actually only lose your spot on the Hyoutei team if you're completely defeated. Shishido lost his match to Tachibana 6-0, in a game where he was expected to take the win without much effort. Gakuto and Oshitari, on the other hand, made a relatively decent showing.
Personally I ascribe to the second theory. Sakaki is an intelligent man and has been coaching for a while. The idea of tossing someone off the team, never to return, just because they lose ONE MATCH, is ridiculous and will shortly leave you with no good players. Nobody can win all the time. However, having them lose their spots when they have a crushing defeat is more reasonable and motivating.
No, I haven't spent much time thinking about this. Why do you ask? *sweatdrops*
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On the next serve, Inui gets a trippy sixties effect which may be meant to imply that he's an International Man of Mystery.
I don't know if that's more or less hilariously believable than Serial Killer Inui. I suppose either way, he'd still be calling Tezuka.
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It's just that you KNOW he thinks he is a smooth operator, and I'm unsure that Kaidoh has any sort of defense against that degree of dorkery. "Kaidoh, there's an 83% chance that you will enjoy me reporting what I am wearing right now." "sigh...Sempai, perhaps you should just come over. before you hurt yourself." Like Akutsu faced with the cute of Dan, Kaidoh has no idea what to do, so he just acquiesces.
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And I've been picturing Inui and Kaidoh with candles and massage oil and whatever the modern Japanese eqivilent of Air Supply is playing softly in the background and Kaidoh thinking, I didn't mean *this* gentle.
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IK, MK -- it's all good. My motto has always been: if Kaidoh's happy, I'm happy. People who only ship one pair of them are missing out so much. Kaidoh's always with one or the other of them. Or sometimes both!
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I always wondered how Tezuka felt at Senbatsu when Atobe and Sanada were fighting for his love. And how they felt having him watch.
I was happy with the amount of IK doubles we got in the manga -- even if we didn't see those matches in detail, they happened so they're there to think about. :)
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Also, he's really hot.
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That's just how I felt the whole time I was watching these. It's just so sweet.
I suppose either way, he'd still be calling Tezuka.
Of course! When Inui and Kaidoh move to Canada and get married, Inui will call Tezuka up on the honeymoon to ask Tezuka's advice about just what they should do first.
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It's just that you KNOW he thinks he is a smooth operator, and I'm unsure that Kaidoh has any sort of defense against that degree of dorkery.
You are so, so right.
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fantasytheory that Sakaki's real job is owning a host club.the caption for that cap is obviously "Wonder Twin Powers Activate!"
I started laughing there and continued until the end. Much love for this bit as well:
However, the green tracksuit cancels any Charisma bonus that gives him. But Inui has the Vulcan Logic feat which allows him to use his Intelligence modifier instead of Charisma for Diplomacy and Bluff and so he persuades Kaidoh anyhow.
Re: Kaidoh's creepy snake moves
I hope that Kaidoh keeps his creepy snake ways forever (although he really should be allowed to level up and learn a new technique). The poor guy has to have some scariness to pin his pride to. Also, I think they are hot.
Re: Plan or no plan?
I feel like Inui had his plan all worked out beforehand, but only told Kaidoh something cryptic so as not to strain his acting powers. Later on the court (at an appropriately dramatic moment) Kaidoh has a prolonged flashback and it all falls into place.
Re: Tezuka vs Atobe
I think Atobe's team has a more intimate worship of their captain, whereas Tezuka is like some marble idol that must be admired from afar and can never be sullied or approached. Atobe will at least thoughtfully let one stand close enough to admire and perhaps carry his bags and such.
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Re: the caption for that cap is obviously "Wonder Twin Powers Activate!"
I think Atobe's team has a more intimate worship of their captain, whereas Tezuka is like some marble idol that must be admired from afar and can never be sullied or approached.
Oh, so true! Though the phrase "intimate worship" made me think of something other than carrying bags.
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I do sometimes find the tennis harder to follow in the manga, but that's not usually the case for other sports. In Slam Dunk, the action got to be so well drawn that I can still see the movement in my head, even though the images were static.
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Even the bear? :D
Actually, I forgive them for the bear episode, if only because it was utterly hilarious to see everyone go "...higuma...Higuma Otoshi..." and watch Fuji actually get flustered for once--until Inui saves him with his lecture on why it can't be a higuma. Also, "But the bear just said 'ouch'" never fails to send me into giggles.
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But Kaidoh secretly likes it.no subject
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