Tezuka's mood just colours the whole episode for me. For all that everyone was so glad to see him at practice, it had the air of farewell to me--and I think it would have even if I hadn't already known what was going to happen. His words of advice to Kachiro and Katsuo, for instance: they're so delighted that buchou actually spoke to them, but it was so clear that it was because Tezuka didn't know if he'd have the chance to do so in the future. :(

Oh, the Inui comment was totally tongue-in-cheek. I think he's very good for Tezuka in this scene, actually.

The Kyuushuu arc does seem less momentous than the Germany arc, but I think Tezuka's actually more connected to the team when he's in Germany. I mean, they visit him halfway around the world, and bring him the medal and all. In the manga, they don't seem to keep very much track of him--certainly no visiting, and he doesn't even tell them he's coming home. (Granted, he doesn't tell them in the anime, either, but that's because it's very sudden and short-notice, and he probably figured Ryuuzaki would tell them, if he thought about it all in the hassle of getting tickets and packing and everything else.) Mmm. Should probably re-read that part of the manga; it's a bit hazy in my memory.