Category: Baby Steps

Baby Steps 318

Baby Steps 318 Raw
http://raw.senmanga.com/Baby_Steps/318

Ho-kay, ch.318 starts with Ei-chan’s analysis of Takuma’s serves during the first game. He thinks Takuma appears showy, but he’s at a level where he’s still advancing cautiously. When Ei-chan considers matters after this, he thinks Takuma will do it all the way, so Ei-chan concludes that he has to challenge Takuma at an early and good level.

Coach Aoi says Takuma’s serve is becoming top-level even internationally. But Coach Miura says the reality depends on the day, adding that when Takuma won the Challenger, the probability of his first serve was 74%. Right now, it doesn’t seem bad today, but…

The second game starts. Ei-chan plans to compensate for his disadvantage in power with control and change of pace, in order to maintain the advantage of his serve. The first serve is wide at 170 kph. Takuma returns it. Ei-chan was forced outside, so he hits the ball at an acute angle that ought to create an open court. Surprised, Takuma returns it, but Ei-chan makes an unexpected attack [probably means not to the open court] to take the point. 15-0.

The second serve is a flat at 164 kph. Ei-chan lowers the speed but goes for a tight course to the center. Takuma returns it, thinking it just barely made it in. Ei-chan returns it deep. Again Takuma notes it just barely makes it in. He returns it with a strong blow. Ei-chan counters with a cross, but Takuma puts it away with a drop shot. 15-15.

Coach Aoi notes that Takuma’s strokes have been improving recently. Coach Miura agrees, adding that Takuma seems to be resolved to play as a serve and volleyer, and because of that resolve he’d made sudden progress.

As Takuma prepares to receive, he thinks Ei-chan’s fast serve isn’t actually fast, it just seems strangely fast if you’re not ready for it. If that comes… Ei-chan’s next serve is wide at 188 kph. When it came, Takuma thinks he’ll hit it hard. He does and it goes out. 30-15. Takuma curses his error, especially since he’d successfully predicted the serve.

Ei-chan thinks that was dangerous and that he has to hit a serve that can slip off (Takuma’s?) timing even if it’s read. Takuma thinks he knows that Ei-chan’s someone who plays while thinking of all sorts of details. He doesn’t feel like trying to understand that at all, so he’ll proceed vigorously.

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