Baby Steps

Season 1

25 episodes · Apr 6, 2014

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  • Tennis and Notes
    S1E1

    Tennis and Notes

    Apr 6, 201425m

    Maruo Eiichiro is an honor student in his first year of high school. He's a very methodical person who keeps two sets of notes for class and focuses entirely on his studies. One day, Eiichiro decides to participate in a free trial at South Tennis Club (STC) because he needs some exercise. There, he meets school idol and sweetheart Takasaki Natsu. Eiichiro has taken his first step into the world of tennis

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  • Methodical and Unorganized
    S1E2

    Methodical and Unorganized

    Apr 13, 201425m

    Eiichiro is unable to answer Natsu when she asks him what he enjoys doing most. He becomes interested in tennis and returns to STC for another free trial.

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  • The Contest Is a Fight
    S1E3

    The Contest Is a Fight

    Apr 20, 201425m

    Eiichiro is unable to forget how good it felt when he successfully returned Takuma's serve, and he spends all of his time practicing against the wall. After seeing Eiichiro practice against the wall non-stop for six hours on a Sunday, Natsu predicts that he will quickly improve.

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  • Face of Conviction
    S1E4

    Face of Conviction

    Apr 27, 201425m

    Eiichiro finds himself in a contest with Takuma. Eiichiro has fifty tries to return Takuma's serve. One successful return and Eiichiro wins. However, despite Eiichiro's best attempts to follow his notes and stick to the basics, he can do nothing against one of the strongest serves in the country.

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  • A First Match Full of Surprises
    S1E5

    A First Match Full of Surprises

    May 4, 201425m

    Eiichirō is about to play his first match. He receives advice from the other STC members, but it only makes him more nervous. He doesn't get a chance to calm himself down as he's soon called to the tennis court.

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  • Diamond in the Rough
    S1E6

    Diamond in the Rough

    May 11, 201425m

    It is down to the final match of the set. Eiichirō trails 5 games to 1, but with a determination to stay on the court as long as possible Eiichirō begins to push Oobayashi.

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  • Nine-Square and Reality
    S1E7

    Nine-Square and Reality

    May 18, 201425m

    In order to improve Eiichirō's playing, Coach Miura has him learn control on a 9-square court. After getting the basics done, Eiichirō is forced into a match against Takuma.

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  • One Year and Twenty Notebooks
    S1E8

    One Year and Twenty Notebooks

    May 25, 201425m

    Maruo Eiichirō continues his training at STC as he tries to master every shot. At smaller tournaments he begins advancing to the third round but is unable to go further. His mother worries that Eiichirō is spending too much time on tennis when he drops out of cram school to practice more.

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  • Diligence is My Style
    S1E9

    Diligence is My Style

    Jun 1, 201425m

    Eiichirō returns to the Kanagawa Junior Circuit. His first match is up against fellow high school student Koshimizu Nariyuki, a man whom is always trying to compete with Eiichirō for the top scores.

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  • Unease on the Edge
    S1E10

    Unease on the Edge

    Jun 8, 201425m

    The match between Eiichirō and Miyagawa begins with each holding serve. However Eiichirō feels that something is off. After studying his notes, Eiichirō realizes that Miyagawa has been studying his shots, and with a 4-3 lead he plans on making his move in the eighth game.

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  • Risk and Possibility
    S1E11

    Risk and Possibility

    Jun 15, 201425m

    After managing to hold serve Eiichirō starts looking for an opportunity to break Miyagawa. Both hold serve and force a tiebreaker. With the score 6-5 Maruo in the tiebreaker Eiichirō decides to try and gamble to use his full stroke and steal a point.

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  • Improvement by Memory
    S1E12

    Improvement by Memory

    Jun 22, 201425m

    After defeating Miyagawa, Eiichirō returns to STC for some training that will make him better in 1 day. Eiichirō is teamed up with a Coach Mike from Florida who specializes in pyschological training.

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  • Art and Technique
    S1E13

    Art and Technique

    Jun 29, 201425m

    The match between Hiromi and Eiichirō begins. Everytime Eiichirō tries to go on the attack, Hiromi hits a shot Eiichirō can't reach.

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  • Putting the Pieces Together
    S1E14

    Putting the Pieces Together

    Jul 6, 201425m

    It is match 10 of a 1-set match, and Eiichirō leads 5 games to 4. Eiichirō begins to up his speed against Hiromi, and with it he stays even at 30-30. Just then Hiromi's legs cramp up, allowing Eiichirō to get two easy aces and win the match 6-4.

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  • Plan to be Forceful
    S1E15

    Plan to be Forceful

    Jul 13, 201425m

    Eiichirō overhears Araya telling Takuma that if he loses to him this tournament, he will retire from tennis. His plan is to defeat Takuma and then announce he is going pro. Takuma agrees to tell Eiichirō Araya's weaknesses.

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  • Beast and Initiative
    S1E16

    Beast and Initiative

    Jul 20, 201425m

    After going up Love-15, Araya uses a number of service aces to go up 3-1 in set 2. Eiichirō holds serve, and as he gains a 30-40 advantage in Game 6 of Set 2, Araya punches himself in his face to eliminate his emotions from the game.

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  • Pro At My Age
    S1E17

    Pro At My Age

    Jul 27, 201425m

    Araya and Eiichirō end up at deuce after neither player can gain an advantage. An ace end up being huge for Araya give him the match point advantage, and despite his best efforts a lucky bounce proves to be the end for Eiichirō as he loses 6-1, 6-4. The finals are held between Araya and Takuma.

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  • Determination and Presentation
    S1E18

    Determination and Presentation

    Aug 3, 201425m

    Eiichirō investigates going Pro, but his reaction from his parents is less than he expected. Eiichirō joins Natsu at the first round of the All Japan Pro to watch the debut match of Ike Souji.

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  • Resolve and Hell
    S1E19

    Resolve and Hell

    Aug 10, 201425m

    Eiichirō manages to steal 1-point in the 10-minute match with Ike before his coaches reappear and make him stop playing a match. Afterwards Eiichirō is sent home to rest. The next day Eiichirō begins a brutal practice regimen that will recondition his body into that of a pro's.

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  • Meat Buns and Yakisoba
    S1E20

    Meat Buns and Yakisoba

    Aug 17, 201425m

    Eiichirō participates in a tournament after 3 months of hellish training. He learns about active rest while participating in the tournament and makes it to the final. Terashima is his opponent.

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  • Consistency and Change
    S1E21

    Consistency and Change

    Aug 24, 201425m

    Eiichirō continues his practice and gets his next tournament schedule. As the last player to qualify he is placed up against the 1-seed, Yu Nabae. Eiichirō begins to look for weaknesses from Yu on tape, but what he finds is a highly adaptive style that could easily beat him if he doesn't come up with a few tricks.

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  • Fundamentals are the Weakness
    S1E22

    Fundamentals are the Weakness

    Aug 31, 201425m

    Yu Nabae matches up with Eiichirō and realizes they really are two players that are virtually the same. He realizes that what Eiichirō lacks is experience with the fundamentals, as he has never played anyone like himself, and after losing the first set Nabae begins to pull away and goes up 5-2.

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  • Reckless 100-Square
    S1E23

    Reckless 100-Square

    Sep 7, 201425m

    In an effort to try and reverse the tide, Eiichirō decides to go back to his idea of having 100-squares to aim for instead of 9.

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  • Duty and Desire
    S1E24

    Duty and Desire

    Sep 14, 201425m

    Eiichirō runs to watch Natsu's match when he learns she is in danger of losing. Afterwards they return to STC where he Ryuhei Aoi, a man who will become his new coach.

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  • Eiichiro and Natsu
    S1E25

    Eiichiro and Natsu

    Sep 21, 201425m

    Eiichirō and Natsu go out on their first date. When Eiichirō asks Natsu what she thinks about him, she tells him he is cheating. Afterwards Eiichirō is allowed to resume practice.

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