Mabilisan na lang to ah. Tinatamad na kasi talaga ako. Grabe.

<--- START OF SERIES SPOILERS PARA SA MGA DI PA NAKAKABASA NUNG MANGA --->

 

The Shitenhouji Team and their corresponding Seigaku opponents:

Oshitari Kenya Chitose Senri - Zaizen Hikaru vs. Tezuka Kunimitsu - Iniu Sadaharu. Doubles 1.

Start of Match: Genius 332

End of Match: Genius 336 (p3. Next pages are devoted to Ryoma's match)

Outcome: Tezu-Inui Pair only = win

Details:

This thing only proved that Tezuka really doesn't play doubles. When the match was about to start, the board showed the names of the competitors - and voila! Our dearest Yuushi's cousin wasn't really going to compete! Instead, the then-resigned Chitose was forced to take his place.

After the quarterfinals match of Shitenhouji with Fudomine, Chitose decided to leave the team because he was already able to settle things with his old acquaintance, Tachibana Kippei. Apparently, the two have a lot of history (and sort of bad blood) between each other. Chitose wins their match and the conflict between them is finally resolved.

Since his mission has been completed/accomplished (the chibi Heero is going all "Ninmu Kanryou!" inside my head), he turned in his resignation and decided to be just a spectator for the remaining matches. Despite this, his coach still decided to enter his name in the competition, so Chitose had no choice but to compete, else he loses face in front of all the fans.

*Side note: Chitose is with his little sister, Miyuki, throughout the match up with Seigaku. Miyuki is an acquaintance of Tezuka; she is actually the one who cured Tezuka of his fear of injuring his shoulder again.

*Another side note: In the manga, Tezuka never leaves for Germany. Instead, he goes off to some far Medical Institute (that is, far enough from Seigaku. You'll have to take a train to get there..) and heals there. He plans to go to Germany, however, after the Nationals, to continue his studies there (and of course, to play more tennis with professionals)..

So match starts. Chitose asks Zaizen to step aside and let him battle with Tezuka on his own. Tezuka asks Inui the same thing. Pretty much a singles match ensues.

Tezuka uses Muga - Pinnacle of Hard Work. Chitose reveals that he too can use Muga. His is the Pinnacle of Wisdom.

Explanations: Listen up because it's quite hard to grasp. But please, don't quote me on these. These are just my thoughts about the manga, my understanding of the three doors of Muga. These are not, in any way, the explanations made by Konomi-sensei or anyone related / connected to the Prince of Tennis Manga.

Muga no Kimouchi - It's translated as the "State of Self-Actualization / Realization." This means that a player is able to use 100% of his total ability / potential in a match, usually protrayed by the ability to copy techniques a player has been subjected to.

Three Doors - Muga can be developed further. There has been three known types of Muga :

 1. The Pinnacle of Hard Work (PoHW) - this "door" can only be opened by one who is very near to perfection and has achieved that state through rigorous practice. This door lets one concentrate power on a certain body part, letting the peformance and endurance of that part improve dramatically. In Tezuka's case, he chose his left arm, thereby upping his power and lessening the stress on his elbow and shoulder.

2. The Pinnacle of Wisdom (PoW) - this "door" can only be openned by one who is near to perfection and has achieved that state through a sensitive and stable mind. This door lets one concentrate power on a certain sense, not unlike Atobe's Insight, or Momo's naturistic instincts. For Chitose, he is able to predict the number of shots it would take him to take a point.

3. The Pinnacle of Perfection (PoP) - it is said that this "door" can only be openned when one has already achieved a state of "perfectness." Only one person ever has been reported to have openned this door - Echizen Nanjiroh.

 

Okay, so, let's return to the match. They begin a battle, with Chitose in the lead because of his PoW. But after a while, his predictions miss, and Tezuka begins his own sets of predictions to counter Chitose's. It is then revealed that Tezuka can actually use both PoHW and PoW and at the same time. Atobe makes his own prediction - that Tezuka will win.

And he did.

 

Seigaku goes to the finals with 1 loss and 3 wins.

 

But then, in p8 of Genius 336, Kintarou, Echizen's cute monkey fanboy, expresses his desire for a match. His teammates tell him to leave Echizen alone, but he insists on having a match with "Koshimae." Note that "Koshimae" and "Echizen" have the same kanji, and Kintarou is using the other pronounciation of Ryoma's name.

Ryoma's about to refuse (but we all already saw that coming, right..? -smirk-), but then, a biker suddenly butts in and begs Echizen to give him the match. Horio recognizes the biker (it's actually his elder brother) and begs Echizen, too. He gives in, says that, "It's ok if its only one point, right?"

And they battle. For hours. Even though they're just battling for a point. Shitenhouji team members are worried that Echizen might be injured if he goes on with his match with Kintarou... because apparently, Kintarou has this ultra-secret-destructive move.

(We remember what Chitose told Tezuka: that if there's anyone close to achieving the PoP, it's not Ryoma but Kintarou.)

And he actually uses it on Echizen. And it's named, "Super Ultra Great Delicious Daisharin Yamaarashi." (All-Out Mountain Storm)

And apparently, this move is so super strong that you'll get blown away if you even get too close to the shot. And since our beautiful Ryoma is very stubborn, he chose to intercept the shot.

Everyone duck due to the force of the shot.

 

Then there is smoke eveywhere. We see everyone beginning to focus back to the match, and Kintarou is actually seen smirking. However, the smirk is erased from his face when he sees half a tennis ball in his side of the court.. and another in Ryoma's. Ryoma is standing, and of course smirking (but we already expected that). Game ends in a perculiar tie.

Spectators speculate (heheh.. coudn't resist) that Ryoma used PoP to return Kinatrou's unreturnable shot.

*Side note: their match up starts from p8 Genius 336 to Genius 340, but Genius 338 and the first pages of Genius 339 are devoted to Rikkai's semifinal match (special focus on our beloved resident devil, Akaya).

*Another side note: in the last few pages of Genius 340, we see Nanjiroh in his favorite spot, mumbling "Mada mada daze." This is for Ryoma, who he thinks has a lot more to work on to actually learn the geniune precept of the PoP. (And those were his own words. Not mine.)

 

 

<--- END SPOILERS --->

 

 

So aun. Tapos na Semifinals. Pagkatapos nito may konting interlude ung manga bago mag finals talaga. Ung nabasa kong manga ng finals hanggang sa Singles 2. Pero ang alam ko may first part na ung Doubles 1. Kaka-excite!

Pero dahil di ko pa pwedeng i-spoil, sasabihin ko na lang un speculation ko about the mga maglalaban-laban nung di ko pa nababasa..

1. Alam naman nating lahat na si Ryoma ay kakalabanin ung pinaka "bossing" kaya malamang, dahil nakabalik na nga si Yukimura, sila na ung Singles 1.

2. At syempre, hindi pwedeng hindi lalaban as a pair ang Golden Pair (EijiOishi). Obviously. Pero hindi ko sigurado kong sino ung makakalaban nila: kung and Platinum Pair (NiouYagyuu) ba, o MaruiJackal.

3. Kailangan ng isa pang doubles. And hindi pa pwedeng lumaban si Taka dahil super injured pa siya. Kaya tanggal na ung FujiTaka pair, pati ung Power Pair (MomoTaka). Matitira sa choices si Tezuka, Fuji, Momo, Kaidoh at Inui.

4. Pero baka hindi magdoubles si Tezuka. Bakit? Kasi andyan pa ung ryt hand ni BossYukimura: si Sanada. I think he's the only one strong enough at bagay na ilaban dun. Maliban na lang kung makikita na naman natin ung doubles ni Sanada at Renji... pero magpapakita ba uli ang TezuInui?!?!

5. But I really think Fuji will have a singles match... dahil kailangan niyang bumawi from his loss (Shitenhouji). Hindi pwedeng hindi, e. Ang tanong na lang eh kung sino ung makakalaban nia. Baka re-match with Akaya..? Pero baka hindi rin. Ang iniisip ko si Renji. Pero baka hindi rin... ewaaaannn...

6. Kelangan pa ng D2, S3 and S2. Pero cgurado na akong isa sa mga S si Fuji. Baka S2 kasi palagi namang un ung posisyon nia. At imposible naman atang maging S3 na naman cia.

7. Kung D2, pinaka probable na mangyari ung InuiKai or MomoKai. I'm happy with any of the two pairs.

8. Pero kung isa nga dian ung mga mapapalagay sa D2, e di mag S3 si Tezuka..????? -blink- pwede ba un..?

---

 

dian na nga lang muna~ ponder ponder mode~

ahahahah... bumalik na naman ung masama kong habit, nyaa~ pero hindi naman sa nakalimutan ko talagng mag-update.. medyo napreoccupy lang ako dun sa Prince of Tennis Musical..

Tanong: Ano ba ang Prince of Tennis Musical..?

Sagot: Alam nio na ung High School Musical..? OPKORS naman, mhen. Sang planeta ka ba naman nanggaling at hindi mo alam ang HSM..?

Medyo pareho ung dalawa kasi parehos silang musical. Musical = singing + dancing  + acting = win! = love!

-- 

Tanong: AYAN. Na-explain na ung concept ng Musical. Pero ano naman ang kinaganda ng musical ng Prince of Tennis?

Sagot:

1. There are only boys. Walang buwisit na mga babaeng matitinis ang boses at kapit ng kapit sa mga bishounen = WIN.

And YES, THEY DO HOLD / USE ACTUAL RACQUETS. Hindi nga lang cla marunong magtennis~ -laugh- props lang talaga~

2. These boys are effin' GORGEOUS. BISHOUNEN. XD

3. They're TEH DORKS. TEH DORKS. TEH DORKS. XD  Sila ung mga tipong pagnameet mo eh hindi ka susupladitohin. Sila pa ung aakbay sau at kukuhanan ka pa ng pic para maipost sa mga blog nila. At sila rin ung tipong go na go kahit na suot nila eh mukhang pantulog (SHIROTA), o kahit ung color combi ng damit nila eh mukhang mongol (SHIROTA).. XD Hindi sila ung tipong elite ang dating. They're more of kikiam and pishbol, actually.    -hearts-

4. They keep blogs. Where they spazz. And ramble.. usually about their food, their pets, their food, the weather, their food, their friends, their food, their clothes, their food, their projects.. and namention ko ba ung 'their food'..? Wahah. Serious. Halos puro pagkain ung mga pinagsususulat nila sa mga blogs nila. XD  At kung hindi naman pagkain eh tungkol naman sa mga pinaggagagawa nila habang nagsashopping sa kung saang lugar.. minsan pa nga eh kasama pa nila ung mga co-actors nilang magshop (Aiba and Nagayama).

5. Nakakatuwa silang panoorin. Kahit na hindi mo maintindihan ung mga pinagsasasabi nila (lalo na pag ung nabili mong dvd eh walang subtitle..), maaaliw ka pa rin kasi... bakit nga ba? Ewan! Basta ang pakiramdam pagnapanood mo cla eh... -laugh- aun. basta ka na lang matatawa sa mga antics nila~

6. They love their fans. Wala atang myu na hindi sila nakapagpasalamat sa fans. Kahit nga ung mga backstage vids nila eh dedicated sa fans. Meron pa clang concert (maliban pa sa mga musicals un) na talaga namang pinupuno ng fanservice para lang mapasaya nila ung fans nila~

fanservice - it's a segment wherein the artist acts according to the fans' wishes, i.e. kung ang fans mo eh mahilig sa yaoi, papakitaan mo cla ng konting BL sa tabi-tabi (ahemahemDL3rdSILVERPAIRahemahem)

7. Best of all, they're young, beautiful, sexy, talented and very much enjoyable~    -leecherous grin-   pero sa totoo lang, kaya naman ako cguro naantig sa mga taong ito ay dahil na rin sa yaoi-ish tendencies nila (Shirota). Pag nakapanood ka na, maiintindihan mo rin~

--

Tanong: SO ano na nga ung nangyayari sa musical na yan?

Sagot: Kung ang High School Musical eh tungkol sa mga batang nasaHS, ang TeniMyu (Tennis Musical. TeniMu. Eh 'myu' ung bigkas dba..? kaya nanging TeniMyu.) naman eh tungkol sa Prince of Tennis na manga, un nga lang totoong tao version at may kasamang kantaATsayaw.

Basically, ung mga taong ito eh nagdadamit parang ung characters sa PoT (Prince of Tennis), at inaact-out nila ung mga chapters ng manga. Xiempre, dahil musical nga, kumakanta sila ng mga specially written theme songs, at sinasabayan nila ng sayaw..

--

Tanong: Cge, elaborate.

Sagot: -blink- OK

Ang tenimyu nagsimula noong 2003, at nagpapatuloy pa hanggang ngaun. Meron na clang 4 generations ng casting - ibig sabihin, nakapagpalit na cla nung mga gumaganap ng 4 beses. Applicable to sa Seigaku kasi cla ung bida at cla ung main cast. Dahil ang mga kontrata ay nageexpire, grumagraduate din ang cast at napapalitan ng bago.

1st Cast Seigaku: Mula sa umpisa ng PoT hanggang sa end ng Fudomine arc (un ung laban nila with Fudomine)

Dream Live : YES. Dream Live 1st

Ryoma Echizen  - Kotaroh Yanagi  / Kimeru / Yuya Endou

Kunimitsu Tezuka - Eiji Takigawa  / Kengo Oukichi

Shuichiro Oishi  - Yuichi Tsuchiya  

Shusuke Fuji  - Kimeru / Takashi Nagayama

Eiji Kikumaru  - Yamazaki Ichitaro / Takashi Nagayama

Takashi Kawamura - Yoshitsugu Abe  / Ryoji Morimoto / Eiki Kitamura

Sadaharu Inui  - Sota Aoyama

Takeshi Momoshiro - Eiji Moriyama

Kaoru Kaidoh  - Naoya Gomoto

Satoshi Horio  - Yusuke Ishibashi

Kachiro Kato  - Toshiyuki Toyonaga

Katsuo Mizuno - Masaru Hotta

Nanjiroh Echizen - Yukio Ueshima

 

Nagtataka cguro kayo kung bakit may mga nagdodoble-doble dian. Kasi ung unang nangyari, ung actor for Kikumaru Eiji na si Yamazaki Ichitaro ay hindi tumuloy sa kontrata. Pinalitan tuloy cia ni Takashi Nagayama.

Yung sa actor naman ni Kawamura Takashi, original si Yoshitsugu Abe, pero may time na wala cia kaya pinalitan cia sandali ni Ryoji Morimoto. Bumalik pa rin cia. After naman nung Dream Live 1st, sabay silang nawala sandali ni Tezuka Kunimitsu actor Eiji Takigawa. Pinalitan sila sandali nila Eiki Kitamura at Kengo Oukuchi.

Tapos, pagdating nung pangalawang Myu, naaksidente ung gumaganap kay Ryoma Echizen na si Yanagi Kotaroh. Napilitan tuloy na magadjust ung cast para sa absence nia. Ang nangyari, ung gumaganap kay Fuji Syuusuke na si Kimeru ay naging Echizen, si Kikumaru Eiji actor Nagayama ay naging Fuji, at ung umalis na si Yamazaki Ichitaro ay bumalik sandali para maging Eiji uli.

Pero naayos rin naman yon. After ng isang Myu, nakahanap na rin ng papalit kay Yanagi Kotaroh - isa sa mga kaibigan niang c Endo Yuya. Bumalik sa pagiging Fuji si Kimeru at Eiji naman c Nagayama. Umalis na uli si Ichitaro.

Nung medyo magaling-galing na si Kotaroh, nakipagdouble cast cia kay Endo. Kapag nakatayo lang at kakanta lang ang gagawin ni Echizen, c Kotaroh ung gaganap. Pero kapag sasayaw na, c Endo ung gaganap kasi madali pang mapagod si Kotaroh, at hindi pa nia naiaayos ung paggalaw nia.

*Double cast = dalawa clang gaganap sa isang role*

*Myu - hindi ito isang beses lang pinapalabas. Lumilipat sila ng lugar (theater) bawat palabas. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, tumatagal ng buwan ang pagpapalabas ng isang myu*

Dumating ung dulo ng Fudomine Arc. Doon grumaduate ang 1st cast, pero natira c Endo at c Kotaroh dahil hindi pa natatapos ung kontrata ni Kotaroh at kailangan pa nia c Endo para pangsubstitute sa kanya.

*Dream Live = eto naman ung katumbas nila para sa concert. So parang Prince of Tennis Concert. Aun. Mas binigyang pansin dito ung pagkanta nila kaysa sa sayaw. At maririnig mo rin dito ung mga cheer ng audience - ung tipong parang nirecord sa mismong live concert event. Sa first cast nagsimula ung Dream Live, kaya Dream Live 1st ang tawag. (C Endo ang kasama nilang Echizen noon.)*

*Ichinen Trio - hindi pa cla grumaduate kasama ang 1st cast..*

2nd Cast Seigaku: Mula Fudomine Hanggang Kanto Regionals (Hyotei ung kalaban nila noon)

Dream Live : YES. Dream Live 2nd and Dream Live 3rd

Ryoma Echizen - Yuya EndoDB / Kotaroh YanagiDB

Kunimitsu Tezuka - Yuu ShirotaDB

Shuichiro Oishi - Hiroki SuzukiDB

Shusuke Fuji - Hiroki Aiba

Eiji Kikumaru - Osamu AdachiDB

Takashi Kawamura - Yoshikazu Kotani

Sadaharu Inui - Hirofumi ArakiDB

Takeshi Momoshiro - Masaki KajiDB

Kaoru Kaidoh - Kousuke Kujirai

Satoshi Horio - Yusuke Ishibashi

Kachiro Kato - Toshiyuki Toyonaga

Katsuo Mizuno - Masaru Hotta

 

*Dream Live 2nd -  dito grumaduate si Endo Yuya kasi kaya na (daw) ni Kotaroh ung scenes. At dahil tapos na rin ung tungkulin (ahemahemexpiredcontractahemahem) nia kay Kotaroh (RYOMACEST)..*

*Dream Live 3rd - dito naman grumaduate clang lahat, maliban kay Fuji Syuusuke actor Hiroki Aiba  na matitira para maging 'Pillar of Support' ng susunod na cast ng Seigaku. Awww.... kawawa naman c Aibacchi.. naiwan cia~*

*D-Boys - Ang D-Boys ay isang (malaking) grupo under Watanabe Entertainment. D basically stands for Drama (Drama-Boys), pero puede ring iba, like Dance (Dance-Boys)... at kung anu-ano pang D ang maisip nio. Tinatamad na kasi akong mag-isip. Pero basically, they're a group of versatile performers. Aun. Lahat nung may DB sa tabi ng pangalan nila ay member ng D-Boys..*

 

3rd Cast Seigaku: from after ng Dream Live 3rd / Hyotei hanggang sa Rikkaidai match just before Nationals

Dream Live : YES. Dream Live 4th

Ryoma Echizen - Doori Sakurada
     
Kunimitsu Tezuka - Keisuke Minami

Shuichiro Oishi - Yukihiro Takiguchi

Shusuke Fuji - Hiroki Aiba

Eiji Kikumaru - Koji SetoDB

Takashi Kawamura - Kouji Watanabe

Sadaharu Inui - Masei Nakayama 

Takeshi Momoshiro - Shinpei Takagi

Kaoru Kaidoh - Kousuke Kujirai / Tomo YanagishitaDB

Satoshi Horio - Masaki Hara

Kachiro Kato - Yuya Mori

Katsuo Mizuno - Yuki Okamoto

 

 *Minami Keisuke - cia ang pinakapandak na Tezuka since nagstart ung Myu. Si Shirota Yuu is actually over 6ft. Eiji Takigawa is not too far from that. Minami Keisuke stands only almost as tall as Fuji Syuusuke actor Hiroki Aiba (about 5'10"-ish). Even Echizen Ryoma actor Sakurada Doori is almost as tall as he is..*

*Kujirai Kousuke - cia ung 2ndgenKaidoh. Oo, grumaduate na cia. Pero anung ginagawa nia uli sa listahan..? Kasi, ung original na na-cast for Kaidoh ay hindi tumuloy. Dahil wala silang mahanap na kapalit, at dahil hindi pa naman maxadong busy si Kujirai, cia muna ung nagKaidoh for 1 myu. Afterwards, pinalitan na cia ni Tomo Yanagishita..*

*Cast graduated at RikkaiMyu. Naiwan c Tomo Yanagishita to take over the role of "Pillar of Support".. *

*Dream Live - looked like a reunion of some sorts. Hindi ko pa nailalagay ung names nung cast members, pero may casting din ung ibang teams (Fudomine, St. Rudolph, Yamabuki, Hyotei, Rokkaku, Rikkai).. Ung karamihan sa kanila eh bumalik sa Dream Live 4th.. super nakakaiyak na reunion talaga.. (or at least, for the fans.. hindi na nga naman kasi nakasalamuha nung 3rd gen ung iba sa mga teams na un..) Ung mga dating teams na grumaduate na eh nagkitakita uli~

 

4th Cast Seigaku : Hindi pa cla nagccmulang magpakita ng Myu. Nagpapractice pa lang cla~ Pero ang start ng coverage nila ay sa laban ng Seigaku vs. Higa Chu. Pero di sure kung buong Nationals.

Dream Live : No announcements as of yet.

Ryoma Echizen - Shougo Sakamoto

Kunimitsu Tezuka - Daisuke Watanabe

Sadaharu Inui - Yuuta Takahashi

Syuusuke Fuji - Yuuta Furukawa

Eiji Kikumaru - Kyousuke Hamao

Shuichiro Oishi - Yuya Toyoda

Takashi Kawamurav - Hiro Ogasawa

Takeshi Momoshiro - Tetsuya Makita

Kaoru Kaidoh - Yuuichirou Hirata

Kaoru Kaidoh - Tomo Yanagishita

 

*Shougo Sakamoto - Youngest Echizen as of yet. XD. 1993 pinanganak. 14 yrs old, but he looks about 10. Ang malaking tanong: kaya na kayan niang maging Echizen?*

*Daisuke Watanabe - the shortest Tezuka as of yet. Ang masaklap pa eh Fuji Syuusuke actor Yuuta Furukawa is even taller than him. X..X*

*Kyousuke Hamao - broody!Eiji?!?!?!?!?! Para sakin, mas mukha ciang Fuji kaysa Eiji.. and speaking of..*

*Yuuta Furukawa - Is it me, or does he look a helluvalot like Kato's Atobe? ugh. And they made this guy Fuji. He's effin' tall! He's almost as tall as Shirota Yuu, for fuck's sake! And Shirota Yuu was a fricken large guy! (At buti na lang at nag Tezuka cia.. X...x) ugh. Just imagine : Shirota can carry Kawamura actor Yoshikazu Kotani on his back - Kotani can carry Fuji Syuusuke actor Aiba Hiroki bridal style. Imagine a big guy like that can be carried by an even a bigger guy - just imagine the bigger guy playing sweet fragile little Fuji. X...x  And he has Atobe's face! ATOBE!!!! -dies-*

*Double cast Kaidoh - Tomo Yanagishita is very busy, nowadays. There is talk that he may graduate earlier than planned, and that's why it was made to be a double cast. Info on his substitute is not yet available, though.. and it's not really sure that Tomo will be leaving TeniMyu early.*

 

----------

 

Aun. Medyo mababaw pa nga na explanation yan eh. Next time magpopost ako ng pics para masaya..

 

lahat hahanapan ko ng pics.. or kung hindi naman ako makapagpost ng pics, lalagyan ko na lang ng links ung meron nang nakaupload para masilayan nio naman ang kaguwapuhan ng mga iniirog kong TeniMyuBoys.. -le sigh-

 

----------

 

ERM. Ung Nationals itutuloy ko next post. pero ung next post baka hindi ko pa magawa until thursday. XP

Eeehh.. aun, maikli lang tong update na to kasi wala namang maxadong nangyari sa laban ni kawamura. nagbubugbugan lang sila nung kalaban nia gamit ang tennis.. X..x

<--- START OF SERIES SPOILERS PARA SA MGA DI PA NAKAKABASA NUNG MANGA --->

 

URK. un lang.

 

The Shitenhouji Team and their corresponding Seigaku opponents:

Ishida Gin vs. Kawamura Takeshi. Singles 2.

Start of Match: Genius 328

End of Match: Genius 331

Outcome: Taka = win?!

Details:

I just want to mention again that Ishida Gin is the elder brother of Ishida Tetsu, the bald white-bandana-wearing guy from Fudo who was the first person to ever demonstrate a Hadokyuu. In a match. Against Taka.

SO anyway, match starts off with Taka and Gin talking over the net. Gin tells him that the hadokyuu won't work against him. Taka retorts that he won't know until he's tried. Game starts.

Service to Taka. He uses the sure kill move, Dash Hadokyuu, a move which can be only used once in a match, else he breaks his wrist. Unfortunately, Gin is able to return it with more power. He knocks Taka's racquet from his hand.

Taka's second serve is still the Dash Hadokyuu. Everyone is, of course, shocked. Unfortunately again, Ishida is able to return it with even greater power than before. He reveals that this is his second style of Hadokyuu. Another point to him.

Taka serves with the Dash again. This time, it is returned by the 3rd style hadokyuu, with, as you have guessed, even greater power than the 2nd style. Point goes to Ishida once more.

Oh, and did I forget to mention that Gin has been hitting Taka with his returns..? No? Oh. Well now you know. Hah. Taka's body actually went sailing through the air when Gin's 3rd style hit him. You can just imagine him getting hit by an even higher level/style of Hadokyuu... X..x Oh, and pardon me for variating between Ishida and Gin.. I just.. get confused with those names sometimes.. I mean, I keep on getting mental images of Ishida Uryuu and Ichimaru Gin.. X..x Playing tennis..

Errr... right. Back on track. SO this goes on for like the remainder of the game. Taka is never able to get a point. Not a single one. It is revealed that Gin is actually the originator of Hadokyuu and he has 108 styles = 108 different power levels. This actually scares me because Taka's already bleeding by the 3rd style.. what more would he end up as with 105 more higher level styles..?

By 3-0, his teammates are already getting extremely anxious - they are actully hinting that Taka should stop the match (cue Inui's comment that Gin's shots have already passed Kawamura's returnable level). He pleads with them not to, so they listen to him. He gets blown to the bleacher seats by then end of the 4th game with 4-0 to Gin.

A character from Shitenhouji comments that Taka is only Seigaku's extra baggage. Momo and Kaidoh instantly react to this (I'd like to think that Kaidoh's hair actually bristled. Under the bandana, anyway.. You can't really tell with Momo. His hair's already porcupine-ish~), but Taka admits to it, anyway.

Er. Sort of emotional scene with Taka rambling on about having to win his match. He's betting his everything in this match because he wants to be useful. He's just actually waiting for Ishida's wrist to give due to strain (from hitting all those Hadokyuus. As a fellow Hadokyuu user, Taka understands the strain on one's wrist when using the Hadokyuu). Unfortunately for him, Ishida also has the ability to nullify Hadokyuu shots.

Let me explain the advantage of this. When one uses a Hadokyuu, the opponent is forced to either just get out of the ball's path or risk getting blown away by it... or the opponent can opt to return the shot with even greater power. This is what Taka is going for: Using Dash Hadokyuu to force Ishida to use even more powerful Hadokyuu as counters. He is counting on Ishida's wrist giving to the strain of hitting those powerful balls, thereby making him win by forfeit. However, this would mean that he would have to be able to hit numerous Hadokyuus in one game. He would have to outlast Ishida.

What he didn't know was that Ishida has a way of nullifying a Hadokyuu. His return would then become a normal shot (which would mean that there was no strain in his wrist in returning Taka's shot), and Taka would be the only one straining his wrist.

Flashback to a scene 2 years ago - Taka has just joined Seigaku's Tennis Club. The senpai-tachi are criticizing him, saying that he's so full of power but is really no good at all. Of course Taka is depressed by this, but he is comforted by Oishi, Fuji, Tezuka, Inui and Eiji. These 5 tell him that they envy his power, and this boosts his self-esteem a little. Taka reveals that the reason he just can't give up is that the comments that these excellent tennis players gave him made him so happy.. so happy that he cannot bear facing them again with the shame of losing.

---> if that was confusing, just think of it this way: Taka merely wants to thank everyone for believeing in him by making use of his single specialty - his power.

Because of his determination, Ishida resolves to use his 108-Style Hadokyuu instead of just nullifying Taka's so that he will win without regrets. The game then becomes a full blown power match.

Of course we all know what that means. Taka is once again turned into a tennis ball target. He actually soars through the air and even lands on the last rows of the third block in the bleachers (third from the center). I really can't imagine an actual tennis match going like that. X..x

There is even a panel in the manga... I dunno if it's just my imagination, but is the drawing of Taka's body without a head..? It's in page 15 of Genius 330... Fuji's actually screaming here~ (eeeep! TakaFuji?!)

He begins to think that it's impossible... when suddenly, there is a voice behind him asking him if he was already giving up. Everyone turns to look at the newcomer ---- surprise! It's Akutsu~

He catches Taka's flying body. He tells him to go ahead and get himself killed... because in return, no matter how many times Taka gets blown up back there, Akutsu would be waiting to catch him.

---> can anyone say 'FANSERVICE' ..?

But alas! 'Tis too late for our tragic Hadokyuu Hero... Score is already at 5-0, match point to Gin with Taka to serve. His  left eye can no longer see and he's covered in bruises. He's also dripping blood, can no longer stand straight and is limping. A lot.

As he serves, he throws the ball to far away... but he cannot stop. He's actually thinking that getting even just only one point would fine for him. He gets to Burning Mode and hits the too-far-thrown ball with a Hadokyuu.. but since he can't really stand up anymore, much less see clearly, he hits the ball with the side frame of his racquet (Lucky!).

Ishida tries to neutralize it, but since it wasn't a normal hadokyuu (it wasn't evena hadokyuu at all! XP), he broke his wrist in his attempt. Taka wins by forfeit.

Yes, he wins by effing forfeit. With only a single effin' point to his name, with Ishida at 5-0 and at match point. Taka wins. -shakes head-

Taka looks about half dead about 99% dead, but all is well. I mean, he won, right? XP

His dad actually arrives in time to witness his victory. He accompanies him to the hospital. X..x

---> Taka's injuries are later revealed (Genius 336, p5):

Ishida: I would like someone to tell me which hospital Kawamura-han is in.

Oishi: Hhhmmm... Don't worry about it too much. He only broke 3 ribs, damaged his femur, injured his heel bone.. Addtionally, his neck has internal bruising and he sprained his right ankle... If you go, he'll be delighted to see you!

Ishida: -sweatdrop-

---

Next Match: Tezuka Kunimitsu - Inui Sadaharu vs. Oshitari Kenya - Zaizen Hikaru. Doubles 1.

Notes: Oshitari. As in Oshitari Yuushi ng Hyoutei. I'm not sure where I read it, but I think Oshitari said that Kenya's his cousin.. -goes of to scour her sources-

 

<--- END SPOILERS --->

 

AUN! Tapos na~

Next post: Doubles 1. Tapos cguro isasama ko na rin ung Singles 1. Heheh~

IESU!! Next match: Doubles 2. Konjiki Koharu - Hitoji Yuuji vs. Momoshiro Takeshi - Kaidoh Kaoru

paliwanag ko lang ah.. kasi baka di pala gets nung iba. Sa Nationals, ganito ung system nila:

1st game: Singles 3

2nd game: Doubles 2

3rd game: Singles 2

4th game: Doubles 1

5th game: Singles 1

Ung matches before kasi, ang sistema naman ganito:

1st game: Doubles 2

2nd game: Doubles 1

3rd game: Singles 3

4th game: Singles 2

5th game: Singles 1

      ---> eto rin ung normally ginagamit.

Ok? Ok! YAYNESS~ claro na, hmm?

<--- START OF SERIES SPOILERS PARA SA MGA DI PA NAKAKABASA NUNG MANGA --->

The Shitenhouji Team and their corresponding Seigaku opponents:

Kouharu-Hitoji vs. Momoshiro-Kaidoh. Doubles 2.

Start of Match: Genius 322

End of Match: Genius 327

Outcome: MomoKai = love win

Details:

Notes: CRACK. Uber and utter POT CRACK. Un un eh! Ang gulo nito!

Game starts with Momo and Kaidoh really pumped and ready to take revenge for Fuji's defeat. They enter the court and look for their oppponents. Said opponents show themselves - one is wearing an afro wig and the other is wearing an eye mask - kind of like what Robin (from Batman series) wears...

Momo notices that they're constantly touching each other and asks why. They say it's the coach's orders. Momo thinks they're homo. Some more babbling. Game starts.

As Momo takes the 1st serve, Afro-guy hits on Kaidoh. YES, HE HITS ON KAIDOH.

actual conversation:

Afro-guy (who will from now on be called Koharu): Oh? You in the bandana.. You're a bit hot. Rock on.

Kaidoh: Wh..What?! You PRICK!! -though I'd like to think that he was thinking that he belongs to Inui already and should not succumb to other men's flirting..-

So yeah. The two from Saigaku are basically confused and uncomfortable with their opponents. The serve is hit back to Seigaku's side and Momo hits a dunk smash. It hits Koharu's afro-wig and the wig is ripped off of his head only to reveal...

...CHONMAGE! Erm, how should I describe this? It's like tha hairdo of men from earlier Japan... err.. remember Ruroni Kenshin? I'm pertaining to the hairdo of the ancient lords (and sometimes even the Samurai), the one where the head is bald except for the sides and long strip of hair on the upper backof the head... oh, wtf. I'll just insert an image here, ne?

 

---> that, my friends, is Koharu. Yes. Koharu. The one hitting on Kaidoh.

 

So where were we? Ah, yes... apperently, this duo's psychological attack is to make the audience (and even sometimes their opponents) laugh. Laugh. As in hahaha kind of laugh. X..x That is, of course, only a distraction. The real abilities of this duo, however, are really scary. Koharu is an effing genius... like 200 IQ. And he's also a data tennis type, but he doesn't use notebooks like Inui. It's all in his head.

Hitoji, on the other hand, is a bit like Niou. He can copy the abilities and mannersims (even the voice) of his opponents (and in this game, even the ref), thereby confusing them.. There was an instance where he copied Kaidoh's voice and made Momo think that it was indeed Kaidoh telling him to make a straight shot instead of a cross.. uwaah, the Shitenhouji duo's really scary! (But unlike Niou, he doesn't copy the appearance.. just the play style, mannerisms and the voice...)

Momo and Kaidoh feel really awkward in this match because of the comic acts of their opponents. Momo and Kaidoh each miss a serve because the opponents made funny gestures... I really didn't know what to feel when I was reading the manga... everything was just so.. amusingly awkward~

And Koharu is definitely a stalker. Trivia from him about Kaidoh:

Kaidoh as a kid was a crybaby. Also, he looked a lot like a girl back then - too much so that he was almost always mistaken for one, was made to wear skirts and was even nicknamed "Kaoru-chan."

And Koharu's definitely gay. Definitely. When they were exchanging courts, he touched Kaidoh's A$$ as he passed. -snort- Ugh, Kaidoh's a$$ isn't virgin anymore. DAMN. Inui's going to get revenge, I swear!

So the two are in a pinch... but Momo thinks of a solution! His solution? Rey Mysterio! -rolls around- Well, no, not really Rey Mysterio, but his masks. Or at least, what kind of looks like his masks. Anyway, they wear masks so their opponents can't see their reactions. It makes it easier for them to control their reactions that way. Problem is that the masks get pretty hot after a while..

They are able to catch up to the two, but they are again beaten when they take off the masks. They are forced to wear the masks through the length of the game, but they still have Hitoji's impressions to worry about. By impressions I mean the copying thing. So basically, the two are stumped.

The two seem completely at a loss. The score is at 6-5, to Shitenhouji. It's Hitoji's service game. He impersonates Momo's bullet serve. Kaidoh (or what seems to be Kaidoh.. you can't really tell because he has a mask.. although Momo's mask has an 'M' on it...) returns it with Momo's signature move, the "Jackknife." There is confusion because it was Kaidoh who executed the move.. or what seemed like Kaidoh, anyway.. They now begin to doubt if it is indeed Kaidoh under the original Kaidoh's mask (which we will now all refer to as KMask to avoid too much confusion. Momo's original mask will be named MMask..).

The Jackknife was returned by Hitoji, but the player wearing MMask jumps up high, posing as if to use the Dunk Smash. Hitoji and Koharu are fooled into believing so... but the move that the player actually executes (in midair, might I add) is the Tornado Snake. X..x

So Koharu finally realizes that Kaidoh and Momo have exchanged masks when they weren't looking (or at least, he thinks so..). This observation is made evident when KMask finally starts acting like Momo and MMask starts acting like Kaidoh.. Still, the two are able to catch up, 6-6.

Tie-Break:

MomoKai dominate the first 6 points, but by then, Hitoji and Koharu are no longer confuzzled by the masks. They have already set in their minds which is which: MMask=Kaidoh, KMask=Momo.. (actually, they're murmuring "M is Bandana-kun.. M is Bandana-kun..." over and over..

The two catch up, 6-5 to Seigaku.

Koharu hits the ball to Momo. Momo takes the Jackknife stance. Koharu's calculating the outcome of the shot.. but then the shot comes out as a reversed snake! Everyone's faces are saying the same thing: "What the F*** is going on?!"

Then Hitoji says his piece: "So that's why the mannerisms and the movements don't match..."

Heheh~ Everyone realizes that the two never switched in the first place~

Koharu barely returns the snake, but its a chance ball for MMask - Momo. He jumps up, ready to execute the Dunk Smash, so both Koharu and Hitoji get back into the baseline... only to find out that he wasn't going to execute Dunk Smash at all. Momo was actually aiming for a drop shot... X..x

Seigaku wins the tie-break, 7-6 and the match, 7-6.

The rival pairs exchange artifacts! MomoKai give their masks in exchange for the eyemask and the Chonmage hair piece (and I thought they were going to get the afro wig. darn. wanted to see Momo in one. or even Tezuka or Oishi... --> references to Tenimyu's Shirota and Zukki)..

All is well. (OMFG, HP7?!)

By now, Fuji has stopped thinking of ways on how to convince Konomi-sensei to kill him off the series. He's smiling again, though it's obviously fake. Since Fuji is still not able to play commentator (kudos to all the people who have noticed that Fuji always plays commentator when he's not playing~ I mean, he's the always the one explaining the tennistechie stuff to the ichinen trio = the audience), Tezuka's taken over his role. XP Yep, Buchou's talking. OMFG, what is the world coming to?!

---

OOO-kay.. Next stop: Kawamura Takashi vs. Ishida Gin. Singles 2.

 

Notes: Ishida Gin is Ishida Tetsu's a-ni-ki. Big Brother. YEP! To those who can't remember who Ishida Tetsu is, he's the one from Fudomine. The one with the white bandana. The bald one. XP He played against Taka a long time ago. It was the first time Taka ever encountered Hadokyuu...

 

<--- END SPOILERS --->

 

Next post na lang ung Singles 2, mmkay?

 

 

But its too late for them. As Hitoji barely returns

YOSHI! Semi-finals overview muna. para masaya~ Kasi dba un na ung kasunod na gagawan ng anime? UWAH, ang galing galing talaga ng Seigaku! FIGHT-O!

erm. dahil ayaw kong mag-aral para sa mga exams ko, ito ang inaatupag ko.

EDIT: tapos na ung exam ko. murder. cguradong bagsak na naman. -le sigh-

<--- START OF SERIES SPOILERS PARA SA MGA DI PA NAKAKABASA NUNG MANGA --->

Start of Semi-finals: Volume 36, Genius 313
Opponent: Shitenhouji Chu (Osaka)
Notes: This is after the quater-finals match with Hyoutei (kung saan alam naman nating lahat ung naging ending, dba? Uwaaaahhh... Atobe... kinalbo ni Ryoma... Or did he?)

The Shitenhouji Team and their corresponding Seigaku opponents:

Shiraishi Kuranosuke - Buchou. Singles 3.
   vs. Fuji Syuusuke

Start of Match: Genius 314

End of Match: Genius 321

Outcome: Shiraishi = win

Details:

At the start of the match, Shiraishi dominates the game with his Perfect Tennis (Ecstasy~) and drives Fuji into a pinch. Fuji's also in trouble because he cannot push himself to his full capacity - because he has no drive/will to win, a problem that had been plaguing him since he started to play tennis (references to his ranking match with Tezuka -anime only- and to his unfinished practice match with Echizen).

For the next few chapters, the game progresses in Shiraishi's favor. He manages to push Fuji back into a 5-0 score by breaking all of Fuji's counters (even the 4th Counter, Kagerou Zutsumi) - a feat which makes everyone think (and in my opinion, even Fuji himself) that Fuji's going to lose. Fortunately for Fuji, Echizen decides that it's his turn to meddle and goes up to Fuji (who is by then laying face down on the ground, unmoving) and arrogantly tells him to play seriously. Echizen is shooed out of the court by the ref, but because of this, Fuji is revived.

They continue the match, and although it was already match point for Shiraishi, Fuji makes a comeback. All of his counters then evolve: Tsubame Gaeshi into Houou Gaeshi (Phoenix Return), Higuma Otoshi into Kirin Otoshi (A kirin is a mythical creature that somewhat resembles a Chimera... I'll post something about this later) and Hakugei into Hakuryuu (as in Saiyuki's Hakuryuu. It means White Dragon..).

The evolved counters are basically the same, but of course there are upgrades. Houou Gaeshi sinks at a steeper angle compared to Tsubame, I didn't really get the difference with Kirin Otoshi but I think the difference lies in the steepness of the trajectory of the ball and in the height of the bounce.. err... confuzzling, I know. Anyway, Hakuryuu's the easiest to spot; the ball does not return to Fuji anymore but instead goes off to the side. In this match, it actually almost hit Echizen, but his reflexes allowed him to catch the ball with his hand.

As he's catching up to Shiraishi, he reveals that he's created a final counter just as he was playing with Shiraishi (what I mean is that he created the counter in that same match, but I really don't know at which point in time he did because I was too busy ogling his a$$) named "Gatekeeper of Hecatonchires." It's another mythical icon, but I'm not so sure about the story behind it. I'll just post my research about it with the Kirin thing, mmkay?

So there. That counter basically stops any move made by the opponent. Fuji puts a spin on the ball using both sides of his racket - as in he flips the racket as he hits the ball so that the ball will actually run the length of both faces of his racket. He also adds a special spin to it so that when the opponent hits it back, the ball will never make it over the net. Yep, you read it right, the ball never goes over the net, no matter what kind of shot the opponent makes (even a lob doesn't work!).

Fuji catches up to Shiraishi and actually takes over the game, getting to a score of 6-5 (6=Fuji, 5=Shiraishi). Unfortunately, Shiraishi finds a way to break the counter, and at match point (to Fuji), this becomes evident. After this, Shiraishi is able to tie up with Fuji (6-6), and it comes to a point where both are at match point (this part though, is not shown in the manga because the scence shifts to the Rikkai match). The two scramble all over the court, trying to return each other's shots (with Fuji still using the Gate). Shiraishi hits a cord ball to draw Fuji away from the baseline to the net. Fuji bites and goes off to hit the ball with the Gate. Shiraishi returns with another cord ball, and Fuji returns it with a clumsy shot that looks like it would be out... but then Shiraishi realizes that it's actually Hakuryuu and is already expecting (or at least, I think so) a loss... but then, he looks surprised as he sees that the Hakuryuu indeed lands out of bounds.

Shiraishi is pronounced the winner with 7-6.

Shiraishi helps Fuji up. The crowds cheer.

Shiraishi walks off to his side, looking uncertain and anguished. This, I think, shows that he doesn't really feel that he's won the game because it was actually Fuji's blunder that made him win. On the other hand, Fuji's killing himself with regret because it was directly his fault that he lost. Everyone's upset. Even Echizen looks like he hasn't had his daily Ponta. X..x

 

---

Next match is Doubles 2. Kouharu-Hitoji vs. Momo-Kaidoh

 

Notes: Shitenhouji fought against Fudomine for the quarter-finals. Rivals kasi si Chitose at si Tachibana. Go figure.

EDIT: Ung story nila ni Chitose gagawin ko na lang side dish sa next post~

<--- END SPOILERS --->

 

Aun, so nangalay ako dun ah! dahil mahaba na to, next post na lang ung Doubles2, mmkay?

Full Metal Alchemist (The Anime) - A Review

WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS for the anime series

Character Descriptions and Reviews
(Order: Author Preferance)

Edward Elric
Ed is the first born of Hohenheim and Trisha Elric, also the second son of Hohenheim. He has automail limbs - the right arm (from shoulder to the hand), and the left leg (from mid-thigh to the foot) made by Pinako and Winry Rockbell (neighbors, childhood friend). He has a younger brother named Alphonse Elric, and they lived in Rizembool (or Rizenbool) up until they tried the forbidden Human Transmutation to revive Trisha.

Ed is... very short (Ed: WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT THAT HE CAN BE CRUSHED BY A PERIOD AND NOT EVEN FEEL IT BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T HURT BECAUSE HE'S VERY SMALL AND CAN FIT IN BETWEEN THE CRACKS BECAUSE HE'S SOOOO MINUTE?!!!! Gale: Calm down, Ed... -...-), and has anger management issues. He's the (stereotypical) type character to blab away and lose control when mad, but unstereotypically, he actually thinks and plans ahead (most of the time, anyway) when faced with serious and dangerous situations. He became State Alchemist at the age of 12 (he just turned 12 then, the same date as Elysia Hughes' birthday), and was assigned directly under Lieutenant Colonel Roy Mustang (and I can even hear the yaoi fangirls screeching).

His reason for wanting to be a Nationally Certified Alchemist is to avail himself of the privileges of the said status. He wants to research on the Philosopher's Stone and how to make it because he wants to regain what he and his brother lost during the human transmutation. While he lost his limbs, Al lost his whole body - a sin Ed is very guilty of - so he took it upon himself to find a way for them to regain their lost body parts (or in Al's case, body).

The whole series focuses on his quest to find the process of creating the stone, and he finds several (but very similar) ways. One was discovered in Laboratory 5, where Shou Tucker, father of Nina Tucker, was hiding and making chimeras. Another was in the city of Ishbal, where the stone was actually created through the sacrifice of the whole city (and here, fangirls are crying their eyes out for Mustang for the murder of the Rockbells), and still another was through the sacrifice of the city of Lior (where Al became the stone).

Because he could not kill people (and even Homonculii he was very reluctant to kill), Ed was not able to complete the stone in Lab 5. Also, he was not involved in the massacre in Ishbal (again, I hear the inner RoyFangirl in me screeching), and it was Scar who actually completed the Stone in Lior (by sacrificing the soldiers).

His reluctance to kill can be related to his... innocence. Although he is ready to sacrifice everything to get Al's body back (Am I the only one who thinks that some of Ed and Al's conversations have yaoi themes in them..?), he still could not kill (even sinful prisoners) in order to make the stone (refer to Lab 5 episodes). This just proves that Ed believes in doing the humane thing (even if it more often than not means crossing the military) in favor of the easy way out.

The series somewhat focuses on his character growth (Gale: of course, not physically... Ed: WHAT?!), but is mainly centered on the journeys he and Al make and the trials they encounter. Unlike most anime, Hagane no Renkinjutsushi does not focus on making friends (I can name a few Tv Tokyo productions: Beyblade, Yugioh, Naruto, etc...), or fighting in trounaments whether individually/in groups (e.g. Yugioh, Beyblade, YuYu Hakusho, HunterXHunter, etc...), but instead, it focuses on a continuous plot and does not entail disconnected arcs. Yes, there are filler episodes, but fillers are to be expected from any long-time show. Also, the plot of FMA is simply dramatic and very catching, and this keeps the fans wanting for more. Arakawa Hiromu-sensei certainly has a very different style of story writing, compared to most productions nowadays.

And even though the series tends to lean towards EdWinry and Royai (for non-fans, that's RoyRiza), there are a lot of yaois hints (Roy to Ed: I'm not mad because you disobeyed the military, I'm mad because you didn't even think of asking me for help! Al to Ed: I'm glad that my body can be of some use to you, nii-san~ Russell to Ed: Be careful, Ed! I don't want to see you get hurt!) in it. And though Arakawa-sensei is rumored to hate yaoi involving her characters, well... TOO BAD for her then.



Gale: the next installment would probably come next week... when I've finished downloading FMA soundtracks -giggle-
Aya: YEP! I think Roy's up next, hrm?
Gale: -nods-
Ed: Why does everyone say I'm small?
Gale: But you are, o'chibi-san!
Ed: -pout- Everyone says I'm small, small, SMALL!
Aya: -cackle-
Ed: But why can't they seem to remember that in bed..?
Gale: O.O
Aya: X.....x
Ed:..? What? Was it something I said..? Whatever it was, you can blame Roy... He's the one who's always with me-
Aya: -chokes- in bed..?
Gale: -faints-
Ed: -blinks- eh..? I thought Gale was a fangirl..?
Aya: she is...
Gale: x...x -passed out-