Baby Steps, chapter 250

Baby Steps Ch. 250

p.1

応援に応えるように球威と精度を上げてきたサーブ
ouen ni kotaeru youni kyuui to seido wo agetekita sa-bu
He raised his serve's power and accuracy to meet his supporters' expectations.

いきなりのダッシュと迷いのないスマッシュ
ikinari no dasshu to mayoi no nai sumasshu
A sudden dash followed by a slam without any hesitation.


このセットの立ち上がりに懸ける気持ちが伝わってくる
kono setto no tachiagari ni kakeru kimochi ga tsutawattekuru
I understand now how bad he wants to rise back up.

気持ちでは負けない...
kimochi de wa makenai...
But I won't lose in a battle of passion.

ここで試合を決めるんだ！
koko de shiai wo kimerunda!
I'll decide the game right here!

＃２５０　奥の手
#250 oku no te
Chapter 250: The Last Resort

p.2

また３歩下がった...
mata sanpo sagatta...
He moved back three steps again.

第１セットは結局サーブとリターンにやられてる...
dai ichi setto wa kekkyoku sa-bu to rita-n ni yarareteru...
I ultimately lost the first set in both serving and returning.

球威はないが絶妙にコントロールされたサーブと弾丸のようなライジングのリターン
kyuui wa nai ga zetsumyou ni kontoro-ru sareta sa-bu to dangan no youna raijingu rita-n
His balls weren't powerful, but he had excellent control. His rising shot on the return felt like a bullet.

あのリターンは本来　無茶があると言いたいとこたが...
ano rita-n wa honrai mucha ga eru to iitaitoko daga...
I originally thought his return was too risky,

入ってくるんだからしょうがねえ
jaittekurunda kara shouganee
but since it went in I can't ignore it any longer.

井出くんが言ってたように　サーブが読まれてきてるってことなのか？
Ide-kun ga itteta youni  sa-bu ga yomarete kiterutte koto na no ka?
It's just like Ide-kun said. Has he been reading my serves?

信じ難いけど　そう考えた方がいいんだろう
shinjigatai kedo sou kangaeta hou ga iindarou
Even though it's hard to believe, should I start thinking that's actually the case?

身体も大きくないし力も速さ（スピード）もそこそこなんだけど
karada mo ookikunaishi chikara mo hayasa(supi-do) mo soko soko nandakedo
His body isn't even big, his power and speed are both so-so,

ノートでカリカリやってるうちにいつの間にか反応も狙いもよくなってきてー...
no-to de kari kari yatteru uchi ni itsunomanika hannou mo nerai mo yokunattekite-...
but when he starts scribbling down his notes, just like that his reaction times and aim improve.

...となれば　ただリスクを上げるだけじゃ足りなねえ...
...tonareba tada risuku wo agerudake ja tarinee...
If that's the case, simply increasing the risk won't be enough.

少しは頭を使って...
sukoshi wa atama wo tsukatte...
I should use my head for a bit ...

p.3

ここまでは大体こんな感じだけど...
koko made wa daitai konna kanji dakedo...
Here's the general gist of the match so far.

（センター　約４０％）　（ボディ　約５％）　（ワイド　約５５％）
(senta- ~40%) (bodi ~5%) (waido ~55%)
(Center ~40%) (Body ~5%) (Wide ~55%)

今まで打ってなくて 前に出てくる 相手にもってこいの...
ima made uttenakute mae ni detekuru aite ni mottekoi no...
I'll hit it toward my opponent as I haven't been doing that.

ボディのスライス！
bodi no suraisu!
A slice to the body!

p.4

意外なサーブ...しかも速い
igai na sa-bu..shikamo hayai
An uncharacteristic serve, and fast too.

p.5
p.6

何だ...！？　コースは適当でも　異常な球威...！
nanda...!? ko-su wa tekitou demo  ijouna kyuui..!
What was that!? The ball's trajectory was as expected, but not its power!

アウトとネットだけは絶対回避
auto to netto dake wa zettai kaihi
He avoided the bounds and the net at all cost,

安全圏内で…
anzen kennai de...
yet within that safe space,


球威を最大限まで引き上げる…！
kyuui wo saidaigen made hikiageru...!
he raised the ball's power to the limit.

p.7

体勢崩したら　いくぜ…
taisei kuzushitara ikuze...
Let's go, now that you've broken his posture ...

(エッグボール)　　(鋭角ショット)
(egg bo-ru) (eikaku shotto)
(Egg ball)  (shot at a sharp angle)

鋭角（アングル）クロス！！
Anguru kurosu!!
Angled cross!

p.8

30:0

危ねえな…　今のでも　まだ紙一重かよ
abunee na... imanodemo mada kamihitoe ka yo
Dangerous! I was cutting it close again.

鋭角(アングル)ショットも　読まれてると考えるべきか...　...でもまあ何とか決まった
anguru shotto mo yomareteru to kangaeru beki ka... ...demo maa nantoka kimatta
I should be taking into consideration that he predicted my angle shot ... Oh well, I did win the point somehow.

さあ連取来た来た！
saa renshu kitakita!
Consecutive points, here they come!

やるべきことができれば 決まる！
yarubeki koto ga dekireba  kimaru!
If I can do what has to be done, I'll win it!

流れ戻って来たー！！
nagare modotte kita-!
He's back in the groove!

球威が強すぎて タイミングが合わなかった...
kyuui ga tsuyosugite  taimingu ga awanakatta
He put so much power into it, I couldn't match his timing.

とにかく力で押してくるつもりか？
tonikaku chikara de oshitekuru tsumori ka?
Whatever the case, does he plan on pushing with brute force?

確かにそうなると　こっちは今の反応のよさが活かせない...
tashikani　kocchi wa ima no hannou no yosa ga ikasenai...
If it comes to that, I can't respond well the way I am now.

まだ完璧に対応できてない　エッグボールとの力対決になる
mada kanpeki ni taiou dekitenai  eggubo-ru to no chikara taiketsu ni naru
If I don't perfect my responses, the power of his egg ball will dictate the match.

p.9

クソ...　リターンエースが狙いにくい　球威よりコースを重視したサーブ...
kuso... rita-n e-su ga nerai nikui  kyuui yori ko-su wo juushishita sa-bu...
Damn ... He makes it hard to aim for an ace on the return. His serve prioritized course over power.

サーブで優位に立てれば...
sa-bu de yuui ni tatereba...
If my serve can give me an advantage,

攻めに転じられる...
seme ni tenjirareru...
I'll go for the attack!

またコース度外しの強打
mata ko-su dogaishi no kyouda
He ignores the course again.

p.10

40:0

っし！
sshi!
Yes!

あれ...そういえば　俺はまだ埋想（ゾーン）ゾーンに近い状態でやれてるのか？
are... souieba ore wa mada zo-n ni chikai joutai de yareteruno ka?
Oh ... Come to think of it, is it possible for me to get closer to the zone again?

いや　これは今考えても意味ない！
iya  kore wa ima kangaetemo imi ga nai!
No, it's no use thinking this now!

力に対してはタイミングで勝負するんだ！
chikara ni taishite wa taimingu de shoubu surunda!
Let's make this fight about power timings.

p.11

エースは狙わずまず返す...
esu wa nerawazu mazu kaesu...
Return the ball without going for an ace.

そして強打に備えて...
soshite kyouda ni sonaete...
Then prepare for his hard swing.

p.12

ゲーム神田　１－０　セカンドセット
ge-mu kanda  1-0 sekando setto
Kanda's game. Second set: 1:0

しゃあ
shaa
Yeah!

ナイスキープ　それでいこう！
naisu ki-pu  sore de ikou!
Nice keep! Let's run with it!

タイミングをとろうと下がった瞬間 前（ネット）を取られた
taiming wo torouto sagatta shunkan  netto wo torareta
Just when I fell back to receive it, he takes up the net.

脚も速いけど　判断も早い！
ashi mo hayai kedo  handan mo hayai!
While he's a fast runner, his decisions are snappy as well.

p.13

強烈なのに安全なストローク
kyouretsu nano ni  anzenna sutoro-ku
His stroke is strong and steady.

それとサービス．ダッシュとのコンビネーション
sore to sa-bisu dasshu to no konbine-shon
Add to that his service dash.

さらに　鋭角(アングル)ショットやドロップもある
sara ni anguru shotto ya doroppu mo aru
Futher more, he has his angled shot and drop play.

力と技と脚力（フットワーク）を最大限に活かした上に　安全性も考えられた緻密な戦略...
chikara to waza to futtowa-ku saidaigen ni ikashita ue ni anzensei kangaerareta chimitsuna senryaku
He uses his power, technique, and footwork to their fullest. On top of that, his elaborate strategy takes safety into account.

それを応援団の気迫に乗せて気合で打ち込んでくる...！
sore wo ouendan no kihaku ni nosete kiai de ichikondekuru...!
Riding on the shoulders of his cheering squad, his fighting spirit comes forth smashing.

第１セットを取られたとなりゃ　何かを変えなきゃなんない
dai ichi setto wo toraretatonarya nani ka wo kaenakya nannee...
When the first set was taken from me, I thought I had to change something.

コースが甘い強打の連打は体力勝負になりがちだが...それも望むところだ
ko-su ga amai kyouda no renda wa tairyoku shoubu ni narigachi da ga... soremo nozomu tokoro da
When the course is this good, a barrage of hard strikes has a tendency to turn into a power match, but I wanted it this way too.

俺の本来の武器は脚力（フットワーク）と技術...
ore no honrai no buki wa futtowa-ku to gijutsu
My primary weapons are my footwork and my skill.

そこに力（パワー）と持久力と根性を叩き込んだ
soko ni pawa- to jikyuuryoku to konjou wo tatakikonda
I can capitalize on them if I use my power, stamina, and my spirit.

全部を活かせる俺の土俵で戦うんだ！
zenbu wo ikaseru ore no dohyou de tatakaunda!
Then I can play the way I want.

p.14

この戦い方は難波江くんに勝つためにも必要
kono tatakaikata wa nabae-kun ni katsu tame ni mo hitsuyou
This way of playing is a necessity to beat Nabae-kun,

これでまず難波江くんに似てる丸尾くん（こいつ）を倒す
kore de mazu nabae-kun ni niteru maruo-kun (koitsu) wo taosu
but first I'll knock down Maruo-kun, who has a similar play style to him.

第２(セカンド)セットから完全に切り替えてきた...
sekando setto kara kanzen ni kirikaete kita..
Kanba switched his gears since the second set.

ここぞという時になると強さを発揮する...
koko zo to iu toki ni naru to tsuyosa wo hakki suru
At critical times, a player of his caliber

それができるのがこのレベルの選手...
sore ga dekiru no ga kono reberu no sensha...
is able to demonstrate his real strength.

...とはいっても　ただサーブをキープされただけ！
to wa ittemo tada sa-bu wo ki-pu sareta dake!
That being said, he merely kept his serve.

まだまだこっちにある流れは絶対に渡さない...！
mada mada kocchi ni aru nagare wa zettai ni watasanai...!
The game is still in my favor and I'm not letting it go!

タイム！
taimu
Time!

p.15

丸尾 7 0
神田 5 1
Maruo 7 0
Kanda 5 1

リターンだが　少しでも隙を見せたら逃さねえ...
rita-n da ga sukoshi mo suki wo misetara nogasanee...
I'm on the return, but if he shows even the slightest weakness, I will pursue it.

隙がなくても　どこかこじ開けて　こっちの土俵に引きずり込む
suki ga nakutemo  dokoka kojiakete  kocchi no dohyou ni hikizurikomu
Otherwise, I'll make an opening somewhere and drag him into my game.

サーブはうまくいってるけど　積極的に...
sa-bu wa umaku itteru kedo sekkyokuteki ni...
If my serve goes well, it should also be an assertive,

神田くんが届くギリギリにより厳しく...
kanda-kun ga todoku giri giru ni yori kibishiku
tough ball that Kanda-kun has a chance of just barely reaching.

コースを決めたら　あとは球威...
ko-su wo kimetara  ato wa kyuui...
Once you have decided on the course, all that's left is the strength of the delivery.

p.16

よっしゃ...　コースも球威もいい！
yossha... ko-su mo kyuui mo ii!
Cool, both course and power were good!

クソが！
kuso ga!
Fuck!

まだ選択肢は見えてる！
mada sentakushi wa mieteru!
I see a few options already!

p.17

15:0

よしっ
yoshi
Yes!

...やってくれんじゃねえかよ！
...yatte kurenja nee ka yo!
So you can pull it off!

まだいける！！
mada ikeru!!
I can still do it!

いい状態はキープできてる
ii joutai wa ki-pu dekiteru
In good condition I can keep my game.

p.18

そんな栄一郎と神田が第２（セカンド）せっとの序盤で　ともにサーブに強みを見出した頃ー
sonna Eiichirou to Kanda ga sekando setto no joban de  tomo ni sa-bu ni tsomi wo miidashita koro-
In the early stages of their second set, Eiichiro and Kanda both discovered their serves to be their forte.

もう一方の準決勝が行われているセンターコートがざわついていた
mou ippou no junkesshou ga okonawarete iru senta- ko-to ga zawatsuiteita
At the same time, the other semis from the center court had been raising a lot of noise.

難波江 優  6
荒谷 寛  6
Nabae Yuu 6
Hiroshi Araya 6

5:1 Araya

第５シード荒谷が王者　難波江を　あと　２ポイントでセットダウンまで追い込んでいた
dai go shi-do Araya ga ouja Nabae wo ato 2 pointo de setto daun made oikondeita
Second seed Araya was two points away from taking the set against the reigning champion Nabae.

２７巻につづく
27-kan ni tsuzuku
Story continues in vol.27

Baby Steps 26 Extra

p.1

神田が鹿梅工業高校に入って１週間
Kanda ga Kabai kougyou koukou haitte ichi shuukan
Kanda's first week after enrolling into Kabai Technology School.

なぁ　お前どっちだと思う？
naa  omae docchi da to omou?
Hey, what do you think is true?

どっちって？
docchi tte?
What are you on about?

監督って練習中あるだろ...
kantoku tte renshuuchuu aru daro...
About the director during practice hours.

aa...
Oh, that ...

先輩曰く「あれはワザとでいつ終わるのかわからなくしてる」らしいんだよ
senpai iwaku "are wa waza to de itsu owaru no ka wakaranaku shiteru" rashii nda yo
According to our upperclassmen he apparently doses off on purpose, so you can't stop second guessing yourself whether he's actually sleeping.

なるほど...　試合になったら「疲れたからやめる」なんてことできないしな...
naruhodo  shiai ni nattara "tsukareta kara yamero" nante koto dekinaishi na
I see. That way we'll never dare to think about stopping in the middle of a match.

（監督信者）
(kantoku shinja)
(Director's devotees)

（さすがだなぁ...）
(sasugadanaa...)
(I have to hand it to him ...)

いや　あれはゼッテー寝てる　ヨダレ垂れてっし
iya are wa zette- neteru  yodaretaretesshi
I don't think so, he is definitely sleeping. He's even drooling.

（監督懐疑派）
(kantoku kaigiha)
(Director's sceptics)
(イヤイヤイヤ)
(iyaiyaiya)
(No way, no way!)

そもそも寝る必要はなくないかねーか？
To begin with, can a person lose his need for sleep?

じゃあ　賭けるか？
jaa kakeru?
Shall we place bets, then?

賭けるって...　どうやって誰が確認すんだよ 　（やだよ俺...）
kakeru tte... douyaratte... douyatte dare ga kakuninsunda yo  (yada yo ore)
Bets ... Whatever the case may be, somebody has to verify what was said.  (I don't want to ...)

俺がやる
ore ga yaru
I'll do it.

神田くん．．！？
kanda-kun..!?
Kanda-kun!?

やるって　何を...
yarutte nani wo...
What is there to do anyway?

近づいてみりゃいいんだろ
chikazuite mirya iindaro
I just need to get close to him and have a look, right?

やめとけって..　起きてたらどんな罰があるか...
yametokette.. okitetara donna batsu ga aru ka...
I suggest you don't. You have no idea what kind of punishment you're in for if he wakes up.

監督（あいつ）が大したことねえってことをバラして　信用暴落させてやる...　クソ...やってやる...
aitsu ga taishitakotonee tte koto wo barashite shinyoubouransasete yaru... kuso... yatteyaru...
I'll expose that the director is not that big of a deal and destroy your faith ... Shit ... I'll do it ...

和からねえからな...
wakaranee kara na...
He doesn't know ...

p.2

放課後
houkago
After-school hours

おい神田！？
oi Kanda!?
Hey, Kanda!?

ゴックッ
gokku
*gulp*

本当にやりやがった　（勇者か...）
honto ni yariyagatta　（yuusha ka...）
He really did it. (Such an hero ...)

でもスッキリした...
demo sukkiri shita
But it's good to know what happens.

今度何かおごってやるか...
kondo nanka ogotteyaruka...
Should we treat him to something next time?

ちょっとけど鹿梅になじんだ神田だった
chotto kedo Kabai ni najinda Kanda datta
That's how Kanda got used to being in Kabai, if only slightly so.