In the first round of the National Tournament semifinals, Seishun is up against powerhouse Shitenhoji, with Shusuke facing Kuranosuke Shiraishi, Shitenhoji's captain who is rumored to play a flawless tennis game.
The Seishun tennis team scouts their future opponents after arriving at the Nationals, and after watching the Higa Junior High team dominate the first round, Ryoma is pitted against heavy hitter Kei Tanishi, who has an unreturnable "Big Bang" serve.
Takashi Momoshiro unleashes a two-handed "Hadokyu" on Kabaji of Hyotei Academy, unaware of his talent for mimicking shots, and Sadaharu's honesty proves problematic for Seishun Academy when he admits that his winning shot was out.
After a plane crash strands them on a tropical island while the rest of the world is ravaged by war, a group of British schoolboys attempts to form a civilized society but descends into brutal anarchy.
Traces the childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood of Stephen Dedalus, a character based on author James Joyce's life. Includes chronology, explanatory notes, and an outline of key themes.