Episode 4

The fourth episode of the Stars Align series. It premiered on October 31, 2019.

## Plot

Maki experiments to improve the boys’ soft tennis performance by switching the pair combination and position of all the members. As Maki hands over the pair list to Toma, all of the members are not sure about their new partner. However, they reluctantly agree when Maki asks the team to test out the new pair combination with a 15-point match.

During the first match, Maki and Toma are up against Tsubasa paired with Shingo. However, the Tsubasa – Shingo pair is having a hard time during the match. They keep blaming each other for making mistakes until Tsubasa managed to score the first point. By the end, the pair is finally able to work together as a team and win the match. After the match, Maki explains that Shingo and Tsubasa are a good combination since both are self-centered players who can cover each other's weaknesses and boost their strength.

After a short break, Maki and Toma are playing against Itsuki and Rintaro in the second match. The Itsuki – Rintaro pair manages to take the lead and put pressure against Maki and Toma throughout the whole set, ultimately winning the set. The rest of the team commends Itsuki and Rintaro, as they turned out to be a well-balanced pair. Itsuki playing in the front with his quick decision making and good focus, while Rintaro is able to provide backup and play cautiously in the back.

In the third match, Maki and Toma are up against the Nao – Taiyo pair. During the match, the game is seemingly one-sided with Nao and Taiyo unable to score a single point. As all the other team members are pessimistic for the pair to win the match, Nao comes up with an idea to play double back. The pair's strategy proved successful, draining Toma’s stamina and leaving him exhausted. However, Maki and Toma manage to retaliate and win the match with a short margin. After the match ends, Maki reveals that he’s holding back throughout the match in order to give confidence to the newly formed pair. At a distance, Sakurai-sensei appears to be observing the boys practice match.

During a financial meeting, the student council board executives heard that the boys’ soft tennis club is practicing hard. They are concerned about reallocating the budget since the current allocation is made with the assumption that the boys’ soft tennis club will be disbanded. Kinuyo Kasuga, the president of the student council, smiles and tells them that efforts and results are the things that distinguish successful people from useless people.

After the practice, Maki, Toma, Yuu, and Mitsue discuss a practice plan while walking to their home. Maki proposes that each pair should spend time with their partner to better understand each other. In the following days, the boys’ soft tennis club practices with a high motivation. They are eager to improve their soft tennis skills and perform better. As Maki gets recognition and praise among the club members, Rintaro starts feeling down due to his failure to contribute to the club as their vice president.

The next day, words about the boys’ soft tennis team practice reached Murou-sensei. She tells Sakurai-sensei that the boys are practicing hard and praises their effort. Meanwhile, Sakurai-sensei contacts Misaki Academy club advisor to schedule a practice match between the Misaki Academy and Shijo Minami boys’ soft tennis club. When Sakurai-sensei announces the practice match to the club, the boys get motivated and they prepare their best for the practice match.

After the boys finish their club activity, Maki goes back to his apartment and unexpectedly meets his father at the apartment lobby. His father asks for money but Maki is unwilling to give him any. As a result, his father pulls out Maki’s tennis racket and smashes it onto the floor, tearing it apart. He then threatens Maki to prepare the money tomorrow.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Shingo Takenouchi
* Tsubasa Soga
* Rintaro Futsu
* Maki Katsuragi
* Toma Shinjo
* Yuta Asuka
* Kanako Mitsue
* Nao Tsukinose
* Taiyou Ishigami
* Itsuki Ameno
* Takayuki Sakurai
* Kinuyo Kasuga
* Aya Katsuragi
* Sakura Murou
* Kadowaki
* Kenji Kyobate

## Quotes

* (*Maki hands the proposed pair combination to Toma*) You can't be serious; these are the worst combinations ever. – **Toma Shinjo**
* Pairs need to complement their partner by amplifying their strength – **Toma Shinjo**
* (*After the practice match*) A little confidence makes people better than they know they're capable of. – **Maki Katsuragi**
* Useless people are the result of not having the talent nor putting forth the effort to achieve results. Successful people have talent and will always put forth their best effort. Useless people will turn away from that truth and continue to rot. That's the truth of this world... of this ruthless society. – **Kinuyo Kasuga**
* Boys their age are pretty much the same as Grasshoppers. Because they hop around without any thought, like grasshoppers. – **Sakura Murou**
* You don't often get the chance to practice against champs, right? Our opponent will be strong. And even though we'll probably lose, we're way different than before. – **Maki Katsuragi**
* Let's find out how we've changed and how much more we can change. It'll be good because not only will we find out our true strengths, but it'll reveal our weaknesses. – **Maki Katsuragi**
* Clubs are meant for students to enjoy. There's no need to take it seriously. When winning is all that matters, no good comes from it. – **Takayuki Sakurai**
* Even so, the kids this time are really pushing themselves. They want to achieve something. Saying it's fine if they don't see results are the words of adult who couldn't achieve anything. – **Takayuki Sakurai**
* We won’t be holding back even for a practice match. – **Mamoru Kadowaki**
* Thank you, Maki. Everyone’s changed so much since you’ve come. – **Toma Shinjo**

## Trivia

* The song Suisou made its debut as the opening theme in this episode.
* During the moments when each pair spends their time together, Shingo dislikes math because it makes him sleepy, while Tsubasa hates English because he sucks at memorizing words.
* During the moments when each pair spends their time together, Nao and Taiyo are having lunch together. Nao wants to practice aiming his shot at the net, while Taiyo wants to improve his rally speed.
* Maki, Toma, Yuu, and Mitsue are having dinner at Maki’s apartment with Mapo Tofu and Shimmered Mackerel on the menu.