Prince of Tennis is not the first manga that I have read, nor is Echizen Ryoma the first fictional character that I have fallen head over heel for, but he is special nonetheless. He is a bratty little thing who disrespects his senpai tachi (upperclassmen), arrogant (rightly so), cocky, infuriating, likes to provoke his opponents simply because he can and makes unnecessary dramatic entrances. There is no other character who I want to smack on the head as much as him, but there is no other character that I love as much. His journey is not as exciting or thrilling as say, Yukimura of Rikkaidai or Tezuka, since as the main character, he gets certain privileges that other do not. In the series, he is not even the best tennis player of all times! His father still beat him, he still lost to Tezuka, and I’m pretty sure without Teni Muhou to Kiwami (Pinnacle of Perfection) Yukimura would have win against him easily, so why do I love him? Why do I commit myself to this bratty half-pint who continues to infuriate me every time I watch him play?

Simply because he is Echizen Ryoma.

I love him since the first moment he appeared on the page, correcting Sasabe on that train ride. I root for him from his first battle against the Seigaku regulars to his final match with Yukimura (which is pretty epic but totally unrealistic in term of a tennis match). He grows up, like every character with good development does, and realises there is more to tennis than just beating his baka oyaji. He grows up to love tennis, to play tennis for not just himself, but also for his team. He grows up to be Seigaku’s pillar of support. However, no matter how much he learns, how far he has reach, he never changes fundamentally. The Ryoma at the end of the series is still the same bratty, arrogant, infuriating Ryoma of the beginning, just with more friends and superior tennis skill. The Ryoma at the end of the series is still the same Ryoma that refuse to give up the fight until the very last point, refuse to back down from a challenge. The Ryoma at the end of the series is still same Ryoma that I fell in love with – a Ryoma who is brimming with optimism and conviction in himself, in his own abilities.

There is so much more to Ryoma than his foul attitude or his role as the Prince of Tennis. He represents what Konomi Takeshi wants to tell through the manga – never give up, never give in, but fight until the very end. Ryoma exists to teach the lesson that no matter how good you are, or how good you think you are, there will always be someone who is better than you, but you have the potential to be even bigger, so do not be afraid to push yourself. Look forward, but do not forget the people that help you reach your goal. And the most important lesson of all is the lesson of friendship – believe in yourself and believe in your team.

My darling prince

(credit)

To me, Ryoma is part of my childhood, part of what made up who I am today.  I love him, and will continue to love him no matter what. He can be a bratty half-pint, but he is my bratty half-pint.

Mada Mada Dane