Character Relationship Map: Baby Steps

Characters

• Eiichiro Maruo (played by Taishi Murata) — protagonist

  A first-year honor student who joins the Tennis Club to address his lack of exercise. Despite having no prior experience and poor physical conditioning, he leverages his intelligence, dedication, and...

• Natsu Takasaki (played by Minako Kotobuki) — protagonist
• Takuma Egawa (played by Daisuke Namikawa) — supporting
• Himeko Sasami (played by Asami Seto) — supporting
• Yukichi Fukasawa (played by Hiro Shimono) — supporting
• Coach Yusaku Miura (played by Taiten Kusunoki) — supporting
• Kojirou Kageyama (played by Takuma Terashima) — supporting
• Takuya Miyagawa (played by Tetsuya Kakihara) — supporting
• Yuuki Tajima (played by Chisa Yuuki) — supporting
• Coach Ryuuhei Aoi (played by Kohsuke Toriumi) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Eiichiro Maruo → Coach Ryuuhei Aoi (Professional Mentor) — Additional tennis coach who provides guidance
• Takuma Egawa → Coach Ryuuhei Aoi (Professional Student-Coach) — Takuma is coached by Aoi who develops his natural talent
• Coach Yusaku Miura → Coach Ryuuhei Aoi (Professional Colleague) — Respectful relationship between two tennis coaches
• Eiichiro Maruo → Coach Yusaku Miura (Professional Mentor) — Tennis coach who guides Eiichiro's development

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Natsu Takasaki → Takuma Egawa (Social Friend) — Friends who compete in tennis together
• Eiichiro Maruo → Yuuki Tajima (Alliance Teammate) — Tennis club teammate who supports Eiichiro
• Eiichiro Maruo → Takuya Miyagawa (Alliance Teammate) — Tennis club teammate who practices together
• Eiichiro Maruo → Kojirou Kageyama (Conflict Rival) — Skilled tennis player who challenges Eiichiro
• Eiichiro Maruo → Yukichi Fukasawa (Social Friend) — Fellow tennis enthusiast who encourages Eiichiro
• Eiichiro Maruo → Himeko Sasami (Social Friend) — Supportive friend in the tennis club
• Eiichiro Maruo → Takuma Egawa (Conflict Rival) — Competitive tennis players with different approaches
• Eiichiro Maruo → Natsu Takasaki (Social Friend) — Fellow tennis club members who support each other

Story Analysis

The two-season narrative follows a methodical student as tennis changes from a practical exercise into a demanding professional ambition. The central progression moves from written analysis and basic control toward instinct, adaptation, and strategic risk.

Plot Progression

1. Season 1: First Serve — The student enters a tennis club for exercise and gradually discovers genuine commitment to the sport. Early matches reveal both his discipline and the limits of relying only on written fundamentals.
2. Season 1: Method and Risk — Training becomes more specialized as the player studies opponents, experiments with tactical risk, and develops psychological awareness. His progress turns local competition into a serious professiona...
3. Season 1: Professional Threshold — The player confronts elite junior opposition, investigates professional tennis, and endures an extreme conditioning program. His journey shifts from learning the basics to testing whether his body and...
4. Season 2: Foreign Expansion — A Florida training experience exposes the player to stronger competition and forces him to confront recurring pressure-related mistakes. Matches abroad also show that his detailed notes can be exploit...
5. Season 2: Instinct and Adversity — Back home, the player learns to balance analysis with instinct while pursuing the prefectural and Kanto junior tournaments. Unpredictable opponents, hostile pressure, and high stakes push him toward a...