Thanks to Ebihara, Ryo gets to participate in the badminton team's practices before entering high school. His practices at Yokohama Minato with students recruited by Ebihara from other schools and his idol Yusa begin!!

Five-time Inter-High champions Saitama Futaba Academy arrive for their practice match. However, the third-years that make up the main force of their team are absent. When they realize they've been underestimated, the members of Yokohama Minato are eager to fight. However, once the matches begin, it becomes clear that the difference in skill is great, and the first-years are defeated soundly. Among the Saitama Futaba players is a standout player named Date. With the skills to defeat even Hongo, he apparently has some history with Yusa...

The training camp from hell begins. Ryo decides he'll make use of his perseverance, which is his greatest strength. As Ebihara taught him, he watches closely and thinks carefully as he follows the training schedule. While doing his laundry at the end of the first day, Ryo is deep in thought about Yusa and the other upperclassmen. They build their stamina regularly and seem perfectly fine even after a hard day of training. While Ryo is contemplating how impressive they are, Akira comes along. He seems to have figured something out and tells Ryo a certain story about Yusa...

Ryo's long-awaited match against Shizuo and Hiroto begins unexpectedly. At Ebihara's instructions, Ryo targets Shizuo, who is injured. Though Shizuo is playing well, he suddenly feels a sharp pain in his leg and falls. Ryo is distraught, but Ebihara tells him to continue the attack. Ryo attempts to steel his resolve, but the burden accumulating in his heart clearly causes him to play poorly. When the match resumes, Ryo's mistakes become increasingly obvious

Spring arrives, and Ryo becomes a second-year. His class is selecting committee members, but nobody volunteers to take on the burdensome responsibilities of the recreation committee. Ryo reluctantly accepts the job so the class can move forward. He holds a meeting to plan a class party, but his classmates are unenthusiastic. Ryo does his best to make the party a success despite the trouble they're giving him. Meanwhile, Yokokawa has troubles of his own. The badminton team is experiencing its own problems.

The Inter-High has finally begun. Yokohama Minato makes steady progress and advances to the semifinals. Ryo nearly breaks under the pressure, but he overcomes it with help from his friends. Then the semifinals begin. Their opponent is Hirayama. Misaki is eager to play against Yusa in order to conquer his past trauma, but he doesn't get his wish and is instead matched up against Ryo. Ryo faces Misaki's resolve and passion and meets them with all his heart and soul!!