Ep 24. Ryoma's Holiday

In The Prince Of Tennis season 1 episode 24, "Ryoma's Holiday", we join our protagonist, Ryoma, on what should be a relaxing vacation with his family, but things don't go according to plan. While staying at a hot spring resort, Ryoma discovers that a famous tennis player named Nanjirou Echizen is also there. Nanjirou is Ryoma's father, who he hasn't seen in three years due to his father being away playing professional tennis. Ryoma is thrilled to see his father, but Nanjirou is acting strange and seems to be avoiding his son.

Meanwhile, the Seigaku tennis team is practicing hard for their upcoming match against St. Rudolph. The team's captain, Tezuka, is concerned about Ryoma's absence and contacts his father. After learning of Ryoma's whereabouts, Tezuka decides to pay him a visit. When Tezuka arrives at the hot spring resort, he is surprised to see Ryoma's father and learns about their strained relationship.

Throughout the episode, we see flashbacks of Ryoma's past with his father, including the time when he first learned how to play tennis. We also see how Nanjirou's absence has affected Ryoma and his desire to become a better tennis player.

As the episode progresses, we see the relationship between Ryoma and his father start to develop, with Nanjirou eventually opening up to his son and sharing his reasons for avoiding him. Meanwhile, Tezuka challenges Nanjirou to a game of tennis, eager to see the skills of the famous player.

The episode ends with Ryoma and his father playing a game of tennis, and it's evident that Nanjirou has taught Ryoma some impressive techniques. The two bond over the game, and we see a glimpse of the father-son relationship that has been missing for so long.

Overall, "Ryoma's Holiday" is a heartwarming episode that delves into the complex relationship between Ryoma and his father. It's a refreshing break from the usual tennis matches and adds depth to the characters we've grown to love.