TV-Series
Description
Jusaburo Mori is a first-year high school student who stands out for his exceptional natural talent, which initially allowed him to succeed with minimal effort. Born on January 3rd in Hyogo Prefecture and bearing B-type blood, he is a tall and lean individual. His most distinctive physical features are his long, wavy, shoulder-length brown or curly red hair, which contributes to his laid-back and somewhat carefree appearance. His journey through the world of competitive tennis is marked by a significant transformation from a notoriously lazy genius into a dedicated and reliable member of Japan's U-17 national team.

Mori's background is unique, as his path to becoming a top player was not a straight line. He first attended Shitenhouji Middle School in Osaka before transferring to the powerhouse Rikkai University Affiliated Middle School in Kanagawa for family reasons. Despite his incredible gifts, he was infamous at Rikkai for his apathetic attitude and habit of skipping tennis practice, much to the frustration of his serious-minded juniors like Seiichi Yukimura, Genichirou Sanada, and Renji Yanagi. He relied solely on his raw talent, even winning matches at the national level without dedicated training, which created a significant rift between him and his teammates who valued discipline and hard work.

The defining turning point in Mori's life came after a humiliating defeat. Early in his high school career, he suffered a 0-6 loss to Tsukimitsu Ochi of Hyotei Academy, an experience that also left him injured. While contemplating quitting tennis during his hospital stay, he witnessed Seiichi Yukimura's fierce and determined rehabilitation from a serious illness. This sight was a profound wake-up call, inspiring deep self-reflection and a complete change in his attitude. He committed himself to rigorous daily training and began secretly leaving sports drinks for Yukimura at his bedside, an anonymous act of kindness that earned him the nickname the "Sports Drink Fairy" from the young tennis prodigy.

Following his transformation, Mori won a newcomers' tournament without dropping a single set, which secured him an invitation to the exclusive U-17 Japan Selection Camp. At the camp, he was initially ranked as the number 10 player among the elite "Genius 10" on the first-string team. The coaches, aware of his past, deliberately paired him with Tsukimitsu Ochi to help curb his remaining lazy tendencies. This partnership proved to be a masterstroke, as the two developed a formidable on-court synergy and a deep mutual respect. Mori affectionately calls his partner "Tsuki-san" and is fiercely loyal to him, once vowing to restore Ochi's ranking after a poor performance. Together, they are widely recognized as a "Super High School Doubles" pairing.

Mori's interpersonal relationships are central to his character development. His relationship with his former Rikkai junior, Renji Yanagi, was initially poisoned by resentment over Mori's past laziness, which had prevented Yanagi from collecting reliable data on him. However, during the U-17 World Cup quarterfinals against France, they were forced to partner in doubles. The tension finally broke when Yanagi recognized the sports drink on their bench, realizing Mori was the secret benefactor who had supported Yukimura. This reconciliation allowed them to work together effectively, with Mori even employing a unique strategy to aid Yanagi's data collection.

On the court, Jusaburo Mori is an all-rounder who plays right-handed. His most notable ability is a technique called REM Sleep, a state of deep concentration he can enter almost instantly. By putting his brain into a state resembling deep sleep, he eliminates all stray thoughts and achieves a pure, almost instinctive level of focus. This allows him to exhibit his full potential without any mental interference. Another signature and more bizarre technique involves voluntarily dislocating his own joints. This painful and extreme maneuver allows him to return shots from seemingly impossible angles, a desperate measure he used to counter Atobe Keigo's powerful "Atobe Kingdom" technique. His playstyle is highly adaptable, and his mental fortitude is considered his greatest asset, earning him a score of six out of seven in official stats. Despite his earlier aloofness, Mori's actions consistently reveal a deep care for his teammates, and he has grown from a gifted slacker into a calm, strategic, and indispensable pillar of the Japanese team, one who is considered a future leader of Japanese tennis.
Cast