OVA
Description
Kunimitsu Tezuka is a third-year student at Seishun Academy and the captain of the school's tennis team, a role he carries with unwavering gravity in the OVA The Prince of Tennis: Another Story - Kako to Mirai no Message. Recognized as a nationally elite player, he commands respect through a combination of stoic discipline, strategic intelligence, and all-court mastery. He stands as the team's "pillar of support," a title entrusted to him by a former captain, and he continually works to ensure that the club grows stronger under his leadership. His presence in the OVA is quietly authoritative rather than flashy, consistent with his established character.
Physically, Tezuka is left-handed and of above-average height, with a lean, athletic build. His playing style is balanced and versatile, allowing him to adapt to any opponent. His signature moves include the Zero Shiki Drop Shot, an impossibly short ball that rolls toward the net without bouncing, and the Tezuka Zone, a spin-based technique that pulls every return straight to him. He also wields the Tezuka Phantom, which forces balls out of bounds, and can access advanced states of concentration known as the Selfless State to enhance his arm strength or predictive cognition. Despite his prowess, Tezuka carries a chronic injury in his left arm, caused by a violent act from a jealous upperclassman during his first year. This history of being hurt by someone who used tennis as a weapon shaped his deep disdain for those who harm others through the sport and fuels his protective attitude toward his teammates.
His personality is defined by seriousness, strictness, and an unyielding sense of fairness. He rarely smiles and maintains a composed, almost severe expression, yet his decisions are never arbitrary. When rules are broken, he punishes the entire team equally, often with grueling lap runs, and his well-known phrase "Yudan sezu ni ikō" ("Let's not get careless") reflects his belief that constant vigilance is essential. Beneath that stern exterior, however, lies a deep sense of responsibility and a quiet nurturing instinct. He observes his teammates closely, identifies their hidden potential, and creates situations that force them to grow. He is not a captain who dictates every move; instead, he provides direction and then trusts others to rise to the occasion.
In the OVA Another Story - Kako to Mirai no Message, Tezuka's role centers on a post-Nationals visit to Osaka for practice matches with Shitenhouji Middle School. When asked about the reason for accepting the invitation, he hints that there is an ulterior motive behind the meeting, revealing his long-term thinking and his habit of looking beyond the immediate event. Rather than micromanaging the team, he delegates the creation of the lineup to the second-year players Kaoru Kaidou and Takeshi Momoshiro, putting them in a position of responsibility that challenges them to understand the purpose behind his orders. This act of delegation is a direct lesson in leadership and trust, showing how Tezuka shapes the club's future even when he is not playing. His own on-court appearances in the OVA are limited, but his influence permeates the story as the figure who sets the stage for his teammates' development.
Tezuka's motivations are deeply tied to his identity as the pillar of the team. He strives to lead Seigaku to victory at the national level, but more than trophies, he wants to cultivate a team that is strong, principled, and self-reliant. He sees the protagonist Ryoma Echizen as the one who will eventually succeed him as the new pillar, and he has risked his own arm in an unofficial match to push Ryoma toward that potential. This mentor-rival dynamic is one of his most important relationships. With Shuichiro Oishi, the vice-captain, he shares a bond of mutual trust and a long-standing promise to take the team to Nationals. Shusuke Fuji is a fellow genius and a respected rival with whom he shares an unresolved match history, and Keigo Atobe of Hyotei Academy is a proud and equally driven counterpart whose lengthy tie-break match against Tezuka became a traumatic turning point for both. His earlier encounters with Genichiro Sanada and Seiichi Yukimura of Rikkai Middle School established him as a prodigy who could hold his own against the best even before entering middle school.
Development in the OVA is subtle but consistent with the larger arc. While the main storyline shows him overcoming the psychological fear of re-injuring his arm during a medical retreat in Kyūshū, the OVA presents Tezuka as a captain who has already internalized those lessons and now focuses on passing them on. By stepping back and letting underclassmen handle critical decisions, he demonstrates that leadership is not about holding onto power but about preparing the next generation. His stoicism remains intact, yet his actions reveal a deep-seated belief in his players. This reinforces his character as a mature, self-sacrificing leader whose most notable ability may not be a tennis technique but the capacity to read people and set them on the right path.
Physically, Tezuka is left-handed and of above-average height, with a lean, athletic build. His playing style is balanced and versatile, allowing him to adapt to any opponent. His signature moves include the Zero Shiki Drop Shot, an impossibly short ball that rolls toward the net without bouncing, and the Tezuka Zone, a spin-based technique that pulls every return straight to him. He also wields the Tezuka Phantom, which forces balls out of bounds, and can access advanced states of concentration known as the Selfless State to enhance his arm strength or predictive cognition. Despite his prowess, Tezuka carries a chronic injury in his left arm, caused by a violent act from a jealous upperclassman during his first year. This history of being hurt by someone who used tennis as a weapon shaped his deep disdain for those who harm others through the sport and fuels his protective attitude toward his teammates.
His personality is defined by seriousness, strictness, and an unyielding sense of fairness. He rarely smiles and maintains a composed, almost severe expression, yet his decisions are never arbitrary. When rules are broken, he punishes the entire team equally, often with grueling lap runs, and his well-known phrase "Yudan sezu ni ikō" ("Let's not get careless") reflects his belief that constant vigilance is essential. Beneath that stern exterior, however, lies a deep sense of responsibility and a quiet nurturing instinct. He observes his teammates closely, identifies their hidden potential, and creates situations that force them to grow. He is not a captain who dictates every move; instead, he provides direction and then trusts others to rise to the occasion.
In the OVA Another Story - Kako to Mirai no Message, Tezuka's role centers on a post-Nationals visit to Osaka for practice matches with Shitenhouji Middle School. When asked about the reason for accepting the invitation, he hints that there is an ulterior motive behind the meeting, revealing his long-term thinking and his habit of looking beyond the immediate event. Rather than micromanaging the team, he delegates the creation of the lineup to the second-year players Kaoru Kaidou and Takeshi Momoshiro, putting them in a position of responsibility that challenges them to understand the purpose behind his orders. This act of delegation is a direct lesson in leadership and trust, showing how Tezuka shapes the club's future even when he is not playing. His own on-court appearances in the OVA are limited, but his influence permeates the story as the figure who sets the stage for his teammates' development.
Tezuka's motivations are deeply tied to his identity as the pillar of the team. He strives to lead Seigaku to victory at the national level, but more than trophies, he wants to cultivate a team that is strong, principled, and self-reliant. He sees the protagonist Ryoma Echizen as the one who will eventually succeed him as the new pillar, and he has risked his own arm in an unofficial match to push Ryoma toward that potential. This mentor-rival dynamic is one of his most important relationships. With Shuichiro Oishi, the vice-captain, he shares a bond of mutual trust and a long-standing promise to take the team to Nationals. Shusuke Fuji is a fellow genius and a respected rival with whom he shares an unresolved match history, and Keigo Atobe of Hyotei Academy is a proud and equally driven counterpart whose lengthy tie-break match against Tezuka became a traumatic turning point for both. His earlier encounters with Genichiro Sanada and Seiichi Yukimura of Rikkai Middle School established him as a prodigy who could hold his own against the best even before entering middle school.
Development in the OVA is subtle but consistent with the larger arc. While the main storyline shows him overcoming the psychological fear of re-injuring his arm during a medical retreat in Kyūshū, the OVA presents Tezuka as a captain who has already internalized those lessons and now focuses on passing them on. By stepping back and letting underclassmen handle critical decisions, he demonstrates that leadership is not about holding onto power but about preparing the next generation. His stoicism remains intact, yet his actions reveal a deep-seated belief in his players. This reinforces his character as a mature, self-sacrificing leader whose most notable ability may not be a tennis technique but the capacity to read people and set them on the right path.