Karupin
Ryoma's Himalayan cat serves as more than just a cute mascot—the series uses Karupin as a running symbolic mirror for what's happening in Ryoma's tennis matches. Nanjirou will mess with or tease Karupin in ways that directly parallel the flow of Ryoma's games. When Karupin manages to escape or overcome Nanjirou's teasing, it's usually a sign that the tide is about to turn in Ryoma's favor on the court. It's a clever visual shorthand that gives you a heads-up before the actual match shift happens.
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