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Mod Note: This review was initially posted for the one-shot, Meteor Strike, and was subsequently merged into Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan.

This is the oneshot that was at the end of the final volume of Rurouni Kenshin. After reading the satisfying ending of Rurouni Kenshin, the reader is treated to the light and happy story that is Meteor Strike.

After reading a story filled with people dressed in traditional Japanese wear, it was kind of a shock to see people dressed in school uniforms. That was the first thought that came to mind when I first read this.
And the main characters? Boy, Watsuki loves, loves writing ... about silly yet lovable protagonists (just look at Kazuki! Kenshin!) and strong, loud, female characters ready to rein in their idiocy.

Like Rurouni Kenshin, and most other shonen stories, the protagonist, Shinya gains a power (in this case a meteorite which gives him supernatural strength) which he uses to protect the people around him instead of using it for personal gain. In this way Shinya matures a bit and his energetic friend, Chiho begins to see him not as the nincompoop she once had to take charge of, but as a protector.
All in all an enjoyable quick read filled with all expected elements of a fun and happy shonen story.

Meet Eiichirou 'E-Chan' Maruo. A straight-A honor student and the kind of guy you could get a few study pointers from. Upon entering high school he realizes that up till now his whole life has been about studying and getting good grades. Feeling a need for more exercise, he adjusts his study schedule to exercise on his own time rather than committing to a sports club. However, he is prompted by his mother to go check out the local tennis club. And that's where E-Chan's progress begins.

The manga takes care to explain tennis terminology and rules for newcomers.
It realistically shows the amount of work ... taken to train and prepare one's body for a match and how rewarding it is to win due to one's efforts. The reader follows E-Chan as he builds up his physical and mental strength, all the while tackling tennis as he has always done for any other subject: studying. E-chan's method of studying consists of observation, memorization, execution, and repetition. A method to perfect one's accuracy, power, and balance. A method that may remind Prince of Tennis fans of Inui's data tennis.
As the story progresses he gains a rival, a possible love interest and a coach who takes interest in his growing potential as expected of a sports manga. With each match he plays, tennis becomes more and more enjoyable to him.

(Prince of Tennis readers, this may be a manga about tennis but it is not in the style of Prince of Tennis. There are no special skills come into play, there are no "mental states" to unlock and the hero does not develop a super powered move in the middle of the match.)

This is a story about realistic progress. So expect losses. Expect improvement from those losses. And expect those losses to turn to victories.
Read it when you're in the mood for a normal, down-to-earth, not over-the-top sports story.