Kotono Katō, best known for the expansive military drama Altair: A Record of Battles, has shifted gears with the launch of her latest manga, Set Match!. The series debuted on August 7 via Kodansha’s Comic Days digital platform, dropping two chapters to start its run. Katō confirmed the news via social media, noting that the title features a completely different world-building approach compared to her previous historical work.
The narrative follows Haruha, a shy student who struggles with punctuality. Her high school life takes a turn when she spots an upperclassman she admires and impulsively joins the school's soft tennis club. The situation quickly becomes complicated when she realizes the club is overseen by a teacher with a zero-tolerance policy for tardiness. As Haruha begins to feel insecure compared to her peers, a timely piece of advice from her instructor serves as a catalyst for her personal growth.
This project follows the conclusion of Katō's long-running hit, Altair: A Record of Battles, which wrapped up its 27-volume run in late 2023. While that series—a 7.56-rated political epic produced by MAPPA—focused on the youngest Pasha of the Türkiye Stratocracy and the heavy costs of war, Set Match! appears to be a more grounded, character-driven school story. Fans of Katō's meticulous character work may find this shift to a sports-centric setting a refreshing change of pace.
