"Whoa, so that's why Sanada got so worked up when he ran into Tezuka later!"
At the other end of the court, Saeki Muneyoshi had originally planned to leave right away. But just as he reached the entrance, he happened to hear the sound of a match and instinctively came over. By sheer luck, he witnessed this classic scene.
This was where Tezuka and Sanada's love-hate rivalry began!
Sanada was, honestly, the strongest player in this competition apart from Yukimura. He had no real rivals.
The unfortunate part was that right from the start, he had run into Tezuka, who was already at the pinnacle of middle-school tennis.
In the original world, Tezuka had been badly injured and spent three years sidelined!
And even then, three years later, he still ranked among the very best.
Once his injury had mostly healed, he began developing all sorts of inhuman techniques.
By the time he returned to the court, hardly anyone his age—despite having had three years to grow in Japanese middle-school tennis—could stand up to him.
Sometimes, it really was all a matter of timing and fate.
And compared with the way Yukimura slowly wore down his opponents, Sanada preferred imposing his will and settling matches head-on. Facing a fully healthy Tezuka was especially devastating for him.
The loss was harsher, and the blow hit harder!
Even Muneyoshi, watching from the sidelines, could see the match more clearly because he had practiced kendo himself. He understood Sanada's techniques better, and could spot more of their weaknesses.
Sanada was still too green. Even Muneyoshi could see plenty of openings and flaws in his play.
And Tezuka was exactly the sort of player who seized on weaknesses, then used them to crush his opponent.
It was no wonder Sanada had kept thinking about that humiliating defeat for three years. Tezuka had steamrolled him like a father beating his son.
When all was said and done, Tezuka did have himself to blame.
He had underestimated his own abilities and failed to understand just how strong he was. Then, without thinking, he had gone too hard and crushed Sanada's spirit.
Sanada had a strong enough mind to get through it. Someone else might have ended up hating tennis after an experience like that...
What was that saying again?
Beating your friend (or wife) felt great for a moment...
"But Tezuka really is strong!"
Watching Tezuka prepare to leave, Saeki Muneyoshi narrowed his eyes and walked over.
That evening, at Muneyoshi's new home in Tokyo.
Muneyoshi's father had returned from work and was sitting on the sofa, reading the newspaper. A cup of fragrant tea sat on the coffee table, while Muneyoshi's mother cooked in the kitchen. The atmosphere was warm and peaceful.
"Auntie, I'm home!"
Saeki Muneyoshi pushed open the door and called out a greeting.
His father had long since gotten used to seeing Muneyoshi come home looking carefree, his tennis bag on his back.
"You're back... Muneyoshi, your enrollment paperwork is all taken care of. You can start middle school when the new term begins in April."
"Okay. Thank you, Father."
Tired after being out all day, Saeki Muneyoshi casually tossed his tennis bag aside and was about to collapse onto the sofa. His mother spotted him while cooking and hurriedly stopped him, then told him to go take a shower.
"Okay..."
Saeki Muneyoshi answered listlessly, then went to his room for his toiletries and headed into the bathroom.
As he washed up, he thought back over the day's encounters and the talented players he had met.
He also made plans for what he would do once he entered Fudomine...
"Tezuka, have you decided which middle school you're going to? I think Seigaku would suit you, but will you be able to lead them through the changes they need?"
"Who are you?"
"Let's get acquainted, Tezuka. My name is Saeki Muneyoshi, and I'm... I'm going to be your opponent!"
"My opponent?"
"That's right. I just watched your match, and I'm guessing you haven't had enough yet. I was wondering if you're free tomorrow. I'd like to meet you at the Itakura Tennis Club outside Yamabuki Middle School."
"You want to find out how strong you really are, don't you, Tezuka? I'll be waiting there."
As Tezuka walked home, he thought about what Saeki Muneyoshi had said before leaving, and the challenge he had issued.
It had been bizarre, yet remarkably direct.
Yes, it felt just like when he had challenged Yukimura!
"So this is how Yukimura must have felt when I challenged him?"
The strange encounter had certainly left him uncomfortable. But the shot Saeki had hit at him before leaving, and its terrifying force, had caught his attention.
Saeki had made him feel the faintest hint of danger. Tezuka was sure he hadn't imagined that fleeting sensation.
His opponent was strong. He was certain of that.
As for which middle school he would attend, there was no question. He had graduated from Seishun Elementary, so Seigaku was the obvious choice.
He was puzzled by what Saeki had said about leading Seigaku through changes, but he didn't give it much thought.
He was more interested in the match Saeki had challenged him to.
"The Itakura Tennis Club outside Yamabuki Middle School, huh? I'll go take a look tomorrow."
Tezuka calmly adjusted his glasses and walked on into the sunset.
The next day.
In an alley near Yamabuki Middle School, a rebellious-looking boy with gray-white hair and a bowl cut blocked the path of several middle-schoolers who looked like delinquents.
He was planning to shake them down!
The gray-white-haired boy looked dangerous, especially with those dark golden eyes. Anyone who met his gaze felt a chill run down their spine.
The middle-schoolers had initially been ready to fight back when someone stopped them, but the moment they saw who it was, their hearts sank.
The one blocking their way was Akutsu Jin.
He was an oddball who made a habit of shaking down delinquents near middle schools.
His presence made every delinquent lose sleep.
"You know the rules. Hand over your money!"
Akutsu Jin's eyes were razor-sharp. He didn't care how many of them there were as he spoke in a cold voice.
The delinquent middle-schoolers were intimidated by Akutsu Jin's reputation, but they were delinquents themselves. They weren't going to be scared off so easily.
Akutsu Jin didn't mind. In fact, he preferred it when people fought back instead of handing over their money without a fuss.
Seeing signs of resistance from the group, he couldn't help getting excited.
What followed was a chaotic, spectacular scuffle. Before long, Akutsu Jin emerged from the alley with his pockets stuffed full of cash.
Under a tree across from the alley, a boy about his age watched the scene with a grin, a tennis bag on his back and a drink in his hand.
As soon as Akutsu Jin stepped out, he saw Saeki Muneyoshi grinning at him. He immediately scowled and glared viciously.
That trick had always worked on "good students." He had assumed this one would be scared out of his wits too, but Muneyoshi only grinned wider.
"Hey, brat. What are you laughing at?"
Akutsu Jin strode over and seized Saeki Muneyoshi by the collar. He craned his neck, his pupils contracting sharply as he glared viciously at him.
Muneyoshi just smiled again, glancing at the arm gripping his collar, wrapped in bandages.
Without a care, Muneyoshi tossed his empty can into the nearby trash can. Then he spun around, grabbed Akutsu's arm, and threw him over his shoulder.
"Thud!"
Akutsu was caught slightly off guard by Muneyoshi's sudden move. A moment later, the world spun around him, and his back slammed hard against the ground. At the same time, his opponent's devilish voice rang in his ears.
"Hands up! Akutsu, hand over your money."
Hearing those familiar words and feeling the pain in his back, Akutsu Jin was overwhelmed by humiliation.
He!
Akutsu Jin!
Had actually been thrown to the ground—and now the other guy wanted to rob him.
How utterly brazen!
"Ha! Who do you think you are? You sure are one cocky bastard!"
By now, he was furious. His eyes flashed with menace as he swung a vicious punch.
"Don't get too full of yourself, brat. I'm going to teach you a lesson!"
"In Tokyo, nobody gets to be tougher than me, Akutsu Jin."
Before you continue