Semifinals

Not long after Kannagi Shinichi's match ended, the other two matches had also concluded.

Sanada Genichiro had shut out Akutagawa Jirou, while Chitose Senri hadn't managed to score a single point against Yukimura Seiichi.

Just then, a middle-aged man wearing a gray pinstriped shirt and carrying a camera appeared at the edge of the court.

He glanced at the four players who remained and marveled to himself. It was one thing for Kannagi Shinichi to be strong, but he hadn't expected Yukimura Seiichi and Sanada Genichiro to be just as powerful.

Click, click!

He aimed his camera at Kannagi Shinichi, Yukimura Seiichi, and Sanada Genichiro, completely ignoring the one who kept shouting "Lucky!"

The middle-aged man was named Inoue Mamoru. He had interviewed Kannagi Shinichi before, but he'd only heard of Sanada Genichiro and Yukimura Seiichi. Today was his first time seeing them in person.

The matchups appeared once again on the stadium's big screen:

Kannagi Shinichi vs. Sanada Genichiro (Court 2)

Sengoku Kiyosumi vs. Yukimura Seiichi (Court 8)

"We're already at the semifinals. Kannagi Shinichi's next opponent is Sanada Genichiro."

Inoue Mamoru thought it would be an intense match. Sanada Genichiro might not be as strong as Kannagi Shinichi, but he shouldn't be far behind.

By now, the other players had left the courts, and Chitose Senri had returned to his seat beside Tachibana Kippei.

"You got shut out too." Tachibana Kippei gave Chitose Senri a teasing smile, though his tone carried a trace of bitterness.

"That guy's tennis is terrifying. Kannagi Shinichi, the one who beat you, is in for trouble." Chitose Senri recalled how he'd felt during the match. Helpless after losing his sight and sense of touch, he'd even considered giving up tennis for a while.

"He can't lose." Tachibana Kippei gave Chitose Senri that answer, then added, his fighting spirit rekindled, "Chitose, we have to get stronger. There are plenty of monsters in this world for us to surpass."

Chitose Senri smiled at that and sat waiting for the semifinals to begin.

Elsewhere, Yukimura Seiichi stood with Sanada Genichiro. Sanada no longer underestimated Kannagi Shinichi; instead, he regarded him with grave seriousness.

"Genichiro, that guy is strong," Yukimura Seiichi said.

"I know. But I'll beat him."

"I hope I meet you in the final, Genichiro." Yukimura Seiichi smiled gently.

"I will." Sanada tightened his grip on his racket and glanced toward the white-haired boy in the distance.

Kannagi Shinichi felt Sanada's gaze and looked back at him, curling his lips in a taunting grin.

"That Sanada Genichiro is strong. Are you sure you can beat him?" Before the tournament, Kannagi Shinichi had claimed to be the strongest among his peers.

But after watching Sanada Genichiro and Yukimura Seiichi play today, Sakaki Taro had seen for himself that, just as Kannagi had said, both were nationally ranked players.

Kannagi Shinichi merely smiled and nodded. "He still has a long way to go."

At that, Sakaki Taro's usually stern face broke into a rare smile.

Just then, the announcement came over the loudspeaker again.

"The semifinals of the National Elementary School Tennis Tournament are about to begin. Players, please proceed to your courts."

"Go on." Sakaki Taro nodded to Kannagi Shinichi, his face expressionless.

Kannagi Shinichi picked up his racket and replied, "Yes."

Kannagi Shinichi and Sanada Genichiro had already reached the net for the pre-match handshake.

"I'll beat you this time," Sanada Genichiro said resolutely.

Kannagi Shinichi merely turned away with a cool expression and said, "The only person who can beat me is myself."

"Hmph. I'll send you plummeting into defeat." Sanada Genichiro snorted and returned to the corner of the court. Kannagi Shinichi would serve first.

"The match begins. One set decides the winner. Kannagi Shinichi to serve."

Kannagi Shinichi held the ball and bounced it twice, then tossed it into the air. He leaped nearly two meters and swung his racket with all his might.

Bang!

The ball shot off with a deafening crack, landing in Sanada's half of the court like a beam of light.

Rumble...

The ball had already hit the ground, but its thunderous impact echoed throughout the entire court.

Sanada Genichiro hadn't moved a muscle. He could only stare in shock at the ball rolling along the ground.

"Hey, hey, Shishido, when did the ball go past?"

"I didn't see it either."

Even Akutagawa Jirou, who was always sleepy, had been jolted wide awake by that shot. He kept exclaiming, "That was amazing! Mukahi, Shishido, that guy is incredible!"

Watching the shot, Inoue Mamoru's mouth fell open. He murmured, "Kannagi Shinichi has gotten even stronger."

On the court, Kannagi Shinichi looked at the referee and asked coolly, "Referee, aren't you going to call the point?"

Sweat began to bead on the referee's forehead beneath his cap. He genuinely hadn't seen that shot.

The referee requested a video replay. A moment later, he announced the score.

"15–0. Point to Kannagi Shinichi."

From the baseline, Kannagi Shinichi looked at Sanada Genichiro and asked, "Could you return my Dragon's Roar?"

Sanada Genichiro didn't answer. Even he hadn't seen that ball.

"Dragon's Roar. Quite an apt name," Inoue Mamoru murmured as he watched Kannagi Shinichi from the sidelines.

"Now I understand why you said that guy couldn't lose. We can't return his serves at our current level," Chitose Senri said to Tachibana Kippei.

"He was holding back against me." Tachibana Kippei replied to Chitose Senri with another bitter smile.

Kannagi Shinichi had invented Dragon's Roar himself. He had seen Sengoku Kiyosumi earlier and knew that Sengoku would someday develop a signature move called Tiger's Roar, a technique powered by an explosive leap. Kannagi Shinichi had combined explosive force with his own strength, making the shot far faster than his usual serves.

Kannagi Shinichi took his place at the baseline again and began his service game.

Rumble...

"30–0. Point to Kannagi Shinichi."

"40–0. Point to Kannagi Shinichi."

The match continued, and a scout at the sidelines had begun using a speed gun to measure the speed of Kannagi Shinichi's serve.

"225 kilometers per hour? Is this kid really just graduating from sixth grade?"

The scout's words stunned the spectators nearby. The coaches from the tennis schools looked at Sakaki Taro with undisguised envy.

"Game, 1–0. Kannagi Shinichi leads. Change sides."

Kannagi Shinichi's service game was over. As they passed each other while changing sides, he didn't even glance at Sanada Genichiro.

Sanada Genichiro tightened his grip on his racket and gave Kannagi Shinichi a cold look. Then he returned to his side of the court, went to the baseline, and prepared to serve.

Right from the start, Sanada Genichiro used his signature move:

"Swift as the Wind!"