Unyielding Fighting Spirit

The spectators watched Sanada Genichiro's hands, which could barely keep hold of his racket, and their faces filled with concern.

Kannagi Shinichi suddenly felt like a great villain. He couldn't help looking at Sanada Genichiro with an incredibly conflicted expression.

Sanada Genichiro couldn't withstand the power of this Two-Handed Thunderclap Eight Trigrams, a move that surpassed the One Hundred and Eight-Style Wave Ball.

Maybe in a year or two, he'd be able to return the shot. But at just twelve years old, even making contact with it had been a struggle.

"Unyielding fighting spirit. No wonder you'll become the future emperor of tennis."

Kannagi Shinichi shook his head and returned to the baseline. Since Sanada Genichiro wanted to continue, he would give it his all. That was the greatest respect he could show him.

Of course, he couldn't use the full-powered Thunderclap Eight Trigrams now. If he did, it wouldn't be tennis anymore—it would be murder.

"The match resumes. 0–15, point to Kannagi Shinichi. Sanada Genichiro to serve."

The umpire watched Sanada return to the service line. Once both players were ready, he let the match continue.

Pff...

"Fault."

Sanada Genichiro couldn't even serve Swift as the Wind anymore. His first serve had no power at all and couldn't even clear the net.

Pff...

"Double fault. The score is 0–30, point to Kannagi Shinichi."

Pff...

"Double fault."

"Game, 2–0. Kannagi Shinichi leads."

Kannagi Shinichi watched Sanada Genichiro struggle to swing his racket, and a strange feeling stirred within him.

Why had he started playing tennis? Was it only because of the system? Did he truly love the sport? If he and Sanada Genichiro had switched places, would he have forfeited? Could he, like Sanada Genichiro, give everything for tennis?

Kannagi Shinichi was utterly lost.

The spectators below the court watched in silence as the boy in the baseball cap walked to the baseline, ready to receive the serve, his hand still bleeding.

Looking at Sanada Genichiro across the court, Kannagi Shinichi smiled.

He'd fallen in love with tennis three years ago, when he first started playing. And if he were in Sanada Genichiro's place, he, too, could press forward without hesitation.

Kannagi Shinichi tossed the ball high into the air and unleashed his signature move, Dragon's Roar, once more.

"Thank you, Sanada Genichiro. You've helped me overcome the confusion in my heart."

As he swung his racket, Kannagi Shinichi silently thanked Sanada Genichiro.

Thwack...

"15–0, point to Kannagi Shinichi."

"Dragon's Roar..."

Thwack...

"30–0, point to Kannagi Shinichi."

Thwack...

"Game, 3–0. Kannagi Shinichi leads."

Yukimura Seiichi had now come to the side of the court. He'd finished his match against Sengoku Kiyosumi, shutting him out completely.

He'd already heard people say that Sanada Genichiro had been injured by a shot from Kannagi Shinichi. Now he stared blankly at his friend. "Genichiro..."

It was Sanada Genichiro's service game again.

Sanada tossed the ball, then summoned all his strength, endured the pain, and swung his trembling right hand as hard as he could.

As he struck the ball, the spectators by the court broke into synchronized applause.

Sanada Genichiro's serve was still weak, but this time, it finally reached Kannagi Shinichi's side of the court.

"The match was already decided when Sanada Genichiro chose to take Kannagi Shinichi's Two-Handed Thunderclap Eight Trigrams head-on." Watching Sanada, Tachibana Kippei shook his head. Though he admired Sanada's attitude toward the match, no matter how hard Sanada struggled, the outcome was settled.

"Sanada Genichiro..."

Seeing Sanada's determination never to retreat or give up, Kannagi Shinichi couldn't help feeling respect for him.

"But in the end, there has to be a winner..."

"And that winner will be me, Kannagi Shinichi..."

As the ball came toward him, Kannagi Shinichi gripped his racket with both hands, took his stance, and swung with all his strength:

"Ah... Two... Hand... ed... Thun... der... clap... Eight... Tri... grams!"

This shot was even more powerful than the last.

"Hey, hey, that monster feels even stronger than before." Watching Kannagi Shinichi hit the ball, Chitose Senri gave a wry smile.

Tachibana Kippei, standing beside him, heard Chitose Senri's words and shook his head dejectedly.

When the Hyotei tennis club members who'd come to watch saw Kannagi Shinichi use Two-Handed Thunderclap Eight Trigrams again, they immediately began shouting from the sidelines:

"Hyotei will win! Our captain is unbeatable!"

"Hyotei will win! Our captain is unbeatable!"

Watching this, the tennis coaches from several schools wore bitter expressions. At next year's National Tournament, Hyotei would be the greatest threat to every school.

Sakaki Taro, Hyotei's adviser, sat beside the court. His eyes lit up, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "Kannagi Shinichi, lead Hyotei to the top of the nation!"

Yukimura Seiichi stared at the shot, his face filled with shock.

He still couldn't return a shot like that.

The match continued, and the gap in the score slowly widened.

Thwack...

"40–0, point to Kannagi Shinichi."

Thwack...

"Game, 4–0. Kannagi Shinichi leads."

Thwack...

"Game, 5–0. Kannagi Shinichi leads."

"The match is over. Kannagi Shinichi wins, 6–0."

The match had ended, and the spectators throughout the court applauded—not only for the winner, Kannagi Shinichi, but also for Sanada Genichiro, who had never given up.

"I didn't think Sanada Genichiro would really get shut out by Kannagi Shinichi." Shishido Ryo looked at Sanada Genichiro just as he himself had been looked at before.

"Hahaha, that's how it should be. He's going to be our captain one day, after all." Mukahi Gakuto gazed at Kannagi Shinichi with fervent admiration.

When the Hyotei tennis club seniors had been shouting earlier, Mukahi Gakuto couldn't help joining in. Shishido Ryo had even called him embarrassing.

"That guy, Sanada Genichiro, is strong. He's already crossed the threshold into the national level. Kannagi Shinichi is just stronger—his power has surpassed the national level. So, little Shiraishi, you'd better work hard." Mouri Jusaburou teased Shiraishi Kuranosuke.

"I'll work hard, Mori-senpai." Hearing Mouri Jusaburou, Shiraishi Kuranosuke nodded earnestly. He was now just a hair's breadth away from reaching the national level.

Outside the court, people talked animatedly. On the court, the racket had slipped from Sanada Genichiro's hand, its handle still stained with blood.

Drip, drip...

The hand Sanada had been gripping the racket with was still bleeding.

Sanada Genichiro pulled his baseball cap down hard and lowered his head without saying a word.

Kannagi Shinichi came to Sanada Genichiro's side and held out his hand. A wry smile touched his lips. "You really are something."

Sanada Genichiro saw Kannagi Shinichi's outstretched hand, then raised his head.

At first, he'd thought Kannagi Shinichi was just mocking him. But when he saw the sincerity in those eyes, Sanada Genichiro knew that Kannagi Shinichi truly meant it.

Still, for some reason, Sanada Genichiro couldn't help feeling a pang of sadness.