Unbending Fighting Spirit

The spectators in the stadium, seeing Sanada Genichiro's hands almost unable to grip his racket, showed expressions of deep emotion.

Kannagi Shinichi suddenly felt as if he had become the villain. He couldn't help but look at Sanada Genichiro with an extremely complex gaze.

As he was now, Sanada Genichiro couldn't withstand the power of the Two-Handed Thunderclap Eight Trigrams, a technique that surpassed the 108 Wave Volley.

Perhaps in a year or two, he might be able to return such a shot, but for him, still in the sixth grade of elementary school, even touching this ball was extremely difficult.

"An unyielding fighting spirit, worthy of the future Tennis Emperor."

Kannagi Shinichi shook his head inwardly and returned to the baseline. Since Sanada Genichiro intended to continue, he would unleash his full strength to respond. That was the greatest respect he could show.

Of course, he couldn't use the fully powered Thunderclap Eight Trigrams right now. If he did, it wouldn't be a tennis match anymore; it would be murder.

"The match resumes, 0:15. Point for Kannagi Shinichi. Sanada Genichiro to serve."

The referee watched Sanada walk back to the service line. After ensuring both players were ready, he allowed the match to continue.

Plop...

"Fault."

Sanada Genichiro, back on the court, could no longer execute Swift as the Wind. The first serve had no power and couldn't even clear the net.

Plop...

"Double fault. Score is 0:30. Point for Kannagi Shinichi."

Plop...

"Double fault."

"Game, 2:0. Kannagi Shinichi leads."

Kannagi Shinichi watched Sanada Genichiro swing his racket with difficulty, a strange emotion stirring within him.

Why did he play tennis? Was it just for the system? Did he truly love tennis as a sport? If their situations were reversed, would he forfeit? Could he, like Sanada Genichiro, disregard everything for the sake of tennis?

Kannagi Shinichi was filled with confusion at that moment.

Meanwhile, the spectators below silently watched the boy in the cap, who was walking to the baseline to receive the serve, his hands still bleeding.

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

He realized that he had fallen in love with the sport three years ago, when he first started playing tennis. He understood that if their situations were swapped, 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 again.

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

As he swung his racket down, Kannagi Shinichi silently offered his gratitude to Sanada Genichiro in his heart.

Bang...

"15:0. Point for Kannagi Shinichi."

"Dragon's Roar..."

Bang...

"30:0. Point for Kannagi Shinichi."

Bang...

"Game, 3:0. Kannagi Shinichi leads."

On the sidelines, Yukimura Seiichi had arrived. He had already finished his match against Sengoku Kiyosumi, defeating him with a shutout.

Having heard from people earlier that Sanada Genichiro had been injured by Kannagi Shinichi's shot, he now stared blankly at his friend: "Genichiro..."

It was Sanada Genichiro's service game again.

Sanada tossed the ball and, enduring the pain, swung his trembling right hand with all his might, hitting the racket fiercely.

As the shot was delivered, neat applause erupted from the sidelines.

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

"This match was decided the moment Sanada Genichiro decided to forcefully receive Kannagi Shinichi's Two-Handed Thunderclap Eight Trigrams," Tachibana Kippei said, shaking his head as he watched Sanada. While he admired Sanada's attitude towards the match, he knew the outcome was already set, no matter how much Sanada struggled.

"Sanada Genichiro..."

Feeling Sanada's spirit of never retreating or giving up, Kannagi Shinichi couldn't help but feel a surge of respect for him.

"But a match must have a winner..."

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

As the ball approached, Kannagi Shinichi gripped his racket with both hands, assumed his stance, and swung with all his might at the incoming ball:

"Aaaah..., Two... Hand... Thunder...clap... Eight... Trigrams."

The power of this shot was even stronger than before.

"Hey, hey, that monster, I feel like his strength has increased even more," Chitose Senri said with a wry smile as he watched Kannagi Shinichi hit the ball.

Beside him, Tachibana Kippei nodded sadly at Chitose Senri's words.

The Hyotei tennis club members who had come to watch began to roar from the sidelines when they saw Kannagi Shinichi use Two-Handed Thunderclap Eight Trigrams again:

"Hyotei will win, Captain is invincible!"

"Hyotei will win, Captain is invincible!"

Seeing this scene, many school tennis coaches' faces turned bitter. Hyotei would be the biggest rival for all schools in next year's national tournament.

Sakaki Taro, the Hyotei advisor sitting on the sidelines, had his eyes starting to gleam, a faint smile on his lips. "Kannagi Shinichi, lead Hyotei to the pinnacle of the nation!"

At this moment, Yukimura Seiichi looked at this shot with a look of shock on his face.

He couldn't return this shot right now.

At this time, the match on the court continued, and the score began to slowly widen.

Bang...

"40:0, Kannagi Shinichi scores."

Bang...

"Game, 4:0, Kannagi Shinichi leads."

Bang...

"Game, 5:0, Kannagi Shinichi leads."

"The match has ended, Kannagi Shinichi wins with a score of 6:0."

The match was over, and the entire stadium's audience burst into applause, not only for Kannagi Shinichi, the victor, but also for Sanada Genichiro, who never gave up.

"I can't believe Sanada Genichiro was actually whitewashed by Kannagi Shinichi," Shishido Ryo said, looking at Sanada Genichiro as if he were looking at his past self.

"Hahaha, that's for the best. After all, he's our future Section Chief," Mukahi Gakuto said, his eyes filled with fervor as he looked at Kannagi Shinichi.

When the Hyotei tennis club seniors were shouting earlier, Mukahi Gakuto couldn't help but join in, and was even told off by Shishido Ryo for being embarrassing.

"That guy named Sanada Genichiro is strong. He's already crossed the threshold of the national level. But Kannagi Shinichi is even stronger; his power has surpassed the national level. So Shiraishi, you better work hard," Mouri Jusaburou teased Shiraishi Kuranosuke.

"I will work hard, Mouri-senpai," Shiraishi Kuranosuke nodded earnestly at Mouri Jusaburou's words. Currently, he was only a hair's breadth away from reaching the national level.

Outside the court, there was a buzz of discussion. On the court, Sanada Genichiro's racket slipped from his hand, its handle still stained with blood.

Drip, drip...

Sanada's hand, which had been holding the racket, was still bleeding.

Sanada Genichiro pulled his cap down low, head bowed, and said nothing.

At this moment, Kannagi Shinichi came to Sanada Genichiro's side, extended his hand, and said with a wry smile, "You're quite something."

Seeing Kannagi Shinichi's outstretched hand, Sanada Genichiro looked up.

He had initially thought Kannagi Shinichi was just mocking him, but when he saw the sincere eyes, Sanada Genichiro knew that the guy in front of him genuinely thought he was remarkable.

However, for some reason, Sanada Genichiro still felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.