Mouri Jusaburou was still a Shitenhoji player. In the original timeline, he joined Rikkai Dai before the Kanto Tournament began.
It seemed that after his mother passed away, his father had moved the whole family to Kanagawa to settle down.
So if he wanted Mouri Jusaburou to join Hyotei, he might have to convince not only Mouri himself, but also his family.
Of course, Kannagi Shinichi was confident he could persuade Mouri Jusaburou. Unlike people like Yukimura Seiichi and Tezuka Kunimitsu, who would give up everything for their beliefs, Mouri had an easygoing personality and took most things in stride.
He was sure that if he offered Mouri enough benefits, he could get him to join Hyotei.
After all, the future Hyotei tennis club would have Atobe Keigo, whose "money power" was nothing short of formidable.
As long as Atobe agreed to it, he could arrange a better job for Mouri's father in Tokyo. Given Mouri's personality, he certainly wouldn't object to joining Hyotei's tennis club.
So when Sakaki Taro suggested in the car that they invite Mouri Jusaburou as soon as possible, Kannagi Shinichi recommended waiting until after school started.
After all, inviting Mouri Jusaburou would take Atobe Keigo's "money power"!
The days passed, and there were only two days left until the new school year began.
So Kannagi Shinichi gave the Hyotei tennis club members a break. They would return to the club once school started.
At that moment, Kannagi Shinichi was strolling alone through the streets of Tokyo. He had the pocket money his mother had given him before he left home, and planned to sample some of Tokyo's food.
He went into a café and dessert shop, found a seat by the window, and sat down.
Just then, a beautiful waitress who looked a little older approached him with a menu. "Sir, what would you like to order?"
Kannagi Shinichi knew his appearance could be misleading, but when someone called him "sir," even his cool expression twitched.
He was only twelve, after all.
"One chiffon cake and a milk tea with less sugar, please." Kannagi Shinichi didn't explain his age. He simply ordered with an air of calm.
Before long, the food was set on the table. Kannagi Shinichi was the only customer in the shop.
He began enjoying the food in front of him.
He was in the middle of happily eating when the café's door was suddenly shoved open. Kannagi Shinichi saw a white-haired boy, dusty and wearing a defiant expression, stride inside.
Spotting the beautiful waitress from earlier, the boy pulled a small stack of yen from his pocket and shouted rudely, "Old lady, here."
The waitress didn't take the money. Instead, she began to cry quietly.
"Jin, were you fighting with someone again?"
"Quit nagging and take it..." The boy simply placed the money on the table.
Kannagi Shinichi, seated nearby, took one look at the boy and recognized him.
That grayish-white mushroom haircut, that pale face that made him look sick, and those rebellious eyes—wasn't this Akutsu Jin, who hadn't started middle school yet?
Perhaps sensing someone watching him, Akutsu Jin turned toward Kannagi Shinichi. Their eyes met.
Their gazes were completely different. Kannagi Shinichi's was calm, but Akutsu's held a dangerous edge.
Akutsu Jin recognized Kannagi Shinichi too, especially his long white hair, so close in color to his own, and that arrogant photo in Tennis Weekly. It was exactly the same.
Akutsu Jin glanced at Kannagi Shinichi, left the money on the table, and swaggered out. Just as he reached the door, he flashed Kannagi Shinichi a smile that looked extremely dangerous.
"I haven't done anything to this guy, have I?" Kannagi Shinichi didn't dwell on it. He had no intention of recruiting Akutsu into Hyotei. Akutsu was talented, but at Hyotei, his personality would only get him isolated and disrupt the club's future atmosphere.
After quickly finishing his food, Kannagi Shinichi saw the same waitress again when he went to pay. By then, he had figured out that this woman was probably Akutsu's mother, Akutsu Yuki.
He paid and didn't say anything to Akutsu's mother before leaving the café. Kannagi Shinichi didn't want to get entangled with Akutsu.
But even though Kannagi Shinichi didn't seek Akutsu out, Akutsu came looking for him.
Not long after Kannagi Shinichi left, Akutsu emerged from a dark alley and blocked his way. "You're Kannagi Shinichi, right?"
Looking at Akutsu, who was a little shorter than him, Kannagi Shinichi simply nodded.
"I heard you're good at tennis, and that you said you'd create an era of your own. Hey, aren't you a little too full of yourself?" Akutsu sneered as he moved closer, his dangerous eyes fixed on Kannagi Shinichi.
Kannagi Shinichi calmly stepped back—not because he was afraid, but because he simply didn't want Akutsu standing so close.
"What I said was just the truth." Kannagi Shinichi didn't deny his own words.
"Ha ha ha... Interesting. Very interesting." Akutsu laughed wildly, then continued, "Want to play me? I'll crush your confidence."
Hearing Akutsu, Kannagi Shinichi couldn't help shaking his head with amusement. Come on, it's not that I'm overconfident. You're the one getting carried away, Akutsu.
Don't you ever read Tennis Weekly? Didn't you see the huge hole I blasted through the low wall around the court? And you're talking about crushing my confidence.
What makes you think you can do that?
Although Kannagi Shinichi could easily beat Akutsu Jin, he had no intention of playing him. He didn't want to have much to do with him.
So Kannagi Shinichi shook his head. "I didn't bring my racket today, so I'm sorry."
"No racket? We can just go steal one. I know a court nearby. There are usually plenty of kids there who like playing tennis. We can take one from them."
Kannagi Shinichi was speechless. Akutsu was a kid himself!
"Sorry, but I still have to say no. Could you please move aside?"
Kannagi Shinichi really wasn't in the mood to play tennis today. He had finally gotten out to relax and was wearing a new outfit. He didn't want to go back covered in sweat, even if playing Akutsu wouldn't make him sweat much.
At Kannagi Shinichi's words, a dangerous smile appeared on Akutsu's face. He loved crushing those arrogant people who thought they were geniuses. There was no way he'd let Kannagi Shinichi leave.
So Akutsu Jin sneered. "What, you don't dare? Or are you scared?"
"I'm scared."
Kannagi Shinichi nodded calmly. Akutsu's expression immediately fell. This guy didn't even dare to play him.
But Kannagi Shinichi's next words made Akutsu furious.
"I'm scared I won't be able to hold back and will kill you with one shot."
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