Akutsu: Can You Teach Me How to Play Tennis?

Kannagi Shinichi eventually went to the tennis court with Akutsu. → Read on Google Search

Then he saw how Akutsu bullied the weak, chased two middle schoolers who were playing a match off the court, and took their rackets and tennis balls.

"Here." Akutsu Jin handed one of the rackets he'd taken to Kannagi Shinichi.

Kannagi accepted it and glanced at Akutsu, inwardly sighing. The guy really did have a terrible personality.

Akutsu had already walked to the baseline on the other side of the court. He called to Kannagi, "Hurry up and start. Let's see how good you really are, since everyone says you're so amazing!"

Kannagi looked up without replying and calmly made his way to the baseline.

"I'll let you serve first. Otherwise, I'm afraid you won't even be able to hold your racket afterward." Akutsu tossed the tennis ball to Kannagi, his expression full of disdain.

"You're letting me serve first?" Kannagi caught the ball, and for the first time, a mocking smile appeared on his usually cold face. "Then watch closely and see how good I really am!"

Kannagi tossed the tennis ball high into the air, then leaped nearly two meters and swung his racket with all his might:

"Dragon's Roar!"

A thunderous crack rang out. The tennis ball streaked like a beam of light, blazing with fire, and landed on Akutsu's side in an instant.

Thud...

The ball crashed onto the court. The gust of air that followed it ruffled Akutsu's hair.

Akutsu could only stand rooted to the spot, his feet unmoving, staring in shock at the tennis ball rolling along the ground behind him.

"15–0. I'm in the lead!"

There was no referee, so Kannagi coldly called out the score himself.

Kannagi had gone all out from the very first point. Akutsu was just too arrogant.

I, Kannagi Shinichi, am the strongest of the new generation. And you, Akutsu Jin, said I wouldn't even be able to hold my racket afterward? You wanted to see how good I was and even let me serve first?

I, Kannagi Shinichi, would never allow anyone in Tokyo to be better than me at tennis.

Looking at Akutsu, stunned by his shot, Kannagi mocked him again. "Well? Do you know how good I am now? Can you return that shot?"

"Bastard! I'll show you I can return it!"

At the sight of Kannagi's mocking face, Akutsu was furious with humiliation. He'd been so brazen before, and now he was being mocked so badly he wanted the ground to swallow him.

He picked up the tennis ball from the ground and angrily tossed it to Kannagi.

Whoosh!

Kannagi tossed the ball into the air again, leaped high, and swung his racket with all his strength.

"Dragon's Roar..."

The orange ball flew toward the other side of the court, trailing a howling gust of wind...

Thud...

The ball slammed into the ground with a roar that shook the entire court...

When it rolled to a stop, Akutsu still hadn't moved.

Kannagi felt that the match was pointless. Akutsu was physically gifted, but he had no foundation in tennis at all. Right now, he was simply too weak.

He set his racket down and turned to leave without looking back.

"Are you trying to run away?" Akutsu shouted from the court, watching Kannagi's retreating back.

Kannagi laughed in disbelief at Akutsu's words, turned around, and said coldly, "You can't even return my serves. What makes you think I'm running away?"

Kannagi's words infuriated Akutsu again. He glared at him viciously, looking ready to attack at any moment.

Seeing him like that, Kannagi shook his head. "Don't think the sky over Tokyo is the only sky in the world. The outside world is vast. If you ever want to play tennis, go to Yamabuki Middle School and find Coach Bandou. He'll definitely teach you."

"I don't need you lecturing me. Besides, I'm not interested in tennis at all. If you don't want to keep playing, then get lost."

Akutsu had genuinely angered Kannagi. He had been the one to insist on playing, and now he was telling Kannagi to get lost. Kannagi had never met anyone so unreasonable.

Kannagi stared at Akutsu with icy eyes. "Do you know what you look like right now? You're a complete waste, sinking into your own world and gradually turning into a social outcast."

"What did you say?" Akutsu flew into a rage, strode forward, and grabbed Kannagi by the collar, his face twisted with fury.

Kannagi wasn't about to indulge him. He slapped Akutsu's hand away and continued coldly, "I said you're a waste. A social outcast!"

Hearing Kannagi's words, Akutsu swung a punch at him. Kannagi saw it coming and quickly dodged to the side. After avoiding Akutsu's punch, he drove his own fist into Akutsu's stomach.

Kannagi was immensely strong. The blow doubled Akutsu over, and he crouched down in pain, his eyes bloodshot as he roared, "Bastard! I'll kill you!"

"That's why I said you're a waste, a social outcast. You only ever think about yourself and never spare a thought for those who care about you. Like your mother, for instance." Having thrown a punch, Kannagi felt much better, but he still spoke to Akutsu with utter disdain.

Kannagi's words made Akutsu's eyes flicker. He always called his mother "old woman" whenever he saw her, but he knew she was the person he cared about most.

Seeing that Akutsu was no longer as furious as before, Kannagi softened his tone a little. "Tennis will earn you people's genuine respect, not violence. You have a lot of talent. If you work hard and hone your skills, you'll have a place among the world's top players in the future. Then your mother won't have to worry about you anymore."

Kannagi's words left Akutsu deep in thought. All he could see in his mind was his mother crying over him.

After a long while, Akutsu finally spoke in a low voice. "Today was the second time I've played tennis. I've never learned before."

Kannagi was taken aback. Since they'd met, this was the first time Akutsu had spoken to him so politely.

"You've got a lot of talent. It's not too late for you to start learning tennis now."

Akutsu fell silent for a long time, then spoke again. "Can you make money playing tennis?"

"Of course. Professional players earn astronomical amounts every year." In the world of The Prince of Tennis, tennis players were the highest-paid athletes.

Hearing Kannagi's answer, Akutsu seemed to make up his mind. He asked coldly, "Can you teach me how to play tennis?"

"You're better off learning from someone else. You can go to Yamabuki Middle School and find Coach Bandou. He'll definitely be willing to teach you."

"No." Akutsu shook his head. "I want to learn from you, because you're stronger than me."

Akutsu's gaze was unwavering, and Kannagi found it hard to refuse. Akutsu was simply too physically gifted. If he joined Hyotei, he would become one of the school's strongest players in the future.

After a long while, Kannagi finally spoke. "I can teach you tennis, but if you join Hyotei, you'll have to give up your usual violence. Otherwise, Hyotei won't let you join."

"Fine! I agree!" Akutsu answered readily, but then he grew hesitant. "Um... well..."

"What else?" Kannagi found Akutsu's behavior rather strange.

"I know Hyotei is a school for the rich, and I don't have the money to pay the tuition."

So that was the problem. Kannagi had thought it was something serious.

"Don't worry about tuition. Someone will pay it for you."

After speaking, Kannagi took out his phone and dialed a number. "Hello, advisor..."