A moment later, Kannagi Shinichi hung up and gave Akutsu a calm smile. "It's settled. You can go straight to Hyotei to enroll when school starts."
"Th-thanks..." Akutsu had never thanked anyone before. This was the first time, and the words came out awkwardly.
Seeing Akutsu actually thank him, Kannagi's tone softened. "You don't need to thank me. You should be grateful for your own talent."
When Kannagi called Sakaki Taro and told him there was someone with talent on par with Sanada Genichiro who wanted to attend Hyotei but couldn't afford the tuition, Sakaki had immediately told him not to worry about the fees and to bring the boy straight to Hyotei. He would handle all the enrollment procedures.
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The fees were no problem for a school that aimed to become the best in the country.
And having an ambitious tennis club advisor or coach was incredibly important for a school.
"I still have to go back and talk this over with someone," Akutsu said.
"Your mother, right?"
Akutsu nodded.
"I'll go back with you later and tell your mother about your transfer to Hyotei." Kannagi then pointed to the court. "Since we're already here, let's start practicing tennis."
"Yeah." Akutsu didn't refuse.
The two began playing on the court, but this time Kannagi held back quite a bit.
During the match, Kannagi discovered that Akutsu had not only exceptional athletic instincts, but also outstanding power, speed, flexibility, and balance.
He also noticed that Akutsu had far better judgment than most people. Even against serves Kannagi hit at reduced speed, Akutsu could accurately predict where the ball would land after just a few rallies and return it.
Akutsu said today was only his second time playing tennis, but thanks to his natural physical gifts, he could return the ball from any position. That alone put him at Kanto level.
Perhaps by his second year—or even sooner—Akutsu could reach the national level.
The two ran around the court for most of the day, only stopping when the sun was about to set. Their first day of practice was over.
Akutsu lay on the ground, panting heavily. He was covered in dust and looked utterly disheveled.
Kannagi, meanwhile, was in much better shape. Aside from his new clothes now smelling of sweat—which pained him a little—he was only slightly tired.
Looking at Akutsu sprawled on the ground, Kannagi went to the vending machine and, wincing at the expense, pulled out two hundred-yen coins to buy the two cheapest drinks.
After collecting his change, he returned to Akutsu and held out a bottle.
Akutsu took it and gulped it down. A while later, he said, "Let's go. That old woman should be home by now."
"Akutsu, remember to keep your temper in check. You need to be more considerate toward your mother. She's the one who cares about you most."
"Quit nagging." Akutsu got up and headed home, annoyed.
Kannagi could only sigh. Changing Akutsu would be a long and difficult road.
A short while later, they arrived at the small apartment where Akutsu lived. It seemed his mother rented it.
Bang—
Hearing the front door swing open with a loud crash, Akutsu Yuki, who was preparing dinner in the kitchen, knew her Jin was home. She quickly wiped her hands and came out to greet him with a smile.
"Jin, you're back..."
But when she saw how disheveled Akutsu Jin looked, her eyes immediately reddened. Her voice carried a note of reproach. "Jin, were you fighting again?"
She stepped forward and reached out to brush the dust off him, but Akutsu slapped her hand away.
"Shut up, old woman."
"I told you to keep your temper in check and treat her better." Kannagi stepped out from behind Akutsu and addressed Akutsu Yuki politely. "Hello, ma'am. I'm Akutsu's friend. My name is Kannagi Shinichi."
Akutsu Yuki recognized Kannagi Shinichi. He was the man who had come to her shop earlier that day. How had he become friends with her Jin?
She asked in confusion, "Hello, Mr. Kannagi. How did you become friends with my Jin?"
Hearing Akutsu Yuki call him "Mr. Kannagi" again, Kannagi felt like crying. Still, he managed a smile that looked worse than a grimace. "You can call me by my name, or just call me Kannagi. I'm the same age as Akutsu. We're starting our first year of middle school in a couple of days."
"Oh... I'm sorry..." Kannagi's words left Akutsu Yuki looking embarrassed. She had thought he was a high school student.
"It's all right." Kannagi waved a hand, then pointed to Akutsu, who stood beside him. "I hope you don't mind me dropping by. I wanted to discuss something with you."
"Not at all, not at all. Jin's never brought a friend home before. Come inside and sit down, and we can talk." Akutsu Yuki smiled warmly and invited Kannagi into the living room.
Once they sat down, she poured Kannagi a glass of water.
Akutsu Yuki was so welcoming that even Kannagi, who always seemed so cool and composed, didn't quite know how to handle it.
"Kannagi, was my Jin fighting outside again?" Akutsu Yuki asked, anxiously glancing at her disheveled son.
Akutsu gave a cold snort when he noticed his mother looking at him.
Seeing that Akutsu's mother seemed to have gotten the wrong idea, Kannagi explained, "No. He looks like this because we played a match."
"A match?" Akutsu Yuki looked at Kannagi in confusion.
"Yes, we just played a tennis match. That's also why I came by." Kannagi gathered his thoughts before continuing. "You probably know that Akutsu has exceptional athletic talent, and our school's tennis club needs someone like him. So I hope he'll come to Hyotei when he starts middle school."
"Hyotei?" Akutsu Yuki knew the name, of course. It was a famous private school in Tokyo, and she felt proud that it had invited her son.
But then she seemed to remember something, and worry crept across her face.
Kannagi noticed her hesitation and knew it was because of Hyotei's tuition. He quickly added, "Of course, if Akutsu goes to Hyotei, the school's tennis club advisor, Advisor Sakaki, will cover his tuition and living expenses."
"Oh!" Akutsu Yuki's face brightened with joy, but then she composed herself and said, "Jin has always made his own decisions. I'll support whatever he chooses."
Akutsu, who had been silent until then, spoke to his mother impatiently. "I've already decided to go to Hyotei. I only brought him here to let you know, old woman."
"I told you, Akutsu. Treat her better."
Akutsu only pursed his lips and gave a cold snort at Kannagi's words.
Only then did Akutsu Yuki notice that her Jin hadn't blown up this time. And when he looked at Kannagi, there was even respect in his eyes. She felt as if she were dreaming.
After a long while, she came back to herself and smiled warmly at Kannagi. "If Jin has already decided, I'll respect his choice."
Then Akutsu Yuki seemed to think of something and said playfully to Kannagi, "By the way, don't call me ma'am anymore. You can call me Yuuki, or Miss Yuuki."
"Then... Miss Yuuki it is."
After leaving Akutsu Jin's home, the start of the new school year arrived in the blink of an eye.
Kannagi Shinichi got up early from the dorm that day. A major scene was about to unfold, and he didn't want to miss Atobe Keigo's iconic moment.
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