Feeling the imposing presence of the four, Inoue Mamoru looked at them with keen interest.
Kannagi Shinichi, hailed as the foremost talent of a new era; Atobe Keigo, a young prodigy who had conquered the United Kingdom's junior tennis scene; Oshitari Yuushi, a renowned tennis genius from Osaka; and Akutsu, whom Kannagi Shinichi himself had brought into Hyotei's tennis club. Judging by Akutsu's appearance, he was no ordinary person, either.
When the four heard that Inoue Mamoru wanted to interview them, only Akutsu showed a trace of impatience. The others didn't refuse.
"We've still got a little time, so go ahead and ask whatever you want, Mr. Inoue."
As the captain, Kannagi Shinichi naturally spoke for them. Even Atobe Keigo, who loved being in the spotlight, didn't object.
"Great, then I'll take you up on that." Inoue Mamoru took out a pen and notebook, found a seat, and sat down. After looking around at the people at the table, he continued, "From what I understand, many new players have joined Hyotei this year, including prodigies like Atobe and Oshitari. I'd like to ask you, Kannagi: how do you see Hyotei's strength right now?"
At Inoue Mamoru's question, Atobe and the others paused their meal and turned to Kannagi Shinichi.
Kannagi Shinichi didn't take long to think. He paused briefly, and the stern expression on his face softened into a faint smile. "We've gained a lot of excellent players this year. Even though they've only just started middle school, they're every bit as strong as the older players at other schools. So Hyotei is strong this year—stronger than every other school."
"From what you're saying, Kannagi, Hyotei's goal this year is to win the National Tournament." Stronger than every other school meant the best in Japan.
"Not just this year. Next year, and the year after that, too. Hyotei is going to make history by winning the National Tournament three years in a row."
At Kannagi Shinichi's words, Atobe and the others around the table looked moved.
Watching Kannagi Shinichi and the others, Inoue Mamoru thought to himself, If these players are involved, Hyotei's tennis club might really achieve three consecutive National Tournament championships.
After writing down Kannagi Shinichi's words, Inoue Mamoru turned to Atobe Keigo and Oshitari Yuushi. "I'd like to ask you both: why did you choose Hyotei for middle school?"
Atobe's handsome face bore a faint smile as he replied, "Hyotei Academy was built by the Atobe Financial Group in the first place. As the eldest son of the Atobe Financial Group, it was only natural that I'd choose Hyotei..."
"I chose Hyotei because I wanted a change of scenery." After Atobe finished, Oshitari explained why he had come to Hyotei.
Inoue Mamoru hadn't expected the two of them to have chosen Hyotei for reasons that had nothing to do with tennis.
Then he turned to the last of them, Akutsu, and asked, "Akutsu, I heard that Kannagi recommended you to Hyotei?"
Akutsu simply shook his head coldly. "No. I'm just following him and learning tennis."
"Learning tennis?" Inoue Mamoru looked puzzled by Akutsu's answer.
"He only started playing tennis recently," Kannagi Shinichi interjected. "He may be a beginner, but his tennis talent is among the best of his generation. He's a once-in-a-decade prodigy."
At Kannagi Shinichi's words, Atobe and Oshitari's expressions shifted. They hadn't expected Kannagi Shinichi to rate Akutsu so highly.
"How does Akutsu's talent compare to yours, Kannagi?"
After glancing at Akutsu, Kannagi Shinichi replied evenly, "He's still a long way from me. At his current level, his talent can only be compared to Yukimura Seiichi and Sanada Genichiro."
Atobe didn't know Yukimura or Sanada, so he had no idea what Kannagi Shinichi meant.
But Inoue Mamoru and Oshitari Yuushi knew that the two Kannagi had mentioned were already national-level players. That showed just how great their talent was.
Yet Kannagi Shinichi said Akutsu's talent was comparable to theirs. Inoue Mamoru and Oshitari Yuushi couldn't help being shaken. They looked at Akutsu as if he were a monster.
Atobe Keigo noticed their expressions and asked, "Are Yukimura Seiichi and Sanada Genichiro really that strong?"
"At least stronger than you are now," Kannagi Shinichi teased from the side.
"Hmph!" Atobe merely snorted without replying, but disbelief was written all over his face.
"Don't doubt it. I've played against them, and they really are stronger than you right now." Kannagi Shinichi could tell what Atobe was thinking at a glance. A faint smile returned to his stern face. "They may be stronger than you now, but when it comes to talent, you and Akutsu might surpass them. It may not take long for you to catch up."
At Kannagi Shinichi's words, both Akutsu and Atobe Keigo looked pleased. Everyone liked hearing praise.
"Hmph." Atobe Keigo snorted again, then said proudly, "If I get the chance, I'd like to play them."
A flicker of excitement crossed Akutsu's face. He played tennis to change his life, and having his talent recognized by someone stronger than him was the best encouragement he could ask for.
As Kannagi Shinichi assessed the talent of Atobe Keigo and Akutsu Jin, Oshitari Yuushi looked at him with keen anticipation. He wondered what the first-year captain thought of his talent.
Seeing the expectant look in Oshitari Yuushi's eyes, Kannagi Shinichi shared his thoughts about him. "Oshitari, I've heard you have a thousand tricks on the court?"
"They're just little tricks. They don't really count as special moves." Oshitari Yuushi answered modestly. Compared to the techniques used by Kannagi Shinichi and the others, his own tricks really didn't amount to much.
Kannagi Shinichi didn't argue. He nodded. "You have plenty of talent, too. Otherwise, you wouldn't have developed so many techniques. But because you've learned such a wide range, you don't have many moves that can truly decide a match.
"So I suggest you refine your techniques, keeping what's useful and discarding what isn't. Polish your match-winning moves to perfection. That's the only way you'll keep up with us."
Though Oshitari Yuushi wasn't as talented as Kannagi Shinichi or Atobe, he was certainly no less talented than Fuji Syusuke.
Why was it that, in the original story, the two were both called geniuses, yet one eventually joined Japan's U-17 team as a key player from the middle school division, while the other gradually faded into obscurity at Hyotei?
It wasn't because Oshitari Yuushi was less talented than Fuji Syusuke. It was because Fuji Syusuke understood that those little tricks were useless against truly formidable opponents. Instead, he focused on developing moves that could decide a match.
Even at the start of the original story, Fuji Syusuke only had three counter shots, yet he was still stronger than Oshitari, who had a thousand tricks.
There was no other reason. Fuji Syusuke had simply mastered those three counter shots completely.
Listening to Kannagi Shinichi, Oshitari Yuushi seemed to understand. He nodded slightly at Kannagi Shinichi. "I understand, Captain."
Meanwhile, reporter Inoue Mamoru watched Kannagi Shinichi point out the weakness in Oshitari Yuushi's game and couldn't help thinking, Kannagi Shinichi will make a good captain.
"Mr. Inoue, would you like to take a photo for the article?" Kannagi Shinichi turned to Inoue Mamoru. "If so, the four of us can take one together."
Inoue Mamoru didn't refuse. He took out his camera, and Kannagi Shinichi arranged the four of them into position.
They stood in two rows, with Akutsu and Atobe Keigo crouching in front while Kannagi Shinichi and Oshitari Yuushi stood behind them.
All four of them wore faint smiles, even Akutsu...
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