Gaze of Two Great Powers

In Kanagawa, at Rikkai Dai Junior High. Google search to read.

In the Tennis Club's meeting room, a boy with half-closed eyes was holding the latest issue of Tennis Weekly and walked up to Yukimura and Sanada.

This boy's name was Yanagi Renji. After joining Rikkai Dai, he, along with Yukimura Seiichi and Sanada Genichiro, had completely taken control of the Rikkai Dai Tennis Club with their superb tennis skills.

At this moment, Yanagi Renji handed the Tennis Weekly to the two of them. "This is the latest news published in Tennis Weekly. It contains the latest information on Hyotei."

The two took the Tennis Weekly and saw four boys in gray and white sportswear on the cover.

The moment they saw the cover, Yukimura and Sanada's gazes fixed on the boy standing on the back left.

Seeing that familiar face, Yukimura Seiichi's blue eyes held a hint of complexity. The first time he ever lost a match was to this boy.

Sanada, meanwhile, adjusted the brim of his cap. After that defeat in an elementary school match, he realized that there were actually peers in this world who could be so powerful.

Noticing the extremely complex and unusual expressions on Yukimura and Sanada's faces when they saw the cover, Yanagi Renji couldn't help but ask, "Is that Kannagi Shinichi really as powerful as the rumors say?"

After all, having spent the past few days together, Yanagi Renji knew the tennis abilities of the two. If he were to face them now, he would have no chance of winning.

Yet, even as strong as Yukimura and Sanada were, they had both lost to the current Hyotei captain, Kannagi Shinichi, a few days ago.

He really wanted to know if this Kannagi Shinichi was truly as powerful as the rumors claimed.

Hearing Yanagi Renji's question, the two withdrew their thoughts. Yukimura Seiichi's tone carried a hint of bitterness. "The information published in those tennis magazines is indeed true. Currently, no one in the junior high tennis world can match Kannagi Shinichi's strength, not even me."

Recalling the past when Kannagi Shinichi unleashed his Thunderclap Eight Trigrams, Yukimura Seiichi's eyes held a touch of sadness.

"What... the news published in the tennis magazines is actually true..."

Yanagi Renji remembered the photos published in those magazines of Kannagi Shinichi smashing through a wall with a tennis ball. At the time, he hadn't quite believed it. But hearing Yukimura say it himself today, he finally believed that such a terrifying monster truly existed in Japan's youth tennis world.

Sanada Genichiro beside him closed his eyes in pain. "His strength is at its absolute limit. When I played against him, I couldn't win a single point."

"This..."

Yanagi Renji wanted to say "How is that possible?", but since it was Sanada Genichiro who said it, Yanagi Renji couldn't help but believe him.

After a long while, Yanagi Renji calmed his shock and looked at the cover of the Tennis Weekly, gazing at the four young faces on it.

He felt a sense of crisis regarding Rikkai Dai's prospects of winning the national tournament.

Yanagi Renji pointed to the other three on the cover. "Yukimura, Sanada, do you know these three?"

Looking at the other three unfamiliar faces on the cover, Yukimura and Sanada both shook their heads.

Sanada Genichiro even asked, "Are they all players from the Hyotei Tennis Club?"

Yanagi Renji nodded, his expression then becoming solemn.

"These three are all current regulars for Hyotei. In Hyotei's selection matches this time, these three had a perfect winning record."

After speaking, Yanagi Renji opened the page in the Tennis Weekly detailing Hyotei's news. It contained detailed information about the three of them.

Atobe Keigo, first-year student at Hyotei Academy, Vice Captain of the Tennis Club. A tennis prodigy returning from England, he had conquered the British junior tennis scene. In the Hyotei regular selection matches, he advanced to become a regular with a perfect record, not losing a single point during the matches.

Oshitari Yuushi, first-year student at Hyotei Academy, a regular in the Hyotei Tennis Club. He was known as a genius in the Kansai region. In the Hyotei regular selection matches, he also advanced to become a regular with a perfect record, not losing a single game during the matches.

Akutsu Jin, a first-year student at Hyotei Academy, is a regular member of the Hyotei Tennis Club. He joined Hyotei Academy at the invitation of the Tennis Club captain, Kannagi Shinichi. In the Hyotei regular selection matches, he secured his spot as a regular with a perfect winning record.

It is understood that Akutsu only started playing tennis after joining Hyotei Academy. Due to his outstanding physical talent, he was praised by the Tennis Club captain, Kannagi Shinichi, as a rare tennis prodigy who appears only once in a decade.

After reading the information on these three, Yukimura and Sanada's faces also showed a hint of solemnity.

Upon entering the Rikkai Dai Tennis Club, Yukimura Seiichi and Sanada Genichiro had set their sights on the national championship title.

Although they had previously considered Hyotei, where Kannagi Shinichi was, as their biggest rival.

However, at that time, Hyotei only had Kannagi Shinichi. Rikkai Dai's team advantage was far greater than Hyotei's.

But now, with the addition of three more tennis geniuses to Hyotei, it inevitably made the two of them feel more worried about their prospects in the national tournament.

After carefully reading the Hyotei news on the page, they discovered that seven of Hyotei's regulars were first-year students, which greatly surprised them.

"Hyotei? Is it strength above all else?"

Yukimura Seiichi murmured, then released his aura and said to Sanada Genichiro and Yanagi Renji, "Genichiro, Renji, let the Tennis Club re-select the regulars. This time, we must ensure that all members participate in the selection."

Yukimura Seiichi's words were decisive, his blue eyes carrying a cold glint.

"Alright, tennis has always been about strength. Only the strong can become regulars for Rikkai Dai."

Sanada Genichiro was the first to agree, and Yanagi Renji nodded beside him. "Yes, I understand. I'll go arrange the groupings for the regular selection right away."

The three of them made a major decision for the Tennis Club in this meeting room.

And because of this decision, tennis players who would have emerged in their second year in the original story, such as Niou Masaharu, Jack Sanada, Marui Bunta, and others, would now be stepping onto the stage of this year's national tournament ahead of schedule.

Osaka, Shitenhoji.

Several first-year boys were holding Tennis Weekly and gathered around a boy named Oshitari Kenya.

"Kenya, this Hyotei regular has the same last name as you. Is he a relative of yours?"

The boy who asked was named Koishikawa Kenjiro, and he was a teammate who had joined the Shitenhoji Tennis Club along with Oshitari Kenya, who was in the center of the group.

However, he was still just a regular member, while Oshitari Kenya had already become a regular for Shitenhoji.

Looking at the eager curiosity of his surrounding teammates, the always enthusiastic Oshitari Kenya naturally didn't hide anything. He nodded slightly, "Mm, Oshitari Yuushi, he's my cousin."

"I really envy you two brothers, one a Shitenhoji regular, and the other a Hyotei regular..."

"Hyotei is a powerhouse in Tokyo, a Final Four participant in last year's national tournament. Kenya, your cousin must be very strong, right?"

"Mm, he's very strong. I've never beaten him in our matches, not even once."

When Oshitari Kenya heard someone ask, he didn't hide anything. After all, Oshitari Yuushi's genius was spread by his own words.

Listening to Oshitari Kenya's words, someone immediately asked again, "Then he must be one of the top players at Hyotei, being able to defeat Kenya."

However, Oshitari Kenya shook his head upon hearing this. "I spoke with my cousin on the phone, and he said the other three at Hyotei are the real monsters. Aside from the captain Kannagi Shinichi, Akutsu and Atobe Keigo are also ridiculously strong."

The first-year members of the Shitenhoji Tennis Club were discussing news about Hyotei amongst themselves.

Behind them, a young man with a toothpick in his mouth muttered softly, "I didn't expect Hyotei to get Atobe Keigo and Akutsu after getting Kannagi Shinichi. This year's Hyotei is truly strong..."

He then glanced at Oshitari Kenya, who was surrounded in the middle, and couldn't help but sigh, "That little guy named Oshitari Yuushi, who can easily defeat Kenya, is probably a monster too..."

On the other side, Tokyo Metropolis, Seishun Academy