Tezuka and Fuji's Match

"Echizen, remember to call us when you get there."

"Echizen, this is an MP3 I usually listen to. You can listen to it when you're feeling stressed; it's very effective."

"This is all the information Echizen joining the company; consider it a parting gift."

"Echizen, since they've all given you gifts, I'll give you a bottle of soy sauce instead. This soy sauce is our family's special blend, different from what you buy outside."

Inside Tokyo Airport, the Seigaku students saw Ryoma off as he was about to leave.

At this moment, Ryoma's arms were full of gifts. After Oishi put a talisman around Ryoma's neck, everyone's eyes turned to Horio.

"What's wrong? Nobody told me I had to prepare a gift."

Horio had assumed that farewell gifts were purely a matter of personal sentiment, so he hadn't prepared any at all.

However, no one bought Horio's explanation. Faced with their unwavering gazes, Horio sighed.

"Ryoma, I haven't prepared anything for you, but I can give you a piece of advice: remember why you fell in love with tennis in the first place. Only then can you become stronger and stronger."

Upon hearing Horio's words, Ryoma paused for a moment, then nodded.

Flights from Tokyo to Los Angeles...

"Alright, Echizen, you need to prepare to board. No matter where you are, concentrate fully on boarding."

As the airport boarding announcement sounded, Tezuka didn't give Ryoma any further instructions, only uttering his favorite phrase before urging him to leave.

Looking at his Seigaku teammates in front of him, Ryoma still felt a little reluctant to part.

After spending so much time together, it would be a lie to say there were no feelings involved.

"Everyone... I will work hard."

After saying that, Ryoma turned and walked towards the boarding gate until his figure completely disappeared.

"What!? Tezuka is going to compete against Fuji!?"

After everyone returned from seeing Ryoma off at the airport, Coach Ryuzaki told them some news.

"But come to think of it, it seems like neither of them has had a formal competition since first grade."

"Although they joined the tennis club at the same time, the two of them never actually played a formal match."

As a third-year student like Tezuka, Kawamura Kazuki had never seen the two of them play.

Hearing what the two said, Oishi, who was standing to the side, looked somewhat conflicted.

"Actually, they had a competition when they were in first grade..."

"What!"

"How do you know about this, Oishi? Have you seen it before?"

Oishi's words were like a bomb, sending shockwaves through everyone's minds.

"I only found out by chance from overhearing a conversation between the Coach and the Captain Yamato, and the result at the time... was that Tezuka suffered a crushing defeat."

What Oishi said earlier was already shocking enough, but now Oishi says that Tezuka suffered Tezuka defeat in that match.

The third-year regulars, who had always regarded Tezuka as their leader, all looked on in disbelief.

"It's true that the two of them played against each other, and it's also true that Tezuka suffered a crushing defeat, but I later asked Captain Yamato about the specifics, but he didn't tell me anything."

Recalling his memories from first grade, a hint of sadness flickered in Oishi's eyes.

"I can't believe it, Captain Tezuka actually suffered such a crushing defeat against Fuji- Senpai."

"That's right, Tezuka's tennis skills were already very good from his first year."

"Although Fuji's ball skills have been excellent since his first year, Tezuka definitely shouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat."

The public remained unconvinced by Oishi's revelations.

"Aren't they going to have another match soon? We can just watch it closely."

Horio understood why Tezuka suffered such a crushing defeat based on what Oishi said.

Back then, Tezuka was injured and couldn't win against Fuji, but now Tezuka is healthy.

Horio is quite interested in what kind of match a healthy Tezuka and Fuji who is already determined to win will put on.

As the two most prized geniuses of Seigaku, who will ultimately prevail?

Inside the Seigaku tennis court, Tezuka and Fuji looked at each other.

Without exchanging any pleasantries, the two simply shook hands and turned to return to the backstage area.

"This tense atmosphere makes it feel like a final match."

"These two really don't give way to each other."

The intensity of their performance had even spilled off the court, demonstrating just how much they valued this match.

"Tezuka and Fuji are two people with completely different playing styles and personalities. It's a miracle that they would be in the same school and the same grade."

What will happen when these two go all out in a match is unimaginable even to me, their Coach. Let's wait and see, and see how they demonstrate the results of the past three years."

On the sidelines, Coach Ryuzaki was also very curious about the match between the two players.

"Tezuka, it's strange, we've seen each other almost every day since first grade, but seeing each other like this across the net feels quite unfamiliar to me."

You probably can't imagine how long I've been looking forward to today's match. I will definitely give it my all.

On the field, looking at Tezuka with his poker face, Fuji opened his eyes.

After tossing the tennis ball into the air, Fuji swung his racket forcefully to hit it.

The tennis ball flew out at high speed, and Fuji ran forward.

"They actually served and volleyed right from the start!"

Facing Fuji's all-out serve, Tezuka took a few steps back.

He returned the ball and immediately moved to the net.

"The Captain too, both of them have taken the offensive."

The two players launched an aggressive attack from the start, startling the spectators.

The two players went to the net and started hitting each other, the tennis ball flying back and forth.

Fuji, after Tezuka's return, Fuji hit a short backhand shot that grazed the net.

Tezuka's eyes suddenly widened, clearly surprised.

But they could only respond hastily as a high ball appeared.

Fuji seized the opportunity, aimed at Tezuka's midcourt, and jumped to deliver a smash.

Bang...

"Fuji scores, 15:0"

"Wow, that's amazing..."

"It started off like this..."

Kikumaru and Kaitou, who were on the sidelines, were also intimidated by the intensity of the match between the two.

"Fuji seems to have predicted Tezuka would hit Lob Shot. Could it be that he deliberately hit Net Cord Shot to lure Tezuka in?"

"Huh!? No way, that's too much, Oishi Senpai."

"Even Fuji couldn't deliberately Net Cord Shot during a match like that."

"That's right, that must be it... Hahahaha..."

Oishi's somewhat forced smile betrayed him; he couldn't believe even Kawamura and Momoshiro's words.

In his view, Fuji's Net Cord Shot was deliberately designed to cause Tezuka to make a mistake.

Unaware of the situation of the people off the court, both players on the court retreated from the net to the backcourt.