The Showdown Between Sanada and Kaitou
"I lost. No matter how hard I tried, I still couldn't beat you. But next time it won't be like this, Renji."
"You didn't lose this time, because it wasn't a duel between the two of us. So next time, let's have a two-on-one fight, Agan."
At the net, Gan and Liu shook hands again.
After the match, the two returned to their old friendship.
Meanwhile, Kirihara and Momoshiro, who were initially at odds, shook hands instead of exchanging blows.
"Your move was really impressive, Momoshiro. My arm is still a little numb."
"So what? You still managed to beat me back when you turned into Demonization. But I won't give up so easily. Next time, I'll make you pay."
Kirihara only noticed the condition of his arm after the match, so even though his tone of voice was still a bit cheeky, his sincerity was palpable.
Momoshiro, who was never one to admit defeat, was not discouraged by this, but the thought that Kaitou, who was giving him hostile looks from the sidelines, might cause trouble gave him a headache.
After shaking hands, the two returned to the players' area.
"I'm sorry everyone, we didn't win this game..."
"It's not Momoshiro's fault. It's because my data has been faulty, so the loss in this match should be my problem."
Upon hearing Momoshiro apologize, Miki didn't try to evade the issue.
"It's alright, you've all worked hard."
"Yes, the opponent is clearly superior, so there's nothing we can do about losing."
"It's alright, don't worry about it. The score is only 1-1, we still have a chance."
"Tch, I'll come back and teach you a lesson after my match. You just wait here for now."
The Seigaku members did not blame Inui and Momoshiro for their apologies.
Only Kaitou said something harsh to Momoshiro before leaving the players' area with her tennis bag.
After the Second Doubles ended, it was time for the Second Singles match, which was Kaitou's match as the next Captain of Seigaku.
"Hmph, you viper, your opponent is Sanada. If you win, I won't fight back even if you want to beat me up."
That's how it is with two sworn enemies; they won't give an inch, whether in actions or words.
Hearing Momoshiro's somewhat skeptical words, Kaitou's competitive spirit was further stimulated.
"I'll leave the next match to you, Sanada. But your opponent is that guy named Kaitou. It'll be an easy match, so finish it quickly."
In the Rikkai Dai players' area, Yukimura simply spoke a few words to Sanada without offering any advice.
He clearly understood Kaitou's abilities, so he wasn't worried about any unexpected changes in the competition.
"I'll handle it carefully, but victory will only belong to Rikkai Dai."
Sanada did not immediately agree to Yukimura's request because he had a task entrusted to him by Tezuka.
"It seems you have your own plans, but it doesn't matter anyway. As long as we win, you can do whatever you want."
Yukimura was only slightly puzzled by Sanada's words, but he didn't press the matter further.
Since Sanada has already said he will win, and as the Captain of Rikkai Dai whose goal is to win, he doesn't care much about the process of winning.
"Next up is the Second Singles match between the Seigaku Academy Rikkai Dai Fuzoku Junior High School, player number 2. Please prepare yourselves."
Shortly after the Second Doubles ended, an announcement rang out in the stadium that the Second Singles was about to begin.
The audience, who had just recovered from the Second Doubles match, were excited again, largely because they knew who the Second Singles player was.
It wasn't because of Kaitou, but because of Rikkai Dai's tennis emperor Sanada.
"The Second Singles match is about to begin, with Seigaku Kaitou facing off against Rikkai Dai Fuzoku Junior High's Sanada."
"I never expected that Tezuka's Second Singles would fall to you. Although I don't know why you arranged it this way, I'll accept this victory without hesitation."
"Tch... Even if you're the Vice President of Rikkai Dai, I'll still beat you."
On the court, two people stared at each other in front of the net.
Sanada looked at Kaitou's fierce expression, his own expression equally cold and unfriendly.
Although Kaitou knew that the opponent in front of her was someone she could not reach, as a member of Seigaku, she also thought of Tezuka, who had already left the club.
Even if you know the odds are slim, you must give it your all until the very last moment.
"You don't actually think you can score against me, do you? If you have such unrealistic ideas, you'd better wake up sooner rather than later."
Sanada sensed the fear in Kaitou's words, and recalling Tezuka's request to him, he couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed in Kaitou.
Kaitou was about to retort, but Sanada turned and left after speaking, so he had no choice but to shut his mouth and turn away unwillingly.
"The match begins, with Rikkai Dai Fuzoku Junior High's Sanada serving."
Sanada stood at the baseline, thinking that Kaitou's most outstanding tennis skill was his stamina.
Although defeating him using his most prized tactic is the most impactful way.
However, given Tezuka's own standards, Sanada abandoned this approach of undermining the players' confidence.
So, after the referee announced the serve, Sanada immediately launched his Wind Forest Fire Mountain.
Bang!
"Rikkai Dai Fuzoku Junior High School's Sanada scores, 15:0"
He tossed the ball up, and Kaitou, whose attention was fixed on Sanada's swing, heard the ball hit the ground.
"It's an invisible swing," was Kaitou's first reaction when she turned around and saw the tennis ball behind her.
"Oh no, Sanada was this serious from the very beginning. It seems Rikkai Dai really didn't intend to delay in the slightest."
"An invisible swing... Sanada's move is even faster now."
"Kaitou is no match at all. If Sanada ends the match so cleanly, Kaitou's advantage of being good at long battles will be completely useless."
"That's his weakness, or rather, his Achilles' heel. If his opponent is much stronger than him, then even if he has great stamina, it won't help."
Off the field, even though only one goal had been scored, the Seigaku team already sensed something was wrong.
Horio made no attempt to downplay their concerns, directly addressing the issue of Kaitou.
Everyone else remained silent upon hearing Horio's words, including Kane, who had devised a series of physical training plans for Kaitou.
As Horio had already said when he gave advice to the Seigaku members, physical strength is not a decisive factor when the strength of the opponents is not equal.
Bang!
"Rikkai Dai Fuzoku Junior High School's Sanada scores, 30:0"
On the court, Sanada once again unleashed an invisible swing, serving and scoring a point amidst Kaitou's surprised expression.
"They're utterly pathetic. What is Seigaku thinking, sending someone like this to deal with Vice President Sanada?"
"It's truly baffling. Even if Tezuka left the company, Fuji should have taken his place. Instead, they've chosen a third-rate nobody to fill the position."
"No matter what, we're going to win this match. We can't even return a swing that Sanada can't see. He has no chance of winning."