Not Backing Down!

Bang!!

"30–30!"

Yukimura wasn't about to back down. Since his smash could be returned that way, he'd switch to a different kind of attack.

Bang!!

"40–30!"

Bang!!

"40–40! Deuce!"

Bang!!

"40–40, advantage Kamikawa!"

Bang!!

"Game, Kamikawa, 1–0."

Change sides!

Kamikawa had broken Yukimura's serve.

But Yukimura had also gotten a rough measure of Kamikawa's ability. The conditions for triggering Giant Bear Return were especially demanding: he had to reach the ball's landing point first for it to work.

Still, to be safe, Yukimura didn't use a smash again during the rest of their rally.

After they switched service, Yukimura stood at the baseline, gripping his racket with both hands. A fierce desire to win flashed in his eyes. "We need to pick up the pace."

Bang!!

Kamikawa raised his hand and hit a powerful topspin serve, then moved toward the net.

"A serve-and-volley?!"

Shishido's eyes widened. "He never came to the net when he played against me."

"Ryo~ Is it possible you were just too weak?"

Mukahi couldn't help teasing him, his gaze fixed on Kamikawa as well.

The guy was incredibly quick when he came in behind his serve.

The serving player held the initiative in a match.

That was why a player who got broken felt more pressure during a match.

But Yukimura was highly skilled. He immediately hit a high-quality crosscourt backhand, forcing Kamikawa back to the baseline. The two of them raced back and forth along the baseline.

Smack!

After several exchanges, Yukimura suddenly hit a drop shot.

Kamikawa saw it and sprinted forward. He flicked his racket under the ball and sent up another lob. Yukimura leaped into the air, poised to smash.

Thwack!!

The ball struck the net with a crisp sound, bounced a short distance away, and fell.

"0–15!"

So the smash was a feint, and he'd actually played a drop shot?!

Kamikawa turned to look at Yukimura. The key to Giant Bear Return was sensing the opponent's attacking move ahead of time, anticipating the path of a smash, and countering it.

That took a certain feel for the ball. But Yukimura's feel was even better, and he'd also spotted the flaw in Giant Bear Return: he'd delayed his smash.

That weakened the smash, but the late contact point really did alter where the ball went. It could even force the ball into the net for a drop shot like this.

"What incredible judgment."

Inoue couldn't help exclaiming. He immediately picked up his camera and snapped shot after shot of the two players.

He had a feeling these two would become the junior division's brightest stars. They'd be every bit as impressive as the shining generation from back then!

"Are they really elementary school students?"

"I've been learning tennis for seven or eight years, but compared to them, it feels like I wasted all that time! How can the gap be so huge?!"

"Ah~ Tennis is all about talent, and these two clearly have more of it than most players. Their talent is truly astonishing!"

As the spectators marveled at their talent, they couldn't help feeling that comparing themselves to others could be infuriating. This was exactly what that meant.

Both Kamikawa and Yukimura were playing at an incredibly high level. Even last year's National Tournament, considered the most exciting one yet, could hardly match the excitement of this match.

Bang!!!

The rally continued on the court.

Catching Yukimura off guard, Kamikawa launched a quick attack to even the score.

"15–15!"

Bang!!

On the next point, Yukimura seized on a mistake by Kamikawa and struck back.

"15–30!"

Bang!!

"30–30!!"

Bang!!

"30–40!!"

Bang!!

"Game, Yukimura, 1–1!"

In the second game, Yukimura broke Kamikawa's serve and took the point.

The match was back on serve.

The two of them attacked from side to side along the baseline, refusing to give an inch. They pounced on every mistake in the other's return and used it to break through.

The rally was so exciting that the spectators couldn't help holding their breath.

"Both players have been attacking aggressively from the start, sending the ball to the baseline corners and making each other run back and forth. That kind of exertion affects both sides equally."

"Looking at either player individually, though, they're attacking a little too eagerly."

"Now we'll see which one finds an opening first."

Outside the court, Sakata, the club coach for Yukimura and Sanada, was also keeping a close eye on the match.

Compared with Sanada, who was broad-shouldered and favored a power game, Sakata preferred Yukimura's control and superior technique. Yukimura's performances in Kanagawa Prefecture had been especially impressive.

He and Sanada often played friendly matches against each other. But as a tennis club coach, Sakata had always felt that Yukimura was hiding his true ability. So far, he'd never seen Yukimura give it his all.

His opponent in this match was strong. Yukimura ought to play at full strength now.

"Speaking of which, Sanada's match should be almost over, too."

Sakata had stayed in Group B to watch Yukimura and Kamikawa play, and hadn't paid any attention to Group A.

Given the ability Sanada had shown so far, Sakata believed no one could beat him—especially not a player he'd never heard of, Tezuka Kunimitsu.

With that thought, Sakata turned and headed toward the Group A court. What he saw there left him stunned.

"Th-this can't be possible!!"

Sanada was being forced to run from side to side across the court. Sweat poured down his forehead as he gasped for breath, his cap turned backward.

And that glaring 3–0 score was a hard blow to Sakata!

"Tezuka Kunimitsu..."

Sakata was shaken to his core. How could anyone do this?

Sanada was one of the best tennis players in Kanagawa Prefecture, second only to Yukimura. In every tennis tournament across the prefecture, big or small, Sanada had crushed his opponents with overwhelming strength. Only Yukimura could stand up to him.

Everyone else could barely win a single point. Yet the truth was right before Sakata's eyes.

Group B was only in its third game, and Sanada was already down 3–0. Judging by how much he was sweating, he was under tremendous pressure.

"I'm afraid... the favorites to win this time aren't Yukimura or that player named Kamikawa. They're probably the one standing right there, Tezuka Kunimitsu from Tokyo Metropolis."

Sakata's voice trembled slightly. Tokyo Metropolis really was full of hidden talent.

A few years ago, Gekko Ochi had appeared. Were two more monsters showing up this year?!

"Third game. Yukimura to serve!"

"We're done feeling each other out, aren't we?"

Kamikawa took the tennis ball from the ball boy beside him and turned to Yukimura with a smile. "You should show me what you can really do. Otherwise, this match is going to get a little dull."

"What?!"

Everyone outside the court looked at one another.

Were those two still not showing their true ability?

Yukimura heard him and took another look at his opponent, sensing the aura that came from him.

He hadn't even mastered "force," yet he'd seen through Yukimura?

Yukimura said nothing more. He tossed the ball, raised his hand, and swung his racket in one smooth motion.

Bang!!

It was a high-quality serve, landing right on the edge of the left service box.

"This serve..."

Kamikawa stood behind the service line and quickly moved toward the landing point. He caught up with the ball and drove a shot straight down the line.