Akutsu: Tennis Is Just Child's Play!

At that moment,

Kamikawa arrived at Yamabuki's tennis club, completely unaware of what awaited him.

He immediately spotted the mushroom-haired boy in the crowd. His face was pale, and his eyes were fiercely defiant. His right hand was wrapped in layer upon layer of bandages, the result of years of fighting.

At last, he'd found him.

The tennis prodigy—Akutsu Jin!

"Hm?"

Akutsu suddenly sensed someone staring at him. He stopped mid-swing and turned toward the sidelines, immediately fixing his gaze on Kamikawa.

"What is it, Akutsu?"

Old Man Ban, who had been acting as his practice partner, stopped too and looked at Akutsu in confusion.

They'd only been at it for a little while. Had Akutsu already gotten bored?

Surely not. Even if he wasn't passionate about tennis, he could at least stick with it for an hour or so.

It had to be said: Old Man Ban still underestimated Akutsu.

His physical abilities were nothing like those of someone who'd never trained or honed them.

Though he looked like a beginner, he could rely on his athleticism, reflexes, and flexibility to pull off shots that defied common sense.

"Old man, is that guy one of Yamabuki's tennis club members?"

A cold voice rang out beside Old Man Ban.

Old Man Ban turned and saw Kamikawa standing on the sidelines with a tennis bag slung over his back.

He narrowed his eyes and slowly shook his head. "Everyone from the tennis club has already gone home. That boy's wearing a Hyotei uniform, so he's obviously from Hyotei."

"Hyotei?"

Akutsu raised an eyebrow. He'd heard of the prestigious school. "So he's an outsider? Old man, look at him. He seems to have come here to challenge the club. This is hilarious. Yamabuki's tennis club doesn't look like much!"

As soon as Akutsu finished speaking, the racket in Old Man Ban's hand dropped to the ground with a thud. He clutched his lower back, looking like a frail old man.

He'd looked perfectly fine just moments ago, playing against Akutsu.

"Ow... This old man's getting on in years. I can't even hold a racket anymore."

Old Man Ban smiled at Akutsu, clearly indicating that he wouldn't be able to help with this.

"Tch."

Akutsu waved him off, unconcerned. "I couldn't care less about your little problem. Go ahead and tear down the whole tennis club for all I care. What's so fun about tennis anyway?"

Just as in the original story, because everything came so easily to him, Akutsu had a short-lived interest in everything.

A moment ago, he'd thought tennis was kind of interesting. Now he felt there was no point playing it at all. It was just too easy.

With that, Akutsu casually tossed his racket onto the court and headed toward the exit with his hands behind his back.

"Yamabuki's tennis club, a Kanto powerhouse... It doesn't look like much to me."

Kamikawa's voice reached Akutsu's ears.

Akutsu stopped, raised his eyebrows, and sneered. "It doesn't!"

He put his hands behind his back and was just about to leave when he heard Kamikawa continue.

"It's downright pathetic."

Kamikawa smiled faintly as he spoke.

"Hey, you..."

Akutsu abruptly turned around and glared at Kamikawa. "You were talking about me just now, weren't you?!"

"Hm?"

Kamikawa looked around as if confused, then waved a hand. "Is there anyone else here? You just walked off the court. Unless I was talking about that old man?"

"No way! No way!"

"A prestigious Kanto tennis school has an old man past his prime playing as a regular?"

"You're not trying to make me laugh, are you?"

Akutsu's pupils contracted, and a fury he could barely restrain flared in his heart. He reached out and grabbed Kamikawa by the collar, glaring fiercely at him. "You looking to die, kid?"

A year ago, at the karate dojo, some people had mocked him in the same way.

One talented senior karate student had paid for it by having his arm broken by Akutsu.

After that, Akutsu had never gone back to the dojo.

It was just like tennis, which he'd tried before. To other people, it was a sport that demanded ten times—or even a hundred times—the effort. To him, it was utterly meaningless.

"I'm not very good at fighting."

Kamikawa placed a hand on Akutsu's arm and slowly pushed it down, smiling as he spoke. "But if you want to play tennis, I'd be happy to oblige."

This guy...

Akutsu was startled. He could feel the strength in Kamikawa's hand.

This guy... was pretty strong.

Judging by Kamikawa's attitude, he'd definitely come to challenge the club.

It was just a coincidence that Old Man Ban had lured Akutsu here to learn tennis. Thinking of this, Akutsu let go of Kamikawa's collar and shoved him forward. Kamikawa staggered back a step or two.

"What's so fun about tennis?"

Akutsu glanced at Kamikawa without a care and said coldly, "Boring!"

"Are you scared?"

Kamikawa provoked him again. "Scared you'll lose to me?"

"You looking for trouble?"

The next moment,

Akutsu strode forward and reached out to grab Kamikawa's collar, but Kamikawa blocked him with his racket.

"As you can see, I came here to challenge the club."

Kamikawa lowered his racket and pointed toward Yamabuki's tennis court. "You're the only one I see here right now. Why don't we play a match?"

"Put that talent you're so proud of to the test against me. What do you say?"

"You don't mean to..."

Kamikawa looked Akutsu up and down and smiled faintly. "You're scared?"

"Ridiculous."

Akutsu sneered. "And what if you lose?"

The breeze stirred Akutsu's hair, making his mushroom cut sway. His defiant eyes brimmed with malice. Anyone who knew him could tell that he was truly angry now.

"If I lose, you can do whatever you want with me."

Kamikawa answered without hesitation.

"Fine."

Akutsu tightened the bandages around his right wrist. He'd already decided how he would teach this guy a lesson. He'd destroy him, punch by punch.

And he'd destroy the tennis he was so proud of, too.

"What if you lose?"

Kamikawa's words made Akutsu stop.

"You're not willing to bet anything? What's the point of playing the match, then?"

"If I lose, do whatever you want with me."

Akutsu replied flatly, then headed toward the court.

For some reason, the other boy's words had made him feel intensely threatened. All these years, he'd survived by relying on instincts as sharp as a wolf's.

That feeling just now had been strong.

But...

Who was he?

He was Akutsu Jin!

No matter who his opponent was, he would never admit defeat. That was simply how he did things.

"Hm?"

Old Man Ban's narrowed eyes suddenly opened. His gaze fell on Kamikawa, who was wearing a Hyotei uniform.

Years of coaching had given him a keen eye for people. In Kamikawa, he could even see a trace of Echizen Nanjirou as he'd been back then. That momentary impression only strengthened Old Man Ban's conviction.

"A first-year from Hyotei, huh?"

Old Man Ban sighed softly. He'd originally thought Yamabuki's overall strength couldn't compare to their opponent's. Now he realized that Hyotei had a remarkable new student.

A freshman of this caliber wouldn't remain content beneath those "old-timers." He'd climb to the top at all costs, and might even lead all of Hyotei Academy to new heights.

"Hyotei... You really are lucky."

"First Ochi, and now this boy..."

Old Man Ban glanced at Akutsu with a quiet sigh. Yamabuki had a promising player of its own. Perhaps the boy's presence would reignite Akutsu's passion for tennis. If so, Yamabuki's already weak singles lineup would improve even further.

This challenge had come at just the right time!