Sanada's Nightmare!

"Yukimura Seiichi and Sanada Genichiro."

Kamikawa raised an eyebrow and murmured.

"Who?"

Hearing this, Tezuka also turned to look at Kamikawa.

Clearly, he didn't recognize either of them, even though one of them was his opponent in the next match.

"Your opponent in the next match."

Kamikawa said to Tezuka with a smile.

His gaze fell on the two of them. The future Emperor seemed to be lacking something.

As for Yukimura, he seemed to feel a trace of the same aura emanating from the other person as Tezuka, a manifestation of "momentum" (shi).

"Shi," which is also known as imposing manner, can only be developed by those with strong mental fortitude. It is, in simpler terms, one's own path in tennis.

Only players who have reached a certain level of skill in tennis can master their perfect "shi." The Muga no Kyochi is also a manifestation of "shi," as is the Asura Path.

It was impossible to tell who was superior between the two; they simply walked on opposite paths.

"Alright, Sanada."

Then Yukimura suddenly attacked, sprinting rapidly towards the net and swinging forcefully.

His speed was a few points faster than anticipated, and Sanada was momentarily stunned, unable to react.

"Yukimura, your strength..."

Sanada blinked, looking up at his childhood friend.

Yukimura smiled slightly, placing his tennis racket into his bag as he spoke, "Sanada, let's have a proper match in the finals."

"Okay!"

Hearing Yukimura say this, Sanada clenched his fist and nodded heavily, "I'll be waiting for you in the finals. Those two over there, they aren't our opponents for the next match, are they?"

Sanada's perception wasn't weak. After all, it was unusual for two people of the same age to suddenly appear on this unpaved court. He just hadn't paid much attention to his surroundings while warming up.

"Yes," Yukimura nodded.

"Nice to meet you."

Kamikawa walked up enthusiastically, smiling slightly at Yukimura and Sanada, "I'm Kamikawa Mutsu from Tokyo Prefecture. This is also Tezuka Kunimitsu from Tokyo Prefecture."

"He's also mastered 'shi'?"

Yukimura suddenly sensed the faint aura emanating from Tezuka.

He knew Sanada's strength well. If Sanada encountered a tennis player who had mastered "shi," he would likely lose, and lose completely.

In comparison, this person named Kamikawa didn't even have a nascent form of "shi."

"Hello."

Yukimura interrupted his thoughts, smiled slightly, and said, "My name is Yukimura Seiichi, and this is my friend Sanada Genichiro. We are from Kanagawa Prefecture."

"Also your opponents in the next round."

Hearing this, Tezuka took another look at Yukimura. Compared to Sanada, he felt Yukimura's strength would be greater, emitting the same aura as himself.

"He's my opponent in the next round? A tennis player from Tokyo Prefecture?!"

Sanada glanced at the boy wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He looked to be the same age as him, but his face annoyed him somewhat.

"Hello."

Tezuka also noticed Sanada's gaze and nodded coldly in response.

"Hello."

Sanada responded just as flatly.

For some reason, he felt the other person was not simple. That faint pressure was very similar to the last shot Yukimura had hit during his warm-up.

"Pfft~"

Kamikawa couldn't help but laugh out loud at Tezuka's pretense of aloofness.

Yukimura also turned to look at Sanada, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly, and chuckled along.

Tezuka rolled his eyes and said, "We still have some time, let's warm up."

"Okay."

Kamikawa readily agreed, then turned to Yukimura and said, "Then, Yukimura-kun, I'll see you in the semifinals."

"Mm."

Yukimura nodded and softly replied, "See you in the semifinals."

After Kamikawa and Tezuka left, Yukimura finally dropped his smile. He had a feeling that the boy named Kamikawa was not simple. Although he didn't have "shi," the sense of danger was very strong...

"Yukimura, I will meet you in the finals."

Sanada clenched his racket. No matter what, he would make it to the finals and have a real match with Yukimura again.

"I will too, Sanada."

Yukimura nodded. No matter what, Yukimura didn't believe he would lose, not even against the older players or the official members of other schools' junior high divisions. Yukimura had never lost.

"Next, the semifinals of this JR Tournament are about to begin. Please have the contestants ready!"

At this moment.

Lawson Tennis Center.

Half an hour passed.

The broadcast sounded, and the crowd began to gather towards the finals courts of Group A and B.

"There are... even more people than I saw earlier."

"Yeah, after all, this JR Tournament has seen a lot of geniuses emerge. You didn't see it, but that backhand smash, it was the genius of geniuses."

"This year's JR Tournament has high value~"

"Yeah, yeah~"

The spectators outside the court were discussing animatedly. Many coaches from tennis clubs had already taken their seats, wanting to see the talented players who had emerged this time.

The players who had been eliminated earlier also squeezed into the crowd, looking for the best spot to watch.

Among them were Shishido and Mukahi, accompanied by a sleepy-eyed boy with curly hair who was yawning.

"Honestly, Jiro!"

Shishido complained, looking at the curly-haired boy's appearance.

This person was Akutagawa Jiro, ranked first in skill at Hyotei Elementary School.

Like Shishido and Mukahi, he had fallen in the quarterfinals. The opponent who defeated him was a student from Kanagawa Prefecture, wearing a black hat and playing with an extremely fierce style.

Jiro's usually reliable net volley was easily countered by the opponent.

Fortunately, Jiro was carefree and didn't care much about winning or losing. If Shishido and Mukahi hadn't dragged him here, he might have gone to sleep in the shade.

"Jiro's just like that."

Mukahi waved his hand and turned to look at the court.

He had wanted to go to Court A to watch the match between Tezuka and the tennis player from Kanagawa who had defeated Jiro, but Shishido had pulled him over, saying he wanted Mukahi to witness the opponent's strength with his own eyes.

Mukahi couldn't refuse Shishido, so he squeezed in with them.

"Ryo~ Is he really as incredible as you say?!"

Mukahi pouted. He didn't think the opponent was that strong. It must have been that Shishido's playstyle was countered, leading to a 6-0 loss.

"You'll see. Yukimura Seiichi from Kanagawa Prefecture is also strong. I have a feeling this match today will be exceptionally exciting."

"We might even learn something we want to learn."

Since that match, Shishido had deeply realized his own shortcomings.

"Fine~"

Mukahi adopted an indifferent attitude and turned to look at the court.

He'd see how strong the boy who shut out Shishido was. He couldn't possibly be stronger than Tezuka Kunimitsu, could he?!

At this moment.

On Court A for the finals.

In the distance, a boy wearing a black jacket and a black hat placed his hand on the net, feeling its tension, and coldly gazed at the boy wearing gold-rimmed glasses on the court.

"Tezuka Kunimitsu from Tokyo Metropolis."

"Hmph~"

"No matter who you are, you should be glad you're meeting me at this moment!!"

Sanada held his racket. As the referee's voice rang out, he also slowly walked onto the court.

Entering the court with him would be his eternal nightmare.

Tezuka Kunimitsu!