Sanada had never worried about Yukimura.
Because he knew better than anyone.
Just how strong Yukimura Seiichi was!!
Whenever Yukimura entered a tournament, Sanada could only settle for second place. Even though he hated losing, he was still happy for his good friend.
So no matter what, he had to make it to the finals.
"Kanagawa Prefecture, Sanada Genichiro!"
Sanada walked up at an unhurried pace, pressed down the brim of his cap, and spoke calmly.
"Tokyo Metropolis, Tezuka Kunimitsu!"
Tezuka held his racket in one hand, his lenses gleaming clearly in the sunlight.
"I'll be the one to win this match."
After delivering that line in an utterly calm voice, Sanada turned and walked away.
No matter who his opponent was, he would win!
Making it to the finals in commanding fashion—that was his style of tennis.
"No!"
Tezuka calmly watched Sanada's retreating figure. "I'll win this match. And not only that, Kamikawa Mutsu will win the match on Court B!"
Compared to Sanada's confidence, confidence was what Tezuka had in abundance.
Geniuses were all arrogant. Even Shishido was incredibly conceited, let alone Tezuka and Sanada, whose skills surpassed his. Their arrogance was innate.
"These two boys..."
For a moment, the middle-aged umpire seemed to see the scene from the JR Tournament three years ago.
Back then, there had also been several boys like them, saying the very same things.
One of them had white hair, and at that JR Tournament, he'd won every match by a score of 6–0.
(The JR Tournament was a competition in the Kanto region. Byodoin and Oni Juro belonged to the Kansai region, while the most famous player in Kanto was Gekko Ochi. Even Byodoin and the others acknowledged Ochi's singles ability—his ranking was far more impressive than just No. 9!)
On Court B.
"Child of God—Yukimura Seiichi."
Unlike the haughty, self-satisfied Sanada, Yukimura's confidence was different: it came from his absolute strength. He had never lost a single game in an official match and was known as the Child of God.
He and Tezuka were much alike. Both had been so overwhelmingly strong in their second year that they'd been forced to hold back their abilities, only to unleash them at the National Tournament in their third year.
The only difference was that Tezuka had injured his elbow because of certain events at Seigaku, while Yukimura had suffered from Guillain–Barré syndrome. His condition had worsened, leaving him to spend nearly the entire third year in rehabilitation, with the risk of paralysis hanging over him at all times.
The odds of a successful operation had been almost nonexistent. In the end, he'd made it through with sheer determination and astonishing willpower. It wasn't until shortly before his match against Tezuka at the U-17 tournament that he finally overcame his fear and was reborn.
How strong he was now remained unknown. Likewise, Kamikawa didn't know just how strong he was himself. The reason he'd entered this JR Tournament was because of Sanada and Yukimura.
He wanted to use the tournament to test his own abilities.
And to see for himself the Child of God's brilliance.
"Now that he's mastered momentum, I wonder if he's also learned how to take away the five senses."
His gaze settled on the boy with dark blue hair.
This was the momentum unique to Yukimura, and the path he'd chosen in tennis.
"This might take up a little of your time," Yukimura said.
"That line..."
Kamikawa smiled. "Should be mine to say to you. I'll win this match, and my friend will win the match on the other court."
Yukimura paused, then shook his head. "No! You're wrong. I'll win this match, and Sanada won't lose over there either."
Both Kamikawa and Yukimura were absolutely certain they would win their own matches, and just as certain their friends would win theirs.
"Which?"
"Rough."
Kamikawa spun his racket. It revolved in place a few times, then fell.
"It's rough. Do you choose sides or serve?"
"Serve."
The two of them moved to opposite sides. Once they were in position, the umpire settled onto his tall chair, nodded, and called out, "Yukimura to serve. One game!"
At that, everyone's eyes turned to Yukimura.
The dark-blue-haired boy had yet to lose a match, and every game he'd played had been over in a flash. His overwhelming ability had drawn everyone's attention.
Whoosh...
Yukimura raised his hand, tossed the ball, bent his knees, and leaped in one smooth motion. His eyes fixed on the tennis ball as it fell through the air, and he swung without hesitation.
With a sharp crack, the pale-yellow ball streaked through the air and landed at the inverted-triangle spot on the service line.
"Whoa... That's fast..."
The spectators outside the court sucked in a breath. Shishido and Mukahi's pupils contracted.
That serve was beyond the ability of an ordinary player. Even the regulars at famous schools might not be able to deliver one so perfectly.
A serve launched with an overhead jump was powerful, but difficult to control. It took years of practice to develop such terrifying precision.
Yet Yukimura was only in sixth grade and already had such a precise, tricky serve.
Was he really an elementary school student, just like them?!
"Have I really been learning tennis all these years?!"
Mukahi was starting to question his whole life.
Even if he had another year to practice, he still might not be able to produce a serve like that.
Before they could think any further, Kamikawa was already chasing down the ball. The instant it bounced, he struck it back at incredible speed—a half-volley, to be precise.
A half-volley was an advanced technique in which the ball was returned the instant it bounced. The player had to lower his center of gravity to hit it at just the right moment. One mistake, and the ball would bounce straight up into his face.
The advantage of a half-volley was that it let the player hit earlier than usual, speeding up the return and allowing him to reach the net sooner. It was also the favorite attacking technique of serve-and-volley players.
Crack!
Before anyone could react, Yukimura struck the ball back.
Crack!
The moment the ball hit the ground, Kamikawa struck it back once more.
Thump!!
Thump!!
The ball flew back and forth across the court as their movements grew faster with every passing moment.
Kamikawa returned it with a high-quality backhand, driving the ball right along the line.
Thump!!
Yukimura's eyes narrowed. With a forehand, he sent back a high-quality crosscourt shot.
They traded shots back and forth. The rally was so intense that the spectators soon found their vision blurring. The ball was moving faster and faster. An ordinary player would have lost the point long ago.
And yet...
The match wasn't over. They were still trading fierce shots.
You could tell these were elite players from the very first ball. Over the course of such a long rally, both had displayed speed, technique, and reflexes that were unquestionably at the highest level.
Suddenly.
Thump!!!
Kamikawa suddenly sped up and rushed to the net, intercepting the return. He followed with a sharp shot, sending the ball flying into the dead corner at the baseline.
Yukimura reacted quickly and raced after it, but he was too late. The ball skimmed past him, slammed into the wall, and spun violently.
0–15!
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