35. Kunimitsu Tezuka vs. Syusuke Fuji (Part II)

"15-0!"
The referee's shout echoed in his ears. Fuji opened his blue eyes in astonishment, gazing at Tezuka whose stance had returned to normal, and murmured inwardly, "As expected of Tezuka, he actually managed to slightly deform the wire net with his shot."

"So this is the strength of the captain of the Boys' Tennis Club, Kunimitsu Tezuka. He even put reverse spin on the ball..."
Among the girls watching from the sidelines, some were regulars from the Girls' Tennis Club. Maple, blessed with sharp dynamic vision, couldn't help but remark.

"Reverse spin?"
Sara was taken aback and exclaimed.

"It was such a fast serve, I couldn't even see the ball's rotation..."
Sara's delicate brows furrowed, and Maple laughed softly at her comment, "No, that's not it. Perhaps you didn't notice Tezuka's hand—he wasn't applying reverse spin at the moment of impact, but his fingers subtly rotated the ball as he tossed it."

"I see..."
Enlightened, Sara nodded.

Naruki Matsubara was not as surprised as the others; after all, it was Tezuka's signature ACE serve. Yet, the speed and power displayed by a first-year still left the boy amazed.

Looking at it another way, Matsubara felt this was only natural. Otherwise, how could Tezuka have entered the state of 'selflessness' and mastered the ultimate limits forged through countless trials?

The immense contrast made the boy sigh at Tezuka's talent and strength. In comparison, the level Tezuka displayed while injured, battling Ryoma Echizen, wasn't even half of his prime.

Tezuka gazed solemnly at Fuji. A second before the ball slipped from his hand, his five slender, dexterous fingers once again imparted a reverse spin. Fuji, observing closely, saw his gemstone-like blue eyes widen in surprise!

"Ha!"
With a low cry, the powerful ACE serve shot swiftly toward Fuji. Ready this time, he managed to intercept Tezuka's serve!

"Ugh..."
Feeling the oppressive force from the racquet, Fuji was shocked. "So heavy!"

Squinting one eye, Fuji held out for a second or two against the ACE serve before his racquet flew from his hand. The tennis ball traced a graceful arc and gently landed at the back of the court.

"30-0!"
Without hesitation, the referee called out.

"Unable to return an ACE serve..."
Fuji failing to counter Tezuka's ACE surprised Matsubara; he had expected that the injured Tezuka would not so thoroughly overpower Fuji.

"40-0!"
Facing Tezuka's relentless ACE serves, even Fuji's double-handed returns failed to send the ball across the court. Tezuka, effortlessly, claimed another point, bringing the score to 1-0.

Fuji's brows were furrowed deeply; even though he had adapted to the speed and intercepted the ACE serve at the right moment, the overwhelming power left him utterly helpless. Hitting the ball into the court was out of the question—just clearing the net seemed a distant hope.

After the referee ordered a change of sides, Fuji, passing Tezuka, spoke excitedly, "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for today, Tezuka."

"Hmm?"
Tezuka was momentarily startled. The mild smile on Fuji's face gradually transformed into one of exhilaration. Yes, ever since he lost 0-6 to Tezuka in their match, he had been anticipating a rematch with Tezuka at full strength.

It wasn't about finally beating Tezuka—Fuji yearned for a profound resonance with someone he admired and understood instinctively, even in silence. Victory or defeat mattered little; what he hoped for most was a collision of spirits.

When someone who lives quietly in a crowd unexpectedly encounters a perfect individual in every respect, certain dormant impulses begin to stir—a desire to intersect with that person.

When Fuji first joined Seigaku, he was someone who took tennis lightly, lacking much drive for victory or defeat. The words Tezuka spoke to him on their first day still made Fuji realize what true wisdom sounded like.

Over a month ago.

Freshmen Orientation Day.

It was the first day of school for various middle schools. At the gates of Seishun Academy, a private school in Tokyo's Kanto region, a cacophony of voices rang out as new students streamed in.

Boys in dark uniforms strolled and chatted, while girls in blue-and-white uniforms grouped together, their laughter ringing like wind chimes as they walked. Many boys, still in the throes of adolescence, couldn't help but cast heated glances their way.

Graceful figures and innocent faces became a beautiful scene amid Seigaku's greenery.

"Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to Class 2, first year?"
A slender boy with chestnut short hair and squinting eyes stopped a boy with tea-brown short hair ahead and asked.

"I'm in Class 1 next door; I can walk with you."
The tea-brown-haired boy looked calmly at the gentle-smiling boy behind him.

"If I'm not mistaken, your name is Kunimitsu Tezuka, right?"
The chestnut-haired boy's smile shifted slightly. He looked at the bespectacled boy with black phoenix eyes and tea-brown hair, and smiled softly.

"And you are?"
Recognized, Kunimitsu Tezuka searched his memory. He didn't recall knowing the smiling boy before him.

"I'm Shusuke Fuji. I saw you in the newspapers covering the Junior Championship. Though your match wasn't official, that boy called Genichiro Sanada was the runner-up at the Junior Championship."

The chestnut-haired boy opened his beautiful, ice-blue eyes like gemstones.

"I see."
Kunimitsu Tezuka nodded gently.

Lost in reminiscence, he recalled that he would not have missed the match that day had a girl his age not mistakenly given him the wrong directions. By the time he reached the venue, the match was already over. On a whim, he sought out the champion for a game.

If he won, it would still be worth the trip.

After persistent requests, the one called "Child of God," Seiichi Yukimura, declined, but the stern-looking, serious Genichiro Sanada accepted the challenge. The result: Tezuka won 6-0 and 6-1, without suspense.

This unofficial match was reported by journalists, for the runner-up Sanada losing to a latecomer like Tezuka was a sensational shock, causing a stir at the time!

Walking toward the classroom building, Fuji glanced at Tezuka's tennis bag and smiled warmly, "You're joining the tennis club?"

"Yes."
Interrupted in his thoughts, Kunimitsu Tezuka replied succinctly.

After a long pause, Fuji smiled mysteriously, "Is tennis really that interesting?"

"Why do you ask?"
Tezuka continued walking, not turning his head.

"It's nothing. My sister's boyfriend plays tennis, so by coincidence I learned a bit too. But... it never felt that enjoyable."

Watching the ever-smiling Fuji from the corner of his eye, Tezuka, not yet as calm and composed as he would be in third year, still had fluctuations in his temperament.

"Tennis can only be truly enjoyed when you give it your all. If you don't devote yourself entirely, no matter how skillful you become, you'll never grasp its true essence."

Fuji, opening his sapphire-blue eyes, was slightly stunned. Tezuka's words commanded his respect.

His intuition told Fuji that as long as he was with Tezuka, no matter how tough the challenge, he would overcome it.

Unknowingly, Fuji began to sense that this tea-brown-haired boy seemed to radiate a faint golden glow.