93. Tezuka's Resolve

"Sanada wins! Six-four!"

Genichiro Sanada, wearing a mustard-yellow tracksuit and a black cap, let his racket fall from the finishing pose and settle back against his chest. On the other side, the man with slightly wavy hair wiped the sweat from his brow, a strand of fringe hanging down. "Sanada, if it's you, then even after entering high school, I doubt there are many who could stand against you."

"You're too kind, Hojo-senpai. Against you, I was already fighting with everything I had..."

Sanada's chest rose and fell lightly. Facing Hojo Xiao, who was three years his senior, he had truly felt an immense pressure.

"By the way, the shot you just played, the footwork and the motion of drawing and swinging the racket were very interesting. It was as if it were blazing with thunder and fire, fierce and swift. Even knowing that you were last year's junior tournament runner-up, when I faced you I still couldn't help but feel momentarily dazed. Is that really the kind of strength a first-year should have?"

Hojo Xiao recalled it with an admiring smile.

"Yes! It's just a small trick of mine, blending kendo into tennis!"

Sanada had also been aware of his own movements and footwork, and immediately answered in haste.

"I see. Very good. I'm looking forward to what you'll show at the Kanto Tournament!"

With that, Hojo Xiao turned away, waved once at Sanada Genichiro, and left.

"Sanada-kun is really amazing. Even against a left-handed upperclassman, he didn't show the slightest bit of discomfort..."

Shiba Saori, filming with her camera, praised him endlessly.

"By the way, Inoue-senpai, that Hojo guy seems to be a first-year, right?" Saori Shiba asked Mamoru Inoue beside her, remembering something.

"That's right. His name is Hojo Xiao, and he was Rikkai's third singles player in last year's national team tournament. As a rare left-handed player, he's extremely strong. It seems that after entering high school, both he and his younger brother, Hojo Se, gradually gave up tennis and have lately been tinkering with motorsport and the like."

Mamoru Inoue nodded and said with a smile.

"Huh? His younger brother is also a first-year?"

"Yes. Though they're brothers, Hojo Se is only a few months younger than his older brother, Hojo Xiao."

"Still, when I think about it, young people really are enviable. Even after quitting tennis, they still have the energy to fool around with racing. Unlike me, already well into my twenties, having to spend every day putting so much effort into skin care..."

Saori Shiba covered her face with both hands and said, faintly blushing.

"Haha..."

Mamoru Inoue could only give an awkward laugh, grumbling inwardly, "And where exactly am I supposed to put my face as someone already in his thirties, Saori..."

"That was amazing, Sanada. To think you could beat Rikkai's strong left-handed singles player from last year."

Mamoru Inoue praised him as he watched Sanada Genichiro walk over and wipe his sweat.

"You're joking, Inoue-san. I only won after a very hard struggle."

Sanada waved it off.

"As the seeded team, the opponents you've run into at this Kanto Tournament don't seem too troublesome."

"Whatever the opponent, our goal at Rikkai is nothing less than a third straight championship!"

Sanada's confidence struck Saori Shiba, who was filming, with real force. She cried out, "It's as if the result of the match has already been decided... such a commanding boy..."

"Sanada's presence comes from his own strength. To be able to defeat a senior from the moment he entered school and within only a few months at that, such a record is rare even across all the first-years in Rikkai's history."

Mamoru Inoue was not at all surprised, and smiled.

"Still, Seishun Academy is very strong this year as well. They still have Ryunosuke Yanagi, one of the original three giants of Rikkai."

Saori Shiba suddenly remembered something, but her words changed Mamoru Inoue's expression. He quickly tried to stop her. "Hey, Saori..."

"It's fine, Inoue-san. There is no resentment between me and Yukimura over Yanagi's departure. That was his choice. But even so, if we meet Seishun Academy in a match, we won't go easy on them just because of old feelings."

Just as Saori Shiba realized she'd misspoken and quickly covered her mouth, Sanada said indifferently.

"The kings of Rikkai... as expected, it's not just their strength, even their bearing is extraordinary..."

Saori Shiba sighed in admiration, and Mamoru Inoue silently nodded as he watched Sanada gradually walk away.

"This year's Kanto Tournament is certainly going to be worth watching. The troublesome presence of Hyotei Academy, led by Keigo Atobe, and their depth of players is beyond anything we can imagine. Then there's Tezuka and Matsubara at Seishun..."

A look of anticipation flickered across Mamoru Inoue's face.

On the way home from school:

"You absolutely must not lose the match against Rokkaku, Matsubara."

Ryo Shishido reminded him.

"Of course. If we lose, then we won't have the slightest hope of advancing to the national tournament."

With his hands behind his head and his eyes gently closed, Mei Matsubara said.

"Especially that Itsuki guy. Are you confident you can handle him?"

Shishido Ryo asked worriedly.

"What are you talking about, Shishido? A guy like that is still ten years too early to beat me, unless I decide to let him."

Mei Matsubara paused slightly, then curved his mouth into a confident, overbearing smile.

The next day.

"Match over! Akazawa and Yanagisawa win! Six-two!"

"Those two who transferred over from Saint Rudolph are pretty impressive."

The pairing of Kuma Koshizume and another non-regular player had been defeated. Sweat dripped from the former's face as he spoke.

"Akazawa and Yanagisawa's doubles is a fairly standard kind of coordinated teamwork. They don't have the flashes of inspiration that Shishido and Akutsu do, but they suit a partner or a different type of formation to increase flexibility."

At the side, Sadaharu Inui was writing something in his notebook as he spoke.

"By the way, Inui, did you get anything useful from your investigation of Rokkaku yesterday?"

Shusuke Fuji approached with a smile and asked.

"Yes. I have to say, Rokkaku is not as simple as we imagined. Although their players don't seem to create the same overwhelming pressure as Rikkai or Hyotei, thanks to that old grandfather, the students of Rokkaku and the children nearby can play for long periods in the amusement park he built. As a result, their bodies are extremely nimble. No matter which piece of equipment it is, there are obvious signs of heavy use."

Sadaharu Inui took out the notebook marked Rokkaku again and opened it.

"In addition, the rackets used by the people at Rokkaku are all long and large. Each person's racket differs in shape, size, and length. Apparently they're made according to each player's personality. All of that comes from their coach, that old grandfather."

Inui showed the pencil sketches of the rackets to Mei Matsubara and the others.

"Whoa... wooden rackets? Who even uses wooden rackets these days?"

Shinya Yanagisawa muttered when he saw the colored-pencil drawing.

"It kind of looks like an electric mosquito swatter..."

Ryo Shishido arched his brows.

"It's actually pretty creative."

Fuji touched his chin and smiled.

"This racket... it does look a lot like Nanjiro's. Could it be that the wooden racket Nanjiro used when he was young came from that old grandfather..."

When Mei Matsubara saw the more oval wooden racket drawn on the page of Inui's notebook, he twitched at the corner of his mouth and thought to himself.

At midday:

"Is this the one, Fuji?"

Kunimitsu Tezuka held out a dictionary with the words "Light House" written on it and asked Fuji.

"Ah, this is the one. Thanks."

Fuji accepted the thick dictionary with delight, even stroking the cover carefully with his hand.

"So you use this edition too."

Tezuka said calmly.

"Yes. I really like the layout and the annotations."

Fuji flipped through the dictionary quickly and smiled.

"How is it? Have you decided who will play against Rokkaku?"

Fuji looked at Tezuka.

"Not yet. I still need to think about it a bit more."

Tezuka considered it and said.

"But if you place yourself in third singles, will Matsubara become the ace?"

Fuji opened his blue eyes. When he saw Tezuka's slightly startled expression, he smiled and said, "The dictionary still feels a little slick. You've been sneaking off to practice, haven't you?"

"As the captain, I can't keep slacking off. I need to set an example."

Since Fuji had completely understood what he was thinking, Tezuka no longer bothered to hide anything and spoke frankly.

"Earlier, when I suggested that you play first singles, I was thinking that the opponent wasn't strong enough to require your appearance. But now it seems that perhaps the time has come."

Fuji narrowed his eyes again and smiled.

"Yes. Let's sound the horn for our march toward the national tournament with Rokkaku."

Tezuka slowly clenched his left hand and said calmly.