"Hmm!"
Shinji and Yanagi's expressions changed.
Especially Shinji, who felt a dangerous aura emanating from Akutsu. He couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
"Akutsu Jin…"
Shinji's heart sank.
He hadn't expected Hyotei to have such a hidden powerhouse. It seemed Yanagi's data collection hadn't been thorough enough.
"Choutarou!!!"
On the other side, Marui and Jackal rushed onto the court to check on the fallen Choutarou.
At this moment, Choutarou's skin tone returned to normal, and the snowy white color of his hair was visibly fading.
"A complete defeat," Yanagi sighed softly.
Meanwhile, Niou watched Akutsu with great interest, as if trying to figure out this formidable opponent.
"Shinji!"
Jackal turned around, his voice tense. "Choutarou has passed out. Should we call an ambulance?"
"Bring him over," Shinji said expressionlessly as he stood up. He then turned to the referee and said, "Referee, we forfeit this match."
"Alright," the referee nodded repeatedly, relieved.
In his over ten years as a referee, he had never seen such brutal playing style. The last time he heard about something similar was over three years ago, when a colleague mentioned a player who used tennis to physically attack others for fun.
He never thought he'd witness something like that today.
"Ahem," the referee cleared his throat and announced solemnly, "Due to Rikkai's forfeit, the winner of Singles 3 is Hyotei's Akutsu Jin."
"Is this all you've got?"
Akutsu shook his head in disappointment. After glancing at Choutarou being carried away, he put away his racket, the overwhelming gray-white aura around him dissipating as he left the court.
"Has Akutsu really become this strong?"
At Yamabuki, Muromachi, wearing sunglasses, couldn't help but gape in shock.
Not just him, but Minami and Higashikata also felt a pang of regret. If they had known Akutsu had such incredible talent, they should have tried harder to communicate and connect with him.
With Akutsu on their team, Yamabuki's situation this year would have been much better.
Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a "what-if" in this world. They could only watch helplessly as such a talented player contributed to Hyotei's strength.
"One win, two losses."
Outside the court, as Akutsu turned to leave, Inoue, who had captured his arrogant and domineering gaze, sighed and said, "The upcoming Singles 2 will be the deciding match."
Both teams' strategies and the strength of their players were crucial. Whether it was Rikkai or Hyotei, even the slightest mistake could change the outcome.
"Shouldn't Singles 2 be a sure win?" Shiba blinked in surprise. "Hyotei must have Ishikawa playing. With his skills, he should have no problem dealing with Rikkai's Yanagi, right?"
"If it's Ishikawa, then yes, there's no problem," Inoue nodded, his gaze falling on the smiling boy from Hyotei.
Indeed, during the break after Doubles 1, Ishikawa had left the court. Logically, he should have been warming up for Singles 2.
"In that case, the key to the match's outcome will be the clash between the two aces!"
General vs. general. King vs. king.
Atobe and Shinji were undoubtedly the core players of their respective teams. During the previous Junior Selection Tournament, the two had crossed paths.
However, since then, Inoue hadn't heard of any official matches between them.
If it really came down to these two facing off, it would undoubtedly become one of the most thrilling matches in the history of the Kanto Tournament!
"Yanagi… Yanagi-senpai…"
On Rikkai's side, Choutarou, who had been unconscious, gradually woke up after Jackal gave him some water. He looked at Yanagi, who was picking up his racket to prepare for the next match, and said guiltily, "I'm sorry, everyone… I lost…"
Losing miserably to Akutsu wasn't something Choutarou couldn't accept. After all, the gap in their abilities was too wide. His "Demon Mode" was probably nothing more than child's play in Akutsu's eyes.
But this was an official match.
He represented the reigning champions, Rikkai.
Champions shouldn't have any blemishes. Choutarou believed that if he weren't in such a poor state right now, he would have surely faced Shinji's iron fist of justice!
"It's alright," Yanagi said calmly from the sidelines. "Recognize your weaknesses and work hard to improve."
Yanagi had always been patient with Choutarou.
Moreover, even though Choutarou lost Singles 3, and Akutsu's strength exceeded his initial estimates, the overall direction of the match was still within Yanagi's plans.
In fact, he had even prepared himself to lose this match.
After all, he had thoroughly studied Ishikawa. This guy's abilities had already surpassed the average national-level player.
If they were to find a middle schooler who could rival him, it would probably only be Seiichi before his illness. Other than that, even Shinji might struggle.
It was like a game of chess.
In the final two matches, Yanagi had included himself as a sacrificial piece, all for the sake of Rikkai's ultimate victory.
Of course, according to his plan, placing Shinji in Singles 3 would have been the safest strategy.
However, for the reigning champions, Rikkai, that option didn't exist.
The king must sit on his throne, and the ace player must remain in his position.
Otherwise, how could they be called champions?
Even though Seiichi wasn't present, Shinji and Yanagi still wanted to prove to the Kanto region, and even the entire nation, that Rikkai's current lineup was still flawless!
*Step!*
With that thought, Yanagi stepped forward.
"Next up is the Singles 2 match."
"Rikkai Dai Fuzoku's Yanagi Renji vs. Hyotei Gakuen's Atobe Keigo."
"Both players, please prepare."
*Swish!*
As soon as the announcement was made, Yanagi froze.
He looked up, his usually closed eyes suddenly opening wide in shock as he turned toward Hyotei's side.
There, Atobe, the team captain, handed his jacket to Kabaji and walked onto the court with his racket in hand.
"What?!"
Representatives from other teams were equally stunned, their faces filled with disbelief.
Only Hyotei's supporters erupted in cheers upon seeing Atobe take the court:
"Victory belongs to Hyotei! The winner is Atobe!"
"Victory belongs to Hyotei! The winner is Atobe!"
"Victory belongs to Hyotei! The winner is Atobe!"
Hundreds of voices chanted in unison, their cheers rising like waves.
In an instant, the entire court seemed to transform into Hyotei's home ground.
*Snap!*
Then, Atobe raised his left hand, his fingers snapping sharply.
Immediately, all of Hyotei's supporters fell silent, as if following a command. The court was now eerily quiet.
"Heh," Atobe smirked. "The winner will be… me!"
"Woohoo!!!"
The court erupted in cheers once again, this time even louder.
"Is this Atobe's presence?"
Marui and Jackal exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.
They had a feeling this match might exceed their expectations.
"Yanagi," Atobe said with a smile as they shook hands at the net. "I bet you didn't see this coming, did you?"
"You're right," Yanagi admitted.
In fact, ever since the Doubles 2 match, he had sensed that the flow of the game was deviating from his predictions.
"I'm surprised," Yanagi said curiously. "How did your vice-captain convince you to give up your usual position?"
In his impression, Atobe was a proud and domineering figure. For the past two years, Hyotei hadn't even had a vice-captain.
Someone like him would never give up the Singles 1 position, which symbolized his status.
After all, the throne belonged to the king, and in Hyotei, the only one worthy of sitting on it was Atobe.
"On the court, there are only two outcomes: win or lose," Atobe replied calmly. "As Hyotei's captain, I'd even play doubles if it meant securing victory for my team."
"Huh?"
Yanagi's expression shifted slightly.
He couldn't help but take a closer look at the boy before him. Was this really the same Atobe Keigo he knew?
At this moment, Yanagi realized he had been completely wrong.
The Atobe before him, while still exuding the commanding presence of Hyotei's captain, no longer carried the arrogance and tyranny of the past. Instead, he seemed more free, as if he had shed a heavy burden.
"This version of Atobe is rare," Fuji from Seigaku remarked from outside the court. "It's hard to imagine him saying something like that."
"Yeah," Inui nodded. "The self-proclaimed emperor of Hyotei has taken the Singles 2 position. And the one who convinced him to step down from his throne… well, his identity is pretty obvious now."
*Swish!*
As Inui finished speaking, the Seigaku team turned their attention to the black-haired boy standing at the forefront of Hyotei's lineup, behind Coach Sakaki.
Ishikawa Shin.
Hyotei's vice-captain.
A figure who could almost be described as a legend in middle school tennis.
"A seemingly minor adjustment has completely shifted the momentum of the match," Inui said with a sigh. "The turning point in the battle between Hyotei and Rikkai has arrived."
Inui knew Yanagi was strong.
But compared to Atobe, the captain of Hyotei, Yanagi simply couldn't measure up.
Of course, players from other teams, as well as Rikkai's own members, still had faith in Yanagi.
"Victory belongs to Hyotei! The winner is Atobe!"
"Ever Victorious, Rikkai!"
Both sides' supporters cheered at the top of their lungs.
After a moment, the two players retreated to their respective baselines.
The referee confirmed their readiness and announced, "The match begins! Best of one set. Rikkai's Yanagi to serve. Game start!"
*Exhale.*
At the baseline, Yanagi took a deep breath.
As a data-driven player, he needed to keep his emotions in check, ensuring he remained calm and collected.
"First, gather data," Yanagi thought, his eyes locked on Atobe. "Since his personality has changed, his playing style must have shifted as well. I need to collect new data on him."
*Thwack!*
With that in mind, Yanagi served the ball.
*Whoosh!*
The ball flew at high speed, suddenly accelerating as it approached the ground.
"A speed-changing serve?" Atobe raised an eyebrow. "So… that Choutarou's playing style was learned from you, huh?"
*Thwack!*
With a light flick of his racket, Atobe returned the ball effortlessly.
"What?!"
On Rikkai's side, Choutarou, who had mostly recovered, stared in disbelief. "Senpai's speed-changing serve was countered so easily?"
"That's not surprising," Marui said seriously, chewing his bubblegum. "Because he's Hyotei's captain, Atobe Keigo!"
"Oh…"
Choutarou blinked, then looked around at the serious expressions of his teammates. He finally realized the weight behind names like Atobe and Tezuka.
*Step, step!*
Meanwhile, Yanagi chased after the ball, quickly analyzing Atobe's positioning.
As a data master, keen observation was a must. After assessing Atobe's stance, Yanagi angled his racket and sent the ball skimming low over the net.
*Thwack!*
The ball landed close to the service line, hugging the ground tightly.
"Whoa!"
The crowd gasped.
Unlike the previous matches, Yanagi's play showcased the absolute control of a top-tier player. It seemed effortless, but each shot was like a sharp blade aimed at the opponent's weak spots.
*Step, step!*
Unfortunately for Yanagi, his opponent was Atobe.
With his incredible footwork and keen insight, Atobe easily caught up to the ball and returned it with a backhand.
"Not bad," Yanagi thought to himself. "His speed, technique, and reflexes are all top-notch. In that case, let's try this."
*Swish!*
Yanagi twisted his racket, slicing the ball with precision.
*Whoosh!*
The ball cut through the air, flying at an incredible speed.
"A high-speed slice!" someone exclaimed, surprised that Yanagi had already pulled out such a move.
"A deeper probe," Inui observed, realizing Yanagi was testing Atobe's responses to gather more data.
Of course, this slice was also a clever move.
If Atobe chose not to reveal his full strength, Yanagi could still score, making it a win-win situation.
"Huh?"
But the next moment, Inui's expression changed as he saw a figure suddenly appear in front of the ball.
"When did he move?"
Yanagi was equally shocked.
He hadn't even noticed Atobe shifting to that position.
*Thwack!*
Atobe's return was lightning-fast. The high-speed slice was intercepted and sent back with ease.
*Snap!*
Before Yanagi could react, the ball struck the lower part of his racket.
The impact was so strong that Yanagi instinctively let go, his racket clattering to the ground.
*Swish!*
Atobe leaped into the air, raising his racket for a powerful smash. "Behold the beauty of my technique!"
*Boom!*
The ball landed beside Yanagi, then shot past him in a flash of yellow.
"What… what was that?!" Choutarou stammered.
"The 'Step Toward Destruction'," Marui explained. "It's Atobe's signature move. I didn't think he'd pull it out so early in the match."
"Atobe…"
On the court, Yanagi clutched his right hand, his eyes fixed on his opponent.
While others might not understand why Atobe had used his ultimate move so soon, Yanagi knew exactly what he was thinking.
As he looked at Atobe's confident smile, Yanagi could almost hear him say, "You wanted data? Well, here it is!"
The emperor of Hyotei was showing no hesitation, displaying absolute confidence in his abilities!
**(End of Chapter)**
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