Chapter 24

The match between Keigo Atobe and Kunimitsu Tezuka was tense and exciting, and the spectators were all excited.

The fighting spirit in Sanada's eyes was self-evident. His memories of the past were evoked, and the duel with Tezuka Kunimitsu seemed to have happened just yesterday.

On the court, Tezuka's eyes flashed with an unyielding fighting spirit as he swung his racket.

Atobe refused to give in, pressing Tezuka's weak spot, and his return shot was both swift and accurate.

The audience watched this exciting game intently. Both players on the field were masters, and their level was far beyond that of junior high school students.

As the match progressed, Atobe Keigo gradually demonstrated his comprehensive skills and precise vision. He made good use of his smash technique to move towards a waltz of destruction, launching one powerful smash after another, leaving his opponent exhausted.

After a multi-shot stalemate, Kunimitsu Tezuka's racket fell to the ground, and Atobe Keigo hit a light shot at the net, catching Tezuka off guard.

"Something's wrong. There's something wrong with Tezuka's elbow. However, the outcome of the match is still uncertain." Yanagi Renji continued recording.

Sanada was awakened by Yanagi Renji's voice, and his thoughts were pulled out of his memories. "Things are different now than they were in the past."

Although Rikkai University's main team does not send out the second team like Hyotei, they will also hide their strength according to their own style in the official competition.

Sanada had once been obsessed with competing against Tezuka, wishing he could replace Keigo Atobe on the field with Sanada himself. But now his mind was no longer limited to the on-field battle; the outcome was already over, and even his current victories felt unfair.

Kirihara was still staring blankly at the arena. When he looked up, Vice Minister Sanada was gone. "Senior Yanagi, Vice Minister Sanada?"

"Sanada left when the singles match was about to end, and there was a tiebreak. I remember that Hyotei's Hiyoshi Wakaba was on par with you in the practice match last time." Yanagi Renji searched through the records of previous matches.

Kirihara Akaya shook his head. "If the new venue hadn't had a tiebreak, there wouldn't have been a draw. Still, it's good that Seigaku and Hyotei could achieve this."

Very few people are optimistic about Seigaku, and even Yanagi Renji's early analysis shows that Hyotei has a greater chance of winning.

Sanada didn't watch the entire game. After coming to his senses, he put aside the game, knowing the outcome, and went to Kanai General Hospital to visit Yukimura.

At Kanai General Hospital, Yato and Yukine sneak into the medical team.

"Ah~ The hospital doesn't have that many tasks. It's really a problem of social atmosphere. There are so few people who are lucky enough to be there." The identity that Yato used happened to be the next task target that needed to be solved, so the subsequent impact would be easier to deal with.

Yukine piled a half-man-high file next to Yato. "First, finish the mission at hand. Rescuing people is harder."

While reading a book, Yato sat on the bench and checked the surgical information.

Sanada could see at a glance that the two people had special temperaments, but in the eyes of others they were like invisible people.

Yato raised his eyes from the page. As a god of battle, Sanada's gaze swept over, and Yato noticed it. Yukine was not surprised by Sanada's arrival. In her almost endless life, she had met all kinds of wish-makers. "What's the matter with you coming here?"

Everyone who makes a wish hopes that their wish will be fulfilled quickly, and Yato thought that Sanada was here to check on the progress of the mission.

"Visiting a patient." Sanada answered and walked straight to Yukimura's ward.

Sanada didn't mean to urge them to do anything, but the place occupied by Yato and the others was a shortcut to Yukimura's ward. A wish worth five dollars was more of a psychological comfort.

Yato and Yukine exchanged a look before following.

Inside the ward, Yukimura was lying quietly on the bed, his face pale but his breathing steady. Sanada stood beside the bed, looking at Yukuni with a complicated look.

Sanada once supported the tennis club, hoping to avenge his past defeat and that Yukimura would get better after receiving treatment.

Sanada's thoughts drifted back to the past. At that time, he never thought that Yukimura's operation might fail. His mind was full of thoughts of victory. When Yukimura embarked on the professional path and saw the rehabilitation process, he knew how Yukimura faced the disease with his own beliefs.

Only then did Sanada understand Yukimura's hesitation and the wavering brought on by growth. Despite this, Sanada still firmly believed that Yukimura could overcome the disease and return to the tennis court he loved.

"Yukimura, I'm here to see you." Sanada said softly, with a barely perceptible tremor in his voice.

Yato and Yukine stood at the door of the ward, not disturbing Sanada and Yukimura's alone time.

Yukimura saw Sanada raise a familiar smile. Although he was still weak, Yukimura's eyes revealed a determined light. "Sanada, how was the game?"

Yanagi and Sanada often took turns visiting the hospital. Yukimura had long been accustomed to their occasional visits. While he was taking care of the other people in the club, he came frequently himself.

"Everything is going well. The match will be over by the third singles match. The next match is against Fudomine..." Sanada recounted the events of the Rikkai University match. The process of the match was narrated by Sanada in a plain manner, like the narrative of a storybook.

Yukimura listened to Sanada's speech with a smile on his face, and asked some questions to encourage Sanada to talk more. "How's Akaya doing lately? And what about Niou?"

Hearing these two names, Sanada's face darkened, but Yukimura's mouth curve became wider.

This kind of Sanada is more lively. Although Yukimura knows that his illness has a great impact on Sanada, he doesn't want his childhood friend to have any problems with his mentality.

There was something off about Sanada's current state. Having grown up together, Yukimura knew him well. Even if he hadn't noticed at first due to his illness, Sanada's mood had been off, and Yukimura couldn't bring himself to point it out directly. The tennis club already had a captain receiving treatment, so if the vice-captain had any issues, Renji would be the only one to handle it. "Thankfully, the reactions are all normal, so it shouldn't be a big problem."

"Yukimura, you just need to focus on your treatment. Renji and I will take care of the rest. We will come to see you with victory." Sanada held Yukimura's hand tightly and made a promise again.

Yukimura listened to Sanada's promise and said, "Sanada, I believe in you. Rikkai University will not lose. We will definitely achieve our three consecutive championships."

Sanada stayed in the ward for a long time until a nurse reminded Yukimura that he needed to be examined. Then Sanada slowly stood up and said goodbye to Yukimura.

"Yukimura, you need to get better soon." Sanada silently wished him well before leaving.

Yato and Yukine disappeared into the hospital corridor while Sanada and Yukimura chatted, continuing to prepare to complete the five-dollar deal.

Yato's fingers clutched the surgical materials, recalling Sanada's appearance in the hospital room. "What a passionate young man! This talent will surely become a Divine Artifact that sticks to its promises..."

"Don't daydream, Yato. If that boy becomes a divine artifact, he will be your enemy from the very beginning. Their fighting power, one plus one, will barely equal one." Xue Yin was simply disgusted. Did the God of War have any self-awareness? A god who plundered and killed, paired with a god whose very foundation was righteousness after becoming a divine artifact. "If we don't kill each other, one of us will die first."

Everything around Yato has become gloomy. Isn't this because he is poor? When he sees a divine weapon, especially when he comes into contact with someone who is definitely not a person who despises the poor and loves the rich, of course he wants it.

Sanada had no idea that he was destined to become a legendary figure. When he returned to the Rikkai University tennis club, the club's door was still open.

Yanagi Renji compiled the videos and data collected from the game and prepared them for the club members to watch when they arrived tomorrow. He used the extra time to organize the information of the non-main players of the tennis club, and single out the good ones, which was also a way to narrow down the successors for the team.

Sanada willingly helped, not moving around with the data, but simply sorting things out. "Yanagi, are you still busy?"

"There's only one point left. How's Yukimura doing? The top four teams are basically determined: Seigaku who defeated Jounari Shonan, Fudomine who defeated Yamabuki, and Chiba's champion seed team Rokkaku Junior High School. Once Rikkai University and Meishikari finish their match, the semi-finals will be over." Yanagi Renji knew the schedule well.

"The game can proceed according to the previous arrangement. Don't worry about Yukimura, he's in good condition." Sanada answered truthfully.

Yanagi Renji nodded and continued to concentrate on data classification, while Sanada silently assisted him. There was no need for much conversation between the two as they prepared for the future Kanto finals.

The next day, at the Tokyo Park Tennis Court, Rikkai University played against Meishikari.

Kirihara Akaya, Senior Bunta, and Senior Jackal came to the competition venue together.

Kirihara Akaya was still caught up in yesterday's match between Tezuka and Atobe. "I told you I won't get lost this time, Bunta-senpai. It's a shame you didn't see yesterday's match. As expected, he's a player that all three of Rikkai University care about. I really want to have a match with him."

"Haven't you had enough of the matches with the military advisor and Sanada? You have to rush in to get yourself into trouble." Marui chewed bubble gum. Liu Du had saved the complete video of yesterday's match, so there was no need to worry. Except that the atmosphere of the game was not as strong as the live one, the strength of the players could be known at a glance.

Besides, the goal of doubles is not to target the singles of other teams. This is the task of the minister, deputy minister and military advisor. If you must count, you can throw Niou Masaharu in. After all, Niou wants to beat Sanada's doubles player in singles.

"Always victorious, Rikkai University! Let's go, let's go, Rikkai University!"

"Game Tatekai Dainin Wang Yagyu, 6-0!"

After finishing his match, Niou stepped off the court and walked over to Marui. "Still talking, it's your turn, Bunta, Jackal."

"Let's go, Jackal. Let's finish the game quickly." Marui Bunta walked towards the court with his racket spinning.

The jackal Kuwabara hurried to catch up. "Wait for me, Bunta."

"There's no need to keep dwelling on previous matches. You'll also have the opportunity to compete against national-level players. Why not think about how to avoid losing too badly?" Niou Masaharu teased Kirihara Akaya.

Kirihara Akaya was full of fighting spirit. Apart from the seniors from Rikkai University, Kirihara Akaya had never been afraid of anyone. "Really?"

"Yeah~ They were at the same level as our Big Three back then." Niou was thinking about the players who had competed in the national competition when he was in the first grade of junior high school.

Kirihara Akaya has been tricked by Niou-senpai so many times and he still hasn't learned his lesson. "Really? Well, I'd like to see you firsthand."

"Akaya, it's your turn." After winning the game, Marui Bunta waved at Kirihara Akaya who was fooled by Nioh.

Kirihara Akaya rushed onto the court, racket in hand. He froze and slowed down as he passed Vice Minister Sanada, then sped up again and ran back onto the court. "Here I come!"

"Too lax." Sanada looked at the noisy Kirihara Akaya.

Kirihara Akaya, whose interest was piqued by Senior Niou, went all out and won the game without much effort.

"Game Rikkai University Kirihara, 6-0! The game is over, Rikkai vs. Meishikari, the score is 3:0, Rikkai University wins!"