Chapter 28
Near Kanei General Hospital, Sanada talked to the driver and got off the car with his teammates.
In the ward, Seiichi Yukimura watered the cornflowers on the windowsill. Repeating the daily routine can calm the mood.
The door of the ward was gently pushed open, and Sanada walked in with his teammates.
"Here we are, Minister Yukimura. We wanted to bring our medals with us, but unfortunately the competition was delayed." Kirihara Akaya was standing at the end of the team, and his voice was clear enough for Minister Yukimura to hear.
Yanagi Renji asked with concern: "Yukimura, how do you feel?"
"I'm ready. It all depends on the results of the surgery. What's going on with the competition?" Yukimura was very concerned about the competition. Although Rikkai University's three consecutive championships was an agreement made by the three of them when they were in the first grade of junior high school, Rikkai University's Kanto championship streak could not be interrupted.
"The competition has been postponed due to weather reasons. The specific date is the weekend of one week later." Yanagi Renji replied.
Yukimura Seiichi nodded, his gaze shifting from Yanagi Renji to his other teammates. "No matter what happens, Rikkai University's victory will not be affected."
The ward was filled with a quiet and determined atmosphere, and Seiichi Yukimura's pursuit of victory never changed.
"Don't worry, Captain Yukimura. And today Akaya went to challenge you. You don't know how much hatred you can attract. I didn't know that Akaya is so talkative." Marui Bunta pulled Kirihara Akaya out from his teammates.
Kirihara Akaya rubbed his hair shyly, completely lacking the arrogance he displayed in front of Yukimura. "Marui-senpai, that's bullshit. I was just going to greet the opponent. I didn't expect the Fudomine team to show up, and I told them they were vulnerable, and they got anxious. Besides, that's the truth. Tachibana Kippei said he was national-level on par with the seniors, but he's overstating his abilities."
The teammates from Rikkai University sat around Yukimura's bed, sharing the interesting story that happened to Kirihara Akaya just now.
"Pfft~ Yukimura, it's a pity that you didn't see that Sanada was lying. If you weren't standing in the same position, you would have believed it was the truth just by looking at Sanada's face." Niou Masaharu pointed at Sanada.
Sanada pulled the brim of his hat to cover his face. He had to protect the people of Rikkai University outside the school. At that time, half of Sanada's thoughts had already drifted to the hospital. He was just waiting for the announcement to lead the team to visit Yukimura at another day for the competition.
"Really? What a pity. I really want to record that scene." Yukimura Seiichi really wanted to save it and add one to the data of his childhood friend's embarrassing moments.
Sanada coughed fakely. "Yukimura."
Yagyu Hiroshi silently replaced the book that Yukimura Seiichi had finished reading with a new one.
Marui Bunta instructed the porridge made by Jackal-san to be prepared for Yukimura to drink after the surgery was finished...
The visit was lively until Yukimura's family arrived, and the Rikkai University players gave Yukimura's family space.
It was Yukimura's surgery time, and the nurse pushed Yukimura's bed towards the operating room.
Rikkai University's teammates all stood up and watched Yukimura leave.
The operating room door slowly closed, shutting out the outside noise and leaving only the Rikkai University teammates waiting silently outside. Sanada felt a mixture of hope for Yukimura's success and anxiety about the unknown outcome.
Sanada held his hat tightly, his eyes determined, and silently prayed for Yukimura.
The corridor was suddenly silent, and you could hear a pin drop.
It would be superfluous to say anything now. Time seemed to stretch out indefinitely, and every passing second affected the hearts of the Rikkai University players.
Outside the operating room, Sanada's fingers, gripping his hat tightly, turned white from the effort, his gaze never leaving the closed door. "I hope nothing changes."
I don’t know how much time passed, but finally, the lights in the operating room went out and the doctor came out. The players from Rikkai University immediately surrounded him, eagerly waiting for news.
The doctor wore a tired smile. "The operation went smoothly, and Yukimura is doing well. He'll need some rest and proper rehabilitation training."
Hearing this, Sanada felt relieved, and the stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.
"That's great, Minister Yukimura is fine." Kirihara Akaya's voice was choked with sobs and he clenched his fists.
Yanagi Renji nodded, a look of relief on his face. "Next, all we have to do is let Yukimura rest and recover, and then bring him the Kanto Tournament trophy."
Although they didn't show it too much on their faces, the players from Rikkai University were all worried about Yukimura, and all of it showed during the operation.
After confirming Yukimura's condition, the players from Rikkai University left the hospital in an orderly manner under the leadership of Sanada.
The day after Yukimura's surgery, Sanada runs into Yato and Yukine in the hospital corridor.
Yato stayed in the hospital to check on Yukimura's condition and whether the person who made the wish was satisfied, even though it was a fate forged by Gogen.
Sanada brought some gifts from the tennis club members and placed them in Yukimura's ward without disturbing his recovery.
Seeing that there was no one around, he bowed to Yato and Yukine who were standing in the corner in thanks.
"Hey, he can still see! Yukine." Yato suddenly became energetic, his eyes shining, and it seemed that he wanted to fleece the sheep again.
A deity that can only be seen by those with a destiny. Fulfilling a wish is equivalent to understanding destiny. Even if it stands right in front of you, you cannot see it unless you have other wishes or special characteristics.
Seeing Sanada's decisive back turn, Yukine grabbed Yato. "It's obvious it's a trait. Don't forget Sanada's reaction back then. He was wary, but not that surprised. Normally, except for children or those with a legacy, no one would just believe in a god who can grant wishes."
"Then it's fate. You said that when we have no place to live, it should be no problem for us to stay with someone else. Sanada has a face that knows how to repay a favor." Yato thought about the recent scarcity of business. He thought that every penny saved was a penny earned. He also had to save money and build a shrine with faith.
You don't even need to look at Yukine to know what Yato is thinking. Even the mini-shrine is still a success thanks to a generation of people with good fortune. Even with the current high cost of land, expanding the shrine is a long way off. It'll probably take ages. "It's all fine. As long as I don't get kicked out."
"How could that be? I remember that Sanada seemed to be participating in the competition with the people in the ward, so it was a free service at that time." Yato waved Yukine, who had transformed into a katana, and disappeared on the spot.
Sanada had no idea that his home had been targeted by the nameless god as a place to stay, nor did he know that there would be changes in the subsequent competition.
The Rikkai University players who stayed in the tennis club for training discussed the competition while training.
"What a pity! If it hadn't rained, we could have brought the Kanto Tournament trophy to welcome Minister Yukimura. The operation was successful." Kirihara Akaya ran around happily.
Since Vice Minister Sanada is not here, Kirihara Akari doesn't have to worry about being punished by a sudden voice.
Niou Masaharu watched his strategist scribbling in a notebook in the distance, slowing down his training. He then smiled harmlessly at Kirihara Akaya, who was still desperately trying to finish his training as soon as possible. "Akaaya, did you forget that the new fighting game you were thinking about is coming out today?"
"Ah! Then I have to hurry. I hope Vice Minister Sanada will come back after the work is done." Kirihara Akaya heard Niou-senpai's reminder and remembered the long-awaited fighting game card. He had originally forgotten about it because of Minister Yukimura's surgery and the Kanto Tournament. "Hurry up~"
"Niou, you have bad intentions again. There will be something to watch during the national training. However, when will the Kanto finals be scheduled~" Marui Bunta thought while swinging his racket.
The training movements were all standard, and Yanagi Renji didn't pay much attention to the whispers within the team. He just added a record of the people chatting next to Kirihara Akaya's training menu, which had been expanded a lot.
Yagyu Hiroshi finished his own training session before joining the leisurely training chat group. "If the match isn't announced for the next day, then the next match will be at least a week or two away."
"At this time, I hope the game can be delayed a little longer. Maybe Yukimura can win the cup together." Jackal Kuwahara remembered that the doctor said that Yukimura's operation was much better than expected. He needed to maintain a good attitude and proper rehabilitation training after the operation, and he might be discharged early.
On the other hand, Seigaku's intensive training in Karuizawa is coming to an end, and it just so happens that Hyotei is training in the same area, and somehow they have arranged a dorm match.
As the newly announced competition time draws closer, more and more Youth Daily reporters come to Rikkai University for interviews.
"Those two are here again. They've been here twice before. Their name is Inoue or something like that." Kirihara Akaya was very unhappy that the seniors pushed him out to be the main interviewer.
Yanagi Renji gently pushed up his glasses and said calmly, "It's Inoue, the reporter from Tennis Monthly. Since they're willing to report on it, there's no harm in letting them know more."
"Pfft~ Anyway, it was always you and Sanada who served as interview material before. Think about it, when Captain Yukimura was here, the captain would personally go to receive everyone. Doesn't this just show how important interviews are to the tennis club? Hey~ second-year ace." Niou Masaharu accurately stepped on Kirihara Akaya's weakness.
Upon hearing what Niou-senpai said, Kirihara Akaya's impatience turned into joy as he wandered in front of the reporters and blurted out, "I'm the second-level ace player of the Rikkai University Tennis Club!"
Arikirihara Akari was also performing there, and Sanada gave a summary according to the standard of polite words left by Yanagi Renji in the past, and returned to the team.
"It's done, Sanada." Yanagi Renji kept working, and the paper showed the possible order of Seigaku's appearance.
Sanada nodded. "Let's finalize the order of appearance as soon as possible."
The weather has been good recently and the notified time has not changed. The date of the Kanto finals will be coming soon.
The Kanto finals were held again on a weekend afternoon, and the sun was shining brightly that morning.
The players from Rikkai University arrived at the competition venue early and had lunch directly at a restaurant near the park.
"What's going on at Seigaku? The game time is almost up and everyone isn't here yet? Are they going to forfeit?" Kirihara Akaya put his hands on his head and looked at the game reporting office from afar.
Niou Masaharu folded his hands and leaned back in his chair. "It's the same outcome anyway."
With only ten minutes left until the competition started, Sanada was about to hand in the participant form when a latecomer from the Seigaku team arrived, covered in mud, and the crowd seemed to be filled with noise.
"Oh, it seems we've caught up." Kirihara Akaya joked.
The players from Rikkai University stood up from their seats, and as everyone arrived, the clear sky suddenly changed. Heavy rain poured down, soaking the field in an instant. People around the field looked for shelter from the rain.
Sanada frowned, looking at this sudden change. His face remained calm, but his heart was filled with turmoil. "It's raining."
"It seems that the game will be postponed again." Yagyu Hiroshi wiped his glasses and analyzed calmly.
The players from Rikkai University were originally sitting in the outdoor seats of the restaurant, and when it started to rain, they all ran into the store.
Marui Fumita curled his lips. "Hmph, even if it rains, so what? It won't be postponed this time, right?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, it will be postponed." Yanagi Renji packed up the notebook where he recorded the data and said affirmatively.
Kirihara Akaya scratched his hair in annoyance, his eyes filled with dissatisfaction with the postponement of the game. "Really, this weather is really a headache."
"Is it possible to use the indoor stadium?" Jackal Kuwabara looked at Yanagi Renji. Generally, the military advisor knows the things happening behind the scenes of the stadium best.
Niou Masaharu's hair, a little dampened by the rain, shook it out and continued, "Then why didn't you use the indoor court last time? It kept us waiting for nearly half a month."
Sanada remained silent, staring out the window at the heavy rain, wondering in his mind what the consequences would be of postponing it again.
"Just like Niou said, we didn't make it through the indoor finals last time, and we won't make it this time either. Unless it's delayed until before the national competition, it will still be postponed. This time, the Kanto region already has one more place recommended for the national competition, and the number of places selected for the national competition has also increased..." Yanagi Renji explained, but he didn't say that the champion of the national competition is also a school in Kanto, and everyone is keeping an eye on Kanto at this point.
The rainstorm raged for nearly an hour, with no sign of abating, accompanied by bursts of thunder.
Finally, Sanada received a notice that the competition would be postponed, and at the same time, he was informed of the final time of the competition. If the weather was really bad, the final competition would be completed three days before the national competition.
In other words, the Kanto finals will not be affected by the weather and must be held outdoors at a location that has been determined in advance.
Even if it is delayed to the last minute and is just a preliminary competition before the national competition, it will not affect the time and holding of the national competition.
There are no seeded teams like in the Kanto Competition in the national competition. After the opening ceremony, the captains draw lots to determine the positions, and no team is exempted.
As the sky gradually darkened, the members of the Rikkai University Tennis Club boarded the bus back to school.
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