Chapter 31
In front of the coach's chair, Yukimura Seiichi, wearing his coat, looked at Yanagi Renji standing before him. "Renji, it's confirmed. It's hard to say about Sanada."
Yanagi Renji's eyes were firm. "Yukimura, I know. But I want to put an end to this fight."
Yukimura Seiichi clearly understood what Yanagi Renji was trying to do by observing the situation on the court. After all, besides the junior Kirihara Akaya, Inui Sadaharu was the second person who took good care of Renji on the court.
Even in the Kanto finals, when Yanagi Renji made a decision that was detrimental to the outcome of the game, Yukimura Seiichi did not react much.
The reason for this is that Rikkai University has been the Kanto champion for many years and has won the national championship twice in a row.
With a big lead in the score, Yukimura Seiichi can afford to win or lose a game, which also shows his confidence in his own and his teammates' strength.
The game resumes.
Inui Sadaharu gripped the racket tightly. Since there was a problem with the data, he decided to give up using it.
Yanagi Renji stood on the other side of the court, racket in hand, waiting.
Inui Sadaharu served the ball, and the tennis ball flew towards Yanagi Renji with a strong spin.
Yanagi Renji returned the ball easily, and the tennis ball flew back and forth between them. "If we don't come up with some new moves, the match will be over."
Data tennis isn't just about piling up numbers; it also involves a precise understanding of your opponent's psychology. Yanagi Renji actually possesses this even more than Inui Sadaharu.
"Then I'll give up the data and try my best." Inui Sadaharu hit the ball with an almost crazy force.
Yanagi Renji did receive the ball, but his return was not strong enough and the tennis ball hit the net.
"Game Qingxuegan, 4-3!"
The disorganized attack did allow Inui Sadaharu to gain an advantage, but Yanagi Renji also found the pattern from it. The origin of everything lies in himself, and Inui Sadaharu is the example.
I was able to go against my habit and hit the ball in another direction for once, and I was mentally prepared afterwards. I just had to calculate a few more data.
"Game Li Hai Daliu, 4-4!"
"Wait! Something is wrong. What is Senior Liu doing? The opponent has scored 5 points." Kirihara Aka's head, which was dizzy from the data battle, suddenly woke up.
Niou Masaharu waved his hand. "Well, who knows?"
Although he didn't know why the military advisor turned the game into a tug-of-war, Niou Masaharu had already noticed something from Yanagi Renji's different style.
The data may be a little off, but when it comes to acting and deception, Niou Masaharu is absolutely confident.
While Marui Bunta wasn't as meticulous as Niou Masaharu, he had a good idea of his teammates' abilities, and they were only better than he'd seen them. No matter how he looked at it, Inui Sadaharu couldn't match Sanada's strength. "And Sanada went to warm up early, so there's obviously going to be another match."
"Game Li Hai Daliu, 5-5!"
Some of Sadaharu Inui's shots were indeed beyond Yanagi Renji's expectations, while others still did not escape Yanagi Renji's calculations. "Overall, you have improved, Sadaharu."
"I won't give up easily, Renji. I've been working hard for this day since we parted in elementary school, and I don't want you to beat me so easily." Inui Sadaharu got covered in sand from chasing the ball.
On the surface, Yanagi Renji was still dealing with Inui Sadaharu, but his subtle movements revealed that he was guiding the game in a certain direction.
"Game Qingxuegan, 6-6!"
Niou Masaharu narrowed his eyes, as if he was watching a carefully planned drama.
Kirihara Akaya was completely taken aback. "Impossible! That Seigaku guy has no ability to fight Yanagi-senpai to a game seven."
Yagyu Hiroshi pushed his glasses up, his eyes deep: "The military advisor has his own plan, which is to give up a game, and there is Sanada behind."
No matter how hard the players from Rikkai University thought, they could not imagine a scenario where Yukimura would play today.
In the tie-break, neither side gave up points easily.
The score was deadlocked, and Yanagi Renji pressed forward step by step.
Inui Sadaharu also showed his tenacity. Instead of retreating, he aroused his inner fighting spirit. "I will not lose."
"26 to 25, we're leading!"
Inui Sadaharu began to choose his shots more carefully, striving to maintain his lead while not leaving his opponent any chance to counterattack.
Yanagi Renji's precise interception was returned by Inui Sadaharu at an incredible angle, winning a crucial point.
"Game Qingxuegan, 7-6!"
The referee's voice rang out again, pushing the atmosphere on the field to a new climax. The spectators did not expect that Seigaku would actually win against Rikkai University.
On either side of the field, one was sweating profusely and covered in dirt, while the other, with sweat left on his forehead from the workout, took a short break and calmed his breathing.
Kirihara Akaya was confused. "No, how come Seigaku won the match?"
"Great!" A victory made the supporters of Seigaku who had been quiet for a long time active.
Everyone in Seigaku looked at Fuji Shusuke who was about to appear. "Go ahead! Fuji-senpai!"
"Both players, please come in."
Sanada silently passed by Yanagi Renji who was waiting at the entrance and waved his hand.
The people from Rikkai University didn't react yet, but the people from Seigaku were shocked.
"The guy in the hat hit someone." Horio said loudly.
Inui Sadaharu immediately turned his head to look over, forgetting about the iron fist sanctions imposed by Deputy Minister Rikkai Daiyou.
Yanagi Renji's face flushed red, showing that Sanada was not holding back. "Sanada, the match is up to you."
Without counting Yukimura's return, Yanagi Renji had repeatedly speculated on the winning rate of Rikkai University's regular season competition based on the data. As long as they won two games in a row in the early stage, Yanagi would act according to his own heart. If there was an accident in one game, then this game would not be a long-awaited exchange game.
Yanagi Renji never included Kirihara Akaya in his options. It has always been only Sanada, and only Sanada who can temporarily replace Yukimura as the team's last line of defense.
Therefore, according to Yanagi Renji's data, without natural disasters, man-made disasters and other unexpected factors, Rikkai University's winning rate is 100%.
Yukimura Seiichi negotiates with the referee about Sanada's actions before he enters the ring. "Looks like you should show some mercy, Renji."
"Yeah." Yanagi Renji nodded and watched Sanada walk towards the arena.
Sanada walked towards the arena in silence, emitting an oppressive aura that could not be ignored.
Fuji Shusuke met Sanada Genichirō's gaze and calmly walked onto the court, unfazed by the tense atmosphere. "Vice-President of Rikkai University, it seems this isn't going to be an easy match."
Genichirō Sanada gripped his racket tightly, his gaze fixed on Fuji Shusuke. "Too lax."
Fujishu now has no fighting spirit to give it his all. Only by pushing the issue to a certain point can the motivation of a genius be stimulated. However, Seigaku, which only stops at Kanto, can't meet many decent opponents.
"The match begins! Seigaku Fuji serves."
Sanada quickly got into shape and waited for the ball.
Kirihara Akaya looked left and right, wanting to comfort Liu, but not knowing how. "Deputy Director Sanada was very serious today. Liu, are you okay?"
"It's okay, Kirihara. Just watch the game carefully. Sanada will kill the game soon." Yanagi Renji didn't care about the injury on his face. He waved at Inui Sadaharu and asked Kirihara Akaya to concentrate on the game.
Fuji Shusuke's serve was light and accurate, landing in Sanada's receiving area, testing the opponent's baseline.
Sanada caught the ball steadily and counterattacked with a swift and powerful counterattack. The speed of the ball was so fast that Fuji Shusuke had no time to react and could only watch the ball fly past him.
"Game Tatekai Ohsanada, 15-0!"
Niou Masaharu stood in the front row near the coaching booth. "Sanada, start with full force."
"There's nothing to worry about." Marui Bunta took out some energy-replenishing chewing gum from his tennis bag.
Fuji Shusuke frowned slightly, undeterred by the sudden attack. "You are indeed very strong."
After a counterattack, Sanada scored and returned to the sideline without any unnecessary movements.
Fuji Shusuke served again, this time deliberately adding spin to the tennis ball before swinging the racket. "This ball will disappear~"
Sanada quickly adjusted his position, kept his eyes on the ball, and went forward to counterattack.
The ball drew a strange arc in the air and flew towards Fuji Shusuke.
Fuji Shusuke moved his steps and hit the ball back when it bounced off the ground.
Sanada tilted his racket, predicted where the ball would land, and hit a short shot back to the opponent's court.
"The disappearing serve failed?" Horio was surprised.
Inui Sadaharu explained, "It wasn't a failure. Rather, he stepped forward and hit the ball back before it changed direction. The change in the trajectory of the tennis ball is based on the spin of the ball. Fuji's disappearing serve was a visual change for the backcourt receiver, and Sanada's counterattack after the ball landed was not enough to create a deceptive visual change."
"Game Tatekai Ohsanada, 1-0!"
Yukimura Seiichi's gaze deepened as he followed the competition. "Sanada's strength has improved a lot. I really want to give it a try. But, I'm sure he'll sternly refuse~"
The serving game was changed. Sanada glanced at Fuji Shusuke on the opposite side of the court, gripped the tennis ball tightly, raised his hand and swung the racket fiercely.
The tennis ball drew a sharp straight line in the air and landed neatly within the bounds.
"Game Tatekai Ohsanada, 15-0!"
Kikumaru Eiji rubbed his eyes. "What a fast speed."
"What is that? I can't see the shot." Momoshiro Takeshi couldn't see clearly what Sanada was doing with his serve.
After four aces, Sanada led 2-0.
"It's an invisible lead-in." Kirihara Akaya shook his head. He had been staring at it carelessly just now.
Marui Fumita had the foresight to look elsewhere on the field. Although there was no problem catching the ball, it was because the players at Rikkai University already knew this move of Sanada's and it had worked well before.
Niou Masaharu tilted his head and didn't comment.
"Renji, don't you remember? It seems that Sanada has practiced a new move. I'm looking forward to it." Yukimura Seiichi guessed some changes in Sanada's strength from the reactions of his teammates.
The members of Seigaku shouted in support not far away: "Fuji-senpai, come on!"
"Fuji-senpai is being suppressed." Seigaku's singles player, Echizen Ryoma, saw the situation clearly. "It's a shame I haven't met anyone from Rikkai University before. It would have been nice to have a match. Besides Captain Tezuka, there are players of this caliber. We made the right decision to come to Japan..."
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