Prince of Tennis: A new Hextech Crafting System is refreshed every week.

At the entrance of the sports field on the street.

"Kitahara!"

As Morimura called out to Kitahara Akira, he quickly ran up to him, then ran behind him, pressed his hands hard on Kitahara Akira's shoulders, and jumped up with a roar.

"..."

Kitahara Akira was used to this kind of greeting unique to chuunibyou teenagers. Without even looking at him, he swung his hand back and attacked Morimura Ya's most vulnerable spot.

"Wow~!"

Startled, Morimura Ya immediately jumped down, covering his groin with his hands and taking several steps back. "You bastard, when did you become so treacherous?!"

"Come on," Kitahara Akira rolled his eyes and asked.

"Are you here to practice today?"

"Uh..." Morimura Ya paused, seemingly thinking of some scene, shuddered, and chuckled awkwardly.

"Ahem, well... there aren't many ranked matches left after school starts, so I'm just sharpening my skills beforehand."

"Oh, by the way, let me introduce you."

"This is Murata-senpai, who used to give me a lot of guidance."

"Didn't you want to compete for a spot in the rookie tournament? Murata-senpai is a regular on the Katsura Akidai Junior High School team and a top player who has made it to the Metropolitan Tournament for two consecutive years. You should ask him for advice later."

After saying that, Morimuraya quickly turned to Murata Yukihiro and said, "Murata-kun, this is my best friend, do you think you could...?"

However, before he could finish speaking...

Yukihiro Murata waved his hand, interrupting him directly, and said, "I know him."

"Kitahara Akira!"

"We've played ball together before."

"what?"

Morimura looked surprised and turned to look at Kitahara Akira.

Kitahara Akira nodded.

Morimura leaned close to his ear and complained, "Why didn't you remind me?"

"You spoke too quickly."

"Thanks anyway~"

And this time.

Yukihiro Murata suddenly walked up to Akira Kitahara and asked, "So? Are you interested in another match with me today?"

"Of course, I couldn't ask for more."

Kitahara Akira agreed without hesitation.

He had no reason to refuse.

He still vividly remembers the crushing defeat he suffered last time, and he certainly wouldn't miss the chance to get revenge on the last day.

Moreover, Yukihiro Murata is quite skilled and would be an excellent test subject.

......

It's decided that we'll play the match.

The two found an empty court, placed their golf bags and water bottles on the chairs under the shade of the courtside, and then began their pre-match warm-up.

Akira Kitahara discovered it.

Murata Yukihiro's warm-up method is the same as Yamabuki's, which should be the opponent of Morimura Yakatsu.

"I ran into some people from Yamabuki a few days ago."

While stretching and warming up, Yukihiro Murata said to Akira Kitahara beside him, "I was curious, so I played a match against him."

"What was the result of the match?" Kitahara Akira asked.

Yukihiro Murata didn't answer immediately. Instead, he completed the entire movement before taking a breath and saying, "I lost."

"That guy's name is Muromachi Juji, he's in the same grade as you, you should know him."

Kitahara Akira paused slightly.

There was some surprise in his eyes. Muromachi Juuji defeated Murata Yukihiro? Was his strength really that great?

Thanks to the results of his patient study last week, Kitahara Akira repeatedly "replayed" the plot of The Prince of Tennis that he watched as a child in his mind several times.

In the Yamabuki storyline.

The most noteworthy person is naturally the once-in-a-decade "prodigy" Akutsu, followed by the lucky Sengoku Kiyosumi, then coach Banro, and finally the Yamabuki doubles pair.

As for the part about Muromachi Juji.

He barely appears in the animation; at most, he's just a background character.

I thought my opponent was at most close to the level of the Metropolitan Tournament, but I never expected that he would be able to defeat a veteran Metropolitan Tournament master like Yukihiro Murata.

A few minutes later.

Both players completed their warm-up routine and then proceeded to the net.

Yukihiro Murata said, "Just like last time, you serve first."

"Whoosh..."

Kitahara Akira stood the racket upright on the ground, pinched the handle with three fingers and rubbed it, saying, "I choose the reverse."

Yukihiro Murata smiled.

He sensed a seriousness in Kitahara Akira, and he liked serious people.

Swish... rip... thud!

The racket spun slower and slower, then wobbled for a while before falling to the ground.

"Head-up, my serve."

Yukihiro Murata beckoned Morimura to him with his palm, and Morimura immediately understood, opening a tube of new Wilson balls and throwing two over.

It was also noted.

"Kitahara, my playing style was taught by Murata, so you must be careful of his baseline attacks."

Kitahara Akira swung his racket.

"understood."

Hearing this somewhat perfunctory answer, Morimura shook his head helplessly.

Kitahara, do you even understand the situation?

Murata's topspin and mine are completely different things. The tactics you used to beat me are useless against Murata.

Morimura was helpless.

Never mind, he'll understand in a bit.

"Murata Yukihiro serves!"

Just as Morimura climbed onto the referee's chair and called for the start of the match, the next second...

Bang!

A heavy, muffled sound of the ball being struck rang out.

Seeing the powerful topspin arc of the ball suddenly flying over the net, Morimura was immediately taken aback: "The match has just begun, and Murata-sensei is already getting serious?"

"How could Kitahara possibly return a serve of that caliber?"

Just as he was about to announce the score.

Kitahara Akira glanced at the tennis ball in front of him.

"Powerful topspin serve... landing point close to the body, backhand side... maximum bounce at chest to shoulder height..."

In an instant, a flood of information appeared in my mind.

Since undergoing the process of "patient learning," Kitahara Akira has become accustomed to proactively acquiring information, thinking calmly, and finding the best solutions.

As the tennis ball hurtled towards him, he quickly stepped back half a step, giving up his hitting position, and waited until the ball dropped to his waist.

Bang!

Kitahara Akira gripped his racket with both hands, twisted his waist, and unleashed a powerful topspin down the line, the ball landing directly in Murata Yukihiro's backhand corner.

The tennis ball dropped sharply after clearing the net, bouncing at a height no less than the previous serve.

Yukihiro Murata was immediately startled.

Kitahara Akira's strength was not to be underestimated, so he used his true power from the very beginning, but—

"That spin speed, that bounce, that trajectory...!"

Yukihiro Murata moved extremely fast along the baseline, arriving just before the tennis ball completely flew off the court.

But the ball bounced to shoulder height, still with strong topspin.

There is no better way.

He could only try to force a backhand slice out from an extremely awkward high hitting point to get through the transition.

"I was pinned down."

In just one round, Yukihiro Murata realized something was wrong; this kid was actually able to hit such a heavy topspin down the line with his serve return.

Compared to the last encounter.

They're like completely different people!

Yukihiro Murata's eyes showed surprise, but he didn't have time to think further.

Kitahara Akira's figure had already begun to move forward.

Facing the shallow ball in front of him, he moved to the net while shifting his body to the side to find the best hitting position.

Bang!

He was very decisive, turning sideways and hitting a powerful topspin cross-court shot with his forehand. This time, the landing point was controlled in the blind spot on the other side of Yukihiro Murata's side.

Yukihiro Murata sprinted quickly along the baseline, barely managing to reach the ball and save it.

Bang!

Kitahara Akira had now completely reached the net and delivered a relentless overhead smash, shattering Murata Yukihiro's defense.

0-15!

"......ah?"

On the referee's chair, Morimura was utterly bewildered. Such a powerful topspin serve... Kitahara...

He caught it so easily?

Still scoring?

......

0-30!

"......ah!"

......

0-40!

"......ah?!"

......

"No...no, buddy!?"

If the first point was just a bit surprising, then Kitahara Akira broke Murata's serve three times in a row to score.

Morimura was stunned.

"Murata was holding back? Wait a minute, that spinning was so intense, he's definitely serious!"

"Am I still dreaming?"... "Hiss—!"...

Morimura pinched his thigh, and the intense pain instantly brought him back to his senses.

This is real!

Not a dream!

"But why do I see Kitahara beating Murata the boss?!"

Bang!

Yukihiro Murata kept running on both sides of the baseline, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He, who is best at baseline attacks, is now being pushed back to the baseline, unable to move forward even a step, and forced to desperately chase the ball in both corners.

"It's only been a little over a week..."

"This kid's topspin has actually evolved to this level!"

Bang!

Despite managing to return the shot aimed at the bottom corner with great difficulty, Yukihiro Murata still couldn't accept this reality.

The current situation is all too familiar.

More than a week ago.

He used this method to keep Kitahara Akira at his limit, constantly wearing him down, and eventually completely defeating him.

How can we meet again?

The power dynamic between the two suddenly reversed, the two poles were turned upside down!?

Bang!

Kitahara Akira suddenly pressed forward, launching a preemptive attack. Before Murata Yukihiro could react, the tennis ball flew off the court.

"Ga...game, Kitahara Akira, 1-0."

"The two sides will switch venues."