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

It was late at night, the curtains weren't fully drawn, and a sliver of moonlight pierced the foot of the bed, while the pale yellow quilt tossed and turned.

Kitahara Akira couldn't sleep.

Tap...tap...

The clock on the wall chimed clearly in his ear. He turned to the side, his eyes fixed on the position of the minute hand. As the second hand moved little by little, the minute hand slowly approached the number 12 directly above.

Wait until the second hand completes its last revolution.

Earth Sunday, zero o'clock.

The Japanese system uses the seven-year-old calendar system, with the lunar day, the fire day, the water day, the wood day, the metal day, the earth day, and the sun day, corresponding to Monday to Sunday. Ancient China also used the seven-year day system.

After midnight, it will be the sixth day, which is five days later as mentioned in [Forward Thinking].

Upon seeing the hour, minute, and second hands overlapping, Kitahara Akira immediately sat up in bed.

A thought arose.

Opening the panel before my eyes, a card floated in the air, printed with a pocket pattern surrounding several gold coins, shimmering with gold light.

Below that was a line of text.

[Forward-thinking approach: Lose all your current assets, but recover 1000 times your original assets after five days. The amount you will receive: 200 million yen (available for collection).]

Seeing the words "Available to claim" after 2 million yen, Kitahara Akira's heart skipped a beat.

He swallowed carefully, his eyes gleaming.

Then, with a sense of ritual, he rubbed his hands together in front of him, breathed on his palms, and gently tapped the card with his hand.

"I wonder how they'll give me that 2 million yen..."

As he pressed the button, Kitahara Akira felt a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. If the panel directly handed him 2 million yen, how would he explain this enormous sum of money from an unknown source?

Fortunately, his worries were unnecessary.

The Hextech panel is much more user-friendly and intelligent than I expected.

Please use 20 yen of your existing assets to purchase a year-end jackpot at the designated location and claim a 2 million yen bonus.

"A year-end mega lottery?"

Upon seeing the text that appeared on the golden card, Kitahara Akira was taken aback at first, then found the relevant information about the "Year-End Mega Lottery" in his memory.

The year-end jackpot is a type of "JUMBO lottery".

February's Valentine's Day JUMBO, April's DREAM JUMBO, July or August's SUMMER JUMBO, October's Autumn Mega Slot, and November to December's Year-End Mega Slot.

There is only one draw per year, with purchases made during a specific time period and the draw held at a specific time. The face value is fixed, the numbers are pre-printed, and the draw is held regularly.

Most importantly, the prizes for this type of lottery are extremely high, often reaching hundreds of millions.

"They actually redeemed the prize using a lottery system."

Kitahara Akira immediately felt relieved; if that was the case, then there was nothing to worry about.

Does that mean that if you can control everything, you can control his luck too?

Speaking of which...

Now that I have 2 million yen, how should I spend it?

Buy a car?

He's only a junior high school student; he can't open a car.

Buy a house?

That's something I could consider.

Based on memories from a past life.

Japan is currently in the "Lost Two Decades" following the bursting of its bubble economy, with Tokyo housing prices plummeting and continuing to decline.

In 2001, Tokyo housing prices hit a 30-year low before gradually recovering, though the polarization was severe.

Major metropolitan areas, led by Tokyo and Osaka, are experiencing a surge in housing demand and prices due to population inflows; meanwhile, smaller cities are facing large-scale housing vacancies due to a lack of population.

Although the Japan in the Prince of Tennis world is not the Japan of the previous life.

However, during the time he traveled through time, Kitahara Akira discovered that the general trends of the two worlds were still similar, so he could have bought some properties in major cities like Tokyo in 01 and wait for them to appreciate in value.

But... besides buying a house and a car, what else can we do?

Kitahara Akira suddenly felt a wave of inexplicable sadness.

Having finally become a wealthy person, I don't even know how to spend my money.

After thinking it over and over...

It's nothing more than having a big meal, getting a custom-made tennis racket, and buying a set of clothes and shoes to look at, a set to wear, and a set to throw away...

Even so, he still felt it was a bit of a waste.

Kitahara Akira lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, letting his mind wander freely, and slowly fell asleep.

......

The next morning.

Kitahara Akira, carrying a bag, dressed neatly, wearing a hat and mask, went out the door.

He went to Shinjuku Station to buy a ticket first.

According to the location specified on the panel, you need to go to a lottery station next to a train station in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and buy all the random numbers for 200,000 yen at that store.

Kitahara Akira had bought the tickets.

The JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line offers a direct train service to Kamakura Station, requiring no transfers and taking just over an hour.

Ticket price: 950 yen.

He needed the money to buy lottery tickets, so before leaving home, he specifically asked Misae for his allowance for the next month.

Because of his outstanding performance during this period, he became the "other people's child" and easily passed the application, setting off with a "huge" amount of pocket money for a month.

An hour later.

Kitahara Akira got off at Kamakura Station and followed the instructions on the control panel, searching through the streets and alleys for the lottery station.

Finally, they found the target location next to a remote, empty train station.

Looking up at the shop sign with its yellow, purple, and red stripes, and next to the shop door was a sign that read "Year-End Junbo," I checked the location again on the panel.

After confirming that everything was correct, Kitahara Akira entered the store.

Upon entering.

Welcome!

The young and pretty shop assistant greeted us politely, with a warm and loud voice and a bright smile.

Kitahara Akira glanced at her lightly from under the brim of his hat, then cut to the chase: "I want to buy year-end lottery tickets."

The female shop assistant also glanced at him.

She'd seen plenty of people fully armed to receive awards, but it was truly rare to see someone wearing a hat and mask to buy lottery tickets.

However, she was only concerned with opening her shop and doing business; her customers' preferences were none of her business. So, with a sweet smile, she asked, "Sir, would you like one ticket, or a set?"

Kitahara Akira took out an envelope, which contained the original assets that the panel had returned to him.

He opened the envelope.

shhhhh......

Twenty 10,000 yen bills, plus a 100 yen coin, totaling 200,010 yen.

"Hello, these are all year-end lottery tickets with randomly selected numbers."

「!」

Looking at the twenty "Fukuzawa Yukichi" cards on the counter, the female clerk was slightly surprised. She then looked at Kitahara Akira, who was very tall and wearing a mask and hat.

Judging from the exposed eyebrows and the voice, the student is likely a high school student who is not yet an adult.

Two hundred thousand yen......

Some low-income families don't even earn that much in a month.

And this high school student in front of me actually used it to buy lottery tickets?

The female shop assistant cautiously picked up a 10,000 yuan banknote.

When you gently touch the "Fukuzawa Yukichi" on the front and the "Byodoin Phoenix Image" on the back with your fingers, you can clearly feel the raised texture. When you bring the banknote close to your eyes, the watermark on it is clearly visible through the light.

I've confirmed that there are no problems with the money.

So the female clerk confirmed again: "Is it all 200,000 yen for year-end lottery tickets?"

"Okay, exchange all 200,100 yen for year-end lottery tickets."

After receiving confirmation, the female shop assistant didn't waste any more words.

As requested, I took 667 randomly numbered tickets and handed them to Kitahara Akira. Kitahara Akira then neatly stacked them on the counter, tied them together with rubber bands, put them into plastic bags, and then put them into his bag.

2 million yen in hand!

He suppressed his excitement.

I quickly left the lottery shop and walked around several streets.

Only then did he take off his mask, take a deep breath of fresh air, and with a calm and serene expression, watch the people and cars walking and passing by on the street in front of him. Kitahara Akira felt an urge to shout out loud.

Of course, he didn't shout.

There happened to be a small barbershop next door, and he thought he could take advantage of the free time today to get his hair cut quickly, so he went in and sat down, listening to the customers and barbers chatting.

When it was his turn, the same process happened: shampooing, haircutting, and chatting with the hairdresser. After the haircut, he paid 1,000 yen, went outside, and found the sun shining brightly.

Nobody knows he made 2 million yen today.

......

After buying the lottery ticket, Kitahara Akira did not return to Tokyo immediately.

It's a rare treat to come to Kamakura.

I took this opportunity to wander around.

He put his backpack on his back, placing it in front of him where he could see it easily, and then began to wander aimlessly around.

First, return to Kamakura Station, then randomly select a location.

First is Komachi-dori, which is closest to Kamakura Station. It's Kamakura's most famous shopping street with a wide variety of delicious food. If Morimura were here, she would definitely want to eat her way through the whole day.

However, considering that there were too many people, Kitahara Akira only looked at the alley entrance, shoulder to shoulder, and then decisively left.

Then he went to the second option—the Enoden.

The Enoden line, officially known as the Enoshima Electric Railway, operates between Fujisawa and Kamakura. The 10km journey offers many scenic views.

However, Kitahara Akira's understanding of the Enoden was not based on this.

Instead, it comes from a tokusatsu drama from a previous life, Ultraman Tiga. The rainbow monster Darabang, which looks like a snail, mistook the sound of the Enoden's horn for its mother's voice and chased the Enoden to the city. Later, Tiga sent the Enoden into space and took Darabang to find its mother.

It's a very romantic story. Many years have passed, and the characters have even traveled to another world.

But Kitahara Akira still remembers it vividly.

After seeing the Enoden in person.

Actually, I didn't feel there was anything special about it; it was just an ordinary green tram.

Kitahara Akira was not disappointed.

Because some things are emotions stored in memory, and compared to a train, the places it passes through are the truly precious memories.

For example, the next stop—

Kamakura High School Station!

The station faces the vast ocean, separated from the Shichirigahama coastline by only a national highway. Standing on the platform, you can enjoy the sea view. It is the only station among all Enoden stations that directly faces the sea.

It is also a filming location for Slam Dunk.

The intersection outside the station is the same level crossing where Sakuragi Hanamichi and Akagi Haruko waved goodbye.

Looking at the familiar scene from his memory, Kitahara Akira felt an indescribable feeling. The Enoden stopped for a while and then started again. The scenery outside the window rushed past, as if the past twenty years were officially saying goodbye to him.

Then he went to Enoshima, but unfortunately it was still early and he couldn't see the stunning sunset.

This lasted for most of the day.

Kitahara Akira's emotional changes can be described as quite varied.

From the initial anticipation and nervousness before setting off, to the excitement and exhilaration of buying the year-end lottery tickets, and finally to being moved by the scenery, feeling touched and somewhat relieved.

Having gone through all of the above.

Kitahara Akira inexplicably felt that his mental strength seemed to have improved slightly.

The streets around me were noisy and annoying, filled with the sounds of car horns, pedestrians, and shop loudspeakers.

"Inhale...exhale...exhale...exhale..."

However, using the meditation method taught by his mentor, he was able to enter a state of tranquility even in the bustling city.

A hint of surprise flashed in Kitahara Akira's eyes.

What a pleasant surprise! I never expected that buying a lottery ticket in Kanagawa would actually improve my mental strength so much.

It is possible to enter a state of tranquility despite external disturbances.

Then I believe that it won't be long before I can enter a state of tranquility during intense competitions and then unleash the domineering state that my body has memorized.

......

Kanagawa Prefectural Kaidai Affiliated Junior High School

"Hey, this is terrible! I heard that some people from Hyotei just broke into Rikkai's tennis courts!"

"Really?! Let's go check it out!"

"What are you looking at? He's already gone!"

"They're gone? They must have gotten a real beating from the school team. It's a shame I didn't get to see it..."

"What are you talking about? The person who came is the captain of Hyotei Academy, Atobe Keigo!"

"Yanagi, Niou, Yagyu, Niou were all defeated by him. Akaya also wanted to join the fight, but fortunately Yanagi stopped him."

"Sanada wasn't at school, and Atobe, impatient to wait, went out to look for him himself!"

"What!?"

"This is really serious! If even the Emperor loses, Rikkai will be..."

at the same time.

Kitahara Akira got off the train at a station near Rikkai University, carrying a bag on his back.

He only knew that Rikkai University was in Kanagawa Prefecture, but he never expected it to be in Kamakura City. When he saw the station name, he could only marvel at the wonder of fate.

After getting off the bus, follow the street signs.

Before long, we arrived at a wide national highway, with the sea right next to us.

"Kamakura City has a lot of coastline."

Kitahara Akira sighed as he walked straight along the road, enjoying the sea breeze. There were few pedestrians on the road.

And looking from a distance.

The outlines of several tennis courts appeared in the distance.

It was the first time Kitahara Akira had ever seen a tennis court by the sea. He was excited and hurried over there.

Two or three minutes later.

Kitahara Akira arrived outside the stadium.

On the flat ground extending outward from the edge of the road, three hard-court tennis courts are lined up in a row, surrounded by blue wire mesh. From the courts, one can enjoy the beauty of the sea from the best vantage point.

Playing ball here is a real treat.

However, Kitahara Akira was not in the mood to admire the sea at this moment. He stared intently at the court in the middle, a hint of surprise and astonishment flashing in his eyes.

In front of the net.

Two people are guessing who will go first, seemingly preparing to start a match.

Kitahara Akira knew both of them.

Genichiro Sanada, the vice-captain of Rikkai University Affiliated Junior High School.

Matchup.

President of Hyotei Academy, King, Atobe Keigo.

"Isn't Hyotei in Tokyo? Why did Atobe suddenly appear in Kanagawa and even have a showdown with Sanada!?"

Kitahara Akira had no idea what had happened.

But his feet reacted faster than his brain; before he could even think it through, his feet had already walked onto the tennis court.

He stood at the door, holding his backpack, and asked.

"Hey, do you guys need a referee?"