The Prince of Tennis: From Data-Driven Tennis to the Pinnacle of His Career

Chapter 193 Advancing to the Finals

"The fifth match is officially starting! First singles players from Yamabuki and Shitenhoji, please take the stage!"

"It's time to end this."

After slowly standing up from the bench, Kagura Ichijin nodded to Banta Mikiya on the coach's bench, then picked up his racket and walked straight toward the referee.

This time, his opponent is Zaizen Hikaru, a first-year student at Shitenhoji Temple.

"One game to decide the winner, Zaizen serves."

"You're Kagura-senpai? The captain of Yamabuki?"

Zaizen Hikaru slightly raised his head, looking at the imposing Kagura Ichijin in front of him, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

Kagura Ijin was so tall and strong, and with his calm demeanor, he didn't look like a junior high school student at all; he looked more like a teacher leading a team.

No wonder Coach Watanabe didn't let those regular senior players play as the first singles player. It's perfectly normal to lack confidence when playing against opponents like that.

It's a pity that the senior students in front of him failed to seize the opportunity, which pushed the suspense into this crucial fifth match. Otherwise, he wouldn't need to stand here alone to face this formidable opponent.

"That's right."

Kagura Ichijin nodded, then looked Zaizen Hikaru up and down with a strange expression.

Logically speaking, given the overall strength of Shitenhoji Temple, there should be senior students who are even more powerful than Zaizen Hikaru.

He really didn't know what Shitenhoji was thinking, that he would let a freshman take on the singles role; it was simply unbelievable.

Generally speaking, such an important position as the singles champion should be given to the ace player, but Shitenhoji did the exact opposite.

"I heard you've never lost a match, is that true?"

Zaizen Hikaru took a deep breath, gripped his racket tightly, and asked with a serious expression.

Kagura Ijin, the "strongest junior high school student," has participated in so many competitions and defeated countless national-level players. Although he knows that there is a huge gap in strength between them, he has no intention of giving up.

"It's fake, I lost to someone in elementary school."

Kagura Ichijin remained calm, a faint smile playing on his lips, and replied in a very relaxed tone.

There are no invincible players in this world; the key is who your opponent is.

Even though he was already far ahead of other middle school students in Japan, he never dared to relax in the slightest.

Having already seen the "world," his vision was no longer limited to his peers.

Now, let alone facing "professional players," even if he encounters the top-ranked senior students in the U17 training camp, his chances of winning are actually not very high.

"————"

Upon hearing this, Zaizen Hikaru fell silent, then decisively turned around and walked towards the service area with slightly heavy steps.

He originally wanted to test him with words, but Kagura Ichijin was not only frighteningly calm, but his confidence also made him feel ashamed.

For a player who doesn't take pressure seriously at all, his psychological tactics are unlikely to be effective.

"Bang!"

After reaching the service court, Zaizen Hikaru took a deep breath, tossed the ball high into the air, and swung his racket forcefully.

"Bang!"

After running to the ball's landing point, Kagura Ijin casually flipped his wrist and decisively swung his racket to meet the ball.

The tennis ball instantly transformed into a yellow streak of light, flying almost close to the net before slamming heavily at Zaizen Hikaru's feet.

"0-15!"

"Such a fast return speed."

Zaizen Hikaru's pupils contracted sharply. He gripped the racket he hadn't had time to swing, and looked at Kagura Ichijin across from him with disbelief.

This was the first time he had encountered such a hopeless opponent; a mere casual slap made him realize the gap between them.

No wonder so many national-level players want to avoid Kagura Yiren; this may be the wisest choice.

"Bang!"

After serving again, Zaizen Hikaru gritted his teeth, stared intently with wide eyes, and carefully observed Kagura Ichijin on the other side, hoping to find a sliver of a chance to win.

"Bang!"

Faced with the incoming tennis ball, Kagura Ijin simply waved it casually and then turned around and walked directly towards the receiving area without looking back.

Although Zaizen Hikaru was hailed as a genius of Shitenhoji Temple, he was still too inexperienced and posed no threat to him.

"0-30!"

'

As he watched the tennis ball bounce off the ground and fly out of bounds again, despair filled Zaizen Hikaru's eyes.

He could only barely see a blurry yellow afterimage flash by; his body didn't have time to react at all.

In this situation, he had no chance to even move, let alone retaliate.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"0-40!"

"Game, Zaizen Hikaru, O-1!"

"Game, Zaizen Hikaru, 0-2!"

"Game, Zaizen Hikaru, 0-3!"

"Game, Zaizen Hikaru, 0-4!"

"Game, Zaizen Hikaru, 0-5!"

After breaking his opponent's serve again, Kagura Ichijin bounced his racket and looked intently at Zaizen Hikaru across from him.

If it were any other freshman, facing such a crushing defeat where they couldn't even touch the ball and were completely suffocated, their mental defenses would probably have collapsed long ago. But Zaizen Hikaru stubbornly persevered.

This psychological quality, which is beyond the reach of his peers, far surpasses that of most junior high school students. This new student at Shitenhoji High School is truly remarkable.

"Ugh!"

After letting out a deep sigh, Kagura Ichijin silently recited the system's instructions to check Zaizen Hikaru's five dimensions.

Zaizen Hikaru (Grade 1, Junior High)

Speed: 2.5

Power: 2

Stamina: 2.5

Spirit: 3

Technology: 2.5

Total: 12.5

"What a pity."

Kagura Ichijin shook his head slightly and muttered to himself.

As a first-year student, Zaizen Hikaru's stats are very well-rounded with no obvious weaknesses. With a little polishing, he will definitely be a pillar of Shitenhoji in the future.

If Zaizen Hikaru hadn't been facing him this time, he might have shone brightly.

Unfortunately, the national tournament is so cruel; only the truly strong can stand until the end.

"Bang!"

After reaching the service court, Kagura Ijin took a deep breath, tossed the ball high into the air, then bent his legs and swung his racket forcefully.

"15-0!"

"I still can't see it."

After hearing the muffled sound of a tennis ball hitting the wire mesh behind him, Zaizen Hikaru, who was in a receiving position, belatedly turned his head and looked behind him.

Looking at the tennis ball that was now deeply embedded in the wire mesh, he dejectedly lowered his arm, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Kagura Ijin's serve speed is much faster than his return speed, definitely exceeding 240km/h!

Let alone him, I doubt any junior high school student in Japan could receive such a high-speed serve.

"Bang!"

After serving the ball again, Kagura Ijin became even more focused.

"30-0"

"40-0!"

'

"Game, Zaizen Hikaru, 0-6!"

"Match 5 is over, 6-0, Kagura Ikjin wins!"

"Congratulations to Yamabuki Junior High School for defeating Shitenhoji Junior High School 3-2 and advancing to the finals!"

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