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

In May, the early summer breeze, carrying a hint of heat, blew into Yoyogi Forest Park in Tokyo.

Twelve junior high schools from the region will gather here for a brutal elimination tournament to determine the top two teams that will represent Shinjuku Ward in the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament in June.

When Kagura Ichijin stepped off the bus carrying his tennis bag, he could see a crowd gathered at the park entrance from afar, and in the center of the crowd, an arrogant and domineering figure stood out.

Akutsu Jin leaned against the pillar at the entrance, one hand in his pocket, his head tilted to the side, his wild gray eyes coldly scanning every passerby.

Despite being just one person, he blocked half of the park's entrance, scaring students from other schools into having to detour around him like he was avoiding a plague.

"Akuzu-kun, what brings you here? You weren't on the roster for this competition."

Kagura Ichijin walked up to Akutsu Jin and sighed helplessly.

Akutsu, before the competition even started, had already single-handedly made Yamabuki Middle School a "powerful force" in everyone's eyes.

"It's nothing, I was just killing time anyway, so I came to check. Where's the others? Why haven't they arrived yet?"

Akutsu Jin shrugged, looking past Kagura's shoulder and towards what was behind her.

"Yamabuki is the number one seed in this region and received a bye in the first round, so being an hour late is fine."

Kagura Ichijin explained.

The format of this regional qualifier is very simple: twelve schools and four seeded teams receive a bye in the first round and advance directly to the second round.

This was undoubtedly a good opportunity for Yamabuki to wait and see.

"Tch, what a hassle. Why did you come so early? To spy on the enemy? What's there to spy on with those small fry?"

Akutsu Jin pursed his lips, looking disgusted.

"Submit the list of participants."

Kagura Ijin straightened his starting team uniform, his expression calm.

"It is my responsibility as a minister. Before the competition officially begins, the list must be confirmed and submitted to the organizer. Once confirmed, it cannot be changed at will during the competition."

After saying that, he ignored the delinquent boy whose face clearly showed his boredom and walked straight to the reception area deep inside the park.

"You seem quite busy."

Akutsu Jin snorted, and although he complained, his feet followed him without hesitation.

He originally thought that Kagura Ichijin became the minister based on his abilities, but now it seems that this guy does things in a very rigid and methodical way, even a bit like those old-fashioned men.

"Hello, this is the list of contestants from Yamabuki Junior High School."

Kagura Ichijin took out a neatly folded form from the inner compartment of his tennis bag and handed it to the staff member in charge of registration with both hands.

The staff took the form, checked it to be correct, and stamped it with a confirmation stamp.

"Kagura, what's next? Are we just going to wait here?"

Akutsu Jin stood to the side and yawned boredly.

"You can go wander around and watch other schools' games, or you can just stay here."

Kagura Ichijin walked to a bench in the rest area, sat down, closed his eyes, and began to relax.

Although his opponents were not strong this time, he dared not be careless in the slightest.

There is no revival round in the regional qualifiers; if you lose, you're eliminated in the first round and don't even qualify for the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament.

"Tch, there's no need for that. What's the point of watching a bunch of weaklings fighting each other?"

Akutsu Jin scoffed dismissively and casually sat down on a nearby bench.

……

Time passed amidst the chirping of cicadas.

With the other main players arriving one after another, the first round of the competition came to an end.

The announcement came over the loudspeaker that Yamabuki Junior High's first opponent would be Wada Junior High.

After leading the other six starters into the arena with great momentum, Kagura Ijin took the initiative to sit on the coach's bench.

Their order of appearance remained unchanged this time, based on their registration positions.

Doubles Team 2: Kentaro Minami and Masami Higashikata.

Doubles Team 1: Guji Muxin and Ishimaru Kanto.

The third single is Shintobe Inayoshi.

The second singles match was against Sengoku Kiyosumi.

First singles match: Kagura Ijin.

"The first match begins. Please bring on the Yamabuki Doubles Team 2 and the Wada Doubles Team 2."

With the referee's whistle, the match officially began.

"Nan, Dongfang, play freely and don't hold back. This is just a regional qualifier. Just bring out what you've been training for."

Kagura Ichijin patted Minami Kentaro and Higashikata Masami on the shoulder, his tone gentle yet firm.

Originally, my brother-in-law was going to come too, but he was persuaded not to. My brother-in-law is too old, why bother with all this trouble? It's not like it's a major competition, he can just wait for good news at school.

"Um!"

The two took a deep breath, picked up their rackets, and walked onto the court.

"A decisive set, South/Eastern serves!"

After the Yamabuki Junior High School player guessed the correct answer, the referee immediately announced who would serve.

"Dongfang, let's go!"

Kentaro Minami's eyes narrowed, he tossed the ball high into the air, and then swung his racket quickly.

"Bang!"

"15-0!"

……

"30-0!"

……

"40-0!"

……

"Game, South/East, 1-0!"

……

"Game, South/East, 2-0!"

……

"Game, South/East, 3-0!"

……

"Game, South/East, 4-0!"

……

"Game, South/East, 5-0!"

……

"Game, South/East, 6-0!"

……

"Match 1 ends, 6-0, South/Eastern wins!"

"The gap is bigger than I imagined..."

Looking at the dejected students from Wada Middle School, Kagura Ichijin raised an eyebrow slightly.

He was somewhat surprised, not expecting that Hotan Middle School's level would be so low.

Although Kentaro Minami and Masami Higashikata were repeatedly defeated by Tani Yoshi and Ishimaru within their own team, in a match of this caliber, they were completely outmatched.

The rest of the matches were even more predictable.

In the second match, Guji/Ishimaru swept their opponents 6-0.

In the third match, Nitobe Inakichi won easily 6-0.

In the fourth match, Kiyosumi Sengoku easily defeated his opponent 6-0.

"The fifth match begins. Please bring out Yamabuki and Wada as the first singles players."

With the referee's whistle once again, the match officially began.

"It's finally our turn."

Kagura Ijin stood up, picked up his racket, and walked towards the referee's table.

He must play all five matches in the first round of the regional qualifiers, even if Yamabuki has already won, he still has to finish this last match.

After losing to the seemingly nervous Araki Asano in the head-or-tail guessing game, Kagura Gojin walked towards the center of the court.

"One game to decide the winner, Araki serves!"

Araki Asano looked at the new captain of Yamabuki across from her, feeling a little intimidated, but she still mustered her courage, tossed the ball, and swung her racket.

"Bang!"

The ball speed was average, and the angle was also very straight.

"0-15!"

With a casual flick of his wrist, Kagura Ichijin sent the tennis ball flying in a sharp straight line across the half-court, landing in the corner of the baseline.

too weak.

This kind of unchallenging competition didn't interest him at all.

"0-30!"

……

"0-40!"

……

"Game, Araki Asano, 0-1!"

After easily breaking serve, it was Kagura's turn to serve.

"boom!"

He tossed the ball high into the air, and then Kagura Ijin leaped into the air and swung his racket rapidly.

"15-0!"

"This...this is a ball that a first-year student could serve?"

Looking at the tennis ball rolling behind him, Araki Asano's face turned pale and he was covered in cold sweat.

As the ace player of Wada Junior High School, he was quite well-known in Shinjuku Ward, but when faced with this ball, he couldn't even make a swinging motion.

"30-0!"

……

"40-0!"

……

"Game, Araki Asano, 0-2!"

After successfully holding his serve, Kagura Ichijin silently recited the system's commands.

Araki Asano (third year of junior high school)

Speed: 2

Power: 2

Stamina: 2

Spirit: 1.5

Technology: 2

Total: 9.5

"It seems the level of the regional preliminary rounds is really not high."

Seeing that Araki Asano's five dimensions were not yet 10, Kagura Ichijin sighed inwardly.

Playing against an opponent of this caliber is a complete waste of time.

However, as a formal competition, even forfeiting requires a legitimate reason; otherwise, it will be considered contempt of the game and subject to a ban.

"Game, Araki Asano, 0-3!"

……

"Game, Araki Asano, 0-4!"

……

"Game, Araki Asano, 0-5!"

……

"Game, Araki Asano, 0-6!"

……

"Match ended, 6-0, Kagura Ikjin wins!"

……

Congratulations to Yamabuki Junior High School for defeating Wada Junior High School 5-0 and advancing to the semifinals!

With the referee's whistle, the match, which was never in doubt, finally came to an end.