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

"40-15!"

……

"President Kagura, are you alright?"

Seeing Kagura Ichijin behaving increasingly strangely, Yamato Yuta couldn't help but ask.

"It's alright, Captain Yamato, you can continue serving."

Kagura Ichijin took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He then walked back to the receiving area, assumed a defensive stance, and waited for Yamato Yudai to serve.

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

……

"drink!"

……

"Game, Yamato Yudai, 1-1!"

After Yamato Yuta won a game back, Kagura Ichijin decisively started chanting the system's commands.

Yuta Yamato (Grade 3 of Junior High School)

Speed: 2

Power: 2

Stamina: 2

Spirit: 2

Technology: 2

Total: 10

"The five dimensions aren't high, but..."

Kagura Ikjin frowned.

Some players may not have high stats, but they can always win against stronger opponents by using their mysterious and unpredictable moves.

Yamato Yuta is that type; he may not seem strong, but he leaves Yamato Yuta somewhat helpless.

"boom!"

When it was his turn to serve again, Kagura Ijin continued to unleash his full power.

"15-0!"

……

"30-0!"

……

"40-0!"

……

"Game, Kagura Ikjin, 2-1!"

After successfully holding his serve, Kagura Ijin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At least in terms of serving, he has the initiative.

"Bang!"

In the fourth game, Yamato Yuta serves.

"Bang!"

Kagura Ikjin easily retaliated, then stared intently at Yamato Yuta.

"drink!"

Yamato Yuta returned the shot with both hands, once again using the "Phantom Dream" technique.

Then he saw Kagura Yijin run to the ball's landing point and start swinging his racket at the air.

"Bang!"

After returning the ball according to the route provided by the system, Kagura Ichijin discovered that he had actually hit the ball this time.

"drink!"

Upon seeing this, Yamato Yuta's expression changed slightly, and he once again retaliated with both hands holding the racket.

"Bang!"

Kagura Ijin tried again to swing his racket according to the route provided by the system.

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

"I see……"

After more than a dozen rounds of counterattacks, Kagura Ichijin discovered that the routes provided by the system were always different from his predicted locations. Although the deviations were extremely small, there were still some differences.

"0-15!"

As Yamato Yuta's racket was knocked away again, Kagura Ichijin's lips curled into a knowing smile.

"This is troublesome."

Looking at his trembling hands, Yamato Yuta gave a wry smile.

In terms of speed, strength, and stamina, Kagura Ikjin is much stronger than him.

If Kagura Ichijin can return the ball, then he simply cannot engage in a tug-of-war with Kagura Ichijin.

"Minister Yamato, you are a genius. You actually came up with such a method to fight against players who are much stronger than you."

Kagura Ichijin looked at Yamato Yuta with eyes full of admiration.

The so-called illusion or dream-like phenomenon actually takes advantage of high-level players' reliance on prediction and experience.

At the moment of impact, Yamato Yuta subtly adjusts the ball's trajectory and spin while maintaining his body movements, creating a cognitive bias by taking advantage of his opponent's predictive habits.

This kind of deceptive action, mental pressure, and tactics that exploit sensory limitations are very effective against highly skilled players who have developed a fixed playing style.

"President Kagura, what are you talking about? I...I don't understand."

Yamato Yuta looked bewildered, but fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Never mind if you don't understand, just keep serving. I've already figured out a way to deal with it anyway."

Kagura Ichijin smiled slightly, a hint of confidence flashing in his eyes.

He took a deep breath, relaxed his body, and his previously tense muscles relaxed, his eyes becoming somewhat unfocused.

"Could he really have seen through it all?"

A sense of foreboding rose in Yamato Yuta's heart, but he could only grit his teeth and continue serving.

"Bang!"

After serving, Yamato Yudai stared intently at Kagura Ichijin.

However, what happened next left him speechless.

Kagura Ijin not only became sluggish, but his swing speed and power were also much worse than before. He even completely gave up anticipation and just waited for the ball to come to him before awkwardly swinging his racket.

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

Kagura Ichijin got better and better at the fight. As expected, Yamato Yuu's illusions were useless against ordinary people; this kind of move only worked on a specific group of people.

He just needs to abandon his original playing style and respond in the manner of an ordinary person.

"What's going on?"

Seeing Kagura Ichijin's skill level suddenly "regress" yet still able to fight back, Yamato Yuta was completely dumbfounded.

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

After more than thirty rounds, Kagura Ikjin scored directly with a regular baseline shot when Yamato Yuta slowed down.

"0-30!"

……

"0-40!"

……

"Game, Kagura Ikjin, 3-1!"

The outcome of the next match was completely predictable.

Kagura Ikjin used this almost clumsy playing style to completely suppress Yamato Yuta.

"Game, Kagura Ikjin, 4-1!"

……

"Game, Kagura Ikjin, 5-1!"

"Huff huff..."

Yamato Yu was panting heavily, his back soaked with sweat, looking helplessly at Kagura Ichijin across from him.

Having been broken in consecutive games, he was beyond saving.

"boom!"

In the final game, it was Kagura Ijin's serve.

"15-0!"

……

"30-0!"

……

"40-0!"

……

"Game, Kagura Ikjin, 6-1!"

……

"Match 3 is over, 6-1, Kagura Ikijin wins!"

……

Congratulations to Yamabuki Junior High School for defeating Seishun Academy 3-0 and advancing to the semifinals!

With the referee's whistle, the match finally came to an end.

"Captain Kagura, you really are something else. It seems like Yamabuki really has a chance to win this year."

Arriving at the net, Yamato Yuta stretched out his hand and said with a face full of emotion.

"Captain Yamato, you're amazing too. I'm confident you can lead Seigaku out of the revival tournament and secure a spot in the Kanto Tournament."

Kagura Ichijin grasped that hand, his tone sincere.

"I hope so."

Yamato Yuta gave a wry smile and turned to walk towards the group of dejected Seigaku members.

Although they lost, their journey is not over yet; the revival match is their last chance.

"..."

Looking at Yamato Yuta's somewhat forlorn figure, Kagura Ichijin sighed softly.

This is the cruel reality: the winners enjoy applause and glory, while the losers can only silently lick their wounds and wait for their next comeback.

Yamabuki had experienced something similar before, and the current Seigaku is just repeating the past of most schools.

Only one school can win the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament; all other schools will eventually be eliminated.

If Yamabuki doesn't want to follow in the footsteps of these schools, she has no choice but to forge ahead and defeat all her competitors.