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

Chapter 96 Advancing to the Round of 4

Chapter 188 Advancing to the Semifinals

"The third match begins. Please have Yamabuki and Shishiraku, the second singles players, enter the game."

"Tch, finally it's my turn."

Akutsu Jin let out a cold snort, stood up abruptly from the lounge chair, nodded to Kagura Ichijin, grabbed his racket, and walked straight toward the referee.

"A decisive game, Akutsu serves."

"Bang!"

After reaching the service court, Jin Akutsu tossed the ball high into the air and swung his racket forcefully.

The tennis ball instantly transformed into a yellow blur, accompanied by a whooshing sound, and slammed directly at the opponent's feet before crashing heavily into the wire mesh behind them.

"15-0!"

"30-0!"

"40-0!"

"Game, Jin Akutsu, 1-0!"

"Game, Jin Akutsu, 2-0!"

"Game, Jin Akutsu, 3-0!"

"Game, Jin Akutsu, 4-0!"

"Game, Jin Akutsu, 5-0!"

"Game, Jin Akutsu, 6-0!"

"Match 3 ends, 6-0, Jin Akutsu wins!"

In less than a thousand minutes, Akutsu Jin swept aside the third-year students from Shishiraku Junior High School, ending the match cleanly and decisively.

"Thanks for your hard work."

As Akutsu Jin casually slung his racket over his shoulder and walked off the court expressionlessly, Kagura Ichijin handed him a bottle of water and said calmly.

Given Jin Akutsu's current strength, he is virtually invincible in singles matches unless he encounters top national-level players.

"fine."

Akutsu Jin remained expressionless, unscrewed the bottle cap, took a sip of water, and said in an extremely relaxed tone.

Although Shishiraku Junior High School is strong overall, its individual player lineup is clearly inferior to that of Yamabuki Junior High School.

Sending Tachibana Kippei and Chitose Senri to doubles at Shishiraku Junior High School was absolutely a major blunder.

"Get some rest."

Kagura Ichijin smiled slightly, then crossed his arms and turned his gaze back to the arena.

Yamabuki Junior High School is currently leading Lions Club Junior High School 2-1 in the overall score. If they win one more game in the next two matches, they will advance to the semifinals.

"The fourth match begins. Please bring on the Yamabuki Doubles Team 1 and the Shishiraku Doubles Team 1."

"Let's go, Kazuma, it's our turn."

Shintobe Inakichi stood up from the lounge chair, nodded to Kita Kazuma, who was also looking tense, then picked up his racket and walked straight toward the referee.

"Um."

Kita Kazuma took a deep breath, picked up his racket, and stayed close to Niitobe Inakichi.

This time, their opponents were the third-year doubles pair from Shishiraku Junior High School, Ishii and Hashimoto.

"A single game to decide the winner, Ishii/Hashimoto serve."

"Hashimoto, it seems we're in luck today."

Ishii tapped his palm with his racket, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

If it weren't for the exceptional strength of the regular players from Yamabuki Junior High, the doubles pair of Nitobe Inakichi and Kita Kazuma wouldn't even have qualified for the national tournament.

"That's really good, a point for free."

Hashimoto nimbly swung his racket and smiled contentedly.

While some weak players did infiltrate this national tournament, it's truly rare to see players as bad as Nitobe Inakichi and Kita Kazuma, who were constantly getting crushed by strong opponents.

I really don't know what Yamabuki Junior High was thinking, daring to keep this flawed doubles pair on the court. Are they really not afraid of being caught off guard and losing their game?

"It's a bit of a pity—even if we win this game, we won't be able to help Lion Joy Middle School advance."

The smile on Ishii's lips gradually disappeared. He gripped his racket tightly and said with a face full of resentment.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Kagura Ichijin will definitely be Yamabuki Junior High's first singles player.

This means that even if they defeat Inayoshi Nitobe and Kazuma Kita in this doubles match, they still cannot escape the fate of being eliminated.

"Perhaps this is fate."

Hashimoto patted Ishii on the shoulder, a hint of helpless relief in his eyes, then turned around and walked straight to the service area.

The national competition is this brutal, let alone now that it's a do-or-die battle for the quarterfinals.

How far a team can go depends not only on the strength of each individual, but also on a bit of luck.

"Bang!"

Suppressing his excessive emotions, Hashimoto tossed the ball high into the air, his arm muscles bulging, and swung the racket forcefully.

"Bang!"

After running to the ball's landing point, Shintobe Inakichi decisively swung his racket.

"Bang!

"Bang!"

"15-0!"

After a few rounds, Ishii scored directly with a baseline cross-court shot.

"Bang!

"Bang!"

"30-0!"

After a few rounds, Hashimoto suddenly rushed to the net and hit a volley.

"Bang!"

"Bang!

"Bang!"

中

"40-0!"

After a few rounds, Ishii scored directly with a powerful smash.

"Ichima, let's go straight to the baseline defensive formation."

After losing points in a row, Shintobe Inakichi turned to look at Kita Kazuma beside him and said with a serious expression.

The opposing doubles pair not only had a solid foundation but also excellent teamwork, and they took the initiative right from the start.

If they continue to react passively like this, they may not even have a chance to fight back and will be shut out.

"it is good."

Kita Kazuma nodded, a wry smile involuntarily appearing on his lips.

As Yamabuki Junior High School progressed through the ranks, the opponents they encountered became increasingly formidable, almost all of them being nationally renowned doubles pairs with excellent teamwork and formidable strength.

This is perhaps the true intensity of the national competition; the previous competitions were merely appetizers, used to eliminate schools that had entered through various tricks.

"call!"

After taking a deep breath, Shintobe Inakichi went straight to the receiving area and assumed a defensive stance.

"Bang!

"Bang!"

"40-15!"

After more than twenty rounds, Shintobe Inakichi scored directly with a baseline cross-court shot.

"Bang!"

After more than ten rounds, Hashimoto rushed to the net again and hit a short shot.

"Game, Ishii/Hashimoto, 1-0!"

After successfully holding their serve, Ishii and Hashimoto exchanged a glance and smiled confidently.

Just as they had predicted, Nitobe Inakichi and Kita Kazuma posed no threat to them even when they used a defensive formation.

"Bang!"

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

"Bang!"

"0-15!"

"0-30!"

"15-30!"

"15-40!"

"Game, Ishii/Hashimoto, 2-0!"

"Game, Ishii/Hashimoto, 3-0!"

"Game, Ishii/Hashimoto, 4-0!"

"How come Lion's doubles teams are all so strong? They're all national-level doubles pairs. Are they deliberately targeting Nan and Dongfang?"

Sengoku Kiyosumi, watching from the sidelines, frowned and spoke with a grave expression.

Shishiraku Junior High School has clearly made ample preparations this time. No matter how Yamabuki Junior High School arranges its lineup, Kentaro Minami and Masami Higashikata will encounter formidable opponents.

"Yes, Sengoku. It's fortunate you won the first match, otherwise we would be in big trouble."

Kagura Ichijin crossed his arms and said with a look of deep emotion.

Judging from the current situation, Lion Joyful Middle School's plan is actually very simple: to use their doubles advantage to win two matches and then gamble on a singles match.

If it weren't for Sengoku Kiyosumi withstanding the pressure and preventing Shishiraku Junior High from seizing the opportunity, Yamabuki Junior High might have actually been eliminated.

"I was just lucky."

Sengoku Kiyosumi shook his head slightly and looked back at the arena.

He knew very well that he was able to win only because Lion Joy Middle School didn't have any strong singles players left; otherwise, the outcome would have been very different.

"Luck is also a part of ability; other people don't have your kind of luck."

Kagura Ichijin chuckled and patted Sengoku Kiyosumi on the back, then silently recited the system's command to check Ishii and Hashimoto's five dimensions.

Ishii (Third year of junior high school)

Speed: 3

Power: 3

Stamina: 3

Spirit: 2

Technology: 3.5

Total: 14.5

Hashimoto (Third year of junior high school)

Speed: 3

Power: 3

Stamina: 3

Spirit: 2

Technology: 3.5

Total: 14.5

"Bang!"

After reaching the service court, Hashimoto took a deep breath, tossed the ball again, and swung his racket.

"Bang!"

"15-0!"

"30-0!"

"40-0!"

"Game, Ishii/Hashimoto, 5-0!"

"Game, Ishii/Hashimoto, 6-0!"

"Match 4 ends, 6-0, Ishii/Hashimoto win!"

"Sorry, we lost again."

Shintobe Inakichi and Kita Kazuma walked off the field with their heads down and faces full of embarrassment.

They ultimately couldn't reverse the situation and could only lose the game in frustration.

"It's alright, the other party is indeed very powerful."

Kagura Ichijin shook his head slightly and said with a kind expression.

He knew that Shintobe Inakichi and Kita Kazuma had done their best, but because the gap in strength between the two sides was too large, nothing changed.

This is perfectly normal; after all, the opponent won't just stand by and watch the situation be reversed.

"."

Shintobe Inakichi and Kita Kazuma gave an awkward smile and went straight back to their chairs.

They also realized that there were no weak doubles pairs in the national tournament. As Yamabuki advanced smoothly, they would only continue to lose until Yamabuki was eliminated.

"Ugh!"

After letting out a deep sigh, Kagura Ichijin looked back at the arena.

Now he didn't know how to comfort them anymore. Once or twice, he could help Nitobe Inakichi and Kita Kazuma alleviate their low spirits, but since it happened every time, Nitobe Inakichi and Kita Kazuma could only overcome it on their own.

"The fifth match begins. Yamabuki and Shishira will each take their first singles positions."

"It's time to end this."

Kagura Ichijin stood up from the bench, nodded to Banta Mikiya on the coaching bench, then picked up his racket and walked straight toward the referee.

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

"Bang!"

After reaching the service area, Kagura Ijin tossed the ball high into the air, bent his legs, and swung his racket forcefully.

"15-0!"

"30-0!"

"40-0!"

"Game, Kagura Ikjin, 1-0!"

中

"Game, Kagura Ikjin, 2-0!"

"Game, Kagura Ikjin, 3-0!"

"Game, Kagura Ikjin, 4-0!"

"Game, Kagura Ikjin, 5-0!"