"Genichiro!!!"
Feeling the intense pressure emanating from Sanada, Yanagi's lightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open.
"His eyes... they've regained their focus!"
The return of clarity in his pupils meant that his vision had been restored.
"What terrifying willpower!"
Yanagi was deeply shaken. "He actually broke through the state of 'Destruction of the Five Senses.' If that's the case, then Seiichi's goal must have been to push him to this moment, right?"
Thinking of Yukimura's intentions, Yanagi turned to look at him.
Sure enough.
Yukimura nodded slightly and said with a smile, "As I expected, you finally broke through that barrier. Sanada, let's end the match here."
"Hmph!"
Sanada's expression changed.
Having just regained consciousness, his momentum had already reached its peak. Like a tiger ready to pounce, he was prepared to unleash his full power and engage in a fierce battle.
"Understood."
But in the end, Sanada held back and nodded to Yukimura.
"That's it... it's over?"
Meanwhile, Jackal, Kirihara, and the others exchanged confused glances.
They didn't understand why the match had come to an abrupt halt just as it seemed to be reaching its climax. The sudden stop left them somewhat disappointed, and for a moment, they even wondered if Yukimura had backed down out of fear.
Of course, that was just a fleeting thought.
They knew better. Their captain hadn't even broken a sweat since the match began. His regular jacket still hung casually over his shoulders.
That alone was enough to solidify his reputation as the top middle school player.
"What's this?"
Sanada turned his cold gaze toward Kirihara and the others. "Have you all finished your training? Kirihara, are you itching for a beating?!"
Whoosh!
Everyone's faces turned pale, and Kirihara immediately bolted, resuming his laps around the court.
"Seiichi... Genichiro..."
On the high chair, Yanagi watched the two who had been Rikkai's core players for the past two years, feeling a deep sense of awe.
Thinking of himself standing alongside them, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of inadequacy.
Without hesitation, he stepped down from the chair and joined Kirihara and the others, continuing the unfinished training.
---
**August 18th**
After a heavy rain, the scorching sun returned, turning Rikkai's courts into a sauna. Despite the oppressive heat, everyone persevered with their training, drenched in sweat.
Yet, not a single person left before the sun set.
On the other hand, Hyotei's atmosphere was much calmer.
As night fell, even Ishikawa, who usually trained daily, was absent from the courts.
In his dorm room, after completing his final yoga meditation session, he fell into a deep sleep.
---
**The Next Day**
**8:00 AM**
**National Tournament Venue**
As the sun rose, the stadium began to fill with spectators. Many were young students, including those from teams like Shitenhoji and Rokakukai, who had already been eliminated. They stayed because today's match was widely seen as a potential preview of the championship final.
Even the organizers seemed to recognize the draw of these two teams. The semifinal between Hyotei and Rikkai was scheduled to take place in the same arena as the final.
By 8:20 AM, nearly 30% of the massive Arena Stadium was filled. Considering the venue could hold nearly 20,000 people, this was an impressive turnout—and it didn't even include the cheering squads from Hyotei and Rikkai.
"It's hard to believe this is just a semifinal," remarked Inoue from the stands. "As many predicted, today's match will likely determine this year's champion."
"Agreed," said Aoi, nodding emphatically.
Though she had a soft spot for Seigaku, her experience covering the tournament had given her a clear understanding of the teams' strengths. This year, Hyotei and Rikkai were in a league of their own, far surpassing the competition.
That's why both reporters had chosen to skip the match between Seigaku and Nagoya Seitoku. The latter, rumored to be composed of elite international students, was said to be a formidable opponent.
"To think these two teams would meet so early," said Shiraishi, captain of Shitenhoji, as he stood with the members of Fudomine.
The two teams had a friendly rapport, with Tachibana and Chitose being close friends, and the Ishida brothers sharing a familial bond.
"If it were us facing this situation," Shiraishi added with a hint of self-deprecation, "I doubt we'd know what to do."
"True," Tachibana agreed. "Both teams are on a completely different level. Whoever wins today will likely go down as the strongest team in history."
This statement all but declared Seigaku and Nagoya Seitoku's defeat, yet no one present disagreed.
Nearby, players from Rokakukai, Jyosei Shonan, St. Rudolph, and Yamabuki began to arrive.
Though this wasn't the final, the atmosphere was already electric.
"They're here!!!"
Someone shouted, and all eyes turned toward the entrance.
From the east and west gates, the gray and yellow teams of Hyotei and Rikkai entered, led by their respective captains.
Both teams exuded an intense fighting spirit, their presence alone enough to intimidate.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the fourth round of the National Tournament is about to begin."
As the teams gathered at the net, Atobe and Yukimura shook hands.
"Yukimura, congratulations on recovering in time for the Nationals," Atobe said.
"Thank you," Yukimura replied with a smile. "But more than that, I'm looking forward to facing you in the upcoming matches."
"Don't worry," Atobe responded calmly. "You'll have a worthy opponent. I'm sure his strength will satisfy you."
"I'm looking forward to it," Yukimura said. "Anyone who can suppress you, Sanada, and Tezuka must be exceptional."
With that, the two exchanged nods and returned to their teams.
"What a shame," Shitenhoji's Kintarou said with a grin. "I was hoping to see Yukimura and that Ishikawa guy exchange words. Atobe's fine, but he's not quite on their level."
Others nodded in agreement.
It was clear that both teams had reserved their top players—Ishikawa for Hyotei and Yukimura for Rikkai—for the final singles match. The question was whether the teams would be tied 2-2, forcing their aces to face off.
"I'm curious," said St. Rudolph's manager, Mizuki, with a thoughtful smile. "How will Hyotei and Rikkai arrange their lineups?"
Just then, the announcer's voice echoed through the stadium:
"Next up is the third singles match. Hyotei's Akutsu Jin vs. Rikkai's Sanada Genichiro. Please prepare!"
The crowd's eyes widened as they turned to the two players stepping onto the court.
Akutsu and Sanada.
Both exuded an overwhelming presence, though their auras were截然不同.
"Akutsu Jin," Sanada said coldly, his tone serious. "I hope you bring your full strength. Don't disappoint me."
"Stop yapping," Akutsu sneered. "I heard Rikkai's vice-captain talks too much. Guess it's true—you sound like an old woman."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
No one had expected Akutsu to openly mock Sanada, a player known for his unparalleled skill and dominance.
"Let's see if you can back that up," Sanada shot back, his eyes narrowing.
While others might fear Akutsu's notorious temper, Sanada didn't. As Rikkai's vanguard, it was his job to crush the opponent's momentum from the start.
"Tch."
Akutsu snorted dismissively.
He had been itching to take on Sanada since the Kanto Tournament. When he heard about Kirihara's earlier provocation, he had wanted to storm Rikkai's courts—only Ishikawa's intervention had stopped him.
As for Rikkai's so-called "back-to-back national titles" and "King of Tennis" reputation? Akutsu couldn't care less.
To him, the only person who could truly challenge him was Ishikawa. Even Yukimura, the so-called "Child of God," would be forced to kneel before him.
"These two are really going at it," Aoi said, snapping photos of the tense exchange.
Akutsu stood with his back to the camera, his posture relaxed yet defiant. Sanada, on the other hand, looked stern and imposing, his expression sharp enough to cut through steel.
"It's to be expected," Inoue said. "As the vanguards of their teams, both have strong personalities."
Sanada was the stern emperor, while Akutsu was the untamed beast. Their clash was like a collision of titans, and the tension was palpable.
"Let the match begin!"
After both players took their positions, the referee announced, "Rikkai's Sanada to serve. First game!"
All eyes were now fixed on Sanada, his presence commanding the court.
(End of Chapter)