The Prince of Tennis, Talent Replication

"Oh, you mean Natsume Tsukiya?"

After a slight pause, Inoue Mamoru still gave Sanada Genichiro Natsume's name.

"Bang!"

"Sizzle sizzle sizzle~"

A smooth ball flew over the adjacent court, hitting the netting with a hissing sound.

"Akaya?"

Genichiro Sanada turned his head to look at the other side.

"Akaya?"

Inoue Mamoru was also drawn to the view and quickly looked over, saying:

"He's the ace of Rikkai University Affiliated High School in his second year, Kirihara Akaya, right?"

"To be able to go toe-to-toe with an OB player, that's amazing," Shiba Saori exclaimed after getting angry.

"This is already the eighth OB player he has faced."

Genichiro Sanada's smug expression seemed to be showcasing the absolute strength of Rikkai University Affiliated High School.

"What? He's already fought against eight people."

Inoue Mamoru exclaimed in shock:

"As expected of Rikkai University Affiliated High School's ace player."

"Akaya's focus is so intense. I have never seen a player like him before. I originally thought he was just gritting his teeth and persevering, but later I realized that he is a rare genius player."

Genichiro Sanada spared no praise.

"....."

The two reporters turned their heads to look at each other, and there was Akaya Narihara staring at them with a wicked look.

The OB player shouted:

"Aka, this isn't like you."

It turns out that the one who just scored was Kirihara Akaya.

"What did you say that guy's name was?"

Kirihara Akaya, carrying a tennis racket, walked over with an attitude of utter disrespect, staring intently at the two of them with resentment in his eyes.

"....."

Inoue Mamoru and Shiba Saori exchanged a glance, puzzled.

"It's that new leader of Hyotei," Kirihara Akaya added. "What's his name?"

"Oh, you mean Natsume Tsukiya?" Inoue Mamoru scratched his head and smiled.

"Natsume Tsukiya!"

Upon hearing this name, Kirihara Akaya's eyes burned with even more venomous resentment, and his tone was tinged with a desire for revenge.

"Natsume Tsukiya".

Seeing Kirihara Akaya's expression, Sanada Genichiro suddenly realized what was happening and said:

"Could it be that guy who beat you in the rookie tournament?"

"Damn it, he just got lucky."

Kirihara Akaya gripped the tennis ball tightly in his hand, his tone filled with resentment.

"Defeat?" Shiba Saori was taken aback and turned to look at Inoue Mamoru.

Inoue Mamoru didn't record the match at that time, so he was unaware of this secret. Considering Natsume Tsukiya's situation, he was also surprised that such a thing happened.

"Could it be that, from that time on, that guy already had the strength of an ace?" Shiba Saori covered her mouth.

"As I said, I was careless back then."

Kirihara Akaya was unwilling to admit this, after all, he had fought against two people from Hyotei, and had fought to a draw with one of them named Hiyoshi Waka, but lost to the one named Natsume Tsukiya.

He almost won.

He had always believed it was luck; he was just unlucky that day, which was why he lost to Natsume Tsukiya.

If he could do it again, he would definitely beat Natsume Tsuki to a pulp.

This year,

Akaya Kirihara was still upset about losing to the Hyotei's non-regulars.

He had watched that guy's matches many times, but he never played as a regular starter; he always played some fringe players.

Those scraps were eventually punished by him one by one, and they could never play ball again.

waste,

They're all useless.

Each one destroyed

Kirihara Akaya would curse viciously.

To think we could lose to that guy, everyone he beat to a pulp is trash.

Every match against Natsume Tsukiya reminded him of his own match against Natsume Tsukiya in the rookie tournament, where he was always one move behind.

If the opponent were someone like Tezuka, that would be fine; I'm currently practicing tactics to deal with left-handed people. But Natsume Tsukiya is just a nobody.

The thought that he, the ace of Rikkai University Affiliated High School, had actually lost to someone like that made him feel uneasy.

Those who could defeat me should at least be strong figures like Sanada and Yukimura, not someone like that.

After crippling everyone who had fought against Natsume Tsukiya, Kirihara Akaya had long forgotten about Natsume Tsukiya.

He kept improving, but that guy remained the same.

Natsume Tsuki no longer agrees to be compared to himself.

His current goal is to practice with left-handed OB players in preparation for defeating Tezuka in the Kanto Tournament.

but,

right now,

These two reporters actually said,

That guy—

Natsume Tsukiya has actually become the leader of Hyotei?

Kirihara Akaya simply couldn't believe that someone like that could become the leader of Hyotei.

"The vice-captain, the leader of Hyotei, is someone you have to defeat everyone to become, right?"

As Kirihara Akaya spoke, his tone was fierce, and it seemed that he already had an imaginary enemy in his mind.

"That's right. Hyotei is tough because they have a lot of players. Although they lost to Rikkai last year, they left a deep impression on Rikkai. For example, Akutagawa Jiro, who often comes to see Marui, is a strong player."

Genichiro Sanada's eyes, hidden beneath his hat, were sharp as he spoke:

"The positions at Hyotei have always been won by the strong. The regular positions, including the captain's position, are all earned by the strong. Back then, Atobe defeated the third-year captain to take the captain's seat."

"So, that guy really did beat Atobe?"

When Kirihara Akaya said this, a hint of belligerent excitement flashed in his eyes.

Inoue Mamoru saw it all; it was confidence in his own abilities.

"Mr. Inoue, is that so?" Genichiro Sanada asked.

"Well..."

Inoue Mamoru pondered for a moment, then said:

"According to the members of the Hyotei tennis club, Natsume Tsukiya has defeated two hundred people in a row, including their captain Atobe. With a perfect record, he has become the new captain of Hyotei."

"Hmph, there's an element of boasting in that." Sanada Genichiro didn't know Natsume Tsukiya, he had only heard that Kirihara Akaya lost to a rookie named Natsume Tsukiya in the rookie tournament.

now,

To hear this newcomer claim to have lost two hundred people in a row, doesn't that mean that Kirihara Akaya, who fought eight people in a row, is nothing compared to Natsume Tsukiya?

This idea is ridiculous.

"Whether that's true or not, we haven't seen it with our own eyes, but Natsume did defeat Atobe and is now the captain of Hyotei," Inoue Mamoru said.

"Very good, very good."

Kirihara Akaya licked his lips and said viciously:

"Although Atobe might not be that great, I'm really hoping that Hyotei won't be defeated by other schools."

He turned to look at Genichiro Sanada:

"Vice Minister, if we run into Hyotei at the Kanto Tournament, let me face that guy."

Genichiro Sanada frowned. He knew very well that Keigo Atobe of Hyotei was incredibly strong, and he strongly disagreed with Akaya Kirihara's statement that Atobe wasn't that great.

"No matter who we face, Rikkai University's three-peat is flawless."

Genichiro Sanada did not agree, but instead made a bold statement about Rikkai.