The Prince of Tennis, Talent Replication

Hyotei—

Dining room,

The corridor was deserted and quiet, with a solemn atmosphere as if everything was forbidden to move.

The cool moonlight streamed in obliquely through the glass of the corridor, illuminating half of the corner of the wall.

The restaurant was pitch black, with only the cold moonlight illuminating a few dark figures.

A pair of legs dangled in front of the table. The girl sat on the table by the window, her beautiful thighs a pale white that shone brightly in the night.

No one made a sound; only people secretly glanced at the two cartoonish legs.

Keigo Atobe, the richest man at Hyotei, leaned back on his high seat, resting his chin on his bent wrist. Tomorrow, tomorrow would be the day of the decisive battle against Rikkai.

Natsume Tsukiya has not yet returned, and the order of appearance has not been decided.

Countless defeats

this time,

Every member of the Hyotei team hopes to avenge their previous defeat tomorrow.

Atobe Keigo chased everyone out, turned off the lights, and sat there quietly, in strange positions. Mukahi Gakuto even squatted on the table like a monkey.

We're just waiting for Natsume to return so we can make some arrangements.

"Ring ring!"

An expensive Italian tablecloth was spread on the long table. A cell phone vibrated and moved from side to side on it, the screen flashing light in a flickering manner, drawing everyone's attention at the same time.

The girl reached for her phone. "Hey, senior!"

"....."

"Okay, sure."

"OK."

.....

The new wife, Bao Guan, nodded repeatedly and then hung up the phone with a snap.

"despair!"

Keigo Atobe snapped his fingers crisply, and the lights came on one by one.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the new wife's crown.

"The senior said, 'Everyone go back first, see you at the competition venue tomorrow.'"

......

"What? That's it?" Ryo Mido hurriedly moved forward.

"We're still waiting for him to come back and give us tactical instructions," said Chotaro Ootori.

"My senior said that as long as we follow the training plan, we can beat Rikkai University tomorrow."

The new wife Baoguan said with a smile.

"Let's go, Kabaji!"

Atobe Keigo stood up first.

"yes!"

Kabaji Takahiro responded mechanically, then followed Atobe Keigo and left first.

The rest of the group followed suit and went outside.

They remained silent on their way home.

Rikkai University!

Hyotei has never won!

The words "never won" weighed heavily on the hearts of everyone at Hyotei.

Ryo Mido and Chotaro Ootori walked silently along the tree-lined avenue, the moonlight like frost, frozen on the ground.

Ryo Meido suddenly stopped in his tracks.

To be honest,

When Natsume Tsukiya said he wanted to end Rikkai, he was more shocked than anyone else. In the past, Hyotei had also been determined to defeat Rikkai.

But in the end, he still used the pretense of winning the national championship as a cover to make a bold and ruthless statement, something even Atobe Keigo rarely does, let alone make such a statement in public.

Rikkai University!

A dominant force in the Kanto region.

Although Rikkai University doesn't win the national championship every year, it wins the Kanto Championship every year, which is a significant achievement for Rikkai University Affiliated Junior High School.

Winning the Kanto Tournament is as easy as drinking water or eating.

A youth professional tennis monthly magazine once published a statistic on the Kanto Tournament champions and commented that whoever could end Rikkai's winning streak would make history.

To what extent did Rikkai University dominate the Kanto Tournament championship?

They had reached the point of not caring about it anymore. In other words, Rikkai University never regarded the Kanto Tournament as their goal. They only wanted to win the national championship. The Kanto Tournament was just a necessary stop on their road to a three-peat, something to be taken lightly.

End Rikkai University!!

When Hyotei stopped just shouting slogans and started taking action, Ryo Mido felt an immense weight on his shoulders.

Will Rikkai's long-standing dominance of the Kanto Tournament be ended by Hyotei tomorrow?

The tension I felt was indescribable.

Yet, more than anyone else, he wanted to defeat Rikkai University...

"Chōtarō?"

"Senior Meido."

"tomorrow."

"tomorrow!"

"Let us fight to the very end."

"Fight to the end."

.....

Having barely slept a few hours overnight, Atobe Keigo, wrapped in his bathrobe, leisurely sipped coffee until the butler had finished tidying everything up before heading to the competition venue by car.

"Atobe, did you see that?"

Inside the luxury car, the phone receiver blatantly played the shocking message from Ootori Chotaro:

"Look, here's today's teen magazine."

"...Chōtarō, why are you making such a fuss?"

Keigo Atobe had naturally read it; the housekeeper had prepared various things for him well in advance, including magazines that he would occasionally pick up and flip through.

In addition to food and investment advice, these magazines also include tennis-related articles during tournament season, which is a responsibility of a housekeeper.

Natsume Tsukiya—

This guy was incredibly arrogant last night, spouting such boastful things.

However, he liked it very much!

That's right, that's how it should be.

This is the true king of Hyotei.

Atobe Keigo was in a great mood.

but,

last night,

Natsume Tsuki also called Kabaji away.

Why is that?

Keigo Atobe couldn't help but recall that last night, after Kabaji received a phone call, he stopped in his tracks, received his permission, and then left, saying he was going to find Tsukiya Natsume.

Atobe Keigo was completely baffled.

He still hasn't seen Kabaji.

What did these two do last night?

"Ding ding ding ding~"

Keigo Atobe dialed Gakuto Mukahi's number.

"Hey, Atobe, what's up?"

"Where did you go last night?" Atobe asked directly.

"I'm at home." Mukahi Gakuto was puzzled.

"I mean, where did you go after leaving school?"

"Atobe, what are you doing? I went home after leaving school."

"so......."

Atobe Keigo closed his phone case, his brow furrowing for a moment before relaxing. He snorted inwardly, "It's okay, everything will be resolved..."

-

On the other side of the field, Shiba Saori and Inoue Mamoru had arrived early and were searching around, but they couldn't find Natsume Tsukiya. The Hyotei team members, on the other hand, had mostly arrived.

Inoue was overjoyed. After sending the materials to subscribers last night, his colleagues printed out the pre-match prediction journal overnight, which was sold out immediately this morning, forcing them to urgently reprint it.

The company is extremely satisfied with this project.

This is all thanks to Natsume.

Inoue Mamoru was eager to see him.

Shisa-ori was even more eager to see her.

"Yuta, did you hear? Yamabuki's Akutsu actually lost to Natsume Tsukiya."

Guan Yuechu walked over with graceful steps, not forgetting to play with his bangs.

He was accompanied by Fuji Yuta and Akazawa Yoshiro.

"I never expected Akutsu would actually go looking for trouble with Natsume Tsukiya," Fuji Yuuta remarked.

"Akuzu, after losing to Ryoma Echizen, he lost to Tsukiya Natsume. This monster probably won't be interested in tennis anymore, right?"

Guan Yuechu was always arrogant, and when he heard this rumor, he was overjoyed and immediately made an arbitrary judgment based on the brief information.

"Kanzuki, the junior professional tennis monthly magazine has published a prediction for Rikkai and Hyotei. Who do you think will win?"

Yuta Fuji changed the subject.

"Oh, I've already filled that out. I heard that people who answer correctly get two issues of the magazine."

Guan Yuechu said.

"Kanzuki, you're really cunning."

Fuji Yuta scoffed at Kanzuki's quiet and unassuming behavior.

"Yuta, you need to be quick. Don't you understand?" Guan Yuechu's face showed a sense of smugness that made him feel invincible.

"So, Mizuki, which side are you betting on to win?" Akazawa Yoshiro, who had also placed a bet, was eager to know Mizuki's prediction.

"Logically speaking, Hyotei Academy and our St. Rudolf Academy have an unresolved feud."

Guan Yuechu deliberately kept everyone in suspense.

"So, Mizuki, you chose Hyotei?" Fuji Yuuta asked expectantly.

"But as you all know, in the Kanto region, there isn't a single team that Rikkai can take seriously. It will be very difficult for Hyotei to beat Rikkai..."

Guan Yuechu continued.

"That's right."

Akazawa Yoshiro nodded and said:

"Rikkai University, the only dominant force in the Kanto region, has over a dozen trophies that no one can easily challenge just because they've won a few matches."

Akazawa Yoshiro was referring to Natsume Tsukiya's provocation last night.

In the secondary school community, many people are indignant about Rikkai University's practices, but countless others are Rikkai University's followers. Rikkai University is a strong university and their beacon.

Akazawa Yoshiro was more inclined towards Rikkai University from all aspects, and he firmly believed that Rikkai University could win the championship again.

Fuji Yuta:

"Rikkai, as expected, everyone thinks Rikkai will win."

His tone was somewhat complex, as if he both hoped Rikkai would win and didn't want Rikkai to win.

"..."

Guan Yuechu had a gloomy face. He had already inquired beforehand and almost everyone was betting on Rikkai to win, but he had bet on Hyotei.

This matter must not be known to anyone.

Although Rikkai University is invincible, for some reason he just wanted to see this invincible powerhouse fall.

Therefore,

Amidst the incredulous looks of others, I filled in Hyotei.

While filling out the form, he muttered to himself:

"That bastard, you beat our St. Rudolph, we'll remember that for now. But since you also shut out Fudomine, I'll reluctantly give Hyotei a shot. If you lose to Rikkai, I won't let you off the hook..."

And so, Hyotei filled in the role with a lot of drama. However, he wouldn't tell anyone about this. What if Hyotei lost? Wouldn't he lose all face?

As soon as Guan Yuechu looked up, the group of guys from Fudomine arrived.

He then spoke to the two people beside him:

"You all remember this: it's not that our St. Rudolf Academy is too weak, but that Hyotei is too strong."

"..." The two of them were utterly ashamed; it was too shameless.

-

"What? Natsume Tsukiya is injured?"

Upon hearing this news, Ju Juping paused, his steps faltering, his heart filled with dread.

"It's true. Shinji subscribed to the tennis monthly magazine and posted the news last night."

Uchimura Kyosuke said:

"The video says that Natsume Tsuki also injured his ankle while playing tennis on a street court."

"How could this be?" Ju Xing exclaimed in surprise.

"I heard that the person who fought that guy was Akutsu, the monster from Yamabuki," Shinji Ibu added.

"Akuzu?"

The group from Fudomine gasped in unison.

"Someone witnessed that duel," Shinji Ibu said.

"If Hyotei's captain injures his ankle, it will be extremely difficult for them to beat Rikkai."

Kippei Tachibana was filled with regret. He hadn't expected that Hyotei, who had crushed Fudomine, would encounter such a pre-match mishap. With Natsume Tsukiya's strength, he could have at least secured a point for Hyotei...

Ju Ju frowned. It seemed that if she forced herself to fight while injured, her chances of victory were virtually nonexistent...

"This is ridiculous!" Tachibana An said angrily.

The members of Fudomine were taken aback.

Then, Akira Kamio lowered his voice and called out:

"Look! It's Yamabuki's monster, Akutsu!!"

All eyes were on Akutsu, who walked confidently past in the distance with his hands in his pockets, causing strangers to give him a wide berth.

"Akuzu-senpai, I heard you injured Natsume Tsukiya of Hyotei last night, the captain, is that true?"

Tan Taichi ran around, chattering incessantly around the tall man, his tone both anxious and full of admiration. After all, this first-year tennis team manager had also begun his investigation. In his mind, Natsume Tsuki was also a very formidable figure, and it would be truly remarkable if Akutsu-senpai could defeat him.

"Taiichi, what are you saying?"

Akutsu found it utterly unbelievable that he had injured Natsume Tsukiya. It was true that the two had fought yesterday, exhausting him.

But what if we say he injured the other party?

Recalling that guy's strength, Akutsu found such remarks laughable.

"Someone in the club subscribed to a monthly youth tennis magazine and received a video that showed Natsume Tsuki playing tennis and getting injured..."

"What?"

Before Tan Taichi could finish speaking, Akutsu grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up.

"Akutsu...senpai?" Tan Taichi, suspended in mid-air, struggled but did not struggle.

"You mean, that guy's injured?"

Akutsu asked fiercely:

"Who hit him?"

"....."

Tan Taiyi was completely stunned. "Didn't you hit him?"

"Akuzu-senpai, it's you?"

Tan Taichi coughed as he spoke.

"..."

Akutsu threw it down, feeling very puzzled, as he hadn't done it.

"I heard from others that the guy who played streetball with Natsume last night was my senior," Tan Taichi said.

"snort!"

Akutsu snorted, still filled with doubt.

I was just about to go find Natsume Tsukiya to find out what was going on.

In the distance, a group of people in khaki uniforms walked towards us.

He vaguely heard the conversation:

"See that? That one."

"I heard that the captain of Hyotei, who is going to fight against Rikkai today, was injured by that guy."

"It's ridiculous that they're saying they want to end Rikkai University."

"It's a real shame that we lost so early."

"I think he's afraid that Rikkai University won't be able to fulfill the promises they made, so he deliberately made up an excuse to say that he was injured."

"He should be glad, otherwise I would have made him hate playing tennis from then on."

......

Kirihara Akaya approached as he talked with his teammates.

Akutsu was furious, but was pulled back by Tan Taichi.

Looking past Rikkai University, Hyotei's Atobe Keigo also arrived.

After the formation was complete, Natsume Tsuki slowly peeked out from the distance.

On the left was that pretty girl, and on the right was that tall, dull guy!