The Prince of Tennis: The Quincy of Rikkai University

Chapter 176 Before the Finals, Ryoma and Kirihara
Soon, the third singles match began.

On the Fudomine side, Tachibana Yoshihira stood up from his seat with a calm expression. It was no surprise that he was the one who would play in this match, and it could only be him.

On the other side, Rikkai University sent out Kirihara Akaya in this game.

Just like the situation in Maya Yuuki's memory, the two people bumped into each other as expected.

Originally, Yanagi Renji was going to let Yuuki Maya take part in the third match, but he refused. The reason was simple: he knew Kirihara Akashi would not lose either.

The current Tachibana Jiping is no longer the Kyushu Lion of last year and his strength has dropped greatly.

The subsequent matches were similar to what Yuuki Maya had expected. Kirihara Akaya, who was stronger than the one in the original timeline, suppressed Tachibana Yoshihei throughout the whole process without even using the despicable means used in the original timeline.

And after turning on the demonization, he beat Tachibana Jiping so hard that he had no chance to fight back.

"Game, Tatekai Ogirihara wins, score 6-0."

Fifteen minutes later, the third singles match came to an end. The Fudomine team was silent. Their players couldn't believe that their captain had lost so badly.

Moreover, he lost to Kirihara Akaya, who was not one of the four giants of Rikkai University.

"Tsk, what are you doing? You're much weaker than last year."

After winning the game, Kirihara Akaya, who had released his demonic form, said with an unhappy look on his face.

He had been looking forward to this match, as opportunities to compete against a veteran national-level player are rare. However, the level displayed by his opponent was unsatisfactory, which made him very disappointed.

Compared to the Tachibana Yoshihei that Kirihara Akaya met at the national conference last year, the strength of the one in front of him now is far inferior.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault that I didn't satisfy you."

On the other side, Tachibana Yoshihei, who lost the game, slowly stood up. He naturally also heard Kirihara Akaya's dissatisfied words.

But he did not refute it, but directly admitted it.

Because even he himself knew that ever since he injured his best friend Qiansui Qianli, he had sealed his previous playing style and indirectly suppressed his true strength.

"Forget it. Yuuki-senpai warned me before the fight, so let's leave it at that."

Kirihara Akaya muttered something with little interest, shook hands with Tachibana Yoshihei perfunctorily, and turned to leave the court.

Only Tachibana Jiping was left staring at the other person in a daze. It was obvious that Kirihara Akaya's muttered words made him not understand what was going on.

"The game is over. The winner of this semi-final is Rikkai University Affiliated Junior High School."

After the two shook hands, the referee also announced the result of the game.

When Tachibana Yoshihei returned to Fudomine's team, the other members all looked at him with worried eyes.

"Well, it's just a loss. There's no need to be so pessimistic. Don't forget, there's still the national conference waiting for us."

"Instead of continuing to be frustrated here, I should start training harder in the national conference..."

Today, Tachibana Yoshihei has transformed into a qualified department head and even a coach. His few words have once again revived the spirit of Fudomine, which was originally in a gloomy mood.

On the other side of Rikkai University, when Kirihara Akaya returned to Rikkai University's team, he found that Yuuki Maya and the others were already ready.

"Let's go, go back."

Marui Bunta handed Kirihara Akaya's tennis bag to him, who took it and quickly put the racket in it, then left with the group.

There was nothing to celebrate. While the people from Fudomine were still packing their belongings, the people from Rikkai University had already been doing this before Kirihara's match began.

However, just a few steps after Rikkai Public Security walked out of the stadium, Yuuki Maya saw a familiar figure standing outside the outermost wire fence of the stadium, staring blankly at the scoreboard in the stadium below.

Isn't this Ryoma Echizen? Why is he here?

Yuuki Maya was stunned at first, then she suddenly realized.

Yes, this guy should have come out to warm up, and happened to pass by here and saw the match between Kirihara Akaya and Tachibana Yoshihei.

Off the field.

As if sensing someone passing by, Echizen Ryoma came to his senses and turned to look behind him.

A group of people wearing khaki uniforms passed by one after another. Each of them looked calm, as if they were just taking a walk here.

His pupils shrank and Echizen Ryoma's eyes met with one of the black-haired boys.

Those were a pair of eyes without any emotion, as if after looking at him for a moment, they immediately looked away and no longer paid attention.

Afterwards, the group quickly disappeared from Echizen Ryoma's sight.
"Li Hai Da..."

Echizen Ryoma clenched his fists slightly, his eyes flickering. …

The person who made eye contact with Ryoma Echizen was naturally Maya Yuuki, but since he was not very interested in the current Ryoma Echizen, he did not think of stopping and communicating with him.

At the same time as the match between Rikkai University and Fudomine ended, the match between Seigaku and Rokkakuchu also ended completely twenty minutes later.

By the time Echizen Ryoma came back from warming up, the game at Seigaku had just ended.

Kaidou Kaoru refused to be reversed and won the game with a score of 7-5. Seigaku also entered the finals of the Kanto Conference with a total score of 3-0, breaking the school record.

After winning the game, everyone in Seigaku was of course very happy, except for Ryoma Echizen who had just returned to the team.

The final was scheduled for a week later, and the next day after returning from the game that day, Qingxue immediately entered the final preparation state.

The reason is simple: Rikkai University, as their opponent in the finals, put too much pressure on them.

In particular, Ryuzaki Sumire also borrowed a video of yesterday's match between Rikkai University and Fudomine from Inoue Mamoru. After everyone in Seigaku watched it, the atmosphere dropped to the lowest point.

Because they saw that Fudomine, who had caused them a lot of trouble this year, was like a weak child being arbitrarily bullied when facing Rikkai University, and everyone's nerves were tense.

……

Under the overpass, Ryoma Echizen had sweat on his cheeks and was leaning against the wall, breathing slightly. The reason he was here was because he broke the strings of his only three rackets while practicing new skills in the tennis club today.

However, Inui Sadaharu told him that the only store that could quickly repair three racket strings at one time was a large sporting goods store 23.8 kilometers away.

"Those seniors really love to play tricks on me..."

After taking a few breaths, Echizen Ryoma, who had recovered a lot of strength, complained in his heart.

He could have come here by car, but Inui Sadaharu asked him to run, and Oishi Shuichiro tied a lead weight to each of his ankles.

This is also the culprit why Echizen Ryoma is sweating so much now, and the reason is heartwarming.

"It's almost time to rest and go back."

After resting for a while, Echizen Ryoma felt he was almost ready and was about to get up and run back to the tennis club, but a voice coming from the overpass made him stop immediately.

"Akaye, you and Seigaku might not be able to play. Are you disappointed?"

"Huh? It's okay. He's not a strong opponent anyway. It doesn't matter whether I play or not."

"It's not that bad. Tezuka of Seigaku is still very powerful. Even Sanada has to take him seriously."

"Marui-senpai, you are right, but except for Tezuka, the rest are just mediocre and can't play real tennis."

"..."

Ryoma Echizen silently lowered the brim of his hat and walked to the stairs under the overpass. On the stairs, two boys in white school uniforms were walking and chatting with their backs to him.

One of them had red hair, while the other had messy hair that looked like it was covered in seaweed.

"Hey!"

Echizen Ryoma shouted coldly at the two men.

His voice quickly made the two people who were still walking on the stairs stop and look back curiously.

These two people are Marui Bunta and Kirihara Akaya.

Today, the two of them went home together after finishing their tennis club training.

"You are wrong about one thing. Seigaku is not just about Tezuka..."

Echizen Ryoma confidently said to Kirihara Akaya provocatively: "I am the one who defeated you, and - can you teach me what real tennis is?"

"Are you from Qingxue?"

Kirihara Akaya turned around and was slightly surprised when he heard the other party's words, then he smiled and said, "Interesting, but the price of fighting with me may be very high."

"Haha, I couldn't ask for more."

In response to Kirihara Akaya, Echizen Ryoma smiled with the same smile.

Marui Bunta watched the two of them with interest from the side. He did not step out to stop them. Such fun was rare, even though the other party would be their opponent in the final three days later.

……

(End of this chapter)