Chapter 137: Tezuka's Countermeasure

Inside the Seigaku Tennis Club office.

Tezuka Kunimitsu pressed the hang-up button on his phone.

He turned around and said to Coach Ryuzaki Sumire and Oishi Shuichiro, "The match between Rikkai and Shitenhoji only lasted three games, and the score was 6-0 for all of them!"

Oishi gasped, "6-0 again, and three games again—is Rikkai's strength this year too overwhelming?"

"Shitenhoji is the number one in the Kansai region; were they also shut out?"

Ryuzaki Sumire frowned and said, "Oishi, although we lost to Rikkai in the Kanto Tournament, we are completely different now from who we were back then."

"Our team's backbone, Tezuka, rushed back from D Country specifically for Seigaku's National Tournament."

"And after Ryoma lost to Takahashi last time, he went to the U. S. to participate in the U. S. Open specifically to battle players from all over the world, strengthen his abilities, and increase his match experience."

"Therefore, do not blindly boost the opponent's momentum and dampen our own spirit!"

Oishi spoke up, "But I heard that after the Kanto Tournament, Takahashi was invited by Japan U17 for a month of training camp."

Ryuzaki's voice gradually rose, "D Country U17 is the world hegemon, having won the world tournament nine times in a row, while Japan U17's world ranking is only 23rd."

"Being favored by the D-Guo Team itself proves Tezuka's excellence, and having undergone over a month of special training, I believe Tezuka's strength has also greatly improved."

Ryuzaki turned to ask Tezuka, "Tezuka, you previously unlocked the Limit of the Thousand-Handed Martial Arts and the Limit of Talent Blooming; have you now unlocked the Limit of Peerless Perfection?"

Tezuka nodded slightly.

Oishi said in surprise, "The Limit of Peerless Perfection—has Tezuka unlocked it too?"

Ryuzaki said, "Tezuka touched the Limit of the Thousand-Handed Martial Arts as early as his first year of middle school, but he sealed this technique later due to his arm injury."

"This trip to D Country not only healed Tezuka's arm injury, but his strength has also reached a higher level after training with D Country U17, so it is only logical that he has unlocked the Limit of Peerless Perfection."

"After all, there is a three-year gap between Ryoma and Tezuka; Tezuka's foundational strength and technique are more powerful, so Tezuka, having unlocked Peerless Perfection, is even stronger than Echizen."

"Facing Takahashi, he may not be without a chance to fight."

Tezuka nodded.

His trip to D Country this time was not just about joining D Country U17; his greatest gain was becoming the sparring partner for the D Country U17 team captain, the current strongest professional player, Jurgen Borisavich Borg.

It was precisely with Borg's help that Tezuka was able to successfully open the final door of the Selfless State: the Limit of Peerless Perfection.

And it was precisely because he was valued by Borg that Tezuka became a member of D Country U17 as a matter of course.

So he gained a great deal from this trip to D Country.

Not only was his arm injury healed, but it also allowed his strength, which had been dormant for nearly two years, to receive a huge boost.

Although Takahashi's strength is formidable, that is only among middle school students; there is still a considerable gap compared to a world-class professional player like Borg.

And as Borg's sparring partner, the world-class experts Tezuka encountered within this month were ones he had never seen in all his years of playing tennis.

Having gone to D Country, his horizons and knowledge have greatly increased.

Therefore, he feels that if he faces Takahashi now, he might not be the one who loses.

Europe is the orthodoxy of world tennis; in the Japanese tennis world, other than Echizen Ryoma's father, Echizen Nanjiro, there are no particularly outstanding talents.

And Japan U17's rankings in world tournaments in recent years have not been satisfactory.

Even if Takahashi Yanichi was recruited by Japan U17, Tezuka Kunimitsu does not think Takahashi's strength will have much of an improvement.

After all, the level of the entire Japan U17 is not high enough.

Although Tezuka is confident he can defeat Takahashi, the National Tournament is a team competition after all; winning only one or two games is meaningless.

Rikkai's advantage lies in the fact that they have no obvious weaknesses in either singles or doubles.

Currently, apart from him and Echizen Ryoma, there is still a gap in the strength of the others on Seigaku when it comes to dealing with Rikkai.

Tezuka had spoken with Echizen before, and Echizen is also very aware of his own weaknesses.

That is, Echizen originally relied on the foundation and guidance laid by his father since childhood to forcibly open the final door of the Selfless State—the Limit of Peerless Perfection.

This led to Echizen's understanding of the Selfless State not being deep enough, and his Limit of Peerless Perfection was not in a perfect state.

However, after a month of training in the U. S., Echizen's level and experience have improved.

His Limit of Peerless Perfection has also become perfect.

In this way, Seigaku's greatest advantage lies in Tezuka and Echizen.

Therefore, how to arrange the lineup has become the top priority.

He must ensure that both he and Echizen fully exert their strength to guarantee that the two of them secure two victories.

Even if Seigaku still loses in the end, they cannot repeat the tragedy of the Kanto Tournament; at the very least, they must drag the match to the 5th game.

Thinking of this, Tezuka picked up a pen and wrote his name in the Singles No. 3 position.

Ryuzaki was very surprised and said, "Tezuka, as Seigaku's strongest player, why are you playing Singles No. 3?"

Tezuka paused and said, "Shiraishi said that in their match against Rikkai today, Yukimura Seiichi returned and played as Singles No. 3."

Oishi was shocked and said, "What? Yukimura is back too?"

"Not just us, even Rikkai is facing the National Tournament with their strongest lineup."

"The Three Giants plus Takahashi—their singles configuration is too luxurious. In terms of doubles, their strength is also superior to ours."

"This match will be a tough battle."

Ryuzaki Sumire said, "Oishi, Tezuka rushed back from D Country specifically for Seigaku's National Tournament. For you to be so defeatist is too unfair to Tezuka's sacrifice!"

Oishi lowered his head and said nothing.

Tezuka pondered and said, "The players who might appear in Rikkai's singles should be Sanada Genichiro, Yukimura Seiichi, and Takahashi Yanichi."

"I have studied the order in which Rikkai has played this year; it is very chaotic and has no pattern to follow."

"Therefore, I cannot judge who exactly will play Singles No. 3."

Ryuzaki nodded upon hearing this.

Indeed, because Rikkai has no coach, a group of middle school students all make their own decisions.

The lineup list is practically like a mess; they don't consider the arrangement at all.

It was precisely by relying on the powerful foundation Rikkai had built up previously that they were able to defeat their opponents.

Tezuka continued, "But if I play in Singles No. 3, no matter who Rikkai sends out, I am confident that I will win this match."

"If we let Echizen or Fuji play, and the opponent puts even a little effort into their lineup, we cannot be one hundred percent certain of winning this match."

"As the first match, the victory of this Singles No. 3 is very important."

"If we can win this match, we can wash away the shame of being eliminated 3-0 and 6-0 by Rikkai at the Kanto Tournament back then, and it will also boost the confidence of the other team members."