Chapter 82: On the Eve of the Semi-Finals

Watching Takahashi look up at the sky, Kirihara was suddenly at a loss.

Could it be that he had said the wrong thing again?

That wasn't right.

He had kept everything Takahashi said just now in his heart, not missing a single word.

Sanada, standing to the side, could no longer bear to watch and spoke up: "Falling into a disadvantage when the rhythm is disrupted only applies when the strength of both sides is about the same."

"Whoever's mentality breaks first is the one who falls into a disadvantage."

"However, looking at this match, Seigaku's Echizen accelerated the rhythm, which clearly shows his level is far higher than his opponent's; it was the opponent who dragged down his rhythm."

"He was merely correcting the attack rhythm back to his original state; his mentality did not change at all."

Kirihara was surprised and said, "What?"

"Is such a fast rhythm his original state?"

"Bang!"

"Game set! Seigaku wins!"

"I didn't expect that in Hyotei versus Seigaku, Seigaku would actually win; this is something that hasn't happened in years."

Sanada said.

"This first-year from Seigaku cannot be underestimated."

Yanagi Renji said.

At the same time, Yanagi was secretly shocked that Seigaku had produced such a formidable first-year player.

And he, Yanagi Renji, as the Strategist of Rikkai and Rikkai's Scout, was completely unaware of this.

If not for Takahashi's reminder, he would never have paid attention to a first-year from Seigaku.

Even now, his understanding of Echizen Ryoma was limited only to this match.

Such a player with potential had actually been overlooked by him.

If not for Takahashi's reminder, once Echizen Ryoma truly matured, he would be a powerful weapon for Seigaku.

And a formidable opponent for Rikkai.

Although Kirihara's strength had increased greatly now, far stronger than when he was a first-year, Hiyoshi Wakashi, who could fight to a draw with Kirihara when they were first-years, was also quite formidable when looking at the entire Kanto Region.

Yet such a Hiyoshi Wakashi was suppressed by Echizen Ryoma throughout the entire match.

As an opponent, the importance of Echizen Ryoma was self-evident.

Fortunately, the newly appointed Captain Takahashi had noticed him, this obscure yet powerful first-year.

It seems that Seigaku's future matches must be observed carefully and cannot be ignored.

At the same time, Yanagi Renji also felt Takahashi's excellence as a captain.

Although Takahashi rarely managed affairs and would push away tasks that required a captain's presence if he could, and hand them to Sanada if he couldn't.

It seemed as if he only bore the title of captain without fulfilling the duties of a captain.

However, upon careful observation, one would discover that Takahashi was a very reliable captain.

Unlike the casual and carefree demeanor he displayed, Takahashi must have done a lot of homework in private, having precise judgments on the up-and-coming talents of various schools.

For example, Seigaku's Echizen Ryoma.

And he also had an understanding of the special moves of various captains.

For example, the Waltz to Destruction that Atobe did not use.

Besides this, Takahashi could also accurately and quickly grasp the key points of matters.

He knew what was most necessary to guard against for Rikkai, and what were trivial matters of no consequence.

Rikkai's current situation was that, apart from Kirihara and Takahashi, all the Regular Members were third-years.

The strength of the entire Rikkai was indeed very strong, and no team could stop Rikkai's path to winning the championship in this year's National Tournament.

But what about next year?

Next year, after all these third-years graduated, Rikkai would face a situation of a gap in talent.

Therefore, setting his sights on the freshmen of other schools and fully understanding the strength of opponents was necessary.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle!

Only then could they preserve the honor Rikkai had held for so many years.

Sanada focused his gaze on this year's National Tournament.

He was thinking of pushing Rikkai, even without Yukimura's leadership, to the throne of national champion.

But Takahashi's gaze was further, and his vision was broader.

He did not just want to ensure Rikkai's national championship for this year, but to let Rikkai sit firmly on the throne of national champion for the next few years as well.

This realm, this level.

Compared to Sanada.

The difference was clear at a glance!

Perhaps Takahashi did not value this year's Kanto Tournament because he believed no opponent could stop Rikkai from taking the championship.

And the facts were indeed so.

At least Yanagi Renji could not think of any team that could stop Rikkai's pace, or stop Takahashi's pace.

Then being a little more relaxed and casual didn't matter at all.

After all, strength is the capital for pride.

Thinking of this, the gaze Yanagi Renji cast toward Takahashi became even more reverent and admiring.

It is truly fortunate to have Takahashi Yanichi serve as the Captain of Rikkai.

Takahashi not only possesses unrivaled strength, but his vision and perspective are also incomparably broad.

He is even superior to the original Captain, Yukimura Seiichi.

More importantly, Takahashi is only a first-year.

For a first-year to have such a far-reaching vision and stature is truly shocking!

Also a first-year, Echizen Ryoma of Seigaku is not bad either.

But that depends on who you compare him with.

If compared with Hiyoshi Wakashi or Kirihara Akaya, although there are differences in their levels, the gap is not that large.

But if compared with Takahashi Yanichi, the difference is like heaven and earth!

Whether it is strength, vision, perspective, or stature, Takahashi leaves these people far behind.

They and Takahashi are simply not people on the same level.

Kanto Tournament semi-finals.

The eve of the match between Rikkai and Fudomine.

Fudomine.

Tachibana Kippei and his team members are all sitting together to discuss tomorrow's match.

"I didn't expect that we would encounter Wangzhe Rikai Da in the semi-finals."

"Rikkai is the hegemon of the Kanto Region, having dominated the Kanto Tournament for 15 consecutive years; to think we would encounter them so early."

Ishida Tetsu said.

Under the leadership of Captain Tachibana Kippei, Fudomine managed to reach the Kanto Tournament with great difficulty, only to encounter Rikkai in the semi-finals, which is a blow to all the team members.

With Fudomine's strength, wanting to take a single point from Rikkai is harder than ascending to heaven.

Fudomine and Rikkai are simply not schools on the same level.

Whether it was the Regional Preliminaries, the Regional Tournament, or the Kanto Tournament that is halfway through.

Rikkai's scores are always 6-0, ending the match in just three games to achieve final victory.

No matter who the opponent is, nothing can block Rikkai's path.

Listening to the somewhat discouraged voices of his team members, Tachibana Kippei lowered his head and said, "Rikkai is indeed too powerful; tomorrow, we just need to perform at our own level and complete our match well."

"Do our best and leave the rest to fate!"

"Besides, even if we lose tomorrow, we have already qualified for the National Tournament."

"Don't worry about winning or losing, just give it our all!"

Honestly, facing Rikkai, Tachibana Kippei also has a headache.

Rikkai is extraordinarily strong in both singles and doubles.

Even the doubles pair he formed with Chitose Senri back then was unrivaled in the Kyushu Region.

But encountering Rikkai at the National Tournament, they could not escape the fate of losing.

This is the gap in strength.

Therefore, as the Captain, what Tachibana Kippei can do now is to comfort his team members and tell them that it does not matter even if they lose, as they can still enter the National Tournament.

"Captain, I think we still have hope."

At this moment, Ibu Shinji ran in hurriedly, holding a stack of documents.