The Prince of Tennis: The Kirin Returns to Its Scabbard

Zhang Zekai of the Zhang family has carried the burden of his clan's mission and a past shrouded in secrecy since childhood. His heart is frozen, and he lives only for his assignments. When turmoil strikes the family's stronghold, he is ordered to Japan's Rikkai Junior High. There, he must complete his mission while experiencing school life for the first time. From his first day at Rikkai, his aloof, distant air forms an invisible barrier, leaving him at odds with the lively cherry blossom season around him. Yet here he meets the gentle and perceptive Yukimura Seiichi, the upright and meticulous Sanada Genichiro, the data-driven Yanagi Renji, and a passionate group of tennis club members. From a stunning showdown at the kendo club to an unexpected clash on the tennis court; from hidden scars and a mysterious qilin tattoo to a secret struggle against the Snake-Eye Group, Zhang Zekai's frozen heart gradually melts in the warmth of friendship. Through one clash and act of protection after another, he comes to understand the true meaning of “returning the blade to its sheath”: it is not about hiding one's edge, but about finding the people and beliefs worth protecting for a lifetime. This is a story of redemption and growth. At last, the cold qilin finds a gentle home in a world strewn with cherry blossoms, and the blade born for killing becomes armor for protecting others.