Thwack!
Thwack!!
The sound of rackets hitting balls echoed, and an eerie silence fell over the court. The Seigaku team, who had traveled all this way for a practice match, clenched their fists and gritted their teeth, looking as if they wanted to devour the person on the court.
The two players on the court had undergone a dramatic shift in their states.
Sweat had practically soaked the shirt Fuji was wearing, and the glaring score on the scoreboard.
It also signaled that this match was nearing its end.
0-5!
Since Fuji served first, his score was listed first, followed by Kamikawa's.
The match had only been going on for ten minutes, but Fuji's sweat production was frighteningly high, and his condition had deteriorated severely, much like Yamato's earlier in his match.
He was at an absolute disadvantage, and more than just physical exhaustion, it was mental torment.
Was Fuji really that weak?!
Not at all. At least, in everyone's eyes, Fuji was not weak.
Even Yamato believed Fuji possessed Kantou-level skill. Fuji could be a regular on any team, even leading the entire tennis club forward.
A Kantou-level player is someone who can lead their team through hundreds or even thousands of tennis schools to advance to the Kantou Tournament. Only then do they earn that title.
Even Yamato only barely touched the threshold of Kantou-level in his second, almost third year.
But Fuji? He had just started middle school. He still had so much time to grow.
Even Yamato couldn't help but marvel at such terrifying talent.
Yet, despite having such skill, Fuji was struggling so terribly.
Thwack!!
Just then, as Fuji lost focus, a glowing yellow tennis ball landed on the other side of his body.
"40-0!"
"Huff... huff huff..."
Fuji rested his hands on his knees, supporting his body, trying not to collapse at that very moment.
Sweating profusely, breathing heavily, Fuji had never played such a difficult match since he first picked up a tennis racket.
The pressure, like a tidal wave, almost completely crushed his body and spirit.
Next up was Kamikawa's service game.
From the start of the match, after Kamikawa displayed his incredibly fast flat serve, Fuji hadn't even touched the ball except during his own service games.
The gap in their skill was so vast that even with Fuji giving his all, he couldn't return it.
I lost.
That thought flashed through Fuji's mind.
Thwack!!
A sharp crack.
The tennis ball bounced far from Fuji.
Fuji no longer had the strength to chase after that bouncing serve.
"Game, Kamikawa, 6-0!"
The moment the match ended, Fuji still stood there, lost in thought.
Kamikawa glanced at Fuji, said nothing, and turned to leave the court.
Just then, Kikumaru and the others from outside the court rushed onto it, shouting Fuji's name repeatedly.
"Fuji... Fuji, are you okay?"
"Fuji, I told you not to stand out like this earlier!"
"..."
Kikumaru and the others' voices reached Fuji's ears. After a long while, Fuji opened his eyes, smiling faintly as he said, "I'm fine, just a little tired."
"Phew... That's good, that's good."
Kikumaru let out a sigh of relief, as did Oishi and the others who had also run onto the court.
They certainly didn't want anything to happen to Fuji. They were all teammates who had joined the tennis club together, and close friends. No one wanted to see their friend get hurt.
"Is the match over?"
Fuji turned his head to look at the dazzling scoreboard.
6-0!
He hadn't managed to take a single game from Kamikawa.
Just like Yamato-buchou before him, he had lost completely.
At this point, Yamato also came over, and after seeing Fuji was alright, he breathed a sigh of relief and offered comfort, "Fuji, you did really well."
This practice match was a complete defeat for Seigaku.
There was no need for the remaining matches to continue.
The rest of Seigaku's regulars wouldn't volunteer to play like Fuji had.
The practice match between the two schools ended abruptly.
Regarding this, everyone in the tennis club had different thoughts. Some worried about losing their regular spots, while others harbored ambitions of becoming regulars themselves.
In short, this practice match was a complete and utter failure for Seigaku.
On the bus ride back, Yamato's face was dark, and even Coach Ryuzaki, who usually indulged everyone, had a grim expression...
The return bus was eerily silent.
---
## The End of the Farcical Match
"The farce is over."
In the stands, Atobe suddenly stood up and addressed everyone, "Today's training will be as usual. Don't make the great Atobe say it a second time!"
The Hyotei team members in the stands heard him and began to move.
They had witnessed some good matches; Tezuka against Yamato, Kamikawa against Fuji. For them, it was quite insightful, even though both matches were complete routs.
Most of the tennis club members hadn't even reached the Kantou-level threshold.
Even the crushed Yamato and Fuji were incredibly strong opponents for them.
"Speaking of which, Tezuka."
Atobe suddenly called out to Tezuka, who was about to go train. "Kamikawa mentioned that Seigaku was the school you wanted to go to before, right?"
Atobe had more or less figured out Seigaku.
A tennis club that had trapped itself.
Even with stronger players, they weren't even qualified to become regulars.
There was simply no point in joining such a school.
Atobe didn't believe that, given Tezuka's personality, he could change anything if he joined Seigaku.
Even if Tezuka's skill surpassed his own, he would probably end up like the other Seigaku first-years, picking up balls for a year, and only barely making it as a regular after the older students graduated.
"What are you trying to say?"
Tezuka nodded, not denying it.
"Do you regret joining Hyotei?" Atobe countered.
"No."
Tezuka had also seen the fundamental difference between Seigaku and Hyotei.
Seigaku's system of respecting seniors was deeply entrenched. It was a system that could not be broken by one person's effort alone, just like Hyotei used to be...
If it weren't for Tarou Sakaki's firm stance, coupled with the strength of Tezuka and the others, Hyotei would probably be just like Seigaku now—trapped, barely making it into the Kantou Tournament, but without the strength to dominate the nation and claim the national title!
"Atobe."
Tezuka suddenly spoke. "When Kamikawa and I joined Hyotei, we made a promise: we would definitely win the National Tournament three times in a row."
Atobe paused, then a smirk spread across his face. "That's rich. For someone with his lazy attitude, he certainly has grand ambitions."
"It would be very difficult to achieve that with just the two of us."
Tezuka calmly stated, "So, Atobe! Let's lead Hyotei together to win the National Tournament championship—this year, next year, until we graduate!"
"Intriguing!! The great Atobe accepts this challenge!"
Atobe looked at Tezuka, a smirk playing on his lips. He loved doing challenging things.
Ever since he came to Hyotei, he realized these guys were far more interesting than he had imagined, far more interesting than the opponents he met while studying abroad in England.
His inner pride had long been shattered by these two.
But who was he?!
He was Keigo Atobe!!
In Atobe's dictionary, there was no such thing as giving up, only endless challenges.
Winning the National Tournament championship and creating a new history for the Hyotei tennis club—that wouldn't be bad at all!