"So now you should understand. Even if there are two players with the same five dimensions, there can still be a visible difference in strength."
"Even…"
"As long as the difference in the five dimensions between the two sides isn't too big, the side with the lower stats can still win."
"Even a Kanto-level player has the potential to defeat someone at the national level."
Ryohei Rin looked at Taki Haginosuke and explained patiently.
He wasn't lying.
In the original story, Echizen Ryoma often won far beyond what his "stats" should allow. Five dimensions? Against Ryoma, that framework hardly made sense.
However, at this moment, Taki Haginosuke's mind was still caught on the two diagrams Ryohei had drawn on the ground. He hadn't been listening carefully to the explanation at all.
Even after all this time, he still couldn't figure it out.
The total of the five dimensions was the same, but why were the areas of the two figures so different?
"Kanto level defeating national level… how is that possible?"
Even though Taki Haginosuke hadn't understood the essence, that didn't stop him from asking questions.
This new idea Ryohei had introduced stirred endless curiosity in his heart. It was as if a door had opened before him—behind it was a brand-new world, leading straight to the hidden truth of tennis!
"Let's take these two drawings as examples," Ryohei continued.
"In the first diagram, the highest single five-dimensional value is 3 points in speed."
"And in the second diagram, the highest single stat is also 3 points, but this time in skill."
"What does this mean?"
Taki Haginosuke immediately answered: "Doesn't that mean players who focus on speed have an advantage in overall strength?"
He nodded as he spoke, already imagining it.
A speed player! Such a style would definitely be tricky and powerful. Against opponents with weak dynamic vision, they might really be able to reverse the outcome.
"Wrong again…" Ryohei waved his hand.
"It's the same three points, but that only reflects different play styles, not who's stronger."
"The real reason lies in the connections between stats."
"The values next to speed are skill and strength. The values next to skill are spirit and speed."
"Take the skill-focused player for example."
"A skillful player often relies on reading the entire situation, so higher spirit allows them to analyze the game faster and make smarter choices. Speed, meanwhile, supports their defense and overall control."
"So in theory, this is a counterattack-style player—skilled, patient, and reliant on timing."
"But… compared to the speed-type in the first diagram, whose adjacent values are both 2.5, the skill-type has 2.5 and 2. That's why the overall five-dimensional area is smaller."
!!!
As Ryohei explained further, Taki Haginosuke finally understood!
And at that moment, he looked at Ryohei with deep shock.
Just by looking at five-dimensional values… he could see a player's style and methods?
What kind of advanced perspective was this?
Was this really… tennis?
"It looks like you're starting to get it."
"How about this… I'll give you a question. Try combining the stats I give you, and see how you'd maximize their advantages."
Ryohei then provided a new set of five-dimensional values:
Speed: 2
Strength: 2
Stamina: 2
Spirit: 5
Skill: 3
That's right.
These were Ryohei's current values. He himself had a very unbalanced distribution, so using them as an example made it more practical.
"Um…"
Suppressing his nerves, Taki Haginosuke picked up a branch and started working it out.
The focus was spirit.
The adjacent stats were skill and stamina…
"As long as you raise skill and stamina closer to the level of spirit…"
"Then the five-dimensional area will expand the most."
"In the short term… the best way to bring about a major change is to raise stamina up to 3, the same as skill."
At this moment, he had fully grasped the idea and gave what seemed like a reasonable training plan.
"Not bad…"
"But it's not entirely correct," Ryohei said, shaking his head.
"The geometry of pentagons isn't that simple. You're still missing the deeper idea."
"And remember—numbers are just numbers. They don't represent everything."
"Again… tennis is not a formula. There are always uncertain factors."
Ryohei stood up. He had to train—if he kept explaining, there wouldn't be enough time left for practice this afternoon.
Still, Taki Haginosuke was right about one thing.
For Ryohei right now, raising his stamina to 3 was indeed the training program he needed most.
"Wait!"
"Ryohei Rin!!"
Seeing him leave, Taki Haginosuke shouted desperately, "You still haven't told me—how can Kanto-level defeat national-level?!"
He might have doubted before.
But now, having seen Ryohei's insight, he was completely convinced.
This wasn't just talent. This was wisdom and a unique understanding of tennis.
Ryohei glanced back, waving.
"This… I can't explain it. Even if I did, you wouldn't get it."
"If you really want to know, go to Seigaku and find a first-year named Echizen Ryoma. You might learn something from him."
He didn't mean to hide things.
But the truth was, Taki Haginosuke's tennis insight was too shallow. That was why he was just a minor character even among Hyotei's players.
No matter how much he explained, Taki Haginosuke wouldn't truly grasp it.
Instead of wasting time, it was better to train.
...
"Eh…"
"Ryohei Rin, are you saying I'm stupid?"
Watching his back disappear, Taki Haginosuke looked embarrassed.
But he didn't even have the strength to refute.
Compared to Ryohei's intelligence and vision… if he wasn't stupid, then what was he?
"Maybe this is what a real genius looks like. Just his understanding of the five dimensions completely swept me away."
"As a prospective starter… is it shameful to pick up balls for someone like him?"
"No, not at all!"
"Picking up balls for Hyotei's future emperor is an honor!"
Encouraging himself, Taki Haginosuke's face flushed with excitement.
After some self-motivation, he immediately began applying what he learned—analyzing his own five dimensions, and working to design a training plan unique to himself.