"Huh?"
QP looked puzzled.
Yoru chuckled. "Inui Sadaharu, the successor of Data Tennis."
"He learned his Data Tennis from Mitsuya's disciple, so by seniority, he's practically a 'grandson' in the lineage."
Once QP understood what was going on, he rolled his eyes.
But the term Data Tennis did catch his attention.
Though it might not shine in high-stakes matches, compiling and analyzing data still required a certain level of talent.
Yoru added, "As for Inui Sadaharu—once he becomes a regular, take some time to mentor him. Teach him about data analysis and strategic setups."
"Sure." QP agreed easily.
For him, it was no trouble at all.
"Then there's Oishi Shūichirō and Kikumaru Eiji. These two have real doubles potential. Their future achievements will far surpass someone like Konishi back in the day."
"Almost like the Rokkaku brothers."
QP nodded without much reaction.
Even the Rokkaku brothers were nothing special in his eyes—Germany had no shortage of elite doubles players.
By comparison, Japan's traditional doubles pairs were relatively weak. Even in international competitions, conventional doubles teams lost more often than not, usually relying on powerhouse pairings to secure wins.
"And finally, we have the most amusing one—Kawamura Takashi."
"As for him... he's a complete rookie, but his raw strength isn't bad."
Yoru wasn't quite sure how to describe Kawamura.
The guy was the epitome of left hand: bonds, right hand: passion.
Stat-wise, his talent leaned more toward culinary arts than tennis, except for his explosive strength and a slight tendency toward a split personality.
The reason he got fired up when holding a racket was simple—
Gripping a tennis racket felt just like wielding the heavy sushi knife used to slice 100kg+ tuna at his family's shop. If you didn't put some muscle into it, you weren't cutting anything.
So the moment Kawamura held anything stick-like, he'd go full热血 (nekketso).
In every other aspect? Below average at best.
Yet in the original story, his actual match performances were shockingly good. During the Nationals, he pulled off an underdog victory against Ishida Gin, fueled by nothing but bonds and sheer热血 (nekketso).
In the World Cup arc, though? Unremarkable. He didn't even make the远征 (enssen) roster, getting knocked out alongside Hyōtei's Kabaji.
QP raised an eyebrow. "Like Oni?"
Yoru shook his head. "Nowhere close. Not even the same league."
---
On the court, the two chatted casually while rallying, completely at ease.
But for some of the newcomers, their practice match was terrifying.
The sheer speed of their movements, swings, and the invisible trajectory of the ball left a deep impact.
Oishi and the others, still running laps, watched in awe.
"Incredible..."
Fuji's eyes sharpened, his usual smile gone.
Inui scrambled to jot down data in his notebook while running, only to realize—there was no usable data. Everything was too fast.
The others reacted similarly. Only Tezuka remained unfazed, as if this level was normal.
For the freshmen, it was their first real glimpse of Yoru and QP's strength.
Even running at the front, Yamato showed no signs of exhaustion, his forehead barely glistening despite the laps.
---
Meanwhile, at Hyōtei Academy...
While Seishun's start to the semester was quiet, other schools buzzed with energy.
At Hyōtei, the freshman orientation was in full swing.
Under the gaze of the entire student body, a boy with ash-purple hair strode onto the stage.
Even the principal stood by with an ingratiating smile—proof of the boy's extraordinary status.
This was Atobe Keigo in his youth.
"Now, let us welcome our freshman representative, Atobe Keigo, to deliver his address!"
The moment the announcer finished, the boy snatched the microphone off its stand and scanned the crowd with a smirk.
"Listen well. Let me make one thing clear—I, the great Atobe, will become the king of Hyōtei Academy."
"This school has first-class facilities. Whether you make the most of them or waste them is up to you."
"Don't let complacency drag you down. Seize your school life with your own hands—ahahahaha!"
By the end, the hall echoed with Atobe's triumphant laughter.
The audience exchanged stunned glances.
No one had expected this kind of speech.
"This guy's way too arrogant!"
A blue-capped boy in the crowd glared, visibly irritated.
Nearby, a redhead scowled at Atobe's audacity.
"...Interesting."
A bespectacled boy with blue hair, however, seemed intrigued rather than offended.
Even a dozing student jolted awake, staring at Atobe with curiosity.
As for the principal? He could only force a smile.
Let's be real—he was just a principal, not even a board member.
Before enrolling, the Atobe Group had donated a massive sum to renovate Hyōtei's facilities, and the family had secured a seat on the board.
There was nothing the principal could do.
---
Afternoon, Club Activities
The morning's spectacle faded into routine, but its impact lingered.
"That Atobe Keigo guy... What a freak!"
"Right? A first-year declaring himself king? Who does he think he is?"
In the hallways, Shishido Ryō and Mukahi Gakuto grumbled.
But a laid-back boy walking with them just grinned. "But hey, he's kinda fun, isn't he?"
Everything unfolded just as it had in the original timeline.
Yoru's presence hadn't altered other schools' trajectories.
Shishido and Mukahi still resented Atobe after the assembly—but that changed fast once tennis came into play.
At the tennis club's locker room, Atobe openly challenged every regular.
Including the current captain, Kishimoto Masakatsu.
After Gōda and Takei graduated, Kishimoto had taken over, rebuilding the team's roster.
Atobe struck a deal: "If I defeat all the regulars, I join the club."
The result?
Atobe crushed every single one—without dropping a single point—then declared himself the new king of Hyōtei's tennis club.
Shishido and Mukahi tried their luck too, but Atobe dismantled them two-on-one without breaking a sweat.
Then things got really interesting.
Ōshitari Yūshi, who'd been watching from the sidelines, finally stepped up—only to lose as well.
With Coach Sakaki's approval, Atobe was crowned the new captain.
And so, Hyōtei entered a new era.
One ruled by Atobe Keigo.
---