Atobe and Irie

At that moment, Steven Caldwell picked up where Leo had left off. He first gave Atobe a sharp once-over, then spoke.

"Word is, you grew up in England. Would you be interested in joining the England Team?"

Atobe had never before encountered someone trying to poach him right there on the court.

But he reacted quickly and refused without the slightest courtesy.

"Hmph! This young master has no interest in joining a team that's bound to be eliminated."

Atobe had no hesitation about turning England down. In fact, ever since he'd learned that Muneyoshi had once led an expeditionary force to defeat England at full strength, he'd stopped seeing them through rose-colored glasses.

With strength like that, England had no chance against the current Japan Team, in his eyes.

And they were in the same group, too. Atobe figured the England Team wouldn't even make it out of the group stage.

There was no future in joining a team like that.

After all, their whole group had been inspired by Byōdōin's ambition.

England would struggle to qualify, while the Japan Team's goal this year was to become the best in the world.

Atobe didn't know if they'd ultimately achieve that goal, but he admired the bearing that Byōdōin and Muneyoshi had shown.

Only a team capable of becoming number one was worth staying with for him, Atobe Keigo.

Besides, Atobe was still under pressure from his mother's side of the family and had to consider whether to accept the path they'd laid out for him.

If he accepted, he'd have to give up tennis.

That was one of the reasons Atobe was willing to play doubles with Irie.

This could be the last of his tennis career, and there was no better way to end it than by becoming the