The regional tournament was held over two weeks. Hyotei wouldn't play again until the weekend, six days later.
The Hyotei regulars returned to school and threw themselves back into their usual training.
Over the weekend, Kannagi Shinichi also called his family. He had been in this world for three years and had long since accepted the people here as his family. They had become an irreplaceable part of his life.
Kannagi listened as his family fussed over him on the phone. After a long while, he finally hung up.
The sky was still bright outside the window. Kannagi got ready and headed for Advisor Sakaki's office.
A moment later, Kannagi stood before Sakaki and got straight to the point, laying out the problem Hyotei faced. "Advisor, all our current regulars are singles players, and doubles has become Hyotei's weak point.
"There are two doubles matches in the National Tournament. If Hyotei doesn't have a doubles team with enough strength, our opponents will target that weakness."
Sakaki had noticed Hyotei's doubles problem long ago, but he hadn't found a good solution. They could only pair players based on their singles ability and have them play doubles.
That sort of pairing had a major flaw. If they came up against a doubles team with genuine chemistry and strong teamwork, they could suffer a crushing defeat and become the opposing team's breakthrough point in the team tournament.
Unless a player was strong enough to take on two opponents alone, like Kannagi.
But no tennis coach would want to put a player like that in doubles.
"Do you have a solution?"
Sakaki understood that Kannagi wouldn't have come to see him unless he had already thought of a way to address Hyotei's weakness in doubles.
"Training. We can start now and build a doubles team with genuine national-level strength." Kannagi paused, Shishido Ryo's face appearing in his mind, then continued, "There's someone on our team with a real talent for doubles. He just hasn't realized it yet."
As Kannagi spoke, Sakaki ran through all the Hyotei regulars in his mind. He couldn't think of anyone who seemed suited to doubles, so he frowned slightly and asked, "Who?"
"Shishido. He has a real gift for doubles, especially with his exceptional speed and explosiveness. He could do an excellent job covering the back court, and if we paired him with an attacking player at the net, he could also bring out his partner's full offensive potential."
"Shishido?"
Sakaki's brow relaxed a little. He knew every player on the team and understood their strengths and weaknesses. Hearing Kannagi's explanation, he realized Shishido Ryo really was suited to doubles.
But another problem remained: who would partner with Shishido Ryo?
As if sensing Sakaki's uncertainty, Kannagi answered at once. "We can pair Jiro with Shishido."
Sakaki shook his head at Kannagi's suggestion to pair Akutagawa Jirou with Shishido. "Jiro's strong at the net, but he isn't suited to doubles. He and Shishido won't develop much chemistry."
Kannagi knew what Sakaki meant: Akutagawa Jirou was too prone to falling asleep. But Jiro was the only player at Hyotei who could pair with Shishido right now.
Kannagi let out a quiet sigh. "Jiro's the only one who can team up with Shishido for now. Besides, I'm suggesting we first develop Shishido's awareness of doubles. If a suitable partner comes along later, he'll be able to skip the adjustment period."
In the original story, Shishido and Ohtori Chotaro were every bit as strong as any other doubles team. And unlike those teams, which had played together for years, Shishido and Ohtori had reached national-level strength after only a few months. That was proof enough of just how exceptional Shishido Ryo's talent for doubles was.
"Can you persuade Shishido to switch to doubles?"
Although Shishido had played doubles in both of the regional tournament matches, Sakaki and Kannagi knew he had always aimed to be a singles player.
And in those two doubles matches, Shishido had mostly relied on his singles style of play, with little teamwork with his partner.
So if they wanted him to change his style and learn to coordinate with someone else, someone would have to persuade him.
Sakaki chose Kannagi, the team captain, for the job.
"I'll persuade Shishido."
Kannagi didn't refuse. He believed Shishido knew that there was no place for him in Hyotei's singles lineup anymore.
"Good. I'll leave this to you. If there's nothing else, go talk to Shishido."
"Yes."
Kannagi agreed, then left Sakaki's office to find Shishido Ryo.
At the ball machine on the tennis court, Shishido Ryo was returning the balls fired toward him.
After returning another ball, Shishido was nearly collapsing in front of the machine.
He had been training like this for an hour and a half without stopping once.
"No. I have to keep training."
His body was exhausted, but whenever he thought of Kannagi, Atobe, Akutsu, and the others, he reminded himself that he had to train desperately if he wanted to catch up to those monsters.
Shishido stood up again, ready to return the balls fired by the machine.
But just as he was about to swing, another ball shot in and knocked the one coming toward him away.
"Captain."
Shishido turned and saw that Kannagi had put away his racket and walked up to him.
"Shishido, are you willing to give everything for Hyotei's victory?"
Kannagi needed to persuade Shishido, so he was ready to turn on the pep talk.
"I am."
Shishido answered without hesitation, his voice firm and resolute.
Seeing him like that, Kannagi felt sure this would go smoothly too.
He let out a deliberately heavy sigh, then said, "Hyotei is strong right now, but we still have a weakness: our doubles team is a little behind the other powerhouse schools. The advisor and I have discussed putting together a doubles team capable of competing nationally."
Hearing Kannagi's words, Shishido immediately began to understand. He asked quietly, "You and the advisor want me to switch to doubles?"
"Yes."
Kannagi calmly admitted it, then continued earnestly, "Shishido, you may not have realized it yourself, but you have a real talent for doubles. You're just missing the right partner. If you start learning doubles now, I think that once we find someone suited to you, your team will reach national-level strength in no time."
"National level..."
Shishido murmured the words. He had felt a little disappointed at the thought of switching to doubles, but at those three words, his eyes began to shine.
Seeing that Shishido was tempted, Kannagi decided to turn up the pressure. "You know there's no place for you in Hyotei's singles lineup right now. What's more, before long, we'll be inviting another national-level singles player to join us. If you keep clinging to singles, you'll end up lost in the crowd."
Shishido looked startled by Kannagi's words. "We're bringing in a national-level singles player...?"
Seeing Shishido's surprise, Kannagi gave a slight nod. "That's right. That's why Advisor Sakaki and I suggested you switch to doubles. Of course, your own talent for doubles is another reason we can't ignore."
"Captain, can I ask who my partner would be if I switched to doubles?"
"Jiro."
The moment Shishido asked, Kannagi knew he was willing to switch to doubles.
"Ah..."
Shishido was a little stunned to hear that his partner would be Akutagawa Jirou. Jiro was a classic singles player.
Noticing Shishido's surprise, Kannagi smiled. "Right now, he's the best fit for you. Of course, Jiro is only a temporary partner. When someone more suitable comes along, he'll return to his old position. For now, you need to learn the techniques and teamwork doubles requires."
"I... understand..."
"Good. One day, Shishido, you'll make a name for yourself across the country as a doubles player."
Elsewhere, Oshitari Yuushi stopped Atobe. "Atobe, please play a match with me..."
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