I'm Very Interested in the Captain's Position

But after the protagonist, Echizen Ryoma, arrived, those rules began to fall by the wayside.

Chiba Yun Chuan was slowly walking into Hyotei Academy's tennis club with his racket bag slung over his back. He had an exceptionally handsome face and a perfect physique, shaped by two months of training. Most striking of all, he was a head taller than his peers.

As he walked, he drew plenty of attention!

"Who's that handsome guy? I've never seen him before."

"He's wearing a Hyotei uniform. He's probably a first-year."

"He's so handsome! I'm a fan of his looks now."

Hearing those comments, Chiba Yun Chuan smiled. At last, he was getting the kind of treatment usually reserved for the protagonist of The Prince of Tennis!

It felt amazing!

After entering the court, Chiba Yun Chuan didn't stop. He walked straight up to Atobe Keigo.

Atobe was standing there, too. He'd noticed Chiba Yun Chuan as soon as he arrived and assumed he was there to sign up for the tennis club, so he hadn't paid him much attention.

He hadn't expected Chiba Yun Chuan to come straight up to him.

Thus began the first meeting between two of the titans of the Hyotei dynasty.

Their eyes met!

It was as if gunpowder smoke began to fill the air, but unfortunately, no one noticed.

Atobe felt as if Chiba Yun Chuan's eyes were like black holes, unfathomable and impossible to read!

Chiba Yun Chuan stood a head taller than Atobe Keigo.

Looking at the middle schooler before him, who had a mole beneath his right eye, Chiba Yun Chuan knew exactly who he was!

Finally, after staring at each other for several dozen seconds—

"You're Atobe Keigo of Hyotei, right? I'm very interested in the captain's position at Hyotei Academy's tennis club!

"Let's play a match. Whoever wins gets to be captain of the Hyotei tennis club!"

Chiba Yun Chuan spoke in an even tone, as if he were talking about something trivial.

He wasn't making a request. He stated it like a fact!

"Ding! Show-off Value +16."

He'd spoken loudly enough for more than just Atobe to hear. The other Hyotei players had heard him, too.

"What? He's actually challenging Captain Atobe? I can't believe it!"

"Whoa, this guy actually—actually wants to become captain of the Hyotei tennis club?"

"A first-year wants to challenge Hyotei's Emperor?"

The chatter around them continued while Atobe still hadn't replied.

The regular players began gathering around them.

"Who are you? You think you can make Captain Atobe play you? I'm all you need! Captain, let me teach this brat a lesson!" Mukahi Gakuto had dropped his training and come over to Atobe's side. He was ready to face Chiba Yun Chuan himself!

"Ahhh... How boring," Akutagawa Jirou said sleepily, yawning in the distance.

"Interesting. A brat wants to be Hyotei's captain? Shishido, how long has it been since you saw the captain play?" Ootori Choutarou asked, watching Chiba Yun Chuan.

"It's been a long time. A lot of people may have forgotten Atobe's abilities. It's about time we reminded them," Shishido replied, as resolute as ever.

Hearing them, Chiba Yun Chuan wore an amused smile.

"They're all too weak. I don't want to waste time. Even you, Atobe, are just a warm-up for me.

"Come on. I'm in a hurry."

Chiba Yun Chuan ignored Mukahi Gakuto and the others, looking straight at Atobe as he spoke.

Atobe didn't get angry at Chiba Yun Chuan's words. Instead, he smiled and said,

"What an interesting brat. No one's ever been this arrogant in front of me.

"Who are you, brat? Don't you know that I'm the Emperor of this tennis club? And you dare challenge me right off the bat?

"Right, Kabaji?"

"Yes," Kabaji replied expressionlessly.

Standing right in front of Atobe and hearing those familiar words, Chiba Yun Chuan felt a thrill run through him. It was so exciting!

Watching it and experiencing it firsthand were completely different. Chiba Yun Chuan loved the feeling of being right there in the thick of it!

"Oh, is that so? I'm not particularly interested in who you are. I only know that after this match, there'll be just one captain of this tennis club—and that'll be me, Chiba Yun Chuan!"

"Ding! Host successfully showed off. Show-off Value +30!

"Ding! Host successfully showed off. Show-off Value +20!

"Ding! Host successfully showed off. Show-off Value +5!"

The moment he said that, the court fell silent. Then a huge uproar broke out.

But after hearing the system's notifications, Chiba Yun Chuan couldn't help asking,

"System, why is the Show-off Value so low? It's completely different from before!

"And can you turn off these system notifications? They're so noisy."

Chiba Yun Chuan had only just experienced the thrill of showing off—in the world of The Prince of Tennis, right in front of Atobe, the biggest show-off of them all.

It felt incredible!

He just hadn't expected the system to be so stingy. It had given him so little Show-off Value!

He'd been getting fifty points at a time before.

"Host, getting this much from a bunch of weaklings is already pretty good. The amount of Show-off Value you get depends on your target's strength. The stronger the person you show off to, the more Show-off Value you'll earn!

"Keep working hard, Host. Don't complain about this system all the time. Showing off is the way to go!

"This system has turned off the notifications!"

After hearing the system's explanation, Chiba Yun Chuan understood. So it depended on who he was showing off to!

It seemed Atobe Keigo would be worth the most.

Chiba Yun Chuan's conversation with the system had only taken a few dozen seconds.

By now, the chatter at the Hyotei tennis club had grown even louder!

"That brat's crazy!"

"Captain, teach him a lesson and show him what you can do!"

"He's so arrogant! How can he say something like that?"

"Who does he think he is? I hope he doesn't end up crying after he gets taught a lesson!"

Chiba Yun Chuan's words had hit a powder keg. Everyone there was denouncing him!

After all, this was Atobe's home court.

Atobe heard what he'd said and his smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. It was obvious the Emperor was angry!

"Brat, don't get too full of yourself! Today, I'll show you this great man's dazzling tennis! I'll play you. If I win, you'll shout 'Lord Atobe' three times!"

Hearing Atobe's words, Chiba Yun Chuan immediately replied,

"Then I'll gladly accept. I'll be taking the captaincy of Hyotei's tennis club!" Neither side objected. Both had complete confidence in their abilities!

After that, Atobe picked up his racket and walked slowly toward the court!

Seeing Atobe's back, the Hyotei players around them began to cheer!

"Atobe!"

"Atobe!"

"Atobe!"

Chiba Yun Chuan looked around and said,

"I'll have you shut your mouths in a moment. When you speak again, you'll only be shouting one person's name—and that's mine, Chiba Yun Chuan!"

Then he, too, slowly walked to the opposite side of the court.

Between Chiba Yun Chuan's words and the force of his presence, quite a few of the players fell silent!