Just as expected, the error-prone Momoshiro duo was caught completely off guard by their opponents. The two ended up blaming each other.
Before they could even fight back, they were knocked off the court. Frustrated, they gathered their things and left.
Horio had just stood up, ready to leave with the two sour-faced boys, when the people crowding around to praise the other players said, "Amazing! You really are Gyokurin Middle School's doubles players."
The three of them immediately caught on.
"Isn't Gyokurin Middle School our first opponent tomorrow?"
"So they're the Gyokurin Middle School doubles team. Damn, we've already embarrassed ourselves in front of them before the match has even started."
Momoshiro said bitterly. Just then, a sweet female voice chimed in.
"It really is embarrassing, isn't it? Two people who can't play doubles at all, recklessly playing on a doubles court."
An orange-haired girl with shoulder-length hair and a purple outfit walked toward the three of them. Momoshiro saw that she was quite pretty.
His irritation immediately faded, and he looked at her and asked,
"May I ask who you are? You seem to know a lot about tennis."
"Who I am doesn't matter. Judging by your uniforms, are you from Seigaku's tennis club? For tomorrow's match, your First Singles player should be Captain Tezuka Kunimitsu, and your Second Singles player should be Fuji Syusuke. I don't know who'll be playing Third Singles."
Hearing the orange-haired girl, Horio understood what she was getting at. Before Momoshiro and the others could say anything, he replied,
"Unless something unexpected happens, Captain Tezuka won't be playing tomorrow. And tomorrow, we'll still be playing doubles. Instead of worrying so much about another school, you should worry about what Fudomine will do when they face us."
Then, wearing a look that showed they still didn't understand the situation, the two left with him. Horio, bringing up the rear, suddenly turned back and added,
"Even though Fudomine's team has changed a lot this year, they still can't escape the fate of losing to Seigaku."
Watching Horio calmly say those things, the orange-haired girl looked surprised, then began to ponder.
The three who had left the courts walked onto a pedestrian overpass. Ryoma, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly stopped and blurted out,
"That girl wasn't wrong, either. Tezuka's playing First Singles, and Senpai Fuji's playing Second Singles. So who'll be playing Third Singles?"
"Man, if I hadn't been cut from the team, I'd definitely be playing Third Singles."
"Hmph, don't get ahead of yourself, Senpai Momoshiro. I'm definitely playing Third Singles."
Momoshiro and Ryoma started arguing again, especially since they were fighting over the still-undecided Third Singles spot.
"The lineup hasn't been announced yet, so we don't know how things will turn out. Coach can only finalize the players before the match starts. There's no point arguing about it now."
At Horio's words, the two fell silent at once.
"And besides, aren't you even the slightest bit frustrated about losing to a third-rate doubles team like Gyokurin Middle School?"
Momoshiro and Ryoma's expressions instantly stiffened. Honestly, of course they were frustrated.
They had been beaten on some no-name public court by two third-rate players they hadn't even taken seriously. As Seigaku regulars, they couldn't just shrug it off.
"It's a shame you weren't selected for the team, Senpai Momoshiro, so you can't play. But what about you, Ryoma? Don't you want to beat them at the very thing they're best at?"
At Horio's words, Ryoma lowered his head, deep in thought. Then he suddenly looked up.
"That's right. Beating them at the very thing they're best at—that's the best feeling."
"Real men should play doubles!"
Seeing how fired up Ryoma was, Momoshiro felt his own frustration surge. The two, both unwilling to accept their loss, said the iconic line at the same time.
The next day...
Everyone had arrived at the district preliminary venue by the time Horio finally sauntered in. His blue-and-white uniform made him stand out like a scenic view, drawing the attention of the people around him.
Seigaku was famous, and as the top seed in the district preliminaries, they already drew plenty of attention. Horio was also one of the only two first-year regulars on Seigaku's team this year, which made people even more curious about him.
Listening to the people around him talk about him, Horio felt a little smug.
In his previous life, he had never received this kind of treatment. Nobody had ever paid him any attention.
When Katsuro and Katsuo saw Horio arrive, they hurried over to cheer on their good friend.
Horio smiled at his two excited friends.
He also thought to himself that if he got the chance, he'd have to teach them how to play properly.
Just then, Inui Sadaharu, who was assisting the coach, walked over with the match lineup they'd submitted. The other regulars gathered around, too.
"This is the lineup we just submitted. Fuji's playing First Singles, Kawamura's playing Second Singles, and Kaitou's playing Third Singles. Oishi and Kikumaru are still playing First Doubles, and Horio and Ryoma will take the last spot, Second Doubles."
"Ah... Captain Tezuka isn't on the lineup? Has his hand still not healed?"
"If Captain Tezuka isn't playing, Seigaku's strength will drop a lot, won't it? Does Seigaku have some other plan?"
"Is Seigaku changing its plans this year...? Hah, they actually dare look down on us. Damn it."
When people from the other schools heard that Tezuka wasn't on the lineup, they erupted into speculation.
Horio heard that Tezuka hadn't made the lineup and smiled.
Just as I thought. Since you trust me so much, I won't let you down. I'll definitely bring back a championship for you.
"Everyone, gather up! It's time to begin the first match of the district preliminaries."
Then Tezuka led the regulars toward the courts.
Since Seigaku was playing the first match of the district preliminaries, they had to play all five matches regardless of the overall result. The first match was Second Doubles.
Looking at the eccentric duo standing across the court, Ryoma's sharp eyes blazed with fighting spirit, as if he couldn't wait to beat them.
"Izumi, those are the people from yesterday! I can't believe they're playing doubles when they could've won in singles."
"Be careful, Ayukawa. One of them didn't play at all yesterday, so we don't know how strong he is."
"You're too cautious, Izumi. Didn't you see he's a first-year, too? How good can a first-year really be?"
"Tch, true enough. In that case, we'll teach them what real doubles looks like again. Let them know that Gyokurin Middle School isn't to be messed with."
The eccentric Gyokurin Middle School duo saw that Ryoma, who had lost to them yesterday, was still playing doubles. Before the match had even started, they'd already decided the outcome.
As for Seigaku, Horio didn't take them seriously at all. He leisurely spun his racket.
"Ryoma, play however you want. As long as I'm here, not a single ball will get past me."
With that, Horio turned and walked to the baseline, ready to serve.
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