I Won't Play Against Someone With an Injured Foot

"Not bad, huh? What do you think, Echizen? You've definitely decided to join, right? Looks like we'll be teammates fighting side by side from now on."

The two boys had come to the tennis club and were watching the second- and third-years practicing on the courts. Horio had already started calling Echizen his teammate.

Suddenly, two other first-years nearby contradicted him.

"Sorry, but today's the preliminary match for the second- and third-year regulars. New members can only sign up starting tomorrow."

"Most of the new students have already left. We're just practicing a little outside."

"Tch, what's the big deal? They act like this place is so special."

Horio also grumbled when he learned he couldn't submit his application to join until the next day.

Just then, two older students in blue practice uniforms walked over and addressed Horio and the others with an air of pride.

"Hey, you guys want to join the tennis club too?"

"Uh, yes. I'm Mizuno Katsuo, a first-year."

"I'm Kato Katsuro, also a first-year."

Horio and Echizen didn't say anything. One of the older students bluntly asked the two boys their names.

Echizen fixed them with his usual sharp gaze. As a transmigrator with a system, Horio wasn't about to show any respect to these nameless NPCs, either. He looked at them without changing expression.

Apparently feeling insulted, the older student's tone immediately turned hostile.

Just as he was about to lose his temper, the older student behind him, who wore a green headband, put a hand on his shoulder and smiled as he asked if they wanted to play a game.

The two exchanged glances, understood each other's intentions, then invited Horio and the others to join in with friendly smiles.

On the court, the older student wearing the green headband set a drink can on the baseline. "If you can hit this can within ten shots, you'll win ten thousand yen. The entry fee is two hundred yen per person. Interested?"

Katsuro and Katsuo, unaware of what was really going on, got excited when they heard about the prize money and said they definitely wanted to play.

Horio noticed something suspicious about the can, but said nothing.

Echizen hadn't spotted what was strange about the can, but he did notice the older students' malicious grins.

Seeing that, Echizen chose not to take part, either.

Thwack! A racket cracked against a ball, and another one joined the scattered balls on the other side of the court. Not a single ball had hit the can.

"All right, you two are done. Neither of you hit the can. What a shame."

"We lost, Senpai. Here's our two-hundred-yen entry fee."

"Did you get it wrong? Look carefully. It's a can-hitting game: five hundred yen per shot, plus the two-hundred-yen entry fee."

The older student spun the can around to show the two first-years the note stuck to the back.

The boys cried out in surprise, saying there was no way they had that much money. The two older students weren't done, though; they turned to Horio and Ryoma and called out to them.

"Hey, you two! Don't just stand there watching. You're playing too. Don't think you can get out of it."

Annoyed, Ryoma took the bait. He said he didn't care, then grabbed a racket from his bag and walked onto the court.

"Hey, Echizen, you've gotta hit it hard, like you're training."

"I can see that without you telling me. You two... there are rocks inside the cans, aren't there?"

After replying to Horio, Ryoma turned to look at the two older students.

Katsuro had just gotten lucky and hit the can, but it had only wobbled without falling over. Ryoma had a pretty good idea what their trick was.

He ignored the two, whose expressions had turned peculiar, and tossed the tennis ball high into the air.

Then he swung hard, sending the ball in an arc toward the can.

The ball landed on the can's lid and gave it a light tap. The can toppled over.

The pebbles inside spilled out, and Katsuro and Katsuo cried out in amazement.

Realizing they'd been tricked, the two protested that the older students had cheated. Exposed, the older students grew irritated. Horio saw what was going on and stepped forward.

"As older students, you're really going to pull a trick like this on first-years? Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?

"Since you're so eager to play, I'll let you set up two cans. And as for the rocks, put in as many as you like."

"Damn you! Don't look down on us! If you miss, the entry fee and the charge for each shot will be multiplied tenfold!"

"Fine by me. Whatever makes you happy. But if you lose, you'll have to pay ten times as much, too. If you don't keep your word, I won't care who you are."

The two older students set the cans back up, and to be safe, filled both of them with rocks.

They also placed the cans far apart. There was no way a first-year could knock them both over with one shot—or so they thought.

Seeing what they were up to, Horio gave a disdainful smile and pulled a purple racket from his tennis bag.

Horio went to the baseline and lightly let go of the ball in his hand. As it fell, he swept his racket upward and struck it.

The ball traced a strange arc as it headed toward one of the cans.

When the ball collided with the can, the sudden increase in spin sent it flying. The can, packed with rocks, was knocked away at once.

After landing, the ball bounced off the first can and shot toward the other. It landed squarely on the lid and gave it a light tap, knocking the second can over as well.

After it landed, the ball didn't bounce again. It spun in place until it came to a stop.

At the sight, Echizen's usually calm gaze turned to Horio with new interest for the first time.

"Pay up, Senpai. Though if you don't want to, I don't mind. I doubt you can afford ten times the amount anyway."

Stung by the unmistakable taunt, the older student wanted to teach Horio a lesson and started toward him. Just then, a ball flew in and struck one of the fallen cans.

Everyone turned to look and saw a sturdy figure approaching.

"Hey, Arai! Don't bully the first-years just because the third-year Senpai aren't around. Got it?"

It was Momoshiro Takeshi, the same person Horio and the others had run into earlier. After hearing what he said, the two older students made up an excuse and left.

With the two ringleaders gone, Horio was ready to leave, and Echizen had no intention of sticking around.

"Hey, hey! Who said you could leave?"

Just as the three of them were at an impasse, a sweet voice broke the silence.

"Ryoma, it really is you!"

It was Ryuzaki Sakuno, Ryoma's destined love interest.

The girl clinging to Sakuno and swooning over him was Osakada Tomoka. Behind them were two adults: Shiba Saori and Inoue.

"Sakuno! Who is he?"

"Oh, that's Echizen Ryoma."

Hearing the name Echizen Ryoma, Inoue looked surprised. Momoshiro Takeshi did, too.

Echizen Ryoma frowned. He clearly wasn't used to this kind of attention.

Horio had wanted to leave from the start and paid no attention to what was happening. He put his racket back in his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and prepared to go.

"I don't want to hang around for this boring scene. If you want someone to play against, ask him. You seem pretty interested in him. I won't play against someone with an injured foot."

Horio left the court, leaving Momoshiro staring at him in shock.

"He said someone had an injured foot. Is that you?"

"Less talk. Do you dare or not?"

Echizen turned and walked straight to the baseline. His sharp gaze gave Momoshiro Takeshi all the answer he needed.

"Fine. Let me see that Outer Spin Serve of yours!"