Tezuka Leaves, Horio Arrives at the U-17 Training Camp

"What do you want? Contacting the opposing team before the finals isn't something a Captain should be doing."

Inside a coffee shop, Sanada, dressed casually, sat down at a table.

"I have something I'd like to ask you for a favor, and besides, I'm no longer the Captain of the Seigaku tennis club."

Sitting opposite Sanada was Tezuka, who had already left the club. Tezuka had specifically arranged to meet with Sanada for the finals.

"What do you mean by this? What do you mean you're no longer the Captain of the Seigaku tennis club? Is this part of your strategy to win?"

"I officially submitted my application to leave the club yesterday, and the Coach approved it, so I am no longer a member of the Seigaku Tennis Club."

"What!? Your hand has already healed!? Why are you leaving the club!"

Upon hearing Tezuka's words, Sanada immediately bristled.

"Because I've figured some things out, I've decided to accept the professional offer from Germany to pursue my dream."

"There are less than two weeks until the finals. Don't you think about your tennis club?"

As a sworn enemy, Sanada still found it somewhat difficult to accept Tezuka's decision.

"Now Seigaku doesn't need me to worry about anything anymore; they can win the championship even without me."

Furthermore, they also want me to go there for training as soon as possible, hoping to secure a representative spot before the U-17 World Championship.

Upon hearing that Tezuka, a middle school student, had received a professional invitation from a tennis powerhouse, Sanada clenched his fists.

"Since you've already made up your mind, why did you call me out in the first place? Are you deliberately playing a trick on me?!"

"No, I have something to ask you."

Sanada was on the verge of a breakdown, but Sanada remained calm in the Tezuka of his anger.

"I have left the tennis club, and my position will be filled by the next candidate for Captain."

He'll be playing as the Second Singles, and if I'm not mistaken, you'll also be playing as the Second Singles, so I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Do you want me to test him?

As expected of their arch-rival, Sanada understood Tezuka's purpose even before he finished speaking.

"That's right, he's not qualified to be the Captain yet, so I'd like you to help me with this."

Although Sanada was only the Vice President of Rikkai Dai, he was basically in charge of the entire tennis club.

During Yukimura's treatment, he took on the heavy responsibility of the entire team.

Therefore, in Tezuka's view, Sanada was the most suitable person to do this.

"I never expected you to ask me to do something like this. Don't forget, Seigaku is our Rikkai Dai's opponent in the finals. I only care about victory; I don't have time to do these pointless things for you."

Although Tezuka's request was sincere, Sanada still stood up angrily, ready to leave.

Tezuka was taken aback by Sanada's actions.

Seeing that Sanada had gotten up and walked past him, Tezuka couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Just then, Sanada suddenly stopped and said without turning his head.

"You actually made me do this? I'll show you what a real competition is like, you'll make sure the next Captain of Seigaku knows what a real match is like."

"Thank you so much Sanada."

Upon hearing Sanada's words, Tezuka knew that he had agreed to his request.

"Tezuka, we'll have a duel sooner or later. Now that you've chosen to pursue a professional career, I will defeat you on that path."

After saying his last words, Sanada finally moved and left the coffee shop.

"The finals are in ten days, everyone must train hard."

Now that Tezuka has left the club and Horio won't be back until the finals, you guys can't afford to relax. Seigaku must win the championship this year!

The day after Tezuka asked Sanada for help, Coach Ryuzaki was giving the remaining Seigaku regulars their usual pep talk at the Seigaku tennis club court.

In order not to disrupt the Seigaku team's training, Tezuka did not ask them to see him off and left alone.

Horio also left alone, but instead of going abroad, he went to a Training Base hidden deep in the mountains.

"So this is the U-17 training camp? It certainly looks impressive. That old geezer must have given prior notice."

Horio, dressed in casual clothes and carrying a tennis bag, stopped in front of a large black iron gate.

He had been waiting in front of the iron gate for several minutes, but the gate remained motionless and showed no sign of opening.

Just as he was wondering if Mifune had made arrangements for him, Horio, who had lost his temper, casually took out his tennis racket.

He took a tennis ball out of his pocket, and suddenly his aura changed, with the Genesis Aura surrounding his entire body.

At that moment, several cameras hidden in the surrounding woods moved. In a control room, several men watched the data fluctuations on the computer screen and immediately tensed up.

"Why has the data suddenly become unstable? Could it be that the aura emanating from that first-grader is...?"

"It shouldn't be, it's just somewhat similar. How could a first-year junior high student be exposed to that level?"

"No matter what, open the gate quickly, otherwise he'll hit the ball up and the gate will be ruined."

A long-haired, gentle-looking man felt that Horio's aura was familiar, while another man wearing a dark green vest and with a muscular physique was very suspicious.

Just as the two were arguing, another man sitting in front of the computer, also with long hair but a serious expression, stopped them.

Seeing the illogical data on the computer screen, he quickly pressed the button to control the iron gate.

At that moment, the iron gate in front of Horio stirred, and after making a sound, it finally opened.

Horio, who was about to toss the ball up, had no choice but to dissipate his imposing aura and revert to his usual sunny demeanor.

"Tch, why not just do it this way? Why force them to take action?"

Horio roughly understood what was going on, but before putting the racket back, he still let go of the ball in his hand.

The tennis ball fell to the ground, Horio swung his racket, and the ball was finally hit.

It traced an arc in the air, then whooshed into the woods, followed by three sounds of machinery Shatter.

Finally satisfied, Horio packed his things and headed towards the Training Base. In the control room on the other side, three men stared silently at the three black screens.

"The person recommended by Head Coach Mifune is indeed extraordinary. Coach Saito, please go and receive him."

Hearing the long-haired man with a serious expression say this, the gentle-looking Saito could only rub his forehead and walk out of the control room.

"Coach Takuetsu, what do you think of the person the Head Coach recommended?"

After Saito left, the man asked another man with a muscular physique.

"I have no idea. These are things your Kurobe should be concerned with. I'm only responsible for training."

The man called Takuetsu didn't reply, but instead picked up the dumbbells on the ground and started exercising.