Semifinal Blunder, Direct Advancement to the Finals

Bang...

"Fuji-senpai, I broke your 'Bear Trap' return as well. You've used up all three of your return shots, haven't you?"

Looking at his racket, pierced through by the tennis ball, Fuji knew he had lost completely.

"Fuji-senpai, do you only have three return shots? If you ever encounter someone who can break your three return shots again, will you just surrender then?"

Hearing Horio's heartbreaking words, Fuji, who hadn't recovered from his defeat, was jolted awake.

"That's right, if my three return shots are broken, what other way do I have to win the match..."

"Forget it, I won't play anymore. Senpai, you look a little tired. Let's call it a day."

Seeing Fuji remain silent, Horio didn't say any more.

Whether Fuji had taken his words to heart or not, he had done what he needed to.

The situation on the court was one thing, and the situation off the court was another.

Everyone, seeing Fuji so disheveled for the first time, was too stunned to speak. Even the usually calm Ryoma felt the pressure.

"Have you all finished your matches? You have time to watch others play. Fuji-senpai is tired, and we're done."

Seeing the regular team members frozen in place, Horio dropped his usual playful demeanor.

In his opinion, if Seigaku's regular players were to improve at the slow pace of the original story, they definitely wouldn't win the championship this year.

Therefore, he had to push them to train more actively. After all, matches were still best-of-five sets, and he couldn't do it alone.

"Brat, you actually beat Fuji. How did you improve so quickly?"

"Because I'm afraid others will surpass me, because I'm afraid I won't be confident about the national championship, because I'm afraid of disappointing Captain Tezuka's expectations, I have to constantly push beyond my limits."

"Senpai, let's have a good chat another day. I have something very important to discuss."

"Ah, sure, no problem. You can find me anytime when you're free."

With that, Horio left with his tennis bag. He needed to go to the training hall for high-intensity training. Seigaku's training intensity was no longer suitable for him.

And most importantly, his new racket also required high-intensity practice to adapt.

Inside the training hall

Bang... Bang... Bang... Bang...

"Again!"

Bang... Bang...

"Set the machine to serve simultaneously. Don't reduce the speed."

Bang bang bang bang...

The owner of the training hall, standing in the distance, watched the figure relentlessly swinging his racket. The shock in his eyes turned into certainty and admiration.

"The future world, you are about to usher in a new revolution."

"It's finally the semifinals."

"Yeah."

"Haha, you're all so early."

"Are Horio and Echizen not here yet? Those two are late again."

"We're here. Everyone's so early."

Just as Oishi finished complaining about Horio and Ryoma, the two of them appeared.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Oishi led the group to complete the registration procedures.

As the Seigaku members were walking, they saw Fudomine and their members, dressed in their uniforms, approaching.

"Oishi, let's settle our match at the Kanto Tournament."

"Alright, Seigaku will be waiting for you."

"Horio, after the Kanto Tournament ends, let's have a full-power match."

"Of course, no problem. I've been looking forward to it for a long time. You better be prepared."

After speaking, Tachibana Kippei led the Fudomine members away from the competition venue. The Seigaku members also had to prepare for their match against Gin-ka.

"Our stomachs hurt. We choose to forfeit this match."

The Seigaku members standing at the net were stunned by the unified reason given by the entire Gin-ka Middle School team.

Except for Horio, who was speechless and held his forehead, everyone else found it inexplicable, including the culprit, Echizen Ryoma...

"I guess no one expected the semifinals to result in a direct advancement for Ryoma..."

After an unexpected semi-final, Seigaku could directly prepare for the finals.

"Hey, you guys, why are you acting like this? Those guys are no match, what are you afraid of?"

The Ginsei members, clutching their stomachs, were stopped at the entrance to the court by a voice filled with disdain.

Hearing this voice, Horio couldn't help but frown, because the person speaking was Akutsu, whom Horio had defeated twice.

"I thought you wouldn't show up at Yamabuki, but you haven't changed. Since you have no self-awareness, I won't let you off."

"I'm telling you, Seigaku, there's nothing to be afraid of."

Akutsu then uttered another provocative remark, and the hot-blooded Momoshiro couldn't take it anymore.

"You bastard, I can't stand it anymore."

He said as he ran towards Akutsu, ready to hit him.

"Stop it, Momo! If you lay a hand on him, we'll be disqualified. Don't be impulsive."

Oishi stopped Momoshiro in time, and seeing this, Horio also stepped forward to speak.

"You've had your chances. Your old man's strategy probably puts you at singles two. I'll be waiting for you."

Akutsu, having suffered twice, didn't say anything further. He could feel the coldness in Horio's eyes, and could only grit his teeth and glare at him.

"According to Yamabuki's usual tactics, they focus on the two doubles matches. Add in Sengoku, who's lucky at singles three, and that's how they've always won."

"Although we beat Yamabuki last year, Oishi and Kikumaru, the Golden Pair, both lost. Not to mention the doubles of the other two seniors."

Inui Sadaharu analyzed the situation for everyone. Oishi and Kikumaru, thinking back to last year's loss to Yamabuki, their expressions changed, but they quickly reignited their fighting spirit.

"That's right. If they had one more strong singles player, our situation would be dire."

Fuji was also a little worried about Akutsu's appearance. After all, according to Kawamura Takashi, Akutsu was a very formidable person.

"I'll take care of that Akutsu. Isn't he good at everything? Then I'll let him see what true skill is."

Horio initially felt that Akutsu's talent was indeed worth paying attention to, but it wasn't enough to make him overly concerned.

In Horio's opinion, Akutsu was just someone with good athletic talent, not someone who loved tennis. He might even despise tennis.

To Horio, this was clearly crossing a line, so he decided not to hold back this time.

To borrow Byodoin's words, it's time for you to go to hell.

Hearing Horio's words, everyone couldn't help but worry about Akutsu.

This was because Horio, who was usually cheerful and flippant, was speaking with such seriousness.

The Seigaku regulars who had played with Horio knew that he had never revealed his true strength, and even his match against Fuji seemed effortless.

Therefore, they didn't doubt Horio's words. Their current concern was how to win the remaining two matches.