High Schoolers Leave
Matsudaira was still distracted after being hit by Kintaro's ball, felt a sense of foreboding upon hearing these words, so he quickly adjusted his mindset and prepared for the next ball.
But how could Kintaro let him have his way? Even though Matsudaira was on his best, Kintaro's strength was still far superior to his.
He tossed the ball up and Kintaro it with all his might.
The tennis ball was faster than Matsudaira's Flame Bullet, and it was also aimed at Matsudaira's face.
Before Matsudaira could even move, he saw a tennis ball growing larger and larger in his field of vision.
Finally, after feeling a sharp pain in his face, he was sent flying.
On the referee's stand, Sasabe looked at Matsudaira, who had already been knocked unconscious, and broke out in a cold sweat.
The high school students who had been so arrogant just moments before fell silent after witnessing Kintaro's strength.
But what they didn't know was that this wasn't the end, but the beginning.
After that, the other players took to the court and used their signature skills, leaving these high school students, who were all talk and no action, with no will to fight back.
"Ice World! Your blind spots have all been exposed. Accept defeat."
"Moving Like Thunder!"
On the court, after Atobe defeated a high school student, Sanada also took down the final Sasabe.
"Sanada Genichiro from Rikkai Dai Fuzoku Junior High and Atobe Keigo Hyotei from Hyotei High School—these junior high school students are more outstanding than I imagined."
"It's too early to draw conclusions; those high school students weren't particularly strong to begin with."
Looking at Atobe and Sanada, who were the last to appear, Saito on the balcony outside the control room seemed quite satisfied with the junior high school students.
However, Takuetsu, the physical Coach, felt that they were simply facing low-achieving high school students.
"Hey! Stop being so arrogant! This is just the beginning! Bring me a new racket."
"How shameful!"
Sasabe racket had been broken by Sanada, clutched his wrist, clearly very dissatisfied.
Just as he was about to ask the high school student off the court to get him a new racket, the ghost's voice stopped him.
Sasabe looked up and his eyes suddenly widened.
"It's foolish to accept a challenge without knowing the opponent's strength."
"The guy who didn't get the ball, get out of here right now! Stop embarrassing high school students."
At this point in the competition between high school and junior high school students, Oni and his friends finally appeared.
Irie also felt ashamed of the high school students' performance.
Oni directly ordered the high school students to leave the Training Base, but Sasabe wanted to object.
Before he could even speak, a tennis ball suddenly flew out.
It landed directly at Sasabe's feet, then created a strong gust of wind that carried Sasabe's body away.
"How many times do I have to say it? A loss is a loss. Aren't you ashamed?"
"That voice is!"
"Horio!"
"So they arrived quite some time ago."
"Why is he already wearing the training camp uniform?"
Horio stepped out from behind Irie, and the Seigaku members were immediately excited upon seeing Horio.
People from other schools were also puzzled to see Horio wearing a U-17 uniform.
Meanwhile, several high school students had already helped Sasabe up.
Perhaps stunned by Horio's earlier shot, the high school students who hadn't gotten the ball didn't dare linger and left the court dejectedly.
"Really, they just left like that. I'll never have a chance to teach them a lesson."
Seeing the high school students leaving, one of the middle school students said something, and at that moment, Horio and his friends walked over.
"I'm so sorry, but private matches are prohibited here."
"If you want to compete with us, you'd better win the random rounds first."
Irie immediately nipped the idea of holding a private match in the bud.
The ghost was even more direct, implying that current junior high school students are not qualified to challenge him.
"What a joke! This was clearly started by you high school students!"
Just then, another voice came from among the junior high school students, Horio, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but look over.
Horio was somewhat surprised to see who it was.
This person is Akutsu, who had originally left Yamabuki, but surprisingly came to participate in the training camp.
"Let me make this clear first: the players you just played against were all below court number ten. Beating them is nothing to be proud of."
As if trying to dampen the spirits of the middle school students, the ghost's tone was quite unfriendly.
After speaking, Oni, Irie, and Tokugawa turned to leave, but Akutsu spoke again.
"And what court are you on, you bastard? I'm going to beat you to a pulp right now."
"Don't be too hasty. Your current level isn't enough for me to take action."
"You bastard, who do you think you're talking to?"
The demon's arrogance provoked Akutsu, who was now on the verge of going berserk.
"Alright, now that you're here, you'd better abide by the rules of this place."
Horio, who hadn't moved until now, finally spoke, Akutsu's gaze immediately shifted to him.
"I am Irie Kanata from Court No. 3."
"I am Oni Jujiro from Court No. 5."
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Irie took the initiative to reveal which court he was playing on.
Then he turned to look at the demon, hesitated for a moment, and then the demon spoke. Tokugawa paid no attention to the middle school students the whole time.
After saying that, the three of them moved again and left the field.
"Alright everyone, welcome to the U-17 training camp. I hope you all make the most of this opportunity. I'll be going now."
"Wait a minute, Horio, where are you going? Aren't you going to participate?"
"Yeah, and you got your uniform so quickly?"
"Come here quickly, we saved a ball for you."
Just as Horio turned to leave, Kintaro, Kikumaru, and Momoshiro called him back.
The others, who remained silent, also stared intently at him, and Horio simply smiled at their concern.
"Of course I'll participate, but I have other plans."
"Hey kid, which court are you on?"
After Horio explained to everyone, Akutsu suddenly stared sharply at Horio.
"Your reflexes aren't slow either, but you'll have to work harder if you want to challenge me. I'm on Court No. 1."
Akutsu's sudden question had already surprised many of the others around him; how could Horio, a middle school student, be like a high school student?
But Horio's blunt answer struck them like a thunderbolt.
"Is what you said true? Horio, you're already on the Court No. 1?"
"Seriously? We're all middle school students, how come you're so much faster than us!"
"So you always came here when you were cultivating alone before?"
While everyone else was marveling at the situation, only Fuji guessed a part of the truth.
"Not entirely. I only arrived here before the National Tournament."
Anyway, you already know which court I'm on, so I welcome you to challenge me anytime, provided you're qualified.
Horio left the group of middle school students, who were still in shock.