Starting a New Training Regimen

"This training plan was put together by Agan and Coach. They designed it based on each person's situation and limits."

Oishi had originally been trying to comfort Kikumaru, but it seemed he'd remembered something else. He continued,

"But when I went to see Coach that day, I overheard them talking outside the door. They mentioned Horio. It seems this training plan has something to do with him, too."

"Ah! That little brat doesn't even come to practice, yet he's come up with such an inhuman training plan to make us suffer. Agan must have made a special training plan just for him, too, right?"

"He did, but it's all pretty ordinary stuff. Agan told me he didn't know how to make a training plan for Horio, since Horio didn't need any of the training he could think of. The only thing Horio needs is to grow taller."

"What? Then that's the same as not giving him any training at all."

For a moment, Oishi didn't know what to say. But when he thought about Horio's skill, he realized there was no need to worry.

"So this is Seigaku's tennis club. They train so hard. No wonder they suddenly got so strong this year."

"Um, may I ask what you're doing here? You don't seem to be a member of our tennis club."

As soon as the figure finished speaking, Oishi's voice came from nearby.

"Ah... I... I've been spotted. Damn it. In that case, there's no helping it. I'm the ace of Rikkai Dai Fuzoku Junior High's tennis club—the famous Kirihara Akaya."

Hearing the figure introduce himself, the information expert Agan put his specialty to use.

"Rikkai Dai. The team that took first place at the Kanagawa tournament, finishing all their matches in just one hour."

"Oh... So you're from Sanada's school. What brings Kanagawa's representatives to Seigaku?"

Seigaku's acting captain, Oishi, naturally stepped forward to speak.

"Well, I thought I'd do a little spying, and see if I could play a match against Tezuka while I was at it."

"Unfortunately, Tezuka isn't at school right now, so your wish won't come true. Please leave at once."

Kirihara had barely said a few words before Oishi was telling him to leave. Though Kirihara said he was disappointed, he looked completely unconcerned.

"What a letdown. Why's everyone looking at me like that? Fine, I'll go."

Then he turned and walked away. Seigaku's members watched him leave, their expressions complicated.

"I wonder what they think of the new training plan. I'd better go back and check, just to be safe."

Worried that the others might not be adapting to the new training, Horio walked back through Seigaku's gates. He'd been planning to go home, but decided to return to school instead.

"Um, could you tell me how to get to the gate of Seigaku?"

Horio had just reached the flower bed when he heard a voice. He turned and saw a boy with a seaweed-shaped head.

"Aren't you from our school? What are you doing here, then?"

"Haha... Well, I'm from Rikkai Dai Fuzoku. I came to do a little spying at your school."

"Rikkai Dai... Are you Kirihara Akaya?"

Hearing he was from Rikkai Dai and seeing his seaweed-shaped hair, Horio immediately thought of the little devil who couldn't control himself.

"So I'm that famous? I didn't expect you to know who I am, too."

"Keep going straight. When you see the school building, turn right and you'll find the gate. You don't need to spy on us anymore."

"Thanks a lo—"

Before Kirihara could finish, Horio added,

"Rikkai Dai won't be the national champions this year. You'd better wake up from your dream of winning three titles in a row."

As Horio walked away, Kirihara Akaya's expression changed. Winning three titles in a row was the goal of everyone at Rikkai Dai.

Now someone from the school he'd once lost to was mocking him, saying it was all just a dream. No one at Rikkai Dai would be able to put up with that. Kirihara immediately took a tennis ball from his pocket and smacked it hard at Horio.

Feeling the ball fly toward him from behind, Horio didn't take his racket out of his tennis bag.

He simply reached back with his right hand and caught the ball.

"I'll take this ball as payment for spying on Seigaku. Go back and tell Yukimura and Sanada to train hard, or they'll lose badly when the time comes."

Kirihara had struck the ball with all his might, but Horio had caught it casually. He was stunned. Even his captain and vice-captain couldn't do that so effortlessly.

The thought excited Kirihara. In his eyes, a strong opponent was all the more satisfying to defeat.

Then Kirihara didn't linger. He turned and left Seigaku.

"What the heck? Ryoma still hasn't gone to practice today..."

After sending Kirihara on his way, Horio reached the open-air corridor and was drawn by a commotion.

He turned and saw Ryoma holding a broom and competing in a free-throw contest with a bald-headed boy. Even if Ryoma had been on cleaning duty, he should have finished ages ago.

But he was still standing there with a broom, competing in free throws with someone else. Horio couldn't help getting annoyed.

"Hey, Ryoma! Why are you still hanging around instead of going to practice? Don't waste time."

Hearing Horio's voice behind him, Ryoma stopped what he was doing. He was just about to speak when the bald-headed boy interrupted him.

"Hey, brat! What did you just say about wasting time? Is that how you talk to your senpai?"

The bald-headed boy had heard Horio say that Ryoma was wasting time competing against him in free throws, and he was immediately displeased.

He didn't care who Horio was. Anyone in a lower grade deserved to be taught a lesson.

"If you've got the guts, come down here! I'll teach you a good—"

Thud...

A sharp impact cut him off. The bald-headed boy turned and saw a hole in the ground beside his foot, where a tennis ball had struck.

"Say one more word, and the next ball will land on your bald head."

Hearing the chill in Horio's voice, the bald-headed boy looked at him again.

The instant their eyes met, the bald-headed boy froze.

Horio's eyes were terrifying, sending a chill down anyone's spine. Fear immediately overtook the boy's stunned expression.

"N-no, I mean, it's fine. He doesn't need to waste any more time. Take him with you..."

Seeing that the bald-headed boy had backed down, Horio looked straight at Ryoma.

"Let's go. If we're any later, you won't make it home in time for dinner."

"Honestly... We hadn't even finished. Since that's the case, please keep your promise and finish cleaning up, senpai."

"Y-yes... Yes, I'll clean it up. Hurry up and go, please!"

The bald-headed boy just wanted Ryoma to leave as quickly as possible. Otherwise, Horio might decide to aim another ball at his head.

"Senpai Inui, how's everyone doing with practice today? Can they handle it?"

"Just like you said, no one even made it halfway through the training on the first day before they had to stop. But they've already done far more than they usually do."

"That's fine. We'll take it one step at a time. Once they've completed the whole training plan, we'll be well on our way to winning the national championship."