Beginning New Training

"This training plan was devised by Agan and Coach together, based on each person's situation and their limits."

Oishi, who had originally intended to comfort Kikumaru, seemed to remember something else and continued, "But when I went to see Coach that day, I overheard them discussing it outside the door. They mentioned Horio, and it seems this training plan is related to him too."

"Ah! That brat didn't even come to training himself, yet he came up with such inhumane training to deal with us. Agan must have made a special training plan for him too, right?"

"He did make one, but it's all very ordinary training. Agan told me he doesn't know how to create a training plan for Horio. Horio doesn't need any of the training he can think of; the only thing he needs is to grow taller."

"What a joke, that's like not having a training plan at all."

For a moment, Oishi didn't know what to say. However, thinking about Horio's strength, Oishi didn't need to worry about him.

"So this is Seigaku's tennis club. They train so hard. No wonder they've suddenly gotten so good this year."

"Excuse me, what can I do for you? You don't seem to be part of our tennis club."

Just as the figure finished speaking, Oishi's voice came from the side.

"Ah... I... I've been discovered. Damn it, if that's the case, then there's no other way. I am the ace of Rikkai Dai Fuzoku Junior High's tennis club, Kirihara Akaya, as everyone knows."

Upon hearing the figure's self-introduction, the intelligence expert Agan put his skills to use.

"Rikkai Dai Junior High, the team that finished first in the Kanagawa tournament, ending the match in just one hour."

"Oh... so it's Sanada's school. What business does a Kanagawa representative like you have at Seigaku?"

At this point, the acting captain Oishi naturally stepped forward to speak.

"Well, I'm here to do a bit of spying and see if I can play a match with Tezuka."

"What a coincidence, Tezuka isn't at school right now, so your wish is in vain. Please leave quickly."

Hearing that he was being asked to leave by Oishi after only a few words, Kirihara, though he said he was disappointed, had a nonchalant expression on his face.

"This is really a downer. Why are you all looking at me like that? I'll leave then."

He then turned and left. Watching Kirihara leave, the Seigaku members had complex expressions on their faces.

"I wonder what they think of the newly formulated training plan. It's safer to come back and check."

Horio, who had just walked to the school gate of Seigaku, thought about whether the others could adapt to the new training. Although he was planning to go home, Horio still returned to school.

"Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the Seigaku school gate?"

As he reached the flower bed, Horio heard a voice. Turning around, he saw a boy with seaweed-like hair.

"Aren't you from our school? Then why are you here?"

"Haha... that, I'm from Rikkai Dai Fuzoku Junior High. I came to your school to do some spying."

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

Hearing that he was from Rikkai Dai and had seaweed-like 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 me too."

"Just keep walking straight, turn right when you see the school building, and you'll see the school gate. You don't need to be a spy anymore."

"Thank you so much..."

Before Kirihara could finish speaking, Horio added, "This year's national championship won't be Rikkai Dai's. Wake up from your three-peat dream early."

Watching Horio walk away while speaking, Kirihara Akaya's expression changed slightly. A three-peat was the goal of everyone at Rikkai Dai.

To be mocked by someone from a school he had once defeated, told it was a dream, was something no one from Rikkai Dai could tolerate. He immediately took out the tennis ball he carried in his pocket and forcefully hit it towards Horio.

Sensing the ball flying at him from behind, Horio didn't take out his racket from his tennis bag.

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

"Consider this ball the price for your spying at Seigaku. Go back and tell Yukimura and Sanada to train hard, or you'll lose miserably."

Seeing his forcefully hit ball caught so casually by Horio, Kirihara was stunned. Even his captain and vice-captain couldn't do it so easily.

Thinking this, Kirihara became excited. After all, for Kirihara, opponents with strength were more motivating to defeat.

Kirihara then didn't linger any longer and turned to leave Seigaku.

"What's going on? Ryoma hasn't gone for training today..."

Horio, who had just dealt with Kirihara, walked to the open corridor and was attracted by a commotion.

Turning his head, he saw Ryoma holding a broom, competing in a free throw contest with a bald person. Even if it was cleaning duty, it should have been over by now.

But now Ryoma was still here, competing in a free throw contest with a broom, which made Horio somewhat angry.

"Hey Ryoma, why are you dawdling here instead of training? Don't waste time."

Hearing Horio's voice from behind, Ryoma stopped what he was doing. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by the bald guy beside him.

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

The bald guy was immediately unhappy when he heard Horio say that Ryoma playing him in a penalty shootout was a waste of time.

He didn't care who Horio was; as long as he was a junior, he had to be taught a lesson by him.

"If you have the guts, get down here, and I'll teach you..."

Bang...

A crashing sound interrupted the bald guy's words. He turned his head and saw a pit created by a tennis ball at his feet.

"If you say one more word, the next ball will land on your bald head."

Hearing Horio's chilling words, the bald guy looked at Horio again.

The moment he met Horio's gaze, the bald guy froze.

Those were terrifying eyes that sent shivers down his spine. The bald guy's stunned gaze was instantly filled with fear.

"N-no, I mean, it's fine. He doesn't need to waste any more time. You can take him away..."

Seeing the bald guy back down, Horio looked directly at Ryoma.

"Let's go. If we're any later, you won't be going home for dinner today."

"Geez... We haven't even finished our match. In that case, Senpai, you have to keep your promise and clean up well."

"O-okay... okay, I'll definitely clean it up. Hurry up and go, please."

At this moment, the bald guy wished Ryoma would leave quickly, lest Horio decide to aim another ball at his head.

"How's everyone's training going today, Senpai? Can you all handle it?"

"It's exactly as you said. On the first day, everyone couldn't continue after not even reaching half of the training volume. However, it's already far exceeded the usual training load."

"It's fine, we'll take it step by step. Once they complete the entire training plan, winning the national championship will be within reach."