Momoshino Takeshi Fails to Make the Cut

"Really? Ryoma stayed and completed all of yesterday's training before going home?"

On the court, Horio was somewhat surprised when he heard Inui Sadaharu say that Ryoma had completed all of yesterday's training.

"That's right. I stayed behind specifically yesterday because I wanted more comprehensive data."

"Just as expected of his son. His potential is far beyond that of ordinary people."

As he sighed in admiration, Horio remembered that a new round of school team selection matches would begin again today.

"By the way, Inui-senpai, today's training is scheduled after the school team selection matches, right?"

"Yes. To prevent the players from lacking stamina after training, it was decided that the school team selection matches would be held first."

"That's not bad either. Once the new regular lineup is announced, the people who get eliminated will probably train even harder."

"Everyone, gather here."

After Coach Ryuzaki appeared on the court, she wasted no time and immediately called everyone together.

"The level of the Kanto Tournament is different from that of the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament. None of you should let your guard down. If you think the current school team can advance directly to the Kanto Tournament, then you're mistaken."

"The roster for the Kanto Tournament will be decided based on the results of this school team selection match."

"Now, the school team selection matches will begin. Everyone, go to your respective courts."

Seeing that Coach Ryuzaki had finished speaking, Oishi had everyone begin their respective matches right away.

Afterward, matches began in an orderly fashion on every court. As time passed, the original school team players all won their respective matches.

Only Horio, Momoshiro, and Inui Sadaharu from Group A had yet to finish.

Because he had been waiting for the other Group A matches, Horio had only just finished one match.

It had been against a non-regular second-year, and he had given his opponent a bagel in ten minutes.

"This is really boring. I wonder how much Momoshiro and Inui Sadaharu have improved."

"Horio, it's time for your match against Momoshiro-senpai."

"Ah, okay. I'll head over."

Bang...

"Horio scores. The score is 6–0. Horio wins."

"As expected, Horio is still this strong. Momoshiro-senpai has gotten so much stronger, yet he still lost."

"It can't be helped. After all, his opponent was Horio. It would be hard for anyone to beat him, wouldn't it?"

"Momoshiro-senpai, your power has indeed increased greatly compared to before, but simply increasing brute force isn't enough. Once this school team ranking match is over, I'll give everyone some targeted advice. You can become even stronger."

Seeing Momoshiro looking somewhat dejected after losing without scoring even a single game, Horio still spoke up to comfort him.

Moreover, he had already decided to give everyone at Seigaku a few secret weapons.

"That really stings. But when I think about losing to you, it somehow feels natural. Still, I won't give up my regular spot."

After saying that, Momoshiro recovered and began preparing for tomorrow's match. Looking at this Seigaku monster who seemed a little simple-minded yet so full of fighting spirit, Horio merely shook his head and smiled.

He then left the court as well, preparing for his next match.

"Tomorrow, the only more important matches left are Momoshiro-senpai versus Inui-senpai, and Horio versus Inui-senpai, right?"

"That's right. The other regulars have more or less secured their spots without being eliminated. Only Group A is a bit more intense."

"Come to think of it, Group A is really just Momoshiro-senpai and Inui-senpai competing for a regular spot, isn't it? There's no need to worry about Horio at all."

Under the setting sun, the trio of Horio, Katsuro, and Katsuo walked down the road.

Katsuro and Katsuo talked beside him about the school team selection matches, while Horio simply walked on by himself.

Whether Momoshiro or Inui Sadaharu became a regular made no difference to Horio. After all, the two had their own technical strengths.

Once the selection matches were over, Horio could help them improve in targeted ways, and they would still be able to handle the Kanto Tournament with ease.

"By the way, do you know how Captain Tezuka's hand injury is being treated?"

As they walked, Horio suddenly remembered that Tezuka had been absent for a long time and could not help asking.

"I heard from Oishi-senpai that Captain Tezuka's treatment has started showing results. If everything goes smoothly, he can return to the team before the National Tournament."

"Is that so? That's really good news. Once the Captain returns, Rikkai Dai will have even less hope of winning a third straight championship."

"No way, Momoshiro-senpai, who was a regular player, actually lost to Inui-senpai."

"Momoshiro-senpai only managed to take two games from Inui-senpai? That can't be possible."

Outside Seigaku's tennis club courts, everyone whose regular positions had already been confirmed stared gravely at the score on the scoreboard.

In the match that had just concluded between Momoshiro and Inui Sadaharu, Inui Sadaharu defeated Momoshiro 6:2, securing a spot among the regulars.

With that, the school team roster for the Kanto Tournament had been finalized. It was largely the same as before, except Momoshiro had been replaced by Inui Sadaharu.

"Next is the match between you and me."

As Inui Sadaharu walked off the court, he looked toward Horio, who was leaning against a tree and drinking a beverage. Although this match would not affect either of their positions as regulars, for Inui Sadaharu—

He gathered data in order to defeat the person he had collected it on. Only by defeating that person could he prove his data was correct and further refine his Information Tennis.

"You really won't give up, will you? Forget Information Tennis as half-baked as yours—even Mitsuya Akuto would have a hard time with me."

Horio, beneath the tree, sensed Inui Sadaharu's gaze but did not react much. The current Inui Sadaharu had not grasped the essence of Information Tennis at all.

He posed no threat to Horio whatsoever, relying solely on fixed information to make his analyses.

If he could not keep up with change, then no amount of analysis would be useful.

Having finished his drink, Horio began walking. As he passed Inui Sadaharu, he said one thing.

"Inui-senpai, people are improving every moment."

Hearing Horio's baffling words, Inui Sadaharu paused for a moment. Then he pushed up his glasses and walked away as well.

"Next, the match between Horio and Inui-senpai will begin."

"Finally, it's down to just the two of them. I wonder how it'll turn out."

"Agan's Information Tennis is formidable, but it probably won't be of much use against Horio, right? After all, none of us have seen his true strength so far."

"That's right. This isn't a difficult match to predict. In fact, the outcome is already known. The only thing worth watching is how much of Horio's strength Agan can force out."

As the two prepared to begin their match on the court, Kikumaru, Fuji, and Oishi discussed it from the sidelines. Only the simple-minded Kawamura and the quiet Kaitou and Ryoma said nothing.

"Horio, ever since your first match after joining the team, I've been collecting data on you. Although you've never shown your true strength, I believe in my data."

Then Inui Sadaharu tossed the ball into the air and unleashed a powerful first serve.