Drawing Lots, First Match Against Hyotei

"Hey, Horio, what are you talking about? We just happened to run into each other. Don't go making things up."

Momoshiro heard the teasing about him dating and couldn't help blushing. Tachibana An, sitting beside him, blushed too.

"Oh, I see. Then why are you both blushing? Honestly."

"Ryoma, if they won't accept your challenge, just forget it. It's time to eat. Hurry up and take Senpai to get some food."

Seeing the two of them blushing, Horio stopped teasing them.

Horio had expected Hyotei to turn down Ryoma's challenge.

"Hey, what are you talking about? What do you mean we're afraid? We just don't care to play against you."

Mukahi Ryo had a short fuse and was easily riled by a few words from Horio. Horio paid him no mind, but Atobe spoke up beside him.

"Are you that guy from Seigaku named Horio? People say you're really strong, but no matter how strong you are, you're still only a first-year."

"Shut up, middle-part. Enjoy that ridiculous pride of yours while you can, before you run into us. What a bunch of half-baked players, acting like you're experts."

The haughty Atobe clearly hadn't expected a first-year like Horio to be so brazen. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

"Senpai, I think you've had enough time to catch up with each other. It's getting late. Let's go. You can't miss training again tomorrow, or Senpai Oishi really will get angry."

Ignoring the stunned Hyotei players completely, Horio and the others left the court.

"Hey, Atobe. If your eyes stop working, what will you rely on out on the court?"

Horio stopped halfway and turned around as he spoke. Atobe, who had just come to his senses, met Horio's gaze.

For an instant, Atobe felt a flicker of fear. It was as though he could see bottomless darkness in Horio's eyes.

What was that? What did he mean? Why am I feeling afraid...? No... I'm Atobe-sama. You Seigaku guys, just you wait.

He forced down his fear and put on his usual haughty expression again.

"I'll crush you at the Kanto Tournament. Come on, Kabaji."

"All right, I'll head back first. Good luck at the Kanto Tournament."

"Oh, okay. Um, thanks for today. Want me to walk you home?"

Perhaps remembering Horio's teasing, Tachibana An turned down Momoshiro's offer.

"Stop staring, Senpai. She's already gone. Let's go eat."

"Oh, Horio, I told you it wasn't like that. Why do you keep saying things like that?"

"Sure, sure. I hope you can convince Senpai Oishi tomorrow when you explain it to him."

At Horio's words, Momoshiro immediately wilted. He'd skipped club activities for no reason, so tomorrow was probably going to be rough.

"What the heck? Why do I have to attend this stupid drawing ceremony?"

In a conference room, Horio sat alone, his face full of complaints.

Oishi had said all the regulars needed to train, and Horio was the only one with nothing to do.

So they'd sent him to draw lots. Just thinking about the looks on the others' faces made Horio furious.

"Tokyo's Hyotei Academy, number fifteen."

Horio had been listlessly grumbling, but the host's announcement made him perk up a little.

Seeing Hyotei paired with Seigaku on the board, Horio grinned wickedly.

"Talk about bad luck, Hyotei. You're going to be eliminated this soon. Still, you're good enough to be the stepping stone for Seigaku's rise this year."

The representatives of the other schools in the conference room also exclaimed at the result. Clearly, they were shocked by the draw.

Hyotei, last year's Kanto Tournament runner-up, had been matched against Seigaku, a top-four team, in the very first round. It was a huge shock to everyone.

"Hey, Coach Ryuzaki, we got lucky. Our first match is against Hyotei. I'm sure they'll make the perfect stepping stone for our rise."

"Is that so? We're up against Hyotei in the first round. I bet the others will be excited when they hear."

"What's wrong with all of you? You're already worn out after training for such a short time?"

Seeing the Seigaku players training despite being drenched in sweat, Coach Ryuzaki smiled knowingly.

"Here's another piece of news. We'll be playing Hyotei in the first round of the Kanto Tournament."

At the coach's words, the players, who had been nearly exhausted, suddenly found their energy again and picked up the pace.

"Just as I thought. These kids are really fired up."

"Registration closes in twenty minutes. All schools, please sign up as soon as possible."

"It's so late already. Why hasn't Oishi arrived?"

Hearing that the broadcast had started its countdown and that Oishi, the acting captain, still hadn't shown up, Inui Sadaharu grew worried.

"Yeah, Senpai Oishi is really late."

"Hey, Oishi, where are you now? What? You're taking a pregnant woman to the hospital?"

"Can you make it here in time? She's scared, and you can't leave her? Then what are we supposed to do...?"

After hearing Coach Ryuzaki's conversation with Oishi over the phone, everyone grew anxious. Momoshiro then offered to go relieve Oishi.

So they could only hope Momoshiro would make it back in time. Little did they know, Oishi had already injured his wrist.

"What...? If that's the case, there's nothing we can do. Momoshiro will take Oishi's place. Everyone, get ready to register."

Momoshiro had gone to the hospital to relieve Oishi, but he soon came running back. After he explained what had happened, Coach Ryuzaki made a quick decision.

Seigaku managed to register before the deadline. Their lineup was also different from the one they'd planned earlier.

Momoshiro and Kikumaru were in Second Doubles, while Kaitou and Inui Sadaharu were in First Doubles.

Kawamura was in Third Singles, Fuji Syusuke in Second Singles, and Horio was still holding down the fort in First Singles, with Ryoma as a reserve.

Both doubles pairings were newly formed. Even though the Seigaku players had trained hard lately, putting together new pairs at the last minute still felt rushed.

"Looks like I'll get a chance to teach Atobe a lesson. Heh. Let's show everyone just how miserable the emperor of Hyotei can look."

After seeing the lineup, Horio already had a rough idea of how things would go. The best they could hope for was to win one of the two doubles matches.

If they really lost both doubles matches, Horio would have to help his teammates cheat from the sidelines.

"All right, everyone, gather round. The first match is about to begin. Our opponents are Hyotei. Even though both doubles pairings are new combinations, give it everything you've got. Understood?"

After Coach Ryuzaki finished speaking, she looked toward Horio. Seeing the meaning in her eyes, Horio couldn't help admiring her—experience really did count.

She'd arranged things after calculating their chances of winning. That way, they could secure the match while also testing new doubles combinations to make up for Seigaku's weakness in doubles.