Drawing Lots, First Battle Against Hyotei

"Hey Horio, what are you talking about? We just happened to run into each other, don't go around saying things," Momoshiro said, his face flushing despite himself at being teased about dating. Tachibana An, standing beside him, blushed as well.

"Oh, I see. Then why are you two blushing? Honestly," Horio remarked.

"Ryoma, if they don't dare to accept your challenge, then so be it. It's already time to eat, hurry up and take Momoshiro-senpai to eat," An said.

Seeing the two blushing, Horio didn't tease them anymore.

He expected Hyotei not to accept Ryoma's challenge.

"Hey, what are you talking about? What do you mean we don't dare? We wouldn't deign to play with you," the hot-tempered Mukahi Ryo was easily provoked by Horio's few words. Horio didn't pay him any mind, but Atobe spoke up from the side.

"You're that guy from Seigaku named Horio, aren't you? Rumor has it you're a strong guy, but no matter how strong you are, you're still just a first-year."

"Shut up, middle-part. Enjoy your laughable pride while you still can before you meet Seigaku. You bunch of half-baked guys pretending to be experts."

The arrogant Atobe clearly didn't expect this first-year, Horio, to be so audacious, and for a moment, he was speechless.

"Momoshiro-senpai, I think you've had enough time to bond. It's getting late, let's go. You can't miss tomorrow's training again, or Oishi-senpai will really get angry."

Ignoring the stunned Hyotei group completely, Horio and his companions left the court.

"Hey Atobe, if your eyes don't work, what will you rely on on the court?"

Halfway there, Horio stopped, turning his head as he spoke. The reacting Atobe's eyes met Horio's.

In that instant, Atobe felt a sliver of fear. He seemed to see a bottomless darkness in Horio's eyes.

What was that? What did his words mean? Why did I feel fear... No... I am Lord Atobe! Seigaku, you just wait.

He forcefully suppressed the fear in his heart, regaining his arrogant demeanor.

"I will crush you at the Kanto Tournament. Let's go, Kabaji."

"Alright, I'll be heading back then. Good luck at the Kanto Tournament," Horio said.

"Oh, okay. Uh, thanks for today. Should I walk you back?" Momoshiro offered.

Perhaps thinking of how Horio had teased the two of them earlier, Tachibana An declined Momoshiro's offer.

"Stop looking, Momoshiro-senpai. They've already gone far. Let's go eat," Horio said.

"Oh, Horio, I told you it wasn't what you thought. Why do you keep talking nonsense?" Momoshiro protested.

"Right, right. Let's hope you can convince him when you explain to Oishi-senpai tomorrow," Horio retorted.

Hearing Horio's words, Momoshiro immediately deflated. He had been absent from club activities without good reason, and he figured tomorrow would be tough.

"What the heck, I have to participate in this drawing ceremony?"

In a certain conference room, Horio, sitting alone, was full of complaints.

He remembered Oishi saying that all the regulars had to train, and Horio was the only one free.

So, they could only send him to draw lots. Thinking about the expressions of the others made him angry.

"Tokyo Hyotei Academy, Number Fifteen."

Horio, who was still listlessly complaining, perked up slightly upon hearing the announcer's voice.

Seeing Hyotei drawn with Seigaku on the blackboard, a wicked smile spread across Horio's face.

"Hyotei is really unlucky. They'll be eliminated so soon. But they're qualified enough to be the stepping stone for Seigaku's rise this year."

In the conference room, other schools also gasped at the draw result, clearly shocked by the arrangement. The fact that Hyotei, last year's Kanto Tournament runner-up, and Seigaku, a top-four team, would meet in the very first match was undoubtedly a huge shock to everyone.

"Hey, Coach Ryuzaki, we have good luck. Our first match is against Hyotei. I believe this will be the best stepping stone for our rise," Horio said.

"Is that so? Meeting Hyotei in the first match? The others will probably be excited when they hear about it," Coach Ryuzaki replied.

"What are you all doing? You're already tired after only training for a bit." Coach Ryuzaki smiled meaningfully as he saw the Seigaku members training, their bodies dripping with sweat but still persevering.

"I have another piece of news for you all. In the first match of the Kanto Tournament, we will be playing against Hyotei."

Upon hearing the coach's words, the members, who were on the verge of collapse from exhaustion, instantly regained their energy. Their training pace quickened once more.

"As expected, these kids are very motivated," the coach mused.

"There are still twenty minutes left before the reporting time ends. Please register your schools as soon as possible."

"It's so late, why isn't Oishi here yet?" Inui Sadaharu asked, feeling a bit anxious as the broadcast countdown had already begun, and the acting captain, Oishi, still hadn't arrived.

"Yeah, Senpai Oishi is a bit too late."

"Hey, is that Oishi? Where are you now? What? Taking a pregnant woman to the hospital?"

"Then can you make it on time? The pregnant woman is scared and you can't leave? Then what should we do..."

Hearing Coach Ryuzaki's phone conversation with Oishi, everyone became anxious. At this moment, Momoshiro suggested that he and Oishi switch places.

So everyone could only hope that Momoshiro would make it in time, unaware that Oishi's wrist was already injured at this time.

"What... since it's like this, there's nothing we can do. Momoshiro will replace Oishi. Everyone get ready to report."

Momoshiro, who had gone to the hospital to switch with Oishi, ran back not long after. After he explained the situation to everyone, Coach Ryuzaki made a decisive move.

Seigaku finally finished reporting before time ran out. The list of participants this time was also different from before.

Momoshiro and Kikumaru for doubles two, Kaitou and Inui Sadaharu for doubles one.

Kawamura for singles three, Fuji Syusuke for singles two. Horio was still placed in singles one to hold the line, while Ryoma was the reserve.

Both teams' doubles pairings were newly formed. Even though everyone in Seigaku had been training hard recently, forming doubles pairs on the spot still felt rushed.

"Looks like I have a chance to teach Atobe a lesson. Heh heh, the Emperor of Hyotei, I'll let everyone see how pathetic you are."

After seeing the list of participants, Horio had a general idea. Winning one of the two doubles matches would be the best outcome.

If both doubles matches were lost, then Horio would have to cheat for his teammates from the sidelines.

"Alright everyone, gather up. The first match will start soon. Our opponent is Hyotei. Although both doubles pairings are new combinations we haven't tried before, you still need to give it your all, understand?"

After Coach Ryuzaki finished speaking, she looked at Horio. Seeing the deep meaning in Coach Ryuzaki's eyes, Horio couldn't help but sigh that old ginger is indeed spicier.

She had calculated the probability of winning before making this arrangement, which could both ensure victory in the match and explore new possibilities in doubles to compensate for Seigaku's weakness in doubles.