Ranking Match Begins

The next day...

The new students were cleaning the tennis courts. Katsuro and Katsuo were cleaning while discussing the school ranking matches.

"The school ranking matches are starting soon. Horio's group includes Momoshiro and Tezuka. Will Horio be able to make it onto the team?"

"He definitely will. Didn't we see Horio's match against Ryoma yesterday? It's Ryoma who's more worrying. Horio beat him 6-0 yesterday. Anyone would have a hard time recovering from that."

"I'm still on Ryoma's side. Many of us first-years support Ryoma. Ryoma can definitely beat the second and third-year students."

"Horio, you're here! You have to do your best in the matches. You must become a regular player!"

"Oh? It looks like the ranking match list is already out. Do you know which group I'm in?"

Hearing their conversation, Horio couldn't help but be curious about his group.

"You're in Group C. In your group are Kikumaru and Momoshiro."

"Momoshiro Takeshi again. Oh well, I'll just help him out."

Horio then left with his tennis bag. He had no interest in doing chores like cleaning with the first-years.

As Horio, carrying his tennis bag, turned a corner on his way to buy a drink, he bumped into Ryuzaki Sakuno, who was practicing her swings with a pink racket.

"Oh? It's Sakuno. Why are you practicing your swings alone? And your posture..."

"Ah... it's you, Horio. I was just practicing casually. I just feel something's a bit off. By the way, can you teach me?"

Seeing that Horio had discovered her practicing in secret, Sakuno's face instantly turned red.

"Uh, no need. Practice for a while longer, and the person you want to see will teach you. I have something to do, so I have to go."

Horio then ignored Sakuno behind him and walked towards the vending machine.

After buying his water, Horio returned to the court and saw Ryoma warming up inside. Kaitou Kaoru on the opposite side was also slightly bent over, entering a combat state.

The regular team members not currently playing were also paying close attention. Ryoma's two fangirls were cheering from outside the court, and Inoue was also watching Ryoma's match with Shiba Saori.

Horio, with no match scheduled for the moment, casually found a place to slack off. Knowing how the story would unfold, he had no interest whatsoever.

At this point, Kaitou Kaoru and Inui Sadaharu couldn't pique his curiosity, let alone Ryoma.

What Horio didn't know was that the people watching Ryoma were actually paying more attention to him.

An hour later...

Horio, carrying his tennis bag, passed by Ryoma's court and saw Ryoma engaging in a war of attrition with Kaitou. Horio smiled knowingly.

"Hey Ryoma, can you win against Viper by wearing him down? Try to extend your arm as much as possible when you swing."

Hearing Horio's voice, Ryoma's mood instantly became agitated. His stamina had already been depleted, and his spirit had worsened, but he became excited.

Several regulars outside the court exchanged glances upon hearing Horio's pointed words. It was clear they knew Horio had seen through Kaitou's strategy.

"Extend my arm?"

Tezuka Kunimitsu, standing on the side of the court, had his gold-rimmed glasses reflecting Horio's slightly unruly figure.

"What are you two still doing here? You don't need to watch anymore. Ryoma is guaranteed to win this match. You can stop worrying."

Seeing Katsuro and Katsuo anxiously watching from the sidelines, Horio reassured them.

Relieved by Horio's confident tone, the two saw that Horio was also about to start his match and immediately wanted to follow him.

"No need. The first two matches are just against ordinary second and third-year students. Come watch when I play against two regulars this afternoon. I'm leaving now."

With that, Horio walked towards Court C without looking back. All the players for Group C had arrived.

Horio looked at the older students in blue tracksuits, but he couldn't muster any interest.

Simple serves and returns. Horio didn't even move his feet. In contrast, the older student on the other side was already running left and right, breaking a sweat.

"Inui, could you do that?"

Oishi Shichirou and others, who had somehow arrived outside Court C, saw Horio not move his feet throughout the entire match and said to Inui Sadaharu beside him.

"Even though the opponent isn't a regular player, if it were me, I wouldn't be able to achieve that level of ball control, even with complete information."

Pushing up his thick, reflective glasses, Inui Sadaharu stated his conclusion.

"It looks like Eiji and Momoshiro are in for a tough fight."

Oishi Shichirou clenched his fist unconsciously. Kikumaru Eiji and Momoshiro Takeshi, who were on the next court, also lost their usual cheerful demeanor after watching Horio's match.

They knew that if they didn't take it seriously, one of them would be kicked off the team.

Katsuro and his group, who rushed over immediately after Ryoma and Kaitou's match ended, watched Horio play as if he were playing against elementary school students.

There wasn't much surprise. Instead, Sakuno and Tomoka, whom Sakuno had dragged along, were shocked.

"Horio is actually this strong! I thought he was just good friends with Ryoma. I didn't realize his skill was also this high."

"Hmph, I don't think he's as strong as Ryoma at all. If Ryoma played him, that rude guy would have lost long ago."

Hearing Sakuno say Horio was strong, Tomoka immediately retorted.

Katsuro and Katsuo, standing beside him, certainly wouldn't allow Horio, whom they considered their older brother, to be questioned. So, they unceremoniously brought up the fact that Ryoma had lost to Horio yesterday.

As soon as they finished speaking, Ryoma, who was walking over, overheard them. Seeing Ryoma's opportune arrival, Katsuro immediately tried to explain.

"Ryoma, I didn't mean anything by it, please don't misunderstand."

"It's fine. He's indeed very strong. Before I beat that person, I have to beat him first."

Ryoma didn't seem to care about yesterday's loss; instead, his match against Horio the previous day had only ignited his fighting spirit.

On the court...

"Alright, senpai, it's time to finish this. I have another match this morning, and I'm already feeling a bit hungry. I need to end this quickly so I can go eat."

With that, Horio served a powerful shot towards a blind spot on the court. The senior opponent didn't even see the ball before his match was over.

Returning to the seats by the court, Horio, feeling a bit hungry, picked up the water he'd bought and took a big gulp. When he stepped back onto the court, he saw the person standing opposite him.

Horio smiled, thinking, What a coincidence, running into each other among so many people.

"Senpai, what a coincidence. I get to spar with you again."

Looking at Arai, whose face was stiff, Horio walked directly to the baseline to serve.

He scored four aces in a row, taking a point. Arai, whose legs were trembling, broke out in a cold sweat and repeatedly made errors on his serves. Seeing Arai had lost all his fighting spirit.

Horio efficiently finished the rest of the match in five minutes and returned to the locker room with Katsuro and the others to eat.