"Who are you...? You were the one talking to me just now, right?"
Ryoma looked at the incredibly arrogant guy with impatience, his tone a little hostile.
"Hmph. Who I am has nothing to do with you. I'm just here to warn you. You might be great at tennis, but table tennis isn't what you think it is."
"Oh? Are you on the table tennis team?"
"I used to be, but not anymore. The rules say you can only compete in sports outside your own club, so I quit a week ago so I could beat you."
"I don't think I know you. Why are you acting like we're close?"
"Who said we were close? Just looking at you... makes me sick."
As he spoke, the bespectacled guy flicked the ping-pong ball in his hand straight at Ryoma's face.
Ryoma saw the ball flying toward him and swiftly caught it.
Their eyes met, and sparks flew between them.
"Man, there are all kinds of people out there. He quit his own club just to beat someone who isn't even in his area of expertise."
Horio watched Ryoma and the other guy and thought the bespectacled one was pretty ridiculous.
"Yeah, Horio's right. Even if he wins, what's the point?"
Katsuro and Katsuo agreed with Horio and couldn't help speaking up for Ryoma.
While Horio and the others were talking, Ryoma's match began. His opponent was the bespectacled guy.
At first, Ryoma and the bespectacled guy traded points evenly.
After a few rallies, the bespectacled guy smiled faintly.
He turned his upper body, pivoting at the waist, and swung his paddle.
The ping-pong ball flew off with a spin. When it bounced on Ryoma's side, it took a strange spin and shot off in the other direction.
The next few balls