The Battle for the Final Semifinal Spot

"I really envy you guys, that so many talented people have appeared at Seigaku."

However, if they have another chance to face each other, the outcome is uncertain.

"Really? I wonder how much these kids will improve next time."

Bang...

"Seigaku scores..."

Bang...

Bang...

"Seigaku scores, score 6-3, Seigaku wins."

"Everyone must be hungry. Today's match was a bit unexpected, but we still won and made it into the top four. Kawamura promised us all-you-can-eat sushi, so eat as much as you like."

In the Kawamura family's sushi restaurant, a group of Seigaku are choosing.

There was also Katsuro and two girls, including Inoue and Shiba Saori, Katsuo reporters from Tennis Monthly.

Everyone gathered together, ready to enjoy the all-you-can-eat sushi service promised by Kawamura.

"Finally, we can eat! I'm starving!"

Looking at the table full of all kinds of sushi, Horio was already starving, began to drool.

"Hey kid, don't eat so fast, leave some for your Senpai too."

Kikumaru, who was sitting at the same table as Horio, watched as Horio stuffed his favorite sushi into his mouth one piece at a time, and Kikumaru, impatient, also sped up his eating.

However, Horio's mental strength was extraordinary, and he was always one step ahead of Kikumaru.

"Damn it, Oishi, come quick and help me catch that brat!"

The saying goes, "If you can't beat someone, call for help." Kikumaru couldn't outmaneuver Horio, so he had no choice but to seek Oishi's assistance.

"Alright, Horio, eat slowly. Nobody's going to take it from you. Let's switch seats."

Seeing Oishi Horio showed no sign of stopping, Oishi had no choice but to switch places with Horio.

But while Kikumaru was comfortable after the change of positions, the others were in trouble.

After Horio wreaked havoc at table after table, everyone finally couldn't take it anymore and excluded Horio from the meal.

"Seriously, is this how you guys practice? This level isn't good enough."

The day after the match, the trio appeared in the park as usual.

Seeing that the two had increased their practice time significantly compared to usual, Horio didn't feel embarrassed.

Thinking about how he had been tricked by the two of them, together with Osakada Tomoka, he felt no shame at all.

"Horio, we've practiced longer than usual today, can't we take a break?"

"Yes, Horio, we really didn't mean to. Tomoka insisted that we find a way to bring you there."

The two knew that Horio's actions were motivated by revenge, so they kept apologizing for what had happened before.

"I'm doing this for your own good. If you want to be successful, you have to endure hardship."

Hearing Horio practice Tai Chi, Katsuro and Katsuo could only continue practicing.

Moreover, after practicing for a period of time, the two of them did find that they had made great progress.

In regular club activities, he can even hold his own against some second-year Senpai.

So even though they were tired, the two of them persevered.

"Katsuro, I heard that today is the match between Fudomine and Yamabuki for the top four."

"I've heard about it. It seems like Senior Senpai and the others went to see it."

"Horio, why didn't you go watch? No matter which team wins, we might run into them again later."

Horio only let the two rest after they were too exhausted to move any further, and the two, who were resting on the ground, started talking about the last spot in the top four.

"What's so interesting? Didn't Akutsu quit the club? How could Yamabuki possibly win? Besides, Fudomine should have improved by now."

"Horio, what you said makes a lot of sense, but I'd still prefer to see the match live; it's much more interesting that way."

Seeing the two exhausted people, Horio was speechless. They were so tired that they couldn't move, yet they still wanted to rush over to watch the game.

"If you want to watch the game, then go now. Consider it a post-workout muscle relaxation session."

Katsuro Katsuo just regained some strength, felt his legs go weak again when he heard Horio say that they had to train again.

"Stop pretending, we'll miss it if we don't hurry. If we get there, we might still be able to catch a show or two."

What's said is said, Katsuo Katsuro saw Horio already heading out of the park. Helpless, he could only endure his exhaustion and follow him.

"I told you to hurry up, it's their last match now."

At the sidelines, Horio and the others who had just arrived saw that the match had already progressed to Second Singles. Horio complained jokingly.

"Hey Horio, over here, come over here quickly."

Momoshiro, who had arrived earlier, saw Horio and the others and quickly beckoned the three of them over.

Apart from Kikumaru accompanying Oishi and Kawamura to the hospital, all the other regulars from Seigaku came, along with Momoshiro, who was a pseudo-regular.

"Oh~ I knew it! I knew you'd be here Momoshiro- Senpai."

Horio arrived at Momoshiro and the others' side, and when he saw Tachibana An standing next to Momoshiro, he had a knowing look on his face.

"What nonsense are you spouting now? I'm here to gather intelligence for our upcoming matches."

Momoshiro immediately understood Horio's meaning, blushed, and retorted without any politeness.

"You're too late, Horio Fudomine. If Fudomine wins this match, they'll be in the top four."

Dry-eyed, holding a notebook, kept his eyes glued to the game, and Horio didn't seem to care what he said.

"What does it matter? Who wins or loses has no impact on me."

"Hey Horio, there's a girl from Fudomine here, watch your mouth."

Hearing Horio's somewhat Fudomine, Momoshiro remembered that Tachibana An was still nearby and quickly spoke up to remind her.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop now. But Sengoku should start getting serious. If Kamio doesn't have someone even stronger, then there'll be another match to watch."

Mikiya had already sensed something was wrong. Kamio had been using his constantly changing rhythm to deal with Sengoku, but Sengoku hadn't allowed Kamio to widen the score gap.

The two were locked in a stalemate from the start, with Sengoku always managing to catch up no matter what Kamio did.

When the score reached 4-3, as Kamio served and prepared to move again, he glanced in the direction Sengoku was looking.

Just as he moved, Sengoku hit the ball into the corner where Kamio.

"That Sengoku knows where to shoot without even looking at the ball."

"What happened? Kamio guessed the wrong direction."

The members of Fudomine were somewhat surprised to see that Kamio had actually scored a point.

"Sengoku saw through Kamio's footwork, so he could score even with his eyes closed."

"So, Horio, you saw right through me the moment you arrived."

"It's not that difficult. For tennis players who rely on speed and rhythm changes, footwork is the most important thing. If your footwork is predictable, your rhythm becomes useless."

Hearing Horio's reminder, everyone noticed Kamio's changing footwork habits; with careful observation, they could discover the pattern.