"Seigaku... They had a hard time making it into the Metropolitan Tournament. Last year, they lost to Hyotei, led by Senior Ochi." Kamikawa pointed at Seigaku's name on the list.
Judging by the rankings, Seigaku had also lost to Kakimoto Junior High in the Regional Tournament this year.
Barely making it into the Metropolitan Tournament while already battered and bruised wasn't a good sign for Seigaku.
Last year, Seigaku had also just barely made it into the Metropolitan Tournament, only to run into Hyotei in the quarterfinals.
"Yeah."
Tezuka's gaze flickered slightly.
It was the school he'd most wanted to attend, the school where the legendary Samurai had once been.
But now, it seemed the school had sorely disappointed him. They'd actually lost to Kakimoto Junior High in the Regional Tournament, even though Kakimoto only ever made it past the first round of the Metropolitan Tournament.
"Looks like the winds of change haven't reached Seigaku."
Kamikawa spoke calmly, as if stating a simple fact.
Seigaku's corruption was different from Hyotei's. Hyotei had already undergone a transformation, led by Gekko Ochi. Sakaki Taro wasn't Ryuzaki Sumire. Sometimes, a coach's word carried more weight than that of the second- and third-year students.
"I want to go see Seigaku."
Tezuka wanted to see the school where the legendary Samurai had once been.
Kamikawa smiled and shook his head, then said to Tezuka, "Now's not the right time. There's still a while until the Metropolitan Tournament. If you go over there now, are you planning to challenge them?"
Speaking of challenges, Kamikawa had gone to Yamabuki with the intention of challenging them too. After all, the original story had said Akutsu didn't join the tennis club until his third year.
"I have thought about it." Tezuka's gaze flickered slightly. He really had considered it.
At this point, Tezuka was even more restless than Echizen, and he loved challenging strong opponents.
"Forget about challenging them."
Kamikawa shook his head, then continued, "There's still a while until the Metropolitan Tournament. Talk to Coach Sakaki and arrange a practice match."
"I don't think Seigaku has any reason to turn down a practice match with an invitation from Hyotei."
"Okay!"
Tezuka didn't argue.
Practice matches were, after all, the method schools most commonly used to scout their opponents.
Besides, Seigaku had no reason to refuse a practice match against Hyotei, who had reached the national semifinals last year.
After chatting for a while, Tezuka and Kamikawa left the lounge and went out to train.
As captain, Tezuka trained even harder each day than the regulars. Atobe, who hated losing, had increased his training too. The two of them seemed to be competing with each other.
Kamikawa, on the other hand, had stuck to his training plan as usual ever since his match with Atobe. Whenever he fell short of a goal on his stats panel, he made a point of doing extra training.
Compared to the routine listed on his daily training plan, the exercises on the stats panel were more scientifically designed and brought greater improvement.
After several matches, Kamikawa's mental strength had also improved. Each increase in his ability to wield his mental fortitude brought a qualitative leap.
Kamikawa was curious to see how high his five stats would rise by the time of the National Tournament in October.
The pinnacle of the national level? Near world-class? Or an even higher level...
"Mukahi, look! Jiro's still running."
On the court, Shishido instinctively glanced to his side.
Mukahi, who had always been by his side, had somehow ended up among the runners, jogging laps around the court. Sweat soaked through his team uniform, but it couldn't shake his resolve to keep getting stronger.
Shishido turned to look farther down the court. Almost the entire tennis club was doing extra training. It seemed he was the only one with nothing to do.
"I..."
Shishido was at a loss for words.
Oshitari was working on his control. Jiro and Mukahi were building their endurance. Tezuka and Kamikawa were each busy with their own training. Even Senior Mitsuya Genko was working to improve his control.
Among the regulars, he was the only one who didn't know what his strengths were.
He was the kind of person who could do a little of everything, but excelled at nothing.
Was someone like him really suited to playing tennis?
Seeing this, Shishido sank into deep confusion.
Oshitari had astonishing talent for tennis and was already stronger than him. Add in his extraordinary technique, and Shishido knew without even having to compete that he couldn't measure up.
Jiro had incredible natural flexibility in his wrists. If he could make up for his lack of endurance, Shishido would be even less of a match for him.
Even Mukahi, who had been close to his level, was working to shore up his weaknesses. He'd already had exceptional jumping ability and those flashy aerial shots, and his attacks at the net were becoming difficult even for Shishido to handle.
Compared to the rest of them, Shishido seemed like the most average one of all, with no distinguishing traits whatsoever.
If things went on like this, the others would only leave him further behind. He might even lose his place as a regular.
What was the tennis that was uniquely his?!
Finding the answer would take time—a whole lot of time. Perhaps he'd spend all three years remaining this way, as utterly average as ever.
"Shishido, you haven't finished your training today."
A stern voice came from behind him.
It was Tezuka, who had just finished one stage of his training. He planned to take a few minutes to rest and observe everyone else.
"Yes!"
Shishido answered listlessly.
He looked toward the others and joined them, working on his endurance.
Tezuka watched Shishido's retreating figure, lost in thought.
"Yawn..."
Kamikawa yawned as he walked past Tezuka, heading straight for the vending machines.
"Kamikawa."
Tezuka suddenly called out to stop him.
"What is it?"
Kamikawa turned around, seeming to realize something. "Don't tell me you want me to buy you a drink too. I treated you yesterday, and you want me to pay again today? Dream on."
Tezuka's mouth twitched slightly. "Do you think I'm that kind of person?"
"Hm?"
Kamikawa looked Tezuka up and down, then nodded.
Tezuka hadn't changed much, except that he'd developed a hidden trait: mooching off his childhood friend.
He'd probably picked it up unconsciously from spending too much time with Kamikawa.
After all, when they were young, Kamikawa had often tricked Tezuka into buying him ice-cold soda with one excuse or another.
"I have something important to ask you."
Tezuka said calmly, "How do you think everyone's been improving lately?"
"They're all doing well."
Kamikawa shrugged. "Everyone's more motivated than they were before the Regional Tournament."
"What about Shishido?"
Tezuka's gaze fell on Shishido, who was training his endurance alongside the others. Then he looked at Kamikawa with a complicated expression. "How do you think Shishido's been improving lately?"
Tezuka could tell.
Two days after they won the Regional Tournament, they'd held an intrasquad practice match. Mukahi, Oshitari, and the others had all performed quite well. Only one person had made some progress, but not enough for it to be noticeable.
That person was Shishido.
It wasn't that Shishido hadn't improved. Tezuka had seen how much he trained every day.
A major reason for Shishido's lack of progress was that he hadn't found a path in tennis that was uniquely his. As a result, his skills had improved slowly.
"Him?"
It wasn't really Shishido's fault. He really didn't have any standout traits. When it came to approaching the net and volleying, he lacked Jiro's talent. When it came to jumping, he couldn't match Mukahi. And his technique was nowhere near Oshitari's.
Never mind his endurance or mental strength.
There wasn't a single standout area among his five stats.
It wasn't impossible for him to develop every aspect of his game. After all, the one at Shitenhoji had built up his skills across the board. But could Shishido really endure that kind of loneliness?!
The answer was no!
Even that guy from Shitenhoji had grown tired of playing such dull tennis.
If it weren't for the tennis club's victory, he never would have played tennis that lacked any distinctive traits, like something straight out of a textbook.
"He'll find a style of tennis that's uniquely his." Kamikawa's gaze fell on Shishido, who was still running laps.
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