After half an hour of warm-ups.
The two teams began today's practice match.
"Rikkai's vice-captain! You there—what's your name, Sanada? Get up here!"
Atobe rose to his feet, tossed off his jacket, and watched it land squarely in Kabaji's hands. Then he strode toward the court and pointed his racket at Sanada in the Rikkai lineup.
"Atobe, if you insist on getting beaten, I won't hold back."
Sanada rose from his seat in the stands. He had started playing tennis at the age of four, and aside from Yukimura, he had never lost to anyone his age—not until he met Tezuka from Tokyo Metropolis at the JR Tournament.
Tezuka had far more match experience than him, and was far stronger.
Sanada had lost—and lost decisively!
But
Sanada hadn't been discouraged. In fact, after that match, he had reached a higher level.
The revenge match he'd planned had taken an unexpected turn. Someone else had appeared.
A name he'd never heard before!
Keigo Atobe.
"I heard Rikkai's Sanada lost to Tezuka at the JR Tournament. This time, I'll take you down myself, so you can stop getting in my way."
As they spoke, the two reached the net.
Atobe looked down at Sanada with an air of superiority.
He was now certain that the guy who'd called yesterday to arrange a practice match was the Rikkai vice-captain standing right in front of him.
Atobe couldn't stand that smug, superior attitude.
"I told you, you're not even half as good as Tezuka!"
Sanada calmly tossed out the remark. Once the serve had been decided, he turned and walked away.
He didn't hesitate, but his movements showed that Atobe's words had affected him.
"Oh, dear. Looks like our vice-captain's a little angry."
Mori watched Sanada on the court with a mischievous grin. It