Thwack!!
"Mukahi!"
Shishido's face changed dramatically. He twisted his head and yelled towards Mukahi.
Mukahi dove, his eyes locked onto the ball, but it dropped right past him, landing perfectly on the sideline.
"Game, Atobe wins."
"Score: 6-3."
In a two-on-one match, they only managed to take three games.
How could Shishido and Mukahi, who had been praised for their talent since childhood, accept this?
What's more, the second and third-year students watching from outside could all see it: Mukahi and Shishido absolutely had the skill to become Hyotei regulars. Yet, even with that strength, they were completely overwhelmed?!
"Even those two lost."
"Is there really no one who can stop him?!"
Compared to the panting Shishido and Mukahi, Atobe's breathing was completely steady thanks to his self-taught IAP breathing method. His condition was surprisingly good, and his focus continuously improved as the match went on.
"Damn it, I... I actually lost to someone my age again."
Shishido's face was filled with frustration. He slammed his fist onto the ground, gritting his teeth, his body trembling uncontrollably.
He was supposed to be one of Hyotei Elementary's Three Swordsmen, a young genius praised since childhood as having the potential to succeed senior Ochi Tsukimitsu. But losing time and time again undoubtedly shattered what little self-respect he had left.
"Damn it..."
Mukahi was equally frustrated, but what more could he say?
In the world of tennis, the victor basks in everyone's praise.
The loser, however, can only be trampled mercilessly.
"How amusing."
At that moment, a voice came from behind Atobe.
"A bunch of second and third-year students getting played with like this by a first-year freshman."
The boy with dark blue hair and round glasses, speaking with a heavy Kansai accent, slowly walked up.
He was still wearing Hyotei Academy's school uniform and hadn't changed into his casual or athletic wear.
With Hyotei Academy, the Kanto powerhouse that reached the National Top 4 last year, being so highly regarded, he had expected them to have some respectable second and third-year students. But it seemed they were nothing special after all.
Perhaps he shouldn't have left Osaka in the first place. Both Shishigaku Junior High in Kyushu and Shitenhoji, where Kenya enrolled, were pretty good.
"So this is the newly crowned Kanto powerhouse, Hyotei Academy? Frankly, you guys look pretty terrible."
"To be honest, you guys make me..."
Just as the boy was speaking to himself, a glowing yellow tennis ball suddenly flew towards him with astonishing speed.
The Kansai-accented boy's body instinctively sensed danger. He quickly pulled his racket from his bag and held it in front of him.
Thwack!!
With a crisp sound, the ball hit his racket face and slid off. This sight caught everyone's attention.
"Hey."
Atobe pointed his racket at the Kansai-accented boy, speaking with annoyance, "Where did you pop out from, you glasses guy...?"
"Tch."
The Kansai-accented boy withdrew his racket, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Honestly... I wasn't interested in your little monkey-king charade, but since you attacked first, I won't hold back."
With that, the boy placed his tennis bag aside, held his racket, and began walking towards the court.
"Wait..."
Just as everyone was getting ready to enjoy the show, another fresh, young voice reached their ears.
Everyone's gaze followed the sound, and they saw Tezuka, standing beside Kamikawa, had somehow taken off his jacket. He was already on the court, holding his racket. He turned sideways, his gold-rimmed glasses glinting strangely in the sunlight.
"Next, it's my turn."
Tezuka's words carried an undeniable authority. He held his racket in his left hand, and an invisible aura drew the attention of Atobe on the court and the Kansai-accented boy who was about to step on.
"This guy is strong." (x2)
At the same time, the same thought appeared in both Atobe's and the Kansai-accented boy's minds.
"He... he's..."
"Tezuka Kunimitsu!"
Shishido, who had just gotten back on his feet and caught his breath, looked at the boy on the court with disbelief.
Mukahi was also captivated by the scene on the court, his face showing the same shock.
"Tezuka Kunimitsu?"
The second and third-year students nearby looked at each other, their faces filled with confusion.
"Hey, you first-year over there!"
Nagakawa Ino yelled towards Shishido and Mukahi, "Do you know that first-year on the court?"
"Yeah."
Shishido nodded, his gaze still fixed on Tezuka. "He was the runner-up in the elementary school division of the JR Tournament a while back. His skill is seriously strong."
"Runner-up?"
Nagakawa Ino rolled his eyes. Just an elementary school runner-up was nothing to boast about. He thought he was some kind of champion from a major tournament.
Seems like just another show-off kid.
"Ryo~ Look over there."
Mukahi seemed to have discovered something, pointing to a figure in the crowd. "It's Kamikawa Mugetsu!"
"Kamikawa... Mugetsu..."
Shishido swallowed hard. After that defeat at the JR Tournament, Shishido had nightmares for a week straight, dreaming about his match with Kamikawa every night.
That glaring 6-0 score was like a nightmare, relentlessly haunting him.
He never thought that Kamikawa and Tezuka would both enroll at Hyotei Academy.
"Oh~ Two more popped up at once."
Atobe shrugged, spreading his hands. "It doesn't bother me if you two come at me together."
"It'll be perfect for shutting all you guys up at once."
"No!"
Tezuka held his racket horizontally, pointing at Atobe and the Kansai-accented boy, saying, "Why don't you two come at me together?"
Tezuka disliked taking advantage of others. Atobe had expended a lot of stamina in his previous matches, even if those second and third-year regulars were useless, they still wore him down, not to mention his match against Shishido and Mukahi.
As for the Kansai-accented boy from Osaka, Tezuka could sense that his skill wasn't weak. A two-on-one might be a bit much for him, but it was still within a controllable range.
After all, these two would be forming a doubles team for the first time.
It might look like a one-on-two, but in reality, it could be a one-on-one-and-a-half, or even one-on-half.
"Tch."
The Kansai-accented boy clicked his tongue, looking helpless. "Looks like I'm being underestimated."
Clearly, he didn't want to fight a peer in a doubles match.
Atobe had the same idea. They were both proud, and proud people don't accept such insulting match formats.
"Let's make it singles."
At this moment, Kamikawa also took off his jacket and walked onto the court. "They wouldn't accept a two-on-one no matter what. Both of them have their own pride."
"I'll pick this Kansai Wolf."
"I'll take a slight advantage and leave him to you."
"Alright."
Tezuka nodded, having no objections.
He also wanted to face Atobe.
"Interesting."
Atobe's gaze fell on Kamikawa, and after a moment, he shifted his attention to Tezuka. He could tell that these two were different, much stronger than the two guys he'd just faced.
"You know me?"
The Kansai-accented boy narrowed his eyes, his expression becoming serious.
He should be new from Osaka, never having shown his face in Kanto before. His reputation wouldn't have reached Kanto, especially since he didn't really like participating in formal tennis matches.
"I've heard a little... Yuushi Oshitari, the Kansai Wolf who came all the way from Osaka!"