"Rin-chan…"
"School will start in a month. Do you already know which junior high you want to attend?"
At the dining table, a beautiful woman asked warmly.
Sitting across from her, a young boy with a handsome face and calm temperament ate his meal slowly, without the slightest rush.
"I don't really care," Ryohei Rin replied with a small shake of his head.
"Just pick a school close to home with a good reputation. That's fine with me."
With perfect scores in all subjects when he graduated from elementary school, there wasn't a single school in Japan he couldn't enter. To him, it hardly mattered.
After all, he had already studied and reviewed the material of junior high long ago, back when he was still in elementary school.
Yes—reviewed.
Because Rin was not an ordinary boy. He was a traveler from another life, reborn in Japan. To him, schoolwork was nothing more than repetition.
"The one close to home and academically strong, huh?"
His mother tapped her chin in thought, and then her eyes brightened as if an idea struck her.
"How about Hyotei Academy? We received an invitation letter just last week. They offered a scholarship—and not a small one either. It's even higher than my annual salary."
She paused, weighing the pros and cons in her heart. Hyotei Academy was one of the most prestigious schools in the country, famous not only for its elite education but also for its powerful tennis program.
Her only concern was whether Rin, with his quiet and gentle personality, could adapt to such a competitive, aristocratic environment.
But Rin's reaction was far from calm.
"Hyotei?!"
He suddenly stood up, startling his mother.
That name… why did it sound so familiar?
"Hyotei? Isn't that the school for rich kids? Their tuition's insane. And… their tennis team… didn't they make it to the nationals last year?"
The moment he said it, everything clicked in his head.
Nationals. Tennis. Hyotei Academy.
It wasn't just any Japan he had been reborn into.
He was in the world of Prince of Tennis!
For so long, he had thought he had simply gone back in time to modern Japan. He'd even planned to use his knowledge from his previous life to get into a top university.
But now?
Forget entrance exams. In this world, tennis was everything. The path to success wasn't through endless study—it was through the court.
"No wonder…" Rin muttered, realization dawning across his face.
"No wonder tennis courts are everywhere here. I thought it was just good infrastructure. But no… this world is built on tennis itself!"
His mother frowned at his strange behavior. "Rin-chan? Are you alright? What's gotten into you?"
She knew her son better than anyone. He was always composed and mature, far more than children his age. For him to suddenly shout and jump like this… it was completely out of character.
She could only imagine he must have met someone—or maybe even liked a girl. But Rin quickly waved it off.
"Nothing, Mom. I'll think about it," he said, putting down his chopsticks. Then, as though remembering something, he added, "Ah, also… can I have some pocket money?"
That shocked her even more. Rin never asked for money. If anything, she was usually the one trying to force some onto him.
Her suspicions deepened, but with a small smile, she handed over the bills anyway.
"Thanks," Rin said hurriedly, before leaving the house.
Out on the street, Rin's emotions finally burst out.
"I'm so stupid… I never paid attention to tennis! And now I'm already twelve. Is it too late to start?"
His fists clenched.
"Even if I don't have natural talent… I'll still try. You have to join a club in junior high anyway, so why not tennis? If I'm going to pick something… then I'll go all the way."
Determined, he muttered, "First things first—let's buy a racket."
But just as he made up his mind—
[Ding! Sensing the host's strong desire to play tennis, the Strongest Player System has been activated.]
[Would you like to bind with the system?]
Rin froze. Then his lips curled into a grin.
"A system? Of course! Bind—definitely bind!"
At that moment, a wave of information filled his mind.
[Ding! Binding successful. Loading Newbie Gift Pack…]
[Congratulations! The host has obtained the player template: Kuroko Tetsuya. Initial synchronization: 50%.]
Rin's jaw dropped.
"Kuroko… Tetsuya?!"
His mind spun in disbelief.
Wasn't that the phantom sixth man from Kuroko no Basket? A player known for his misdirection and near-invisibility on the court?
Basketball… tennis…