(Author's Note: I originally planned to write off Ryuzaki Sumire completely, but then I realized a practical issue—if there's no liaison between the tennis club and the school, tasks like arranging transportation, organizing training camps, or team-building events can't realistically be handled by students. So, I've decided to give Ryuzaki a new role.)
---
### Seigaku – Coach's Office
Watching the triumphant young faces on TV, Ryuzaki Sumire couldn't help but smile from the heart.
She stood up, turned off the television, and picked up the resignation letter she had prepared long ago.
Her destination? The school board meeting room.
Technically, she was already a member of the board—she had just been doubling as the tennis club's coach.
For years, she had prided herself on being the one who trained Echizen Nanjirō, wearing that achievement like a badge of honor.
But the truth was, she had passion without skill, ambition without the courage to break rules.
Looking back now, paving the way for Yoru was the boldest move she had made in decades of coaching.
The irony?
At first, she had seen Yoru as nothing more than a scapegoat—someone to push through reforms she lacked the guts to attempt herself.
If things failed, she could pin the blame on him and step back in to "save" Seigaku.
But she underestimated him—his unshakable will, his unmatched skill, and his ability to command absolute respect from the team.
Under his leadership, Seigaku adopted a ruthless, competitive culture, and before she knew it, his authority surpassed hers entirely.
Did it sting?
Of course.
Ryuzaki wasn't a particularly magnanimous person.
But as she watched Yoru lead Seigaku into the Kanto Tournament, she realized—this was the younger generation's era now.
She couldn't bring herself to leave the tennis club entirely, though.
Maybe transitioning into a managerial role, handling logistics and support, would be the best path forward.
And after seeing Seigaku claim the championship, her decision was final.
---
### Post-Celebration
After the awards ceremony, the team headed to a yakiniku restaurant for a feast.
Thanks to Nanjirō's "sponsorship", money wasn't an issue.
(Backstory: Nanjirō's wife, Rinko, controlled the family finances. When he asked for funds to support Yoru's training abroad, she not only agreed but gave extra—which Nanjirō skimmed off of. Yoru caught him and blackmailed him into sharing the spoils.)
Now, Yoru had enough cash to support a family for a year.
As the team devoured meat like starving wolves, Yoru checked his system rewards.
---
### [System Notifications]
- "Congratulations on leading Seigaku to victory in the Kanto Tournament! Reward: Random Rune ×1!"
- "Special Achievement Unlocked: 'First Kanto Championship'! Reward: Skill Evolution Card ×1!"
- "Acquired: [Swift Rune]!"
[Swift Rune Effects]
- All club members: +10% body balance
- Regular members: +3% movement speed
- Regulars: +5% movement speed
- Yoru: +8% movement speed
A decent rune, though not as flashy as others.
Kirihara's about to get another buff.
Without hesitation, Yoru equipped it.
Current Rune Slots (6/8):
1. [Training Rune]
2. [First Strike Rune]
3. [Counter Rune]
4. [Swift Strike Rune]
5. [Insight Rune]
6. [Swift Rune]
Even with all these bonuses, players like Kaido still struggled against "canon" characters.
("Guess if you're not drawn by the author, you're just cannon fodder.")
---
### Q&A with the System
Yoru suddenly asked: "Hey System, why do you sometimes call me 'Host' and other times 'Master'?"
[System: Same difference as 'Dad' and 'Father.' Whatever feels natural. Why do you care about something so trivial?]
"Just curious."
He then commanded: "Use both Skill Evolution Cards on [Zone] and [Reverse Zone]."
[Your 'Zone' and 'Reverse Zone' have merged into—[Supreme Domain]!]
[Supreme Domain has reached Lv. 10!]
---
### [Supreme Domain]
A fusion of Zone and Reverse Zone, creating compound spin.
Unless the opponent can shatter the spin entirely, they're left with two choices:
1. Return the ball directly to the user's strike zone.
2. Watch as the ball is forced out of bounds.
The true power of Supreme Domain?
It can simultaneously activate Zone AND Reverse Zone, with spin strength exceeding double that of Reverse Zone alone.
Yoru glanced at Tezuka and Sanada, who were shamelessly mooching food.
"Tezuka… you're honestly broken. How did you even develop this in the original series?"
(Author's Note: Sanada only beat Tezuka in Nationals because Tezuka's arm wasn't fully healed. A healthy Tezuka would've crushed 'Rai.' Even Yukimura returned it effortlessly.)
By the U-17 World Cup, a fully recovered Tezuka wielded his techniques without restraint, his arm no longer a liability.
---
### Status Check
[Name]: Yoru
[Age]: 12
[Techniques]:
- Perfect Stats (Lv. 10)
- Tennis Fundamentals (Lv. 10)
- Twist Serve (Lv. 9)
- Supreme Domain (Lv. 10)
- Muga no Kyōchi (Lv. 8)
- Hyakuren no Kiwami (Lv. 7)
- Sharp Angle Drive (Lv. 8)
- Super Fast Straight Serve (Lv. 9)
(+2 lesser skills folded)
[Combat Power]: ★★★★☆ 11 Stars
[Talents]:
- Tenth Sense Control
- Perfect Copy
- Super Perfect Quality (2/3 Glow Unlocked)
Supreme Domain pushed him into 11-star territory, but progress was slowing.
With perfect stats, fundamentals, and a stacked skillset, he'd only gained half a star.
"If this were earlier, I'd have jumped two stars by now."
He couldn't even imagine how Nanjirō's 20-star rating looked.
That said, if they fought right now?
Yoru smirked.
"I could make him kneel in three minutes."
(...Kneel and beg me not to die, that is.)
---
### The Calm Before the Storm
After a night of celebration, life returned to normal.
The National Tournament was still a month away (mid-August), so Yoru gave the team two days off to rest before preparations began.
But he knew—Kanto was just the warm-up.
The real monsters were in Kansai.
Shiratori, Irie, Byōdōin, Ryōji… practically all the U-17 elites hailed from there.
If Seigaku got unlucky with matchups, they'd be fighting uphill from the first round.
Still, Yoru was in high spirits today.
Because Ryōga and Ryōma were coming home.
"It's been so long since all three of us were together… especially Ryōga."
A grin spread across his face.
"I wonder how strong he's gotten now."
---