Chapter 86: The Aggrieved Lucifer and the King of Hyotei
The riverside tennis courts were bustling with energy. The morning sun glinted off the chain-link fences and the river water below.
At this moment, the players on the adjacent courts had all stopped their practice. They were staring wide-eyed, not at the balls, but at the spectacle unfolding on Court 3. After all, they were mostly young men just entering puberty, and seeing beautiful women like Yumiko and Lucifer—with such incredible figures and distinct temperaments—was distracting, to say the least.
One was a mature, gentle beauty; the other was a silver-haired, imperious queen. And then there was the energetic white-haired girl...
Cerberus swallowed hard, her eyes darting back and forth, tracking the fuzzy yellow balls flying through the air like a spectator at Wimbledon who had consumed too much caffeine. She didn't know why she really wanted to pounce on the ball, catch it mid-air, and chew on it, but she knew that was "bad dog" behavior according to Ren, so she forcibly suppressed the urge, her hands twitching at her sides.
Ren, on the other hand, sat on a bench near the net, adjusting the strings of his racket. It hadn't been used in some time, but he treated it with reverence. His racket was sleek, black, and unbranded—custom-made. Most people wouldn't even recognize what it was, let alone its value.
"Hey Kamio," a student from Fudomine whispered loudly. "Do you think those three beauties have boyfriends? That guy sitting there looks... lucky."
"It's obvious that man is with them. But he seems very familiar with Tezuka and Fuji from Seigaku. Is he a coach?"
Everyone looked at Ren. When Ren noticed their gazes, he just smiled gently and nodded. To be fair, this wasn't a dramatic shonen anime where delinquents picked fights for no reason; there were no hooligans here. Everyone expressed their friendliness (and envy) towards Ren with polite nods.
After stretching his shoulders, Ren picked up his racket and walked onto the court.
By this time, Lucifer had completely learned the basics from Yumiko. Her demon reflexes allowed her to master the swing instantly, and poor Yumiko was gradually feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sheer power behind Lucifer's returns.
Thwack!
Lucifer smashed a ball with unnecessary force. "Take that! Gravity is weak!"
Just as Lucifer was about to score a point against Yumiko, a shadow moved.
Whoosh.
A black racket appeared in front of the ball, intercepting it with impossible speed. Ren gently flicked his wrist, sending a drop shot that died the moment it crossed the net.
Yumiko turned her head and saw Ren, whose silver hair was tied up in a short ponytail, smiling at her.
"Need a partner?"
Fuji Yumiko's face flushed, and she stepped back, wiping sweat from her brow. "Please. She hits like a truck."
Ren smiled and turned to the other side of the net. "Lucifer is playing pretty well, actually. She's starting to look like a pro. Let's play a couple of games, Your Majesty."
Lucifer snorted, pointing her racket at him like a sword. "I can't beat you at cooking, Ren, but in tennis, where physical prowess matters, I will absolutely not lose! I have eons of combat experience!"
"You little Queen want to be a tennis player now?"
"No! I want to crush you! I'll serve first!"
"As you wish," Ren said, walking to the baseline. "But let's make it interesting. If you can make the ball land behind me—just once—you win. I won't move from this spot."
Lucifer puffed out her cheeks, her face clearly showing her displeasure at being underestimated. "You'll regret that arrogance!"
Everyone else, including Tezuka and Fuji who had paused their own match, looked over with interest.
Three minutes later....
"Game, Set, Match."
Lucifer stood at the net, panting heavily, her hair disheveled. Ren hadn't broken a sweat. He hadn't moved more than a step.
"Alright, alright," Ren said, walking over. "Aren't you a beginner? It's nothing to be ashamed of~."
"That's too much bullying!" Lucifer threw her racket down (it bounced comically). "Couldn't you have let me win a little?! Unfair! You used magic!"
"Physics, Lucifer. Just physics."
Ren sat on the bench, looking at the aggrieved Lucifer, who was hanging her head and muttering curses in ancient tongues. He gently stroked her silver hair, comforting her. Lucifer had gone from full of confidence to completely dumbfounded in just over two minutes. She had been thoroughly dismantled.
Then Lucifer became withdrawn, crossing her arms and pouting. At this moment, the CEO of Hell looked particularly like a little girl who dropped her ice cream.
Fuji Yumiko, with one hand on her hip, smiled and handed Lucifer a towel. "Lucifer~ Don't dwell on it. Ren is... special. He has never comforted anyone like this before. You're the first! He usually just critiques their form."
Lucifer looked up at Ren, then snorted and swatted his hand away gently. "I'm fine! I don't need comforting! I was just... analyzing his strategy!"
Ren smiled and shook his head.
On the sidelines, Shūsuke Fuji slightly opened his ice-blue eyes—a sign of genuine surprise. He whispered to Tezuka, "Brother Ren's condition is even better than before. I didn't see his wrist move on that last return. It was like the ball hit a wall."
Tezuka adjusted his glasses, his expression serious. "He hasn't lost his touch. If anything, he's sharper."
Just then, the atmosphere on the courts shifted.
Everyone saw several young people walking over from the parking lot. They wore grey and white uniforms that looked expensive. When they saw Fuji Yumiko and the others, their eyes lit up, but it was just a fleeting moment of surprise.
The leading man, a boy with grey-purple hair and a beauty mark under his right eye, frowned. He radiated arrogance and charisma.
"Tezuka? Fuji?" he called out, his voice carrying effortlessly.
Ren heard the voice, looked up, and saw the handsome young man staring at Tezuka. The fighting spirit in his eyes was almost overflowing.
"Atobe," Fuji said, his smile tightening slightly. "I didn't expect you to come to a public outdoor tennis court like this~. Isn't this beneath the King?"
Hearing Fuji's words, Atobe Keigo, the captain of Hyotei Academy, smirked and snapped his fingers. "I originally thought that people who played outdoor tennis were all third-rate characters, peasants playing in the dirt. But I didn't expect to meet you two here. It seems this place isn't so bad after all. It has... potential."
Tezuka Kunimitsu looked at Atobe and said in a deep voice, "Atobe, did you come here just to challenge the players here? Or are you scouting?"
"Scouting is for underlings. I came to conquer. But right now, seeing you here... I want to challenge you, Tezuka. Let's settle the score."
Tezuka glanced at Ren, seeking permission or perhaps advice.
Ren smiled and nodded. "Go for it. You'll have to face him sooner or later, won't you? It's better to do it on neutral ground."
Tezuka nodded.
Atobe looked at Ren, his sharp eyes analyzing the unknown man who seemed to command Tezuka's respect. "Are you two very familiar? You speak with authority."
Ren nodded and said, "Yes, Tezuka and Fuji are like my friends and younger brothers. I used to help them with their... nutrition."
Atobe was stunned, then laughed. "Interesting. Truly interesting. I didn't expect you, Tezuka, to have such an 'older brother'. It's really very interesting."
Tezuka frowned. "Atobe, what do you want to say?"
"Nothing. It's just that I saw your 'older brother' also has a tennis racket. A custom frame, if I'm not mistaken. So he should play tennis too. An older brother you acknowledge must have some skill. I don't play weaklings."
Atobe pointed his racket at Ren. "Hey, you. Play a match with me. Let's see if you're worthy of Tezuka's respect."
Just as Tezuka was about to step in and say "Don't be foolish," he saw Ren stand up with a pleasant smile.
"So you want to play with me? No problem~. I need a warm-up before lunch."
Hearing this, Fuji sighed, then showed a mischievous smile. Oh, Atobe. You have no idea.
Tezuka also had a strange expression—a mix of pity and anticipation.
Atobe naturally didn't notice, because he simply wanted to teach this "older brother" a lesson about hierarchy and then make Tezuka play seriously with him.
Fuji stood beside Yumiko and whispered, "Atobe is going to be hit hard. Psychologically."
"Atobe isn't that fragile," Tezuka replied. "But he might become... obsessed. He hates losing."
Lucifer, watching from the bench, asked with her arms crossed, "Is that guy named Atobe very strong? He talks a lot."
"He's quite strong among his peers. Top tier in the nation," Fuji explained.
Lucifer nodded. Well, let's see him handle the Monster.
Ren walked to the baseline. He didn't take a stance. He just stood there, relaxed.
"It's still the same rules," Ren called out. "If you can make the ball land behind me, you win. In your serve game, if you can even touch the ball I return, you win. I won't use special moves."
Atobe's eyebrow twitched. "Arrogant fellow! Do you know who I am? I am the King!"
"Then, to prove it, I'll serve first~."
Atobe held his racket with both hands, staring intently at Ren's movements. His "Insight" ability was active, searching for weaknesses. His stance is open. His grip is loose. He's full of openings!
When Yumiko called out "Start," Atobe hadn't even had time to speak.
Boom.
He saw Ren toss the ball. Then... nothing.
A cloud of dust rose from the service line behind Atobe's feet.
"15-0~," Ren announced cheerfully.
Everyone present—except for the five Cerberus heads (metaphorically speaking)—swallowed hard.
How did that ball get past him? It was invisible.
Atobe froze. He felt a chill in his heart. He looked back at the mark on the ground. It was scorched.
What kind of person is this?
It seemed he had hit a wall, an insurmountable wall. But this only made Atobe more excited. A grin spread across his face. " magnificent!"
Lucifer, on the other hand, glared at Ren with puffed-out cheeks. He did that to me too! She had just been defeated in the same way. The more Lucifer thought about it, the angrier she got.
This stinky man! So unfair! Why is he good at everything?!
In the time that followed, Atobe was completely out of sorts. In his own service game, the ball was returned before he could finish his follow-through. In Ren's service game, he lost points without even seeing the ball.
It wasn't a match. It was a slaughter.
"6-0, game over," Ren said, walking to the net. He didn't look tired. "You're good, Atobe-kun. Your technique is solid. But you're still far from the summit. Keep climbing."
Atobe was panting, sweat dripping from his face. He looked at Ren with awe. "I... I lost completely."
Ren turned away. "Yumiko, get me a bottle of water. Cerberus! Come here! I'll teach you how to play now! Don't eat the ball!"
"Oh! Yay!" Cerberus bounded onto the court.
Yumiko took a bottle of homemade lemon water from Ren's bag and paused when she saw it. It was her favorite blend.
Fuji also paused, noticing his sister's expression. He said gently, "As expected, Brother Ren is a very thoughtful person, isn't he, Sister~? He remembers everything."
"Yes!" Yumiko beamed, her cheeks pink.
Ren took the bottle and drank under Yumiko's gentle gaze.
Lucifer, watching from the side, felt her detective instincts tingling again.
Hmm. The way she looks at him... and the way he looks at her...
Detective Lucifer was about to go online. Is this another harem member? Or a rival? I need data.
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