Chapter 3: A Stunning Shot

  In the anime, one of the most criticized aspects of Seigaku was its ball-picking rule. Many fans, including Ishikawa himself, believed that Seigaku’s ck of results in the first two years was due to its strict hierarchy for new members.

  Take Tezuka, for example. When he first entered middle school, his raw strength was already enough to dominate Seigaku—even the captain, Yamato, was no match for him. Yet despite that, he didn’t receive any special treatment. Even Fuji didn’t become a regur until his second year. Because of this, there was a theory that Fuji could have achieved even greater heights if he hadn’t been held back by Seigaku’s system.

  However… Looking at the situation in front of him, Ishikawa realized that things weren’t as simple as he had assumed. It seemed that even Hyotei wasn’t exempt from this kind of tradition!

  "Hey!"

  As Ishikawa was deep in thought, the middle schooler named Saburo Shinohara’s expression darkened even further, his tone becoming sharper.

  "Hey, brat! I’m talking to you! Didn’t you hear me?!"

  Huh?

  The commotion quickly attracted the attention of others.

  "Isn’t that Shinohara?"

  "If I remember correctly, he performed well st week and earned the chance to py in practice matches. Looks like he’s in the middle of a game now."

  "Judging from this, he probably told that kid to pick up the ball, but the kid ignored him."

  "Hah? Is this first-year serious? Picking a fight with an uppercssman right after joining the club?"

  "This guy’s in trouble. Shinohara’s got a notorious temper—he beat up several first-years at the end of st semester."

  "Tsk, poor kid. But still, newbies should know their pce. If he had just listened and picked up the ball, he wouldn’t be in this mess."

  A group of second and third-year pyers stood around the court, gossiping. Hearing their chatter, the new members’ faces turned tense and uneasy.

  At the same time, their gazes toward Ishikawa were filled with sympathy. But that was all—no one dared to step in. Most people were simply watching for entertainment. Some had already imagined how this arrogant first-year would be taught a harsh lesson.

  "Pick up the ball, huh?"

  Ishikawa chuckled. He hadn’t expected to encounter a situation like this himself. Judging by the atmosphere, it was clear that they intended to make an example out of him.

  Too bad…

  He wasn’t someone who could be pushed around so easily. His original 7-point five-dimensional stats might not have been enough for U-17 or even the Tokyo District Tournament, but this was just an internal Hyotei match.

  And his opponent? Just a background character.

  Not to mention… He had maxed-out kendo skills, boosting his five-dimensional stats by 3 points and granting him a top-tier talent bonus. Initially, Ishikawa had pnned to keep a low profile and develop in the shadows. But that was no longer an option.

  "Since that’s the case…"

  A thought crossed his mind. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Ishikawa bent down, seemingly obeying Shinohara’s demand. To the onlookers, it looked like he had been intimidated.

  However—

  Something unexpected happened. After picking up the tennis ball, Ishikawa casually reached for a racket resting against the chain-link fence, then slowly lifted his gaze to meet Shinohara’s.

  "Wait… what’s he doing?"

  The crowd froze. Then, someone quickly realized what was happening.

  "No way… is he pnning to hit the ball back?"

  "Is he crazy?"

  "What an idiot. Does he not understand that this will only piss Shinohara off even more?"

  "This is bad—we should call one of the regurs…"

  Ishikawa’s actions sparked a stir in the crowd. Some shook their heads, thinking he was too na?ve. Some watched coldly, believing he was asking for trouble. Others sensed that something was off and rushed to inform the regurs.

  Ishikawa noticed all of this. But he didn’t care. His eyes remained locked onto Shinohara.

  "Senpai, here’s your ball."

  Whoosh!

  With that, Ishikawa tossed the ball into the air.

  "He’s really doing it?"

  "Interesting. It’s been a while since we’ve had a newbie this gutsy."

  "Too bad for him—he picked the wrong person to challenge. Shinohara’s going to destroy him."

  The court erupted into chaotic murmurs once again. Meanwhile, Shinohara’s expression grew even darker, his face nearly dripping with anger. This first-year was too arrogant!

  And the worst part? He had the audacity to defy him in front of so many people. If he didn’t teach this brat a lesson, how could he maintain his reputation in Hyotei?!

  Whoosh!

  At that moment—

  Ishikawa moved. With lightning-fast reflexes, he swung his racket upward, his body leaning forward as he struck the ball with a fierce drive.

  Bang!

  A sharp crack echoed across the court.

  In the blink of an eye—

  The tennis ball rocketed forward like an arrow, shooting past the net at an unbelievable speed.

  "What the hell—?!"

  Shinohara’s pupils contracted violently.

  It was too fast! How could a first-year hit a serve this powerful?!

  Before he could even react, the ball had exploded into his field of vision, transforming from a tiny yellow dot into a fast-approaching projectile.

  Whoosh!

  The sheer force of the shot sent a gust of wind sshing past his face, leaving behind a stinging sensation.

  Cng!

  A deafening impact rang out—

  The ball smmed into the chain-link fence, embedding itself deep within the metal wiring.

  For a moment—

  The entire court fell into an eerie silence. The pyers who had been watching for amusement now looked at Ishikawa as if they had just seen a ghost.

  That serve…

  Did that really come from a newbie who just joined the tennis club?!!

  (End of Chapter 3)