In an instant, the crowd fell into a hushed silence.
Rin Matsuoka!
No one had expected him to show up.
Just yesterday, when they heard that Rin Matsuoka was transferring to their school, the news had sent shockwaves through the group.
Some were even…
"Oshitari, you guessed it yesterday, didn't you?"
All eyes turned to Yushi Oshitari.
"Not exactly…" Oshitari paused, the corner of his mouth twitching. "But for certain reasons, I've been keeping an eye on him. So, today, I had a hunch."
The others exchanged glances. They knew exactly what those "certain reasons" were.
At the Kanto Tournament, Hyotei had faced Seigaku.
Out of four matches, Hyotei had dominated three.
The only loss? Yushi Oshitari versus Rin Matsuoka.
The score? A crushing 0-6.
That's why Oshitari had been the first to suggest inviting Rin Matsuoka to join Hyotei yesterday.
"So, let me just ask," Ryo Shishido broke the silence, sounding impatient. "Oshitari, what was it like facing him? How strong is he?"
"Come on, guys, don't give me those looks. If you want to know, just say it."
Oshitari fell quiet for a moment, as if weighing his words carefully. Finally, he gave an answer that left everyone stunned. "Terrifying."
"Terrifying?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
The group stared at Oshitari, baffled by the strange description.
"All I'll say is, unless I absolutely have to, I don't want to face him in a match again."
His final evaluation hung in the air, sparking curiosity among the others.
It was just one match. How could it have left such a deep shadow over Oshitari?
Yes, a shadow—that's exactly what it felt like.
-----------------
Ten minutes later, in the Hyotei tennis club.
"He's here!"
Gakuto Mukahi's voice rang out suddenly.
Everyone looked up, only to freeze in place.
"Holy—!"
"What kind of treatment is this?!"
Shishido and Gakuto Mukahi felt their jaws drop.
Because at that moment, under everyone's gaze, the red-haired boy walked in like the center of the universe, surrounded by a crowd.
In the distance, groups of underclassmen and seniors alike were sneaking glances at him.
"This…"
Even Oshitari's mouth twitched.
The players themselves didn't care much about popularity among the student body.
In a world where tennis was practically a religion, they were all pretty well-liked.
But this? They'd never seen someone this popular.
The scene was unprecedented.
"Rin, you're as popular as ever," Keigo Atobe said, his own mouth twitching. He was already a star in his own right, but Rin Matsuoka? The guy had always been on another level.
Whenever Atobe walked through a crowd, he didn't cause this kind of commotion.
"It's just curiosity," Rin replied, sounding exasperated. "It'll die down. Besides, you're the one who's too flashy."
"You sure about that?"
Atobe shot back, smirking.
"I don't recall it ever dying down before."
As the two stepped into the Hyotei tennis club, all eyes followed their every move.
"Your new vice-captain, Rin Matsuoka," Atobe announced. "You probably know a thing or two about him already. Now it's your turn to introduce yourselves—"
"No need for that,"
Rin cut him off.
"I'm dropping in out of nowhere. Even if some of you know about me, I'm guessing there's a bit of resentment, right? That's fine."
Rin scanned the crowd, a dangerous smile creeping onto his face. "To avoid any unnecessary trouble down the line—"
"Let's all introduce ourselves with tennis."
Introduce ourselves with tennis?
The words left everyone momentarily stunned.
"Beat me, and the vice-captain spot is yours,"
Rin continued, his grin widening to reveal sharp, shark-like teeth. "But if you lose… let's just say you won't have much say around me."
The challenge lit a spark in the room.
The third-year regulars, in particular, perked up.
As seniors about to graduate, they were far more eager to claim the vice-captain role than the first-years.
It could even boost their college prospects.
"You serious?" one of the third-year regulars asked, barely containing his excitement.
"Dead serious,"
Rin nodded.
All eyes turned to Atobe.
"If Rin says so, then that's how it'll be,"
Atobe said with a casual nod. "Besides, this kind of introduction sounds interesting. Maybe we should make it a tradition for Hyotei players."
The mood shifted instantly, some faces paling at the thought.
Without hesitation, the first challenger stepped forward.
"Ryo Shishido. Let's do this!"
Shishido's face was alight with excitement. In Hyotei, his skill easily placed him in the top seven.
It's why he'd become a regular as a first-year—a feat far more impressive than being a third-year regular at Seigaku.
"I don't care about being vice-captain," Shishido said, sizing Rin up. "I'm just curious about your tennis. Oshitari said it scared him. I want to see why."
"Oh?"
Rin raised an eyebrow.
Oshitari? He vaguely recalled the name.
The guy he'd faced at the Kanto Tournament, right?
Rin glanced at Oshitari. Among all the Hyotei players, Oshitari was the only one who didn't seem to have any objections.
So, it was because they'd already played.
The coin toss was done, and the first game was Rin's serve.
Thwack.
Thwack.
Thwack.
At the right baseline, in the service area, Rin bounced the ball rhythmically.
"I'm serving," he said, glancing at Shishido.
"I'm ready!"
Shishido replied, his expression focused, body tensed, and eyes locked on Rin's every move.
He might have been the first to challenge Rin, but that didn't mean he underestimated him.
A 6-0 win over Oshitari and a personal invitation from Atobe to be vice-captain? Rin was clearly something else.
Still…
"I'm dying to know what 'terrifying' feels like."
Thud!
In the next instant, a ball rocketed past Shishido's side, grazing his hair.
It hit the ground, bounced, and rolled to a stop.
Shishido hadn't even reacted.
"ACE serve! 15-0!"
Atobe, acting as referee, called out.
In that moment, the expressions of Jiro, Gakuto, and Shishido shifted dramatically.
They exchanged stunned glances…
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