7.
For a moment, everyone fell into a stunned silence.
Matsuoka Rin!
No one expected that the person who arrived would be him!
Yesterday, when they heard that Matsuoka Rin would be transferring schools, they were incredibly shocked.
Even…
"Oshitari, did you guess it yesterday?"
Everyone looked at Oshitari Yushi.
"Not exactly… but, for certain reasons, I was very interested in him, so I guessed some of it today."
Oshitari Yushi was silent for a moment, his mouth twitching.
Everyone exchanged glances; they knew what those "certain reasons" were.
That was when Hyotei encountered Seigaku in the Kanto Tournament.
A total of four matches were played.
Hyotei won three matches completely; the only match they lost was Oshitari Yushi vs. Matsuoka Rin.
And the score was 0:6!
Therefore, Oshitari Yushi was also the first to propose inviting Matsuoka Rin to join Hyotei yesterday!
"Then I'll just ask directly, Oshitari, how did you feel playing against him? What do you think of his strength?"
In the midst of the silence, Shishido Ryo impatiently spoke, "Hey, hey, hey, don't make those faces, just say it if you want to know."
"If I had to say… it's terrifying!"
Oshitari Yushi was silent for a moment, seemingly after deep consideration, finally giving an answer that baffled everyone.
"Terrifying?"
"What do you mean?"
Everyone looked at Oshitari Yushi in astonishment. What kind of strange metaphor was that?
"In short, unless absolutely necessary, I don't want to play against him a second time."
Finally, Oshitari Yushi delivered this assessment.
For a moment, everyone grew curious.
It was just one match, how did it leave such a profound shadow on Oshitari Yushi?
Yes, it really… was like a shadow!
…
Ten minutes later.
Inside the Hyotei Tennis Club.
"He's here!!"
Suddenly, Mukahi Gakuto's voice rang out.
Everyone looked up, and then, everyone froze.
"Holy crap!!"
"Hiss… What kind of treatment is this!?"
Shishido Ryo and Mukahi Gakuto both felt a twinge of sourness in their teeth at that moment.
Because at that moment, under everyone's watchful eyes, the red-haired young man was like a moon surrounded by stars.
From afar, many junior and senior female students were secretly watching.
"This…"
Oshitari Yushi's mouth also twitched.
They, as players, didn't pay much attention to their popularity among students.
After all, in this world where everyone was enthusiastic about tennis, they were all quite popular.
But they never expected someone to be popular to this extent!
They had never seen such a spectacle before…
"Rin, you're still so popular."
Atobe Keigo's mouth twitched. He was already popular enough, but Matsuoka Rin, this guy, had always been even more exaggerated than him!!
He wouldn't cause such a sensation walking through a crowd.
"Everyone's just curious, it'll die down later, and besides, it's because you're too high-profile."
Matsuoka Rin said, somewhat speechless.
These were all initial curiosities; they would fade with time.
"Are you under some kind of delusion?"
But hearing this, Atobe Keigo merely pouted.
He had never seen those people's curiosity fade before!
And.
As the two walked into the Hyotei Tennis Club, everyone watched their every move.
"Your Vice Captain, Matsuoka Rin. You should all know a bit about him, more or less, right?"
Atobe Keigo spoke first, introducing him, "Now it's your turn to introduce yourselves…"
"No, there's no need for that."
But Atobe Keigo's words were cut off by Matsuoka Rin as soon as they fell.
"I've suddenly dropped in, and even if some of you know me, there might be some dissatisfaction, more or less, right? But that's not important."
Matsuoka Rin looked at everyone, a somewhat dangerous smile on his face, "To avoid unnecessary trouble in our future interactions—"
"So, everyone, let's make your self-introductions with tennis."
Make a self-introduction with tennis!?
In an instant, everyone was stunned.
"If you can defeat me, I can give up the Vice Captain position."
"Of course… conversely…"
Matsuoka Rin grinned, his Shark Teeth showing, a hint of mischief, "…you won't have much say with me in the future."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's eyes lit up.
Especially some of Hyotei's third-year regulars.
Compared to the current first-years, they, who were about to graduate, naturally hoped even more to become Vice Captain.
This would also help them with their future advancement to higher education.
"Is that true?"
A third-year regular looked at Matsuoka Rin excitedly. He wanted to be Vice Captain too!
"It's true."
Matsuoka Rin nodded.
Everyone looked at Atobe Keigo again.
"Since Rin said so, then let's do it."
Atobe Keigo nodded indifferently, "Besides, this method of self-introduction is quite interesting. How about all future Hyotei players use this method?"
Immediately, some people's expressions changed dramatically.
Soon, the first person stepped forward.
"Shishido Ryo, please teach me!"
Shishido Ryo was full of excitement. His strength in all of Hyotei could rank among the top seven.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have become a Hyotei regular in his first year!
Hyotei's first-year regulars were much more valuable than Seigaku's third-year regulars!
"I don't really want to be Vice Captain. I'm more curious about your tennis, especially since Oshitari said your tennis made him feel fear."
Shishido Ryo observed Matsuoka Rin, "I'm a bit curious."
"Oh?"
Matsuoka Rin raised an eyebrow slightly. Oshitari? He seemed to remember him.
The one he played against in the Kanto Tournament, right?
And…
Matsuoka Rin glanced in Oshitari Yushi's direction. Among all the Hyotei players, only Oshitari Yushi showed no signs of discontent.
Was it because he had played against him?
Soon, the coin toss was made, and the first game was Matsuoka Rin's serve.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Right court baseline, service box.
Matsuoka Rin gently bounced the tennis ball, creating an rhythmic sound.
"I'm going to serve."
He looked at Shishido Ryo, reminding him.
"I'm ready!"
Shishido Ryo's expression was solemn, watching Matsuoka Rin's every move, his body tense, already prepared to exert force.
Although he was the first to challenge Matsuoka Rin, it didn't mean he would underestimate Matsuoka Rin.
To defeat Oshitari 0:6, and to be personally invited by Atobe Keigo to be Hyotei's Vice Captain, was already enough to show that Matsuoka Rin must be very different.
But…
"I'm really curious, what does 'terrifying' feel like?"
"Thud!"
The next moment, a tennis ball had already passed by Shishido Ryo's side.
It just grazed his hair.
Fell to the ground.
Bounced, then fell again!
Throughout the entire process, Shishido Ryo hadn't reacted.
"Ace serve, 15:0!"
At this moment, Atobe Keigo, acting as the umpire, was the first to speak.
In an instant, Akutagawa Jiro, Mukahi Gakuto, Shishido Ryo, and others' expressions immediately changed.
They exchanged glances…