*Thud!*
On the court, one of the second-team representatives, Kurokawa Shunsuke, collapsed to the ground, completely exhausted.
"That's the third one!"
Seeing this, the other members of Ice Emperor standing outside the court were visibly shocked. Their eyes turned to the confident orange-haired boy on the court, who was casually smoothing his hair with a self-assured smile.
He introduced himself as Amachi Hikaru, a second-year from Chiba Rokkaku Middle School, claiming he had come to experience Ice Emperor's tennis skills. Naturally, this stirred up some resentment among the team.
Angered by his boldness, the Ice Emperor members immediately challenged him to a match.
But the result?
Including Kurokawa Shunsuke, three Ice Emperor players had already fallen to this guy.
"Amachi Hikaru? A second-year from Rokkaku?"
Not far away, Coach Sakaki Taro, dressed in his signature maroon suit, observed the boy with curiosity. "It seems he's not here to cause trouble. He genuinely wants to compete."
For Sakaki, as long as someone came purely to play and not to humiliate or belittle Ice Emperor, he wouldn't interfere.
Of course, Ice Emperor couldn't resort to underhanded tactics either. If word got out, it would tarnish their reputation.
Additionally, regarding Rokkaku, Sakaki held great respect for their mysterious elderly coach. Unless there was a serious conflict, he had no intention of targeting this boy.
"No one else?"
Amachi, fearless as a newborn calf, grinned after defeating Kurokawa. "Is this all the so-called 'Tokyo's strongest team' has to offer?"
"I'll go!"
Seeing this, Kanoda Hayato from the second team stepped forward to face him.
*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!*
But it didn't take long before Kanoda, too, was defeated.
"Whoa!"
The expressions of the other team members changed instantly.
With Kurokawa and Kanoda both losing, the second team had already suffered two defeats. This Rokkaku second-year was way too strong!
"His skills are indeed impressive."
At this moment, Oshitari, Shishido, and others appeared in the crowd.
Oshitari observed Amachi and nodded. "His speed, power, and technique are all top-notch. More importantly, his timing is impeccable."
"Yeah," Shishido agreed. "Kurokawa and Kanoda didn't even have time to adapt to his playing style before they were overwhelmed by his rapid attacks."
"And that racket of his," added Otori, frowning slightly. "That's no ordinary racket."
"True," Oshitari said. "The extra length adds some cushioning, reducing the strain on his wrist. It also extends his reach."
There was no denying it—the oversized racket looked exaggerated, but it was incredibly effective.
"What's wrong?" Amachi asked, resting his racket on his shoulder after defeating Kanoda. "No one else dares to step up?"
The Ice Emperor members exchanged glances, frustration evident on their faces, but no one volunteered.
There was no helping it. This guy was just too strong.
Taking down four Ice Emperor players in a row? That kind of skill was almost on par with the regulars. There was no way the second team could handle him.
"Tch."
Seeing no one else willing to challenge him, Amachi clicked his tongue and shook his head. "The so-called 'strongest team in Tokyo' is really disappointing."
"This kid's got quite the mouth," Shishido remarked, his brow twitching.
"What, you planning to teach him a lesson?" Mukahi teased. "Aren't you worried people will say you're bullying a junior?"
"Doesn't matter," Shishido shrugged. "I'm not a regular anymore, so it's fair game. If Rokkaku has a problem, they can take it up with Atobe."
"You're something else," Oshitari and Mukahi sighed, shaking their heads.
"Senpai, let me handle this."
Just then, someone stepped in front of Shishido. It was none other than Hiyoshi, another second-team representative known for his martial arts-style tennis.
"I'm a second-year," Hiyoshi said calmly. "If word gets out, it won't be seen as bullying."
*Step!*
But before the two could settle who would face Amachi, another figure appeared at the edge of the court.
"I'll be your next opponent."
*Whoosh!*
Everyone turned to look.
It was a slightly tanned, bald-headed boy.
"S-Shibahara?"
In the crowd, Suzuki Ryota, Shibahara's friend, looked on in shock. "You're being way too impulsive!"
After all, even second-team representatives like Kurokawa and Kanoda had lost. It was clear that Amachi Hikaru, this Rokkaku second-year, was at the level of Ice Emperor's regulars.
If Shibahara stepped up, the only thing he'd accomplish was adding another name to Amachi's list of victories.
But Shibahara stepped onto the court anyway.
His eyes were sharp, his expression serious, radiating an unyielding determination.
"Who's that?"
Seeing Shibahara, Coach Sakaki's eyes lit up.
"Him?" Oshitari thought for a moment before explaining. "Shibahara Saburo, a third-year member. He was actually Ishikawa's first opponent when he joined the team."
"That's him?"
Sakaki was surprised. With his shaved head and skin roughened by long hours of training under the sun, Shibahara looked completely different. "It's clear he's been training hard."
Hard? Oshitari shook his head inwardly.
In all of Ice Emperor, there were only two true training maniacs. One was Ishikawa, and the other was Shibahara Saburo.
The difference was, Shibahara lacked natural talent. He had to put in one and a half times the effort just to keep up with the more gifted players.
But even so, Shibahara never stopped training.
Daily practice seemed ingrained in his very being. Whenever you came to the tennis club, you'd see him there, tirelessly honing his skills.
"However," Sakaki paused, glancing at Hiyoshi, "Shibahara might not be able to defeat this Rokkaku second-year. If Amachi still refuses to leave after this match, you'll be the one to handle him."
"Understood!" Hiyoshi nodded firmly.
Seeing Shibahara, Amachi raised an eyebrow. "And you are...?"
"Just a nobody," Shibahara replied calmly.
"I see."
Amachi's interest waned. He shook his head and smiled. "I heard Ice Emperor has a remarkable newcomer. Why don't you call him out? Win or lose, I'll leave after that."
"Sorry, but he's not here right now."
Shinohara shook his head and said, "As for you, if you still want to keep playing, I'll be your opponent!"
"Alright."
Upon hearing that the first-year prodigy wasn't there, a flicker of disappointment flashed in Amene's eyes.
However.
Since he had already come, he couldn't just leave without playing against one of Hyotei's regulars. The guy in front of him didn't seem particularly strong, but if he could take him down, Hyotei would surely send out a real powerhouse.
And so.
Their match began quickly.
*Thud!*
First set.
Amene served.
He was strong, and with his aggressive, fast-paced style, he aimed to finish his opponent quickly. He went on the offensive right away.
As for Shinohara, he used to play aggressively too.
But the recent training had smoothed out his edges, making him more composed and steady.
Because of this.
His tennis style had shifted to a more defensive approach.
At first, he managed to hold off Amene's attacks. But once Amene started using his extra-long racket, the effect was immediate.
Several times.
Shinohara was caught off guard.
If it were someone else, they might have grown impatient, thinking about scoring points even if it meant losing the match. But Shinohara held his ground, sticking to his defensive strategy.
As the score kept slipping away.
Shinohara remained unfazed, continuing to wear down his opponent with his defensive play.
"What's happened to him?"
Seeing his friend's turtle-shell-like strategy, Suzuki Ryota blurted out impatiently, "His old aggressive style was so much better! Even if he lost, at least he could've scored some points!"
Now.
Shinohara's play was not only unattractive, but he was also losing points steadily. Compared to the determined attitude he had when he first stepped onto the court, it now seemed almost like he was just putting on a show.
However.
Unlike Suzuki's perspective.
Many of the other team members, including his good friend Uesugi Ryosuke, were completely engrossed in the match: "Ryota, maybe it's not as you say. Shinohara's strategy is quite something!"
"Huh?"
Hearing this, Suzuki's gaze shifted back to the court.
He saw Shinohara's return land a short distance in front of Amene, forcing the latter to instinctively bend his knees to reach the ball.
"What's this?!"
As if realizing something, Suzuki's eyes widened in disbelief.
Then.
He noticed something else.
Even though Amene was still scoring points, the time it took for him to do so was getting longer and longer.
What used to take a minute or two to finish a set now dragged on for five or six minutes.
*Thud!*
"Game!"
"Amene, 5-0!"
Winning the fifth set, along with the previous four, had already taken Amene over half an hour.
"Hmm."
With only one set left to defeat his opponent, Amene felt a growing sense of unease.
But.
He was already in too deep.
Even if he wanted to leave Hyotei, he had to win this match first.
However.
The sixth set turned out to be far more grueling than Amene had anticipated.
It took him fifteen minutes just to win the first three points. On average, each point involved at least five minutes of back-and-forth.
*Drip!*
*Drip!*
Sweat was now pouring down Amene's face.
Having grown up by the sea, he was used to heat, but now he felt an unbearable restlessness.
"This guy is way too stubborn!"
He looked across the net at Shinohara, who was also breathing heavily, and his expression darkened: "Does Hyotei really have a player with this kind of endurance?"
Shinohara wasn't particularly strong, but his defense was like an impenetrable shell. What's worse, as the match dragged on and Shinohara got used to his style, scoring points became increasingly difficult for Amene.
"Last point!"
He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the frustration, and resolved to finish this in one go.
*Thud!*
Shinohara served.
It was as steady and unremarkable as before.
Amene charged forward with all his might, launching an attack. Shinohara, as always, focused on his defensive game.
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
*Thud!*
Time ticked by.
The rally between the two showed no signs of ending. Amene grew more and more frustrated. Every time he unleashed a killer shot, Shinohara somehow managed to dive and return it.
By the final point.
He had lost count of how many times Shinohara had thrown himself across the court to save what should have been a winning shot.
By now, Amene felt numb.
He regretted coming to Hyotei to challenge them while the captain and vice-captain were away in Kanagawa for the draw.
Instead, he had run into this iron-willed, endlessly enduring, seemingly unbreakable opponent!
Looking at Shinohara, drenched in sweat and barely able to stand, Amene couldn't help but feel a strange, absurd thought.
Even if he had one more chance to deliver a killer shot, Shinohara would still find a way to return it.
*Tap!*
Perhaps due to exhaustion, Amene's focus wavered, and his shot fell just short, hitting the net.
"15-40!"
The umpire, seeing Amene's mistake, was momentarily stunned.
"What?!"
The others, seeing Shinohara finally score a point, erupted in surprise.
"He... he actually scored?!"
Uesugi and Suzuki exchanged glances, both seeing the excitement in each other's eyes.
"Amazing, Shinohara!"
"Yeah, he actually scored against that guy from Rokkaku! Unbelievable!"
"Hmm."
But unlike everyone else's excitement, Shinohara remained expressionless, like a block of wood.
*Whoosh!*
He mechanically tossed the ball up again and hit it with all his strength.
*Thud!*
The ball landed.
But Amene didn't even attempt to return it.
"30-40!"
Why?!
Everyone looked over in confusion.
Amene, staring at Shinohara who was preparing to serve again, shook his head and said, "I'm done. I'm not playing anymore. I forfeit the match."
His tone was half-joking, half-serious.
He was just too exhausted. If this were an official match, Amene would never give up, no matter what. But in a practice game like this, he felt there was no point in continuing.
"He... he forfeited?"
Everyone was stunned.
"Alright then."
The umpire, after processing the situation, quickly announced, "Since Amene has forfeited, the winner of this match is Shinohara!"
*Thud!*
As soon as the words were spoken, Shinohara collapsed to the ground, utterly spent.
Shibahara, who had been holding on purely by sheer willpower, suddenly seemed to have all his strength drained from him. He collapsed to the ground, sitting there completely spent.
"Was he... also at his limit?"
Seeing Shibahara, drenched in sweat as if he'd been pulled out of water, Amachi felt a deep sense of admiration.
This level of determination was among the strongest he had ever encountered in an opponent.
"So..."
With this thought, Amachi looked up at Shibahara and asked with utmost seriousness, "Who are you, really?"
He couldn't believe that someone like this wasn't even a regular in Ice Emperor.
"Me?"
Hearing the question, Shibahara's cold, iron-like expression finally showed a flicker of emotion. But it was a self-mocking smile. "I'm just one of the many who lost to the person you're looking for."
"One of... that person's defeated opponents?"
Amachi, who had been ready to remember Shibahara's name, was completely stunned by this revelation.
---
**Author's Note:**
In the original story, Amachi Hikaru from Rokkaku Middle School swept through 100 members of Ice Emperor. Also, I really liked Amachi's look in the manga when he tied his hair up—it was quite handsome. He had a vibe reminiscent of a young Nanjiro, but unfortunately, he didn't get much screen time later on, and his impact faded.
*(End of Chapter)*