King of Tennis (POT)

That day, the second round of the selection matches concluded.

The regulars from Groups A, B, and C had all secured victories, or at least traded wins among themselves, essentially locking in their positions as regulars.

The only group still up in the air was Group D.

Hiyoshi, who had initially been highly regarded and seen as a strong contender for a regular spot, had lost consecutive matches to Ishikawa and Shishido, eliminating him from the selection.

As for Ishikawa, his name had spread throughout Ice帝. Even people from other clubs who didn't usually follow tennis had heard of him.

---

**Evening.**

On the fourth floor of the school building, in the music department office, a figure pushed the door open and glanced at the person standing by the window.

"Coach, you wanted to see me?"

The newcomer was none other than the captain of the Ice帝 tennis team and one of the school's most prominent figures—Atobe Keigo!

The one who had summoned him was the team's coach, Tōru Sakaki.

"Let's talk for a bit."

Sakaki glanced down at the tennis courts below and said, "What did you think of this afternoon's match?"

"Are you referring to Ishikawa?"

Atobe walked over to the window and looked down at the tennis club. More specifically, his gaze fell on one particular figure who was jogging around the track.

"That's right."

Sakaki nodded. "His talent is exceptional, and he's incredibly hardworking. Do you think he's ready to take on a regular position?"

"Whether he's ready or not isn't the issue."

Atobe chuckled and shook his head. "According to Ice帝's rules, if he can defeat Shishido, he'll earn the regular spot. If he loses, no one can help him."

"Oh?"

Sakaki raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his tone. "You're not planning to give him a hand?"

"There's no need."

Hearing Sakaki's teasing tone, Atobe remained calm. "He's a player with his own ideas. Once he sets his mind on a goal, he'll work toward it on his own. Besides, even I probably can't offer him much help."

"Hmm?"

This time, Sakaki was genuinely surprised. "You think that highly of him?"

"I'm just being honest."

Atobe shook his head. "He's incredibly composed and mature for a first-year. And I believe what he's shown so far isn't even close to his full potential."

"I agree."

Sakaki's expression turned serious. "His level of composure far exceeds that of his peers. In terms of skill, Shishido might not even be a match for him. So…"

He paused, then looked at Atobe with a serious expression. "I'm considering grooming him as the next team captain."

If anyone else had been present, they would have been shocked.

Sakaki was known for his detached demeanor and rarely interfered with the team's affairs. Yet here he was, suggesting to Atobe—a captain who ruled like an emperor—that a first-year who hadn't even secured a regular spot should be groomed as the next leader.

However, Atobe's reaction was equally calm.

It was as if he had anticipated this.

"I agree."

Atobe didn't hesitate. "He's earned it."

Atobe had never been stingy when it came to mentoring his juniors. Whether it was Hiyoshi or Ōshitarō, he was always willing to help them when needed.

But his mindset had changed significantly since his first year at Ice帝.

Back then, Atobe had been full of confidence, sweeping through Ice帝 and dominating Tokyo with his 200-member army.

Even after setbacks in the Kanto and national tournaments, he had remained convinced that he could make a comeback and defeat the powerhouse from Kanagawa, Rikkai.

However, after two years of failure, he had come to realize that Rikkai's strength was on a completely different level. No amount of simple training would allow Ice帝 to overcome them.

This year was his third and final chance.

The odds of Ice帝 winning were still slim, so Atobe had begun to seriously consider what legacy he could leave for the team after his graduation.

From his perspective, the most important thing was to leave behind a capable leader.

At one point, he had thought that leader might be Ōshitarō or Hiyoshi.

But honestly, he wasn't entirely satisfied with their current performances. Still, he knew that someone as exceptional as himself might not appear in Ice帝 for another decade.

Ishikawa's emergence had given Atobe new hope.

Originally, he had simply wanted to give Ishikawa a taste of higher-level tennis.

But now, it was clear that Ishikawa's performance was outstanding. Both Atobe and Sakaki believed that even Shishido might not be able to stop him.

Under these circumstances, skipping over the second-years and choosing Ishikawa as next year's captain was the most logical decision.

Afterward, the two discussed Ice帝's training plans for the next month, and Atobe left.

Throughout their conversation, both had agreed that Ishikawa had a high chance of defeating Shishido. However, they never once mentioned Oshitari.

Clearly, in their eyes, while Ishikawa's talent was undeniable, it was still too unrealistic for a first-year to compete with a top player like Oshitari.

---

**Meanwhile.**

After finishing his training and cleaning up the tennis club, Ishikawa headed to the cafeteria to fill his stomach. As he read more books and materials, he began to adjust his diet based on the meal plans of top professional players.

Fortunately, Ice帝's cafeteria had everything he needed.

As a result, Ishikawa's physical strength was growing faster than he had initially planned.

After dinner, Ishikawa returned to the tennis courts for some light training. Finally, he practiced his ancient martial arts three times, working up a sweat before heading back to his dorm.

---

**The next morning.**

During class, Ishikawa noticed that many of his classmates were looking at him differently.

Even girls from other classes gathered outside his classroom, whispering and pointing at him.

Ishikawa simply shook his head.

With a mental age of over 20 but a physical age of just 12, he had no interest in romance.

---

**3:00 PM.**

Club activities began.

By this point, most of the third-round selection matches, including Atobe's, had concluded.

As a result, more people gathered around the Group D court.

Before the match even started, they were already discussing what might happen, occasionally glancing at the calm figure jogging around the track.

"This kid's really confident, huh?"

Mukahi, standing among the regulars, remarked. "He's about to face Shishido, and he's still out there running laps."

"It's part of his daily routine."

Takushi Kabaji, a regular with long brown hair parted to the sides, chimed in. "He started with 20 laps, and now he's up to 30. His stamina has definitely improved."

"Yeah, Ishikawa's incredibly disciplined."

Ōshitarō nodded in agreement.

However, he didn't feel envy or jealousy. He knew that Ishikawa's strength was the result of his own hard work.

Sometimes, Ōshitarō wondered what he could have achieved if he had trained as rigorously as Ishikawa during his first year. Perhaps he would have reached national-level skill by now.

"Hmph!"

Not everyone shared this sentiment, though. A snort came from the crowd, and soon, someone headed toward the track to start running as well.

"That's Shishido for you."

Oshitari shook his head.

The others couldn't help but chuckle.

But that was Shishido for you.

Though he often talked big, he never took shortcuts. He was a man of integrity.

(End of Chapter)