Chapter 129: Dilemma, Atobe's Choice

Dusk.

A magnificent seaside villa shone brightly under the sunset.

Atobe sat on the beach, his left hand resting casually on his knees. He was soaking wet, water droplets sliding from his purple-gray hair tips, and beautiful muscle lines clearly emerged under his soaked shirt.

But he didn't care, just looking at the distant sea, his gaze deep and complex.

Clatter~

Waves crashed against the dark reefs, colliding and shattering into white foam, then returning to the sea with the turbulent water.

Turbulent, rising and falling.

Just like Atobe's troubled mood at this moment.

"Atobe should be fine, right."

Seeing Atobe return to the shore, Oshitari Yuushi finally breathed a sigh of relief, but the venting-like appearance earlier still made him feel worried.

After all, losing to the same opponent twice in a row, and losing so miserably this time.

Atobe-sama might not be able to entertain the two for the time being, please allow me to entertain you on his behalf."

He just stuffed a super good-looking pudding into his mouth, and the taste buds on the tip of his tongue instantly erupted with unimaginable sweet flavor.

After eating the pudding, he didn't stop for a moment, attacking the delicacies on the table with both hands.

"I'm really sorry, Oshitari-sama, Chitose-sama."

While he was thinking, Chitose had already started ahead of time.

For a time, the two launched a food battle.

On the beach, a pavilion rose from the ground. Although it was assembled, one could see at a glance that the materials used were not simple.

Looking at the quality, this was definitely a luxury item made of top-grade chocolate and premium truffles, just like what he had seen on TV. He had always wanted to try it, but unfortunately, he couldn't afford it at all.

Hearing the other party's words, Oshitari Yuushi and Chitose waved their hands repeatedly.

"Chitose, you're too cunning!"

Seeing the snacks disappear instantly, the usually calm Oshitari Yuushi couldn't help but shout anxiously, and immediately protected the truffle chocolate he wanted to eat most.

He was wearing a dark tailcoat of an English butler, his silver hair parted in a three-seven split, with a gentle smile on his face, followed by several attendants, holding various items in their hands.

Then the attendants sent tables, chairs, black tea, snacks, fruits, and the like, flowing like water.

Chitose's eyebrows drooped, and although his cheeks were bulging, he still showed a very pleasant smile.

Oshitari tasted the truffle chocolate carefully, this delicate texture...

A rare happy smile appeared on his cold face.

Bowing slightly, Irwin's smile was quite gentle.

"Please enjoy slowly, two young masters."

"I am Atobe-sama's butler, Irwin."

As for Atobe?

Although they knew Atobe's family background very well, it was still hard for them to get used to the extravagant style of the Atobe family.

In the blink of an eye.

The attendants swarmed up.

Choking while speaking, Chitose took a big sip of black tea to swallow the full delicious food in his mouth.

"Cunning Chitose!"

Irwin bowed again, then led the attendants away slowly.

With Atobe's proud personality, I'm afraid it will be very difficult to accept.

Standing on the side, Chitose frowned slightly and remained silent. He didn't believe Atobe would become withered and dejected just because of one or two failures.

"There are also Earl Grey chocolate, European venison jerky, Australian lobster crackers..."

"Shi... ni... tai..."

Cough, cough!"

After it was finished, even gorgeous flowers were placed all around, the fragrance lingered, and a long red carpet extended from the pavilion to the villa.

Irwin smiled slightly and waved backward.

Looking at the wide variety of luxury delicacies in front of him, Oshitari Yuushi trembled slightly in his heart. These were all things he wanted to eat but had no chance to eat.

"It's you who were too careless, hahaha!"

Both of them were from ordinary employee families. This was the first time they were called young masters, and they felt goosebumps all over.

"No need, no need."

"This is...

Truffle chocolate!"

Just entertaining two classmates, isn't it a bit too exaggerated!

A middle-aged man with a refined temperament walked out of the villa.

Had long been thrown to the back of their minds.

Looking at the beach where the painting style changed suddenly, Oshitari Yuushi and Chitose looked at each other and clicked their tongues.

However, when Oshitari inadvertently swept over the various exquisite snacks on the table, his pupils shrank suddenly.

After all, for a guy who can treat this kind of happiness as daily life, it's not their turn to worry!

Damn...

What an enviable guy!

Watching the sunset slowly disappear from the sea level, Atobe's heart was complex and difficult to express.

He was not frustrated because he lost to Yuuki Satoru, nor was he dejected because of it.

Just as Chitose thought, Atobe was never someone who couldn't afford to lose.

It's just...

No matter how miserably he lost before, after hard training, he could always evolve quickly.

Even if he lost to the same person many times, he could catch up with the opponent in constant exchanges and complete the transcendence in the end.

However, the appearance of Yuuki Satoru broke this long-standing tacit understanding.

When he first saw him, although he lost, he could see the opponent's level clearly.

That was a height that could be touched as long as one worked hard and jumped hard.

By the time of the Du Da Sai, Yuuki Satoru played against Tezuka.

Atobe witnessed the entire evolution process of Yuuki Satoru with his own eyes, and that figure surrounded by blue thunder lingered in his mind for a long time.

At this time, he realized that the opponent was also evolving rapidly.

It was precisely because of this reason that he went to Osaka for a training camp, and his daily hard training never stopped.

However, that match yesterday...

Atobe closed his eyes, his expression cold as frost.

It was only a month...

He had already completely failed to see through that guy!

He didn't even show his wild stance, and only used one move, Locked Heart, to make him helpless, ending the entire match easily as if playing.

Thinking of that humiliating score.

Atobe clenched his fists, his nails almost embedded in his flesh, producing a piercing pain.

Compared to Yuuki Satoru, his so-called high-speed evolution was simply laughable.

The evening sea breeze blew, exceptionally cold.

But it couldn't compare to the severe cold in Atobe's heart at this moment.

"What should I do next?"

As soon as this question appeared in his mind, Atobe already knew the answer.

"Of course, I must chase after him even if I have to fight for my life!"

Whether it is himself or Bing Di...

It is absolutely impossible to just admit defeat like this!

"In other words, you intend to devote yourself entirely to tennis..."

A sneering voice suddenly sounded in the bottom of his heart, asking a question that Atobe found difficult to answer.

"Then what about the Atobe Group?"

An extremely sharp question.

Atobe, who was preparing to catch up, hesitated.

And that voice continued to mock:

"Attendants in groups, mansions all over the world, never having to worry about money since birth.

Atobe Keigo, you have always enjoyed a happy life that others cannot get in their entire lives.

Why is this?"

"..."

"Why, can't you speak?"

"You know better than anyone in your heart that all of this comes from the love and care of your parents.

So...

Even so, you still choose tennis and give up the inheritance right of the Atobe Group?

They have spent so much energy on you and given such deep expectations and care, just hoping that you can lead the Atobe Group to be even greater.

Our Atobe-sama, do you intend to repay them like this?!"

Silence...

Tennis, family business...

Just perfecting one of them would require a lot of his energy.

Wanting to take care of both and achieve what he expected in his heart, this is almost impossible.

Something for nothing!

To get something, one must exchange it with something else.

At this time, Atobe suddenly remembered a sentence Coach Sakaki had said.

"I believe a true tennis player needs these three qualities.

Just like an osprey flashing across the water to catch a fish; just like an antelope leaping over a cliff; just like an epiphyllum blooming briefly, the beauty of the moment casting an instant of eternity."

At that time, he couldn't quite understand it, but now he had some realization.

A tennis player who wants to achieve success cannot do without three qualities.

First is calmness.

Like an osprey flashing across the water, catching the fish in an instant.

Tennis players need to maintain sufficient calmness during fierce exchanges, so as to make correct choices in adversity and seize the fleeting opportunity.

Second is trade-offs.

When the entire tribe faces a life-and-death crisis, the old antelope will build a bridge of life for the young antelope, and the miracle of life of the antelope leaping over the cliff will be born on the cliff.

For the continuation of the race, the antelope herd made a choice in the dilemma.

And what the final epiphyllum blooming briefly represents, Atobe couldn't understand for the time being.

However...

He is now wandering before the barrier of trade-offs, finding it difficult to choose.

Tennis and the Atobe Group...

No matter which one he chooses, it means he has to give up the other.

But for Atobe, both of these are extremely important things to him.

"Is it choosing to die handsomely, or struggling to live miserably?"

Giving up the things he cherishes, living miserably in the life after, forever regretting the choice of the past...

Or wanting everything.

Even if he spends the greatest energy, it is possible that he will not do anything well and become a loser in both fields.

Although it looks handsome, the final result...

The old antelope and the young antelope are captured by the hunter behind them together!

Handsome death!

"It's really shameful..."

Atobe lowered his head and let out a self-deprecating sneer. He actually had such an indecisive day.

However, it is time to make a choice.

The next day, the second round of the Kanto Tournament begins! ===== CHAPTER 130 =====