Chapter 40: Yamamoto and Kimura's Counterproductive Efforts

In the blink of an eye, it was time for afternoon training.

Takahashi Yanichi stood by the side of the Court with his hands behind his back, watching the crowd running not far away.

His mood was extremely pleasant!

So this was what it felt like to be a Vice Captain!

While others were running, he not only didn't have to run, but could also stand on the sidelines and watch.

Watching them out of breath and panting with exhaustion.

Aside from there being a few too many chores, this feeling of others training while he was openly slacking off—no, supervising—was actually so great!

"Don't fall behind, keep the formation neat!" Sanada spoke up to remind them.

Not only could he supervise with his eyes, but he could also offer guidance with his words.

Thinking about how, although Sanada had many things to worry about, he had enjoyed this wonderful feeling for nearly three years.

Takahashi felt that this position of Vice Captain was not as unbearable as he had imagined.

There are gains and losses!

This taste of managing others and bossing them around was truly excellent!

But the trivial chores still gave Takahashi a headache!

He had decided that for this month, all chores would be left for Sanada to handle.

Supervising the members' training and offering a bit of guidance.

This task would still be completed by him personally!

He didn't mind the fatigue, didn't mind the hardship!

He continued to wander around the Court!

But his status had changed, and his mindset had undergone a tremendous transformation!

This feeling of having great power in his hands was not something that simply slacking off or rotting away could compare to.

The joy of a Vice Captain was not something an ordinary member could understand!

The basic physical training ended, and the members dispersed to their respective training areas.

Takahashi felt a bit thirsty and prepared to go buy a drink.

Just as he was about to leave, he was called out.

"Takahashi!"

His classmate Yamamoto Taro called out to him.

"I heard you challenged the Vice Captain yesterday and defeated him, is that true?"

"Are you now replacing Sanada as the Vice Captain?"

Yamamoto asked, extremely surprised and in disbelief.

Yamamoto Taro and Kimura Kojiro were not official members of the Tennis Club; they had previously been granted special permission by Sanada to participate in afternoon training to help other members pick up balls and move equipment.

Therefore, they had not heard Yukimura's announcement in the morning.

When they came for training in the afternoon, they saw other members respectfully calling Takahashi "Vice Captain."

They felt extremely horrified.

In just a few short hours, how had the whole world changed!

It wasn't until the running practice, when Takahashi and Sanada stood together to watch them train,

that the two of them could barely accept this fact.

Accept this abnormal world!

The two of them couldn't even pass the most basic assessment of the Tennis Club, and relying on Sanada's mercy, they barely counted as peripheral staff of the Tennis Club.

They never expected that Takahashi, who had even less tennis experience than them, would not only successfully pass the assessment and enter the Tennis Club,

but actually manage to sit in the position of Vice Captain in just one month!

What kind of monster was this!

This gap between people!

It was truly bigger than the gap between a person and a dog!

Comparing people to people, it's enough to make one die of anger!

At the same time, they also discovered a serious matter.

That was, the Vice Captain who had originally granted them special permission to participate in training had been replaced!

So their future!

Would now have to be tied to Takahashi!

Yamamoto Taro felt nothing about this, because he had always worshipped Takahashi as his idol.

With Takahashi becoming Vice Captain, he only felt that his own judgment was truly good.

Look, the person he treated as an idol was indeed formidable.

And he, who could see that Takahashi was so formidable, was also quite formidable!

But Kimura Kojiro's mindset was complicated.

Back then, he, who had three years of tennis experience, had lost to Takahashi, who had only been practicing for a month, during the Tennis Club assessment.

In fact, even earlier, during the first training session of the Tennis Club, in that match that couldn't even be considered official, he had already lost and fled under the guise of needing to use the bathroom!

He watched Takahashi grow step by step from a novice.

The distance between himself and Takahashi grew further and further apart!

Until today, when Takahashi became the Vice Captain of the Tennis Club!

Not only was he completely suppressed by him, but even whether he could enter the Tennis Club required Takahashi's nod.

The bitterness in his heart was hard to express!

Although the world was so cruel to him, he could not stop his steps.

One step behind, every step behind!

To fall behind is to be beaten!

Only by constantly improving can one avoid being eliminated by society!

He plastered a full smile on his face and said flatteringly to Takahashi, "Vice Captain, where are you going? Just let me run the small errands!"

Takahashi looked at the two of them and replied indifferently, "Hmm, going to buy some drinks!"

"Alright, I'll go buy them for you, you just rest!" Kimura, acting like a lackey, dragged Yamamoto away.

While running, Kimura said to Yamamoto, "In the Tennis Club, he is the Vice Captain, how can you call him by his name directly? You must call him Vice Captain!"

Yamamoto:...

Just a moment ago he looked listless, and now he has this lackey appearance. I have to say, the speed of Kimura's change in mindset also made Yamamoto admire him.

Not far away, Sanada took in this entire scene.

The first-years this year are all weirdos!

Except for Takahashi, the others are really full of drama.

Recalling how Yamamoto Taro and Kimura Kojiro had once expressed their love for tennis and their longing for the Tennis Club before him with earnest words and tears.

He had been moved by them and specially approved for the two of them to participate in training together with the other regular members.

He originally thought they had a sincere heart for tennis, but he didn't expect them to be so inconsistent.

Look, only a few days later, and they've already started learning to slack off!

Sanada had wanted to go up and reprimand them, but seeing Takahashi standing right there, he immediately dismissed the thought.

Without the status of Vice Captain, it wouldn't be appropriate to speak!

If the name is not right, the words will not carry weight!

Evening.

After club activities ended.

Sanada called out to Takahashi.

He tactfully expressed a few things to him.

The first thing was about the upcoming Kanagawa Regional Tournament, for which the Vice Captain needs to draft the roster.

Rikkai has always been led by the Vice Captain, and has always been able to win first place.

Sanada emphasized the tone especially on "first place."

Although he was very confident in the strength of his club members, Takahashi's free and casual personality made Sanada very worried.

No matter how simple the match is, one must go all out and never slack off!

This is Sanada's consistent principle of doing things!

The second thing was about the management of club members. Only through persistent training and constant strict self-discipline can one continue to improve.

For members who slack off and are negligent, one must criticize them seriously so they deeply realize their mistakes and never repeat them!

Especially for the first-years!

Takahashi indicated that he is very happy to handle management and education!

As for the roster, as the new Vice Captain, he wasn't very familiar with the business, so he asked Sanada to draft a rough copy first to serve as his reference.

Just kidding! He didn't even know who the opponents were, so how could he draft this roster?

Such a troublesome matter should just be left to Sanada!

At the same time, Takahashi did not forget to express his affirmation and appreciation for Sanada's many years of work!