Chapter 54: Apprenticeship

Takahashi Yanichi sat in his reclining chair, feeling carefree and at ease.

He couldn't help but exclaim, "This is what you call life!"

The perks of being Captain are just too good!

All the big and small chores of the Tennis Club are handed over to the Vice Captain, while he himself can sit in the office every day.

Of course, if he gets bored, he can also go out for a walk.

If he gets tired or annoyed from walking outside, he can come back and sit for a while.

There is no need to labor or toil over trivial matters.

He can even enjoy the gazes of admiration from the club members!

Sure enough, his decision back then was the right one!

The position of Vice Captain is not something a human can endure!

It was fortunate that during the time he was Vice Captain, he had Sanada to help handle the affairs.

Now he can finally escape the position of Vice Captain in time; otherwise, if it went on for too long, he would become as weathered as Sanada at such a young age!

He truly has foresight!

"Creak!"

The sound of the door being pushed open rang out.

A small seaweed-like head peeked out from the edge of the door.

"Hmm?"

Takahashi was puzzled.

Kirihara walked in on tiptoe.

After listening to Kirihara's explanation, Takahashi understood his intentions.

It turned out that Kirihara wanted to take him as his master!

"As far as I know, it has always been Sanada managing you, right?" Takahashi said indifferently.

Before Takahashi joined the Tennis Club, Kirihara Akaya had always been the candidate for the next Captain in the hearts of the Three Giants.

The Three Giants held huge expectations for Kirihara.

Therefore, Kirihara's daily practice had always been managed personally by Sanada.

Tailor-made!

The training volume was extremely high!

"Captain, you are so amazing! Just after joining the club, in less than three months, you defeated Sanada and Yukimura one after another!"

"You have only been practicing tennis for about three months, yet you achieved such terrifying results; you are a peerless genius!"

"I believe your practice methods must be even more scientific and effective..."

Listening to Kirihara's continuous stream of praise, Takahashi nodded, feeling very satisfied.

He had originally thought that Kirihara had come with ill intentions.

Because of the sudden appearance of Takahashi Yanichi, Kirihara, who originally had a chance to become Captain next year, was now completely cut off from the position.

Takahashi is only in his first year now; if nothing unexpected happens, and no peerless genius more talented than Takahashi appears (which Takahashi believes is impossible), Takahashi can hold the position of Captain until his third year.

And by that time, Kirihara would have already moved on to high school.

It could be said that Kirihara's hope of becoming Captain was ruthlessly severed by Takahashi.

Seeing Kirihara come to the office alone during training hours, he thought he would have some emotional baggage!

He never expected that he had come to take him as his master!

This was far beyond Takahashi's expectations!

Actually, this is not hard to understand.

Kirihara's goal when he fought hard to get into Rikkai was to become the number one in the number one tennis school in the country!

However, his hopes were ruthlessly destroyed by the Three Giants back then.

He did not change his original intention and always aimed to defeat the Three Giants.

Month after month, he kept challenging them.

What he met with, however, was failure after failure.

Amidst constant failure, Kirihara Akaya kept firming up his determination to defeat the Three Giants.

Although Takahashi Yanichi also defeated him.

The obsession with defeating the Three Giants had already been firmly imprinted in Kirihara's heart for two years.

Therefore, compared to Takahashi, Kirihara's obsession with defeating the Three Giants is more profound.

Coupled with the extraordinary talent Takahashi displayed—practicing tennis for less than three months and successfully defeating Captain Yukimura.

It is simply monstrous talent.

Compared to wanting to defeat Takahashi, Kirihara feels more awe toward Takahashi.

Because what happened to Takahashi is far beyond the scope of his understanding; it is something he wouldn't even dare to imagine.

In the face of such terrifying strength, Kirihara cannot muster the thought of challenging him; he only wants to worship him!

Thus, he thought of the path of taking him as his master.

If he could successfully take Takahashi Yanichi as his master, his future strength would surely increase greatly.

Even defeating the Three Giants would no longer be a dream!

Conversely, if he remained under the management of the Three Giants, he would forever only be able to follow in their footsteps, with no day to surpass them.

But if he takes Takahashi as his master, this is a master of another level, and he would be in contact with another world!

Then his goal of defeating the Three Giants would have a possibility of being realized!

As for wanting to defeat Takahashi, the current Kirihara does not have such thoughts in the slightest.

Did he not see that even Sanada and Yukimura were defeated by Takahashi's hands?

How could he set such a high-difficulty, almost impossible goal for himself?

……

"No!"

Takahashi interrupted Kirihara's words and answered firmly.

"Why?" Kirihara asked, puzzled.

Takahashi did not want to pay him any mind and said indifferently: "Now is training time; if you leave without permission, you will be punished."

"Ah?" Kirihara opened his mouth wide.

"Hurry up and train, and I will pretend I didn't see anything; otherwise, I will have to punish you by making you run laps!"

Takahashi said.

"This!" Kirihara was a bit anxious.

"I will count to three, 3... 2..."

Before Takahashi could finish speaking, Kirihara ran off in a flash.

Watching Kirihara's fleeing figure, Takahashi smiled slightly.

Kirihara's idea was very beautiful, but Takahashi was not willing to have one more trouble.

It was not easy for him to defeat Yukimura and successfully free himself from the position of Vice Captain; he was not willing to worry about such trivial matters!

Such things should be left to the Vice Captain to worry about!

Even his own training had to be left to the Idle Character to worry about, so how could he possibly be responsible for another person's training?

What a dream!

……

The next morning.

Eight o'clock sharp.

Takahashi arrived at the Tennis Club while yawning.

After all, having just become Captain for a few days, he still had to put on a show; he could not skip morning training.

Just as he pushed open his locker, he saw a bag placed next to it.

Inside the bag was a carton of milk, a sandwich, and a rice ball; the rice ball was still steaming.

"Captain Takahashi, this is the breakfast I prepared for you!"

Just as Takahashi was puzzled, Kirihara's voice rang out from the side.

Takahashi turned around and shifted his gaze toward him.

"Captain, if you have anything you need in the future, just order me; I will definitely be there whenever you call!"

Kirihara said, his tone full of obsequiousness.

"Thank you for your kindness, but it is not necessary!"

Takahashi said as he walked away.

……

Noon.

After finishing his lunch, Takahashi returned to the classroom.

Several bottles of drinks were already placed on his desk.

Cola, Sprite, orange juice, and they were all still cold!

Takahashi looked up and found Kirihara standing outside the door.

Seeing Takahashi's gaze, Kirihara hurriedly revealed a smiling face.

……

For several days in a row, Takahashi could see Kirihara's figure appearing around him.

This could not go on!

Takahashi felt like he was being stalked.

This feeling was not pleasant.

Finally, one morning, Takahashi accepted the breakfast prepared by Kirihara and began a conversation with him.

"Captain, in the past few days, I have reflected deeply and understood your meaning."

Kirihara said very sincerely.

"Hm?"

Takahashi felt very confused.

My meaning? What meaning? Was my refusal not obvious enough?

He only heard Kirihara say slowly:

"As someone with great strength, it is my honor that you are willing to guide me, and it is also right if you are unwilling, as your time is so precious after all."

"When I want to take you as a master, what I should consider is not what you can bring me, but what I can do for you?"

"I was too selfish and too self-interested, only wanting to take from you!"

Hearing these words, Takahashi became a bit interested and said: "So?"

Kirihara continued: "So, I should contribute first, offer my sincere heart to you first, and do things for you until I move you, and then you will be willing to guide me!"

"For small things like preparing breakfast or buying drinks, you can safely leave them to me; no need to trouble yourself!"

Takahashi could not help but look up at Kirihara.

I couldn't help but change my opinion of him; I had originally thought he was someone brainless, foolish, and prone to making a fuss over nothing, but I hadn't expected him to actually have some brains!