Chapter 64: Atobe's Anger

Busy searching for Takahashi's tracks, Atobe did not pay much attention to the Metropolitan Tournament taking place at the time.

He had assumed that with Hyotei's strength, taking the Metropolitan Tournament championship would be an easy matter.

Unexpectedly, Hyotei's second-string team at the Metropolitan Tournament actually lost to an obscure school—Fudomine.

This made Atobe, as Captain, feel very annoyed.

Atobe temporarily set aside his focus on Takahashi and turned his attention to his own Tennis Club.

If they lost the revival tournament as well.

Hyotei would be stopped at the Metropolitan Tournament and wouldn't even be able to enter the Kanto Tournament; that would truly be a huge joke.

Finally, having dispatched several Regular Members, Hyotei successfully won the revival tournament and advanced to the Kanto Tournament with a "good" result of fifth place.

Atobe, who had been busy for over ten days, finally had some free time.

On this day, he came to the Street Tennis Court again.

However, the atmosphere upon his arrival this time was vastly different from before.

Everyone at the Street Tennis Court was talking and spreading news with excitement and agitation about how terrifying and powerful the tennis ball Takahashi hit that night was.

It was as if, as people who had played tennis on the same court, they now had the capital to talk big because of Takahashi.

Some busybodies even grabbed Atobe, talked to him incessantly for half an hour about Takahashi's prowess, and pointed out the pit Takahashi had hit to Atobe.

Of course, that piece of ground was no longer allowed to be used for tennis and had been specially protected; this was the glory of their tennis court.

The other courts at the tennis court could be used normally.

Besides this, they were also preparing to pool money together to customize a plaque to place nearby, to show to future generations.

They had even thought of what to write on the plaque, which was: The Heaven-Shocking Shot!

This made the usually arrogant Atobe unhappy; he was so wise and mighty, yet no one had ever thought of erecting a plaque for him.

A mere Takahashi who played street tennis had actually received such treatment.

How preposterous!

However, when Atobe actually saw the pit in the concrete, he fell silent.

Was this something a tennis ball could hit?

Was it caused by that small, elastic.

Yellow little ball weighing about 58 grams?

Atobe felt his worldview had been challenged.

For this reason, he specifically consulted Hyotei's Coach, Sakaki Taro.

This is how Sakaki Taro answered.

Atobe recalled the scene at that time, and it remained deeply etched in his memory to this day.

"Atobe, although your tennis technique is superb and you are an excellent Captain, you are, after all, still a middle school student and do not understand the darkness of society."

"Street Tennis Courts are only frequented by thugs who lack real ability."

"They don't care about improving their strength; they only care about how to brag."

"Turning black into white is the goal they pursue."

"Hearsay, rumors, and fabrications."

"You understand the meaning of these words, right!"

"I originally thought that Inoue Mamoru, who has been a reporter for over a decade, had good judgment, and that Takahashi, who could be favored by him, must have decent strength."

"It was us who thought too much; a layman is a layman after all!"

"A reporter's mouth is unreliable!"

"Takahashi has at most a little bit of strength, but his strength is extremely limited!"

"People who are truly capable are all very humble and low-key."

"Only half-baked people go around bragging."

"And to even erect a plaque, it's truly ridiculous! Absurd!"

"Atobe, as the Captain of the prestigious tennis school Hyotei, you should associate less with these people, lest you lower your own level."

……

Regarding this, Atobe expressed that he had been instructed.

Those who are older truly have more experience!

Having an elder in the house is like having a treasure!

Having a coach in the club is like having a supreme treasure!

At the same time, Atobe was extremely dissatisfied with Takahashi for acting in such a way.

He had a little strength, but not much.

Yet he dared to be even more arrogant and overbearing than him, Atobe Keigo!

Even he, who was known as the "Emperor" of Hyotei, had never thought of erecting a plaque for himself.

Takahashi actually dared to have such an idea.

How preposterous!

It is simply preposterous!!

Moreover, such a clown had actually made Atobe waste so much time searching for him.

Feeling deeply offended, Atobe decided to give Takahashi a stern warning.

He would make him realize how vast the world was and how small his own strength was.

An ant is just an ant!

The light of a firefly dares to compete with the sun and moon for brilliance!

Therefore, Atobe brought the meddlesome Oshitari and Mukahi to the Street Tennis Court.

……

At this moment, the people at the Street Tennis Court were all lying on the ground, groaning in pain.

Hearing the words of Oshitari and Mukahi, they felt extremely indignant in their hearts.

A bold person spoke up.

"You can only defeat us; our strength is indeed not up to par."

"But that does not mean there are no experts at this tennis court."

"Once you encounter the strongest of our tennis court—Takahashi, you will only be left begging for mercy on your knees."

The others also chimed in.

"That's right."

"What kind of achievement is it to bully the weak! If you have the ability, go challenge the strong!"

"Only finding a sense of accomplishment in those weaker than yourselves, your level is nothing more than this."

Hearing these words, Atobe's eyes narrowed, and a sharp gaze shot toward them.

"What did you say!"

Oshitari spoke up: "Atobe, don't get angry over this trash."

"Their strength is right there; the whole tennis court is trash, and the strongest one is only strong among trash; they are simply not on the same level as us."

"Playing with them is just to pass our time; it is not worth getting angry for them."

As soon as Oshitari's voice fell, Mukahi said to one of them: "Then bring over the strongest one you speak of, and let's have a match to see who is strong and who is weak."

That person hesitated and said: "This..."

Mukahi laughed: "Stammering like that, could it be that the strongest one you speak of was scared away after hearing our names!"

That person said firmly: "Impossible, Takahashi is the recognized strongest of our tennis court."

"His dignity as a king will not allow your provocation!"

Once these words were spoken, they triggered a chorus of agreement.

"Right, well said!"

"Although our strength is poor, even if you defeat us, we will not acknowledge you as the strongest of this tennis court."

"Takahashi is the only one recognized as the strongest in all of our hearts!"

……

Atobe did not expect that this group of thugs, when mentioning Takahashi, would actually argue with them with such great momentum, even though they all looked like useless cowards who couldn't be helped.

This made him even angrier.

"I am the strongest of this tennis court!"

"If you are not convinced, bring the strongest one you speak of, and I will beat him until he is!"

Atobe said loudly.

Oshitari covered his forehead, speechless; he did not expect Atobe's competitive spirit to flare up at a time like this.

The strongest of the Street Tennis Court.

This kind of title, it doesn't matter at all, right!

Even if one had it, it would be hard to present in polite society.

You couldn't possibly introduce yourself before a match with others as the strongest of some street tennis court in Tokyo.

Wouldn't that make others laugh their heads off?

Only people with mediocre strength would care about such a title.

At the same time, Oshitari discovered a problem, and he said to the person lying not far from him:

"It's strange, since you keep saying that Takahashi is the strongest of your tennis court, and your group of lackeys has already been bullied, why hasn't he appeared to settle the score for you?"

That person fell silent at once.