You must believe that there is light in this world.

“Old grudges, is it?” Yakutsu seemed to be studying the boy, and after a long moment, he spoke slowly. “I can tell you what happened with Hajime Mizuki, but what I want to know is—do you really have the ability to assemble a powerful team, to fight your way through every opponent, and win the national championship?” It wasn’t that he distrusted Mei Matsubara; Yakutsu simply felt that this kid had struggled enough just playing against him. If he planned to build a truly formidable team, there would surely be even more fearsome opponents lying in wait.

From what Yakutsu knew, this year’s new students at Hyotei Academy included the so-called “King” Keigo Atobe, Yushi Oshitari with his thousand techniques, and the astute Daisuke Taki. And it wasn’t only Hyotei—there was also Rikkai’s trio: “Child of God” Seiichi Yukimura, “Emperor” Genichiro Sanada, and the invincible data master Renji Yanagi.

“If you doubt my abilities,” Mei Matsubara said with a soft laugh, “why don’t we play another match? Tennis or karate—either is fine by me.”

“No, that’s enough.” Remembering his recent, embarrassing defeat, Yakutsu felt a surge of shame; he had no wish to be trounced by this kid a second time.

After listening to Yakutsu’s account, Mei Matsubara nodded thoughtfully. It seemed Hajime Mizuki’s intentions weren’t far from his own suspicions. Seeing the boy lost in thought, Yakutsu asked, “So what do you plan to do? Go back to school and tell your captain everything?”

“No,” Mei Matsubara replied, shaking his head, a sly grin spreading across his face. “You need to act like we just met, at least in front of Hajime Mizuki. Put on a show of being at odds with me—on the surface, you’re on his side, but no matter what he does, keep your distance. When the time comes, I’ll need you to turn on him.”

Yakutsu’s throat bobbed; he swallowed the words, “Are you ordering me around?” Though he felt awkward, he nodded silently. “So, outwardly I’m still in league with Mizuki, but in reality, we’re just putting on a show for him. If necessary, we can set him up.”

“Not bad.” Mei Matsubara put on a comical face and praised him. “Well, there’s no need to make yourself out to be so devious. What harm can we do? We just want to make things a little difficult for that guy, that’s all.”

Seeing Yakutsu so compliant, the boy felt a little out of sorts. He remembered, from watching Prince of Tennis, that those characters who started out as antagonists were usually pure in their own way, only acting so detestable because of their seriousness—especially bratty types like Akaya Kirihara and Hajime Mizuki.

But Yakutsu was different from them. After being beaten by Ryoma Echizen, he seemed even more tsundere. Even though he later helped Ryoma overcome his mental block, his character arc was nearly perfect. So why was he so obedient to him now?

The truth was, Yakutsu’s attitude was shaped by realizing that this kid’s thinking was far ahead of Mizuki’s. Recruiting strong players from everywhere to win the national championship was something Yakutsu had never even considered. From the moment this boy began planting such ideas in his mind, it was as if a new world had opened up for him. Meanwhile, all Mizuki ever did was play dirty and flaunt his data collection, acting as if he had everything under control. Such tactics had never interested Yakutsu in the slightest.

And then there was the fact that Mei Matsubara was the first person ever to defeat him, both in tennis and in karate—that moment when a single finger stopped his punch was still vivid in his mind. He didn’t say it aloud, but deep down, Yakutsu couldn’t help but feel a trace of respect and awe for this kid with both brains and strength.

By the time the two of them returned to the tennis courts, Taichi Dan and Masami Higashikata’s match had concluded, with Masami winning 6-1.

Though he had lost, Taichi Dan’s undaunted spirit deeply moved Masami. During the game, Masami had noticed Dan’s strengths, and at his suggestion, Taichi decided to step back from being a player for the time being and start as the team’s manager, learning the ropes from the ground up.

Evergreen Academy.

Compared to Yamabuki Middle School, Evergreen was slightly more run-down. Yakutsu glanced around casually, and as he heard the boy’s voice, he looked over.

“This is our tennis court,” Mei Matsubara said, pointing. “Oh, that’s our captain, Kunimitsu Tezuka, and the vice-captain, Syusuke Fuji. Everyone else in the blue uniforms—those are our regulars.”

“Kunimitsu Tezuka…” Yakutsu’s indifferent gaze turned to surprise when he saw the bespectacled boy standing by the iron gate. To think that the one who had defeated last year’s junior tournament runner-up, Genichiro Sanada, was here at a school like Evergreen—and the so-called “Genius” Syusuke Fuji was here, too.

“Captain, Vice-Captain, this is Jin Yakutsu, who just transferred from Yamabuki today,” Mei Matsubara announced. Tezuka, arms folded, nodded slightly, while Fuji smiled in his usual way. “Welcome to the team, Jin Yakutsu.”

“Mm.” Yakutsu shook Fuji’s hand awkwardly, and as Matsubara glanced around, he raised a hand to his forehead. “Huh, I don’t see Mizuki anywhere.”

“Mizuki seemed to be busy with something,” Fuji replied with a smile.

“Matsubara, take Yakutsu to get a uniform,” Tezuka said in an even tone.

“Right!” Matsubara turned and beckoned Yakutsu to follow.

On their way, the two came across Hajime Mizuki, who was taking notes by a side court. Under Yakutsu’s gaze, Mei Matsubara walked up, grinning, and patted Mizuki on the shoulder. “Hey, Mizuki, hard at work I see?”

“Ah, it’s you, Matsubara…” Mizuki turned, smiling instinctively, but upon seeing the boy standing perfectly unharmed before him—and Yakutsu, who was supposed to have taught Matsubara a lesson, now following him—he was momentarily speechless.

Mizuki couldn’t make sense of it. Why did Matsubara look completely unscathed? And why was Yakutsu, who’d been instructed to give him a beating, now here as his companion?

“What’s wrong? Seen a ghost?” Mei Matsubara chuckled, seeing Mizuki’s stiff expression.

“Wha—what are you talking about, Matsubara? Who ever sees ghosts in broad daylight?” Mizuki scratched his head, laughing awkwardly.

“Well, that’s true. Nasty things like ghosts only come out at night, right? Since they’re afraid of the light, they sneak around doing shady things when no one’s looking. That’s probably why everyone dislikes them so much.” Matsubara smacked his fist into his palm in mock realization.

“Ha…yeah, you’re right!” Mizuki tried to smile politely, but he couldn’t shake the feeling he was being insulted.

Unconsciously, he glanced again at the watermelon-headed boy standing beside Matsubara. At this moment, Mizuki felt both bewildered and defeated.

“Here, let me introduce you. This is Jin Yakutsu, who just transferred from Yamabuki today. And Yakutsu, this is Hajime Mizuki, the brilliant strategist I told you about on the way here—he’s a real powerhouse at Evergreen Academy.”

Mizuki swallowed hard. What on earth was going on? He distinctly remembered telling Yakutsu to ignore anything Matsubara said and just give him a thorough beating. So how had he ended up transferring here with Matsubara?

Yakutsu, catching the odd tone in Matsubara’s final words, immediately understood, and played along, responding coldly, “I see.”

“See, I told you, Yakutsu’s not nearly as dangerous or scary as you made him out to be, Mizuki. Oh, and I have to admit, his skills are really impressive. I almost lost to him—if I hadn’t managed to come back with five straight points after dropping two games, things might have turned out very differently.”

“You came back from five games down?” Mizuki’s first thought was that Matsubara was playing possum again. During their own match, he’d intentionally lost a point, then crushed Mizuki 6-1!

“That’s impossible! Who would be so shameless as to let five go and then make a comeback? No matter where we are, we have to believe there’s still light in this world!” Matsubara feigned disbelief, slinging an arm around Mizuki’s shoulders and speaking with heartfelt sincerity.