Prince of Tennis: Shocking! Hyotei's Demon King is a Yukimura fangirl!

Over at the Hyotei rest area.

The expressions of those people who were tense just a moment ago are now as varied as if they've been on a rollercoaster.

Shishido's furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. Then he curled the corners of his mouth into a smile, his jawline softening slightly. "It's Atobe... I really thought Oshitari was going to make his move."

"Atobe actually played singles second... How did Ling know the Seigaku would let Tezuka play singles second?" Jiro leaned forward, clinging to the railing, his eyes sparkling. "What if Tezuka didn't go? Wouldn't Atobe lose face big time...?"

"Ling won't let that 'what if' happen." Shishido interrupted him, though his voice was still harsh, though his earlier anger had subsided considerably. "Since he dared to make such a claim, it means he's absolutely certain."

Feng nodded, her face showing an expression that was hard to tell whether it was surprise or admiration: "...Coach Wangyue probably started preparing much earlier than we thought."

"Yeah, Ryo never intended for Tezuka to dodge." Taki silently opened and closed his tactics notebook, his voice so low it was as if he were talking to himself: "He put the captain on the coach's bench to pressure Kabaji, and then put Tezuka, the second singles player, on the bench. He planned every move perfectly. This guy..."

He was interrupted by Kirihara's commotion before he could finish speaking.

Kirihara sprang to his feet from a crouching position, nearly knocking Marui off balance. Once upright, his eyes widened, his mouth gaped open enough to fit an egg, and his seaweed-like curls seemed to stand on end: "What's going on?! Atobe-senpai is playing the second singles too!"

"Careful... Akaya." Marui stumbled forward half a step after being bumped, the cake in his hand falling directly onto his clothes. After regaining his balance, he elbowed him back. "But... I really didn't expect this. It can't be that Atobe wanted to play, so he had the referee change the list on the spot..."

"Marui, what nonsense are you spouting? The list was uploaded to the Tennis Association for filing this morning. How could it be changed so easily?" Sanada's voice cut in from the side, stern as always, directly interrupting him. "Hyotei must have submitted this list this morning."

Marui shrank back, swallowing the rest of his words, and muttered softly, "I know, I know... I was just too surprised."

Kuwabara handed him a tissue and whispered, "Bunta, say less."

Kirihara leaned against the railing, his mouth still agape, unable to close it for a long time: "With Atobe-senpai on the field, didn't Seigaku's plan all go to waste?"

"Of course." Renwang's voice drifted from behind him, carrying that lazy, gossipy smile. "Aka, in China, this situation is called 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.' Understand?"

"...I don't quite understand."

"It means that just when you think you've got the victory in the bag, the big boss already has a knife to your throat." Niou explained using an analogy Kirihara could understand, then leaned back on Yagyu's shoulder, looking at Atobe who was still posing, his fox-like eyes crinkling with laughter, and whistled loudly: "Not bad, Atobe, that's pretty flamboyant. Puppina~"

"Now things are getting interesting. Seigaku thought they had Hyotei's lineup figured out, but Hyotei had already moved their captain to singles second place. They tried to outmaneuver Hyotei but ended up losing more than they gained." He said, shifting his gaze from the court to Mochizuki Ryo on the sidelines, his eyes crinkling with laughter. "I told you Ryo was a cunning fellow. He was really good at hiding his true intentions; we were all fooled by him."

"He who schemes against others will always be schemed against." Liu Sheng pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting a gleam, his eyes filled with approval. "That move, striking after the enemy has already taken advantage of his own scheme, was quite brilliant."

Liu flipped to his previous notes, crossing out the question mark he had drawn on the paper with a single stroke of his pen. "Hyotei's lineup logic is indeed unconventional. Given Atobe's flamboyant personality, he usually appears as the final player in singles. This time, Mochizuki Ryo placing Atobe in singles second clearly shows a perfect prediction of Seigaku's coach's lineup style. This is a complete information advantage."

"Data updated now. Atobe vs. Tezuka. Judging from the data from the last training camp, Atobe's overall strength has been increasing. Based on this, Hyotei's chances of winning are actually higher. Hyotei's probability of advancing has risen back to 80%."

After listening to Liu's data, Sanada took half a step forward, placed his hands on the railing, relaxed his tense face a little, and the disapproval in his eyes faded considerably, replaced by a complex and indescribable emotion.

No matter what.

The current reversal... at least makes this duel finally return to a fair and square "strongest versus strongest" match.

As Wang Yueling listened, she tilted her head slightly, leaned against the railing, and gazed at the flamboyant and dazzling figure on the field. She then imagined the "Little Peacock Atobe Animation" she had drawn and couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth into a smile.

Watching this turn of events unfold, Irie clapped and laughed, "Brilliant, Coach Mochizuki! I really thought you'd given that 'genius glasses' some kind of secret weapon, but it turns out you just hid your ace in the coaching bench. A tactical battle with the opposing coach!"

Mochizuki Ryou turned her head to look at him, a hint of amusement in her azure eyes: "What Irie-senpai said is true; tactics are weapons too."

"Indeed, indeed." Irie raised an eyebrow, his sunglasses sliding down his nose slightly before he pushed them back up. "That's called an open strategy. You're blatantly telling Seigaku... I know what you're up to, and I'm just waiting here. Coupled with your team captain's eye-catching opening act, that's far more ruthless than any underhanded psychological warfare."

Mochizuki Ryo raised an eyebrow as he listened to Atobe's opening performance, his tone carrying the undisguised pride of a master praising a "prodigy of the sect." "Of course. Keigo is the star today."

There was no way Tezuka could escape it.

Forget about the strategy of Tian Ji's horse racing or the strategy of taking advantage of an easy opponent; none of these matters in the face of absolute strength.

His "number one in the world" disciple never sought victory through opportunism.

He wanted a head-on confrontation, to crush all his opponent's schemes and charisma, and to win the game in the most spectacular way.

This is the true emperor of Hyotei, Atobe Keigo.

Tokugawa stood beside Irie, remaining silent. His gaze lingered on the two figures facing each other in the arena for a long while. Then he murmured, "A very interesting tactical duel."

Irie turned to look at him: "It's rare to hear you praise the same person twice in one day."

"It's not praise," Tokugawa's voice was flat, "it's an objective assessment."

When Mochizuki Ryo heard this, she turned her head to look at Tokugawa, smiled, and didn't reply.

Yukimura, holding Luna, hadn't joined the surrounding discussion since Atobe's entrance. However, his gaze kept shifting between the stands and the field, finally settling on Mochizuki Ryo.

The man was leaning against the railing, a distinct smile playing on his lips, like a cat that had just stolen a fish. He hadn't said a word, but his entire being screamed, "Look how awesome I am!"

Yukimura looked down at Luna in his arms.

The kitten was also tilting its head back, its two pointed ears standing upright like microphones, picking up all the sounds around it. Its gaze, like Yukimura's, was fixed on the blond figure on the sidelines. The tip of its little tail swayed gently, as if to say, "Human is wagging its tail again."

Yukimura gently scratched its ear with his fingertip, then raised his head and looked in the direction of Mochizuki Ryo.

"You..." His voice wasn't loud, but it was just loud enough for the person who was crossing his arms and pretending to be deep to hear.

Mochizuki Ryou finally got to hear Yukimura speak. She immediately turned her head, her eyes sparkling, full of "Ask me, ask me!" Her golden hair, framed by her headband, swayed gently in the wind, like two perked-up "dog ears." If she had a tail, it would probably be spinning like a propeller with excitement.

He took half a step forward, leaning closer, his voice tinged with amusement, "Hmm? Seiichi, what's up?"

Yukimura looked at the "Mochizuki Big Dog" in front of him, who was determined to show off the "meat bone" he had "dug out," and was about to ask a question.

Jiro leaned over from behind, grabbing Mochizuki Ryo's arm, his reddish-brown curly hair brushing against her. "Ryo... Ryo... Why is Atobe so obedient! Tell me!"

Kirihara squeezed in from the other side, his kelp-like head sticking up, his voice urgent: "Yeah, senpai! How did you know Tezuka would play the second singles?! Do you have some secret information channel?!"

Two people grabbed his sleeves from either side, wrinkling the hem of his clothes.

Mochizuki Ryo didn't even lift his eyelids, his gaze fixed on Yukimura's face, as if the two "little animals" clinging to his arms didn't exist.

Cilang shook his arm, "Ling..."

Kirihara swayed to the other side, "Senpai..."

Wangyue Ling didn't move at all.

Niou, who was watching from behind, smirked and whispered to Yagyu, "See that? A classic case of double standards. Jiro and Akaya practically tore his sleeves off, and he didn't even glance at them."

Yagyu adjusted his glasses: "He only has eyes for one person."

"Puri~ That's what I mean."

Yukimura looked at the "ask me already" expression on his face, then glanced at the two hands beside him that were almost twisting the hem of Mochizuki Ryou's robe out of shape, and sighed.

The kitten in his arms tilted its head in unison, as if to echo Yukimura's father's helplessness.

How did you guess?

"It's not right to say I guessed, it's more like I expected it." Mochizuki Ryo finally got the words she wanted, proudly raised her head, and smiled slyly: "And what kind of person is Atobe-sama? Hasn't Seiichi heard of him? Tezuka has already entered the fray, how could he sit still? I just left Tezuka to him."

As he spoke, his gaze swept across half the arena, landing briefly on Tezuka, meeting the cool, detached look behind his glasses before casually looking away. His voice was light and airy: "Besides, in a one-on-one fight, I never intended for Keigo to do it."

Yukimura didn't press the matter further, but simply looked at Atobe and Tezuka on the field, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

Irie, who was listening nearby, chuckled and interjected, "Aren't you afraid that this ranking will reverse Seigaku's current stance? If your captain plays in singles second, but the opponent plays in singles first, you'll not only lose face but also substance."

Tokugawa also looked at Mochizuki Ryo, clearly this was also something he was curious about.

The students from Hyotei and Rikkai fell silent at the same time, and even Kirihara stopped muttering to himself.

This is actually the question everyone wants to ask: With Atobe Keigo's pride, how could he possibly be content to be ranked second in singles?

This is truly a new unsolved mystery of the world.

Irie looked at Mochizuki Ryo, her probing growing stronger: "Don't tell me it was that flashy kid who did it voluntarily."

Wang Yueling was amused by his words, and she lowered her head, laughing so hard that her shoulders trembled, her golden hair shimmering in the sunlight.

The people around him were stunned, and even several audience members turned their heads to look at him.

Yukimura reached out and tugged at his hem, not hard, but just enough to make him back down a bit.

"Senior Irie. Didn't I already say this before?" Mochizuki Ryou cleared his throat, becoming serious, though his voice still carried the lingering laughter from before. "'Coaches rely on tactics, captains rely on leadership.' Our two schools are perfectly embodying this principle right now."

He took a half step forward, placing his hands on the railing, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before him. "Seigaku's lineup wasn't something they came up with on the spur of the moment because of the doubles shortage. They had it planned from the very beginning; Oishi's injury only solidified that idea. Tezuka's position, from the start, only had one possibility: singles second."

Kirihara blinked: "Why?"

Wang Yueling took a deep breath, as if organizing her thoughts. She turned around, leaned against the railing, and scanned each face in front of her.

"Let me put it this way. In my previous life..." He paused, then changed his words, "I misspoke. I saw far too many of these formations in France last time. In professional team competitions, when a weak team plays a strong team, the coach's first principle is never 'how to win,' but 'how not to lose.'"

He started analyzing slowly, counting on his fingers, "Let's start with the first point: the coach's strategy. Ryuzaki Jin is the conservative type of coach. When faced with a tough opponent, her first thought isn't to go head-to-head, but to play it safe. Seigaku's overall strength is already a step below Hyotei's, and with us just finished a training camp with Rikkai, plus me here, they're even less likely to play their best against their worst. For her, securing the points she's sure to win is more important than anything else."

"For experienced coaches, playing it safe is always their top priority; there's no need to guess. Bien sûr. (Of course)"

"The second reason is that Oishi's pre-match injury caused their lineup to collapse. Liu has already mentioned this before, so I won't go into details. This is actually about cutting losses, not some sophisticated tactic. Any coach with a bit of experience would make the same choice."

"The third reason is that the matchups need to be calculated. In fact, that's why they avoided Atobe. If it were a conventional matchup, Tezuka would have a 50/50 chance of winning against Atobe, which would be considered optimistic. Fuji would also have a 50/50 chance against Oshitari, and Kawamura would have an even lower chance of winning against Kabaji. Overall, the odds of winning are too low."

"But what if we adjust the strategy to have Fuji play singles match one, and Tezuka play singles match two? Fuji goes to trade with Atobe... losing isn't a loss, winning is a huge profit. Tezuka goes to reliably beat the 'medium-sized horse,' raising his win rate to over 80%. This is the most cost-effective solution."

"If you were the coaches, you would have made the same choice. After all, it's too risky to forgo a sure win and gamble on a 50/50 matchup."

Irie paused for a few seconds, then looked at Mochizuki Ryo with a scrutinizing gaze, as if re-evaluating the person before him. "...Anything else?"

"And then there's Tezuka himself." Mochizuki Ryo leaned against the railing, putting his hands in his pockets. "He's the kind of person who prioritizes the team over the individual. Tezuka is the 'pillar of Seigaku' chosen by Ryuzaki Kin. He might want to face off against Atobe head-on, but he won't abandon the team just because he wants to fight. His burden of responsibility is too heavy. If Ryuzaki Kin proposes a plan, he definitely won't object."

"Because his sense of responsibility overcame his competitive spirit."

"Moreover, when he plays singles second, it's not just about scoring points, but also about stabilizing the team's morale. If the doubles match is lost, the players' mentality will definitely be thrown into disarray, and the subsequent singles third match is a test of willpower, so even if you win, it will be a fierce battle. When he comes on, he can not only score points steadily, but also bring the team's rhythm back on track."

"This is the role that a pillar should play."

"So if Long Qijin mentions adjustments, he definitely won't object; in fact, he might even bring it up himself first."

"The coach is conservative, the lineup is broken, the matchups need to be calculated, Tezuka's personality, plus the cost of Kawamura playing third singles. All the variables have eliminated the riskier options, leaving only Tezuka playing second singles. I don't need to peek at the roster at all."

"In my eyes, this is no different from playing with open cards."

Niou couldn't help but speak up, "Why would Atobe agree to play the second position? Given his personality..."

Hearing his question, Wang Yueling's gaze returned to the flamboyant figure on the court. "As for why Jingwu is willing to play the second position? It's simple, he trusts me. It's that simple."

"Atobe Keigo's principle for employing people is 'trust those you employ, and don't employ those you don't trust.' He knows I wouldn't arrange a situation I'm not confident in, and he also knows that with this arrangement, Tezuka will definitely be in the second position, facing him head-on. Why wouldn't he want that? For him, being able to personally crush his opponent's schemes is much more interesting than having the title of 'one against one.'"

After he finished speaking, the surrounding air was silent for a few seconds.

Kirihara's mouth hung open for a long time. He blinked, then blinked again, as if going over his words from beginning to end, before finally uttering, "...So complicated."

Jiro nodded in agreement, "I... I think I understood, but I also think I didn't..."

Liu held her pen above the paper, writing down these points of logic one by one, until the paper was covered with dense writing.

He initially thought it was just an accurate prediction, but he didn't expect there to be so many layers of deduction behind it, from the coach's style to the lineup's shortcomings, and even the players' personalities, all of which were taken into account.

After writing the last word, he looked up at Wang Yueling, his voice steady with an almost awe-inspiring calm: "...Your data extrapolation model is far more complete than mine."

Sanada stood at the very front.

From the moment Wang Yueling opened her mouth until now, he hadn't uttered a single word. He simply leaned on the railing with both hands, his gaze, hidden beneath the brim of his hat, falling on the blue and white figure on the field, then shifting back to Wang Yueling's face.

Tezuka avoided battle in order to win.

I used to think Tezuka wasn't frank enough, but after listening to Mochizuki Ryo's analysis, I realized there were so many considerations behind it.

He suddenly realized that Tezuka's choice might be different from what he thought.

Tezuka wasn't running away; he simply placed himself in a position the team needed. Even if that position made him look like a coward, he still chose it.

Winning a game by sacrificing the players' health and resorting to cunning tactics is ultimately not the right way.

He thought this to himself, but he had to admit that Seigaku's tactics were indeed impeccable in competition.

Yukimura gazed at the spirited young man beside him, a gentle warmth spreading in his eyes. The wind tousled his blue-purple hair, causing it to sway gently against the other's blond hair.

He suddenly felt that the person next to him seemed to always have everything planned out clearly and was always so confident.

This confidence in being in control of everything is particularly dazzling.

"So, you were already calculating this when you determined that your opponent was Seigaku."

Mochizuki Ryou turned her head to look at him, the light in her azure eyes still lingering, even brighter than before. "Of course. The coach is comparing tactics. Besides, this match is an elimination tournament. It's important for Seigaku, and equally important for us. The coach is comparing moves, and we also have a sure-win 'divine move,' how could we not use it?"

Yukimura looked at him without saying a word, but the warmth in his gaze was more than any praise.

Irie slowly came to his senses from the analysis, looked at Mochizuki Ryo through his glasses, remained silent for a while, finally chuckled, and raised his hand to grab the other's face: "...You really don't seem like a fifteen-year-old boy, you really aren't wearing a human skin mask."

He was genuinely shocked.

From a coach's perspective, Mochizuki Ryo dissects and analyzes the opponent's personality, crises, and win rate, and then deduces a single conclusion.

This goes beyond the scope of "intelligence".

Mochizuki Ryou quickly dodged his hand, hiding behind Yukimura and shrinking back, her azure eyes carrying a hint of innocent amusement: "This face of mine is God's masterpiece, don't you dare tear it."

Irie smiled and shook his head, not asking any further questions.

Tokugawa stood next to Irie, his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on Mochizuki Ryo from the moment he uttered his first words.

When he heard the other person say that "Tezuka would think the team is more important than the individual," something flashed in their eyes—the kind of certainty that comes from knowing someone too well.

The question from before resurfaced: How could Mochizuki Ryou know everyone so well?

Tokugawa shifted his gaze to Atobe and Tezuka, who were standing opposite each other on the field.

Luna peeked halfway out of Yukimura's arms and stretched out a small paw towards Mochizuki Ryo. It pressed its paw pad in the air as if to say, "Human, you're great, come and shake hands with me."

Wang Yueling looked down at it, stretched out his hand, and the kitten nimbly gave him a high five.

"Go ahead." Yukimura exchanged a glance with him, said softly, and stepped aside.

Mochizuki Ryouchi blinked, and as he passed Hyotei's rest area, he picked up Atobe's racket bag and walked down the steps.

When you pass by Shinobu, give him a playful wink.

Oshitari, clutching Atobe's coat, watched Atobe's retreating figure in the arena, then glanced back at Mochizuki Ryo beside him, shaking his head with a wry smile, "So you two had planned this all along, keeping it from us, huh?"

"If I had told you beforehand, it wouldn't have had this effect." Mochizuki Ryo chuckled and shrugged, reaching out to smooth Shinobu's hair, which had been ruffled by his jacket, the movement natural and casual. Her voice carried a playful reassurance, "Thank you for making the trip to the sidelines. Anyway, you've already taken off your clothes and grabbed your racket, so when Atobe gets to halfway through the game, you can just find a court to warm up on."

He thought for a moment, then added, "Hmm... Anyway, Cilang is so bored he just sleeps all the time, so drag him over to spar with him. Aruo can come too."

Shinobu draped her jacket over her arm, took a couple of steps toward the rest area, then stopped, turned to look at him, and said, "Okay, okay, you're awesome. Remember to treat us to a big meal if you win to soothe our wounded hearts."

Wang Yueling didn't respond to that, waved to the back of her, and walked straight towards the coach's bench.

He placed his racket bag on the coach's chair, picked out Atobe's most frequently used racket, weighed it in his hand, and then walked onto the court.

Atobe was stretching his shoulders near the baseline. He caught a glimpse of someone approaching out of the corner of his eye and turned his head slightly.

Wang Yueling walked up to him, pretending to hand him the racket with both hands, a smile playing on her lips, her tone deliberately teasing: "Minister, don't be so rude, I've brought you the smaller racket."

He knew that Atobe was unhappy.

It wasn't because he was playing the second position, but because he was angry that Tezuka actually intended to avoid the match.

The two had made a bet before, on whether Tezuka would voluntarily avoid the fight. Atobe bet that he wouldn't, and if he lost, he would have to provide for the other's "cats and dogs" for five years. This amount of money was nothing to the young master of the Atobe conglomerate, but Tezuka's pride was lower than expected, which was what really annoyed Atobe.

Atobe glanced at him, a slight smile playing on his lips, a hint of satisfaction in his expression. He took the racket, deftly twirling it between his fingers, and the handle rested steadily in his palm.

"Hmm, at least you have some sense."

"Not at all, I was just running an errand." A hint of amusement lingered in Mochizuki Ryou's voice, the last syllable rising in a high note. She launched into a torrent of flattery, "Captain's spectacle was truly dazzling. That jacket-throwing moment just now had everyone mesmerized. Even Seigaku's meticulously planned tactics became nothing more than a backdrop. This show, let alone in a middle school tournament, isn't this impressive, even in a professional tournament."

"Alright, alright." Atobe's ears turned bright red from the praise. He glanced sideways at Mochizuki Ryo, his tone tinged with embarrassment and annoyance: "Stop flattering me. Go down and watch my amazing skills."

"Alright, alright." Mochizuki Ryo smiled, not exposing his little bit of smugness. He took two steps back, and Atobe gave him a thumbs-up, "I'm waiting to see you win."

Atobe snorted and turned to walk into the center of the arena. His back was straight, his steps were steady, and he exuded an aura of being the center of attention.

Mochizuki Ryo took a few steps back and looked at Tezuka Kunimitsu, who was adjusting the string of his instrument.

A gust of wind blew in from the east side of the field, ruffling a strand of his blond hair beneath the green headband on his forehead. His voice was low, as if he were talking to himself, or perhaps addressing someone else.

"No matter how you arrange it, anyway..."

He swallowed the rest of his words and chuckled softly.

We're sure to win anyway.

Luna peeked her little head out from Yukimura's arms, her ears perked up, watching the two boys on the field posing for a photo.

Its tail tip flicked slightly, tickling Yukimura's wrist.

Yukimura glanced down at it, reached out to straighten the bagel that had been tilted to one side, took a small bottle of water from the cat carrier, and handed it to it.

"Don't move around, just watch the game."

Luna meowed, then drank from her bottle while resting her chin on his arm, and truly stopped moving.

-

Center of the court, in front of the net.

Atobe and Tezuka stand facing each other across the net.

A breeze blew between the two, lifting the hem of their team uniforms. Sunlight fell on them, casting long shadows.

The referee stood at the net, confirmed the result of the first set's serve, and, holding a megaphone, announced with a slightly trembling voice, "The side selection is complete. Hyotei player will serve."

Tezuka's glasses reflected the light, obscuring his eyes, but his stance was steady, his racket held horizontally in front of him, and his breathing even.

Atobe slightly raised his chin, his gaze sweeping over Tezuka. From his shoulder to his hand, it finally landed on his left elbow, pausing for a moment.

"Tezuka," he said, his voice low, only audible to the two of them.

Tezuka didn't move.

"That hand of yours..." Atobe switched the racket from his right hand to his left, tapped his forehead, and asked bluntly, "How much longer can it last?"

Tezuka's expression remained unchanged: "Enough to finish this match."

Atobe stared at him for two seconds.

His icy blue eyes held little emotion, yet seemed to conceal a great deal. Then he scoffed, turned, and walked towards the finish line, the slight smile on his lips slowly deepening.

"Let's begin."

As these words were spoken, sunlight shone on the netting between the two, reflecting a bright white light.

Everyone's breathing slowed down.

The referee, seated on a high chair, raised his hand and blew the opening whistle.

"beep--"

A clear sound echoed from the center of the stadium.

On the sidelines, Mochizuki Ryo sat down on the coach's bench with his arms crossed. The wind ruffled a few strands of hair on his forehead, and he squinted at Atobe, who was clearly even angrier.

"Bon courage. Good luck to you!" he murmured to Tezuka, his voice carried away by the wind, unheard by anyone.

The match has begun.