Even if Coach Ryuzaki hadn't threatened to expel him, Rin Matsuoka had no intention of staying at Seigaku.
"What!?"
Everyone present froze in shock.
No one could have imagined that such a minor incident would escalate to the point of quitting the team.
This was Seigaku's strongest rookie!
People had been saying that with enough practice, Rin Matsuoka's talent could rival that of Rikkai Dai's"Child of God," Seiichi Yukimura.
And now, this same Rin Matsuoka was voluntarily announcing his departure from the team?
"Rin…"
Shuichiro Oishi, Eiji Kikumaru, and the others gasped, stunned.
Over the past month, these first-years had come to deeply respect Rin.
For a moment, they hesitated, wanting to persuade him to stay, but in the end, they could only sigh.
"Rin!"
Kunimitsu Tezuka called out instinctively, his fists clenched so tightly that his veins bulged. If not for his involvement, things wouldn't have spiraled like this. Yet, he found himself at a loss for words.
Coach Ryuzaki's expression shifted repeatedly.
She had acted impulsively, but in her mind, Rin had disrespected her first!
Anger eventually won out.
"Rin Matsuoka, do you think Seigaku can't function without you? Don't regret this!" she snapped, glaring at him.
Ever since Rin joined, he had repeatedly challenged her authority. She had compromised time and again, but now, over something so trivial, he was quitting?
"Don't worry, I won't,"
Rin said, his voice laced with disappointment."But I hope you won't regret this either, Coach Ryuzaki."
He had thought Seigaku could still be saved.
After all, he had broken the"plot curse" by becoming a regular in his first year.
But now, it was clear—Seigaku was beyond saving. Or rather, Coach Ryuzaki was beyond saving.
"I won't!"
Ryuzaki retorted through gritted teeth, though a pang of unease struck her.
She knew just how talented Rin was.
Rumors claimed he needed practice to catch up to Yukimura, but in her eyes, Rin was already on par with—if not surpassing—him. She even saw traces of that person in him.
If not for his potential, she wouldn't have bent the rules for him so often.
But why should she back down?
She was the coach of the legendary Nanjiro Echizen!
No matter how talented Rin was, he could never reach Nanjiro's level.
She wouldn't regret this.
"Rin!"
Oishi and Shusuke Fuji stepped forward, their voices urgent.
"No need to persuade me. I'm done with Seigaku,"
Rin said, waving them off."I hope we'll meet again someday. Tezuka, Fuji, and the rest of you—don't let your skills go to waste."
With those parting words, Rin swept his gaze over the team one last time before striding away.
Over the past month, he had built some camaraderie with them, so he felt compelled to offer this advice—especially to Tezuka.
As he spoke, he locked eyes with Tezuka, and in that moment, Tezuka's heart skipped a beat.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Rin had already shed his Seigaku tennis uniform and walked off.
Before leaving, though, Rin cast one final glance at Yudai Yamato.
"Captain Yamato, a piece of advice: if you're in a position of leadership, do what's expected of you."
Yamato blinked, confused.
What?
After Rin's departure, the tennis club fell into a heavy silence.
Some first-years shot puzzled and resentful looks at Coach Ryuzaki.
Even the second- and third-years were at a loss for words.
Over the past month, they had all witnessed Rin's contributions.
The upperclassmen had benefited from his guidance, too.
Though Rin focused more on the first-years, he never hesitated to offer pointers to everyone, even suggesting strategies for matches.
Without him, it was uncertain whether Seigaku would have made it to the national tournament.
The atmosphere in the club grew tense, almost eerie, as silence settled in.
Ryuzaki and Yamato exchanged a glance, both startled by what they saw.
In just one month, how had Rin won over not only the first-years but so many of the upperclassmen as well?
It was as if there was something magnetic about him.
After a moment, both Ryuzaki and Yamato felt a strange sense of relief.
Perhaps Rin's departure was for the best.
Otherwise, how much authority would they have left in the club?
It was anyone's guess.
Pushing down their unease and regret, they tried to move on.
Meanwhile, Rin wasted no time.
After leaving the tennis club, he promptly submitted his withdrawal from both the team and the school.
Even the principal was stunned and tried to dissuade him, but to no avail.
With everything settled, Rin walked down the street and dialed a number—an international call.
When the line connected, a hearty laugh came through.
"Hahaha, Rin, my boy! Finally calling me, huh? So, how's Seigaku? Pretty great, right? Didn't let you down, did it?"
The voice on the other end grew wistful."As master and apprentice, walking the same path, attending the same alma mater, and becoming legends together—what a story that'd be."
The same alma mater.
The same path.
And those two words that shook the tennis world: legend.
In the entire tennis world, only one living legend existed—Nanjiro Echizen.
His name alone was enough to stun anyone.
But Rin remained calm.
Few knew that nearly a year ago, Nanjiro had seen Rin's extraordinary talent and personally visited his home to take him under his wing.
For almost a year, Nanjiro had trained him directly, and Rin had surpassed even Nanjiro's own sons.
When Rin returned to Japan for junior high, it was at Nanjiro's earnest request that he agreed to give Seigaku a try.
Otherwise, Rin would never have set foot there.
"I was just about to tell you," Rin said coolly."Sorry, old man, but I've quit Seigaku's tennis club. I can't stay there."
"What!?"
From a villa in Los Angeles, Nanjiro Echizen bolted upright, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by shock.
"What's going on, Rin? Why'd you quit Seigaku?"
He was dumbfounded.
Sending Rin to Seigaku had been his idea.
At first, Rin had been reluctant, but Nanjiro had sung Seigaku's praises, leveraging their bond as master and apprentice to assure Rin that the school wouldn't disappoint him.
Only then had Rin agreed to go.
But now—what was this!?
Nanjiro was utterly bewildered.
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