**Chapter 2: Does Hyotei Also Have to Pick Up Balls?**  

**Hyotei = Beginner Zone?** 

**Hyotei Team Members = NPCs?** 

**Outside Hyotei = Wild Zone?** 

**Tennis Players Outside Hyotei = Wild Monsters?!**

With a shift in his thoughts, Ishikawa's gaze fell on one of the nearby tennis courts where a match was taking place.

**[Shohara Saburo: Lv. 18]** 

**[Suzuki Ryota: Lv. 17]**

"Are these their levels?" 

At this moment, Ishikawa was clearly treating the two as if they were NPCs in a game. 

Thinking this way, he walked to the back of their court and quietly observed their match. He wanted to see just how strong tennis players close to level 20 could be! 

Not far away, in one of the several unused courts, another match was underway. However, unlike the crowded areas elsewhere, this section had far fewer people. Clearly, this was where the regular members of the Hyotei Tennis Club practiced. 

**Thud! Thud!** 

On the court, a boy with long brown hair was launching aggressive attacks, overwhelming his silver-haired opponent and forcing him into a defensive position. 

"Chotaro!" 

The brown-haired boy laughed heartily as he pushed his opponent into a corner. "Your fundamentals still have a long way to go!" 

With that, he leaped into the air, raised his racket, and smashed the ball downward with a powerful spike. 

**Bang!** 

The ball shot like a bullet, landing at the feet of the silver-haired boy, who could only watch helplessly as it bounced away. 

"Game over," the referee seated on the high chair announced. "Shishido Ryo wins, 6-3!" 

**Phew!** 

After landing from his spike, the brown-haired boy—Shishido Ryo, a third-year regular member of the Hyotei Tennis Club—stretched comfortably. Then, with a smile, he walked over and tapped his racket against the shoulder of his shy opponent, Ootori Chotaro, a second-year regular member. 

"Chotaro, your serve is good, but if you take that away, your overall skill level is only at the district tournament level. You need to work on your fundamentals. Next year, Hyotei will be counting on you." 

After saying this, Shishido whistled and walked away, leaving Chotaro standing there, his gaze gradually growing more determined. 

"Tch." 

Watching this scene from outside the court, a boy with wine-red hair and bangs muttered coldly, "Shishido always acts like he's so superior, lecturing Chotaro like that." 

As he spoke, he stretched his neck and shoulders, his expression full of disdain. 

This was Mukahi Gakuto, a third-year regular member of the Hyotei Tennis Club. 

"You can't say that," said a bespectacled boy with blue-black hair standing beside him. "Chotaro and Kabaji are the only second-years who are regulars right now, and we all know Kabaji isn't cut out to be captain. Next year, Chotaro will likely have to lead Hyotei. In that case, putting a little pressure on him isn't a bad thing." 

The speaker was Oshitari Yuushi, another third-year regular. 

"Captain, huh?" Mukahi raised an eyebrow slightly before nodding. "Yeah, I guess you're right." 

Currently, Hyotei had no rivals in the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament. Everyone, including their captain Atobe, was focused on the Kanto Tournament and the National Tournament. For them, qualifying for the Nationals was a given. 

But what about the next year? 

Once they graduated, if Hyotei didn't have a strong captain to lead the team, would they still be able to make it to the Nationals? 

"If that's the case…" Mukahi glanced at the newcomers assigned to the outer courts, tasked with picking up balls, and shook his head. "There don't seem to be any standout rookies this year." 

"Yeah… that's true," Oshitari replied with a headache. 

He had been in charge of recruitment this year, but he hadn't found any particularly talented players. 

Still, it didn't matter much for their current team. In Oshitari's opinion, no matter how skilled a rookie was, they wouldn't be able to bridge the gap between Hyotei and Rikkai. As for the future, that was beyond his control. 

**Thud! Thud!** 

As Shishido and Chotaro's match ended, Ishikawa, who had been observing the two Hyotei players, was still on the other court. In his previous life, he had only known the basic rules of tennis and had no practical experience. 

However, after watching for a few minutes, Ishikawa realized there was nothing particularly special about their match. It was just basic movement, positioning, and hitting the ball. He could even predict their shots and movements in advance. 

But when he thought about it, it wasn't surprising. His mental strength had already reached a level of 3. According to the standards of Kurobe, the tactical coach of Japan's U-17 team, this was the average passing level for middle schoolers. 

Even after undergoing the grueling "Hell" training at the U-17 mountain camp, players like Momoshiro, Kaidoh, and even Marui Bunta from Rikkai only had a mental strength of 3. 

And this was only the second day of the new school year. A mental strength of 3 already surpassed most middle schoolers in the original story. 

So, it was no wonder that these two players, who weren't even minor characters in the original story, seemed so ordinary to him. 

**Thud!** 

But just then, Shohara Saburo, one of the players, hit the ball too hard, sending it flying out of the court. Coincidentally, it landed right at Ishikawa's feet. 

"Hey!" 

A lazy yet commanding voice called out. "You, the one with black hair. Pick up the ball and bring it here." 

Pick up the ball? 

Ishikawa was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected a scene straight out of a fanfiction novel to happen to him. What confused him even more was that, aside from places like Seigaku, even Hyotei made their newcomers pick up balls? 

(End of chapter)