Rin Matsuoka nodded lightly, barely registering Yuno's expression.
Without a word, he headed straight for the training room.
The lights flicked on, illuminating the vast space.
Calling it a training room was an understatement—it was an entire floor, sprawling across four to five hundred square meters.
The area was expansive, equipped with every facility imaginable, all top-of-the-line.
This was just one of the courts in the Matsuoka household, but it was Rin's favorite place to train.
Nearby, a large swimming pool shimmered with clear, cool water.
Unable to resist, Rin dove in for a quick lap before climbing out and activating the ball machine.
With a hum, the machine sprang to life, firing tennis balls in rapid succession.
Rin drew his racket, eyes locking onto the balls. His feet moved like arrows released from a bow.
Step, step!
His gaze fixed on a target, and his racket swung, slicing through the air with a blur.
Bang!
The ball rocketed back, landing precisely.
One ball, two, three… ten in a row!
Rin's speed never faltered.
The machine's display flashed: Speed: 190 km/h!
"Could be faster,"
Rin muttered, glancing at the speed with a slight frown.
If anyone had been watching, they'd have been stunned.
Ten consecutive balls, each clocking around 190 km/h, and Rin returned every one without breaking a sweat.
His movements, breathing, and rhythm remained perfectly controlled, not a single misstep.
Most junior high players would show slight inconsistencies between shots, but Rin?
Not even a trace.
This was no ordinary skill—it was a razor-sharp, almost supernatural sense for the ball. An absolute ball sense.
The training continued, each drill and test meticulously executed.
Two hours later, Rin glanced at the five-dimensional stats displayed on the machine:
Speed: 3.2 Power: 3.1 Stamina: 2.9 Mental Strength: 7 Technique: 5.5
A total of 21.7—an astonishing figure for a twelve-year-old.
His speed was already pushing the limits of what junior high players could achieve, and he was still in a rapid growth phase.
But what stood out most was his mental strength.
A score of 7 was unheard of for a junior high student.
Even among high school players, reaching 6 was rare.
And his technique, at 5.5, meant that fundamental skills were as natural to him as breathing.
"Room for improvement,"
Rin said to himself, assessing the data.
Compared to two months ago, his mental strength had jumped nearly 0.5 points, with speed and stamina also showing gains.
Perhaps it was his natural talent, but in this life, Rin was a prodigy in sports, especially in mental fortitude.
His mental strength was exceptional and still growing.
Beyond that, he had an innate perception for tennis—a gift Nanjiro Echizen had dubbed absolute ball sense.
Like absolute pitch in music, Rin's sense for tennis was razor-sharp, almost otherworldly.
He could instinctively gauge a ball's shape, size, weight, elasticity, force, and hardness, as well as its precise movement through space.
While others needed years of training to master these nuances, Rin was born with them.
He could watch a technique once, replicate it instantly, and even build upon it.
This was why Nanjiro Echizen had been so awestruck, ultimately taking Rin under his wing to train in tennis.
And Rin hadn't disappointed.
In less than a year, he'd surpassed expectations.
Yes, less than a year.
Rin hadn't even been interested in tennis at first.
It wasn't until certain memories resurfaced and he met a particular friend that he started taking it seriously.
But whatever he did, Rin never half-assed it. Despite his extraordinary talent, he never slacked off, training at least two hours every day after returning home.
Ding, ding, ding…
His phone buzzed incessantly, pulling him from his thoughts. Rin sighed, picking it up.
"Time to rest… Hyotei tomorrow."
He shook his head, slightly exasperated."That guy, Keigo…"
Originally, Rin had planned to head to Hyotei later, but Keigo Atobe must've been worried he'd slip away again.
In just two hours, Keigo had contacted him countless times.
Rin found it a bit ridiculous—he'd given his word, and he wasn't one to go back on it, just like when he'd agreed to join Seigaku under Nanjiro.
Besides, he'd already declared himself Hyotei's vice-captain.
"Whatever. I'm going to Hyotei anyway,"
Rin murmured."Though, some people might not be happy about it."
A vice-captain parachuting into the team was bound to stir some resentment.
Rin knew that well.
Hyotei was considered one of the top contenders for the national championship this year, so it was only natural for the team to push back against an outsider like him.
But Rin wasn't fazed.
He'd faced worse at Seigaku when he aimed for a regular spot as a first-year. The team had been even more resistant then, but he'd still claimed his place.
If he'd wanted, Coach Ryuzaki would've handed him the captain's role after Yudai Yamato graduated.
But conflicts with Ryuzaki led to his departure from Seigaku.
"We'll see how it goes,"
Rin said, wiping the sweat from his brow. He sent Keigo a quick reply, confirming he'd arrive on time tomorrow morning.
After a quick shower, Rin collapsed into bed.
At his age, with his body still developing rapidly, getting enough sleep was crucial for growth.
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