Chapter 12: Breaking Through Level 5 – The Powerful Effects of a Sub-Css
Ishikawa had no idea that he had caught the attention of Hyotei's captain, Atobe Keigo.
After a brief rest, he noticed there was still time and, under the bewildered gazes of those around him, picked up cleaning tools and began tidying up.
"What the hell is this guy doing?"
Not far away, Shinohara was stunned.
He could understand Ishikawa training through running, but after practice had ended, he was still cleaning? What, had he forgotten to switch roles?
However…
Watching Ishikawa work seriously, Shinohara suddenly fell silent. Deep down, his desire to challenge Ishikawa again and redeem himself started to fade.
"Losing to someone like him isn’t shameful."
[Ding!]
[Pyer has completed the daily task: Clean the Tennis Club – Reward: 10 EXP]
"Phew!"
With the final 10 EXP in hand, Ishikawa let out a long sigh of relief.
"Good work, Ishikawa-kun."
"Yeah, you’re too polite! You’re already part of the practice match group, yet you're still helping us clean?"
"Leave the tools to us, you should go rest."
The other first-year pyers greeted him with friendly smiles. Since Ishikawa, despite his rising status, never acted superior, their impression of him had greatly improved.
"Then I'll leave it to you guys."
Ishikawa didn't refuse.
He was truly exhausted. With both the match and training combined, today’s workload was equivalent to a full week's worth of training back in his university days before he transmigrated.
With all his experience points acquired, he headed straight for the tennis club's cafeteria.
Yes.
Hyotei’s tennis club had a cafeteria.
It was something Atobe had promised the team when running for captain. The facility rivaled high-end restaurants, offering a variety of foods from both Kansai and Kanto regions.
Starving, Ishikawa, under the astonished eyes of the cafeteria staff, grabbed two steaks and a rge pork knuckle.
Finding an empty seat, he began devouring his food in full Super Saiyan eating mode.
"D-Did this guy reincarnate from a starving ghost or something?"
Seeing Ishikawa finish a steak in just a few bites, the Hyotei pyers around him were stunned.
"Wait… it’s him!"
Some pyers recognized him.
The one who had shut out Shinohara and delivered a monstrous serve—Ishikawa.
With such an impressive record, any initial dismissiveness quickly faded. Instead, their voices lowered as if afraid to attract his attention.
"So this is Hyotei, huh?"
Observing the reactions around him, Ishikawa’s mind remained sharp.
Under the strict leadership of coach Sakaki Taro and captain Atobe Keigo, only the strongest pyers could rise above the rest.
Which meant…
He couldn’t afford to get compcent just because of one victory.
After finishing his meal, Ishikawa returned to the court for a light jog to help with digestion, all while reviewing the experience points he had earned.
Reaching Level 5 required 50 EXP.
After ciming rewards from the daily training match, swing drills, running, and cleaning, he now had a total of 60 EXP.
After a brief consideration, he chose to level up.
[Ding!]
[Pyer Level Up – Gained 3 Skill Points]
[Pyer Reached Level 5 – Gained 1 Sub-Css Point]
"Hmm?"
Ishikawa perked up mid-run.
"A Sub-Css Point?"
After confirming he hadn't misread, a gleam of excitement fshed in his eyes.
A Sub-Css Point!
Only those who had experienced the true power of a sub-css knew how valuable this was.
To put it simply, Ishikawa’s victory over Shinohara today was almost entirely thanks to his maxed-out Kendo sub-css and Level 6 Chess sub-css.
And even then…
He hadn't even fully tapped into their potential!
Previously, Ishikawa had checked his sub-css system. Neither Kendo nor Chess could be leveled up using experience points. The only way to improve them was through dedicated practice.
For Kendo, that meant rigorous training in movements, stances, reflexes, and even breathing techniques.
For Chess, it meant pying games—Go, Chess, Shogi, or even International Chess all counted.
Winning matches was the only way to gain Chess sub-css experience. This method was not only time-consuming and exhausting, but it also took away valuable time from training his main profession: Tennis.
But now…
With a Sub-Css Point, Ishikawa could quickly level up his Chess sub-css!
"Enhance Chess!"
Without hesitation, he invested his Sub-Css Point into Chess.
[Ding!]
[Sub-Css: Chess – Level Up – Current Level: LV7]
Bzzzt!
For a moment, Ishikawa felt an invisible force spread through his mind.
Those previously bnk areas of thought seemed to activate, making his thinking clearer and his mind sharper than ever before!
"Is this… brain optimization?"
Feeling his enhanced mental crity, Ishikawa truly understood the power of the Chess sub-css.
To test his theory, he returned to his dormitory (as a boarding student) and pulled out a first-year middle school math textbook.
Flipping through the pages, he quickly scanned the formus and theorems. It was as if each piece of information was being disassembled and restructured inside his mind, making everything effortlessly clear.
"Wait… was it always this easy?"
Ishikawa was shocked.
Sure, he had studied these concepts back in middle school before transmigrating, but that was seven or eight years ago!
And, as the saying goes: "In high school, you know astronomy and geography. In college, you eat well, sleep well, and poop regurly."
These were topics Ishikawa had long forgotten.
Yet now, with Level 7 Chess enhancing his brainpower, everything was engraved into his mind as if he had photographic memory!
To test it further, he closed the textbook and shut his eyes.
"No way…"
The entire contents of the pages he had just read repyed perfectly in his mind.
At this moment…
Ishikawa finally understood just how powerful sub-csses were.
"If that's the case… then I haven't even begun to unleash my full potential in Kendo."
He thought of Rikkaidai's "Emperor of Tennis"—Genichiro Sanada.
In the original story, Sanada's Kendo was at a national level. By Ishikawa’s estimation, Sanada's proficiency was likely around Level 4 at best.
Yet, even with just that, Sanada had developed multiple devastating techniques based on Kendo principles.
"Which means…"
Excitement fshed in Ishikawa's eyes.
With his current tennis talent and deep knowledge of the original Prince of Tennis universe, as long as he improved his fundamental techniques, he would surely be able to develop special moves as powerful as Sanada’s FuuRinKaZan (Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain, Shadow, Thunder).
Maybe even surpass them!
That night…
For the first time since transmigrating into the Prince of Tennis world…
Ishikawa was too excited to sleep.
(End of Chapter 12)
