"Huff... huff..."
After the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament ended, there was still some time before the Kanto Tournament.
During this period, Hyotei entered an intense training phase, nearly doubling their original training volume. Many players, even those who couldn't keep up, gritted their teeth and persevered until they secured a spot on the regular team roster.
This included... Ryo Shishido, who had already been stripped of his regular spot on the first team and relegated to the second team.
After a day's training, Shishido was still full of fighting spirit, swinging his racket on the court.
Everyone else from the club had left, leaving only Shishido, stubbornly pushing through his强化训练 (strengthening training). Even when his right arm felt heavy from swinging, he gritted his teeth and persisted.
On the street at the top of the spectator stands, a boy wearing gold-rimmed glasses silently watched Shishido on the court, the rhythmic sound of rackets hitting balls echoing in his ears.
"Tezuka!"
Just then, a familiar figure appeared behind Tezuka. Kamikawa, holding a cold soda, tossed it towards Tezuka. Tezuka instinctively raised his hand to catch the soda, then turned to look at the court again.
Kamikawa opened his soda, took a small sip, and said, "It's getting late. Time to head back."
Tezuka nodded, calmly saying, "I know. I just want to watch a bit longer."
As the captain of Hyotei's tennis club, he needed to constantly monitor the players' conditions. Although Shishido had been removed from the regular roster, he was still a member of the Hyotei tennis club.
He was just doing his part.
This was what Kamikawa admired about Tezuka. Of course, if it meant taking up his own resting time, Kamikawa would rather not admire this aspect of Tezuka's personality.
"Don't look anymore..." Kamikawa gazed at Shishido on the court. "Shishido isn't a child; nothing serious will happen to him. Besides, this is Hyotei; security won't be an issue."
Hyotei Gakuen's security was quite good.
For those independent individuals from society to break into the academy, they had to get past the security uncles. Those security uncles were bodyguards hired by the Atobe Zaibatsu, specifically set up to protect Atobe's safety, actually.
(Translator's note: The original text includes "101看书𝟭𝟬𝟭𝗸𝗮𝗻.𝗰𝗼𝗺全手打無錯站" which seems to be a note about where the story is posted or its quality. It's not part of the narrative.)
Upon hearing this, Tezuka also nodded.
Tezuka couldn't casually guide Shishido on his own path in tennis.
Every tennis player takes a different path. Tezuka couldn't use his own path to tell another to go in that direction; such an approach would only be counterproductive.
Tezuka looked at Shishido on the court once more, then opened the can of cold soda and walked alongside Kamikawa.
"The Kanto Tournament is going to be a tough battle."
"Indeed!" Tezuka nodded. "Besides Yamabuki, whom we faced in the Metropolitan Tournament, there's also Rokkaku from Chiba Prefecture, Maizaka Middle School from Nara Prefecture, Green Mountain Middle School from Saitama Prefecture, and Rikkai DaiMiddle School from Kanagawa Prefecture."
"Maizaka Middle School?" Kamikawa raised an eyebrow slightly. This was the first time he had heard of this school.
Even Green Mountain Middle School from Saitama Prefecture, Kamikawa had heard of.
Green Mountain Middle School's coach was a former professional player, and their coaching ability was not bad. They managed to lead Green Mountain Middle School to the Kanto Tournament almost every year. Last year, they achieved a decent result, barely making it into the Kanto Tournament Top 8.
"Maizaka Middle School." Tezuka noticed Kamikawa's confusion and explained, "Last year's Kanto Tournament Top 4, besides Hyotei, included Yamabuki, Rikkai Dai, and the suddenly emerging Maizaka Middle School."
"Maizaka Middle School's singles players are very strong; they almost always rely on singles to score."
"However, with Maizaka Middle School's third-years graduating and moving up to high school this year, Maizaka Middle School's overall strength has declined significantly. There are many tennis schools that emerge suddenly like this."
"Therefore, we cannot be careless against any school."
"I see." Kamikawa nodded with a smile, not taking it to heart. "No matter who the opponent is, we will win."
"Last year, Hyotei, led by Ochi-senpai, lost to Rikkai DaiMiddle School." Tezuka said calmly, "This year, Rikkai Dai has added three more excellent first-years."
Rikkai Dai and Hyotei wouldn't face each other before the finals. Due to being the champions and runners-up, they were placed in different halves of the bracket, a special arrangement by the organizers to maintain the suspense of the competition.
Almost every year, the previous year's champions and runners-up are placed in different halves.
Kamikawa also tacitly agreed with Tezuka's thoughts, nodding lightly: "This year's Rikkai Dai might be even stronger than what we saw last year. Remember those peers from Kanagawa Prefecture we faced in the Jr. Tournament? They've also joined Rikkai DaiMiddle School."
"I know." Tezuka had already heard about it. After all, the changes they brought were fierce, no less than Hyotei's.
Furthermore, Rikkai Dai had already achieved thirteen consecutive Kanto Tournament championships, and there might even be some exceptionally talented new recruits joining Rikkai DaiMiddle School this year.
Schools like this never lack tennis players.
Therefore, Rikkai DaiMiddle School is different from other schools, always upholding the principle of meritocracy.
Kamikawa continued, "No matter what changes Rikkai Dai has undergone, or how many exceptionally talented tennis players have joined, all we can do is keep moving forward. First, we'll win the Kanto Tournament, and then it's the National Tournament!"
Tezuka nodded, saying, "We will win."
"Tezuka!" Kamikawa smiled and said, "We won't lose!"
Time flew by.
Before they knew it, it was almost time for the Kanto Tournament.
"Gather!"
As soon as they arrived at the tennis club, Tezuka gathered everyone. He scanned the group, his gaze finally settling on Atobe, and said, "Atobe, you speak."
As his words fell, Atobe nodded and stepped forward.
"Rikkai DaiMiddle School from Kanagawa Prefecture has invited us for a practice match." Atobe's gaze swept over everyone, a hint of disdain in his eyes: "In my opinion, even if they were last year's Kanto champions, that was last year. This year's Kanto champions belong to us, Hyotei!"
"Since it's an away match, apart from the regulars, the rest of you will train with Coach Sakaki. When we return, I'll test your improvement during this time."
"Shishido, you're coming along." Atobe suddenly looked at Shishido. By rights, Shishido wasn't qualified to participate in this practice match.
After all, he was a second-team regular, but Atobe still called him to come along.
Everyone had witnessed Shishido's growth during this period.
Even though there were still some dissatisfied people in the crowd, no one voiced an objection. In Hyotei, besides the captain and coach, the highest authority belonged to Atobe.
An objection?!
If you can prove your skill is superior to Atobe's, then the vice-captain position will be yours, and the power to make decisions will be given to you.
"It seems no one has any objections." Atobe's gaze swept over everyone.
Then he looked at Tezuka, signaling that it was his turn to say a few words.
"Everyone! Go all out!" Tezuka said calmly.
"Kamikawa, are we really going to challenge Rikkai DaiMiddle School?" Mukahi looked excited, eager for action: "The Kanto Tournament's thirteen-time consecutive champions, known as 'King Rikkai.' I hear that King Rikkai's tennis club members are no less numerous than Hyotei's."
"What's wrong? You seem really excited..." Kamikawa felt that Mukahi's spirits were particularly high today. Could it be that he, like Jiro, had someone he admired at Rikkai Dai?
However, thinking of Mukahi's personality, Kamikawa dismissed that thought.
"Gakuto, you really are a bit too excited today." Oshitari, Mukahi's doubles partner, also noticed that Mukahi's state was quite different.
"Of course! I've wanted to challenge Rikkai DaiMiddle School for a long time." A determined glint flashed in Mukahi's eyes: "After all, we'll be meeting those guys from Rikkai Dai in the Kanto Tournament finals anyway!"
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