In the blink of an eye, it was the weekend again.
At the North Wind Tennis Park in Tokyo, the city's most bustling and largest tennis park, much grander than both the Lozen Tennis Center and the Azure Bird Tennis Center, it could hold thousands, even tens of thousands of people. Almost every year, the middle school and high school tennis tournaments are held right here.
"Wow, there are so many people here!"
"Of course, Kikumaru, this year's Kanto Tournament is highly anticipated."
"Oishi, I was just saying!"
A group of players in blue and white jackets appeared in the area. Oishi and Kikumaru, standing at the very back of the crowd, were chattering away. This was their first time at a Kanto Tournament venue. Even though they made it through the wildcard play-offs, it was still a precious experience for them. Under Inui's meticulous training plan, Seigaku seemed to have a completely new look. Many of the old regulars were gone, replaced by fresh faces.
Leading the charge, wearing sunglasses and a jacket, was Yamato Yuudai, the captain of Seigaku. Behind him was Kamata, the vice-captain. After them, besides one or two familiar third-year faces, the rest were new first-years.
"Inui, that team over there looks really strong." Kikumaru, like a curious kitten, pointed to a team in green uniforms not far away.
"That's Midoriyama Junior High from Saitama Prefecture! They're our opponents for this match," Inui calmly replied, adjusting his glasses. "Midoriyama Junior High has strong singles players. Last year, they made it to the National Tournament thanks to their excellent performances from their Singles 3 and Singles 2 players."
"However, Oowada Asahi, who played Singles 2 last year and was Midoriyama Junior High's ace, has already moved on to high school. For Midoriyama Junior High, losing a strong singles player will undoubtedly affect their overall strength to some extent."
"So, that means we're definitely going to win this match?" Kikumaru excitedly exclaimed.
"Don't get careless, Kikumaru!" Inui's expression shifted slightly as he shook his head. "The current captain of Midoriyama Junior High, who was last year's Singles 3, is Otsuka Masayuki. His skill is formidable; he's known as Saitama Prefecture's top singles player. Midoriyama Junior High wins the championship in Saitama Prefecture almost every year, so they're a team not to be underestimated."
Kikumaru followed the flow of people and noticed the third-year student leading the green-clad team. This was the current captain of Midoriyama Junior High, Otsuka Masayuki! Otsuka Masayuki seemed to sense someone looking his way. He turned his head and noticed Seigaku approaching, a sharp glint in his eyes and a smirk on his lips. He slowly walked over to the Seigaku team. "Yamato! Your injury must have healed by now!"
"You don't need to concern yourself with that, Otsuka." Yamato replied indifferently, leading his team away from the spot.
"I hope your injury is completely healed, otherwise today's match won't be any fun." Otsuka Masayuki didn't show any anger. Instead, a playful expression appeared on his face. "A second-rate team that just barely scraped into the Kanto Tournament through the wildcard play-offs!"
"Captain, that guy is way too arrogant!"
"Yeah, yeah! We have to teach him a harsh lesson."
The Seigaku regulars walking at the back naturally heard Otsuka Masayuki's words. He clearly didn't think much of Seigaku. What's the big deal about a team that consistently makes it to the National Tournament? Is that a reason to be so arrogant?
Before Yamato could speak, a clamor erupted from the main entrance. With a series of buses pulling up to the park entrance, the eager reporters swarmed forward, snapping photos of the vehicles. The bus doors slowly opened, and a group of middle school students in gray and white uniforms disembarked, lining up on both sides to clear a path for the main players who were about to emerge.
"This year's Kanto Tournament is certainly livelier than last year's." Looking out the window at the crowds, Gen Kouen couldn't help but sigh. Even last year's Kanto Tournament hadn't felt this vibrant.
"Yeah, I remember even when we made it to the semifinals last year, the crowd wasn't as crazy as it is today." Kawamura nodded. Playing tennis in an atmosphere like this, surely no player would refuse. After all, as tennis players, they all dream of standing on a bigger stage and enjoying every match.
"Come on, it's our turn to get off." Tezuka said plainly, leading the way out of the bus. The other Hyotei regulars followed him off the bus, with the reporters being held back by the other tennis club members. As soon as he stepped off the bus, Tezuka noticed the blue and white jackets in the distance.
"Is that Seigaku?" Shishido also spotted a team not far away. The blue and white colors instantly identified them as Seishun Gakuen, also from Tokyo.
"Let's go, it's time to register." Atobe paid no attention. In his eyes, Seigaku was simply not worth mentioning. The only team they needed to watch out for this year was Rikkai Dai Fuzoku from Kanagawa Prefecture.
At the registration desk, after Tezuka submitted the team roster, a commotion erupted from behind him. The reporters who had been surrounding Hyotei instantly rushed to the back. A team in dark yellow uniforms approached. The surrounding reporters continuously pressed their camera shutters, wanting to capture the best shots. The champions and runners-up from last year's tournament meeting at the registration desk—such a report would be headline news if released first.
The young man at the forefront, wearing a blue headband and with dark blue, slightly curly hair, was naturally Yukimura Seiichi, the current captain of Rikkai Dai. Closely following him, wearing a black baseball cap, with an air of dominance between his brows and an undeniable presence in his every movement, was Sanada Genichirou, the vice-captain of Rikkai Dai. Furthermore, the Rikkai Dai players following were all familiar faces, opponents they had previously faced. Bringing up the rear was naturally Mori Jūzaburō. He looked to be in good spirits, his previous laziness largely gone.
"Let's meet again in the finals, Tezuka." Yukimura walked up to Tezuka, smiling slightly.
"Mm. See you in the finals." Tezuka nodded, a promise implicitly made between them. It seemed the outcome of that match against Rikkai Dai Fuzoku would be decided at this Kanto Tournament.
Atobe's beautiful eyes landed on Sanada. He wasn't as friendly as Yukimura or Tezuka, his tone light and playful. "I say, Sanada! That undecided match of ours, it's time to get a result."
"Atobe!" Sanada replied indifferently, "You should be glad you lost consciousness back then."
"Oh?!" Atobe's voice stretched, his eyes narrowing. "Under this great self's insight, your weaknesses have nowhere to hide. Go scurrying back to Kanagawa, Sanada!"
After a brief exchange between the captains and vice-captains of both teams, Hyotei was the first to leave the registration desk. Having completed their registration, they needed to prepare for their first match. On Rikkai Dai's side, everyone could feel the aura emanating from the Hyotei players. Their strength had clearly increased since their last practice match. Mori lowered his head, his eyes subtly shifting. He could sense the terrifying mental pressure emanating from Kamikawa.
"His strength has grown," the thought instantly arose in his mind. The most frightening thing was that he couldn't deny the thought that had surfaced.
---
With half an hour left before the matches began, Hyotei's first opponent was Aihara Junior High, a team not particularly strong. The roster Kamikawa Shin had previously set now included Jiro and Shishido, playing Singles 2 and Singles 3, respectively. Atobe was placed at Singles 1. The remaining doubles pairings were Gen and Kawamura, and Mukahi and Oshitari. Even though their opponents were weaker, Kamikawa Shin didn't take them lightly. The Kanto Tournament was different from the Tokyo Prefectural Tournament; even a slight misstep could put a team at a disadvantage.
Mukahi and Oshitari's doubles needed to be tested in a real match. While Aihara Junior High's doubles weren't at a national level, they were at least Kanto-level, making them perfect for evaluation. Kamikawa Shin made Kamikawa the substitute for this match, and Tezuka, as captain, wasn't on the roster, which also served to conserve some of their strength. Unless there was a major incident, or if the team found themselves in a tricky 2-2 score, a substitute would be sent in. Otherwise, most of the time, substitutes were free and rarely had a chance to play.
Anyway, it was just the first round, and they were facing Aihara Junior High, a team Kamikawa had never even heard of. Even if he played, it would just be another ten minutes of wasted activity time. Rather than playing, it was better to let Shishido and Jiro have some fun. Compared to that, Kamikawa was more interested in the match between Midoriyama and Seigaku. When they got off the bus earlier, Kamikawa had noticed Kikumaru and Oishi wearing Seigaku's regular tennis club uniforms.
Soon, after the preparation time, all sixteen participating teams in the Kanto Tournament had completed their registrations. Atobe led his team towards the match courts. As for Kamikawa and Tezuka, they headed in a different direction.
In front of the vending machine, Kamikawa stopped and waved at Tezuka. Tezuka looked helplessly at the vending machine, pulled out his wallet, and handed Kamikawa a bill. Kamikawa took the bill, still looking as if he couldn't believe it. Was this really the Tezuka he knew? Was he actually being so generous today?
Kamikawa hesitated, then asked, "You didn't skip breakfast, did you?"
"I ate," Tezuka noted Kamikawa's expression, rolled his eyes, and said, "Hurry up and buy. We need to go watch the matches soon. Don't waste time."
"Alright, alright!" Kamikawa waved his hand, selected two cans of iced soda, tossed one to Tezuka, and unceremoniously pocketed the change.
"..." Tezuka's mouth twitched. Never mind, whether the money was with Kamikawa or with him, it made no big difference; it was all just for daily drink expenses.
Soon, after buying their drinks, Kamikawa and Tezuka went to check out the Seigaku and Midoriyama match. After a quick look, they left the area and headed towards Hyotei's match.
"Seigaku is certainly bold, sending out two first-years for doubles." In Seigaku's first match against Midoriyama, for Doubles 2, they sent out the Oishi and Kikumaru doubles pair. This combination seemed quite green at the moment; their coordination was decent, but it was far from Kanto-level and they were quickly contained by Midoriyama's doubles.
"Indeed. That Kikumaru's style is quite similar to Mukahi's." Tezuka nodded. He also noticed that Kikumaru was using acrobatic play, and his technique was still quite raw, just like Mukahi when he first joined the school. Now, after layers of training, Mukahi was much more proficient in using acrobatic play. He could also manage his stamina consumption during matches, attacking when necessary and making appropriate defensive moves when needed.
"But from what I see now, Seigaku won't pose a threat to Hyotei." Kamikawa nodded, not really bothering to worry about it. Based on Seigaku's overall strength, as long as their Doubles 2, and their subsequent Singles 3 and Singles 2, could win, then even if the last match with some clueless player ended in a loss, Seigaku would still smoothly advance to the quarterfinals. In the first round, both teams had to play all five matches. In subsequent matches, only three wins were needed to end the match. This was also a rule for every tournament's opening ceremony.
By the time Kamikawa and Tezuka returned to the sidelines, the first doubles match had already concluded. Hyotei had easily crushed Aihara Junior High's Doubles 2 in just eleven minutes. In the second doubles match, Oshitari and Mukahi's chemistry steadily improved. They suppressed their opponents from the start. Mukahi consistently harassed at the net, while Oshitari seized opportunities to hit the ball to unfavorable spots, creating attacking chances for Mukahi.
"Oshitari and Mukahi's doubles are really starting to look impressive." Kamikawa nodded. The Mukahi-Oshitari pair showed the versatility of their doubles formation in the match, even trying to have Mukahi defend from the baseline while Oshitari took the offensive at the net. With their varied formations and Oshitari's cunning, Aihara Junior High's Doubles 1 soon fell, defeated 6-0. Following them, Shishido and Jiro also swiftly dispatched Aihara Junior High's Singles 3 and Singles 2 in a mere 10 minutes. Finally, it was Atobe's turn.
Aihara Junior High, on their side, sent out their tennis club captain, Doi Yūnosuke, known for his speed in Tochigi Prefecture!
Boom!
Boom!!
Five minutes, ten minutes... As Atobe's final shot landed, Doi had no strength left to stand. His entire body slumped to the ground. Despite being known for his speed, his legs were trembling during the match. "Is this guy really a first-year?" Doi struggled to lift his head, watching Atobe, who was walking towards the net, his forehead slightly beaded with sweat.
Ultimately, Hyotei's opening match ended with a dominant 5-0 overall score and a 6-0 clean sweep in the individual matches, easily defeating Aihara Junior High, the runners-up from Tochigi Prefecture. At the same time, Yamabuki, Rikkai Dai, and Rokkaku, these established strong teams, also advanced to the quarterfinals. Seigaku, after a tough struggle, also made it to the quarterfinals with a 3-2 overall score.
Thus, the first day of the Kanto Tournament, the Round of 16, came to a complete close.
Chapter 96: Kanto Tournament Begins!
In the blink of an eye, it was the weekend again.
At the North Wind Tennis Park in Tokyo, the city's most bustling and largest tennis park, much grander than both the Lozen Tennis Center and the Azure Bird Tennis Center, it could hold thousands, even tens of thousands of people. Almost every year, the middle school and high school tennis tournaments are held right here.
"Wow, there are so many people here!"
"Of course, Kikumaru, this year's Kanto Tournament is highly anticipated."
"Oishi, I was just saying!"
A group of players in blue and white jackets appeared in the area. Oishi and Kikumaru, standing at the very back of the crowd, were chattering away. This was their first time at a Kanto Tournament venue. Even though they made it through the wildcard play-offs, it was still a precious experience for them. Under Inui's meticulous training plan, Seigaku seemed to have a completely new look. Many of the old regulars were gone, replaced by fresh faces.
Leading the charge, wearing sunglasses and a jacket, was Yamato Yuudai, the captain of Seigaku. Behind him was Kamata, the vice-captain. After them, besides one or two familiar third-year faces, the rest were new first-years.
"Inui, that team over there looks really strong." Kikumaru, like a curious kitten, pointed to a team in green uniforms not far away.
"That's Midoriyama Junior High from Saitama Prefecture! They're our opponents for this match," Inui calmly replied, adjusting his glasses. "Midoriyama Junior High has strong singles players. Last year, they made it to the National Tournament thanks to their excellent performances from their Singles 3 and Singles 2 players."
"However, Oowada Asahi, who played Singles 2 last year and was Midoriyama Junior High's ace, has already moved on to high school. For Midoriyama Junior High, losing a strong singles player will undoubtedly affect their overall strength to some extent."
"So, that means we're definitely going to win this match?" Kikumaru excitedly exclaimed.
"Don't get careless, Kikumaru!" Inui's expression shifted slightly as he shook his head. "The current captain of Midoriyama Junior High, who was last year's Singles 3, is Otsuka Masayuki. His skill is formidable; he's known as Saitama Prefecture's top singles player. Midoriyama Junior High wins the championship in Saitama Prefecture almost every year, so they're a team not to be underestimated."
Kikumaru followed the flow of people and noticed the third-year student leading the green-clad team. This was the current captain of Midoriyama Junior High, Otsuka Masayuki! Otsuka Masayuki seemed to sense someone looking his way. He turned his head and noticed Seigaku approaching, a sharp glint in his eyes and a smirk on his lips. He slowly walked over to the Seigaku team. "Yamato! Your injury must have healed by now!"
"You don't need to concern yourself with that, Otsuka." Yamato replied indifferently, leading his team away from the spot.
"I hope your injury is completely healed, otherwise today's match won't be any fun." Otsuka Masayuki didn't show any anger. Instead, a playful expression appeared on his face. "A second-rate team that just barely scraped into the Kanto Tournament through the wildcard play-offs!"
"Captain, that guy is way too arrogant!"
"Yeah, yeah! We have to teach him a harsh lesson."
The Seigaku regulars walking at the back naturally heard Otsuka Masayuki's words. He clearly didn't think much of Seigaku. What's the big deal about a team that consistently makes it to the National Tournament? Is that a reason to be so arrogant?
Before Yamato could speak, a clamor erupted from the main entrance. With a series of buses pulling up to the park entrance, the eager reporters swarmed forward, snapping photos of the vehicles. The bus doors slowly opened, and a group of middle school students in gray and white uniforms disembarked, lining up on both sides to clear a path for the main players who were about to emerge.
"This year's Kanto Tournament is certainly livelier than last year's." Looking out the window at the crowds, Gen Kouen couldn't help but sigh. Even last year's Kanto Tournament hadn't felt this vibrant.
"Yeah, I remember even when we made it to the semifinals last year, the crowd wasn't as crazy as it is today." Kawamura nodded. Playing tennis in an atmosphere like this, surely no player would refuse. After all, as tennis players, they all dream of standing on a bigger stage and enjoying every match.
"Come on, it's our turn to get off." Tezuka said plainly, leading the way out of the bus. The other Hyotei regulars followed him off the bus, with the reporters being held back by the other tennis club members. As soon as he stepped off the bus, Tezuka noticed the blue and white jackets in the distance.
"Is that Seigaku?" Shishido also spotted a team not far away. The blue and white colors instantly identified them as Seishun Gakuen, also from Tokyo.
"Let's go, it's time to register." Atobe paid no attention. In his eyes, Seigaku was simply not worth mentioning. The only team they needed to watch out for this year was Rikkai Dai Fuzoku from Kanagawa Prefecture.
At the registration desk, after Tezuka submitted the team roster, a commotion erupted from behind him. The reporters who had been surrounding Hyotei instantly rushed to the back. A team in dark yellow uniforms approached. The surrounding reporters continuously pressed their camera shutters, wanting to capture the best shots. The champions and runners-up from last year's tournament meeting at the registration desk—such a report would be headline news if released first.
The young man at the forefront, wearing a blue headband and with dark blue, slightly curly hair, was naturally Yukimura Seiichi, the current captain of Rikkai Dai. Closely following him, wearing a black baseball cap, with an air of dominance between his brows and an undeniable presence in his every movement, was Sanada Genichirou, the vice-captain of Rikkai Dai. Furthermore, the Rikkai Dai players following were all familiar faces, opponents they had previously faced. Bringing up the rear was naturally Mori Jūzaburō. He looked to be in good spirits, his previous laziness largely gone.
"Let's meet again in the finals, Tezuka." Yukimura walked up to Tezuka, smiling slightly.
"Mm. See you in the finals." Tezuka nodded, a promise implicitly made between them. It seemed the outcome of that match against Rikkai Dai Fuzoku would be decided at this Kanto Tournament.
Atobe's beautiful eyes landed on Sanada. He wasn't as friendly as Yukimura or Tezuka, his tone light and playful. "I say, Sanada! That undecided match of ours, it's time to get a result."
"Atobe!" Sanada replied indifferently, "You should be glad you lost consciousness back then."
"Oh?!" Atobe's voice stretched, his eyes narrowing. "Under this great self's insight, your weaknesses have nowhere to hide. Go scurrying back to Kanagawa, Sanada!"
After a brief exchange between the captains and vice-captains of both teams, Hyotei was the first to leave the registration desk. Having completed their registration, they needed to prepare for their first match. On Rikkai Dai's side, everyone could feel the aura emanating from the Hyotei players. Their strength had clearly increased since their last practice match. Mori lowered his head, his eyes subtly shifting. He could sense the terrifying mental pressure emanating from Kamikawa.
"His strength has grown," the thought instantly arose in his mind. The most frightening thing was that he couldn't deny the thought that had surfaced.
---
With half an hour left before the matches began, Hyotei's first opponent was Aihara Junior High, a team not particularly strong. The roster Kamikawa Shin had previously set now included Jiro and Shishido, playing Singles 2 and Singles 3, respectively. Atobe was placed at Singles 1. The remaining doubles pairings were Gen and Kawamura, and Mukahi and Oshitari. Even though their opponents were weaker, Kamikawa Shin didn't take them lightly. The Kanto Tournament was different from the Tokyo Prefectural Tournament; even a slight misstep could put a team at a disadvantage.
Mukahi and Oshitari's doubles needed to be tested in a real match. While Aihara Junior High's doubles weren't at a national level, they were at least Kanto-level, making them perfect for evaluation. Kamikawa Shin made Kamikawa the substitute for this match, and Tezuka, as captain, wasn't on the roster, which also served to conserve some of their strength. Unless there was a major incident, or if the team found themselves in a tricky 2-2 score, a substitute would be sent in. Otherwise, most of the time, substitutes were free and rarely had a chance to play.
Anyway, it was just the first round, and they were facing Aihara Junior High, a team Kamikawa had never even heard of. Even if he played, it would just be another ten minutes of wasted activity time. Rather than playing, it was better to let Shishido and Jiro have some fun. Compared to that, Kamikawa was more interested in the match between Midoriyama and Seigaku. When they got off the bus earlier, Kamikawa had noticed Kikumaru and Oishi wearing Seigaku's regular tennis club uniforms.
Soon, after the preparation time, all sixteen participating teams in the Kanto Tournament had completed their registrations. Atobe led his team towards the match courts. As for Kamikawa and Tezuka, they headed in a different direction.
In front of the vending machine, Kamikawa stopped and waved at Tezuka. Tezuka looked helplessly at the vending machine, pulled out his wallet, and handed Kamikawa a bill. Kamikawa took the bill, still looking as if he couldn't believe it. Was this really the Tezuka he knew? Was he actually being so generous today?
Kamikawa hesitated, then asked, "You didn't skip breakfast, did you?"
"I ate," Tezuka noted Kamikawa's expression, rolled his eyes, and said, "Hurry up and buy. We need to go watch the matches soon. Don't waste time."
"Alright, alright!" Kamikawa waved his hand, selected two cans of iced soda, tossed one to Tezuka, and unceremoniously pocketed the change.
"..." Tezuka's mouth twitched. Never mind, whether the money was with Kamikawa or with him, it made no big difference; it was all just for daily drink expenses.
Soon, after buying their drinks, Kamikawa and Tezuka went to check out the Seigaku and Midoriyama match. After a quick look, they left the area and headed towards Hyotei's match.
"Seigaku is certainly bold, sending out two first-years for doubles." In Seigaku's first match against Midoriyama, for Doubles 2, they sent out the Oishi and Kikumaru doubles pair. This combination seemed quite green at the moment; their coordination was decent, but it was far from Kanto-level and they were quickly contained by Midoriyama's doubles.
"Indeed. That Kikumaru's style is quite similar to Mukahi's." Tezuka nodded. He also noticed that Kikumaru was using acrobatic play, and his technique was still quite raw, just like Mukahi when he first joined the school. Now, after layers of training, Mukahi was much more proficient in using acrobatic play. He could also manage his stamina consumption during matches, attacking when necessary and making appropriate defensive moves when needed.
"But from what I see now, Seigaku won't pose a threat to Hyotei." Kamikawa nodded, not really bothering to worry about it. Based on Seigaku's overall strength, as long as their Doubles 2, and their subsequent Singles 3 and Singles 2, could win, then even if the last match with some clueless player ended in a loss, Seigaku would still smoothly advance to the quarterfinals. In the first round, both teams had to play all five matches. In subsequent matches, only three wins were needed to end the match. This was also a rule for every tournament's opening ceremony.
By the time Kamikawa and Tezuka returned to the sidelines, the first doubles match had already concluded. Hyotei had easily crushed Aihara Junior High's Doubles 2 in just eleven minutes. In the second doubles match, Oshitari and Mukahi's chemistry steadily improved. They suppressed their opponents from the start. Mukahi consistently harassed at the net, while Oshitari seized opportunities to hit the ball to unfavorable spots, creating attacking chances for Mukahi.
"Oshitari and Mukahi's doubles are really starting to look impressive." Kamikawa nodded. The Mukahi-Oshitari pair showed the versatility of their doubles formation in the match, even trying to have Mukahi defend from the baseline while Oshitari took the offensive at the net. With their varied formations and Oshitari's cunning, Aihara Junior High's Doubles 1 soon fell, defeated 6-0. Following them, Shishido and Jiro also swiftly dispatched Aihara Junior High's Singles 3 and Singles 2 in a mere 10 minutes. Finally, it was Atobe's turn.
Aihara Junior High, on their side, sent out their tennis club captain, Doi Yūnosuke, known for his speed in Tochigi Prefecture!
Boom!
Boom!!
Five minutes, ten minutes... As Atobe's final shot landed, Doi had no strength left to stand. His entire body slumped to the ground. Despite being known for his speed, his legs were trembling during the match. "Is this guy really a first-year?" Doi struggled to lift his head, watching Atobe, who was walking towards the net, his forehead slightly beaded with sweat.
Ultimately, Hyotei's opening match ended with a dominant 5-0 overall score and a 6-0 clean sweep in the individual matches, easily defeating Aihara Junior High, the runners-up from Tochigi Prefecture. At the same time, Yamabuki, Rikkai Dai, and Rokkaku, these established strong teams, also advanced to the quarterfinals. Seigaku, after a tough struggle, also made it to the quarterfinals with a 3-2 overall score.
Thus, the first day of the Kanto Tournament, the Round of 16, came to a complete close.