Fudomine's School Opening Season

After getting through the weak phase, Muneyoshi, immersed in his rapidly improving strength, felt time fly by.

Once he had fully stabilized and digested his explosive growth in power.

The new school year's registration period for Muneyoshi's junior high life had finally arrived.

In Japan, late March already heralded the arrival of early spring.

Brilliant cherry blossoms bloomed, and the streets and alleys were filled with stunning scenery: beautiful, slender figures in alluringly short skirts.

Japan had its own unique national conditions.

When it came to balancing fashion and temperature, girls were always more sensitive than boys.

Saeki Residence, Tokyo Metropolis.

"Muneyoshi, when you get to school, behave yourself, study hard, and get along with your classmates, okay? Absolutely no fighting!"

Saeki Kanna earnestly and gently admonished her son, who had grown taller than her.

She was quite happy that her husband's career had gone smoothly, leading the whole family to move to Tokyo Metropolis.

After all, this was the Kanto region, the most prosperous area in all of Japan.

Her only dissatisfaction was with her son's choice of school. Fudomine was incredibly unusual throughout the entire Kanto region.

In an area full of private middle schools, it was a public school.

Families who placed great importance on their children's education rarely sent their children to public schools in junior high; they would typically enroll in very famous private middle schools.

However, the Saeki family had just moved, and they didn't have many powerful connections. Coupled with the fact that her husband's company had some ties to Fudomine, they chose it.

But even so, she, who always hoped her child would succeed, felt a slight dissatisfaction.

"Mother, please don't worry, I won't fight without reason!"

Looking at the incredibly gentle woman before him, with a hint of worry and dissatisfaction in her brow, Saeki Muneyoshi felt a little helpless.

This past month, to shake off his weakness, he had been seen on courts all over the Tokyo Metropolis area.

He had gained both match experience and witnessed various tactics by competing against different opponents.

To find such opponents, one could only go to street tennis courts and baseball fields.

A few times, he encountered some older thugs who used underhanded tactics, which disgusted him. When his temper flared, conflicts would naturally erupt.

Minor scuffles were unavoidable, and for boys, these were normal.

He considered it abnormal for those who were coddled by their parents since childhood and had never gotten into a fight.

Of course, although he had trained since he was young and even practiced kendo when his grandfather was still alive, age was a factor. Nothing went perfectly smoothly, and sometimes when he encountered difficult opponents and got carried away, he would inevitably sustain injuries.

His gentle and meticulous mother, Saeki Kanna, never scolded him; she would just clean and bandage his wounds.

However, his eyes always held a hint of worry whenever he went out.

Saeki Muneyoshi found it difficult to explain, as he had indeed been in fights.

He could only patiently comfort her.

"Mother, I'm leaving now. Please be careful on your way to work too."

Saeki Muneyoshi walked out of the house and waved goodbye to his mother.

Whenever this happened, Saeki Kanna would always be silent, watching quietly until Muneyoshi had completely blended into the crowd, then she would silently avert her gaze.

April in Japanese schools could be considered quite busy. In this season of blooming cherry blossoms, it was the time for the spring entrance ceremony for new students in Japan.

All sorts of welcome banners were constantly appearing.

Fudomine was no exception.

In fact, if one overlooked the tennis club's unsightly results, in other aspects, it wasn't much different from so-called aristocratic private schools.

Outside the solemn and dignified main gate, new students were constantly entering the school with excited expressions.

At the welcome center, senior students were receiving the new juniors, which was the liveliest time of the year for every school.

Like other new students, Saeki Muneyoshi entered the school wearing a pure black school uniform and carrying a satchel.

However, even with his simple attire, his innate handsome face still garnered him many admiring glances.

Especially his height, which was a head taller than other freshmen, and his gradually broadening back, exuded a sunny and refreshing aura.

His eyes, which always held a smile, added a touch of innocence and approachability.

Muneyoshi's striking features naturally attracted the affection and enthusiasm of many senior girls, who surrounded him, introducing him to various aspects of the school.

Initially, Muneyoshi felt a little proud, but as the number of people surrounding him grew, he realized something was wrong.

He fled in a flustered manner.

Finally, with the help of a kind senior girl, Muneyoshi arrived at the registration office, completed his enrollment procedures, and found his classroom.

Entering the classroom, Muneyoshi casually scanned the room, not spotting any "familiar faces."

But then again, he thought, Fudomine doesn't really have anyone I know anymore.

"Still, Akutsu didn't show up either. Did he fail?"

A month ago, during his match against Tezuka, Muneyoshi had a "pleasant and friendly" chat with Akutsu.

He had even invited Akutsu to attend the same school as him back then.

To think it actually failed!

Because he needed to get through his weak phase as quickly as possible, he hadn't contacted Akutsu during this period.

He had expected to see him today, but it turned out to be a one-sided wish.

"Didn't they say the protagonist would beat him up, and then he'd develop a good impression of the protagonist?"

"Why has everything changed when it comes to me?"

Saeki Muneyoshi found it strange. His thoughts raced, finally leading him to a conclusion:

"Could it be... I'm not the protagonist?"

Seigaku.

"Anji, didn't you say you wouldn't come to Seigaku because you lost to me?"

Tezuka, radiating an imposing aura, turned his head and slyly addressed the figure beside him, who had a bandaged hand and a watermelon-head hairstyle, looking like a delinquent.

The watermelon-headed boy scowled impatiently, his fierce gaze fixed on Tezuka. "Don't call me Anji!"

"If it wasn't to defeat that guy, do you think I'd be willing to come to Seigaku with you, Mr. Poker Face?"

"I played against those guys at Yamabuki Middle School before, and none of them could improve my strength..."

Hearing this, Tezuka nodded, seemingly recalling a certain figure from a month ago. He said coolly, "Anji, no matter what, since we're at Seigaku, let's give it our all."

"I'm also looking forward to another match with Saeki-kun!"

"You..."

At the same time, at Hyotei Academy, a deep red luxury van stopped at the school's main gate.

A middle-aged gentleman in a butler's uniform respectfully opened the car door, and two youths, one older and one younger, stepped out.

The smaller youth, wearing the Hyotei uniform, was also very handsome. A perfectly placed tear mole near his eye added a touch of nobility to his features.

The other had a somewhat blank expression but was tall and burly, comparable to high school students, let alone middle schoolers.

Despite his imposing appearance, he was actually a year younger than the smaller youth.

These two were none other than the "familiar" Atobe Keigo and Kabaji Takahiro.

"Hmm? Is this Hyotei Academy? Since I'm here, Hyotei Academy must submit to my feet, don't you agree, Kabaji!"

Atobe's arrogance was sky-high, as if he didn't care about anyone, drawing frequent glances from those around him.

"Yes, Young Master Atobe," Kabaji replied gruffly.

Rikkai Dai Middle School.

Two boys of similar height, one with a green headband and the other wearing a baseball cap, walked in sync, looking at the school gate.

Yukimura Seiichi's tone was incredibly firm: "Kōtarō, our era is about to begin. Let's achieve the great feat of three consecutive national championships together!"

Sanada, however, did not reply. Staring at the school gate before him, his mind recalled his opponent from the tournament:

"Tezuka, let's settle this in the Kanto Tournament and the National Tournament!"

Yukimura seemed accustomed to Sanada's current obsession and didn't say much more, confidently walking towards Rikkai Dai.