Saeki Muneyoshi and Tezuka Kunimitsu had not gotten off to a smooth start in middle school, but astonishing changes were taking place at several other schools.
Hyotei Academy was the first to be affected.
At this moment, a heavyweight match was underway in the Tennis Club at Hyotei Academy, also located in Tokyo Metropolis.
A bespectacled boy with medium-length dark blue hair was drenched in sweat.
His opponent was Atobe Keigo, who had arrogantly and flamboyantly declared at the start of the school year that he was Hyotei's king.
His declaration had been made at the freshman entrance ceremony.
What he said had been a proclamation, not a slogan.
Atobe Keigo did not care what the second- and third-year students thought. He had come to announce his presence and arrival.
Though many students had been surprised and shocked at the time, they had not truly taken it seriously.
They were all young, exposed to new things and new people every day. Within two weeks, they had forgotten Atobe's speech at the opening ceremony.
But compared with everyone else, Hyotei's Tennis Club would remember him far more deeply.
When the first club enrollment period began, the storm led by Atobe continued to sweep through Hyotei.
Compared with previous years, Hyotei's Tennis Club was especially lively this year.
Nearly one hundred and eighty first-year students alone had applied to join.
The reason for such overwhelming popularity was, naturally, Hyotei's former captain, Ochi Gekko, who had now entered high school.
During his three years in middle school, he had transformed Hyotei Academy, which had originally possessed only regional tournament-level strength, into a National Level school and even earned it the title of national semifinalist.
Such achievements and transformation had truly made Hyotei's Tennis Club stand head and shoulders above the school's other athletic clubs.
Before Ochi Gekko, Hyotei's tennis club had not been particularly strong.
Compared with the school's baseball and volleyball clubs, it had been at roughly the same level.
If they were lucky, they could make it to the Kanto Tournament. It all depended on the draw.
Now, Hyotei had transformed into a renowned National Level school.
Such strength naturally attracted many freshmen who had come seeking its reputation.
Atobe Keigo had naturally arrived with haughty strides.
However, when Lord Atobe appeared at the court where the Regulars were training, the second- and third-years had already been practicing for quite some time.
He stopped to watch for a while. Looking at the current second- and third-year Regulars, Atobe frowned in utter disappointment.
After Ochi Gekko's departure, Hyotei's strength had declined rapidly.
It no longer possessed the grandeur of a semifinalist school. Seeing this, Atobe knew he could not waste any more time. His frown eased, and he raised his right hand and snapped his fingers at the sky.
"Hey, trash, listen up. From today onward, I, Atobe Keigo, am the captain of the Tennis Club. Does anyone have any objections?"
Atobe's explosive declaration immediately drew the attention of every Regular.
Even the first-years who had just joined and were picking up balls, as well as the foolishly adorable first-year newcomers lining up to register, turned to look at him.
Obey your seniors!
This was an unspoken rule that existed everywhere in Japan.
The junior overthrowing the senior!
This was another contradictory trait etched into the bones of the Japanese.
Atobe's words naturally aroused public outrage.
Especially among those second- and third-years who had worked so hard to become Regulars. Naturally, they had to defend their rights.
The conflict between the two sides was irreconcilable.
The confrontation between the first-years and the second- and third-years was on the verge of erupting, but it had always been suppressed and kept at a controllable level.
However, suppression was not a solution. In the end, with Adviser Sakaki Tarou's tacit approval, Hyotei's open Internal Selection Tournament began ahead of schedule.
In this Internal Selection Tournament, any Tennis Club member could participate regardless of year.
Strength reigned supreme. Everyone would earn the position they wanted entirely through their own ability.
This was also a rule Hyotei had gradually implemented ever since Ochi Gekko's time.
Upon learning the result, Hyotei's Tennis Club erupted in celebration. Unlike the shame and indignation of the second- and third-years, the first-years were mostly excited.
"Everything is decided purely by strength? An interesting system. I like it!"
Amid the crowd, a boy with short dark blue hair and black-rimmed glasses adjusted his glasses and murmured softly.
Another red-haired boy, Mukahi Gakuto, excitedly shook Anahira Ryo, who wore a tennis cap. His delight was written all over his face.
And today was the day of Hyotei's Internal Selection Tournament.
On the court, the third-year Regulars looked at the first-year challengers who had emerged with the adviser's tacit approval, and they were furious.
Especially at the tear-moled boy in front of them who had brazenly declared that he wanted to become captain.
"First-year brats, no matter how much you jump around, it all ends today. First-years should obediently pick up balls!"
These third-years were actually conflicted. On one hand, they hated the first-year juniors' betrayal. On the other, they greatly liked Hyotei's system.
No matter who you were or what your status was, in Hyotei's Tennis Club, strength was what mattered.
The open Internal Selection Tournament continued, and the person drawing the most attention was naturally Atobe Keigo.
He continuously challenged one Regular after another and won, building tremendous prestige.
Once again, he defeated his opponent six games to zero.
"Oh, all you can do is bark helplessly here?"
Atobe looked at his final opponent, who had provoked him in every possible way before the match but had now completely lost his spirit. A trace of disdain flashed through his eyes.
"Listen up, all of you. I am Atobe Keigo!"
"I am your captain, the one and only king of Hyotei Middle School's Tennis Club!"
Atobe spoke these perfectly natural words with immense pride.
"From now on, Hyotei will go even further under my command and rise all the way to the pinnacle of the nation!"
"If any of you want this position, then come take it from me if you have the ability!"
As Atobe spoke, he raised the racket in his hand and tossed a tennis ball into the air.
Bang!
The tennis ball was viciously smashed into the chain-link fence.
From this day onward, Hyotei Academy's transformation began!
Adviser Sakaki Tarou, who had watched Atobe's performance throughout the day, was also extremely satisfied with him.
Sakaki Tarou was a wealthy magnate himself. He did not care about the so-called seniority system; he only cared about who could bring victory.
Atobe Keigo had demonstrated immense strength!
As well as the confidence that radiated from his bones and his innate bearing of a king.
No one was more suitable than him to lead Hyotei's Tennis Club, which had over two hundred members.
Coincidentally, at Rikkai Dai in Kanagawa Prefecture, Yukimura and Sanada's arrival had also stirred up a storm, just like Atobe at Hyotei.
Similar to Hyotei, which revered strength above all else, Rikkai Dai held even greater respect for the strong.
Yukimura Seiichi and Sanada Genichirou effortlessly reorganized the Tennis Club, with Yukimura also serving as coach.
Rokkaku Middle School had always had the tradition of letting a first-year serve as captain. Now, Saeki Kojiro's strength was worlds apart from that of the original story.
Not only had he become captain, but he had also defeated everyone else.
At Shishigaku, Tachibana Kippei and Chitose Senri had also secured their places as Regulars as they wished, and they were even called Shishigaku's future aces.
In Osaka, Shitenhoji's arrival of Shiraishi Kuranosuke allowed Shuu and Hirazeni to find a suitable successor.
In Japan's middle school tennis scene today, the only schools with the strength but without an established first-year hierarchy were Seigaku and Fudomine.
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