Seigaku's Revolution

Seigaku, Tennis Club.

Because of yesterday's victory, the entire atmosphere of the tennis club today was very good.

However, due to Fudomine's underhanded tactics, a match that should have ended in three sets was dragged all the way to the final set.

This result naturally displeased Ryūzaki Sumire.

Sensing this, the regulars, to avoid being scolded, trained with even more fervor today.

On the sidelines, another group of first-year freshmen were silently picking up balls.

Watching them from the court, the second and third-year upperclassmen training inside would occasionally let out a scoff.

Having experienced this scene many times, Tezuka Kunimitsu's expression remained placid.

Ever since he joined the Seigaku Tennis Club, this scene had played out almost every day.

Picking up balls, being scoffed at by the senior members of the tennis club, being bullied – this was the current middle school life for Tezuka Kunimitsu and the first-year freshmen.

"Tezuka, did you watch yesterday's match all the way through?"

A boy with slightly narrowed eyes approached Tezuka. It was Fuji Shusuke.

Just like in the original story, Fuji's personality meshed well with Tezuka's, and they quickly became friends.

Tezuka didn't speak upon hearing him, merely nodding placidly.

"I heard the seniors had a tough win yesterday."

Fuji's tone was somewhat wistful, but not disappointed. After all, he wasn't yet fully aware of the true strength of Seigaku's regulars.

Unlike his confusion in the original story that lasted until his third year, he was now, thanks to Muneyoshi, beginning to search for his true self.

Searching for his passion for tennis.

"Meow... It's better to be a regular and play matches. I wonder how long we'll be picking up balls here."

Hearing their conversation, Kikumaru Eiji and several other first-year members came over to Tezuka and Fuji.

"It can't be helped. After all, the seniors are still much stronger than us. Plus, there's the rule that first-years can only pick up balls, can't enter the court, and can't participate in regular selection."

Oishi Shūichirō picked up Eiji's words, speaking with a hint of helplessness.

"Hmph, Oishi, that's not right. How can you know the seniors are stronger if you haven't competed?"

"Even if the seniors are truly stronger than us, what about Tezuka? And that guy Akutsu... their strength is definitely above those regular seniors..."

Listening to Oishi's explanation of the various rules, Kikumaru's usually cheerful face turned a bit somber, but his tone was filled with defiance.

"Tezuka's win rate against the seniors is one hundred percent, and he doesn't lose a single point."

Hiding to the side, Sadaharu Inui, who had been silently picking up balls, also spoke up at this moment.

Listening to Kikumaru Eiji and Sadaharu Inui's discussion, Tezuka's icy poker face remained unchanged.

In his over a month at Seigaku, he had already seen through everything.

He had originally entered Seigaku because of that idol, "The Samurai," Nanjirou.

After all, Seigaku's current coach was under the banner of Nanjirou's first mentor.

But upon arriving at Seigaku, he discovered that tennis here relied not on skill, but on seniority.

However, for him, who had already decided to change all of this, it no longer mattered.

"Hey, first-years, what are you all gathered here for?"

From the court, an abrupt voice reached Tezuka and the others.

"Oh no... It's Takei-senpai..."

Hearing this voice, many first-years showed a trace of fear on their faces.

Because this voice belonged to none other than the most strict and short-tempered regular towards first-years, Takei Kenshi.

He usually relied on his status as a senior and a regular to bully new members of the tennis club. Among the first-years, he was utterly detested.

As for Seigaku's coach, Ryūzaki Sumire, she merely turned a blind eye to his behavior.

After all, deep down, Ryūzaki Sumire looked down on first-year students.

She stubbornly believed that first-years' physical development was insufficient and they couldn't play tennis well.

However, this year was somewhat of an exception. Takei Kenshi had restrained himself considerably compared to last year.

The reason was certainly not a change of heart, but rather due to the actions of Akutsu Jin.

Akutsu's appearance not only caused his friend to quit the tennis club but even cornered him in the equipment room and extorted him.

This instilled a certain fear of first-year students in him.

However, as his anger festered, his bullying nature caused him to turn this fear into a deep humiliation, constantly thinking of revenge.

Even if he couldn't do anything to Akutsu, he hadn't abandoned this idea.

If he couldn't deal with Akutsu Jin, couldn't he deal with other first-years?

Especially after winning yesterday's match, the emotions that Takei had suppressed for a long time finally erupted.

For Tezuka and the others, who had a good relationship with Akutsu Jin, he was the first target of his revenge.

And to deal with this group of first-years, the first person to deal with was Tezuka Kunimitsu.

This boy, who always looked cool, possessed great charisma, drawing a crowd of stubborn individuals around him.

Tezuka certainly didn't expect that, because of Akutsu and his own inherent leadership qualities, he would get into trouble again.

Takei Kenshi, with a hint of suppressed anger, walked up to Tezuka and the others and shouted:

"First-years, are you deaf? I asked what you were doing!"

Looking at the furious Takei Kenshi before him, Tezuka merely frowned slightly and ignored him.

This demeanor only fueled Takei's anger further, especially with his companions egging him on.

"This Tezuka Kunimitsu doesn't seem to take Takei seriously at all. He should know Takei is a regular and his senior..."

"I've been annoyed by him for a long time. Look at him, acting all high and mighty, yet he still has to obediently pick up balls. A first-year wanting to touch rackets, pfft..."

"Takei should just teach him a lesson and let him know what respecting seniors means..."

Hearing this goading, coupled with Tezuka's consistent disdain for him and Akutsu Jin's previous arrogance, Takei's mind was already clouded with rage.

"Bastard!"

Suddenly, Takei cursed loudly and kicked over the basket of balls in front of Tezuka. The tennis balls, which had been painstakingly collected, scattered all over the ground.

Seeing this, Fuji's narrowed eyes opened slightly, his sapphire blue eyes holding a hint of danger.

Oishi, however, stepped forward and bowed to Takei, saying, "Senior Takei, Tezuka and we were just picking up balls, we weren't discussing anything?"

"Get lost!"

Takei couldn't listen to any more and kicked Oishi away, then approached Tezuka:

"Do you always think you're so good at playing tennis, and that we're all trash?"

"Fine, let's have a match today. I'll show you that your childish tennis is nothing!"

Afterward, Takei grabbed his racket and walked onto the tennis court, shouting at Tezuka Kunimitsu, "You're not scared, are you!"

Tezuka slowly stood up, took a racket from someone else, and walked onto the court.

He had originally planned to wait until after the district tournament to start a revolution, but the other party's actions had crossed his bottom line.

He didn't want to wait any longer.

He couldn't let Fuji, Akutsu, and Oishi wait any longer either!

He wanted Saeki Muneyoshi to know what Hyotei's Atobe, Rikkai Dai's Yukimura and Sanada, and Fudomine's Muneyoshi were planning to do.

He, Tezuka Kunimitsu, could do it too!

He was not weaker than them.

"Tezuka..."

Fuji tried to stop Tezuka, but was refused. At this moment, another gray-haired figure walked onto the court.

However, because everyone's attention was focused on the figures in the center, he did not attract any notice.

As early as the morning class today, Tezuka had spoken with Akutsu, which piqued his interest to come and watch.

Otherwise, a tennis club this pathetic was no better than extorting those delinquent upperclassmen outside.

"Tch, this Tezuka guy actually endured for so long..."

Akutsu Jin didn't particularly like Tezuka's personality.

However, he did acknowledge Tezuka's strength.