The Kanto Tournament Begins

Only twenty-eight schools from the entire Kanto region were eligible to participate in the Kanto Tournament, so the draw ceremony was short and ended quickly.

However, in addition to schools in the Kanto region, the entire Kanto Tournament also includes Rokkaku Middle School, the champion of the Chiba tournament.

And Saitama champion Midori Mountain Junior High.

As regional tournament champions, they, like Seigaku and Rikkai Dai, received a bye in the first round.

Therefore, a total of 28 schools participated in the Kanto Tournament.

Seigaku and Rikkai Dai belong to Groups A and B respectively, so the two schools will not meet before the finals.

Fudomine and Hyotei Academy were placed in Groups C and D, meaning they won't face each other before the finals.

Atobe's wish to face Muneyoshi again is likely to be dashed.

"Hmph, Muneyoshi, let me deal with Seigaku first, then I'll wait for you in the finals. Don't let Rikkai Dai take you down."

Hyotei Academy has a psychological advantage over Seigaku.

Although Seigaku defeated Fudomine in the Metropolitan Tournament, Hyotei Academy defeated Seigaku twice last year.

At this moment, Atobe felt no fear, but rather a surge of pride.

At the same time, his desire to evolve became even stronger.

"Atobe, don't just talk big. If you really do it, then we'll be really looking forward to it!"

After the draw was completed, Yukimura walked up with a smile and replied to Atobe.

Then Yukimura stopped in front of Muneyoshi and said, "Saeki -kun, see you at the Kanto Tournament Semifinals."

After saying that, he led the Rikkai Dai Tennis Club's Regular out of the draw hall.

As Muneyoshi walked out of Rikkai Dai University's gates, he gazed at the azure sky.

"Tachibana, you know what? Around this time last year, I came to Rikkai Dai, but that time it wasn't a draw, it was a challenge... Looking back now, that was an extremely immature approach."

"There was a deliberate act to assert one's existence... but at that time I had no other choice, no team, no teammates, nothing..."

At this point, Muneyoshi laughed and put his arm around Tachibana's shoulder:

"But now, we have everything. What I said before wasn't just empty talk. I genuinely hope the draw can be held at our Fudomine."

After spending several months together, the team's Regular had more or less learned about Muneyoshi's past experiences and actions.

Therefore, it was not surprising that Tachibana felt this way about Muneyoshi. Instead, following Muneyoshi's words, she said seriously and solemnly:

"Yes, Muneyoshi, next year's lottery will definitely be held at Fudomine!"

Let's work together, Orange!

"Yes, I believe Keith and Lin Xiu feel the same way."

"That's right, but we have quite a few opponents to overcome before facing Rikkai Dai!"

The two exchanged views along the way, discussing the draw, the personnel composition of each team, and their tactical preparations.

The day before the opening of the Kanto Tournament.

In the coach's office of the Fudomine Tennis Club in Tokyo Metropolis.

A stunningly beautiful woman with medium-length burgundy hair lost her usual confident demeanor when she saw the match schedule for the Kanto Tournament.

Her brows were furrowed, and she seemed preoccupied.

It wasn't that Hanamura Aoi found her opponent difficult to deal with, but rather that she found this opponent somewhat challenging to face.

Because Fudomine's first-round opponent is Jōsei Shōnan!

As a former coach of Jōsei Shōnan, this was her first step into the coaching profession.

Although it was only a short year, during her year as a coach at Jōsei Shōnan, she led an all-first-year student team to runner-up in Kanagawa, thus qualifying for the Kanto Tournament.

Although she has left, the foundation of Jōsei Shōnan remains.

As long as they continue training according to the standards she left behind, their strength, if not enough to reach the national level, will at least be able to maintain their ranking in Kanagawa.

However, because of Muneyoshi, she came to Fudomine, Fudomine also entered the Kanto Tournament.

This should have been a happy thing, but...

Why is the opponent Jōsei Shōnan?

At this time, Hanamura Aoi, who was still very young, had not yet developed the thick skin that a professional must have, and she still had some feelings for the people she had mentored before.

Knock knock...

There was a knock on the door.

"Please come in."

Setting down the match list, Hanamura Aoi looked at the newcomer, Saeki Muneyoshi, who walked in from outside.

"Coach, we're facing Jōsei Shōnan in the Kanto Tournament. If you feel embarrassed, let me coach you for the first match."

Saeki Muneyoshi's tone carried a hint of apology, after all, he was the one who had "kidnapped" Hanamura Aoi, and now he had her deploy troops to attack Jōsei Shōnan...

After considering it for a moment, Muneyoshi realized that he hadn't really taken Hanamura Aoi's feelings into account.

"Muneyoshi, I came to Fudomine because I saw a deeper possibility in you Fudomine, not for any other reason."

Therefore, you don't need to overthink it, and besides, I am now Fudomine's coach; it's my duty."

Hanamura Aoi was incredibly intelligent; the moment she heard Muneyoshi's idea, she understood his intention.

This warmed her heart, but these are all hurdles that one must overcome in life.

Hanamura Aoi continued speaking:

"Besides, I know Jōsei Shōnan better than you do. Their doubles team isn't that much weaker than Kamio Shinji's, so I plan to use this match to give our own first-year doubles team some serious practice."

Hearing Hanamura Aoi's words, Muneyoshi's expression was somewhat moved.

He thought that Hanamura Aoi's difficulties were something she had overcome, but she had already done so, and even proposed the idea of training first-year doubles players.

Moreover, he felt that facing Jōsei Shōnan was indeed the best time for first-year students to train.

"Coach, I understand. In that case, put Shinji in singles third. His special abilities will only gradually be triggered in singles."

A slight smile appeared on Hanamura Aoi's face, "Okay."

Ariake Tennis Forest Park.

The venue for the Kanto Tournament.

In the parking lot outside the park, there were all kinds of buses, which were school buses from many of the participating schools.

Apart from the four schools that received a bye, all twenty-four teams participating in the first round have arrived.

"The Kanto Tournament, so many people!"

After getting out of the car, feeling the gazes from all around, Kamio Akira muttered something to himself.

In fact, Japan Kanto Tournament is one of the most prestigious and large-scale tennis tournaments in Japan.

Not only Tokyo, but also many people from the surrounding areas came to watch this annual competition.

Muneyoshi stood at the front of the line; the number of people posed no pressure to him whatsoever.

He tightened his grip on the tennis bag on his shoulder and said in a low voice, "Let's go, to the registration area!"

After saying that, he took the lead.

In an instant, the members of Fudomine stepped forward simultaneously, closely following Muneyoshi's pace.

Gradually, their pace began to synchronize.

Their uniform black attire and powerful presence drew attention from people in other schools around them.

Many people began to inquire about them.

"Who are they?"

"I don't know, I've never seen it before!"

"Fudomine!"

What peak?

"This year's dark horse in Tokyo Metropolis, Fudomine."

"A dark horse? Could it be another Seigaku like last year...?"

Who knows?

Even after Muneyoshi and his group disappeared from their sight, they were still buzzing with discussion.

Upon arriving at the registration desk, Muneyoshi handed over the list of seven participants and was about to follow the staff to his competition venue when he heard footsteps behind him.

P. S.: "Please vote for me! I'll give an extra chapter for every 900 votes today, and of course, there will be one for every 1000 votes."