Metropolitan Tournament

With the regional preliminaries over, the official start of the Metropolitan Tournament drew near.

One team after another that had qualified for the Metropolitan Tournament entered intense preparations.

Compared to the regional preliminaries, the Metropolitan Tournament was far more massive. A full 108 schools from Tokyo Metropolis participated, competing for tickets to the Kanto Tournament.

Tokyo Metropolis truly deserved its reputation as Japan's most fiercely competitive region for school athletics.

It not only had Kanagawa, one of Japan's famous sports powerhouses, but also Hyotei Academy in the east and Yamabuki in the north. Now, Seigaku in the west had joined them as well.

The so-called Metropolitan Tournament, also known as the Metropolitan Meet, was simply Tokyo Metropolis's term for it. In other regions, it was generally called a regional tournament or prefectural tournament.

Across the entire Tokyo region, only five schools could ultimately qualify for the Kanto Tournament.

Aside from the final four, who advanced directly to the Kanto Tournament, the remaining teams that reached the top eight would play two additional playoff rounds to compete for the final spot.

Time slipped by in the blink of an eye.

Saturday, June 15.

The morning sun had only just risen, yet Ariake Tennis Forest Park in central Tokyo Metropolis was already filled with a bustling, clamorous atmosphere.

Today was the first day of elimination matches for the Metropolitan Tournament.

The first round of elimination matches would officially begin at nine o'clock shortly.

On a day of such a grand event, it was the perfect stage for tennis prodigies from all sides to display their talents.

Inoue Mamoru, the "most professional person" in Prince of Tennis, an elite reporter for Tennis Monthly who loved both tennis and writing, had naturally arrived at the venue early.

With his assistant Kishida, he moved through Ariake Tennis Forest Park.

As for why it was not Miss Shiba Saori, she was still in university and had yet to graduate. She would not begin working as an intern until two years later.

Still, her work was more or less the same: holding a camera and clicking away nonstop, gathering all kinds of material.

"This is St. Rudolph Academy, right?"

"Mizuki."

Amid the crowd dressed in black-and-white uniforms, Inoue spotted a curly-haired boy in a pure white uniform.

He pressed the shutter and got a photograph.

According to information he had gathered, St. Rudolph Academy had entered the Metropolitan Tournament as the runners-up from eastern Tokyo precisely because of their new manager and coach, Mizuki.

He had brought St. Rudolph Academy more advanced ideas and scientific training methods.

He had transformed this church academy, which had only been established for three years, beyond recognition. It could not be underestimated.

Moreover, Inoue, who had an exceptionally clear grasp of firsthand tennis information, knew very well that this year's first-years could not be taken lightly.

Especially with Seigaku, Hyotei Academy, and Rikkai Dai serving as living examples.

Inoue Mamoru's keen instincts told him that this first-year was also worth watching!

After wandering around for a while longer.

Inoue Mamoru arrived beneath the shade of the trees along the passage outside Court Two and saw the Yamabuki team.

Under Banrō's leadership, Yamabuki had always been a powerhouse in northern Tokyo and a regular at the Kanto Tournament, even the National Tournament.

This year, Yamabuki had also gained a Prodigy First Year, Sengoku Kiyosumi.

Inoue Mamoru snapped several photos of Sengoku Kiyosumi as well. He never passed up material like this.

However, after looking around several times, Inoue Mamoru still failed to spot Hyotei Academy or Seigaku.

Of course, Seigaku's Regulars would not miss the Metropolitan Tournament. They had gathered early, their blue-and-white team uniforms making them look exceptionally striking.

They stood straight outside Seigaku's gates, their extraordinary presence drawing plenty of attention.

"Is the Tennis Club doing extra practice today? It's Saturday."

"Hey, you don't know? Today is the opening day of the Metropolitan Tournament. They're heading there to compete."

"So today's the Metropolitan Tournament!"

"Tch, what results has the Tennis Club ever achieved at the Metropolitan Tournament? What's all the fuss about?"

Seigaku's group ignored the discussion and mockery from the other clubs. Once the bus arrived, they boarded and headed for the Metropolitan Tournament venue.

On the bus, they heard the other clubs' lack of faith in them and were not surprised.

After all, Seigaku had not achieved any results for a long time. In sports, the difference between having results and not having them was like night and day.

Tezuka said nothing. The right amount of pressure would have a very good effect.

Yamato Yūdai had wanted to ease the atmosphere.

But when he saw that although everyone was nervous, their expressions were filled with seriousness rather than fear or timidity, he understood Tezuka's intentions and said no more.

After arriving at the venue and getting off the bus, Seigaku saw the tennis teams from dozens of schools. Their colorful uniforms complemented one another amid the crowd, creating an exceptionally lively scene.

"Wow! So this is the Metropolitan Tournament venue? There are so many people!"

Kikumaru Eiji's eyes shone with excitement. He had a lively personality, so the others were already used to it.

The rest also looked around curiously. Even Tezuka and Akutsu were taking in their surroundings.

After all, this was their first time participating in a tournament of this level. The atmosphere naturally felt vastly different from the last preliminaries.

"All right, let's go! Time to register!"

Yamato Yūdai's gentle voice rang beside them, pulling their thoughts back.

As the Seigaku group headed toward the registration area, the other schools around them turned their eyes toward this team made up almost entirely of first-years.

"Which school are they from? Why are they all first-years?"

"They look like Seigaku. So the rumors from before were true after all. Seigaku underwent major changes. Aside from their former captain Yamato Yūdai, all the other Regulars were replaced by first-years."

"Yeah, there are so many first-years competing this year. Hyotei Academy, Yamabuki, and Seigaku all have quite a few first-years participating."

"Hmph, Seigaku brought this on themselves. First-years are only fit to pick up balls. Whoever draws Seigaku has definitely hit the jackpot!"

Tezuka and the others paid no attention to the strange looks from the crowd and walked straight to the registration area.

"Hello, Seigaku is here to register. This is our roster."

Tezuka handed the list of competing Regulars to the staff member in charge of registration.

"Okay. Huh, Seigaku actually has so many first-years this year?"

The registrar did not dare be careless. He immediately accepted the list, then looked it over with great curiosity.

Tezuka did not answer, and his expression did not change in the slightest.

At that moment, Inoue Mamoru, who was gathering material nearby, spotted the Seigaku group and walked over.

"Good morning, everyone from Seigaku."

"The first round of elimination matches is about to begin. How are you feeling today?"

Seeing Inoue Mamoru raise his camera to begin taking pictures after greeting them, the Seigaku group all smiled easily.

Kikumaru Eiji, ever the optimist, even raised his right hand and flashed a victorious V sign.

He said brightly and energetically, "Good morning, Mr. Inoue! No problem, everyone's fine."

"Competing on a stage like this makes me feel completely energized!"

The lively little cat spread a relaxed, cheerful atmosphere, sweeping away everyone's tension.

Just then.

Ten buses pulled up at the entrance to the venue.

Tap... tap... tap...

A burst of dense footsteps rang out as a team dressed in gray-and-white jackets appeared before them.

P.S.: "Don't worry, everyone, this is just a transition chapter. It would be too boring if it were all matches, and aside from some particularly important matches later on, I generally won't describe these schools in detail. Also, please vote~"