Shinji and Ryoma
Japan.
Tokyo Metropolis.
Fudomine Tennis Club.
With Saeki Muneyoshi away on an expedition, Tachibana Kippei took over the management of the Fudomine Tennis Club and provided unified training for the new students.
Actually, Tachibana Kippei has been doing this kind of thing since the second year, and Tennis Club activities are not difficult for him.
Under Tachibana Kippei's training, the team members continued to improve their skills, and with Saeki Muneyoshi's departure, there was an extra spot for a Regular.
Therefore, after more than a week of reflection, Kamio Akira once again defeated his competitors to become the Regular.
Just two weeks after Saeki Muneyoshi left, the annual junior high school tennis tournament regional qualifying rounds began.
The start of the new year's junior high school tennis tournament is a big event for many junior high school students who have been training hard for another year.
Such tennis tournaments are particularly prominent in the Tokyo Metropolis area this year.
The Joto district of Tokyo Metropolis is home to the long-established powerhouse Hyotei Academy, a nationally renowned school, and St. Rudolph Academy, which frequently appears in the story.
In the southern part of the city, there is Yamabuki Middle School by Banrō.
The western part of the city is also the area that everyone is most concerned about.
This is because it is home not only to last year's national champion Fudomine Junior High, but also to Seigaku in the country.
The entire Tokyo Metropolis area can be described as a giant meat grinder.
Given the intensity of the finals in the Josai district, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the level of Metropolitan Tournament or even Kanto Tournament.
This year's Seigaku has undergone some changes compared to last year. They have gained an excellent first-year student who even defeated second-year student Momoshiro Takeshi in the school's Shuffle Match.
After two failures, they barely managed to secure the eighth Regular spot.
As for Kawamura Takashi, who was originally a third-year student, he temporarily lost his Regular position due to a wrist injury caused by training.
Overall, Seigaku's strength has increased rather than decreased.
Compared to Seigaku's good fortune, Fudomine was less fortunate, as their personnel remained largely unchanged.
The only difference is that they lost Saeki Muneyoshi, their pillar of strength.
The other schools that learned of this news were also well aware of what he had gone to do.
Especially for Seigaku, they lost to Fudomine in the regional preliminaries when they were second-year students. With Saeki Muneyoshi not here this year, they are very keen to get revenge.
However, one of their schools is the number one seed, and the other is the number two seed.
Teams like these, which are seeded, can only meet in the final.
Therefore, the two schools tacitly began intensive training exercises.
Momoshiro Takeshi, Kaidō Kaoru, Echizen Ryoma from Seigaku are the absolute mainstays of these competitions.
Their skills are improving through these kinds of competitions.
On the Fudomine side, the main force consisted of Kamio Akira, Ibu Shinji, Ishida Tetsu, Mori Tatsunori Sakurai Masaya, and Ryosuke, with Tachibana Kippei and others only providing support.
Under this synchronized pace, both Seigaku and Fudomine are waiting for their encounter with each other.
And that day arrived on a weekend.
Tokyo Metropolis Area Preliminary Round, Josai Division, Kakinoki Sports Park.
"Match ended. The doubles team of Kikumaru Eiji and Oishi Shuichiro from Seigaku won the second match with a score of 6-0."
"That was a beautiful win, Kikumaru -senpai, Oishi- senpai."
Momoshiro Takeshi happily handed the two towels.
"You keep up the good work, Momoshiro! Oh, and little one too!"
The plot's momentum remains strong; Momoshiro and Echizen Ryoma have teamed up again for a doubles match, facing the same opponent that Muneyoshi and Tachibana An had encountered when they teamed up.
Their doubles matches were chaotic and disorganized, so I won't go into too much detail here.
"Match ended. In doubles match 1, Momoshiro Takeshi and Echizen Ryoma of Seigaku won with a score of 6:4."
"Match ended. Kaido Kaoru of Seigaku won the singles third match, with a score of 6:3."
"Does Seigaku look stronger this year than last year?"
"That's right. Although the first doubles pairing wasn't a perfect match either, the two players were still very strong individually. You know, one of them is a freshman."
The Seigaku members left silently, showing no joy despite their victory.
Keep in mind that their next opponent is Fudomine.
Echizen Ryoma was also unhappy. Since returning to Japan, apart from his match against Sasaki, he had struggled to gain an advantage in school matches.
They don't even get many opportunities to play, and today it was even a doubles match.
However, Ryoma, hidden among the crowd, looked at the several incredibly strong senior students around him, and his competitive spirit rekindled.
In the next match, he absolutely must go for singles and win spectacularly to show them what he's made of.
Almost simultaneously with Seigaku's victory.
Bang!
"Game over, Fudomine Junior High wins, 6-4!"
"Game over, Fudomine Junior High wins, 6-0!"
"Game over, Fudomine Junior High wins, 6-0!"
The Black Legion has set sail again. Although they are now missing Saeki Muneyoshi, Tachibana Kippei is still a qualified navigator.
After packing up their things, the group headed off the field.
The members of Fudomine were well aware that compared to today's minor skirmishes, tomorrow's event was the real feast.
They were well aware of Seigaku's strength, especially now that they were missing Muneyoshi. Even Tachibana Kippei felt immense pressure.
I walked silently to the exit, just in time to see a group of people in blue and white uniforms walking towards me.
As the two powerful auras collided, Echizen Ryoma's gaze suddenly turned to Tachibana Kippei.
"Hmm, I feel like I've seen this person somewhere before... Oh right, in the park the other day."
Echizen Ryoma recalled the two mysterious figures from his match against Sasabe that day, one of whom was Tachibana Kippei.
"Long time no see, Orange! Keith! Lin Xiu!"
"Long time no see, Tezuka, Akutsu, Fuji!"
Both sides were acquaintances, and despite having a match tomorrow, they greeted each other warmly before preparing to leave.
At that moment, Ryoma Echizen Ryoma, who was behind him, saw Ibu Shinji the ball off the rim of his racket without looking, and his cool and collected demeanor immediately flared up.
He also sipped his drink while imitating Shinji's juggling technique.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Both teams were drawn to the two merging voices, and upon seeing Echizen Ryoma, Tachibana Kippei was reminded of the match that day.
Neither side would take such a minor provocation seriously, and after a brief exchange, the two groups parted ways.
Throughout the journey, Tachibana Kippei pondered the formation for tomorrow. In the past, this was something that Muneyoshi and Hanamura Aoi discussed, but now it was his turn.
"That brat went to Seigaku, and he's got quite a temper. But Shinji, looks like I can give him a try!"
Tachibana Kippei glanced at Ibu Shinji, who was standing not far away and showed no emotion, and began to think about the personnel arrangements for tomorrow.
At this moment, Ibu Shinji also began to feel a little interested in Echizen Ryoma.
"Hey, Shinji, that brat was just imitating you and provoking you!"
Kamio Akira, always eager for a good show, whispered in Shinji's ear.
Shinji, of course, ignored this, but a glint flashed in his eyes, and he muttered to himself softly:
"What's wrong with me? Why do I feel like fighting that kid whenever I see him? Is it because no upperclassman has taught him a lesson yet?"
"If that's the case, and I happen to be in that situation, I'd be happy to help. We were so lucky back then; we had a minister to guide us. I want to carry on that spirit of action."
P. S.: "Please vote with monthly tickets!"