The new school year had begun. On the winding paths of Hyotei Academy, countless boys and girls hurried back and forth. Most of them were new students who had enrolled that year.
The tennis club was no exception. Under Ochi Moonlight's leadership, Hyotei had reached the semifinals of the National Tournament the previous year, making its name known across the country.
As a result, far more students applied to join the tennis club than in previous years.
A long line had formed at the tennis club's recruitment booth. Everyone there clearly wanted to join Hyotei's tennis club.
Wearing the tennis club's tracksuit, Kannagi Shinichi arrived near the booth. He wanted to see if Akutsu had arrived yet.
When the tennis club members running the booth saw Kannagi, they all stood and bowed to him, calling out, "Captain!"
Kannagi gave a slight nod, then looked toward the long line, searching for the future Hyotei regulars.
He scanned the line and spotted the trio from Hyotei Elementary: Shishido Ryo, Mukahi Gakuto, and Akutagawa Jirou.
When they noticed Kannagi looking their way, the three immediately bowed respectfully. "Captain!"
Although Kannagi was a first-year student, just like them, he had been appointed Hyotei's captain before the school year began, and all the senior members of the tennis club had accepted him.
Unlike Atobe Keigo in the original timeline, who had seized control of the tennis club by defeating all the senior members after enrolling, Kannagi had been personally appointed by Hyotei's former tennis club captain and the club's advisor. His position as captain was entirely legitimate.
The people nearby followed the trio's gazes and looked toward Kannagi. Before long, the whole campus was filled with people calling him "Captain!"
With a cool expression, Kannagi nodded to them, then looked toward the school gate in the distance.
Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long. Akutsu soon arrived, a tennis bag slung over his back, and stopped in front of Kannagi.
Looking at Akutsu, Kannagi teased him ever so slightly. "You didn't steal that tennis bag, did you?"
"Hmph! I didn't steal it." Akutsu snorted. The tennis bag was a gift from the old lady to celebrate his enrolling at Hyotei, and he treasured it.
At Akutsu's reply, Kannagi smiled faintly and pointed toward the recruitment booth. "Go fill out the application first. Advisor Sakaki is waiting for you in the conference room."
Akutsu gave Kannagi a blank look and nodded, then went to the front of the line at the booth.
Kannagi turned to one of the members running the booth. "Let him fill out the application first. Advisor Sakaki is still waiting for him in the conference room."
The member quickly took out an application form and handed it to Akutsu.
Akutsu filled it out quickly, then followed Kannagi to the tennis club's conference room.
As Kannagi walked away, the crowd still gathered nearby immediately began to chatter.
"Ryo, why did that white-haired guy with the mushroom haircut leave with the captain?" Mukahi asked Shishido.
"How should I know?" Shishido shook his head, then added firmly, "But he's definitely no ordinary guy. Otherwise, the captain wouldn't have personally brought him into the tennis club."
Just as Kannagi led Akutsu away and the crowd buzzed with discussion, a luxurious stretch limousine pulled up inside Hyotei Academy, drawing everyone's attention.
The car door slowly opened, and two boys stepped out.
One was quiet and expressionless. The other clearly enjoyed having everyone's eyes on him. He smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting. "This is going to be my kingdom from now on, right, Kabaji?"
"Yes."
The quiet boy was named Kabaji Takahiro. He was still in sixth grade and had come to the middle school division of Hyotei Academy that day only to accompany his childhood friend.
That childhood friend was the boy standing in front of him: Atobe Keigo.
His face was still a little boyish, but that did nothing to hide his good looks. The beauty mark at the corner of his eye only made him more charming.
In the crowd, Shishido watched Atobe's arrogant manner and muttered unhappily, "What a show-off. Who does he think he is, calling this his kingdom?"
Mukahi looked just as annoyed, but Akutagawa, beside him, didn't join in. He just grinned. "I think he's interesting..."
Meanwhile, Kannagi brought Akutsu to Sakaki Taro and introduced him. "Advisor, this is Akutsu Jin, the person I told you about."
Sakaki studied Akutsu. Seeing his rebellious eyes and well-developed muscles, he praised him silently. This kid looks like the type who won't back down easily.
Kannagi turned to Akutsu. "This is our tennis club's advisor and the highest decision-maker in the Hyotei tennis club, Advisor Sakaki."
Akutsu knew he owed his enrollment at Hyotei to the man in front of him. He reined in his rebellious attitude and greeted him with reasonable respect. "Advisor Sakaki."
Sakaki nodded. He was pleased with their attitude, then turned to Akutsu. "Kannagi told me you haven't played much tennis before, so I'll devise a training plan based on your fundamentals."
"Th-thank you..." Akutsu rarely thanked anyone, but ever since meeting Kannagi, it seemed a new door had opened for him.
"By the way, I know your current home is quite far from school, so the school can provide you with a dorm room."
Sakaki's tone had softened. After all, talented students deserved a little more leeway.
"I..." Akutsu hesitated. He wasn't comfortable leaving his mother alone at home.
"You can go home whenever you like. I'll have someone keep the dorm room available for you." Sakaki seemed to notice Akutsu's dilemma and spoke again.
"Thank you!" This time, Akutsu managed to say it smoothly.
Just then, the campus loudspeaker came to life:
"All teachers and students of Hyotei Academy's middle school division, please proceed to the school auditorium to attend the opening ceremony for new students..."
At the announcement, Sakaki didn't rise from his seat. Instead, he said to the two in front of him, "Go on."
Kannagi and Akutsu bowed slightly. "Yes, Advisor."
Once they left the conference room, the corner of Kannagi's mouth lifted. His mind was already filled with the famous scene Atobe Keigo was about to stage.
Noticing Kannagi's change in mood, Akutsu asked coldly, "You seem to be in a good mood."
Kannagi glanced back at him, a faint smile appearing on his cool face. "Once we get to the auditorium, you'll see just how interesting the students in our year are!"
Akutsu was still at a loss. He turned to glance back at Advisor Sakaki, who was still in the conference room, then asked Kannagi, "The announcement said all teachers and students. Why doesn't Advisor Sakaki have to go?"
"Who do you think he is? He's Hyotei's advisor, Sakaki Taro!"
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