Atobe Keigo

At the opening ceremony, Hyotei Academy's principal, sporting a Mediterranean-style haircut, stood on the stage and droned on with his words of blessing.

Kannagi Shinichi, sitting below, was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open. The speech was like a lullaby, draining him of all energy.

Fortunately, it wasn't long before the principal finally finished speaking and stepped down.

A teacher acting as host took the microphone and smiled ingratiatingly. "Next, we invite our new student representative to deliver a welcome address."

As soon as he finished speaking, a purple-gray-haired boy strode onto the stage with determined steps.

The host teacher's voice grew even more enthusiastic at the sight of him. "Please welcome our fellow student, Atobe Keigo!"

Atobe Keigo didn't even glance at the teacher. He tossed his hair, picked up the microphone in front of him, and addressed everyone below in his deep, magnetic voice. "Listen up. I'll say this right off the bat: starting today, I'm the king of Hyotei Academy!"

When Atobe Keigo delivered those arrogant words with such confidence, the entire auditorium fell silent. Everyone looked toward the brazen, swaggering boy onstage.

Then the venue erupted in a flurry of chatter.

Many people even looked at Atobe with open hostility.

"He's only a first-year, and he dares say he'll be king of Hyotei Academy? He's got a death wish." Shishido Ryo couldn't stand seeing someone his own age act so arrogant, and his words dripped with disdain.

Mukahi Gakuto shared his indignation and chimed in, "That guy's just making empty boasts. Why bother with him?"

On the other side, Akutsu turned to Kannagi Shinichi. "Can I teach him a lesson?"

Kannagi Shinichi remained quite calm and gently shook his head. "No."

He was just a mild case of chūnibyō. There was still hope for him, so there was no need to hit him now.

Atobe Keigo felt the gazes gathering on him, and his tone grew even more audacious. "Hyotei Academy has first-rate facilities. How you make use of them—or waste them—is up to you. Don't indulge yourselves in laziness and slack off. Use your own hands to build a fulfilling school life. Hahaha..."

When Atobe Keigo finished speaking, he threw his head back and laughed.

The scene looked incredibly chūnibyō, yet somehow, after Atobe Keigo said all that, it didn't feel out of place at all. It seemed only natural.

Many of the girls who saw Atobe like this were even more captivated by him.

Meanwhile, Kannagi Shinichi kept thinking about what Atobe Keigo had said about Hyotei Academy's first-rate facilities.

It seemed Atobe had already donated what looked like a French restaurant for the student cafeteria, chefs from a five-star French restaurant, an indoor gym packed with equipment, a swimming pool kept at a constant temperature around the clock, a multipurpose media room...

Thinking about the wonderful school life ahead, Kannagi Shinichi could only cry out in his heart, Atobe Keigo, you're the GOAT!

But before Kannagi Shinichi could enjoy the thought for long, Atobe Keigo continued with a smile. "Is the tennis club captain among the students below?"

As soon as Atobe Keigo finished speaking, everyone in the auditorium turned to look at Kannagi Shinichi.

Following their gazes, Atobe Keigo also looked toward Kannagi Shinichi.

Kannagi Shinichi came back to himself and began staring at the boy looking at him onstage. Their eyes met, and an invisible aura rose from them both.

"I'm the captain of Hyotei's tennis club." Kannagi Shinichi remained seated, unmoving, simply gazing at Atobe Keigo.

Although Kannagi Shinichi's presence was powerful, Atobe Keigo wasn't the least bit intimidated. Meeting Kannagi Shinichi's gaze, he gave a soft laugh. "Starting today, I'm the captain of the tennis club!"

As those words fell, the entire auditorium fell silent once more.

"Is this a challenge to me? Or are you planning to use your power as the young master of the Atobe family to make me hand over the captaincy?" Kannagi Shinichi's voice was icy, and a trace of mockery showed on his face.

Seeing Kannagi Shinichi's mocking expression, Atobe Keigo felt a little annoyed. "Of course, whoever's stronger will be captain. The captain's job is to lead the team to victory, after all. And I, Atobe Keigo, am the one who'll lead Hyotei to the top of the nation."

"Is that so? I don't think you're the one who can lead Hyotei to the top."

"Hmph!" Kannagi Shinichi's words left Atobe Keigo thoroughly displeased. All he wanted now was to crush the white-haired boy in front of him on the court. "Let's play a match. The winner becomes Hyotei's captain."

"And what happens to the loser?" Kannagi Shinichi asked, the corners of his mouth curling in amusement.

"Then he'll naturally do as the winner says."

Atobe Keigo spoke with complete confidence, as if the match hadn't even begun and its winner had already been decided: Atobe Keigo.

That was exactly what Kannagi Shinichi had been waiting to hear.

He had analyzed Atobe Keigo's personality. Though confident, narcissistic, and arrogant, Atobe never went back on his word.

Nor was he like those other rich people who looked down on everyone and resorted to any means necessary behind the scenes if they couldn't defeat someone fairly.

Atobe Keigo was different. He had a sharp mind, strong convictions, and his own worldview. He had no dark thoughts; he always did things openly and honorably.

When someone beat him, he would only work harder, then win it back with his own hands.

To Kannagi Shinichi, Atobe Keigo was undoubtedly a very charismatic person. Perhaps his only flaw was that he was a little chūnibyō.

The ceremony wasn't over yet, but Kannagi Shinichi had already risen from his seat. "I'll be waiting for you on the court."

After saying that, Kannagi Shinichi left at once, with Akutsu following close behind.

"Hahaha... How interesting..." Seeing this, Atobe Keigo burst out laughing. He put down the microphone and walked off the stage, calling to Kabaji Takahiro, who stood not far away. "Kabaji, let's go."

The most awkward person in the auditorium was the teacher hosting the welcome ceremony.

Below the stage, the exchange between the two and their departures one after the other sent the entire auditorium into an uproar.

The Hyotei Academy administrators looked extremely displeased, but they were helpless. The Atobe Financial Group had given them far too much, so they could only put up with it.

When the school announced the ceremony was over, many people rushed straight to the tennis courts. Some were tennis club members or fans, most of whom had come for Kannagi Shinichi; plenty of girls followed behind, drawn by Atobe Keigo.

On the center court of Hyotei Academy's tennis club, Kannagi Shinichi stood with his jacket draped over his shoulders and his arms folded across his chest. He held his racket casually in one hand. As the breeze stirred, the jacket behind him billowed like a cape, and Kannagi Shinichi radiated the aura of a king.

Before long, Atobe Keigo arrived on the court with his racket, leading Kabaji Takahiro.

Kannagi Shinichi gazed at Atobe Keigo across the court, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appearing on his stern face. "You want to be king of Hyotei? Then today, I'll cure you of your royal ambitions."