Inter-School Selection Begins

The school days always pass quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it's time for the tennis club's main player selections.

These past few days, whether it's the first-year newcomers or the second and third-year veteran members of the tennis club, they've all been training like crazy, just to vie for a spot as a main player in Hyotei.

At this moment, in Class 1-A, Kannagi Shinichi is sitting at his desk, holding the grouping list and discussing the school's main player selection with Atobe Keigo, who is standing beside him.

"There are just too many people applying for the main player selection this time; practically everyone in the tennis club has applied."

Kannagi Shinichi hands the list to Atobe. As desk mates and teammates, the two have become much closer after spending these past few days together.

After taking the list, Atobe Keigo looks at the densely packed names and his head starts to ache: "How do you plan to handle this? Are you going to let them all enter the main player round-robin?"

Rubbing his temples, Kannagi Shinichi is also thinking about how to streamline the list.

If everyone were to participate in the round-robin, Hyotei might not even be able to select its main players before the prefectural tournament begins.

After a long pause, Kannagi Shinichi finally speaks: "Let them draw lots for one-on-one elimination matches. We'll select fifty people in the end to participate in this main player round-robin."

"It seems that's the only way."

After hearing this, Atobe Keigo nods. The best method now is as Kannagi Shinichi suggested: eliminate a portion of them first.

"Right, let's group these people too, so that two players of main player caliber don't end up in the same group."

After all, this is a random draw. Anything can happen. Kannagi Shinichi has to plan ahead. Otherwise, if he and Atobe were to meet in the elimination rounds, one of them would definitely not make it as a main player.

Atobe nods upon hearing this, not objecting.

Seeing this, Kannagi Shinichi places himself, Atobe, Akutsu, and Oshitari into separate groups.

Then, he groups those with the potential to break into the main player lineup, such as Shishido Ryo and Mukahi Gakuto, into their own groups.

This ensures that players with main player caliber won't be eliminated early due to bad luck, having to face opponents like Kannagi or Atobe.

After grouping everyone in the class, the two head to the tennis club and post the grouping list on the notice board next to the tennis courts.

Following that, they summon all the tennis club players participating in the selection and begin the draw.

This elimination tournament is divided into ten groups, with twenty people per group. It's a single-elimination format; losers are directly eliminated. In the end, five people from each group will advance to the main player round-robin tournament that follows.

The elimination matches start quickly. Kannagi Shinichi's first opponent is a third-year senior.

As Kannagi Shinichi walks onto the court, he sees the senior opposite him frowning and pleading with a pained expression, "Buchou, please go easy on me!"

Kannagi Shinichi nods impassively, and a few minutes later.

"Match end. Score: 6:0. Kannagi Shinichi wins."

The third-year senior opposite him is slumped on the ground, muttering incessantly, "I'm so unlucky, I'm really so unlucky."

Putting away his racket, Kannagi Shinichi looks at the senior questioning his life choices on the ground and vows that he really did go easy on him.

After this match ends, a short while later, the matches of Atobe, Oshitari, and Akutsu also conclude, most taking less than ten minutes.

Twenty minutes later, several first-years also stand out: the trio from Hyotei Elementary. They also defeated their opponents in the first round of elimination.

At this moment, on the court, many eliminated senior students are squatting in a corner, questioning their lives.

"The first-years this year are just too strong. I only lasted twenty minutes against that kid named Shishido Ryo..."

"That's nothing. I was eliminated by that guy named Oshitari Yuushi in just ten minutes..."

"Monsters, absolute monsters. That guy Akutsu, his playing is just terrifying..."

The edges of the tennis court have become a place for many senior students to vent their grievances.

Just then, an eliminated senior student looks at the person beside him and asks in confusion, "Didn't you win your first match? Why the long face?"

The other person reveals a smile that looks worse than a cry: "My next opponent is Buchou Kannagi."

Upon hearing this, everyone around sends him a look of silent sympathy.

The first round of matches has concluded. Now, ten people remain in each group. They only need to win one more round to participate in the main player round-robin tournament starting tomorrow.

At this moment, Kannagi Shinichi has already stepped onto the court. He sees a second-year senior opposite him, holding his racket tremblingly and looking at Kannagi Shinichi with pleading eyes.

"Don't worry, senpai, I'll go easy on you."

Five minutes after Kannagi Shinichi finishes speaking.

"Match end. Score: 6:0. Kannagi Shinichi wins."

"Buchou, you lied to me..."

Looking at the second-year senior slumped on the ground, Kannagi Shinichi shakes his head: "I really went easy on you. Why don't you believe me?"

Shortly after Kannagi Shinichi finishes his match, Atobe, Oshitari, and Akutsu also finish theirs and join Kannagi Shinichi.

"These so-called tennis club seniors are just too weak." Atobe Keigo looks at the collapsed seniors on the court with disdain in his eyes.

His words are echoed by Oshitari Yuushi and Akutsu Jin, both nodding slightly.

"However, among this year's first-years, I did see a few guys with pretty good skill."

Oshitari Yuushi recalls seeing several first-years eliminate senior students after their matches just ended, and without losing a single game, leaving a deep impression.

"The few you mentioned are all geniuses from Hyotei Elementary. The one with the burgundy hair is named Mukahi Gakuto; he excels at jumping and his technique is quite good.

The one with the long ponytail is Shishido Ryo, known for his fast attacks, and he's best at net rushes. As for the guy with the orange curly hair, his name is Akutagawa Jirou. His strength is the strongest among these three; he's a genius at volleys. Currently, in the tennis club, besides the four of us, his strength is the highest.

With that, Kannagi Shinichi looked at the three of them, a hint of amusement in his voice. 'For tomorrow's regular player selection round robin, do you want to play against them?'

'Pick our own opponents? Interesting!' Atobe's brow twitched slightly. He then looked at Shishido Ryo, who was finishing his match nearby and laughing with Mukahi Gakuto. 'Tomorrow, arrange for that guy named Shishido to be my opponent.'

Seeing Shishido Ryo, Atobe Keigo suddenly remembered that during his match with Kannagi Shinichi, it was this guy who had mocked him the longest. Now that he had a chance for revenge on the tennis court, Atobe naturally wouldn't miss it.

Don't think that this Lord Atobe doesn't hold grudges.

Oshitari Yuushi pushed up his glasses and looked at the burgundy-haired youth, a slight smile rising on his lips. 'Then I'll choose that Mukahi Gakuto!'"

"Alright, I'll arrange for you to be in the same group tomorrow." As the club president of the tennis club, he had that much authority. Kannagi Shinichi then looked at Akutsu. "What about you? Do you want to have a match against Akutagawa Jirou?"

Upon hearing this, Akutsu simply nodded faintly.

"Very well, once I hand the grouping list to the advisor, you'll be able to play against each other tomorrow."

After Kannagi Shinichi finished speaking, the three of them looked towards the Hyotei Elementary trio in the distance, who were currently making a ruckus because they had entered the round robin...

Tomorrow, there would be quite a show