Tezuka Kunimitsu's Future

A scandal has occurred in the Seigaku tennis club. The upperclassmen regulars, out of jealousy for a underclassman's talent, broke the underclassman's arm with their rackets. As a result, a total of six first-year students have quit the tennis club and Seigaku altogether. The initial plan was for Seigaku to cover up the incident, but because the main character involved was Tezuka Kunimitsu, Sakaki Taro, the advisor for the Hyotei tennis club who had been closely following Tezuka's progress, learned of the matter immediately.

At this moment, in the Hyotei tennis club's meeting room, Sakaki Taro had called all of Hyotei's regulars to the room. He planned to formulate a training plan based on the strengths and weaknesses he had observed in the Hyotei regulars over the past few days.

Once all the Hyotei regulars were gathered in the meeting room, Sakaki Taro's first words were to Kannagi Shinichi: "Tezuka Kunimitsu has left Seigaku."

Upon hearing this, the entire meeting room was filled with astonishment. As rivals from the same cohort during their elementary school days, most of the members of the tennis club naturally knew of Tezuka Kunimitsu's name.

Only Atobe, who had recently returned from England, was bewildered upon hearing Tezuka Kunimitsu's name. "Is this Tezuka Kunimitsu very strong?"

"Very strong. Perhaps in the current middle school world, his skill is only second to mine."

Kannagi Shinichi said calmly. Regarding Tezuka's departure from Seigaku, he had his own suspicions, guessing that "that incident" had likely occurred.

Listening to Kannagi Shinichi's words, Atobe was slightly displeased. Kannagi Shinichi's implication was that he himself was inferior to this Tezuka Kunimitsu.

So, he said with a hint of teasing, "Kannagi, you're quite arrogant."

"It's not arrogance, it's confidence."

A faint smile appeared on Kannagi Shinichi's stern face. He then asked Sakaki Taro, "Advisor, do you know why Tezuka left Seigaku?"

Although he had his suspicions, Kannagi Shinichi still wanted to confirm.

The other regulars also looked at Sakaki Taro with inquisitive eyes.

Sakaki Taro, with a cold expression, revealed a hint of mockery. "Seigaku's upperclassmen regulars, out of jealousy for his talent, attacked Tezuka Kunimitsu with their rackets, causing Tezuka Kunimitsu's arm to be injured."

Kannagi Shinichi's eyes narrowed. He thought to himself, "It really happened after all..."

Meanwhile, the numerous Hyotei regulars present also had slight changes in their expressions upon hearing about the incident. Their eyes were filled with disgust towards the person who attacked Tezuka Kunimitsu.

"Someone like that can actually become a regular at Seigaku? That's truly pathetic."

Shishido Ryo, as Hyotei's most justice-minded regular, spoke with endless sarcasm towards the attacker upon hearing about Tezuka Kunimitsu's ordeal.

"Just because of jealousy, they attacked their own teammate. The regulars at Seigaku are truly eye-opening." Mukahi Gakuto was also surprised upon hearing this. Like Shishido Ryo, his eyes were filled with disdain for that so-called upperclassman regular at Seigaku.

"Perhaps that person who hit him didn't consider Tezuka Kunimitsu a teammate."

Oshitari Yuushi pushed up his glasses and said calmly from the side.

At this point, Sakaki Taro looked at Kannagi Shinichi. "It's not just Tezuka who left. He also took five other first-year students with him, and they've all quit Seigaku."

"What?"

Kannagi Shinichi was a bit stunned by Sakaki Taro's words. Tezuka Kunimitsu leaving Seigaku was somewhat understandable, but why did others follow him out of Seigaku? Could it be Fuji Syusuke and the others?

As he thought, he asked, "Advisor, did one of the freshmen who left with Tezuka have the name Fuji Syusuke?"

Sakaki Taro nodded upon hearing this. "Not only Fuji Syusuke, but the remaining freshmen who left are Inui Sadaharu, Kikumaru Eiji, Oishi Syuichiro, and Kawamura Takashi."

"All of Seigaku's future regulars have left Seigaku. How could this happen? Is it a butterfly effect caused by my appearance?"

Thinking this, Kannagi Shinichi asked, "Advisor, do you know why they also left Seigaku?"

"I heard it was because Seigaku's coach imposed too light a penalty on the Seigaku regular who did the hitting, which led to the first-years being dissatisfied and leaving Seigaku collectively."

"How did the Seigaku coach punish him?" Kannagi Shinichi continued to ask.

"He was merely removed from the regulars and demoted to a regular member."

Upon hearing Sakaki Taro's words, the Hyotei regulars also showed anger on their faces.

"Just removing him from the regulars, that punishment is far too lenient..."

"How could the Seigaku coach allow someone like that to remain in the tennis club..."

"No wonder Fuji Syusuke and the others had to leave Seigaku," Kannagi Shinichi couldn't help but think to himself.

Seeing that Kannagi Shinichi had spoken with great importance regarding Fuji Syusuke and the others earlier, Sakaki Taro also asked from the side, "Kannagi, do you know these people?"

Kannagi Shinichi withdrew his thoughts and then nodded to Sakaki Taro. "These are all very talented players, and their potential is immense."

"Is that so?" Sakaki Taro murmured, resting his chin on his hand. After a moment, he continued, "It seems our biggest opponent in the prefectural tournament will be Yamabuki."

"Yamabuki?" Kannagi Shinichi was first puzzled, then seemed to understand something and asked Sakaki Taro, "Advisor, do you mean Tezuka Kunimitsu and the others have all joined Yamabuki?"

"Yes," Sakaki Taro nodded faintly. He thought of the old man who always wore a smile, and then continued, "I just received news that Yamabuki Middle School's Coach Bandou, after Tezuka Kunimitsu joined Yamabuki, personally took Tezuka to Germany to treat Tezuka Kunimitsu's arm."

Sakaki Taro's tone also carried a hint of respect when mentioning Bandou Mikiya.

"If that's the case, then Yamabuki will truly be a formidable enemy for us at Hyotei."

Kannagi Shinichi also agreed with Sakaki Taro's statement. Fuji Syusuke and this group of players have great potential and unique characteristics. Coupled with a coach who can discover players' talents, Tezuka and the others' future might become even stronger than in the original story.

At this moment, Atobe Keigo spoke up from the side. "Since these people are so full of potential and talent, did that Seigaku coach just let them go so easily? Didn't he try to keep them?"

"No. As far as I know, those first-year students left very resolutely. I'm afraid she knew she couldn't retain them no matter what."

Sakaki Taro was extremely dismissive of the Seigaku coach's actions. Tennis is a sport where strength is paramount, yet she created a rule that first-years cannot touch rackets for a year. This rule is simply stifling the talent of those tennis players.

Hearing Sakaki Taro's words, the Hyotei regulars were all astonished. Just how disappointed were they with the Seigaku tennis club for these players to leave so decisively?

At this moment, Sakaki Taro continued, "Now that you all know we at Hyotei will have a powerful opponent, your own strength improvement is urgent. After all, in a tennis match, no one will go easy on you."

Since Sakaki Taro knew that the first-year students joining Yamabuki Middle School were extremely talented and full of potential, he naturally paid attention. Especially since he also knew that Yamabuki Middle School's Coach Bandou was the best coach in Japan at discovering young players. If Hyotei's regulars were still stagnating, they could very well be defeated by Yamabuki at the prefectural tournament.

"Yes."

Upon hearing Sakaki Taro's words, Hyotei's regulars sat up straight, awaiting his further instructions.

Sakaki Taro surveyed them all and nodded with satisfaction.

"After observing you all these past few days, I've identified some strengths and weaknesses in your tennis. Therefore, I've arranged some training plans specifically to address your individual strengths and weaknesses."

At this moment, everyone in the conference room sat in silence, ready to listen carefully to what Sakaki Taro had to say next.

Sakaki Taro looked first at Kannagi Shinichi. "Shinichi, your power is great, but your technique and fundamentals remain mediocre. So, I've also devised a training method for you to improve your technique."

"Thank you, Advisor..."