Tokyo's Twin Giants

Hyotei Academy, the top seed in the district tournament, had finished its first-round match.

The result had made a huge impression on the other schools.

Hyotei was simply too strong this year. No school in the entire eastern Tokyo district could match them.

It was already afternoon, and Hyotei was about to begin its second match of the day. Their opponent was Kumanosato Academy, and its regular players wore expressions of utter despair.

Tap... tap...

A team of players in gray-and-white uniforms strode forward, a natural aura of strength radiating from them and seeming to command the entire court.

At the front walked a silver-haired boy with a stern, strikingly dignified face. Even from a distance, his bearing was enough to make people tremble.

"Hy... Hyotei... Kannagi... Shinichi..."

Watching Hyotei's team approach, Kumanosato's captain felt the corners of his mouth twitch. Even his words came out haltingly.

"We can't win. We can't beat them..."

Some of Kumanosato's regulars were already muttering in despair. Facing Hyotei, they couldn't see even the slightest chance of victory.

Hyotei's players reached the net and prepared to exchange the customary pre-match greetings. Only then did Kumanosato's players shakily step forward to shake their hands.

"I hope we can play a good match."

Kannagi Shinichi shook Kumanosato's captain's hand, a faint smile appearing on his stern face.

Kannagi thought his smile was warm and friendly. To Kumanosato's captain, however, it looked every bit like a demon's grin.

Gulp...

The rest of Kumanosato's regulars stared at Hyotei's players and swallowed nervously. One or two even began trembling at the knees when they saw Akutsu's defiant expression.

Kumanosato's players returned to their area in a daze. They couldn't even remember what they had said when they faced Hyotei's regulars.

Maybe they hadn't said anything at all...

The stands around the court were already packed with spectators. They weren't surprised by Kumanosato's players' behavior. After all, they were up against Hyotei.

By then, the match had begun. Shishido Ryo and Yamazaki Uye were the first to take the court, playing in the second doubles match.

"Victory belongs to Hyotei..."

"Victory belongs to Hyotei..."

As the thunderous cheers for Hyotei rang out from around the court, the faces of Kumanosato's second doubles team grew even paler.

Seeing the expressions on Kumanosato's players' faces, the spectators in the stands had already begun to mourn for them.

"Kumanosato's done for..."

"They're up against Hyotei, after all. They don't stand a chance..."

The match went just as the spectators expected. A little over ten minutes later, the second doubles match ended, with Hyotei sweeping Kumanosato's team 6–0.

The two remaining matches were decided soon after.

As usual, Hyotei's first doubles pair, Oshitari Yuushi and Mukahi Gakuto, also defeated Kumanosato's first doubles team 6–0.

Akutsu played in singles three. He took less than ten minutes to beat his opponent 6–0.

Kumanosato was then eliminated from the tournament.

The Hyotei first-years, many of whom were playing in their first tournament, had lost their initial excitement. Now they mostly looked bored.

"These guys are pathetic. They're so weak. The match wasn't any fun at all."

Shishido Ryo folded his hands behind his head and watched Kumanosato's regulars leave the court as if fleeing. He had lost all the fighting spirit he'd started with.

"Yeah, they were really weak. There wasn't a bit of excitement in that match."

Mukahi Gakuto chimed in. He'd been looking forward to his first match representing Hyotei, but after playing twice that day, he'd felt the frustration of being invincible.

Kannagi Shinichi turned to them, his voice cold. "Don't think beating opponents like that gives you the right to get arrogant. Tennis at the middle-school level isn't as simple as you think. Don't forget that you've lost to other people before. You aren't invincible, either. Besides, Hyotei is only just getting started. You haven't earned the right to act this way."

Kannagi could tell that Shishido and Mukahi had the wrong attitude. After winning just two district matches, they were already getting conceited.

Their opponents might have been weak, and the matches might have been dull, but Hyotei had achieved nothing yet. They had no right to become arrogant and underestimate their opponents.

If they wanted to talk like that, they'd have to win the national championship first. Only then would they have earned the right.

"Kannagi's right. You haven't won anything yet, so you have no right to get arrogant."

Sakaki Taro gave Kannagi Shinichi an approving look. Kannagi hadn't let two easy wins go to his head; instead, he'd reprimanded Shishido and Mukahi for their poor attitudes. Sakaki felt that Kannagi was becoming more and more like a captain.

Shishido Ryo and Mukahi Gakuto saw that both of the tennis club's top figures had reprimanded them, and quickly bowed in apology. "We're sorry, Coach. Captain. We understand."

Seeing that they sincerely regretted it, Sakaki Taro and Kannagi Shinichi didn't continue scolding them.

Outside the court, the spectators' discussion seemed to confirm what Kannagi and Sakaki had said. People in the stands were already talking about the other schools.

"Hyotei is just too strong this year. I bet they'll win the metropolitan tournament again..."

"Not necessarily. I came from the western district. Yamabuki Middle School swept their opponents 6–0 in all five matches this morning, even without their coach or captain. The players I saw were every bit as strong as Hyotei..."

"I came over after watching Yamabuki's matches, too. They're really strong. And they've got a first-year genius named Fuji Syusuke. He's incredibly good, and his techniques are flashy, too..."

"What happened to their coach and captain?"

"I heard they went to Germany..."

"Looks like this year's metropolitan tournament will come down to either Hyotei or Yamabuki. Both schools make it to nationals year after year. They're the two giants of the Tokyo region..."

"I still think Hyotei's more likely to win..."

As Kannagi Shinichi listened to the spectators' chatter, he turned to Sakaki Taro. "Coach, Yamabuki's afternoon matches have probably just started. Should we go watch them?"

Sakaki had already been keeping a close eye on Yamabuki. After hearing what the spectators were saying, he was even more curious about them. He nodded at once. "Have the rest of the tennis club head back to Hyotei for practice. All the regulars will come with me to watch Yamabuki's match."

"Yes, sir."

The Hyotei regulars were naturally willing to go observe their supposed rival. Besides, the club's top authority had given the order, and no one dared disobey.

The rest of Hyotei's tennis club boarded the four remaining buses and headed back to school. The regulars climbed aboard the most luxurious bus, ready to set off for Yamabuki's match venue.

Just then, Kannagi Shinichi spotted two people he found quite interesting. He walked over and asked with a faint smile, "We're heading to Yamabuki's match venue. Would you like to come with us?"