A week later, the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament officially opened. → Google Search
Compared with the regional qualifiers, the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament was enormous. A total of 108 schools were competing for a place in the Kanto Tournament.
The entire Tokyo area had five spots in the Kanto Tournament. The top four teams would qualify directly, while the remaining quarterfinalists would compete in two more rounds of playoffs for the final spot.
As in previous years, the Shizen Tennis Center Park was once again the venue for the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament.
Looking around, the park was filled with groups of three or five teams. They had all come to compete in the tournament.
Thud... Thud... Thud...
A flurry of footsteps rang out as a team in gray-and-white jackets appeared before the crowd.
"Hyotei..."
As the tournament's top seed and last year's national semifinalist, Hyotei drew everyone's attention the moment they arrived.
They were a true national powerhouse. Their semifinal finish at last year's nationals alone was enough to make every school present think twice. After all, most teams in this tournament didn't even have a chance of qualifying for the Kanto Tournament.
And Hyotei was even stronger now, with three national-level players on its roster. Most people considered them the leading favorites to win the national championship this year.
Seeing Hyotei's enormous team and feeling the force of their presence, everyone moved aside to let them pass.
"Oishi, look! It's Hyotei!" In the Yamabuki team, Kikumaru Eiji spotted them and poked the Oishi Syuichiro beside him.
"Eiji, I see them." Oishi Syuichiro could only sigh at how restless his doubles partner was.
"Should we go say hi? We're friends with them, after all."
Back when Hyotei and Yamabuki celebrated together at Kawamura's place, Kikumaru had thought everyone got along well.