At Shisen Tennis Center Park's Court 8, the match between Yamabuki and Seigaku had already begun. The second doubles match was over, with Minami Kentaro and Higashikata Masaya defeating Seigaku's two upperclassmen 6–1.
At Seigaku's players' area, Coach Ryuzaki Sumire wore a dark expression. She had never imagined that Seigaku's second doubles team would lose to Yamabuki's first-year pair—and win only a single game.
With Seigaku's second doubles team defeated, Ryuzaki could only place her hopes in the players who came next.
"We lost the first doubles match, but their first doubles team is also made up of first-years. You have more match experience than they do. If you play steadily, we can even the score in doubles."
"Yes, Coach. We'll definitely teach those brats a lesson."
The speaker was Takei Kenshi, the one who had once injured Tezuka. He didn't take those first-years who had left Seigaku for Yamabuki seriously.
"Mm. Go on." Ryuzaki nodded slightly. Yamabuki had won the second doubles match, but she didn't believe all their first-years were as strong as that pair.
On the court, Kikumaru Eiji and Oishi Syuichiro had already walked out, rackets in hand.
Both wore grave expressions. Before they stepped onto the court, Fuji had told them to crush Seigaku completely this time. And the opponent facing them was the very person who had injured Tezuka. Kikumaru and Oishi were determined to give it everything from the start.
Step... step...
A sound of footsteps came from outside the court. A group of boys dressed in gray and white appeared before everyone, drawing all eyes toward them.
"Hyotei..."
"The one at the front must be Kannagi Shinichi..."
"Those two behind Kannagi Shinichi must be Hyotei's other two national-level players, Atobe Keigo and Mouri Jusaburou..."
"I can't believe all three