Elementary School Tennis Tournament

Tokyo Metropolis, Shishido Tennis Center Park.

This is one of Tokyo's five Class 2 tennis venues and has also served as the venue for the Junior High Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament in recent years. The entire Center Park has sixteen tennis courts.

The National Elementary School Tournament is being held at this tennis venue.

The competition has already reached its third day. The top eight were decided in the first two days, and today is the final day, the championship showdown.

Outside the courts, the area is packed with spectators, including coaches from renowned tennis schools aiming for the national competition, as well as reporters with cameras.

"Hey, make way, let me through! My friend is competing, and I need to cheer him on." A boy with wine-red hair pushed forward, shouting, "Shishido, hurry up! Jirou's match is about to start."

"Gakuto, I know," a boy with brown hair tied in a ponytail followed closely behind the wine-red haired boy.

Amidst the crowd, the two boys desperately tried to push their way through, but there were too many people. They struggled and finally managed to reach the very front, their faces almost pressed against the wire mesh fence separating the courts.

"Whew, finally got in. That was so lame," the ponytail boy glanced at the surrounding spectators and couldn't help but sigh, "Hiss, I didn't expect the quarterfinals to have so many people watching."

The boy with wine-red hair and bangs took a deep breath and said, "Shishido, this year's tournament is too terrifying, isn't it? Except for Jirou and that Sengoku Kiyosumi, the others in the top eight feel like monsters."

"Idiot." The ponytail boy cursed the wine-red haired boy. "I don't know about this Sengoku Kiyosumi, but Jirou is also a monster. Gakuto, you've never beaten Jirou before."

"Shishido..." The wine-red haired boy wanted to retort, but in the end, he backed down, only pretending to be tough, "Next time, I will definitely beat Jirou."

The boy named Shishido ignored the boastful words of the wine-red haired boy and instead looked at the drowsy, orange-haired boy on the court with envy. "I'm so envious of Jirou, actually making it into the quarterfinals."

His own result this year stopped at the top 32.

Logically, this result was not bad, but he was one of the top three players at Hyotei Elementary School. And after Hyotei Junior High School reached the national tournament and achieved a proud fourth-place finish, even the elementary school's tennis representatives received greatly increased attention.

It could be said that he was quite well-known in the entire Tokyo Metropolis.

The orange-haired boy about to compete on the court was his good friend, named Akutagawa Jirou, the tennis prodigy of Hyotei Elementary School.

During regular training, he only knew how to sleep, but his tennis fundamentals were more solid than anyone else's. Especially his peculiar finishing move, which was unpredictable and unreasonably strong.

As for the two boys, they were two other well-known players from Hyotei Elementary School.

The wine-red haired one was Mukahi Gakuto, agile and skilled.

The long-haired one was Shishido Ryo, known for his quick attacks and renowned as a breakthrough player.

However, in this year's elementary school tournament, both of them stopped at the top 32.

This was a significant blow to the two proud boys. Fortunately, their friend Akutagawa Jirou had made it into the quarterfinals, salvaging some face for their Hyotei Elementary School trio.

The quarterfinals were about to begin, and the large display screen at the tennis park was already showing the matchups for the top eight.

Tezuka Kunimitsu VS Sengoku Kiyosumi (Court 2)

Yukimura Seiichi VS Chitose Senri (Court 3)

Akutagawa Jirou VS Sanada Genichiro (Court 7)

Tachibana Kippei VS Kannagi Shinichi (Court 8)

The two boys also looked up at the quarterfinal matchup list.

After reading the list, Mukahi suddenly frowned and said, "Sanada Genichiro, isn't that the guy who eliminated you? Can Jirou beat him?"

Shishido Ryo just smiled wryly and shook his head. "Sanada Genichiro is simply a monster."

The pride and self-esteem Shishido Ryo had built up since childhood were completely shattered in front of Sanada Genichiro.

But in his heart, he held no resentment. Even now, remembering that match, Shishido still felt a deep sense of fear.

Seeing Shishido's attitude towards Sanada Genichiro, Mukahi guessed how much helplessness Sanada Genichiro had made Shishido Ryo feel.

Looking at Akutagawa Jirou on the court, who was still drowsy, Mukahi Gakuto couldn't help but worry, "Is Jirou going to stop at the quarterfinals?"

"Probably," Shishido Ryo had played against both Sanada and Akutagawa. Both were stronger than him, but Sanada Genichiro was despairingly strong. He didn't think Akutagawa Jirou could beat Sanada.

"There are so many monsters in this tournament, I wonder who will be the champion?" Mukahi Gakuto also thought of Tezuka Kunimitsu, who had eliminated him, that icy man. He hadn't even scored a point against him.

"I don't know. From the start of the tournament until now, six people haven't lost a single game. We can't see through their strength at all," Shishido Ryo said with bitterness in his voice. He had never imagined that so many people his age were stronger than him.

"Then the champion should be among those six."

At this moment, a broadcast voice reached their ears...

"Next, the quarterfinals of the National Elementary School Tennis Tournament will begin. Please have the players proceed to the courts to prepare."

At this moment, Kannagi Shinichi was bewildered. He hadn't expected Chitose Senri and Tachibana Kippei to also participate in this tournament.

Although Kannagi Shinichi was a bit confused, he didn't pay too much attention. He picked up his racket and calmly walked towards Court 8.

Sakaki Taro also came to the court today and sat next to Kannagi Shinichi.

At this moment, Shishido Ryo and Mukahi Gakuto also saw Sakaki Taro.

"Hey, Shishido, is the rumor true? Kannagi Shinichi has joined Hyotei." As a player from Hyotei Elementary School, Mukahi Gakuto naturally recognized the advisor for Hyotei Junior High School's tennis club.

"I'm afraid it's more than just joining Hyotei. Look behind them, they're all seniors from the tennis club," Shishido Ryo looked in Kannagi Shinichi's direction and continued to Mukahi Gakuto, "I heard from a junior high senior before that Kannagi Shinichi is already the new captain of the Hyotei tennis club. I didn't believe it at first, but now it seems to be true."

"A first-year captain?" Mukahi Gakuto was somewhat disbelieving and surprised, then a smile appeared. "If that's true, it will be very interesting when we enter junior high. I just don't know if our future captain can win this tournament?"

"It's hard to say," Shishido shook his head. "Kannagi Shinichi is very strong, but his opponent in this match, Tachibana Kippei, is also one of the six who haven't lost a single game so far. There are really too many monsters this year."

"Mhm, then this match is a clash of titans. Damn, I really want to watch." Mukahi Gakuto really wanted to watch the match between Kannagi Shinichi and Tachibana Kippei, but as Akutagawa Jirou's best friend, he could only cheer him on.

"It's not just Kannagi Shinichi's match; Yukimura Seiichi against Chitose Senri is also a duel between monsters." Shishido Ryo withdrew his gaze and looked back at Akutagawa Jirou on the court, suddenly feeling a surge of inexplicable anger. "Damn Jirou, wake up."

At this moment, all the players had arrived at their respective courts. Only on Court 2 was Sengoku Kiyosumi alone. His opponent, that icy young man, was still on his way to the match.

But the match couldn't wait for him, as it was about to begin.