The draw that followed went quickly. The middle schools that hadn't drawn Hyotei were overjoyed, while Zoushan Middle School, drawn to face Hyotei in the fourth match, looked utterly grim.
Seigaku got lucky. They drew a later slot, so they wouldn't have to face Hyotei just yet.
They really were lucky!
After the draw, Chiba Yun Chuan and Atobe left the meeting room together.
Tezuka and Oishi were heading back as well. This time, Chiba Yun Chuan didn't say anything, because he could already see it in Tezuka's eyes.
Resolve and fighting spirit!
"Chiba, I get the feeling you think that Tezuka from Seigaku is something special!
"But as far as I know, Seigaku's overall strength seems pretty poor. Aside from their captain, Tezuka Kunimitsu, who's decent,
"there's also Fuji Syusuke, who's known as a genius.
"Other than that, they don't have any players worth mentioning. Looks like the Metropolitan Tournament championship is ours for the taking!
"A tournament like this is just too boring.
"Right, Kabaji?"
"Yes!"
Hearing Atobe say that made Chiba Yun Chuan think of Seigaku's current lineup.
If Tezuka used the spray Chiba had given him to heal his left hand, Seigaku wouldn't be weak.
Tezuka and Fuji could play singles, along with Inui Sadaharu and Kawamura Takashi, while the Golden Pair could handle doubles. Seigaku was already quite strong!
But that still wasn't nearly enough. It wasn't just that they were missing their cheat-code, Echizen Ryoma.
Seigaku was still too weak. They needed another year to grow, after all!
Seigaku's doubles were still a weak point, and even a year later, doubles would remain their Achilles' heel!
Even without Chiba Yun Chuan, this Seigaku couldn't beat Hyotei—not even the Hyotei that hadn't yet evolved!
Tezuka's hand injury limited both his playing time and his performance. Even if his hand hadn't been injured, Seigaku would have had no chance.
Thinking this, Chiba Yun Chuan spoke slowly.
"Atobe, Seigaku actually has quite a few capable players. But against our Hyotei as we are now, they don't stand a chance!
"All we have to do is win the matches!
"Then we'll make it to the Kanto Tournament. That's all."
Hearing Chiba Yun Chuan say that, Atobe realized there was more to Seigaku than he'd thought. If Chiba considered them pretty good,
"they had to be at least a national-level team!"
"No matter who they are, it's time they saw my dazzling tennis." Atobe adjusted his hair with one hand and slowly followed Chiba Yun Chuan away.
Hyotei Academy Tennis Club
"Tomorrow is the first day of the Metropolitan Tournament, and our first opponent is Zoushan Middle School.
"I've already worked out the order of play. Here's tomorrow's lineup.
"Akutagawa Jirou, Oshitari Yuushi, Mukahi Gakuto, Shishido Ryo, Ootori Choutarou, Akutsu, Atobe Keigo, Chiba Yun Chuan.
"That's the lineup for tomorrow's matches. Be sure to arrive at school promptly at eight thirty so we can check in together.
"Also, I'll be leaving Hyotei tomorrow. From now on, you'll have to arrange your own training.
"Understood?"
"Understood!"
"Dismissed. Do as you like!"
They all knew Hana would be leaving, since Chiba Yun Chuan had already let them in on it. The Hyotei players had accepted the news, but they were still a little reluctant. After all, she'd been teaching them for months!
"Coach Hana, are you really not coming back?" Gakuto was the first to ask.
"Yeah, Coach, will you come back someday? We'll bring home the national championship!"
Chotaro's voice rang out, too.
"I hate this kind of farewell, but you'll come back someday, won't you, Coach Hana?" Atobe tried to sound indifferent, but Chiba Yun Chuan could hear the reluctance in his voice.
"You brats—Coach Hana, you still owe me a match!" Akutsu said, fixing Hana with an intense, predatory stare.
Looking at the Hyotei regulars standing before her, Hana knew she'd grown attached to them after spending so much time together.
Her eyes were full of reluctance, but then her expression hardened.
"Do your best, brats! Go win the national championship with Chiba!
"I don't know how strong the tennis teams at the other schools are, but you're already very strong!
"Keep it up! I'm off, Chiba—and the rest of you!"
After saying that, Hana hoisted her bag and slowly walked out of the tennis club. Before long, she disappeared from the Hyotei players' view.
"All right, it's not like we'll never see her again. Let's work together and go after the national championship!"
They all shouted in unison:
"Yes!"
Hana had already settled the lineup. Unless something unexpected happened, that would be the order in which they played tomorrow!
To make sure they had enough energy for the matches, there would be no training that afternoon.
Chiba Yun Chuan wanted to go out and buy a tennis wrist support, anyway.
So he slung his tennis bag over his shoulder and took the subway into town by himself!
It was the first time Chiba Yun Chuan had taken the subway since being reborn.
He figured he might as well take the opportunity to clear his head!
Of course, riding the subway worked the same way!
He hadn't yet gone out to explore the world of tennis. He was either training or on his way to training, so this was the perfect chance to look around!
Before long, Chiba Yun Chuan got off at a station.
Only after stepping off did he realize he had no idea where to find a shop that sold wrist supports. His face immediately darkened!
There were no maps or navigation apps around yet, so he had no choice but to look for himself.
He set off, searching for a shop that sold wrist supports as he went!
Seigaku Tennis Club
Tezuka and Oishi had returned to Seigaku by now.
"How did it go, Tezuka? Was the draw all right? Honestly, the draw doesn't matter! Whoever we draw, we have to give it our all!
"Isn't that right?"
Ryuzaki Sumire had moved on from her earlier argument with Nanjirou, but she still stood by her own views.
She believed her coaching methods were the right ones, and this time she would lead Seigaku to the national tournament!
She would prove to Nanjirou that she was right.
Hearing Ryuzaki Sumire's words, Tezuka's eyes filled with concern.
"That's right, Coach Ryuzaki. I'll go get things ready for training."
"Tezuka, how's your hand? If it's really that bad, don't play. Just focus on recovering!"
At Ryuzaki Sumire's words, Tezuka's left hand trembled slightly. Then he answered calmly,
"I'm fine, Coach Ryuzaki. Please put me on the lineup when the time comes. I'm counting on you!"
After saying that, Tezuka turned and walked into the locker room.
Watching Tezuka's retreating figure, Ryuzaki Sumire sighed softly, unable to help thinking back to how he'd injured his hand.
Even now, she still didn't feel any remorse about the decision she'd made back then.
Before you continue