Tezuka walked into the locker room and raised his left hand to look at it.
His gaze flickered with uncertainty.
Could his left hand bear the weight of Seigaku's future?
Tezuka was trying to unzip his tennis bag with his left hand, but a sharp pain shot through his arm. He immediately grabbed his wrist with his right hand!
His face was contorted with pain!
"Mm... Is it already at its limit?"
Looking at his injured left arm, Tezuka's eyes held concern, but even more than that, determination!
Just then, he remembered the small bottle Chiba Yun Chuan had given him.
He reached into his jacket pocket with his right hand and took it out. It was a spray bottle. Tezuka couldn't read the writing on it, but guessed it was some kind of spray for arm injuries.
Even surgery might not fix it, let alone a little spray! With that thought, Tezuka started to put it back in his pocket.
But then he remembered Chiba Yun Chuan's expression, and what he had said.
I might as well give it a try!
He took off his jacket, then picked up the spray and applied it to the injured spot on his left arm.
Pssht, pssht, pssht.
As the spray landed on his arm, Tezuka felt a warm sensation spread through the injured area.
It was completely different from the usual sharp, stabbing pain. His left arm felt better than ever!
Could it really work this well? Tezuka was astonished. He immediately walked over to his tennis bag, opened it, and took out his racket.
Then he swung it hard with his left hand several times.
"How is this possible? It doesn't hurt at all! What is this stuff?" Tezuka held the spray up in his right hand and examined it closely!
Meanwhile, Chiba Yun Chuan was searching the street for a shop.
He had been looking for quite a while, but still hadn't found one. There should have been plenty around here!
So he continued searching patiently. Sure enough, before long he found a shop selling tennis equipment.
Chiba Yun Chuan walked right in and started browsing on his own.
"Welcome! Feel free to look around!"
The shopkeeper looked a little familiar, but Chiba Yun Chuan couldn't remember where he'd seen him.
At the same time, Seigaku first-year Momoshiro Takeshi arrived at the shop. His wristband had broken, and he planned to buy a new one!
That was why he had taken leave. He came to this shop often, so he knew his way around.
"Hello, sir. Sorry to bother you."
"Hey, you're back! What are you looking for today?"
"My wristband broke by accident. We have training coming up, so I thought I'd buy another one. Do you have any left?"
"Wristbands? I think there's just one left. Go grab it yourself."
"Only one left? Then I'm in luck! I'll go get it right now." With that, he headed toward the wristbands.
At the same time, Chiba Yun Chuan spotted the wristband and reached for it.
Both of them grabbed it at once.
Momoshiro saw someone else reaching for it. He glanced at Chiba Yun Chuan and noticed the tennis bag on his back.
He realized the other boy played tennis too, but there was only one wristband left, and he didn't want to give it up!
Chiba Yun Chuan was wearing the uniform of a regular on the Hyotei team, but Momoshiro didn't seem to recognize it.
"Sorry, could you let me have this wristband? I got to it first. Please?"
After speaking, Momoshiro let go and bowed deeply.
Though they were on opposite sides of a shelf, they could still see each other. The moment Chiba Yun Chuan picked up the wristband, he recognized Momoshiro.
Momoshiro looked just like he did in the anime, with his trademark upright hair and well-defined features.
His bright eyes made him seem likable, but Chiba Yun Chuan wasn't about to give way because of that!
"Even if you buy this wristband, it won't do you any good! First-years at Seigaku aren't allowed to play in matches. Am I right, Momoshiro, first-year at Seigaku?"
Chiba Yun Chuan said it lightly, but his words cut deep!
That was indeed Seigaku's rule. There was no way to argue with it.
"Who are you? So what if I can't play?" Momoshiro sounded a little uncertain.
"I'm looking forward to playing Seigaku, but unfortunately, if you want to compete, you'll have to wait until next year.
After all, Seigaku isn't Hyotei. First-years can only pick up balls!
What a pity!
In the end, Seigaku will fall to Hyotei!
Get ready to lose, Momoshiro Takeshi, future second-year regular on Seigaku's tennis team." With that, Chiba Yun Chuan took the wristband and headed for the door.
"Wait! Who are you, and why are you saying that?
You're from Hyotei, aren't you?
Do you dare to play me?"
Watching Chiba Yun Chuan's arrogance, Momoshiro challenged him!
"Oh? Play you? Forget it. You're too weak right now, and I don't want people accusing me of picking on a first-year."
Chiba Yun Chuan didn't answer directly. He just chuckled and turned him down!
As he spoke, he waved goodbye.
"Sir, how much are these gloves?"
"Uh, three thousand!"
After paying, Chiba Yun Chuan slowly left the shop.
"Just you wait! I'll show you that first-years can do more than just pick up balls!" Momoshiro clenched both fists, his heart in turmoil!
Hearing Momoshiro, Chiba Yun Chuan slowly replied,
"I'll see you at the match tomorrow."
Then Chiba Yun Chuan walked away, leaving Momoshiro with nothing but his proud, solitary silhouette!
"That guy... Hyotei, huh? Tomorrow I'll show you what Seigaku can do!"
At the Metropolitan Tournament venue
It was ten in the morning, time for the teams competing in the Metropolitan Tournament to check in!
One team after another arrived at the venue, drawing waves of excited chatter.
Seigaku's regulars were entering the grounds, led by Ryuzaki Sumire and Tezuka.
"Look, look! Seigaku's here! Their uniforms look great!"
"Seigaku were the champions of their district qualifiers. I heard they only lost one game, and won all the others six-love!"
"Especially their captain, Tezuka Kunimitsu. They say he's a nationally ranked player!"
"Is the genius Fuji Syusuke walking behind Tezuka Kunimitsu? He's so handsome!"
"Seigaku's presence is so impressive, especially Tezuka Kunimitsu!"
"Go, Seigaku!"
As Seigaku's players entered, the chatter around them grew louder and louder.
"Captain, you and Fuji are really popular. Everyone's talking about you," Inui said as they walked.
"Oishi, I heard them praising you too," Kikumaru teased, joining in with Inui.
"Enough talking. We're about to check in."
Tezuka sternly cut off their conversation.
"Yes, sir."
At Tezuka's words, the team fell silent at once.
Then, led by Tezuka, they walked over to the check-in desk and registered.
Before you continue