Chiba Yun Chuan, walking at the head of the group, made Fuji feel especially uneasy.
None of the teams before them had made him feel this way.
"Fuji, are you scared? We're definitely going to win!" Tezuka watched the Hyotei team, his gaze unwavering.
"We'll win, Tezuka!" Fuji perked up at Tezuka's words, but then closed his eyes again.
"Go, senpai! Beat them down! Show them what Seigaku can do! Seigaku will win!" Momoshiro stood among the cheer squad with a headband that read "Victory" tied around his head, loudly cheering Seigaku on.
The Seigaku team all wore expressions of exasperation.
"Momoshiro sure has a lot of energy!" Kikumaru said, watching Momoshiro shout. He felt much more relaxed.
"Yeah, Momoshiro really is full of Mental Power. I'm getting a little interested in his stats," Inui said slowly, adjusting his glasses.
Although Momoshiro's cheering had helped the Seigaku players relax, the tension surrounding the match was growing stronger by the minute!
Hyotei's imposing presence had already made Seigaku nervous.
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Chiba Yun Chuan led his team to the court opposite Seigaku's, ready to begin the match!
No one behind Hyotei dared to make a loud noise.
That alone showed how thoroughly Hyotei had outdone Seigaku in sheer presence!
"Wow, Hyotei looks really strong this year! But have you noticed? There are several first-years on their team!"
"Of course. They're on a completely different level. When they walked past me, I didn't even dare speak!"
"Hyotei's all first- and second-years this year. The third-years aren't playing! Or maybe they've all been pushed out!"
"First-years are this strong now? That's unbelievable."
"Seigaku's not weak either, especially their Captain and the genius Fuji. I hear they're both at the national level."
Amid the buzz of conversation, the match was about to begin!
"The match between Seigaku and Hyotei is about to start. Both teams, please warm up!
"The match will begin in ten minutes." After making the announcement, the umpire sat down.
Chiba Yun Chuan and Ryuzaki Sumire had both taken their seats in the coaches' area.
The players on both teams had already started warming up.
Looking at the young Chiba Yun Chuan across from her, Ryuzaki Sumire was astonished. She hadn't expected Hyotei's coach to be their Captain!
A first-year, Chiba Yun Chuan!
She was intensely curious, and also shocked. Could a first-year really serve as a coach?
So she asked, "Hello. Are you Hyotei's coach?"
Chiba Yun Chuan heard her. Though he didn't like Seigaku's coach, he still turned and replied politely.
"You must be Coach Ryuzaki, who coached the Samurai, Echizen Nanjirou! I'm the captain of Hyotei's tennis club, Chiba Yun Chuan. Coach Hana had something come up, so I'm filling in as coach. It's a pleasure to meet you!"
The name Hana sounded familiar to Ryuzaki Sumire, but she couldn't remember where she'd heard it.
So she replied, "That was all in the past. There's no need to bring it up! Your name is Chiba Yun Chuan, right? Hyotei is very strong this year. But why have you entered a first-year like yourself in the competition? Shouldn't first-years be building a solid foundation? Couldn't this be pushing you too hard, too soon?"
Ryuzaki Sumire had asked what she wanted to know. It was also why she'd gone out of her way to speak with Chiba Yun Chuan.
Though she thought the idea was absurd, Chiba Yun Chuan's calm smile told her that he wasn't an ordinary middle schooler.
That was why she'd asked.
She still couldn't accept it. Why had even Nanjirou thought her views were wrong?
Hyotei's coach was letting a first-year compete, too—and even letting him serve as acting coach!
Was she really falling behind?
Chiba Yun Chuan smiled to himself at her words. Still, since Ryuzaki Sumire had once coached the Samurai, Echizen Nanjirou, he had to show her respect.
"Coach Ryuzaki, aren't first-years middle schoolers too? If they're strong enough, why shouldn't they compete?
"Why cling to your first-year theory until the bitter end? The tennis world today respects strength above all!
"Whoever's stronger gets to play. Survival of the Fittest—that's what keeps tennis thriving!
"If you insist on following a flawed system, decline is inevitable!
"If you still have doubts, you'll understand once you've watched this match!
"There'll be a surprise for you."
Chiba Yun Chuan's words left Ryuzaki Sumire puzzled.
"A surprise? What surprise?"
But as soon as she'd spoken, the umpire's voice rang in her ears.
"National Tournament semifinals: Hyotei versus Seigaku, first match, second doubles.
"Both teams, please take the court."
Hearing the umpire, Ryuzaki Sumire stopped herself from speaking and looked toward the court.
The players from both teams were already standing in position.
Seigaku had sent out Kikumaru Eiji and Oishi Shuichiro for second doubles!
Hyotei had sent out Oshitari Yuushi and Mukahi Gakuto for second doubles!
"I wonder how strong Seigaku's pair is. It seems that, like us, they don't have any third-years on their team.
"That's interesting, don't you think, Kabaji?" Atobe said with his arms folded, watching with interest.
"Yes."
"I hear this pair is quite strong. They've already reached something close to the national level," Shishido Ryo said casually.
"Oshitari and Gakuto won't be easy to deal with. And after that training with Chiba, they don't have any weaknesses anymore!" Atobe said confidently at the mention of Chiba Yun Chuan.
"Yeah! Captain Chiba is going to lead us to the National Tournament!" Ootori Choutarou looked toward Chiba Yun Chuan, seated in the coaches' area, his voice brimming with excitement!
"Kikumaru and Oishi are practically Seigaku's aces. Maybe they could take on Oshitari and Gakuto a year from now! But right now..." Chiba Yun Chuan turned his attention to the court.
He summoned the system at the same time.
His Show-off Value had already climbed past two thousand, and it was still slowly increasing.
He hadn't expected to gain so much after just one day at the tournament. It wouldn't be long before his Show-off Value climbed back above five thousand!
Chiba Yun Chuan was in an excellent mood.
Among the Seigaku players,
"Doubles has always been Hyotei's weakness, but they haven't lost a single doubles match so far, so I have limited data. Based on what I have now, Kikumaru and Oishi have a seventy percent chance of winning."
Inui pushed up his glasses and spoke slowly.
"The match begins. Hyotei to serve!"
The umpire's announcement marked the official start of the match.
Everyone's attention shifted back to the court, eager to see the first clash between Hyotei and Seigaku!
But the Hyotei players weren't tense at all. Akutagawa Jirou had even fallen asleep in his seat!
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