That's Hyotei!

Seishun Academy!

Yamato unusually gathered everyone on the court, looking at them with a serious expression.

Coach Ryuzaki also pushed open the iron gate and walked in, looking at everyone on the court and saying, "Alright! Everyone come gather."

Following Coach Ryuzaki's words, everyone stopped what they were doing and gathered together, their gazes fixed on the coach.

"The participating teams for the Metropolitan Tournament have been decided!"

"Every school has been selected through regional qualifiers. They are all formidable opponents. Among them is last year's Metropolitan Tournament champion, Hyotei."

Coach Ryuzaki wrote the list of participants on the blackboard and pointed to Hyotei Academy at the top.

"Just now, Hyotei invited us to a practice match with an arrogant and condescending attitude, as if we were begging them to play."

Coach Ryuzaki's old face turned red, her eyes almost bulging out. Their high-and-mighty demeanor wasn't just her observation; Yamato, as the club president, was also present.

He was the one who took the call. The condescending tone made it seem like playing a practice match with Hyotei was a tremendous favor.

Most importantly, Yamato clearly heard that the voice belonged to a first-year student. If he wasn't mistaken, it was the voice of Hyotei's second-in-command, the young master of the Atobe Group, Keigo Atobe.

"Damn it, they look down on Seigaku so much!"

"We were eliminated by Hyotei in last year's Metropolitan Tournament. That Hyotei club president is inhumanly strong."

"Yamato's arm was ruined in that match. How dare they challenge us to a practice match? They're completely underestimating us!!"

"..."

The regular players standing in the front row were discussing amongst themselves.

Their faces were filled with indignation and unwillingness. If it weren't for Hyotei, they truly would have had a chance to advance to the Kanto Tournament last year. But in the quarterfinals, they encountered Hyotei, who cleanly defeated them 3-0, shattering Seigaku's dream of reaching the Kanto Tournament.

"What's the point of playing against a team like that?"

Takei was the first to speak from the crowd, his tone laced with fear. He had been present during that match, and Hyotei was terrifyingly strong. The suffocating feeling was something he would never forget.

"Exactly, exactly!"

The upperclassmen in the crowd had all experienced the era of Gekko Ochi, the top player in Kanto. If not for Hyotei's other players being weak, the Kanto Tournament championship that year would have belonged to Hyotei.

"Seniors, you seem very afraid of this school called Hyotei. Are they really that strong?"

In the crowd, the first-year students whispered amongst themselves. Kikumaru was the first to speak.

Kikumaru didn't understand why Hyotei Academy was something to be afraid of. Weren't they both renowned tennis schools?!

Inui Sadaharu glanced at the confused Kikumaru and then said, "Hyotei has always been a regular participant in the Kanto and National Tournaments. Their strength has always been among the top in Tokyo..."

"Especially last year, they eliminated Seigaku, led by Captain Yamato, in the Metropolitan Tournament. At that time, Hyotei Academy's captain, Gekko Ochi, was a top national-level player."

Hearing Inui say this, everyone snapped back to reality.

No wonder the seniors looked so grim. They had been completely crushed last year.

"Hyotei is a bit different this year."

Under everyone's gaze, Inui said slowly, "I remember I mentioned before that Hyotei underwent a transformation this year. The leading club president is a first-year student named Tezuka Kunimitsu, and the vice-club president is also a first-year student, the young master of the Atobe Group, Keigo Atobe."

"The strength of these two is immense. Keigo Atobe swept through the entire tennis club on the first day of school, defeating all the second and third-year regular players."

"What?! A first-year freshman defeated the upperclassmen?"

Kikumaru looked at Inui Sadaharu in disbelief.

"Since that's the case, why is Tezuka the club president and not that first-year named Atobe?" Oishi seemed to have found a point of confusion and looked at Inui.

"That's because..."

Inui took a deep breath. "That young man named Tezuka crushed Atobe with absolute strength."

"To be precise, he defeated him with a score of 6-3. However, analyzing the video footage..."

"It's definitely not as simple as 6-3. It's highly likely a 6-0 annihilation!"

"An... annihilation?!"

This time, Oishi, Kawamura, and Kikumaru were all stunned by Inui's words.

A player who could sweep the Hyotei tennis club was absolutely crushed by another person with sheer power.

Was this kind of strength truly comparable to theirs as first-year students?!

"Therefore... the possibility of Seigaku winning this invited practice match is infinitesimally close to zero."

Inui said with a grave expression.

In fact, what Inui said was still a bit conservative. So far, Inui couldn't see any possibility of Seigaku winning, whether in terms of strength or their attitude towards tennis. The upperclassmen who were regular players were no match for the opponents.

Beside them, the handsome boy, who had been silent all along, his eyes flickered slightly.

He seemed to have developed some interest in this invited practice match.

Even if everyone else was unwilling.

However, based on the influence behind Hyotei, coupled with Hyotei's proactive invitation for a practice match.

There was no reason for Seigaku to refuse, either emotionally or logically.

Even though everyone was against it, Coach Ryuzaki and Yamato had decided to have this practice match with Hyotei.

After changing to the subway and bus, the group soon stood before the gates of Hyotei Academy.

Looking at the grand and imposing school, an indescribable tension filled everyone's faces.

Upon entering the tennis club, Sakaki Taro had already been waiting for a long time.

To be honest, Sakaki Taro had initially refused the invitation for a match from Seigaku.

In his opinion, Seigaku was not worth studying. Last year's Metropolitan Tournament, even if Gekko Ochi hadn't played, Seigaku was no match for Hyotei.

"Welcome."

Sakaki Taro walked up slowly and said in a calm tone.

Meanwhile.

The regular players of Hyotei and Seigaku also stood on the court.

Yamato's heart trembled as he looked at the sea of first-years before him. He had heard rumors, but he hadn't expected Hyotei to be so bold as to actually use first-years as regular players.

"Please guide us."

Tezuka looked indifferently at the Seigaku club president, who was wearing a white headband and round tinted sunglasses.

"Please guide us."

For some reason, the first time Yamato saw Tezuka, he felt a potential threat.

That feeling was very similar to the aura Gekko Ochi had displayed when Yamato faced him directly last year.

This... How is this possible!

He's just a first-year!

"Seigaku!"

Atobe raised an eyebrow and looked at the standing Seigaku regular players. "The school where the legendary Samurai Nanjirou once played doesn't look like much!"

"You brat, what did you say?!"

Takei's eyes widened upon hearing this, and he couldn't control his temper, rolling up his sleeves.

"Hm?"

"Senior, you should think carefully. This is Hyotei! Not Seigaku!"

At this moment, Oshitari, standing beside Atobe, spoke up.

Outside the court, more than two hundred Hyotei members stood up in unison, looking at Takei with strange gazes.

If he dared to make a move, he would face the combined assault of over two hundred people from Hyotei.

Although he was a distinguished guest, this was Hyotei, and Atobe was the vice-captain of the Hyotei tennis club. During this time, Atobe had proven his strength through his actions and gained everyone's recognition.

Japanese schools indeed had a tradition of respecting seniors.

However, respecting the strong was also a tradition in Japanese schools and even in Japan itself.

Arrogance needs capital, and coincidentally, Atobe had that capital.

"Takei, behave yourself!" Yamato frowned.

He cursed Takei, the idiot, in his heart. Going to another school for a practice match and putting on an arrogant attitude. If he had the strength, it would be one thing, but he... was pathetically weak!