"First match."
"Both doubles teams, please take the court!"
The referee called out loudly from the tall chair.
By then, both doubles teams were already on the court.
Seeing the two players who had taken the court, Banda looked a little surprised.
"Are they really sending Oshitari and Mukahi out as their first doubles team?"
Banda had studied Hyotei's matches from the Regional Tournament through the Metropolitan Tournament during the past few days of rest. Of all their players, Oshitari and Mukahi were the only pair who seemed likely to form a capable doubles team in the future.
"Minami, Higashikata! Do what you think is right."
Banda smiled warmly at the two young doubles players before him.
Like Oshitari and Mukahi, they were both first-year newcomers. Banda wasn't as hidebound as the coaches of other teams. In his eyes, anyone with enough skill and talent deserved a spot on the tennis club's regular roster.
"Banda Mikiya, let's see what kind of doubles team you've trained."
Sakaki Taro crossed his legs and folded his arms across his chest, leaning back in his chair as he watched Yamabuki's doubles pair.
"Fuji... Fuji, both teams have sent out first-years."
During a break in the consolation matches, Kikumaru and the others had made their way to the venue for the Metropolitan Tournament final.
They had also seen the two doubles teams take the court.
"Yamabuki has some promising first-year newcomers, too."
Inui pushed up his glasses. He held a notebook in his left hand and flipped through the pages with his right.
"Inui, do you have any information on them?"
Kikumaru instinctively turned to Inui and asked.
"Minami Kentaro and Higashikata Masami are first-years at Yamabuki Junior High. They play as Yamabuki's second doubles team. Their coordination is remarkable, and they often use signals