"I heard Rikkai's captain and vice-captain are both first-years this year. They've also got a strategist who's a first-year, too. The three of them are known as Rikkai's Big Three!"
Oshitari had also secretly looked into Rikkai Dai.
He'd discovered what made Rikkai Dai different. The reigning champions seemed to have fresh faces every year, leading the school to dominate Kanto and set its sights on the national stage.
Even without any top national-level players last year, they'd still had two nationally ranked doubles pairs, along with nationally ranked singles players. That was exactly why Hyotei had lost to Rikkai Dai in the Kanto Tournament finals.
"Rikkai's title as the king wasn't earned by winning the Kanto Tournament once or twice in a row. It was an honor they'd won through thirteen consecutive championships."
"This year's Rikkai may be even stronger than before."
Shishido seemed to remember the two monsters from Kanagawa Prefecture.
Those two might well meet in the Kanto Tournament.
Even at the JR Tournament, both of them had lost to the two from Hyotei.
But the strength they'd shown had left Shishido wary of them to this day.
"Ryo~ Don't go talking up the other team and putting ours down."
Shishido had just managed to stir up Mukahi's competitive spirit, only to quash it in an instant.
As everyone eagerly discussed Rikkai Dai Fuzhong's strength, Kamikawa turned to Atobe, who was resting with his eyes closed, and asked curiously:
"Atobe, don't tell me you were the one who set up this practice match again?"
As far as Kamikawa knew, Rikkai Dai hardly ever played practice matches against other schools.
The king of Rikkai wouldn't lower themselves to seek out other schools for training.
And even when they did, they only trained against their own high school team.