naaapseattle #110 - The show begins!
#110 - The show begins!
"First of all, congratulations to the freshmen for joining the tennis club."
Yukimura's gentle voice sounded: "I think you should know that the tennis club doesn't have any rules like freshmen can't become regular players. In the tennis club, strength is everything. If you want to become a regular player, you must defeat a regular player."
Not only the first-year freshmen, but also the second and third-year players showed excitement in their eyes.
Didn't they join the tennis club to become regular players?
Now Yukimura has given them the opportunity, and the rest depends on themselves.
"Today is the first day the freshmen joined the tennis club. The regular player selection will start tomorrow."
After hearing Yukimura's words, Kirihara Akaya's face showed excitement.
Regular player!
He must become a regular player!
"Now, dismiss! Everyone, train on your own."
As soon as Yukimura finished speaking, everyone immediately replied in unison: "Yes!"
Immediately afterwards, the neat and uniform team dispersed, and the players began their respective training.
"It seems there will be many exciting matches tomorrow."
Chloe said, propping her chin up and looking at Yukimura.
"In a way, yes."
All the players had gathered, each with excitement and anticipation on their faces.
Today they will participate in the regular player selection. As long as they win the match, they can become regular players.
175 players participated in the selection, not including Yukimura.
Chloe sat on the steps, her eyes filled with a smile, supporting her chin as she watched Yukimura on the court.
After getting ready, the official regular player challenge began five minutes later.
From the start of the match, half of the players were eliminated directly in the first round.
Most of them were basically first-year players.
"That freshman is quite strong!"
Marui Bunta said, watching Kirihara Akaya who was playing on the court.
"Compared to ordinary second and third-year students, his strength is indeed good."
Jack Kuwahara nodded.
"Then let's see who wins in the end."
Niou Masaharu said with a smile, squinting his eyes and revealing fox-like eyes.
Yagyu Hiroshi pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose and said, "Don't forget, there's also the vice-captain, Yanagi, and senior Mori."
These words immediately made Niou Masaharu's face serious.
If they want to become regular players, they have to compete with Sanada and the other two.
"Even so, I won't give up easily."
Jack Kuwahara said in a deep voice.
"We have been training for a long time to become regular players."
Marui Bunta said, "How could we give up like this?"
Niou Masaharu looked serious.
They had been preparing for a long time to become regular players.
After the first round of selection, the second round began.
One hour later.
The final candidates have been selected.
Apart from Yukimura, there are Sanada, Yanagi Renji, Mori Jusaburo, Niou Masaharu, Yagyu Hiroshi,
Marui Bunta, Jack Kuwahara, and the freshman Kirihara Akaya, eight people in total.
"Seiichi, it seems like there aren't enough spots for regular players."
On the other side, Chloe looked at Yukimura and said with some doubt.
Including Yukimura himself, there are a total of nine people, and the number of regular players is six.
"I didn't say that all regular players have to play in the matches."
Yukimura smiled and said.
After hearing Yukimura's words, Chloe instantly understood what he meant.
With Yukimura's current strength, he doesn't need to play in the matches himself. He only needs to register with the team, and then the other regular players can play.
Moreover, Rikkai University's current strength can handle any team without pressure.
Unless they encounter a team of Hyotei's level.
"So that's how it is..."
Chloe thought softly as she looked at Yukimura. No matter who wins or loses among these eight in the end, they will all be able to become regular players.
Of course, if there is a match, Yukimura will definitely let others play, according to Chloe's thoughts.
The next day.
Tennis club, all the players gathered together, waiting for the final regular player selection.
However, what everyone did not expect was that the freshman Kirihara Akaya's opponent was actually Sanada, one of Rikkai University's three giants!
Sanada Genichirou, who is known as the Emperor in the middle school world!
After receiving this news, all the players in the tennis club were stunned.
They didn't expect that Kirihara Akaya's opponent would be Sanada.
"This is really interesting!"
Niou Masaharu smiled and said, with a different color flashing in his eyes.
"That freshman's luck is really bad."
Jack Kuwahara shook his head and said.
"Luck...?"
Yagyu Hiroshi pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose, and a white light flashed on the lenses.
"The captain is here!!"
Someone shouted, and all the players looked towards the entrance.
Yukimura draped his jacket over his shoulders, his purple eyes swept around, and he nodded lightly.
"Everyone is here, then let the match begin."
On the court.
Sanada and Kirihara Akaya stood opposite each other.
The atmosphere on the court became a little strange. Kirihara Akaya clenched his hands tightly, his face extremely serious.
In contrast, Sanada's face was very calm.
Many players had already gathered around, their eyes filled with anticipation, expecting how long Kirihara Akaya could last in the vice-captain's hands, and whether he could get a point?
"I must defeat him!!"
Kirihara Akaya thought in his heart as he looked at Sanada.
One of Rikkai University's three giants!
Only by defeating one of the three giants can he challenge Yukimura!
"Match start, one game, Kirihara Akaya's serve!"
The third-year player serving as the referee looked at Sanada and then at Kirihara Akaya and shouted.
First game, Kirihara Akaya's serve.
"It begins!"
As the voice fell, everyone around them felt a slight chill.
"Seiichi, do you think that Kirihara Akaya can get a point from Genichirou?"
Outside the court, Yanagi Renji looked at Yukimura and asked.
Yukimura shook his head slightly and said, "Although his talent is good, he is still far from scoring a point from Genichirou."
This match is just to test Kirihara Akaya.
At the same time, Yanagi Renji, Sanada, Mori Jusaburo and others are also very clear about this.
"Kirihara Akaya... what kind of strength can this freshman show?"
Niou Masaharu, Yagyu Hiroshi and others revealed thoughts in their eyes.
In the court.
Kirihara Akaya gently patted the tennis ball in his hand, and the rhythmic sound slowly sounded.
Swish...!
Kirihara Akaya flicked his arm, and the tennis ball flew from his fingers.
Immediately, at the moment when he squatted down and jumped up, his arm was vertical, and at the moment when the tennis ball reached its highest point and fell, Kirihara Akaya swung his racket.