The Prince of Tennis: The Quincy of Rikkai University.

Chapter 26 Regional Tournament Begins

call

……

Heavy breathing sounds came from the mouths of the freshmen who were practicing physical fitness, and near them, Genichirō Sanada stood there with his arms folded across his chest, supervising the training of the freshmen with an expressionless face.

"Keep the pace and don't slack off. There are still five laps to go."

When he sees that some freshmen are showing signs of falling behind, Genichirō Sanada will give them stern reminders.

Although he lost to Maya Yuuki by a tragic score in the qualifiers, Genichirō Sanada's prestige in the tennis club was not damaged at all.

The newcomers who were watched by Genichirō Sanada's sharp eyes were extremely serious during training, for fear of being targeted by him.

"Sanada, how is the training for the newcomers? Is it going well?"

A gentle voice suddenly came from behind Genichirō Sanada. He knew it was Seiichi Yukimura without looking back.

"Hmph, it's okay, but it's still a long way to go before you can stand on your own," Sanada responded.

"Hmm~ We have to give them time to improve, right?"

"..."

Genichirō Sanada did not reply. He always felt that Yukimura Seiichi's words seemed to be directed at him.

It has been a long time since the school selection, but for Genichirō Sanada it still seems like yesterday.

"Have all the regular players arrived today?" Yukimura Seiichi asked after casually glancing around.

"Except Mori, everyone else is here," Sanada said simply.

"Then please notify all the regular players to come to the tennis club meeting room in ten minutes."

"I see."

Genichirō Sanada nodded. He already knew what was going to happen.

Ten minutes later, in the meeting room of the Rikkai University Tennis Club.

The eight regular candidates, including the previously invisible Mori Jusaburo, are now sitting together.

Maya Yuuki, wearing the khaki official uniform of the Rikkai University Tennis Club, was supporting her chin with one hand, waiting for Yukimura Seiichi to speak.

"Everyone, the regional preliminaries of the national tournament will begin soon. What do you think about this year's preliminaries?" Yukimura Seiichi looked at the main candidates present and spoke slowly.

"Whatever. It would be great if I don't have to play." Maori Jusaburo yawned sleepily.

"Senior, you are too lax. Even if it is just a regional competition, we must show the great strength of Rikkai University to the outside world."

Genichirō Sanada's face was serious and he was very dissatisfied with what Hisashizoburo Mori said.

"What a hassle. If it's just a preliminaries, there's no need for all the regulars to go. Can't Sanada just take a few second-team players with him?"

Marui Bunta leaned back in his chair, his hands behind his head, blowing bubbles in his mouth without a care in the world.

Ever since Kuwayo left, Marui Bunta's fighting spirit has dropped a lot compared to before.

"Pfft, what Marui said makes a lot of sense. I agree." Niou Masaharu nodded in agreement.

Maya Yuuki glanced at the other people present, and no one showed any nervousness on their face.

But this is normal. The regional competition is not even an obstacle for everyone at Rikkai University.

"So Maye, do you have any ideas?" Yukimura Seiichi looked at Maye Yuuki seriously and asked.

Yukimura Seiichi naturally took his ideas very seriously.

"I don't have any special ideas..."

Like everyone else, Yuuki Maya was not too concerned about the regional qualifiers, but due to Yukimura's serious look, he did not directly express his thoughts at the moment.

"I think Marui's idea is good, but it's just a regional competition, there's no need for all the regulars to participate."

"So do you have any ideas? You might as well share them for reference for everyone here."

Everyone looked at Maya Yuuki, waiting for his next words.

"Let me think about it... I got it. We can let that seaweed-head play in this regional competition. His strength should be more than enough for the regional competition." Yuki Maya said with a flash of inspiration. "Kirihara Akaya... It's indeed a good suggestion." Yukimura Seiichi pinched his chin and looked thoughtful.

As for Maya Yuuki, he had actually considered that the regional competition was indeed an opportunity to train newcomers.

……

A few days later, outside the venue of the Kanagawa Prefecture National Competition Regional Qualifiers.

Maya Yuuki and the large group of people from Rikkai University got off the tennis club's special car and walked to the registration location.

"Oh my god, it's those people from Rikkai University!"

"What an amazing aura! Is this the dominant school in Kanto that has won fourteen consecutive championships? Just looking at it from afar makes me breathless."

"Last year they ended Makinoto Middle School's desire to win the national championship for the third time in a row, and the main players who won the national championship have just been promoted to the second grade this year!"

"Hiss, doesn't that mean that these three years at Rikkai University..."

As the overlord of Kanto, the moment Rikkai Dazhong appeared at the venue, he became the focus of everyone's discussion.

The originally relaxed atmosphere became unusually tense after the arrival of Rikkai University's regular candidates such as Yuuki Maya.

Because the contestants from each participating school are very clear about one thing: in a competition with Rikkai University participating, they have no choice but to come in second.

At this moment, everyone was praying in their hearts that they would not meet Rikkai University before the finals.

"Here are the information of the eight contestants from the junior high school department of Rikkai University High School. Thank you for your hard work." Yukimura Seiichi handed the contestants' information to the staff member in charge of registration for the regional competition.

"Okay, I'll enter the list right away." The staff member took the information with a smile on his face and took a look at it, but the next moment his eyes suddenly paused.

"what--"

He looked up and glanced behind Yukimura Seiichi and wanted to say something, but after thinking it over, he concentrated on filling in the information.

After a while, Yukimura Seiichi returned to the team and said to everyone, "We have registered. From now on, Sanada will lead the team. The others who are not playing today will stay and be spectators."

"Pfft, I really envy those who don't have to go on stage. It's so troublesome." Niou Masaharu scratched his head helplessly.

"It seems that you are not very willing to play doubles with me, Niou-kun." Yagyu Hiroshi, who was standing behind him, adjusted his glasses and looked at Niou Masaharu with sharp eyes.

"That's not what I meant." Niou Masaharu quickly waved his hand to deny it.

Rikkai University only officially confirmed all the players yesterday. With the purpose of training new players and testing new lineups, the lineups sent by Rikkai University for this regional competition are:
Doubles 2, Marui Bunta and Mori Jusaburo
Doubles 1, Niou Masaharu and Yagyu Hiroshi

Singles 3, Kirihara Akaya
Singles 2, Yanagi Renji

And the singles player, Genichirō Sanada.

Kirihara Akaya finally got the chance to play as a non-selected player at the accidental suggestion of Yuuki Maya, and the two doubles teams were also brand new combinations.

The combination of Bunta Marui and Hisaburo Mori was proposed by Maya Yuuki as an attempt. He knew that Hisaburo Mori would completely switch to doubles in the future, and it was also a way for him to get familiar with the doubles environment in advance.

And because he was very clear about Marui Bunta's future development path, without changing his original frontcourt position, he let Mori Jusaburo stand in the backcourt to provide good firepower support and better backcourt defense than Jack Sanzono.

As for the combination of Niou Masaharu and Yagyu Hiroshi, originally Yukimura Seiichi was planning to pair Niou and Marui, but Niou disagreed, saying that he wanted to play brother tennis with Yagyu Hiroshi, so Yukimura had to agree.

This regional competition is just the right time to hone the two doubles teams and see how they react.

In Maya Yuuki's eyes, although the lineup for this regional competition can be said to be not the strongest lineup that Rikkai University can currently put together.

But even with such a lineup, it is already an insurmountable wall of despair for most schools.

"Kirhara, you have to perform well this time. You should know that your position was given to you by the seniors." Marui Bunta said with a smile while ruffling Kirihara Akaya's hair.

"Marui-senpai, I told you not to touch my hair!"

Although his tone was very resistant, Kirihara Akaya did not stop Marui Bunta's actions. Instead, his expression was very serious.

This regional competition is his first game representing Rikkai University, and he absolutely cannot afford to lose face.

After a moment, Genichirō Sanada reminded with his usual serious expression: "Okay, the time for playing is over, it's time to go to the competition venue."

The others nodded upon hearing this, and the seven members who were going to fight left first with Sanada.

"Then let's follow." Yukimura Seiichi said with a smile.

"Well, let's go." Yuuki Maya nodded in response.
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Everyone can use their imagination to think of the best lineup for Rikkai University this year.

I just took a look at it again. I was so stupid that I sent it out without revising the draft. Please refresh it.

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(End of this chapter)