The Prince of Tennis: The Quincy of Rikkai University.

Chapter 85: Strong Reign, Consecutive Championships in Kanto

Atobe Keigo stood there in a daze. He looked at the tennis ball that went out of bounds and did not move for a long time.

However, his action did not affect the Rikkai University supporters, who burst into cheers after hearing the referee's announcement.

"The King, Rikkai University!"

"The King, Rikkai University!"

"The King, Rikkai University!"

"..."

With uniform slogans, just like at this time last year, they cheered at the top of their lungs to celebrate the Rikkai University Tennis Club's victory in winning the Kanto Conference championship once again.

This is a new record, writing a new milestone in the history of Rikkai University Tennis Club.

After a long time, Keigo Atobe came to his senses, slowly walked to the net, and shook hands with Genichirō Sanada in greeting.

"This time, I lost."

"But next time, I will be the winner."

Atobe Keigo frankly admitted that his skills were not as good as others, but he did not show any sign of dejection after losing the game.

This is the Ice Emperor's unyielding character and his unique personal charm.

"Rikkai University welcomes your challenge at any time, as long as you can do it."

Genichirō Sanada said with a calm expression that the fact that he was still full of fighting spirit after losing the game made him look up to Keigo Atobe.

After a brief exchange of words, the two returned to their respective teams.

Atobe Keigo pondered as he walked, already thinking about what he would do after losing this game.

"It's not just Hyotei's overall strength, my own personal strength is also lacking a lot..."

"Perhaps, after the national convention is over, I should go to England again...?"

Atobe Keigo fell into deep thought. Today's match made him reflect more on his shortcomings.

He knew better than anyone that in the current Rikkai University, Sanada's strength might only rank third.

And once their captain Seiichi Yukimura returns, the thought of Rikkai University's three singles matches will be terrifying enough.

……

On the other side, after Genichirō Sanada returned to the team, he found that Maya Yuuki and the others had already packed their backpacks.

"I've packed all your things, let's go directly to receive the prize." Renji Yanagi handed Genichirō Sanada's tennis bag to him.

"Well, after receiving the award, we will go to the hospital to see Yukimura together." Genichirō Sanada instructed after taking the tennis bag.

"Of course, we have already discussed this matter a long time ago." Yuuki Maya smiled helplessly, and the others nodded.

After chatting for a while, everyone began to line up and then headed to the award ceremony venue under the leadership of Sanada.

There are four teams coming to the field, namely——

Champion, Kanagawa Rikkai University Affiliated Junior High School

Runner-up, Tokyo Hyotei Academy

Top Four, Tokyo Seishun Gakuen

Top Four, Chiba Rokkaku Junior High School

Only these four teams will be awarded trophies, medals and banners. The champion Rikkai University and the runner-up Hyotei will qualify for a bye in the first round of the national conference one month later as seeded schools in the Kanto region.

The tedious award ceremony ended after a while, and the four teams dispersed after the ceremony.

However, in a sense, the Kanto Conference has not yet completely ended at this point.

Because there are still two spots left for the national conference. The fifth and sixth qualifying matches will be held at the same location this afternoon, but they will be considered play-offs, so there won't be as many people watching in the morning.

"Atobe, I hope your team can achieve good results in this year's national conference." Genichirō Sanada said to Keigo Atobe as he left.

"Humph, of course. Hyotei's goal this year is to enter the finals." Atobe Keigo regained his imperial tone: "Don't wait until we enter the finals and find out that our opponent is not you."

"That kind of thing can't happen." Genichirō Sanada replied with a straight face, then turned around and led the team away.

"Tsk, let's go too." Atobe Keigo was also very tactful and left with Hyotei's huge team.

Off the field.

Watching the four Kanto teams disbanding, a white-haired boy wearing a yellow-green uniform and with a bandaged arm murmured with a smile, "Sure enough, this year our biggest rival of Shitenhoji is still Rikkai University."

While the white-haired boy was still thinking, the phone in his pocket rang.

"Hello, it's Ash, what's wrong?"

"Oh, your game is over too. What's the score... three to one?"

"Okay... I get it... What's going on here? The champion of Kanto is still Rikkai University, so there's no suspense in the match."

"What?! You come directly over the day after tomorrow...Okay, I understand. That's it. I'm hanging up."

“Beep, beep—”

The white-haired boy hung up the phone, took one last look at the situation on the court, turned around and left with his tennis bag without any lingering feelings.

……

At the entrance of the venue, after dismissing the other members of the Rikkai University Tennis Club who came to cheer, Yuuki Maya and others got on the bus to the hospital.

"Minister Yukimura will definitely be very happy to see this championship trophy." Kirihara Akaya said with a smile on his face, holding the golden medal hanging around his neck with his teeth.

"That's for sure. I'm sure Yukimura will have fewer worries and troubles in his heart after seeing this trophy." Marui Bunta laughed while holding the golden trophy in his hand.

He was the one who took the trophy for the last national conference, and he was also the one who kept the trophy for the Kanto conference on the way.

"Marui, don't be too relaxed. You should know that our ultimate goal has never been to win the Kanto Tournament." Genichirō Sanada reminded calmly, as if winning the Kanto Tournament championship did not cause him much emotional fluctuation.

"Sanada is right. The national championship is the biggest test for us this year. And just now during the time when we were competing, many schools in Kansai came to spy on us."

Although Yanagi Renji did not play today, while watching the game in the preparation area, he had already discovered many people who came to gather intelligence.

"Phew, I see several familiar faces among them. I think they were the same ones last year." Niou Masaharu added.

"It doesn't matter. Even without Yukimura, we can still win the national championship this year."

"Hehe, we are invincible..."

"Kirihara, why are you so happy? You can't play again."

"Forehead……"

“Pfft, Kirihara looks like he’s about to cry.”

"No way! Come on, Maori-senpai, stop sleeping! We're almost at the station."

"Huh, huh..."

"..."

After a long time, the bus stopped at the platform near Jinjing General Hospital.

After getting off the car, Yuuki Maya, Sanada Genichirō and others walked into the inpatient building together.

I flipped through the chart in the official book and found out that the champion and runner-up of Kanto both have the qualification to advance to the first round bye. I thought only the champion had this qualification.

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(End of this chapter)