Prince of Tennis: A new Hextech Crafting System is refreshed every week.

On Saturday.

The Yamabuki Tennis Club had an unusually large number of attendees.

Thirty-six first-year students stood on the field, eager and ready to compete.

Outside the court were the second and third-year students of the tennis club, the support group who often cheered for the Yamabuki Tennis Club at various competitions, and some ordinary students who came to watch the excitement after hearing about the selection tournament.

Everyone is warmed up.

One by one, people looked at the old man sitting on the bench with burning eyes, and Kitahara Akira also turned his gaze to him.

The other person was wearing an ordinary beige plaid shirt, had gray hair, always had a smiling, squinting eye, and a gentle smile on his lips; he looked like a very kind old man.

Seeing that everyone was ready, he put his hands behind his back and slowly walked in front of them.

"I'm sure everyone is eager to get started, so I won't say any more. After explaining the rules of the selection competition, let's begin the competition."

Coach Banda said with a smile.

"The 36 first-year members will first be divided into seven groups by drawing lots. Group A will have six members, and the other groups will each have five members. Then, a round-robin elimination tournament will be held within each group."

The first place in each group will qualify for the rookie competition.

"These are the rules. Do you have any questions?" Coach Banda asked, squinting his eyes.

Everyone shook their heads.

The rules are simple, but if you're unlucky enough to be placed in Group A, the competition will be even fiercer.

"Let's start the draw."

As Coach Banta finished speaking, Kentaro Minami stepped forward carrying a cardboard box. Everyone prayed that they wouldn't be drawn into Group A while lining up to draw lots.

A few minutes later.

The Yamabuki Campus Qualifying Tournament for the Autumn Newcomer Contest has officially begun.

......

"Inoue-senpai, is it really worth us coming all this way for just an intra-school selection competition?"

Shiba Saori adjusted the camera's aperture and asked Inoue Mamoru a question. She had just joined the tennis monthly magazine and thought her job would be to write articles in the office and occasionally go out for interviews.

Unexpectedly, the junior high school students had already visited seven or eight schools with their seniors at the very beginning of the school year.

"First year represents the future. By observing how each school participates in the fall freshman competition, we can predict the general direction of each school for the next three years."

"For a tennis monthly magazine, gathering this kind of information is a necessary task, and since Yamabuki is a prestigious club in Tokyo, their information is even more crucial."

Inoue Mamoru patiently explained to the new intern, and then gave him some more instructions.

"When you're taking photos later, be sure to anticipate the shot and try to capture the player facing the camera with the tennis ball in the frame."

"Yes, Inoue...senpai."

Inoue Mamoru nodded, without saying anything more.

I visited several well-known schools in the area these past two days. Although I saw quite a few promising players, compared to last year's class, which was a veritable explosion of talent, this year's class is noticeably weaker in both quantity and quality.

Although it was somewhat regrettable, based on his more than ten years of experience in the tennis industry, he knew that the development trend of Japanese tennis in recent years was actually very positive.

First, the golden generation, represented by Byodoin Phoenix, Ochi Gekko, and others, ushered in a new era.

After they graduate.

Then, they immediately took over a new generation of geniuses who were in no way inferior to them, such as Yukimura Seiichi, Sanada Genichiro, Tezuka Kunimitsu, and Atobe Keigo.

With these two generations, it is believed that the Japanese tennis world will reverse its past decline.

However, Mamoru Inoue still held onto hope.

I hope to see more geniuses emerge; I wonder if Yamabuki can surprise him.

Suddenly, a match on the opposite field caught his eye.

......

Kitahara Akira vs. Shimada Takashi.

Bang! Bang! ......

The two players moved back and forth on the court.

Takashi Shimada is quite strong. He ranked 9th among the first-year members of Yamabuki last semester, and his flat serve is showing some signs of a powerful hitter.

His overall strength, converted to Kitahara Akira's previous life's ball skill level, is roughly 6.0, close to the 'professional level'.

Clearly, the opponent did not waste this summer vacation and has improved their strength considerably.

Unfortunately, he was facing Kitahara Akira, who possessed a Hextech panel and had already undergone a complete transformation.

Bang!

The tennis ball flew out at a wide angle, and Shimada Takashi ran desperately, extending his racket, but he couldn't catch up with the speed at which the tennis ball flew off the court.

"Game, Kitahara Akira, 5-0!"

"The two sides switch courts."

The second-year students, sitting on high chairs as referees, looked at Kitahara Akira, who hadn't even broken a sweat, with surprise in their eyes.

How come I've never paid attention to this junior before?

The first-year students outside the venue were even more surprised and astonished.

"Shimada was completely overwhelmed? Morimura wasn't joking after all? Kitahara really has gotten stronger!?"

Back to the service line.

Kitahara Akira glanced at Shimada Takashi, who was standing ready across from him.

Thinking of his opponent's flat serve just now, a slight smile appeared on his lips: "Since that's the case..."

Let's use this trick then.

shuh~

A mustard-yellow shadow flew into the air.

As the tennis ball reached its highest point, Kitahara Akira suddenly leaped up, his arms outstretched, his body forming a perfect arch in the air.

There's no need to think about how to play.

His gaze swept across the landing point on the opposite side, and he pressed his racket down hard on the tennis ball.

Bang!

A thunderous explosion suddenly erupted from nowhere.

A golden beam of light plummeted downwards, piercing through the air in an instant.

The tennis ball slammed heavily into the inner corner of the T-zone. Shimada Takashi, holding the racket with both hands, bent over. The exaggerated wind pressure made him squint. Before he could take a step, the fierce golden light grazed his body and flew out with a bang.

The stadium was deathly silent.

Kitahara Akira walked to the other side of the service area: "Senior, you forgot to announce the score."

"Huh?...Oh, right!"

Reminded, the second-year student on the high chair finally snapped out of his daze, swallowed hard, and stammered, "Kita... Kitahara Akira scores, 15-0!"

"What was that just now?"

Staring wide-eyed at the glaring ball mark on the ground, Shimada Takashi was utterly horrified. "It looked just like a cannonball..."

"Can a first-grader really hit a serve like that?"

He was stunned.

But next second.

Bang!

The air suddenly exploded, and it was another high-speed serve of exceptional quality.

Shimada Takashi opened his eyes as wide as possible, but before he could even catch a glimpse of the ball, it had already slammed into the wire mesh behind him.

"Splash splash splash!"

The violent shaking attracted the attention of those around them.

"What is that sound?"

They turned their gazes toward the court with a puzzled look, only to find Shimada Takashi looking completely bewildered, the referee looking utterly confused, and the first-year students waiting for the game on the sidelines looking on incredulously.

Only Kitahara Akira calmly tossed the tennis ball into the air.

Bang!

With a loud bang, the net was blown backward by the strong wind.

"40-0!"

......

Bang!

Shimada Takashi stood frozen in place like a stone statue.

"Game, Kitahara Akira, 6-0!"

Everyone who witnessed this scene fell silent.