The Prince of Tennis: My tennis skills come from Naruto

"Coach, Captain Yamato."

Tezuka Kunimitsu first nodded to Ryuzaki Sumire and Yamato Yuta, then handed the magazine to Ryuzaki Sumire, saying, "We have something important to say about the tennis club."

Ryuzaki Sumire looked at Kamiya You, who was particularly conspicuous on the cover, and her brows furrowed even more, almost forming a hard lump.

Why is it that annoying brat again?!

Besides, what important matter could Seigaku possibly have to do with Hyotei's brats?!

Over there, Tezuka Kunimitsu said, "Coach, besides Hyotei, Rikkai and Makinofuji have all reformed the tennis club rules, allowing first-year students to participate in the regular selection. Our Seigaku..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ryuzaki Sumire cut him off decisively, "No way!"

"I know what you're trying to say, but it's standard practice and the best option for first-year students to retrieve the ball. First-year students are just starting to grow taller and their tennis skills are limited, so giving them the opportunity to participate in the regular season selection would be a complete waste."

"As for Hyotei, their captain is willful and reckless; he'll get what's coming to him one day."

"But Coach," Inui Sadaharu said, "Hyotei is not an isolated case. Rikkai also appointed first-year students as captains and vice-captains."

"Furthermore, the reigning champion Makino Fuji, who won two consecutive national championships, also made reforms, allowing first-year students to participate in the regular selection."

Tezuka Kunimitsu picked up where he left off, continuing, "So, that's why Seigaku..."

"I already said no!"

Ryuzaki Sumire slammed her hand on the table, cutting off Tezuka Kunimitsu's words.

They kept asking even after I said no, and the fact that all four first-graders came together—were they trying to force me out or rebel?!

Ryuzaki Sumire felt her coach's authority was being challenged, and her face began to turn ashen.

"Tezuka, I'm the coach! I don't care what other schools do, the tradition of first-year students retrieving balls has been passed down at Seigaku for so many years, and there's absolutely no room for change!"

"Now, get out!" Ryuzaki Sumire pointed to the door and said sternly.

Tezuka Kunimitsu looked at Ryuzaki Sumire's ashen face and listened to her words that cut off all possibilities. His lips tightened into a cold, hard line.

He stood there in silence for a while, then finally let out a long sigh, and turned to leave.

The other three also left the coach's office under Ryuzaki Sumire's sharp gaze.

The four of them arrived full of excitement, but left disappointed.

Inside the coach's office, Ryuzaki Sumire's face was still as unpleasant as ever. She felt extremely disgusted by the way the four first-year students had looked at Kamiya with envious and admiring eyes.

Kamiya You, what a menace! How dare he let first-year students participate in the regular selection?

Haha, what kind of tennis can a first grader play well!

Ryuzaki Sumire even started to complain about Rikkai University and Makinofuji's coach.

What are Kurokawa and Sano doing? How could they do something so absurd with that brat Kazekami-tani?!

After the group of four left the building, Inui Sadaharu pushed up his white glasses in dissatisfaction. He truly hadn't expected Coach Ryuzaki to be so stubborn.

"Tezuka, we should have just done what Hyotei did and used our rackets to knock those incompetent seniors off the starting lineup!"

Tezuka Kunimitsu pondered for a moment, then said,

"Agan, calm down. Let's talk to Captain Yamato privately again and see if we can get him to talk to Coach Ryuzaki."

"But what if... what if Captain Yamato still shares the same attitude as the coach?" Takashi Kawamura asked worriedly.

"If it still doesn't work in the end..." Tezuka Kunimitsu said with a serious and earnest expression, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"Then, for the sake of Seigaku and our future, we have no choice but to use our rackets to earn the respect and position we deserve."

In the evening, Tezuka Kunimitsu spoke privately with Yamato Yuta, sincerely reiterating the necessity of Seigaku's reform and hoping that the club president could take the lead, and also persuading Coach Ryuzaki.

However, even though he hadn't heard a real reply from Yamato Yuta, the helplessness and slight perfunctoriness on Yamato Yuta's face made Tezuka Kunimitsu feel uneasy.

"Tezuka-kun, I understand how you feel, because I was once a first-year student too, and it's normal for young people to be impulsive."

Yamato Yuta adopted a sincere and open attitude.

But then he suddenly changed the subject, "However, things aren't as simple as you and your friends think."

"Coach Ryuzaki has her reasons and difficulties. You have to understand her. After all, if you suddenly change the rules that Seigaku has followed for more than ten or twenty years, there are too many things to coordinate and communicate. The pressure on the coach will be very great."

But the reform is for the future of Seigaku. Should we just give up because of the pressure? And this hasn't even started yet, and we're already asking them to be understanding?

Over there, Yamato Yuta continued, "Furthermore, the registration forms for the regional preliminaries were officially submitted last week, and the rosters are already finalized. Even if we redo the main selection tournament now, the rosters can't be changed, so it's pointless."

As he spoke, he patted Tezuka on the shoulder, his face saying, "I'm doing this for your own good."

"Besides, the first graders are retrieving balls and observing, which is laying a foundation for you. And look at the other first graders, aren't they all well-behaved? Why are you guys so 'active'?"

"Anyway, don't worry. Next year, when you're in your second year, you'll naturally have a chance. That's how I got here."

Yamato Yudai's words gradually dragged Tezuka Kunimitsu's heart down to the bottom of the sea, and at this moment, ruthlessly extinguished the last hope in Tezuka Kunimitsu's heart.

Tezuka Kunimitsu nodded calmly. "I understand, Captain Yamato. Sorry to bother you."

After saying that, he turned and left.

"Bang"

A not-so-quiet sound of a door closing rang out.

When Inui Sadaharu, Fuji Syusuke, and Kawamura Takashi, who were waiting outside, saw the icy expression on Tezuka Kunimitsu's face, they knew that the negotiations had fallen through.

This time, before Inui Sadaharu could even try to persuade him, Tezuka Kunimitsu spoke directly.

"Everyone can practice privately during this time, and we'll make changes after the regional competition ends."

"Although many of the things that Minister Yamato just said are not reasonable, there is some truth to the point that once the registration form is submitted and the official selection is changed, it cannot be altered."

Of course, the main reason Tezuka Kunimitsu didn't mention is:

Given the pettiness of some of the current Seigaku regulars, if they were to forcefully remove these people from the competition now, they would very likely deliberately play passively in the upcoming regional tournaments, or even forfeit altogether.

This directly disqualifies Seigaku from continuing to compete in the Metropolitan Tournament, the Kanto Tournament, and the National Tournament, forcing the first-year students who finally earned their regular player status to wait another year.

Inui Sadaharu nodded, and the others also expressed their agreement, so the matter was settled.