Chapter 78: The Authority to Decide the Tournament Roster

Some time ago, Inoue was very excited and thrilled to have discovered a genius like Takahashi.

However, ever since the match against Tachibana Kippei of Fudomine last time, Takahashi had vanished without a trace.

No matter how much Inoue searched through the various schools in Tokyo, there was no sign of Takahashi at all, as if this person had never appeared.

The greater the hope, the more violent the disappointment!

Repeated disappointments gradually caused Inoue to lose confidence.

The confidence to find Takahashi.

Helpless, he could only settle for second best and began to report extensively on Echizen Ryoma.

Fortunately, in the Metropolitan Tournament, Echizen Ryoma performed well enough and was eye-catching enough.

The sales of Tennis Monthly continued to grow, which also made Inoue's performance better and better!

Thinking of this, Inoue felt a little comforted.

"Let's go, let's hurry to the drawing site to take a look."

Inoue said to Shiba.

……

The drawing site.

The whole venue was deathly quiet, with only the voices of the staff members hosting the draw to be heard.

A tense atmosphere filled every corner of the venue.

"I didn't expect the match between Hyotei and Seigaku to be at the very beginning."

"One of these two was the runner-up of last year's Kanto Tournament, and the other was in the top four."

"Whichever one of them loses here will be directly out of the National Tournament."

"It's so intense right from the start!"

The rustling discussion reached the ears of Inoue and Shiba, who had entered through the back door.

Both of them were very shocked.

Hyotei was the runner-up of last year's Kanto Tournament, and their strength was very formidable.

Seigaku had run into Hyotei in the very first match of the Kanto Tournament.

This group was truly a group of death!

The same discussion was also taking place in the Rikkaidai Tennis Club office.

Several Regular Members were sitting on the sofa, discussing.

"Seigaku is facing Hyotei right from the start, isn't that a guaranteed loss?"

Kirihara said.

"It was like that last year, Seigaku lost very early, and I didn't even have a chance to face them."

Sanada said.

"Vice Captain Sanada, why is it that listening to you, I always feel like you are very regretful?"

Niou said.

Takahashi unscrewed the cap of his cola and said, "Sanada, you don't have to be regretful this year; there will definitely be a chance to face Seigaku."

As soon as he finished speaking, several gazes were cast toward Takahashi in unison.

"Captain Takahashi, you just took office, so you might not know, but Seigaku's strength cannot be mentioned in the same breath as Hyotei's."

"Last year, Seigaku stopped at the top four, and didn't even have the qualifications to participate in the National Tournament. While Hyotei is a team in the national top eight."

Yanagi Renji spoke up to Takahashi.

"I know!"

"This year, a genius appeared among the first-years at Seigaku, Echizen Ryoma."

"With his addition, Hyotei might not necessarily win."

Takahashi crossed his legs and said.

"Speaking of first-years, looking across the whole Kanto, no, looking across the whole nation, Master is number one. Even if other schools' first-years have some strength, they are completely not worth looking at in front of Master."

"Master is the rightful strongest first-year!"

Takahashi's loyal follower, Kirihara, said loudly.

Hearing from Takahashi's mouth that Seigaku had a very strong first-year made Kirihara feel very harsh.

What kind of school was Seigaku? A little bit of strength was enough to dominate the school team.

And Master had defeated the Captain of the number one team in the nation, Rikkai.

The two were completely incomparable!

They were not on the same level at all!

The others' gazes also revealed agreement.

But they also didn't understand why Takahashi would pay attention to first-years from schools like Seigaku.

Even Yanagi Renji was too lazy to collect such data.

For Seigaku, only Tezuka Kunimitsu and Fuji Shusuke were worth paying a little attention to.

Looking at the disapproving gazes of the crowd, Takahashi gave up on explaining.

Yanagi spoke up: "We still have to go and observe the match between Seigaku and Hyotei."

"Get to know the players Hyotei is fielding."

"If the match can proceed smoothly to the match between the two Captains, Tezuka Kunimitsu and Atobe Keigo, then it is still worth watching."

Everyone expressed their agreement.

Subsequently, several people dispersed to do their own things.

Only Sanada remained.

Sanada spoke up: "Our opponent for the first match is Ginka Middle School, the match lineup..."

Takahashi was speechless and said: "A cannon fodder school like Ginka, and you still want to come up with a lineup?"

"Sanada, you think too highly of them."

"Being willing to draw lots to decide the order of play has already expressed my greatest respect for them."

Listening to Takahashi's indifferent words, Sanada's brow twitched uncontrollably.

In truth, he also knew that Ginka's strength was trash.

Not to mention the Regular Members, even if one were to pull a few ordinary members from Rikkai, they could still beat them.

It was indeed not worth spending much thought on.

But what Sanada was truly dissatisfied with was Takahashi's attitude, his attitude toward the Kanto Tournament.

Especially since Takahashi didn't even show up on the day of the Kanto Tournament draw.

Too slack!

Although Ginka is a cannon fodder school, this is, after all, the Kanto Tournament.

The opponents encountered later will only be stronger, not weaker.

If, as the Captain of Rikkai, he maintains this casual and indifferent attitude, then the entire team is in danger.

Even if Takahashi's personal strength is quite formidable!

When facing strong teams, he will still lose matches that shouldn't be lost.

It is true that Ginka is a cannon fodder school, but this is an opportunity to let Takahashi practice.

To get familiar with the overall deployment and strategic tactics.

It has only benefits and no harm.

Takahashi looked at Sanada's dissatisfied expression, a plan formed in his mind, and he said:

"Since that's the case, let's make a bet!"

"What?"

Sanada didn't react in time.

"I will follow your requirements and properly draft a lineup."

"If this lineup ends up being used, we will discuss every match together from now on."

"If this lineup doesn't end up being used, the lineups and order for the subsequent matches will all be decided by me, and you are not to interfere."

Takahashi said.

Although the final decision-making power for the lineup rested in the hands of Takahashi, the Captain.

But ever since the last time in the Kanagawa Regional Tournament, when Takahashi unilaterally moved Sanada to the Singles No. 3 match.

Sanada had been extremely uneasy about the lineups and order, nagging behind Takahashi every day, which made Takahashi incredibly annoyed.

Takahashi came up with this method to solve it once and for all, so he wouldn't have to listen to Sanada's nagging every day.

He remembered in the original work he watched in his past life, Ginka were cowards.

In the match against Seigaku, they voluntarily forfeited.

In the match against Rikkai, they also voluntarily forfeited.

For such a trash school, Takahashi wouldn't even spare them a glance.

However, if he could use this school to make Sanada successfully shut up, that wouldn't be bad either!

Sanada felt very puzzled and said: "What do you mean by the lineup not being used?"

Takahashi said: "Is there a possibility that the other side hears the name of Rikkai and forfeits directly?"

Sanada shook his head seriously and said: "Impossible. This is the Kanto Tournament; if it were the Regional Tournament, it might be possible."

"Teams that can enter the Kanto Tournament have all gone through several rounds of screening and possess decent strength."

"It is absolutely impossible for them to voluntarily forfeit."

Takahashi said: "I'm just asking you, do you agree to this bet or not."