Chapter 88: Seigaku's Doubts, Rikkai's First-Year Captain

Hearing Fuji and Oishi's words, Kikumaru felt very strange and leaned in again to take a look at the newspaper.

Oishi pointed to the front-page headline right in the middle of the newspaper; the title read, "Rikkai Dai Fuzoku Chugaku National Three-peat," and below the title was the striking portrait of Rikkai Vice Captain Sanada Genichiro.

To the side, there was also a line of bold, enlarged text: Victory without blind spots.

As for the report about Echizen Ryoma that Kikumaru had just mentioned, it was at the very bottom of the newspaper, occupying only a tiny corner.

Oishi sighed and said, "Eiji, you should pay more attention to other news as well."

Fuji's expression grew increasingly serious as he said, "Besides this newspaper, many others also firmly believe that Rikkai is sure to win."

While speaking, Fuji took out several newspapers and pointed out the key information to everyone.

The front-page headlines of several newspapers were all reports about Rikkai, and the key information was the same: they all believed Rikkai would be able to win.

As they watched, the moods of the Seigaku members all sank.

"Huh? Why is it always the Vice Captain coming forward for Rikkai? Where is their Captain?"

Kikumaru asked, pointing at Sanada's photo.

Generally, it is the Captain who comes forward for such interviews, and it is the Captain who appears in the reports.

However, regarding the reports on Rikkai, they were all pictures of Vice Captain Sanada.

This made Kikumaru feel very puzzled.

"I heard their Captain, Yukimura Seiichi, seems to have been hospitalized due to illness and cannot participate in this Kanto Tournament, just like our Captain Tezuka."

Oishi replied.

Seigaku's Captain, Tezuka Kunimitsu, had traveled far to D Country for treatment because he injured his arm during the match against Hyotei, and he could only miss the upcoming matches.

Therefore, Oishi, as Seigaku's Vice Captain, had taken on the responsibilities of the Captain.

"So, Rikkai is the same as us, with the Captain absent and the Vice Captain filling in?"

Kikumaru summarized.

"Yes," Oishi answered.

"No, Rikkai seems to have changed their Captain, and it's even a first-year student."

Fuji Shusuke spoke up.

A few days ago, Fuji went to the hospital to visit a patient and happened to run into Tachibana Kippei.

In his words, Tachibana Kippei mentioned that Rikkai had changed their Captain, and it seemed to be a first-year Captain.

"A first-year Captain?"

Fuji's words aroused everyone's curiosity.

Kikumaru said, "Isn't that the same age as our little guy? Only a first-year."

"Wow, to be able to be a Captain in the first year, that's too unbelievable!"

Inui Sadaharu said, "This matter with Rikkai truly leaves me unable to fathom it. Their Vice Captain, Sanada Genichiro, has powerful strength; looking across all middle school students, he is a renowned existence. Why not let him act as the proxy Captain?"

"Could it be that this newly appointed Captain's strength is higher than Sanada's?"

"But according to my investigation, among this year's first-years, other than Echizen, there are no particularly outstanding geniuses."

Momoshiro chimed in, "Yeah, how many first-years can be as amazing as our Echizen? But no matter how amazing Echizen is, he still can't beat Captain Tezuka!"

Sitting to the side, Echizen pouted and said discontentedly, "Hey, aren't we talking about Rikkai's Captain? How did it get dragged onto me!"

Fuji, to the side, said, "I think it must be to cultivate him."

"Rikkai's currently strongest players are all third-years. Once they graduate next year, Rikkai will face a situation of a gap between generations. Starting to cultivate a first-year now is to prepare for the future."

"And look, although there is a Captain, big and small matters are still handled by the Vice Captain."

As he spoke, Fuji's mood began to gradually sink.

Not to mention how strong this Captain is.

Just the fact that he can serve as Captain as a first-year is, in the eyes of their Seigaku, an earth-shattering and ghost-weeping event.

Seigaku's tradition is that first-years cannot officially play in matches; they can only pick up balls and do some basic practice.

First-year Tezuka already possessed the ability to beat the third-years at the time, and could even beat the then-Captain, Yamato Yudai.

But according to Seigaku's tradition, Tezuka still could not play in matches.

At that time, the second and third-year seniors even injured his arm out of jealousy for Tezuka's strength, bringing an indelible disaster to his tennis career.

Such a powerful Tezuka only managed to play in matches in his second year, started serving as the Tennis Club's Vice Captain, and only officially became Captain when he reached his third year.

And Rikkai's current Captain is actually a first-year!

Both are middle schools in Japan; why is the gap between Rikkai and Seigaku so huge!

The attitudes toward first-years are as different as heaven and earth!

That first-year Captain must also be cherished by his seniors, right!

It's so enviable!

Recalling his own and Tezuka's first year.

Fuji Shusuke's mood slowly plummeted to the bottom, his heart feeling as cold and desolate as an extinguished candle!

"Creeeak!"

The door to the activity room was pushed open.

Seigaku's Coach, Ryuzaki, opened the door and entered.

"Everyone is here!"

"I've come to announce some good news!"

Ryuzaki said in high spirits.

"I just received accurate news: Rikkai's original Captain, Yukimura Seiichi, is hospitalized due to illness, and the new Captain is a first-year!"

As Ryuzaki spoke, she grinned broadly, her wrinkles clearly visible!

Kikumaru replied: "We know that, but how can this be considered good news?"

"The others at Rikkai haven't changed! And our Captain isn't here either."

Ryuzaki glanced at Kikumaru and slowly began to speak: "At this critical juncture, changing the Captain is of great significance."

"When a Captain falls ill, it is only right for the Vice Captain to step in and exercise the rights and responsibilities of the Captain. This is also how we do things at Seigaku."

"The Rikkaidai Tennis Club does not have the position of Coach; the Captain holds that role concurrently. Once the Captain falls ill, the entire Tennis Club loses its backbone, unlike us at Seigaku, where I am still here to control the situation."

"Therefore, their decision to change the Captain is absurd; it's simply like a group of children playing house."

"Do they really think that a newly appointed first-year Captain is enough to defeat our Seigaku in the finals? That is far too arrogant and conceited! It is looking down on our Seigaku far too much."

"However, looking at the problem from another angle, this also shows that winning the National Tournament for two consecutive years has made them dizzy with success, and they have forgotten the order of seniority and the importance of experience! They are not far from failure!"

Ryuzaki's voice was extremely agitated.

Having served as a tennis Coach since she was young, Ryuzaki stubbornly believed that first-years should focus on building a foundation, practicing basic skills, and picking up balls; playing in matches was a matter for second and third-years.

It was precisely because she followed this philosophy of seniority and gradual progress that she was able to cultivate world-famous professional players like Echizen Nanjiro.

For decades, she had consistently upheld this philosophy and would not allow anyone to change or undermine it.

Even though she made an exception this year by allowing Echizen Ryoma to participate in the National Tournament as a first-year, that was only because Ryoma was the son of Echizen Nanjiro.

From a young age, Echizen Nanjiro had laid a solid foundation for him, and Ryoma himself had demonstrated super-strong talent and ability, winning the US Junior Tennis League four times in a row.

Only such an exceptional talent could make Ryuzaki break the rules and allow him to play in matches as a first-year.

As for the newly appointed first-year Captain of Rikkai, Ryuzaki had never heard of his name, nor did she deign to inquire about his strength.

Because Ryuzaki firmly believed that at the age of a first-year, no one's tennis ability could compare to that of Echizen Ryoma.