Chapter 91: Finals Venue, Atobe's Surprise

One week later.

The venue for the Kanto Tournament finals.

"Wangzhe Rikai Da! Victory!"

"Wangzhe Rikai Da! Victory!"

As soon as Inoue Mamoru and Shiba Saori entered the finals venue, they heard a burst of enthusiastic cheering.

Shiba exclaimed, "There are so many spectators for this match!"

Inoue replied, "That goes without saying; this is the Kanto Tournament final, after all."

Listening to the shouts from the stands, Shiba asked, "Why is everyone cheering for Rikkai? What about Seigaku?"

Inoue said, "Rikkai is the hegemon of the Kanto Region, having won the Kanto Tournament for 15 consecutive years. In their eyes, Rikkai is synonymous with champion."

"Not only that, many people from other schools have come to watch as well, all to gauge the strength of Wangzhe Rikai Da. After all, the National Tournament follows right after this match ends."

Inoue gestured for Shiba to look into the distance.

Sure enough, Shiba saw quite a few people wearing the uniforms of other schools, including Fudomine, Hyotei...

"Are they all here for Rikkai? Is Rikkai really that powerful? Does Seigaku have no chance at all?"

Shiba Saori asked, feeling somewhat dejected.

Her favorite tennis player, Echizen Ryoma, belonged to Seigaku, and he was Rikkai's opponent today.

Now, the audience in the stands was overwhelmingly cheering for Rikkai, as if Seigaku were destined to lose this match.

Hearing Shiba's clearly dispirited words, Inoue spoke up: "Seigaku's Captain Tezuka Kunimitsu and Rikkai's Captain Yukimura Seiichi are both absent from this match."

"Seigaku's Vice Captain Oishi Shuichiro is acting in the Captain's stead, while Rikkai has a newly appointed first-year Captain!"

"With both sides' main leaders absent, perhaps Seigaku has a greater advantage."

Hearing Inoue's words, Shiba perked up and asked, "Really?"

Inoue said, "Seigaku has an experienced tennis Coach. With the Captain absent, relying on the Coach and the Vice Captain doesn't have much of an impact on the team as a whole."

"Rikkai's Coach position is held concurrently by the Captain, so the Captain bears a heavier burden. Furthermore, the newly appointed Captain is actually a first-year, which is truly unfathomable."

"Changing the main leader on the spot is a major taboo!"

In fact, Inoue had an even bolder speculation in his heart.

This change of Captain might have caused internal problems within Rikkai.

Although Inoue did not know how that first-year became Captain.

He did, however, understand the Vice Captain, Sanada Genichiro.

Whether in terms of strength or management ability, Sanada was one of the best in the entire middle school tennis world.

If Sanada were not at Rikkai, but at any other school, he would undoubtedly be the Captain.

Only the even more powerful Yukimura Seiichi could keep Sanada in check.

Now that Yukimura was ill, Sanada had not become the acting Captain; instead, a first-year was placed above him.

Could Sanada endure this?

Inoue, who had nearly 20 years of professional experience, knew well that no matter where one was, there was an inherent conflict between the primary and secondary positions.

Especially in cases where the deputy was more capable and outstanding.

Both sides would be busy fighting for power and profit, neglecting other management duties.

Inoue recalled the day of the Kanto Tournament draw, when he interviewed Rikkai; only the Vice Captain appeared, and the Captain did not.

Yukimura had already fallen ill at that time, so the Captain must have already been this first-year.

Yet at the time, Sanada intentionally claimed the Captain was busy and could not come.

Was the Captain really busy and unable to come?

Or did Sanada not want the Captain to show his face!

Furthermore, what could prove Inoue's speculation was that, to this day, other newspaper reports on Rikkai only featured the Vice Captain Sanada Genichiro, and nothing was known about that newly appointed Captain.

Even he, Inoue Mamoru, as an experienced tennis reporter, had only received this news a short while ago.

He had not expected that Wangzhe Rikai Da would also face internal power struggles.

With the strength of Wangzhe Rikai Da, it would be very difficult for other schools to take the championship from them, but if they fell apart from within...

Then no one could save them!

A starved camel is still bigger than a horse!

Even if they could still win the championship this year, Rikkai's decline was already apparent.

While sighing, Inoue shifted his gaze toward the court.

On the court.

The team members from Seigaku and Rikkai had all arrived.

"The Kanto Tournament finals will now begin, with Rikkai Dai Fuzoku Chugaku facing off against Seishun Gakuen. Will the Captains from both sides please step forward."

The referee announced loudly.

Takahashi lifted his leg and walked out.

He walked to the net, preparing to shake hands with the person from the other side.

With a calm and composed expression, Takahashi extended his right hand toward Oishi Shuichiro, smiled slightly, and said, "Please take care of me!"

Oishi carefully observed the person he had never seen before.

Is this the newly appointed first-year Captain of Rikkai?

Even though he is a first-year, he is much taller than Ryoma.

He was almost as tall as he was.

Not only that, but the other person's expression was actually so relaxed, so indifferent, and so confident.

Although a faint smile hung on the corners of his mouth, it made Oishi feel immense pressure, as if he were facing an unbeatable enemy.

Just by standing there, he actually had such an imposing aura!

Oishi sighed inwardly.

Thinking this, a look of nervousness appeared on Oishi's face; his expression stiffened, and he stammered, "Right... please treat me well..."

As he spoke, Oishi felt something was wrong.

The other person was only a first-year, so why should he feel afraid?

As the acting Captain, he did not represent just one person, but the entire Seigaku.

Moreover, before the match, the Coach had fully analyzed the weaknesses of Rikkai.

Facing the current Rikkai, Seigaku might not be without a chance to fight.

Thinking of this, Oishi raised his voice and said, "We will definitely defeat you Rikkai today and take the championship of the Kanto Tournament."

As soon as these words were spoken, the members of Rikkai behind Takahashi immediately had their expressions tighten, their eyes fixed firmly on Oishi.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Facing the gaze of the Rikkai members, Oishi could not help but break out in beads of cold sweat.

"Oh? It's rare for someone to say such things in front of me.

I'm looking forward to it, see you on the court!"

Takahashi turned and walked back, leaving only one sentence drifting in the air.

In the spectator stands.

"Did you hear that? Just now, the Seigaku guy actually talked big to Rikkai, saying they could take the championship."

"How truly overestimating their own strength! Rikkai has been the Kanto hegemon for how many years now."

"Seigaku daring to challenge authority is still worth praising."

"This at least shows that Seigaku will bring out their greatest strength; it looks like this will be a wonderful match."

Listening to the discussions of the people nearby, Hiyoshi Wakashi, a Hyotei team member wearing a gray-white uniform, spoke up: "Seigaku's momentum this year is very strong, especially with the addition of Echizen Ryoma; even we at Hyotei lost to them. And Rikkai has replaced their Captain with a first-year this year."

"Just looking at the first-years, I think Seigaku has more of an advantage."

While speaking, Hiyoshi Wakashi waited for others to echo his sentiments.

Hearing no sound for a long time, Hiyoshi turned his head to look at Oshitari Yuushi beside him.

He was surprised to find that Oshitari's eyes were fixed intently on the court, his expression very strange.

Oshitari widened his eyes, staring tightly at the person in the court shaking hands with Seigaku's Oishi, and asked:

"Hiyoshi, is this the routine pre-match handshake between the two Captains?"

Hiyoshi felt very puzzled, but immediately replied: "Yes, it is!"

"This is bad!"

Oshitari muttered to himself.