The Prince of Tennis: The Quincy of Rikkai University

Chapter 4 Yukimura's Declaration of a Three-Consecutive Championship
The Rikkai University players who have won the trophy are now integrating the team under the leadership of Genichirō Sanada, because in addition to the regular players, there are also members of the Rikkai University cheerleading team who have come here today.

At this time, Inoue Mamoru also came over, walked up to Yukimura Seiichi who was chatting with the players, and asked gently: "Hello, Director Yukimura, I am Inoue Mamoru, a reporter for Tennis Monthly. Can you spare a few minutes for an interview?"

Upon hearing this, Yukimura Seiichi turned back in surprise, but then smiled and said politely, "Sure, Mr. Inoue, what questions do you want to ask?"

"First of all, congratulations to Minister Yukimura for winning the championship of this year's national competition. I would like to hear your feelings at this moment."

"As for my feelings, there's nothing special about it. We didn't encounter any big difficulties along the way, but of course we are all very happy to win this championship."

"Forehead……"

Inoue Mamoru was totally surprised by the answer, but his professional ethics as a professional journalist enabled him to react quickly.

"Then may I ask Minister Yukimura, after winning this year's competition, what are your expectations for next year's competition?"

"Next year—"

Yukimura Seiichi looked thoughtfully at the Rikkai people who were chatting not far away, and said with a faint smile: "Today's championship is just the beginning. From now on until I leave, Rikkai will not lose any championship again."

"What a shocking statement! It seems that Minister Yukimura also wants to challenge the record of winning the national tournament three times in a row." Mamoru Inoue exclaimed.

He did not think that Yukimura Seiichi was bragging, because anyone who had watched Rikkai University's competition in the national tournament would not think that this statement was a fantastic and arrogant one.

Rikkai University's championship-winning lineup this year is comprised almost entirely of first-year players. As long as nothing unexpected happens to these members, Inoue Mamoru can imagine that in the next two years, all junior high school tennis matches will be dominated by Rikkai University.

Unless a dark horse emerges.

Thinking of this, Mamoru Inoue secretly shook his head. He compared the members of all the strong junior high school tennis schools he knew with the current members of Rikkai University in his mind and found that this was almost impossible to happen.

The interviews between the two sides were still going on, but at the same time, in a corner of the spectator seats at the competition venue, a group of junior high school students wearing the same school uniforms were watching them from afar.

They are the tennis players from Hyotei Academy, the runner-up of the Kanto Conference, which is in the same Kanto region as Rikkai University.

"Atobe, it's time to go." Seeing that Atobe Keigo in front of him was not leaving for a long time, Oshitari Yuushi couldn't help but speak.

After being reminded, Atobe Keigo did not turn around, his face was extremely solemn.

After returning from studying in the UK, he easily took over the tennis department of Hyotei Academy and improved the outdated selection system of the tennis department.

Keigo Atobe originally thought that under his leadership, breaking the best record in the history of the Hyotei Tennis Club - reaching the top four in the national tournament - would only be a small obstacle on his way to winning the championship.

However, despite his great ambitions, he was eliminated in the top 16 of the national conference this year, and failed to even reach the top four in history.

This result was difficult for Keigo Atobe to accept, as he only regarded Rikkai University as his biggest rival.

They were both the champion and runner-up of the Kanto region, and the starting lineup of both tennis clubs was mainly composed of first-year players.

But one has become the new champion of the national conference, while the other is only in the top 16 of the national conference.

The difference is huge!
"Let's go."

After a long time, Keigo Atobe spoke in a deep voice to respond to Yuushi Oshitani, and then led everyone from Hyotei to leave the spectator seats.

“Next year, we will definitely not stop here.”

This was the resolution Keigo Atobe secretly made before he left. At this time next year, he will lead his Hyotei to stand on the stage of the finals.

On the other side, after Inoue Mamoru's interview ended, the two sides said goodbye in a friendly manner.

Yukimura Seiichi returned to the Rikkai University team, and Sanada Genichirō had also integrated the team and got on the bus back home in an orderly manner.

The whole journey was very lively. After all, they won the national championship, and everyone in Rikkai was in a good mood, especially Marui Bunta, who was holding the trophy and chattering non-stop with several second-tier tennis club members beside him.

"Speaking of which, Maya, you seemed to have said that you were going to travel abroad during this winter vacation?"

Niou Masaharu, who was sitting next to Yuuki Maya, held his chin up and found a topic in a bored tone. "Well, I told you before that I was going to travel to France with my family for a while."

"What's wrong? Do you have any ideas?"

Maya Yuuki was originally dozing with her eyes closed, but after hearing what Niou Masaharu said, she opened her eyes and turned her head to reply.

"How is that possible? Please spare me the trouble." Niou Masaharu quickly waved his hands to deny: "I just feel a little envious, traveling abroad with my family."

"What about you? How are you going to spend this winter vacation?"

"Pfft, I won't tell you."

"Oh."

"..."

When Niou Masaharu saw that Maya Yuki closed her eyes again, he looked at her speechlessly.

This guy and I really have a low compatibility. We don't even have the slightest tacit understanding when chatting!

……

At dusk, the people from Rikkai University got off the bus in front of the school gate and dispersed on the spot.

After saying goodbye to Yukimura Seiichi and the others one by one, Yuuki Maya rode her bicycle back to her home.

As I walked in and took off my sneakers, I saw a young woman in an apron coming towards me from the living room.

She is Maya Yuuki's mother, Eri Yuuki.

"You're back. How was the result of today's game?" Eri Yuuki said with a smile.

Yuuki Maya casually took out the gold medal from her pocket and placed it in the opponent's hand: "Today's opponent is average in strength, and it was an easy win."

"I see. But we are still the finalists of the National Tournament after all. How come you make it seem like it is no different from the previous Kanto Tournament?"

Although Eri Yuki didn't know anything about tennis, she had learned some relevant knowledge and knew that her son's school's tennis team's opponent today was a school that had won two consecutive national championships.

"If we have to compare, today's opponents are stronger overall, but we are just a little stronger in comparison."

"That's it..."

Eri Yuki nodded, not quite understanding. In short, her son was more capable.

Humming a little tune, she hung the gold medal in her hand in a closet in the corner of the living room.

This closet was originally used to store wine, but after Maya Yuuki accumulated a number of trophies and medals of all sizes, it was converted into a dedicated display cabinet of honor.
-
A little science:

1. The results of Hyotei's three-year national tournament led by Atobe were:

In the first year, the top 16 or the first round (the official book does not specify, but it can be reversed.)
Second year, top 16

Third year, top 8

2. I saw some Prince of Tennis videos saying that the overall strength of Kanto schools is greater than that of Kansai. This is actually a very wrong perception.

After all, Hyotei's national results as the runner-up of the Kanto Conference for two consecutive years speak for themselves, and before Rikkai University won the championship, the previous two champions were Kansai Makinofuji.

Also, in the two national top four before the main story, only Rikkai University was from Kanto, Kansai occupied two places, and one was from Kyushu and other places.

(End of this chapter)