Kansai, Osaka—big lights, big fights.
The Kansai tournament flips between Osaka and Kyoto every year, and this time it's Osaka's turn. Same old final-four suspects: Makigahara, Shitenhoji, Maikozaka, and Okayama Oko (the school Ghost Jujiro used to drag to glory).
Okayama Oko got slaughtered in the semis by Makigahara the second Ghost and the old third-years graduated. Makigahara's back on the throne, acting like last year's humiliation by a bunch of mountain hicks never happened.
Shitenhoji rolled Maikozaka 3-1 in the other semi and punched their ticket to the final. This year's Shitenhoji squad is straight-up scary—stacked with freak first-years. They basically hit the reset button on the whole team and came out swinging.
The final's gonna be Shitenhoji vs. the former Kansai overlords, Makigawa Academy.
Inside Shitenhoji's campus—literally built inside one of Japan's oldest temples, Shitennoji Temple, walls older than most countries—the tennis team was grinding like usual after semis.
Coach Osamu Watanabe (straw hat, toothpick, permanent "I give zero shits" face) got a text from a buddy in Kanto that made even his lazy ass sit up straight.
He rounded everybody up in the wooden shack they call a clubhouse.
"Alrighty, looks like the whole circus is here."
A sea of first-years stared back. They're all tournament-ready now, and every single one is a walking highlight reel.
Watanabe's favorite? The quiet lefty with the white tape wrapped around his wrist—calm, ruthless, perfectionist. Once the current captain and vice-captain graduate, that kid's inheriting the throne.
"So what's the emergency, Coach?" someone asked.
"Nothing huge," Watanabe drawled, "just that the Kantō tournament's over."
Shitenhoji's captain, Hirazen Shiranui, shrugged. "Rikkai steamrolled again, right? Same as last year. We got smashed by them in nationals quarters—those doubles pairs were disgusting."
Genichiro Tetsuya (vice-captain, resident gremlin) laughed. "Yeah, no shit. And now they've got Mori Jusaburo on the roster. Dude's a lazy bastard, but the second he actually tries he's a walking war crime. No way Rikkai loses."
The first-years all nodded. Rikkai's been the Kantō final boss for over a decade—untouchable.
"Nope," Watanabe said, suddenly dead serious. "Rikkai lost."
Dead. Silence.
Genichiro literally jumped. "THEY WHAT?! With Mori on the team?!"
Hirazen's eyes narrowed. "Who the hell beat them?"
Watanabe grinned like the Cheshire cat. "Y'all wanna know?"
"Coach, quit screwing around!" Kenya Oshitari (first-year speed demon) was already vibrating.
"Yeah, c'mon, Osamu~" Kuranosuke Shiraishi sighed.
Watanabe finally dropped the bomb:
"Ice Emperor Academy. 3-1 final score. Rikkai got sent packing."
The room exploded.
"Ice Emperor?!" Kenya yelled. "Wait—that name… holy shit, that's where my cousin transferred!"
Shiraishi snapped his fingers. "Right! You told me—your cousin from Osaka moved to Tokyo because of his dad's job, joined Ice Emperor."
Kenya nodded, still reeling. "Yeah! Humiya. Hated competing, always had to drag his ass to tournaments. But when he actually played? Dude was a goddamn mental assassin. Nicknamed him 'Wolf of Kansai' back in elementary—he'd smile while he ripped your soul out."
Off to the side, blonde pretty-boy Kojiro Koharu was already swooning. "Ooooh, is he hot like you, Kenya~?"
Hitsuaki Yushi (black hair, green headband, professional boyfriend) immediately stepped in front of Koharu like a guard dog. "Back off, he's taken—by victory!"
Koharu pouted. "I just wanna know if he's handsome!"
The entire room went silent again, collectively praying for death.
Watanabe cleared his throat. "Anyway. Ice Emperor this year? Their doubles one is the only holdover from last year's national team. Every other starter—three singles and one doubles pair—are first-years. Same with Rikkai; outside of Mori and one veteran doubles pair, the rest are first-years too. Renji Lotus from first-year even ran the show in doubles."
Hirazen sucked in a breath. "So the rumors were true. Kanto had a full-on purge—kicked every deadweight upperclassman off the roster."
Genichiro cracked his knuckles. "Nationals this year is gonna be a bloodbath."
Watanabe nodded. "Exactly. Which is why you rookies are dismissed—go train. Hirazen, Genichiro, Shiraishi—stay. We're talking lineup for the final against Makigahara. Shiraishi, you're vice-captain next year, start thinking like one."
The first-years filed out, buzzing.
Watanabe stepped outside, pulled out his phone, and dialed his Kantō contact.
"Yo, spill. I need every detail on Ice Emperor—and whatever the hell just murdered Rikkai."