Fudomine is the only public school among the ones featured in the early series. They're also the only team pretty much made of second-year students, with captain Kippei Tachibana as the only senior. And this is for a very, very good reason.
When then second-year-student Tachibana arrived to Tokyo from Kyushuu and transferred to Fudomine, he was horrified to see that the tennis team was in very difficult predicaments: the coach was a Sadist Teacher and the seniors were massive Jerk Asses, bullying the first years relentlessly. Tachibana attempted to help the bullied juniors but was also punished with them, and in a moment of Unstoppable Rage he snapped and attacked the coach. Said coach resigned and so did the older members, while Tachibana and the others were punished but not expelled and the team was taken off the National runner-ups; the remaining members dedicated themselves to train and get ready for the next year's tournament which would also be the last ones for Tachibana as he would go to high school. This explains their strong True Companions bond as well as the players's Undying Loyalty to "Tachibana-san", their coach and captain.
Here are the most outstanding characters in Fudomine, as well as the tropes associated with them.
- Foil: As a whole, Fudomine is an interesting contrast to Seigaku; their colors make them seem like the stock Opposing Sports Team, yet their backstory makes them more the underdog compared to Seigaku which has a fairly decent reputation.
- True Companions: The whole team bonded when Tachibana was the only one to defend the freshmen, reconstructing the team from the ground. All the teammates have Tachibana in high regard.
- Underdogs Never Lose: Subverted. Although Fudomine doesn't win the Nationals, they still managed to take their team to the Tournament and were very close to make it into the Semifinals, which is impressive considering their team started from scratch that same year.
- The Worf Effect: Fudoumine loses to both Rikkai at Kanto tournament and Shitenhouji at the National tournament right before Seigaku faces them, just to drive home how threatening they are. With Shitenhouji in particular, two of their players are Tetsu's older brother and Tachibana's old doubles partner, really driving home the concept that they're stronger than Fudoumine in particular.
Kippei Tachibana is Fudomine's charismatic captain and coach. He was the one who rebuilt the tennis team together with the younger players. During the later part of the series, it was discovered that he is 'the legendary' Tachibana Kippei who was considered one of the strongest players in Kyushuu region and is known as one of the Two Wings of Kyushuu along with best friend Chitose Senri.
- The Atoner: After he injured Chitose, he gave up tennis for a while and cut his hair, but found tennis to be too important for him to abandon, leading him to help found Fudomine's new team. This is brought up in his match against Chitose, where he lets his eye be injured to make him even with his best friend.
- Big Brother Mentor: To both his sister An and the rest of the Fudomine team.
- The Captain: He is the only senior student in the team, as well as the captain and the coach.
- Expository Hairstyle Change: Tachibana had two hairstyle changes that were significative to him.
- He used to have long hair that he later dyed blond, but after the incident with Chitose, he cut it short and dyed it back to black.
- The second occurs in the Nationals. Although, he keeps his hair short... he dyes it blond again.
- Facial Markings: A mole on his forehead.
- Foil: The parallel between him and Tezuka is established early on, with the two being around the same level but with Tachibana being more wild and more noticeably close with his team.
- New Transfer Student: It's revealed that he was still playing doubles with Chitose at Shishigaku when both were in 2nd year of middle school. After the accident with Chitose's eye, both changed schools, with Tachibana arriving to Fudomine in the middle of his 2nd year.
- Real Men Hate Sugar: According to one of the fanbooks, Tachibana hates sweets.
- Signature Move: "Abare-dama".
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: He appears cold and secretive, but is actually a sweetheart.
- Supreme Chef: According to one of the fanbooks, he knows 125 recipes, and cooks dinner every night. This is, however, contradicted in a scene in "Atobe Kara no Okurimono", in which Kamio looks kinda grossed out when he sees his cooking.
- Team Dad: He's a bit stern, but cares deeply for his players, actually holding Kamio and Tetsu after they forfeit their doubles match at Nationals. Part of it comes from being the only senpai on the team.
- The Worf Effect After being stated to be a national-level player on par with Tezuka, he loses very badly against Kirihara (although to be fair, he wasn't using his full strength as Kirihara was in full Blood Knight mode, which brought very unpleasant memories to him). He also loses to his friend Chitose, who goes on to lose to Tezuka. Could be considered Worf Had the Flu.
- Worf Had the Flu: In the manga, Chitose shows up to watch Fudoumine at the Kanto Tournament and teases Tachibana about being weaker than he used to be. Kamio realizes that Tachibana's skills have atrophied, because he hasn't had many opportunities to play national level opponents like Chitose, Tezuka, Atobe, etc., since he transferred to Fudoumine.
Kamio is the "speed ace" of Fudomine and the team's vice-captain.
- Catchphrase: "Rizumu ni Noruze!" (I'm riding the rhythm!).
- Fiery Redhead
- Fragile Speedster: Perhaps the most literal example in the series; he's well known for his speed but can't keep it up for long.
- Signature Move: "Sonic Bullet".
- Unlucky Childhood Friend: To Tachibana's sister, An. He pretty obviously has a crush on her, but she considers their relationship as Platonic Life-Partners.
- Unknown Rival: Formed this against Momoshiro when he "borrowed" his bike, and also because An seems to favor Momo more than him.
Shinji is the renowned genius of Fudomine. He was able to defeat the star players of Tokyo-based schools which helped Fudomine reach the district finals. Ibu has the habit of mumbling and talking to himself, much to his teammates' annoyance.
- Curtains Match the Window: His hair is blue, and so are his eyes.
- Informed Ability: Said to have skills rivaling that of Fuji's. However, his only major technique is "Spot", which relies on a gradual effect, but can easily be sealed, as Ryoma showed.
- Signature Move: "Kick Serve" and "Spot".
- Thinking Out Loud: Mumbles to himself a lot. Hilariously invoked in one of his Image songs and the talk time track of said CD, which is basically him mumbling nonstop.
Ishida is the tallest member of Fudomine, and also one of the strongest. His special move is the Hadoukyuu which he learned from his older brother, Gin (who is a tennis player from Shitenhouji).
- Always Someone Better: Later on it's revealed that Ishida Gin is his older brother. Gin is not only better and stronger than him, but also has made 108 variations of the Hadokyuu technique.
- Deadly Upgrade: His variation of the Hadokyuu, so much that Tachibana banned him from using it.
- Gentle Giant: The tallest member of the team, is also one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.
- Signature Move: "Hadokyuu". He eventually teaches Kawamura how to use it as well.
- Those Two Guys: With Tetsu, as his doubles partner.
- Ridiculously Average Guy: Compared to the rest of the team, his tennis tactics are very normal.
- Those Two Guys: With Tetsu, as his doubles partner.
- Those Two Guys: With Mori, as the two extras of the team in the background.
- Ridiculously Average Guy: Compared to the rest of the team, his tennis methods are average.
- Those Two Guys: With Uchimura, as the two extras of the team in the background.
