On their first day aboard the Bamboo Staff, Coach Banji wisely chose not to implement any intensive training regimen. Instead, he allowed his players to acclimate to their extraordinary new environment, understanding that adjustment to such unprecedented circumstances required time and patience.
The Yamabuki regulars found themselves genuinely captivated by Windmill Village, their modern sensibilities enchanted by what felt like a pristine paradise from a simpler era. Coming from contemporary Japan with its urban pollution and industrial sprawl, none of them had experienced air this clean in years—if ever.
"The air actually smells sweet," Oishi marveled, taking deep breaths as they walked along the village's cobblestone paths. "There's no exhaust fumes, no industrial smog, nothing artificial at all."
The ocean stretched endlessly before them in brilliant turquoise, so clear they could see the sandy bottom even at considerable depths. Combined with the pristine golden beaches and the quaint windmills turning lazily in the constant sea breeze, the entire setting resembled something from a tourist brochure for the world's most exclusive resort.
"If a place like this existed in our world," Fuji observed with his characteristic gentle smile, "it would be completely overrun with visitors within a month."
"And probably ruined by development within a year," Inui added pragmatically, already taking notes about the environmental conditions for future reference.
Ace and Luffy served as enthusiastic tour guides, leading the tennis players through the village's winding streets while pointing out local landmarks and introducing them to friendly residents. The villagers, accustomed to Gustave's interdimensional guests by now, welcomed the newcomers with warm curiosity rather than suspicion.
Meanwhile, Tezuka and Coach Banji made their way to find Tom, carrying the requested payment of premium cheese and ham they'd acquired during their brief return to Japan. Tom examined the offerings with obvious delight—the cheese was a aged Gruyère from Switzerland, while the ham was genuine Jamón Ibérico from Spain, both representing the finest examples of their respective categories.
After inspecting the quality of his compensation with the discerning eye of a true connoisseur, Tom patted his chest confidently and gave Tezuka an enthusiastic thumbs up. The message was clear: this hand injury would be completely resolved under his care.
As evening approached and the touring group returned to the ship, Gustave and Po were already deep in preparation for dinner. With so many guests to accommodate, and wanting to create a memorable communal dining experience, Gustave had decided to introduce them to a style of cooking they'd never encountered: the traditional Chinese cooking pot, known in some regions as "huo guo" or hot pot.
"This is perfect for large groups," Gustave explained to Po as they arranged ingredients. "Everyone can customize their meal according to their preferences, and the shared cooking process creates natural conversation and bonding."
The centerpiece of their preparation was a large copper pot, its design reminiscent of the traditional vessels used for old Beijing-style hot pot. The metal's excellent heat conductivity would ensure even temperature distribution throughout the cooking process, while its generous capacity could easily accommodate ingredients for the entire group.
Gustave had prepared an impressive array of ingredients that showcased both traditional elements and his own creative touches. The protein selection included tender black chicken (known for its medicinal properties), sliced pork belly with perfect fat marbling, meaty spare ribs for rich flavor, and handmade beef balls that would provide satisfying texture contrast.
For vegetables, he'd arranged fresh cabbage leaves, young potato rounds, sliced Chinese yam for its subtle sweetness, crisp lettuce for wrapping, and delicate pea shoots that would cook almost instantly in the hot broth.
The most labor-intensive element was the egg dumplings—a specialty that required both skill and patience to execute properly. Gustave had prepared a filling using pork that was precisely 80% lean and 20% fat, the ideal ratio for maintaining juiciness without excessive grease. The meat had been chopped by hand rather than ground by machine, preserving better texture, then seasoned with salt, minced fresh ginger and scallions, and a touch of chicken essence for umami depth.
"The key to perfect egg dumplings," Gustave explained to Yang Chan, who was watching with fascination, "is controlling the heat precisely during the wrapper formation."
He heated his pan to exact specifications using subtle electromagnetic enhancement, ensuring the temperature remained perfectly even across the entire surface. A light coating of oil prevented sticking while allowing the beaten eggs to spread into thin, uniform circles.
"You must add the filling while the egg is still slightly wet on top," he demonstrated, carefully spooning meat mixture onto one half of each egg circle. "This allows the edges to seal naturally as the protein continues to coagulate."
Using chopsticks with practiced precision, he folded each wrapper over its filling, creating perfect crescent-shaped parcels that would hold together during cooking while remaining tender and flavorful.
For the cooking arrangement, Gustave layered ingredients strategically according to their cooking requirements. The bottom layer consisted of items needing longer cooking times—spare ribs, black chicken pieces, and potato rounds—while quicker-cooking vegetables and delicate items like the egg dumplings would be added progressively as the meal proceeded.
The broth itself was a rich chicken stock he'd been simmering since morning, enhanced with aromatic spices and carefully balanced for depth without overwhelming the natural flavors of the added ingredients.
As the sun began to set over Windmill Village, painting the sky in brilliant oranges and purples, he poured the fragrant stock into both cooking pots—one for the Bamboo Staff's regular crew, another for their Yamabuki guests. The liquid covered the ingredients perfectly without overflow, and glowing charcoal was carefully arranged beneath each pot to maintain ideal cooking temperature throughout the meal.
"For the complete experience," Gustave announced, setting out an array of small dishes and condiments, "everyone should prepare their own dipping sauce according to their preferences."
He'd provided soy sauce in multiple varieties, sesame oil, chili oil with varying heat levels, rice vinegar, fermented bean paste, minced garlic, chopped cilantro, and several other traditional accompaniments.
"Wow! Just the aroma from this cooking pot is making my mouth water!" Eiji declared, practically bouncing in his seat as steam began rising from their table's pot. His eyes were fixed on the bubbling surface with obvious anticipation.
"The cooking pot represents a traditional Chinese dining method," Inui began, unable to resist sharing his knowledge. "Various ingredients are cooked communally in seasoned broth, creating both a meal and a social experience. The practice dates back over a thousand years and has developed distinct regional variations throughout..."
"That's very educational, Inui," Sengoku interrupted with a grin, "but when can we actually start eating? All that walking around the village has made me absolutely starving!"
He rubbed his rumbling stomach for emphasis, earning sympathetic looks from several teammates who were equally eager to begin.
"The ingredients should be properly heated by now," Gustave announced, checking the consistency of the bubbling broth. "Everyone can start eating!"
"Then we're not holding back!" Eiji and Sengoku both lunged forward simultaneously, their chopsticks targeting the same plump egg dumpling with laser focus.
Both managed to secure their prizes, dipped them quickly in sauce, and immediately stuffed them into their mouths—only to immediately regret their impatience.
"Hot! Hot! HOT!" they yelped in unison, dancing in their seats as they tried to deal with the scalding temperature. Steam poured from their mouths as they fanned frantically with their hands.
"You can't eat hot tofu in a hurry," Fuji observed with gentle amusement, demonstrating the proper technique by carefully lifting an egg dumpling with his chopsticks, blowing on it methodically until steam stopped rising, then dipping it in sauce and eating it with obvious pleasure.
"This is absolutely delicious," he said after savoring his first bite. "Mr. Gustave, your culinary skills are truly exceptional."
"Fuji, that's so unfair!" Eiji complained, still nursing his burned tongue but determined not to be outdone. He carefully selected another dumpling, blew on it extensively following Fuji's example, and finally managed to taste the actual flavors rather than just heat.
"Oh wow," he said with genuine amazement. "The egg wrapper is so silky, and the pork filling is incredibly juicy! The seasoning is perfect—you can taste the ginger and scallions without them overpowering the meat."
As the meal progressed, the communal cooking pot proved its social value. Players reached across the table to share particularly good pieces, debated the optimal cooking times for different vegetables, and competed good-naturedly over who could create the most elaborate dipping sauce combinations.
Even the normally reserved Higashikata and Minami found themselves laughing and participating in the lively conversation as they discovered combinations of ingredients they'd never imagined trying.
The feast continued late into the evening, with multiple rounds of ingredient additions keeping the pots bubbling and the conversation flowing freely.
Early the next morning, however, the pleasant leisure time came to an abrupt end. Coach Banji and Tezuka had developed a comprehensive six-week training program that would push every player to their absolute limits.
"The first three weeks will focus primarily on physical conditioning," Banji explained to the assembled team as they gathered on the beach in the pre-dawn darkness. "We need to build a foundation of stamina and strength that will support advanced technical work later."
"Eiji ," Tezuka added with characteristic directness, "this will be particularly crucial for you, as physical endurance has consistently been your primary weakness."
Eiji gulped nervously, already sensing that his comfortable lifestyle was about to change dramatically.
"The final three weeks will integrate technical refinement with continued physical training," Banji continued. "By the end of our time here, Yamabuki's overall strength should show qualitative improvement across all positions."
Obviously, the Yamabuki team couldn't be expected to carry massive boulders like Chu Zihang during their conditioning work—human beings simply couldn't be compared on equal terms with someone from a supernatural martial arts world.
However, weight training remained essential to their development. Using scientific calculations provided by both Banji's coaching experience and Inui's analytical expertise, each player was fitted with carefully calibrated weight vests designed to challenge them without causing injury.
"The loads are specifically calculated based on individual body weight, current fitness levels, and position-specific requirements," Inui explained as he helped teammates adjust their equipment. "Singles players require different conditioning profiles than doubles specialists."
As the first rays of sunlight painted the horizon, the weighted beach runs began.
The sand's unstable surface immediately challenged stabilizing muscles that rarely received focused attention during regular court training. Combined with the additional weight, even simple forward motion became a significant cardiovascular and strength challenge.
Within the Yamabuki group, the early performance leader was surprisingly Sengoku, whose normally carefree attitude concealed the fact that he was fundamentally a power-type athlete. His consistent tennis success depended heavily on explosive strength rather than pure technique.
Kawamura occupied second place, which surprised no one—his natural physical strength had always been his primary tennis asset.
At the opposite end of the performance spectrum, Eiji was already showing signs of distress after only twenty minutes. His tongue hung out like an exhausted dog's, and his normally energetic movements had devolved into something resembling a zombie shuffle.
"Attention everyone!" Gustave called out with a cheerful smile, holding up a tall glass filled with an ominous dark green liquid that seemed to bubble and move with its own malevolent life. "The three players who finish last in this morning's weighted beach run will be rewarded with a special cup of Inui juice!"
The effect was immediate and dramatic. Eiji's apparent exhaustion vanished instantly, replaced by desperate energy as he surged past several teammates with renewed vigor.
"What's gotten into Eiji?" Higashikata Masami wondered aloud, watching the previously struggling player suddenly find a second wind. "Is this Inui juice really that terrible?"
"Maybe it's just a motivational tool," Minami Kentaro suggested, equally puzzled by their teammate's dramatic recovery.
Neither of them noticed that all six former Seigaku players—including Inui himself, the original inventor of the notorious beverage—had immediately accelerated their pace upon hearing Gustave's announcement.
Gustave had been officially hired by Coach Banji as a nutrition consultant for their training program, and his first recommendation had been implementing Inui's infamous vegetable juice as both nutritional supplement and behavioral modification tool. While the taste of Inui's creation was admittedly challenging, its effectiveness in delivering concentrated nutrients was undeniable.
As a professional chef with deep understanding of both nutrition and psychology, Gustave had immediately recognized the dual potential of this unique beverage.
At the conclusion of the morning's weighted beach run, the three slowest finishers were Kawamura Eiji, Higashikata Masami, and Minami Kentaro. Oishi had managed to avoid the bottom three through a desperate final sprint that left him gasping on the sand but mercifully free from punishment.
The performance gap clearly demonstrated that doubles players, while possessing excellent court coverage and tactical awareness, generally maintained lower baseline fitness levels than their singles counterparts.
"Congratulations to our three winners!" Gustave announced with a smile that would have been perfectly appropriate for a game show host, except for the slight hint of sadistic glee in his eyes. "You've earned the privilege of enjoying my special Inui juice!"
From Eiji's perspective, that smile belonged to a demon rather than a chef.
"I refuse!" Eiji declared, attempting to back away from the proffered glass. "I know what that stuff tastes like, and I'm not doing it!"
He turned to run, but Gustave was prepared for such resistance.
"Po!" he called calmly.
The gentle panda appeared instantly, his massive form blocking Eiji's escape route. With movements that were both irresistibly powerful and remarkably gentle, Po captured the struggling tennis player and held him securely while Gustave administered the nutritional punishment.
After consuming the entire glass of Inui juice, Eiji's eyes rolled back dramatically, and he collapsed straight backward onto the sand with a soft thud, his body perfectly rigid.
Higashikata Masami and Minami Kentaro, who had been watching this performance with growing horror, swallowed nervously as they contemplated their own impending fate.
"So," Gustave said pleasantly, turning toward the potato soldier duo with that same unsettling smile, "would you gentlemen prefer to drink voluntarily, or shall I ask Po to assist you as well?"
"We'll do it ourselves! We'll definitely do it ourselves!" both players exclaimed in unison, quickly grabbing their respective glasses from Gustave's hands.
They closed their eyes, tilted their heads back, and drained the contents in single, desperate gulps. Moments later, both collapsed beside Eiji in identical poses of unconscious defeat.
Inui juice: the effect was immediate and devastatingly effective!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Support me at [email protected]/goldengaruda and check out more early access chapter of this fanfic or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~