Following the intense showdown between Tezuka and Fuji, the Yamabuki Junior High team spent one final night aboard the Bamboo Staff before returning to their own world. The atmosphere was bittersweet—excited anticipation for the challenges ahead, mixed with genuine sadness at leaving behind their extraordinary training ground.
"Before you go," Coach Banji said as the team prepared for departure, "I'd like to extend a formal invitation to everyone here. Please come watch our tournament finals—both the Metropolitan and Kanto competitions. After witnessing what these boys have accomplished, I believe you'll find the matches quite entertaining."
The confidence in his voice was unmistakable. With Tezuka's fully healed hand and the addition of Seigaku's talented transfers, Yamabuki now possessed a lineup that could legitimately challenge even the defending champions, Rikkaidai. For the first time in years, Banji felt genuine optimism about reaching the Kanto finals.
"We wouldn't miss it," Gustave replied with enthusiasm. "I'm curious to see how your team performs against Rikkaidai's best."
After heartfelt farewells and promises to visit again soon, the Yamabuki team stepped through the Gate of All Worlds, returning to their familiar school grounds.
"Ahhhh, it feels like we've been away from school forever!" Eiji Kikumaru stretched dramatically, his voice echoing across the empty tennis courts.
"Don't just feel it—we actually were away," Inui observed with clinical precision, adjusting his glasses before suddenly reaching out to pinch Eiji's arm.
"OW! What was that for?!" Eiji yelped, jumping backward and rubbing the spot.
"I wanted to confirm that our training experience wasn't just an elaborate shared dream," Inui replied with the faintest hint of mischief. Despite his serious demeanor, he occasionally enjoyed these small pranks on his more excitable teammates.
"Well, after that intensive training, everyone's abilities have improved dramatically," Coach Banji announced to the gathered team. "Now we focus entirely on the Metropolitan Tournament and the Kanto competition. Get plenty of rest tonight—we have serious work ahead."
He didn't bother mentioning the regional qualifiers. In Yamabuki's entire tennis history, they had never once failed to advance past that preliminary stage.
As the team dispersed with cheerful banter and renewed camaraderie, Tezuka lingered behind to speak privately with his coach.
"The final level of selflessness," Banji said quietly, his eyes studying Tezuka's composed expression. "The Limit of Perfect Selflessness—do you have any insights about reaching that state?"
Though Yamabuki's current roster was incredibly strong and perfectly capable of championship-level play, Banji knew they would eventually face Rikkaidai. Having witnessed their complete dominance in the previous year's finals, he understood that only the ultimate expression of selflessness would give Tezuka the power needed to defeat someone like Seiichi Yukimura.
"I've touched the edges of that realm," Tezuka admitted. "There are moments when I sense something beyond my current abilities, but the path to achieving Perfect Selflessness remains unclear."
Even during his year of injury-imposed stagnation, Tezuka had never stopped exploring the theoretical limits of his potential. Yet the final breakthrough continued to elude him.
"That's understandable," Banji said with a reassuring smile. "Entering the deepest level of selflessness at your age would be extraordinary. In all my years of coaching, I've only seen one player achieve it naturally—Echizen Nanjiro, and that was during his high school career."
The coach paused thoughtfully, then continued. "However, there might be someone who can help you. I'll write you a letter of introduction to the coach at Rokkaku Middle School in Chiba. They call him 'Ojii,' and he has... unique insights into the nature of selflessness. If anyone can guide you to that final level, it would be him."
Banji moved to his desk and began composing the recommendation letter, his handwriting careful and formal. "You don't need to return until the tournament begins. Use this time to focus entirely on your development."
"But what about the regional qualifiers?" Tezuka asked, genuine concern evident in his voice. "The team will need—"
"Tezuka," Banji interrupted gently, "have faith in your teammates. I'm still here to guide them, and Yamabuki has never struggled with regional competition. This journey is something you must undertake alone."
After handing over the sealed letter, the elderly coach's expression grew more serious. "I'm not getting any younger, you know. I don't know how many more years I can continue coaching Yamabuki. I hope you'll learn something valuable from this experience—something that will help you lead this team to greatness long after I'm gone."
As Tezuka departed with his letter of introduction, Banji allowed his normally cheerful expression to grow contemplative. For the first time in years, he opened his eyes fully, revealing the same intense gaze that characterized players like Fuji during moments of absolute seriousness.
Whether Yamabuki could finally defeat Rikkaidai would depend entirely on Tezuka's ability to transcend his current limitations.
When the tennis club gathered for practice the next day, everyone immediately noticed their captain's absence.
"Where's Tezuka?" Oishi asked, glancing around the courts with obvious concern.
"He's gone on a journey of self-discovery," Coach Banji explained simply, offering no additional details.
With their captain away, Banji made immediate adjustments to the starting lineup. Inui and Kawamura were promoted from reserves to regular positions, while Sengoku was designated as a substitute. Far from being disappointed, Sengoku seemed delighted by the arrangement—advancing to the Metropolitan Tournament without having to compete in qualifying matches was exactly the kind of lucky break he preferred.
The revised Yamabuki lineup now read:
Doubles 2: Eiji Kikumaru, Oishi Shuichiro
Doubles 1: Higashikata Masami, Minami Kentaro
Singles 3: Kawamura Takashi
Singles 2: Inui Sadaharu
Singles 1: Fuji Shusuke
Reserves: Tezuka Kunimitsu, Sengoku Kiyosumi
The regional qualifiers arrived with surprising swiftness. Under Coach Banji's leadership, the team made their way to the tournament venue, spirits high despite Tezuka's absence.
Eiji, Oishi, and Kawamura gazed around at the bustling crowds with barely contained excitement. This marked their first official competitive appearance, and the atmosphere was intoxicating. Even the normally composed Fuji and analytical Inui showed subtle signs of anticipation.
"Relax, it's just regional qualifiers," Sengoku said with characteristic nonchalance, hands clasped behind his head as he chewed gum. "This should be easy enough."
"Hey, Sengoku, this is our debut match!" Eiji protested enthusiastically. "Of course we're excited!"
"Come on, let's get moving," Higashikata urged impatiently. "We need to reach the court and start warming up. Being late and getting disqualified would be a disaster."
Their opponent for the first round was Goroku Middle School—a team of average ability that occasionally managed to advance past regional competition but rarely made significant impact in metropolitan tournaments.
Initially, Goroku had been prepared to forfeit upon learning they'd been matched against the nationally-competitive Yamabuki. The gap in strength and reputation seemed insurmountable.
However, word had spread that Yamabuki's lineup had undergone major changes, incorporating several transfer students from Seigaku. While Seigaku was certainly stronger than Goroku, the difference wasn't overwhelming—perhaps a 70-30 advantage at most.
This information sparked a glimmer of hope in the Goroku players. Maybe these transfer students weren't as formidable as Yamabuki's original roster. Maybe they actually had a chance.
During the warm-up period, the Yamabuki team noticed their opponents watching them with unusual intensity, eyes bright with anticipation.
"Are the Goroku guys always this excited?" Eiji wondered aloud. "Is this their first tournament too?"
"Who knows?" Sengoku replied with a mischievous grin. "Just make sure you and Oishi don't get upset by them, or Kawamura and Inui will have to bail you out."
"Ha! Oishi and I are the Golden Pair!" Eiji declared proudly. "Watch us demolish the opposition!"
When the match officially began, Eiji and Oishi took the court for their doubles match. What followed was a masterclass in coordination and technique that left the Goroku players stunned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~