#4Chapter 4 Preparation
As Shiratsu Tomohoshi defeated Agutsu, the system's voice rang out again.
"Ding, congratulations to the host for successfully rewriting Inui Sadaharu's destiny, receiving one plot modification opportunity (you can freely modify the current plot, allowing any player to go to any team).
Ding, congratulations to the host for changing Agutsu's destiny; his harming Ryoma, joining Yamabuki, and other plot points will be erased from the world.
Received one plot modification opportunity (you can freely modify the current plot, allowing any player to go to any team).
Received skill: Selfless State (Talent Blooming, Hyakuren Jitoku no Kiwami, Seamless).
Received skill: Six Paths of Reincarnation - Three Paths (Devaloka Path, Human Path, Asura Path).
Received Growth Cake (use before age 17 to improve physical fitness, aid growth, greatly benefit the body, no side effects, unlimited supply).
Received two plot modification opportunities (you can choose players who do not originally belong here; the system will modify the story for you, allowing them to join the team in the most reasonable way).
Current Information:
Host: Shiratsu Tomohoshi
Age: 12
Strength: 5
Speed: 4
Stamina: 5
Technique: 5
Spirit: 7
Overall: 26
Skills: Copy, Star Burst, Selfless State (Talent Blooming, Hyakuren Jitoku no Kiwami, Seamless), Six Paths of Reincarnation - Three Paths (Devaloka Path, Human Path, Asura Path).
Strength: Just entered the world."
Hmm, this feeling is really good.
"System, the three plot modifications are..."
Done, just one more person. This beautiful sunset is wonderful, but it's a pity I won't be able to fully appreciate it today.
I'm coming, Niou Masaharu!
It was still the same speech, the same encouragement and persuasion, and in the end, it was "tuition fees" that solved the problem. Niou's mother, hearing Shiratsu Tomohoshi say, "Tuition is completely free, plus a three-year scholarship," immediately gave up the idea of taking her son to Rikkaidai. She then made an appointment with Shiratsu Tomohoshi to go to Hyotei tomorrow morning to discuss enrollment matters.
After a day of running around, he returned home at almost nine o'clock.
The butler had prepared dinner and hot water:
"Young Master, would you like to bathe first?"
"Mm."
"The hot water is ready for you, and the temperature is just right."
"Okay."
Half an hour later, a refreshed Shiratsu Tomohoshi emerged from the bathroom. Three steaks, two salads, and a pasta dish. He shouldn't eat too much before bed, right?
"Burp~~~"
Well, he was actually full.
Lying in bed, Shiratsu Tomohoshi thought that with Fuji, Inui, Agutsu, and Niou all enrolling tomorrow, once that's settled, he could start training at the tennis courts early.
Hmm, they would train, but he would still slack off.
After all, life is short, and living for the moment is his true philosophy.
He slept soundly and sweetly that night.
At ten o'clock, the sun was already high. Under the butler's urging and Inui's phone bombardment, Shiratsu Tomohoshi reluctantly got out of bed. He had arranged with the butler the night before, and Hyotei had already been informed; those conditions were completely fine.
Whether Shiratsu Tomohoshi went or not didn't make much difference; it was just a formality.
An hour later:
"Why are you only just arriving?"
Four people spoke at once!
"Accident, accident. Didn't delay anything, did it? All good, all good."
Shiratsu Tomohoshi tried to muddle through.
"We've been waiting here for an hour. Luckily, the parents have already finished talking and left; only we are waiting for you. Otherwise, you'd have been beaten."
Niou, what are you doing with those words?
"How about A Feng treats us to a meal? Everyone waited for him for so long, a meal isn't too much, is it?"
Fuji, this guy, sure enough, squinty-eyed people are never good; he's the most devious!
That's his hard-earned money!
You can take his life, but he can't treat you!
That's Atobe's business!
You just have to wait two months, and after Atobe arrives, you can go wild, everyone!
"Oh right, don't forget, Tezuka, I've already called him to come over!" Fuji still didn't open his eyes, but another mouth spoke up.
Ultimately, Shiratsu Tomohoshi compromised, taking Fuji, Inui, Niou, Agutsu, and Tezuka, who would join them at the restaurant half an hour later, to an all-you-can-eat barbecue.
"Si Yu." Halfway through the meal, Tezuka spoke.
"Hmm?"
"When do you plan to start training?" Tezuka asked.
The others, without prior agreement, all pricked up their ears, listening for Shiratsu Tomohoshi's answer.
"Today is Friday. Let's get through the weekend. Everyone will start practicing early next week. I've asked Coach Sakaki, and the rest of the players will train a week later. We'll start a week early to get a head start, you guys need to adapt."
Shiratsu Tomohoshi paused halfway through his sentence, picked up a piece of grilled meat from Tezuka's plate, ate it, and then continued:
"Niou and Agutsu, come find me for training tomorrow. I need to start your training early. Remember, 1 PM, don't be late."
Hmm, 1 PM, no need to wake up early, sleep until he's happy, Shiratsu Tomohoshi thought to himself.
Niou and Agutsu nodded in agreement, silently eating their meat.
"Tezuka, Fuji, Inui, the three of you, rest as usual. See you next Monday."
The meal lasted three hours. Except for that one time Tezuka spoke, everyone else ate very happily and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
On the way home, Shiratsu Tomohoshi began to calculate the current lineup:
"Besides me, there's Tezuka, Fuji, Agutsu, Niou, and Inui. Also, when school starts, there will be Atobe Keigo and the three who should already be Hyotei regulars: Oshitari Yushi, Mido Ryo, and Mukahi Gakuto, Akutagawa Jiro.
And that person will also come... So, a total of twelve people. The bench depth is very good, excellent."
Shiratsu Tomohoshi was no longer satisfied with the goal of three consecutive national championships. Perhaps if there was a chance, four consecutive? Five consecutive? It wasn't impossible, right?
After Atobe arrives, and everyone practices for a while, and training stabilizes, Shiratsu Tomohoshi plans to train Tezuka and Atobe early, helping them evolve sooner. After winning the national championship, he'll take them to the U17 training camp early to get a feel for it.
Oh, right, yesterday the system originally wanted to give out the reward for recruiting Niou, but Shiratsu Tomohoshi was too sleepy, so he blocked it. He'd check it today.
"Ding, congratulations to the host for successfully rewriting Niou Masaharu's destiny. His evolution speed will increase, and his Upper limit will also improve. Received one plot modification opportunity (you can freely modify the current plot, allowing any player to go to any team).
Received skill: Light Ball (Please note, host, Byodoin Ho-oh does not possess this skill at this stage, so it is being issued early).
Current Information:
Host: Shiratsu Tomohoshi
Age: 12
Strength: 5
Speed: 4
Stamina: 5
Technique: 5
Spirit: 7
Overall: 26
Skills: Copy, Star Burst, Selfless State (Talent Blooming, Hyakuren Jitoku no Kiwami, Seamless), Six Paths of Reincarnation - Three Paths (Devaloka Path, Human Path, Asura Path), Light Ball.
Strength: Just entered the world."
Upon receiving this skill, Shiratsu Tomohoshi eagerly sought out a nearby tennis court, wanting to test it out.
You ask why he wasn't as excited about other skills?
Nonsense, a ball with light! Which boy wouldn't be curious to try it out?
"Hoo~~~"
He let out a long breath, relaxing.
Feeling it with his heart, he tossed the ball with his left hand, "Light!"
???
A very faint light, not strong at all.
He repeated the action five times, barely making it look decent.
An hour later, looking at the scarred court, Shiratsu Tomohoshi was happy and decisively chose to slip away.
At the same time, Shiratsu Tomohoshi once again used the plot modification opportunity. He wanted to prepare Hyotei to be a whetstone.
No need to train Agutsu and Niou's physical fitness tomorrow; Inui's training next week will be tough for them. Oh, right, almost forgot to tell Inui to prepare the training outline.
Thinking this, he took out his phone and sent a message to Inui, telling him to be ready.
Within ten seconds, a reply:
"Ready, do not disturb."
This guy, what a weirdo.
He wouldn't think about it anymore. How would he train the two of them these two days?! Ah! My head hurts!
He'd never been a teacher before, Shiratsu Tomohoshi thought... Good days were always especially short, and in a flash, it was time to leave.
At the agreed-upon park, Agutsu and Niou had already arrived, both warming up:
"Agutsu, how did that guy trick you?"
"Strength."
"Strength? My mom succumbed to the allure of money."
"Me too."
Ahem, what do you mean by tricking, and what do you mean by succumbing to the allure of money? That's called a wise man submits to circumstances, alright.
"Alright, the warm-up should be about done. Agutsu, your body is perfect, so I'll just teach you techniques directly. Come on, let's play a game and see how much you can absorb. I'll only use part of my strength against you. Niou, you watch carefully; I know your abilities, so pay attention."
Shiratsu Tomohoshi took out his racket and stood on the court.
"Come on, Agutsu, serve."
"Okay!"
Agutsu tossed the tennis ball: "Yah!"
Tossing the ball, jumping, swinging the racket, hitting the ball—the movements were fluid, like flowing water. Compared to the awkwardness of two days ago, Agutsu now was no different from someone who had trained in tennis for many years.
A fast serve, no probing, charging straight ahead—this was Agutsu's style!
Unfortunately, he was facing Shiratsu Tomohoshi!
In an instant, Shiratsu Tomohoshi received the tennis ball, held the racket in a backhand grip, and returned it. The power and speed were both a level higher.
The tennis ball flew towards Agutsu's half of the court with a whistling sound.
"Bang!"
"15:0!" Niou kept score.
So fast! This was Agutsu's true inner thought. Even with most of his strength suppressed, was the ball speed still this fast?
As for deception, Agutsu hadn't thought about it, because he couldn't see it clearly before. This time he could see it clearly, it was just that he wasn't fast enough!
"Again! Yah!"
Agutsu served a ball even faster than before, and this one had more weight to it.
Without suspense, as usual, Shiratsu Tomohoshi easily returned the ball, along the same trajectory.
"30:0!"
"40:0!"
"Si Yu takes this game, 1:0!"
Four balls, so fast. Niou, as the umpire, saw it very clearly. He knew that even he couldn't return those four balls.