#5Chapter 5: Training Begins
"Be serious, Agutsu!"
"Show me what you've got! Don't just lose to me like this!"
Shiratsu Tomohoshi encouraged Agutsu, wanting to see just how much potential Agutsu truly had!
Agutsu wasn't enraged, but he became more focused than before.
"Come on, your service game!"
"Alright."
Shiratsu Tomohoshi made no unnecessary movements, just a simple, super-fast serve.
"15:0!"
"Agutsu, I've suppressed most of my strength. At least, you should take one point from me, shouldn't you?"
He said it, but his actions were swift, and another ball was served.
"30:0!"
"40:0!"
"Shiratsu Tomohoshi takes this game, 2:0!"
Agutsu began to get a little angry. Shiratsu Tomohoshi had already suppressed most of his strength, yet he couldn't even take a single point?
No, he had to take it!
"Otherwise, I'll just play with 20% of my strength."
Shiratsu Tomohoshi spoke again. He felt that for a match to be effective for Agutsu's practice, there needed to be some back and forth, and it would also allow Niou to imitate more clearly.
"I don't need it! I'll take a point!"
As expected, these words enraged Agutsu. But then again, isn't that what makes it fun?
Hmph, Shiratsu Tomohoshi smiled faintly.
"Heh~ya!"
Agutsu served again.
"Bang!"
The heavy thud on the ground sounded once more.
Hmm? This ball is a bit heavier? Not bad, he's improving.
But, it's still not enough!
The ball flew straight to the dead corner of the diagonal court; it couldn't be saved. Agutsu leaped with all his might, eventually falling to the ground, but the ball was hit back. Oh? Not bad, at least Agutsu could now play against 30% of his strength, Shiratsu Tomohoshi thought.
Shiratsu Tomohoshi anticipated it, rushed to the net, and hit a drop shot:
"15:0!"
Niou mercilessly announced the score.
Agutsu wiped the dust from his face, stood up again, returned to the receiving area, and adopted a charging stance.
He tossed the ball forward, then hit it, and immediately rushed to the net.
Shiratsu Tomohoshi watched Agutsu's movements and thought: Not bad, he's starting to improve, but it's still not enough.
He hit a backhand, using Fuji's Swallow's Return, and the moment the tennis ball landed, it wouldn't bounce again.
Agutsu had already moved to the net, but then he saw this shot that wouldn't bounce.
"30:0!"
"40:0!"
"Si Yu takes this game 3:0!"
"Agutsu, your awareness is good, and your physique is fine. Today's match was just to strengthen the awareness in your mind. Let's stop here, no need to continue. I've already dropped to 30% of my strength to play against you, but you still haven't taken a single point from me in your service game. Go back and think carefully about what you will rely on in the future?"
Shiratsu Tomohoshi wasn't going to continue the match. He knew that even if he played a 6:0, what was the point? The important thing was to let him evolve step by step.
"...I will try my best."
After a long silence, Agutsu finally spoke.
Shiratsu Tomohoshi was right. With his current strength, it would be difficult for him to win. This wasn't something he couldn't admit. The important thing was that Shiratsu Tomohoshi wanted to see his growth.
"So, Niou, do you still want to play a couple of points? If not, I'm leaving."
Niou didn't speak, shaking his head to refuse. Are you kidding? I've been a referee for half the day. If I can't see that I also can't take any points from you right now, then I'd truly be a fool. I'll wait until the day my strength has increased before playing again.
Then, the three of them stopped talking, packed their things, and prepared to leave.
On the way, they found a cold drink shop, and the three of them sat down. Shiratsu Tomohoshi treated them, and they chatted while drinking:
"Today, I just called you guys to get a feel for it. Go back and rest well tomorrow. Come back at the same time on Monday. Also, Agutsu, you can practice your techniques more when you go back, or perhaps..."
Never mind. Shiratsu Tomohoshi had originally intended to talk about mental strength, but it was too early to discuss that now, and not everyone might understand.
"What?" Agutsu asked instinctively when he saw Shiratsu Tomohoshi stop mid-sentence.
"Nothing." Shiratsu Tomohoshi paused, then turned his head: "Niou, go back and train your stamina and endurance more. The specific methods will be announced by Inui to everyone on Monday. Just find him; he can be responsible for your training details. Just dump all the work on him; it's perfect."
The three of them sat in the cold drink shop for about forty minutes, then left and went their separate ways home.
Shiratsu Tomohoshi walked down the street, idly spacing out, when he suddenly received a system notification... He then bolted forward, seeing a large truck speeding, about to hit a beautiful lady. At that moment, the lady was still talking to someone in front of a bank, unaware of the large truck rushing up behind her.
Shiratsu Tomohoshi didn't hesitate, running over quickly. Just as the truck was about to hit her, he grabbed the beautiful lady's arm, yanked her away, and helped her escape the danger.
The lady, confused about having her arm pulled, was about to ask what was happening when she saw the man she had just been talking to get hit and sent flying. Because she had been pulled away, she narrowly escaped, realizing that someone had saved her life. So instead of questioning, she expressed her gratitude:
"Thank you for saving me, young man."
The lady sincerely thanked him.
"Beautiful elder sister, I'm not a young man, but I only had time to save you."
Shiratsu Tomohoshi, whose previous body was not this young, instinctively called the not-so-old lady "elder sister."
"Haha, you're quite the talker, young man. Auntie is already 30, not young anymore. Calling me 'elder sister' makes Auntie feel embarrassed."
She said that, but the smile on her face showed no sign of embarrassment.
"As for you not saving him, one can only say that everyone has their own fate. So, I'm still very grateful that you saved me."
It wasn't that she was heartless, but rather, it was already a blessing that this child in front of her had saved her; she shouldn't ask for anything more.
The two only spoke a few words before the police arrived and took them back. They briefly understood the situation, clarified the sequence of events, and because one was a victim and the other a witness and rescuer, they were allowed to leave after a brief inquiry.
Time flew by silently. On Monday, a few people gathered at the Hyotei tennis courts:
"What's going on? That guy isn't going to be the last one to arrive again, is he?" Niou complained.
"Shouldn't we be used to it by now? Let's wait a bit longer," Tezuka said expressionlessly.
About ten minutes later, Shiratsu Tomohoshi arrived, indeed the last one.
"Let's go," Tezuka said to Shiratsu Tomohoshi.
Silently nodding, everyone walked onto the court.
The Hyotei tennis courts, for now, couldn't be called luxurious. Master Atobe hadn't arrived yet, estimated to be two months later.
"Let's do warm-up exercises first," Tezuka said.
Immediately, he led everyone out to run laps, only Shiratsu Tomohoshi remained in place, unmoving. No one managed him or called him; everyone knew that he didn't need to warm up.
After twenty laps, everyone entered the court.
"Since most of the club members haven't officially started practice yet, we're just getting used to the court ahead of time. How about this, let's have a match. Fuji, you partner with Niou, to play against Tezuka."
Two against one? Shiratsu Tomohoshi, you're really not treating people like people!
This was everyone's thought.
Tezuka merely glanced up at Shiratsu Tomohoshi, then picked up his racket and walked onto the court.
Shiratsu Tomohoshi wouldn't act without reason. Fuji's strength wasn't strong yet, but his talent was there. And Tezuka, he was a level above Fuji.
If Fuji was barely at the Kanto level now, then Tezuka had already barely touched the threshold of the National level.
In their last training match, Tezuka had already entered the Selfless State, and it seemed he was about to master Hyakuren Jitoku no Kiwami. This was an opportunity to help Tezuka fully master Hyakuren Jitoku no Kiwami, and to help Fuji fully step into the Kanto level.
Fuji and Niou paused slightly and didn't object. Fuji knew Tezuka's strength and didn't speak, and as for Niou, that seasoned player, even Fuji didn't speak, and it was a two-on-one, with him being one of the "two" and not the "one," so what was there to say?
"Match starts, Tezuka serves."
Shiratsu Tomohoshi acted as the referee.
Tezuka playing two against one naturally had the right to serve.
At this time, Tezuka didn't yet have Tezuka Phantom, Zero-Shiki had short balls but no serves, and Tezuka Zone had a rough prototype. It remained to be seen how much he would gain from this match today.
He bounced the ball, then tossed it high, striking it quickly!
"Ace!" Inui adjusted his glasses.
"15:0!"
"Bang!"
"30:0!"
Another ace!
"40:0!"
"Tezuka takes this game 1:0!"
Four undisputed points put a lot of pressure on Fuji and Niou.
Change sides.
"Fuji serves!" Shiratsu Tomohoshi said.
"Watch out, this ball will disappear~" The squinting eyes spoke. An invisible serve?
The ball in his hand was sent out with a rapid spin in a slice shot.
The first ball, Tezuka did not return.
"15:0!"
Now that's more like it, Shiratsu Tomohoshi thought.
Another ball, here it comes.
"30:0!"
"40:0!"
"Fuji takes this game 1:1!"
Not bad, this is what your match should be like.
Tezuka hadn't brought out his full strength yet; it was still just a probing stage. After all, facing two opponents, one of whom was Fuji, who understood him well and was not weak in strength.
He, too, had to be cautious!
He took a sip of water, resting briefly.
"Tezuka serves."
As fast as ever, but! This time, Niou received it!
"I've seen through this shot of yours!"
The Trickster is online!