A New First String

This First String Shuffle Match adopted a ten-person team competition, and in particular, adopted a best-of-seven format, with players forming their own teams and choosing their opponents.

There are no restrictions on singles or doubles, but each match will be played in the best-of-three format, just like in official World Tournament matches. Once you win, you will not be challenged again.

The first-year participants are: Kimijima Ikuto, Tōno Atsukyō, Ochi Gekko, Ban Rikiya Date Otori Hakamada Izō, Mutsu Yūma, Mutsu Yūho, Irie Kanata Mitsuya Akito.

As for why Mitsuya is considered a first-year student, it's because Akitomo Kōyō is still a bit behind, and Mitsuya obtained badge number nineteen, so he is naturally eligible to participate in the competition.

The first match was a doubles game, with the first-year students fielding the pair of Date Otori and Ban Rikiya.

After some discussion, the senior students ultimately sent two people whom Muneyoshi was very familiar with: Harada Hiroki and Katsumura Yota.

Although both were defeated by Muneyoshi and suffered considerable injuries—Harada's injuries were physical, while Yota's were mental—they were both defeated.

You could say they had a natural advantage.

However, the actual competition did not go as smoothly as expected.

Date Otori is a tough guy with a fork-shaped scar on his forehead, and he is also the former captain of Rikkai Dai.

His strength is certainly not bad; in the original work, he seems to have entered the First String team in his first year.

But because of Muneyoshi's arrival, his butterfly wings finally began to unleash their power.

The two players who were originally ranked 5th and 8th in the First String were, in terms of strength alone, top-tier players among the third-year students.

Even though Date Otori and Ban Rikiya fought with all their might, they still fell into a disadvantageous position.

Bang!

After losing points again.

A grin appeared on Date Otori's face. "Rikiya, I'm going to make my move!"

Go!

Seeing the tennis ball flying towards him, Date Otori suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them.

Don't underestimate us!

The Date Otori shouted loudly, his arm muscles bulging and taut, and the blue veins could even be faintly seen.

His aura surged rapidly, even making Harada, his opponent, feel a sense of threat.

"Drink! The Man's Spring!"

With a loud shout from Date Otori, the racket whistled through the air.

With a roar, the racket slammed heavily onto the oncoming tennis ball.

Bang!

Boom!

A tremendous roar resounded throughout the stadium, the sound of the racket being swung and the tennis ball colliding echoing in everyone's ears.

With a deafening roar, the tennis ball, like a volcanic eruption, hurtled towards Harada with unstoppable momentum.

The tennis ball slammed into the ground like a cannonball, bouncing violently along the surface. Then, to Harada's horrified gaze, the tennis ball seemed to be heading straight for his stomach.

This seemed to trigger a stress response in Harada; he instantly flew into a rage, enduring the excruciating pain in his abdomen as he charged towards the tennis ball.

"Missile Intercept!"

Boom!

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the tennis ball that Date Otori hit with all his might was intercepted by Harada.

Furthermore, Harada, enraged, seemed to recall what Muneyoshi had done to him the day before. He glared fiercely at his opponent and then forcefully returned the tennis ball.

Unable to withstand the onslaught, Date Otori's body was sent flying by the tennis ball, crashing violently into the iron net behind him, almost hanging from it.

"Ida..."

Ban Rikiya rushed over and put Date Otori down; he had already fallen unconscious.

"Date Otori is no longer able to continue the match, this match is won by Harada Hiroki and Katsumura Yota!"

"What a pity!"

Tanegashima Shūji looked somewhat disappointed, and Muneyoshi, sitting next to him, nodded in agreement.

"Yes, with Date and Riki's strength, if it weren't for them, the others wouldn't have had any problems."

The first-graders lost the first game and seemed to be at a disadvantage.

Next up was a doubles match, with the Mutsu Brothers teaming up with the third-year ace doubles pair Washio Kazunari and Suzuki Kyō.

Upon entering the arena and seeing that his opponents were twins, Washio glanced at them and said calmly:

"While twins have great synergy in doubles, you're still too weak. Let us teach them some partner skills!"

"Washio!" Suzuki responded, "Let them see what real doubles is like!"

As soon as they finished speaking, a milky white aura burst forth from their bodies, and then the two auras intertwined.

The moment their two auras merged, an aura far exceeding their own strength erupted from their bodies.

"They're in Synchronization!"

In the stands, Muneyoshi's eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed that not all third-year students were scoundrels.

The two of them were actually demonstrating the endless possibilities of doubles for the twins!

After losing two consecutive games in doubles, the team returned to its normal level for the rest of the match.

That's how it is. If Muneyoshi hadn't interfered, Date Otori and his team wouldn't have lost at all. In the third year, only this doubles pair who could Synchronization were truly skilled.

Kimijima Ikuto and Tōno Atsukyō easily won a doubles match.

Ochi Gekko won her singles match easily.

Irie Kanata wins a hard-fought victory through her superb acting skills.

Mitsuya Akito, in the battle for the No. 19 badge, gave up an entire round, and after collecting all of his opponent's data, his terrifying data stream overwhelmed his opponent.

They ultimately won two consecutive games, leaving all the third-grade students completely astonished.

The only pity was Hakamada Izō, who ran into the First String.

After a hard-fought three rounds, the opponent, being older, having trained longer, and possessing more stamina, ultimately won the victory.

After seven matches, doubles were best-of-three games and singles were best-of-four games.

The bottom ten First String were divided equally between first-year and third-year students.

However, with the first-grade students already outnumbering First String top ten, the first-grade students now have a crushing advantage over the third-grade students.

"Hahaha, Dōmoto Shingo, get down here!"

Upon seeing the final result, Byōdōin burst into laughter, then walked onto the court and shouted towards the third-year students.

Dōmoto Shingo in the crowd, looked extremely grim. But having broken his promise before the match...

Boom!

"Dōmoto Shingo, it seems you really haven't improved at all..."

"With such meager strength, you dare to play these petty tricks on me? Who gave you the guts!"

Thump!

"Wake up! Don't faint!"

"Ah..."

Under Byōdōin's domineering playing style, the entire court was silent, and the third-year players were trembling with fear.

Until...

"This First String Shuffle Match will end in five minutes. Players who have earned badges, please assemble in the plaza in front of the coaching building."

The voice of Saito Itaru, the training camp's Mental Coach, rang out simultaneously from several locations.

Dōmoto Shingo Domoto, who was playing against Byōdōin, was deathly pale. Only after hearing his coach's voice did he feel truly alive again.

Ten minutes later.

All those who had received the First String badge gathered in front of the building's plaza.

Saito Itaru, Kurobe Yukio, and Takuetsue Ryuji appeared in the plaza at the same time.

Welcome back, new First String!

Kurobe stepped forward, arms outstretched, a smile of excitement on his face, "I hope you won't find the welcome ceremony after this expedition too long."

It's no wonder the Kurobe were excited; this reshuffle of the first First String was completely revolutionary. Byōdōin not only regained leadership, but the first-year students also surpassed the third-year students, seizing the power of discourse.

Current members of the First String:

NO.1 Byōdōin Hōō, NO.4 Tanegashima Shūji, NO.5 Oni Jūjirō, NO.7 Kiriya, NO.8 Saeki Muneyoshi, NO.9 Kaji Fūta, NO.10 Ōmagari Ryūji.

NO.11 Tōno Atsukyō, NO.12 Ochi Gekko, NO.15 Kimijima Ikuto, NO.19 Akito, NO.20 Irie Kanata.

Grade 3:

NO.2 Dōmoto Shingo, NO.3 Natsume Ryūichi, NO.6 Itō Chiki.

NO.13 Harada Hiroki, NO.14 Katsumura Yota, NO.16 Washio Kazunari, NO.17 Suzuki Kyō, NO.18 Yoshioka Kunihide.

The First String remained silent in the face of Kurobe and Saitō's fawning smiles; no one responded.

It's clear that not all players like this reshuffling orchestrated by the coaches; at least the third-year players absolutely hate it.

Kurobe Yukio and Saito Itaru did not feel embarrassed by the indifferent reaction of the crowd.

Kurobe remained at the forefront, speaking with great emotion:

"The new U-17 World Cup will kick off in three weeks. This time, it will be held in France, so everyone can get some rest before then. The tough battles are ahead."

"The World Cup, huh...?"

Among the crowd, compared to the excitement of the others, Saeki Muneyoshi's gaze was somewhat strange.

He never expected that his first official competition after coming into this world would not be between schools.

It's the U-17 World Cup in France!

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but chuckle softly, "I'm really looking forward to it!"

P. S.: "Requesting monthly votes"