The First Target: Natsume Ryūichi
The next day, Muneyoshi got up early and organized all the belongings.
After tidying everything up, I picked up my racket and left the dormitory.
At this moment, Ochi Gekko and Mitsuya had just gotten up and were still washing up. Muneyoshi greeted them and then headed towards the No. 1 court.
At this point, a sparse crowd had already appeared around Stadium No. 1.
For these reserve soldiers who have been staying inside the base, witnessing First String is no easy feat.
Therefore, there are a lot of people coming to watch the game today.
Muneyoshi glanced around at the crowd, then found a quiet corner to start warming up.
After his battle with Amadeus, Muneyoshi seemed to have shed all his former arrogance and aggressive demeanor, becoming like a still spring.
On the contrary, it is more compatible with the attribute of darkness.
However, only a very few people knew just how much resentment was condensed within his increasingly icy spiritual power.
About twenty minutes later.
Tap tap, tap tap!
A series of synchronized footsteps came from another direction, as both first-year and third-year First String marched in unison toward court number one.
The terrifying aura that emerged after the baptism of the World Tournament is vastly different from what it was before.
It had only been a month or so since they left the base to participate in the World Tournament, but the reserve team felt like a completely different group of people.
"Gurgle... Why do I feel a sense of fear when I see the First String coming?!"
"They've actually mustered such a powerful aura after the World Tournament..."
Many people who hadn't met the First String yesterday seemed stunned, and even their discussions quieted down.
"Huh? What's going on? Neither Byōdōin nor Oni Jūjirō are here?"
At this moment, Muneyoshi's gaze swept over the crowd that had arrived, and he noticed that only Dōmoto Shingo and Natsume Ryūichi had the highest rankings.
But the Oni Jūjirō he most wanted to challenge wasn't there.
"Is this part of the coaches' arrangement?"
Muneyoshi showed a hint of dissatisfaction on his face, but he quickly suppressed it.
"Since Oni Jūjirō isn't here, we need to change our target..."
Just as the vast majority of the First String had arrived, Kurobe Yukio's voice came over the loudspeaker.
"Now, those whose names are called, please step forward."
"Kimijima Ikuto, Tōno Atsukyō, Ochi Gekko, Date Otori, Ōmagari Ryūji..."
Kurobe Yukio, and Muneyoshi also stepped forward at this time.
This list is the list of people who need to take on the challenge today, which was submitted yesterday. Muneyoshi signed up yesterday, and Ichi signed up together with Ochi.
Walking up to Ochi, Muneyoshi nodded to Ochi, and Ochi nodded in response.
"The First String ranking challenge will now begin. Those whose names are called will be the challengers and will choose their opponents."
The announcement over the loudspeaker jolted the surrounding reserve soldiers, and the scene instantly became lively.
"Ochi- senpai preparing for the challenge?"
Muneyoshi's lips curled into a smile. Although they were roommates, Ochi didn't like to talk much, and the two rarely communicated. In fact, he was quite curious about who Ochi's target was.
However, Ochi Gekko did not reply to him, but stared straight at him.
Muneyoshi's heart skipped a beat. Could Ochi Gekko's target be him?
At this moment, Ochi's gaze became even sharper, making Muneyoshi feel a little uneasy. He gave an awkward smile and looked directly at No. 2 Dōmoto Shingo Muneyoshi, and No. 3 Natsume Ryūichi.
"Natsume-senpai, Domoto-senpai, let's have a match!"
With Saeki Muneyoshi breaking the silence first, the other challengers followed suit.
Following closely behind was Ōmagari Ryūji, who directly addressed Itō Chiki, number 6, saying, "Ito-senpai, please!"
"I choose No. 14, Katsumura Yota..."
"I choose NO.9 Kaji Fūta!" Kimijima Ikuto also began his negotiations.
Ochi, standing to the side, was also astonished by Muneyoshi's actions. He knew Muneyoshi's strength, otherwise he wouldn't have made him his target.
However, he did not expect that Muneyoshi's target was actually those two people, which made him temporarily suppress his desire to challenge them.
He decided to wait until Muneyoshi's challenge was over before making a decision.
"Come with us."
Dōmoto Shingo and Natsume Ryūichi also looked grim, but having experienced much, they were well aware of Saeki Muneyoshi's strength.
So, despite their displeasure, they accepted Muneyoshi's challenge and turned to walk towards the nearby basketball court.
"See you later, Ochi- senpai."
Muneyoshi smiled slightly at Ochi Gekko, who had been staring at him, and then chased after Natsume Ryūichi and his companion.
Muneyoshi's choice, of course, did not escape the notice of the monitoring coach. Seeing that Muneyoshi directly chose the two strongest players in the base, Kurobe revealed a mysterious smile.
"Yes, I wasn't wrong about him; he certainly didn't disappoint me."
On the cliff of the heart of the back mountain.
Mifune Kurobe hung up the phone when Mifune Nyudo called him again, tilted his head back, took a big gulp of strong liquor, and spoke to the two people who were practicing on the irregularly shaped basketball court in front of him.
"Byōdōin, that brat, seeing you weren't there, went straight for Domoto and Natsume."
"Oh, so if the two of us were here, he would probably target us directly?"
A hint of appreciation appeared on Byōdōin's face.
"Let that brat build up his winning momentum. His victory over Amadeus completely shattered it. Challenging me like this is utterly pointless."
Oni Jūjirō was not surprised by this. They came here and placed Saeki Muneyoshi at the base not to avoid the battle, but to let him accumulate confidence and momentum through victory.
Otherwise, such a competition would hold no appeal for ghosts.
"Hmph, you little devil, you better not lose then!"
"Wait until he's fully recovered and walks up to me before you say that!"
On the court, Natsume Ryūichi, who had been awarded the first serve, arrived at the baseline.
There was no need to probe further; after observing Muneyoshi's positioning, he simply hit the ball.
Bang!
The tennis ball isn't particularly fast, but with an orange force attached to it, its impact becomes astonishing.
From tossing the tennis ball into the air to swinging it out with the racket.
The tennis ball seemed to transform into a streak of orange light, swiftly flying across the half-court and striking Muneyoshi's baseline.
Step... step...
Muneyoshi, positioned at the baseline to receive the serve, moved with lightning speed, taking only a few steps to stand on the path the tennis ball would inevitably take after bouncing.
As the tennis ball approached him, the orange aura instantly transformed into the shape of a leopard, its jaws wide open, lunging at Muneyoshi.
"The path of breath?"
Muneyoshi never expected that the current No. 3, Natsume Ryūichi, would be following the path of Aura, and that he would go so far down this path.
Muneyoshi did not dodge the phantom of the leopard that was tearing at him. Instead, he raised his racket, a faint light enveloping it, and with a flash of black light, he swung it forcefully.
Sizzle...
The moment the racket touches the tennis ball, a powerful piercing force erupts, while the added spin of the tennis ball creates a series of intense friction sounds as it rubs against the racket and net.
Feeling the terrifying impact of the tennis ball, Muneyoshi's eyes narrowed slightly.
This seemingly unassuming Natsume Ryūichi is actually quite formidable.
Especially after the World Tournament, he has clearly made further progress.
The impact of this tennis match is terrifying; among those who have played against Muneyoshi before, he is almost on par with Tristan.
With such offensive power, in today's training camp, probably only five or six people could retaliate...
Fortunately, it posed no significant threat to Muneyoshi himself.
He pulled the racket back, then made the tennis ball spin on the racket face. Then, a flash of black light appeared on the racket, and most of the impact and spin on the tennis ball disappeared instantly.
After glancing at Natsume Ryūichi's movements, Muneyoshi twisted his wrist, pressed his racket down, took a step forward, and then smashed the ball with a high swing.
Natsume Ryūichi's serve was returned by him.
However, Muneyoshi's wariness towards Natsume Ryūichi increased.
P. S.: "Requesting monthly votes"