Open School Selection Tournament
After giving instructions to Ibu Shinji, the recruitment event was considered over.
The team assembled, and Coach Hanamura Aoi gave a speech first, followed by a brief address from Muneyoshi, who introduced the four current Regular to the newcomers.
Then, Muneyoshi immediately led everyone to begin today's routine physical training.
Considering there are many new students and it's only the first day, today's routine training intensity isn't that high.
Any training program requires a period of adaptation for the trainees.
After the physical training was over, Muneyoshi first had Tachibana, Keith, and Lin Xiu team up for a battle practice session.
At the same time, Tachibana An arranged for all the new students to gather at the central court.
"Gather!"
"Now I will lead everyone in racket swing practice!"
Saeki Muneyoshi, displaying the authority of the Tennis Club captain, shouted loudly.
All the newcomers listened to the command, took out their rackets, and began practicing basic swings, imitating Muneyoshi's movements.
Muneyoshi and Hanamura Aoi had already devised a training plan for the Tennis Club members.
However, on the first day, Muneyoshi still wanted to see how good everyone was.
After breaking down the basic movements, Muneyoshi stood at the front of the group and kept scanning the crowd. The newcomers repeated the movements under his gaze.
Although swinging the racket is just the most basic exercise, it can reveal a person's fundamental skills.
Unfortunately, apart from Kamio Akira and Ishida Tetsu from Osaka who had prior experience with tennis, most of the others were complete beginners.
Even Ibu Shinji was only a tennis enthusiast, but Muneyoshi was fully prepared for this situation when everyone finished their last set of swing practice.
"Everyone, take a five-minute break, then we'll start group practice. First-year students who aren't scheduled to practice yet, stand aside and get ready to retrieve the balls. Don't worry, all first-year students will have a chance to take turns practicing."
All training is targeted, and arranging match-style competitions after tedious practice can better stimulate newcomers' love for tennis.
Muneyoshi firmly believes that simply burying oneself in hard training is not enough; only by combining it with competition can one achieve rapid progress.
As the crimson sunset gradually filled the horizon, the newcomers finally finished their day's practice. Many of them, who were just getting started with tennis, could still clearly feel the discomfort of not being used to it.
Just as everyone finished packing and was preparing to leave, Muneyoshi gave another important instruction.
"Also, next week, the Tennis Club will hold an open qualifier within the school to re-select official team members."
"All members of the Tennis Club can sign up. Remember, all of them!"
The new recruits were all stunned by Muneyoshi's news, so much so that there was no reaction from the crowd after Muneyoshi said it.
This made Muneyoshi frown, and he shouted again:
"What's going on? Didn't you understand what I just said?"
"The winner of the open qualifiers will be the new Regular members of the Fudomine Tennis Club. Do you all understand?"
"I understand!"
At this, the new members of the Tennis Club shouted in unison.
Their faces were covered with streaks of hair and sweat, but at that moment their faces were full of happy smiles.
Many people now feel that joining the Tennis Club was the best decision they ever made, as it not only allows them to enjoy playing tennis but also gives them the opportunity to become official team members.
With such a goal in mind, many people's eyes revealed a hint of ambition.
"Very well, that concludes today's training. Dismissed! Take care on your journeys."
Seeing this, Muneyoshi nodded in satisfaction; the Tennis Club finally had a bit of vitality.
Everything started to move in a positive direction.
"How's the orange grove? Have you found any good seedlings?"
After finishing the orientation training for the new members, Muneyoshi walked up to Tachibana and asked with a smile.
"Yes, there are three pretty good freshmen."
As the vice-minister, Tachibana has been closely monitoring the training of the new recruits.
"It seems you have a goal in mind too. Starting tomorrow, you and I will take turns leading their training!"
Muneyoshi had no doubt about Tachibana Kippei's ability to judge people, and said with a smile.
"I'll go take care of the last little one to arrive!"
"Um?"
Tachibana glanced at Muneyoshi with some curiosity. What potential did this guy named Ibu Shinji have that Muneyoshi would personally test him?
After thinking for a moment, Ju followed.
Time flies, and the new students have already adapted to their new life in Fudomine.
At this time, the new students in various schools in Japan are making rapid progress under the guidance of their seniors.
"Matsushita, hurry, Fudomine's intra-school ranking tournament might have already started."
At the main gate of Fudomine, Inoue Mamoru, carrying his satchel, urged his newspaper assistant behind him.
"Senior... I've arrived."
A young man named Matsushita was carrying camera equipment and was exhausted.
As a recent graduate, I followed my senior, Inoue Mamoru, and spent almost a week visiting schools of all sizes in Tokyo Metropolis.
Even with a body of iron, he was finding it hard to withstand.
Inoue Mamoru knew this too, so he could only shake his head helplessly and stop to wait for his deputy.
Looking at this school he had never been to before, Inoue Mamoru felt a surge of excitement.
Compared to the school's current obscurity, Inoue Mamoru knew very well what kind of monster lurked within.
Inoue Mamoru Saeki Muneyoshi's performance in the U-17 World Tournament and the achievements Japan had made.
He never imagined that the genius boy who once stirred up a storm in the World Tournament would attend such an unremarkable junior high school.
Furthermore, after returning, he conducted an in-depth investigation into Fudomine, obtaining a great deal of firsthand information about Muneyoshi from the vice principal in charge of the Tennis Club.
It turns out that Saeki Muneyoshi became Regular when he was a first-year student.
However, due to the atmosphere within the Tennis Club and the coach's opposition, he was kept on the bench and not allowed to play.
Later, due to a conflict over the development path of the Tennis Club, Saeki Muneyoshi's "advice" failed, and a violent conflict eventually broke out.
This ultimately led to Saeki Muneyoshi becoming depressed and dropping out of school.
However, Saeki Muneyoshi did not fade into obscurity because of this. Instead, his strength led to his recruitment by the U-17 team, which eventually brought him fame in the World Tournament.
This was only based on the brief, intermittent introduction given by Vice Principal Fudomine.
This had already etched an image in Inoue Mamoru's mind of someone who was not afraid of power and could swallow her pride for the sake of the Tennis Club's development.
He was a genius leader who, after all his efforts were in vain and he left heartbroken, worked hard and was genuinely accepted by the school leaders who Fudomine Tennis Club out of its predicament.
With a keen eye for news and a passion for tennis, Inoue Mamoru felt that the more he learned about Saeki Muneyoshi, the more he realized there was still something to discover about him.
Therefore, when he heard that Fudomine was going to hold an intra-school ranking competition, he rushed back from Kanagawa.
Looking at the gate of Fudomine, Inoue Mamoru was absolutely certain.
Although Fudomine was an obscure school before this year, it is likely that it will rise to Fudomine from now on.
"Saeki Muneyoshi, let me step into your inner world and see what kind of person you really are!"
P. S.: "Post-incident embellishment is normal; a little bit of subtle wording. Please vote with your monthly tickets!"
I'm going on a business trip starting tomorrow, which will last for about a week. I can only guarantee the most basic updates then, so please understand. I'm going to western Sichuan, where the altitude is high and conditions are harsh. I also don't know how the internet will be.