The Points Challenge
"Demon-senpai, Tanegashima- senpai, Irie- senpai, it seems next year will be a year of fierce competition."
Muneyoshi smiled slightly, his gaze sweeping over the group, sensing the strong desire for victory emanating from them.
"Don't worry, we won't lose this time!"
"The setback in Paris is not only something Muneyoshi is unwilling to accept; all three of them are also very unwilling, "Oni Jūjirō said in a deep voice.
Whether it's Irie or Tanegashima, I hope to experience Switzerland again.
Tanegashima patted Muneyoshi on the shoulder, saying that this was their second year with Byōdōin, and they still had time to push their limits.
Byōdōin has its Byōdōin path, and they have their own methods.
The self-imposed pressure and relentless exploitation of one's potential at Byōdōin was not suitable for them, which was one of the reasons they parted ways.
However, both Oni Jūjirō and Byōdōin share the same desire to reach the final realm.
"Seniors, let's work hard together!"
A fierce fighting spirit flashed in Muneyoshi's eyes. Compared to Oni Jūjirō, there were still several opponents ahead of him waiting to be challenged.
"All members from the first five courts, please assemble in the middle area!"
"All members from the first five courts, please assemble in the middle area!"
The sudden announcement startled the members who were training.
"I didn't hear about a team Shuffle Match today? Why do we need the teams from the top five courts to participate?"
"What happened? The top five stadiums have mobilized together; this is only the second time."
"I don't know, but it's definitely something very important!"
"Aren't those some of the strongest players in the training camp right now? They actually came too?"
Amidst the astonished gazes of the lower-ranked high school students, a group of players dressed in the uniform three-color uniforms of the training camp stood on the main court.
All players from courts one through five have arrived.
"The reason I've gathered you all here is to select a few players from among you to participate in the expedition qualifying rounds. I will serve as your remote coach for this qualifying rounds and the upcoming expedition, assisting you in all your operations."
The figure from the Kurobe emerged from the building and addressed the crowd below in a deep voice.
Although the Kurobe's words were calm, they were a tremendous surprise to these Second Army soldiers.
"What... it's the Expedition Tournament? We have a chance to participate in the Expedition Tournament too?"
Will I be selected?
Kurobe ignored the whispers of his men, paused, glanced at them, and continued:
"Now I announce the list of participants for this expedition!"
"General! Oni Jūjirō!"
"Next up is the captain of the expedition team, Saeki Muneyoshi!"
"Irie Kanata!"
"Tokugawa Kazuya!"
"The Nakagawa Naidō!"
"Fuwa the Iron Man!"
"Hirazeni!"
"The last one to participate is Tanegashima Shūji!"
"Those whose names I call, stay. The rest of you may leave."
After announcing the list, the Kurobe dismissed the others. They didn't have much time left, as the South Korea team was probably arriving soon.
"An expedition? Where are they going on an expedition? Didn't Byōdōin and the others already go out?"
"It doesn't seem to be far away. I heard that Byōdōin and the others went to Europe."
"I really envy Hirazeni and Fuwa the Iron Man. They've only been here a few months, and they're already participating in the expedition."
"The captain is Brother Gui, but why does the captain of the expedition team ranked second look like a middle school student?"
A first-year high school student who didn't recognize Muneyoshi asked in confusion.
"Because he really is a middle school student!"
"What?!"
"Even middle school students are in key positions on this expedition? Doesn't that lower our standards?!"
These high school freshmen, who were kept in the dark about the news, were somewhat bewildered that a junior high school student had managed to surpass them; this was hard for them to accept.
"Ha, aren't you the ones who lowered our standards? What do you newcomers know! Saeki Muneyoshi is the No. 3 in the First String!"
"He's a terrifying guy who's already made a name for himself on the World Tournament and is hailed as one of the world's strongest middle school students. You dare question him?"
Upon hearing the first-year student's words, the second- and third-year students let out a sneer. They had witnessed Saeki Muneyoshi's rise step by step.
"What! No. 3?!"
The new first-year high school students were deeply shocked as they watched Muneyoshi's departing figure. How could this middle school student be so strong?!
Meanwhile, similar things were happening in the conscripted troops.
"Hiss!"
"Wow, this kid who came to challenge us back then is actually this strong? What kind of monster were we facing back then?!"
Among the second army conscripted this time were some acquaintances of Saeki Muneyoshi: Fuwa the Iron Man and Hirazeni.
They've only been in training camp for a few months, but they've already made it into the top five courses, with Fuwa the Iron Man even reaching course number one.
If he hadn't felt inadequate in strength, and if Byōdōin and the others hadn't already left, he probably would have already challenged for the original First String spot.
However, it was also a fortunate coincidence that the arrival of South Korea allowed coaches like Kurobe to use them ahead of schedule.
"No wonder he was so strong back then; it turns out he's from a completely different world than us."
He exchanged a glance with the Fuwa the Iron Man Hirazeni sighed.
"What a monster! And there are probably a few monsters like that among middle school students these days!"
Fuwa the Iron Man sighed. Last year's defeat in the National Tournament made him realize that the era of Makino Fuji was over.
Just as the Kurobe was selecting personnel and arranging for them to rest and recuperate...
A group of people were slowly walking along the mountain road outside the training camp.
As for why it was said to be a departure, that was obviously the work of the Kurobe; they simply arranged for the other party to get off at the foot of the mountain.
Just like Muneyoshi before him, he had to climb the mountain path to get there.
As for being accused of using underhanded tactics, that's a joke. If South Korea is allowed to take advantage of the chaos, why can't the Kurobe use some underhanded methods?
"There's no road anywhere here! It's so difficult to walk!"
"Those Japan are really something, setting up their training camp in this remote mountain forest. Could it be that they've embezzled too much and are short on funds?"
"Captain, how much longer?! My feet are about to get blisters!"
The South Korea U-17 team players couldn't stop complaining that it had taken Muneyoshi several hours to climb the mountain, as some parts were really difficult to traverse.
Meanwhile, in a small, dark room inside the training camp's coaching building, the three members of the Kurobe also saw the South Korea group that was about to arrive through the cameras they had been following.
"Let's go, Saitō, Takuya, it's time to greet these guests with ulterior motives!"
Kurobe Yukio chuckled softly.
"Phew, we're finally here!"
"So this is the Japan U-17 training camp? It's not as good as ours, but it looks pretty decent!"
The South Korea U-17 team entered through the main gate and walked along the main road, casually looking around and pointing at the high school students who were training.
"Welcome to Japan South Korea U-17 training camp, everyone. My name is Kurobe Yukio, and I am the Strategy Coach here. I will be in charge of this qualifying tournament!"
The three members of the Kurobe quickly located the South Korea group and communicated with their commander and coach.
However, after only a brief exchange of pleasantries, the South Korea group worried that the Japan would delay and allow their main force to return, in order to avoid any unforeseen complications.
After a short rest, he submitted an application to the head of the World Tennis Association's Asia region, who had already arrived at the U-17 training camp in Japan, for a direct match.
Kurobe certainly wouldn't refuse, but after pretending to consider it for a moment, he agreed with slight hesitation.
Seeing Kurobe in this state, some of the South Korea's worries lessened.
Once everything was ready, Muneyoshi, who had received the notification, put on his size First String Regular uniform and pinned his number three badge to his collar.
"Senior Ghost, it's almost time, let's go out!"
Saeki Muneyoshi glanced at the wall clock and stood up.
Everyone's expression turned serious, and some of the members of the second team even tightened their uniforms.
A slight smile flashed across Oni Jūjirō's serious face. Compared to last year, Muneyoshi now exuded a more commanding presence.
"Okay, let's go!"
Oni Jūjirō walked calmly at the front, followed closely by Saeki Muneyoshi.
Tanegashima Shūji and Irie Kanata stood beside Muneyoshi, leading the second-team members, who were already prepared and had changed into their uniforms, toward the competition venue.
The points challenge has officially begun.
P. S.: Thank you to reader 20230206182434949 for the twelve monthly tickets.
Thank you Daoist Qingxu for the fourteen monthly tickets.
The double reward period has already ended, but I'm still so grateful for all the monthly votes I've received. I also want to thank all the other friends who have supported me. I received a lot of monthly votes before, but I've been busy with work these past few days and haven't been able to update as much.
Thank you to reader 20230206182434949 for the twelve monthly tickets.
Thank you Daoist Qingxu for the fourteen monthly tickets.
The double reward period has already ended, but I'm still so grateful for all the monthly votes I've received. I also want to thank all the other friends who have supported me. I received a lot of monthly votes before, but I've been busy with work these past few days and haven't been able to update as much.
I can update a few more chapters over the weekend, but I'm too busy with work during the week to update as casually as I did in August.