The Chosen Opponents
Of course, not all junior high school students failed to make it to court number five.
After being defeated by Oni Jūjirō several times, Yukimura Seiichi, Tezuka Kunimitsu, and Mori Juzaburo finally encountered other high school students.
Having been baptized by Oni Jūjirō, they quickly seized the opportunity and broke through the restrictions of the No. 6 court without much effort.
That day.
High school and junior high school students began their morning training as usual.
Because of the coaching staff's rule of treating everyone equally, junior high school students and high school students receive the same training volume and programs.
Initially, the intense training volume was unbearable for the junior high school students, but after a few weeks of adjustment, they all managed to persevere through it.
Although several students finished overtime each time, their completion rate was still much better than that of the average high school student.
Irie, Oni, Tokugawa, and Muneyoshi stood on a high platform not far away, watching the middle school and high school students train.
"After Muneyoshi and these middle school students arrived, the whole training camp seemed to come alive!"
Irie smiled as she watched the figures in the distance completing today's training tasks. Her chubby, baby-faced cheeks, with their dimples, reappeared.
"They seem poised to challenge Field 5 once again!"
Tokugawa said calmly.
After the first round of training each day, it's time for the Shuffle Match.
"Ghost Lord, it seems the coaching staff didn't assign you to stop them today?"
Irie glanced at Oni Jūjirō standing with them, and her smile deepened.
From the moment the junior high school students rush into the No. 6 court, every morning is the busiest time for Oni Jūjirō.
As the goalkeeper of Stadium No. 5, he is responsible for keeping everyone without the necessary skills out of the stadium.
For those middle school students who dared to have such improper thoughts, Oni Jūjirō would mercilessly use his tennis ball to send them to hell.
Let them stay obediently in their proper places.
However, it's clear that Oni Jūjirō alone can't keep up with the growth of the junior high school students all at this point.
The coaches finally gave up on suppressing the junior high students' advancement, since they would need to defeat the demons to advance further once they entered the fifth court anyway.
It's the same.
"Snort!"
Upon hearing Irie's words, Oni Jūjirō snorted coldly and did not respond.
He was certainly aware of the coaches' actions, but he was more angry at these disappointing high school students who couldn't stop the junior high students.
"Is Stadium Five their limit right now? I don't think the Demon King will allow them to climb any higher!"
Irie smiled and made her judgment.
However, this time Oni Jūjirō's decision was beyond his expectations.
"No, Irie, I'm going to arrange for them to have a team Shuffle Match against your No. 3 court!"
Seeing Irie's smiling face, Oni Jūjirō said in a deep voice.
"Ghost Lord! Are you serious?"
Irie's smile vanished, and a flash of white light appeared on his glasses. "Was this arranged by the coaching staff?"
"That's right. It's mainly due to Muneyoshi's previous arrangements, plus the truly amazing talent of those players. So this time, the coaching staff is prepared to do everything that needs to be done before the Four Nations Tournament!"
Oni Jūjirō nodded; he wasn't surprised that Irie could guess it was the coaches' arrangement.
The junior high students have been at the training camp for almost a month now, and there are some things that really need to be arranged as soon as possible.
Moreover, the four-nation tournament organized by America is about to begin.
They also had to select several junior high school students to compete with them.
"The Four Nations Tournament? Did the European Byōdōin send someone back?"
Irie nodded slightly, having roughly guessed the coaches' arrangements.
"Saeki -kun, you're the one who gave us this job! No way, you have to come to our No. 3 court!"
Irie his gaze to Muneyoshi beside him and said with a smile.
"Haha, Irie- senpai, I did say I'm from Court Number One. If I come to Court Number Three, wouldn't that mean your Court Number Three is deserted?"
Muneyoshi laughed and didn't take the bait, but he also knew the strength of the third court now, and that Irie alone definitely couldn't deal with the junior high school students.
"Don't worry, Irie- senpai, Tanegashima- senpai has already promised me. He'll go to Court 3 to help you, and the others who came back will also go directly to Court 3."
That's more like it!
Hearing Muneyoshi say this, Irie prepared to let him go.
As the group joked and played around, today's Shuffle Match came to an end.
Akutsu Jin, Sanada Genichirou, Atobe Keigo, Tachibana Kippei Kite Eishiro, and Keith all won and advanced to Field 5.
The lounge at Stadium No. 5.
Oni Jūjirō sat imposingly at the very back. At this moment, besides him, only the junior high school students remained on court number five.
Several others, such as Hirazeni, Fuwa the Iron Man, Nakagawa Naidō, all entered the fourth court.
The junior high school students entered the lounge one after another, and no one said a word when they saw Oni Jūjirō sitting at the back with his eyes closed.
Although they were very curious about why Oni Jūjirō had gathered them together, they did not ask him directly.
The repeated defeats at his hands made these middle school students somewhat wary of Oni Jūjirō.
Once everyone had arrived, Oni Jūjirō opened his eyes and said in a deep voice:
"I know you guys all want to keep climbing the ladder, but I still have to say, you're all still too green!"
Upon hearing what Oni Jūjirō said, the middle school students curled their lip in disdain.
Oni Jūjirō was not surprised by their attitude and arrogance, and continued as if he hadn't noticed:
"I've already applied for the team Shuffle Match on Court 5 and Court 3. I won't be involved this time. If you're confident in your abilities, then go and fight for a spot on Court 3 yourselves!"
After saying that, Oni Jūjirō strode away from the lounge, leaving the middle school students looking at each other in bewilderment.
"A team Shuffle Match? Is that the kind of approach the coaches talked about on the first day?"
"You can actually do the challenge while jumping?"
"Ha, you want us to fight for our seats with our own strength? It seems this gatekeeper of hell doesn't think much of us!"
"I don't know the specific rules?"
"Forget it, let's go out and ask!"
As the ghost left, the middle school students present all showed great interest.
They are all true powerhouses among junior high school students, and they are not afraid of challenges.
Instead, they are full of anticipation for the upcoming team Shuffle Match.
The junior high school students left the rest area of Court 5 and went to find out the rules of the team Shuffle Match.
Atobe was strolling casually through the training camp when he saw a familiar figure walking towards him from the opposite direction.
"Ah, so it's you."
"Ah, it's Atobe- kun! May I ask what's the matter?"
Atobe blocked Irie's path. He had met Irie before when Irie invited him to the training camp, but that experience wasn't pleasant.
Therefore, Atobe's attitude was very cold.
"So you're the team manager of Stadium 3? Stadium 5 has already challenged Stadium 3, and this time, I, the grandpa, hope to defeat you personally!"
Atobe originally wanted to ask about the rules of the team reshuffle, but for some reason, he reverted to his original style as soon as he spoke.
"What, Atobe, are you confident you can challenge our No. 3 court and then beat me?"
Irie tilted his head, glanced at a few of the videos, and then asked with a smile.
"Hmph, why not? I've been thinking about this since my very first day at this training camp!"
Atobe felt a surge of anger at Irie's smiling face, as if he were recalling how Irie had made fun of him in front of his teammates. His gaze grew even colder.
"If that's what you think... then I'm sorry, Atobe, with your current strength, Stadium 3 is still too early for you."
Irie didn't seem to mind Atobe's cold attitude and shook her head with a smile.
Compared to Atobe's negative impression of him, he felt very fond of Atobe, like a playful kitten that had finally found prey to play with, and was filled with pity for him.
He initially saw Muneyoshi as prey, but Muneyoshi's progress was too rapid, and the differences between them were too great.
Therefore, he had to abandon the idea early on.
Until he met Atobe Keigo.
The thought of having fun resurfaced uncontrollably in Irie's mind.
Watching Atobe's departing figure, Irie a smile once more:
"Last time, the stage wasn't perfect due to time constraints. I hope this time it can be a perfect performance."
P. S.: "Please vote with monthly tickets!"