Australia

Day 2 of the Four-Nation Exchange Tournament.

Inoue Mamoru and his fellow tennis journalists arrived at the stadium early once again, preparing for today's filming and press releases.

They were discussing yesterday's game and the opponent the Japan Team would face today.

Beep...

A bus approached from a distance.

"Looks like a team has arrived. Which team is it that's here so early?"

The crowd's eyes involuntarily turned to look at the bus, speculating about which country's team it belonged to.

As the vehicle stopped, a group of blond teenagers, led by a middle-aged man, disembarked from the bus.

"It's the Australia national team and their coach."

People quickly identified the athletes by the national flags on their uniforms.

The reporters nearby confirmed it earlier than the others and quickly raised their cameras, snapping away at the Australia athletes.

Compared to other reporters, Inoue Mamoru, who had a name, was clearly different from the other extras. In addition to taking photos, he was also observing the Australia athletes.

After looking around, he focused his gaze on the indigo-haired boy walking at the front of the group, who had a smile on his face.

In fact, it wasn't just him who noticed; everyone around him realized that the Australia athletes seemed to follow this young man's lead, even the Australia coach.

The other Australia athletes showed even more respect for the young man.

"It seems this young man is the backbone of Australia. He's so young, but truly remarkable!"

Inoue Mamoru felt a pang of emotion, then took a few pictures of Noah Gorgia.

After the Australia entered the venue, another bus pulled up at the entrance.

Without needing any prompting, they immediately recognized that this was the America Team.

A group of teenagers stepped off the bus, and a powerful aura emanated from each of them.

Inoue Mamoru ignored the others and started snapping photos of the blond, slightly curly-haired boy walking at the front.

The other party's identity is prestigious, even on an international scale.

"Ralph Reinhardt, the captain of America, is their most renowned tennis prodigy."

Watching Reinhardt lead his team into the venue, Inoue Mamoru felt a surge of excitement.

"I wonder if he'll play in this exchange match? Rumor has it that Reinhardt hasn't lost a single game in any of the matches he's played, and he's considered the most perfect tennis player in America."

Although Inoue Mamoru wanted to witness a match between such strong individuals, he frowned slightly upon considering the opponent's strength. Could anyone in Japan possibly stop someone like that?

Just as Inoue Mamoru was lost in thought, he heard exclamations of surprise coming from the surrounding area.

"The representatives of Japan youth have arrived!"

At this moment, Inoue Mamoru also forgot about America from before, after all, his own country's team was more important to him than them.

"Saeki Muneyoshi, Mori Juzaburo, Yukimura Seiichi, Tezuka Kunimitsu, Tachibana Kippei..."

As the Japan representatives walked off the field, Inoue Mamoru read out the names of the contestants one by one with great familiarity; these were all people he knew well.

"Hmm, Saeki Muneyoshi's aura seems even stronger now. What other countries have, Japan has too!"

Inoue Mamoru recalled Muneyoshi's strength, and his envy of other countries' geniuses vanished in an instant.

With the Japan Team entering the stadium, only the South Africa team, who lost to Japan yesterday, has yet to arrive.

After thinking it over, Inoue Mamoru decided not to wait any longer. He grabbed his camera and went into the venue.

Thirty minutes later...

All professional referees are in place, and all equipment has been tested and configured!

"The second round of the Four Nations International Exchange Tournament is about to begin, with the Japan team facing off against the Australia team."

"Now, please welcome the two teams of players to the field."

A loud bilingual announcement rang out throughout the stadium, and a huge cheer erupted once again.

Under the referee's direction, the two teams of players stood in front of the net, shaking hands and sizing each other up as they did so.

"Japan has so many junior high school students as contestants..."

"I never expected that the junior high school students who appeared today would be completely different from those yesterday!"

Australia's star players Noah Gorgia and John Fitzgerald, were quite surprised when they saw the lineup of the Japan Team.

Compared to yesterday's match against South Africa, the Japan Team appeared much younger today.

However, they did not underestimate them at all, because they also sensed a powerful aura emanating from these junior high school students that was no less than their own.

That's true. The coaching staff originally intended for Muneyoshi to lead this team, and initially, the entire team consisted of junior high school students.

However, Muneyoshi requested a change, and the coaching staff switched his position with Irie.

Synchronization were Ochi Gekko and Mouri, who were replaced by Tachibana Kippei and Chitose Senri, who were originally scheduled to play doubles first.

"The next match is Singles 3, featuring Akutsu Jin (second-year junior high school student) from the Japan team against J.J. Gorgia (second-year high school student) from the Australia team."

"Both players, please prepare yourselves."

As soon as the referee finished speaking, many spectators outside the field saw the sign displayed above the field, and gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd.

"Oh, that's insane! The Japan Team actually sent a middle school student to compete in the singles third match..."

"J.J. Gorgia, if our information is correct, he should be Australia's main singles player."

Similar comments came from both the South Africa and America Teams, who were unfamiliar with Akutsu.

Even the local Japan audience had some doubts.

However, these things didn't have much of an impact on Akutsu.

Akutsu walked straight onto the court with his racket in hand, his face as arrogant as ever.

On the Australia side, Gorgia also had a menacing look on his face. He was very tall and had a fierce expression that made him look like someone you didn't want to mess with.

The two stood at the net.

Looking at Gorgia's fierce appearance, Akutsu suddenly felt something similar about him.

For some reason, Akutsu's first reaction to this similarity was not happiness, but displeasure.

Akutsu could sense it, Gorgia certainly could too; he raised an eyebrow and his gaze held a hint of hostility.

"Ha!"

Such a gaze, of course, did not escape Akutsu's notice. He originally wanted to say a few harsh words, but considering that his opponent might not understand, Akutsu held back and did not say them.

The two players quickly finished choosing sides and returned to their respective baseline positions.

Seeing that the players were in position, the referee waved his hand toward Akutsu's half of the court.

"The match begins, with Akutsu Jin of the Japan team serving first."

P. S.: "Please vote with monthly tickets!"

I worked overtime last night and have to go on a short business trip today, so updating shouldn't be a problem.