Heracles's Little Trouble for Muneyoshi

"Oh, it's an orange!"

"Isn't it still daytime in Japan?"

"Losing to Seigaku in the preliminaries? Oh, so it was just practice. It's just the preliminaries, nothing serious. Besides, you didn't even play. Letting these kids experience defeat isn't bad!"

In the airport waiting area, watching planes constantly taking off and landing through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, Saeki Muneyoshi, dressed in his official Japan team uniform, was talking on the phone with Tachibana Kippei back home. 🌷🍫 😝💗

Tachibana Kippei reported the results of the preliminary rounds to Saeki Muneyoshi. Muneyoshi was not surprised by the defeat, as he had clearly been prepared.

However, after hearing Muneyoshi's attitude, Tachibana Kippei on the other end of the phone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and then continued in his heavy tone:

"Muneyoshi, although I didn't participate, Tezuka didn't participate from Seigaku's side either!"

"We're training, and they're training too. It seems Seigaku is really well-prepared this year!"

"You're right, they, like Rikkai Dai, are opponents we need to be particularly wary of!"

Hearing Tachibana Kippei's words on the phone, Muneyoshi chuckled softly, handing over the Tennis Club to him, so he wouldn't have to worry about anything.

Although he had always wanted to hand over the ministerial position to Tachibana Kippei, neither Tachibana Kippei nor Hanamura Aoi agreed.

Therefore, Muneyoshi could only nominally assume the position of minister, leaving everything else to Tachibana. Thinking this, Muneyoshi nodded and said:

"I understand. Seigaku is already very strong, and Kamio and Shinji's training can't be neglected... And now? I'm at the airport, preparing to fly to my next expeditionary country!"

"Okay, that's it. Bye!"

Snap!

Closing his phone, Muneyoshi walked towards the Japan Team's formation. Looking at the imposing blond figure in the distance, Muneyoshi smiled genuinely. 🎉💢 ♕🎅

However, through his sleeve, one could see the bandages wrapped around his wrist.

They had been in England for some time now, and would have left long ago if it weren't for the fact that Byōdōin's injuries hadn't fully healed.

However, although Byōdōin is unable to play, everything is moving in a positive direction.

"Kid, what's wrong? Still worried about things back home?"

As Saeki Muneyoshi finished his phone call and walked over, Byōdōin opened his eyes and said calmly.

Muneyoshi walked to the chair next to Byōdōin and sat down, leaning back comfortably. "Byōdōin- senpai, it's just a small matter, nothing at all!"

"Hmph, you should know you're the commander-in-chief now, don't let other trivial matters affect you!"

Byōdōin greatly admired Saeki Muneyoshi, especially after learning what he had done to the England captain.

Even Byōdōin's hardened heart softened slightly.

Don't worry, I'll handle it!

Muneyoshi answered aloud, but there was a hint of surprise in his eyes, clearly indicating that what Tachibana Kippei had just said was not something he could completely ignore.

For example.

"Akutsu actually beat Keith in a singles match!"

Recalling what Tachibana Kippei had told him, Akutsu and Keith's earth-shattering duel in the Singles 1 match.

Akutsu's displayed strength has completely surpassed that of him and Keith.

Akutsu made them feel pressured.

That's why Tachibana Kippei made that long-distance call to him.

He turned his head and glanced at Byōdōin beside him:

"Byōdōin- senpai, it seems there was someone you particularly admired among the middle school students who came to last year's Shikoku Invitational Tournament!"

"Um?"

Looking at Muneyoshi with surprise, Byōdōin suddenly realized, "Oh, you mean that bastard Akutsu? That guy wants my approval? He's not good enough yet!"

"What? Did he cause trouble for your team in junior high?"

Byōdōin grinned mischievously. Although he had left junior high school several years ago, when Muneyoshi mentioned Akutsu, he still roughly guessed the reason. 😎🐨 ♢🐻

For Muneyoshi to cause some trouble for Byōdōin is a very rare occurrence these days.

Moreover, Fudomine is making a run for a two-peat this year.

From Byōdōin's perspective, while he didn't particularly care about the record he kept, the longer it could be preserved, the better.

Seeing the fleeting schadenfreude in Byōdōin's eyes, Muneyoshi smiled faintly:

"Ha, Byōdōin- senpai, Akutsu is nothing. Even if you baptize him, it won't stop Fudomine from Fudomine two consecutive championships!"

In the early hours of the morning.

Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport.

A large passenger aircraft, under the precise command of the control tower, slowly descended from the sky onto the ground, its signal lights flashing brightly.

Taking a flight in the early morning is definitely not a good experience.

Even if I could rest, it wouldn't be very pleasant.

However, for the First String, who are used to expeditions, they've pretty much gotten used to it by now.

"Get up!"

We've arrived in Athens.

"Pack your things first, and then rest after we all get to the hotel!"

Let's go!

Sitting by the window, Saeki Muneyoshi's brown eyes reflected the figures of everyone around him; he wasn't quite used to this red-eye flight yet.

Being woken up from my sleep still makes me a little tired.

However, he still mustered his spirits and followed the group, disembarking one by one.

His second stop in Europe was also his second battle as the commander-in-chief of First String.

Their opponent will be the Greece Team, ranked tenth in the world.

After exiting the airport through the members' channel, the group boarded a bus to the hotel.

After leaving the airport and driving for some distance, we finally entered the city.

This ancient city, steeped in history, also showcased its dazzling lights.

"I don't know what it's like during the day, but it really looks like a beautiful city at night." Muneyoshi's eyes gleamed.

Greece, situated on the Aegean Sea, boasts a beautiful location and stunning scenery. As a renowned ancient land in Europe, its architecture exudes a classical elegance.

"Get off the bus, Muneyoshi. If we win the game, you'll find the scenery here even more beautiful."

Byōdōin stood up, patted Muneyoshi on the shoulder, and Duke, who was sitting opposite him, helped him take off his backpack. They had already arrived at the hotel.

While the Japan Team was landing, on the other side, on the Attica peninsula...

This coastal city, brimming with classical Greece beauty, is home to the Greece U17 training base.

The stadium at the base was brightly lit at this moment.

A handsome, blond-haired, round-faced boy, about the same age as Muneyoshi, was undergoing amazing training on the court.

Opposite him, five ball machines were constantly launching High-speed tennis at him; if you got a little closer, you could see that the settings on the ball machines were almost at their maximum.

Even so, the blond boy still managed to block all the tennis balls with great ease.

Only the rows of mustard-yellow tennis balls covering the ground can tell how long he has been practicing.

"Zeus, training should be moderate. It's too late today, go and rest!"

A tall, bearded figure emerged from the shadows, stopping Zeus from continuing his training.

"Heracles, the thought of playing against the Japan Team, especially Saeki Muneyoshi, keeps me up at night."

Bang!

Having said that, Zeus continued with his actions.

"Japan Team... Saeki Muneyoshi... is that genius who was on par with you!"

Heracles stroked his neatly groomed beard and smiled.

The two, who have been compared since the last World Cup, are finally about to meet for the first time.

He could understand Zeus's excitement.

"In that case, let me play a match with you before the coach arrives. Otherwise, if the coach finds out, we won't be able to compete."

"Good!"

Zeus's eyes shone brightly; he was now a first-year high school student, just one year ahead of Saeki Muneyoshi.

He is now the captain of the Greece Team, but Heracles is his predecessor and a very strong player.

Moreover, one person training can never compare to two people training together.

The two began their practice session quickly.

However, in the dead of night, no one saw it.

Only the surveillance cameras silently watched all of this.

P. S.: Only two updates today, need to accumulate points for a big update on the 13th and 14th...