The Stirring of the Heart

It's no wonder that Hanamura Aoi's eyes lit up when she saw Muneyoshi.

In the world of the Prince of Tennis, the stronger players are also more handsome in terms of both appearance and graphics.

Saeki Muneyoshi, of course, also adapted to local customs and adopted this characteristic.

Especially since he had just fought a Rikkai Dai, he carried a strong fighting spirit.

For ordinary people, they might just find Muneyoshi's unique charisma, while those who are a bit infatuated might think, "Wow, he's so handsome!"

It makes everyone feel very involved.

However, for Hanamura Aoi, who works as a professional tennis player, Muneyoshi's appearance was like a firefly in the dark, far more dazzling than the few players she currently had.

She was even more certain of this view after experiencing it firsthand.

Hanamura Aoi had only been back in Japan for less than a year and had just taken over Jōsei Shōnan, so she hadn't yet developed any real affection for the school.

And she's not short of money, she just wants to do something. (It seems like Sakaki Tarou from the Hyotei Academy is also a very wealthy man, just like her. I want a dozen of these hidden rich women.)

After arriving at Jōsei Shōnan, she began sweeping reforms, first abolishing the unscientific training and selection methods left by the previous coach.

Then she spent her own money to buy a lot of scientific equipment. Of course, the school has decided to reimburse her for this money, seeing that the Tennis Club has started to change after only one year.

Through this series of operations, coupled with a method called the Combination Training Method, the skills of several first-year students in the Tennis Club improved rapidly.

Without the slightest hesitation, Muneyoshi refused.

"I'm sorry, Coach Hanamura, I can't come to your school."

"Furthermore, I've also looked into the Combination Training Method you're promoting, and it's not suitable for me."

"Oh?"

Hanamura Aoi was curious about what the handsome, masculine boy in front of her had said. She hadn't introduced herself, so how did he know her name?

However, this doubt did not linger, as she was drawn to what Muneyoshi said next.

"Is the Combination Training Method not suitable for you?"

Hanamura Aoi looked puzzled and expressed his willingness to hear more details.

"Combination training is a popular training method in the UK and the US; I learned about it in a magazine."

Muneyoshi seemed to be recalling:

"This is actually a training method with some unique aspects, but upon closer examination, it becomes clear that it's overly mechanical. While it can indeed improve a tennis player's skills in a short period, it can also easily lead to a completely fixed training style, hindering the development of tennis's potential and creativity..."

After revealing all the combined training methods he knew, Muneyoshi summarized, "This is actually a distorted training method that sacrifices future potential in exchange for temporary improvement."

At this point, Muneyoshi took a half step forward, leaned slightly forward, stared into Hanamura Aoi's eyes, and said, word by word, "Coach, I certainly don't want to sacrifice my future for a temporary improvement in strength."

"Because my future is beyond your imagination!"

"Pfft!"

Seeing Muneyoshi's seemingly boastful yet very serious demeanor, Hanamura Aoi smiled.

"You arrogant and overconfident brat! What are you doing in the Tennis Club then?"

"Hey! Same goal as you, Coach."

Muneyoshi didn't comment on her disbelieving expression, and simply said...

"Just like me?!!"

Hanamura Aoi's eyes darted around, and she adjusted her monocle, looking puzzled by Muneyoshi's words.

"Of course! Coach Hanamura... would you like to come to my school and coach our Tennis Club?"

Muneyoshi's voice gradually grew louder until almost all the players training on the court could hear him; at that moment, the court was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was stunned by this guy who suddenly barged into the Tennis Club and had the audacious idea of poaching their coach.

Hanamura Aoi was initially confused, then her mouth gaped open in disbelief. "You... you've actually come to poach me?"

"So, Coach Hanamura, are you willing?"

Hanamura Aoi smiled but didn't say anything.

However, although she didn't say it, her attitude showed that she is now the coach of Jōsei Shōnan and has her own players.

At that moment, Muneyoshi suddenly felt a malevolent gaze fixed intently on him.

Even during training, Kamishiro Reiji, who had been silently observing everything, frowned. Saeki Muneyoshi's words and his attitude towards his goddess made him extremely unhappy.

Just then, Muneyoshi noticed this gaze and their eyes met. A dark thought suddenly arose in Muneyoshi's mind.

"Ha, Coach Hanamura, if these mediocre people are holding you back, then you should really consider my suggestion!"

"Their strength is so weak that they can only hinder your progress in realizing your ambitions!"

Muneyoshi's incredibly blunt words left Hanamura Aoi momentarily stunned.

She returned to Japan and enrolled in such an obscure school. Besides her love for tennis, wasn't she also driven by a strong desire to realize her ambitions?

Unfortunately, Jōsei Shōnan is too mediocre. Although the players she selected all possess certain qualifications, realizing their full potential is easier said than done.

Out of necessity, she resorted to a combination training method. She was well aware of the drawbacks of this method, but she was also aware that the upper limit of these team members' abilities was limited, so she used it without any scruples.

I didn't expect this little guy to figure it out.

"Hehe..."

Hanamura Aoi covered her mouth and chuckled. Still quite young, she hadn't developed the thick skin of other seasoned office workers. After briefly concealing her embarrassment, she said, "Little one, you really don't have a cute personality."

"Since you don't believe me, then let your players take turns playing against me, Coach Hanamura?"

Muneyoshi turned his head and met Kamishiro Reiji's gaze once more. From the moment before, he had been feeling a faint, yet malicious, gaze sweeping over him.

He wouldn't mind teaching the other person a lesson.

Upon hearing this, Hanamura Aoi hesitated slightly, but quickly suppressed her thoughts.

She was also curious to know how strong this boastful kid really was. Since Muneyoshi thought that even a series of battles wouldn't be a problem, it meant that he was very confident in his own abilities.

Therefore, she stopped trying to stop it.

"The match begins, first up is Tanaka Kouhei vs..."

With a command given by Hanamura Aoi, who was temporarily acting as referee, the match between Saeki Muneyoshi and Jōsei Shōnan began immediately.

Bang!

"Game, Saeki Muneyoshi wins, score 6-0!"

Bang!

"Game, Saeki Muneyoshi vs. Tanaka Youhei, Saeki Muneyoshi wins, score 6-0!"

"Game, Saeki Muneyoshi vs. Wakato Hiroshi, Saeki Muneyoshi wins, score 6-0!"

On the sidelines, Hanamura Aoi crossed her arms and glanced at Saeki Muneyoshi, who, despite the winning streak, hadn't broken a sweat.

A faint smile played on her lips, her eyes burning with an intense, almost uncontrollable excitement.

"It's absolutely perfect. Only someone like this could become my creation."

At that moment, Hanamura Aoi admitted that she was moved.

P. S.: "Don't just think about it, take action! Come and pamper me!"