Second String

A chartered plane was flying from America to Japan. Saeki Muneyoshi casually flipped through the sports magazine in his hands.

After skimming past the lengthy reports about the "big stars," Muneyoshi finally found an article about himself tucked away in an obscure corner.

<Australian Open Qualifying: Far East Demon King Sweeps the Court>

The main photo was actually a miserable-looking picture of Zesheng, while Muneyoshi himself appeared only in profile, gazing impassively at the unconscious Zesheng.

Muneyoshi was rather dissatisfied. Was his handsome face not worthy of a front-facing shot?

Still, the news had already been published, so all he could do was complain.

"Looks like I'll have to wait until the World Cup in Melbourne..."

Speaking of the World Cup, Muneyoshi thought of the guys at the training camp. "Hey, once we get back, it should be open season, right? I hope you've all improved!"

At almost the same time, on a flight from Macau to Tokyo, a group of young men in bright red uniforms lounged in their seats, bored.

"Boss, are we really just going to let what happened to Kaji and Kiriya go?"

Tōno Atsukyō glared angrily at Byōdōin, who was sitting across the aisle from him.

At first, they hadn't thought much of Echizen Ryoga knocking Kaji Fūta and Kiriya down.

But after they took the two of them to the hospital, they realized how serious it was.

Their injuries were more than just physical. Echizen Ryoga had taken away their ability to keep playing tennis.

For tennis players, that was a devastating blow.

And for Japan's team, which was aiming to reach the top of the world this year, it had cast a shadow over everything.

"Exactly, boss. We can't let that guy get away with it!"

"That bastard has such a terrifying