Chapter 116: Takahashi VS Tanegashima

Listening to Kurobe's words, Takahashi frowned and said, "I am a first-year middle schooler, and Tanegashima Shuji is a third-year; no matter how you look at it, I am at a disadvantage! The match actually imposes restrictions on me, rather than restricting Tanegashima."

"Coach, if you don't want to agree to my request, just say so; don't make up these kinds of excuses."

Listening to Takahashi's words, Kurobe's brow twitched uncontrollably.

You are an ordinary middle school student? Then who was it that knocked Oni unconscious in a match yesterday?

Thinking of oneself as a first-year middle schooler and a vulnerable group at this time—who would believe that?

Kurobe ignored Takahashi's dissatisfaction and said, "This is the decision of the Head Coach. If you want independent training, you have to show a certain level of strength!"

"Besides, the Head Coach didn't say you could only challenge once; if you want, you can challenge every day until you succeed."

Takahashi thought for a moment and agreed.

Watching the fleeting smile on Takahashi's face, Kurobe always felt something was wrong.

But when he thought about the strength of Tanegashima Shuji, he felt at ease again.

Tanegashima Shuji is the No. 2 of the 1st String, and because he personally hates flying, he did not follow the 1st String to compete overseas.

He was the only opponent that Oni Jujiro had never defeated in the Training Camp back then.

Moreover, the Head Coach specifically restricted Takahashi from using Taotie.

In this way, the match between Takahashi and Tanegashima would be a contest of pure technical skill, and the probability of Takahashi defeating Tanegashima would be greatly reduced.

The Head Coach understood that it is rare for someone with a lazy personality who loves to lie flat like Takahashi to have a firm goal.

Therefore, he must not refuse his request; otherwise, what if he really loses his goal, lies flat, and stops working hard?

For the request he proposed, they had to find a different way to solve it.

Set a difficulty for his goal, a difficulty that is almost impossible for him to complete.

Forcing him to stand up, be brave enough to challenge, and work hard continuously.

For this reason, they proposed an assessment: as long as he defeats Tanegashima Shuji, Takahashi can have independent training.

And to make this assessment even more difficult, they specifically imposed restrictions on Takahashi.

After all, that move Takahashi used yesterday, the Dimension-Taotie—even he, Kurobe, who has been a tennis coach for so many years, felt terrified watching it.

They were somewhat uncertain whether Tanegashima Shuji's trump card, "Mu," could truly reduce this move to nothing.

Now, restricting Takahashi from using this move perfectly solved this problem.

It not only makes Takahashi train daily but also forces him to take the initiative to challenge Tanegashima.

To make someone who is determined to lie flat have no choice but to struggle and work hard—the Head Coach is truly worthy of being the Head Coach!

Moreover, this assessment has another benefit, which is giving Tanegashima Shuji a sense of crisis.

As the No. 2 of the 1st String, Tanegashima is currently the undisputed strongest person in the Training Camp, and no one dares to challenge him.

He is not proactive or hardworking regarding training, riding his balance bike around every day.

Now with this assessment, Takahashi will take the initiative to challenge him, which is also a rare training opportunity for him.

At the same time, it also makes the atmosphere of the entire Training Camp tense; if middle schoolers younger than them are so proactive in challenging, what reason do they have not to train well and not be motivated?

Kurobe admired Mifune too much; a small decision could have so many influences—he considers things truly too thoroughly!

In the afternoon.

Just as Kurobe was preparing to announce the start of the match between Takahashi and Tanegashima through the loudspeaker.

"Clang!"

Accompanied by the heavy sound of the door opening, a middle-aged man with a full beard and messy hair walked in.

Kurobe looked back and said in surprise, "Mifune General Coach, why are you here?"

The person who arrived walked in holding a flask of wine and said loudly, "Kurobe, you told me a middle school genius came to the Training Camp; I waited bitterly in the Back Mountain, and you tell me he can't come."

Listening to the Head Coach's dissatisfied words, Kurobe smiled bitterly and explained, "Takahashi hasn't lost in the random matches these past two days, and he himself has no desire to go to the Back Mountain; as coaches, we have no way to force him to go."

Mifune waved his hand and said, "If he won't go to the Back Mountain, then I'll just have to come here."

"I want to see for myself just how strong this kid is."

"I hope his strength is worth me making this trip."

Listening to Mifune's words, both Saito and Tsuge were very surprised.

They understood the personality of Mifune General Coach.

Mifune is long-stationed in the Back Mountain, torturing—no, training—the failures who were eliminated.

Without a major event, he almost never enters the Training Camp.

Even Tokugawa and Byodoin back then did not make Mifune come to the Training Camp from the Back Mountain.

Unexpectedly, a middle schooler's match could actually make Mifune personally visit the Training Camp.

It's truly incredible!

But thinking that this middle schooler is Takahashi, Saito felt it wasn't so incredible after all.

Takahashi had only been in the Training Camp for less than a week, and he had already defeated Tokugawa and Oni one after the other.

And both were shutouts, even beating Oni until he lost consciousness and fell to the ground.

Compared to Mifune coming to the Training Camp, these two matches brought more shock to Saito!

Saito thought he could accept it.

After all, he had received a lot of stimulation recently, so a little more didn't matter!

At this time, Mifune was very dissatisfied and in a very bad mood.

A few days ago, he heard Kurobe mention that a gifted first-year middle schooler had entered the Training Camp.

He immediately became interested in this middle schooler, especially knowing that this middle schooler hadn't lost a single match yet.

His interest became even stronger.

He knew that for such a heaven-favored child, encountering failure would surely be a devastating blow.

Under his, Mifune's, exclusive training, this middle schooler would almost certainly be able to touch the Asura Divine Path in the future.

Because he was only in his first year of middle school, he still had plenty of time.

And Mifune was also very confident in his own training techniques.

Just as he felt his life had gained joy and purpose, he heard the terrible news brought by Kurobe.

This middle schooler had opened the Asura Divine Path all on his own.

At the same time, he had defeated Tokugawa Kazuya and Oni Jujiro.

In other words, Takahashi had no desire to become stronger and would not take the initiative to come to the Back Mountain.

For Mifune, this was a bolt from the blue!

However, Mifune was also very curious about just how strong this middle schooler's ability really was.

So, since Takahashi could not go to the Back Mountain, for the sake of his own curiosity, it could only be Mifune who "condescended" to come to the Training Camp.

He wanted to see Takahashi's strength with his own eyes.

On the Main Court.

After the coin toss, it was Takahashi who had the Serve in the first game.

Takahashi took a tennis ball out of his pocket and bounced it on the ground a few times casually.

Toss, jump, swing.

The movements were fluid and completed in one go.

"Bang!"

The tennis ball instantly turned into a yellow streak of light, rushing straight toward his opponent.

"This Serve speed is not bad!"

Mifune said while sitting in a chair, watching the surveillance footage on the computer.

"As a middle schooler, he should be proud of this speed, but his opponent is Tanegashima Shuji."

Mifune continued.

While Mifune was speaking, Tanegashima moved his feet quickly, raised his arm at the left baseline, and swung his racket.

"Bang!"

A super-high-speed tennis ball with a tricky angle headed toward Takahashi's left side.

"Tap-tap!"

Takahashi's figure moved rapidly.

"Thud!"

The tennis ball landed heavily less than 0.1 meters away from Takahashi's tennis racket.

"0-15!"

"Tanegashima Shuji scores!"