Chapter 123: Return to Rikkai

Kurobe tried hard to suppress his emotions, took a Badge out of his pocket, handed it to Takahashi, and said, "Tanegashima Shuji asked me to pass this on to you."

Takahashi took the Badge, its brilliant gold shimmering under the sunlight.

The number displayed on it was: 2.

"This is?"

Takahashi looked at Kurobe in confusion.

"Tanegashima Shuji is No. 2 of the Japan U17 First String. The First String is currently on an overseas expedition, and Tanegashima stayed behind because he hates flying."

"You defeated Tanegashima, so this Badge is yours now."

Kurobe said.

"But I've already received the reward for beating Tanegashima, which is not having to train."

"Ah, no, that's self-directed training."

Seeing Coach Kurobe's furrowed brows, Takahashi hurriedly added a sentence.

"That match didn't count as an official challenge match, did it!"

Kurobe said: "Regardless of the type of match, you beat Tanegashima, so you are the No. 2 of the 1st String."

Looking at Takahashi's indifferent expression, Kurobe began to explain to him: "This Badge represents honor. The honor of being second in the R-Japan U17 Training Camp is something many high school students would beg for."

Takahashi said: "I know, but I just feel like some troublesome things will happen if I accept this Badge."

During his time at the U17, Takahashi had dealt with these coaches often and knew their character well; he had to be extra cautious!

Kurobe's face had turned completely dark.

"Fine, I'll accept it."

"Coach Kurobe, thank you to the U17, thank you all, for letting me spend a pleasant vacation."

Takahashi's words were very sincere, spoken from the bottom of his heart.

Because Takahashi knew that as the Captain of Rikkai, he would have to face the National Tournament next. If he were still at Rikkai, there would surely be many, many troublesome things waiting for him to handle; the mere thought of those trivial matters gave him a headache.

But with the U17 invitation, he had logically and naturally slipped away to another place.

The members of Rikkai would not think their Captain was subjectively irresponsible, but rather that it was beyond his control.

At the same time, they also felt proud of their Captain; a middle school student had actually been recruited into the training camp by the U17, which was dedicated to cultivating Japan's top tennis players. One had to know that this training camp previously only recruited elites among high school students.

Takahashi Yanichi was the first middle school student invited to participate in the camp.

Moreover, except for the first few days when Takahashi had matches every day, he had spent the remaining days quite comfortably!

It was comparable to a wonderful vacation!

Seeing Coach Kurobe's expression looking increasingly wrong, Takahashi stopped his words and said goodbye to Kurobe: "Goodbye!"

Kurobe watched Takahashi's departing back and felt a sense of relief in his heart.

He had finally sent this one away. To think he treated a month at the U17 as a wonderful vacation—this left Kurobe unable to laugh or cry.

At the same time, Kurobe also had to prepare for the arrival of other middle school students later.

Takahashi was a negative example; the coaching staff hadn't made sufficient preparations in advance, allowing Takahashi to exploit a loophole.

After the National Tournament ended, they would have to issue invitations to excellent representatives among all middle school students, and they couldn't let a slip-up like Takahashi happen again. They couldn't let them think the U17 was a wonderful holiday resort!

……

Rikkai Dai Fuzoku Chugaku.

"Captain, morning!"

After a month, Takahashi had returned to Rikkai once again. Looking at the yellow and white team uniform, he suddenly felt a sense of intimacy.

In the U17 Training Camp, it was nothing but red and white team uniforms; Takahashi had been looking at them for a month and had developed a bit of aesthetic fatigue.

At this moment, back at his own Tennis Club, looking at the familiar faces and the familiar school uniforms, a feeling of longing couldn't help but well up.

"Morning!"

Takahashi's expression was very relaxed and happy.

Inside the office.

"Captain, how was it at the U17 Training Camp? I heard it's full of top-tier high school students with powerful strength."

Just as Takahashi walked into the office, Sanada Genichiro's voice followed him in.

Looking at Sanada's face and recalling the incomparably weathered face of Oni Jujiro, Takahashi couldn't help but be more tolerant of Sanada's sense of weariness.

"Not bad. The treatment at the U17 is very good. It's located in the suburbs of Tokyo, the scenery is beautiful, the facilities are abundant, and there's everything from gourmet food to hot springs. The experience was quite good."

Takahashi's words were very cheerful.

"Really? I'm so envious!"

Kirihara also followed him in and spoke up.

"What I wanted to ask was how the strength of those high school students is, not about the experience."

Sanada's brows couldn't stop twitching.

After a round of long-lost pleasantries, Sanada steered the topic to the upcoming National Tournament.

"This year's National Tournament uses a format where singles and doubles alternate. In a few days, it will be the draw day for the National Tournament, and the location is still at our Rikkai."

Listening to Sanada's words, Takahashi nodded and said: "Mm, I know."

"How are the team members preparing? No one has been slacking off, right!"

Kirihara said full of energy: "Under the leadership of Vice Captain Sanada, we have been practicing for at least 4 hours every day recently, and everyone has made obvious progress."

A flash of inspiration struck Takahashi's mind, and he said: "Is that so? Then your physical fitness must have improved a lot!"

"Try my training volume from the U17!"

As he spoke, Takahashi pulled a piece of paper out of his backpack.

It was the U17 training list that Coach Saito had given him when he first entered the U17.

Sanada looked at the dense list of items on the paper, reading through it line by line carefully.

"This training list is truly scientific and advanced; it exercises almost every muscle in the body. However, the training volume is immense. Is this the practice volume for a week?"

Takahashi said, "It is for one day."

Sanada suddenly realized; no wonder the Coach of the U17 had called him previously to ask about Takahashi's training situation at Rikkai.

With such high-intensity training, Takahashi would likely be unable to adapt at all!

Takahashi continued, "However, this is aimed at elite high school students. Sanada, you can appropriately trim it down for our club members to practice. As for the Regular Members, they should practice according to the original version."

Kirihara exclaimed, saying, "One day? We have to do this much training in one day?"

Takahashi said, "That's right!"

Sanada said, "Then how many hours does it take for a high school student to finish?"

Takahashi said, "Three hours. We are middle school students, so let's be a bit more lenient; finish it within 6 hours!"

Sanada was somewhat surprised and said, "Then how many hours does it take for you, Captain, to finish?"

Takahashi said, "I can, of course, finish it within 3 hours!"

Once these words were spoken, the way Sanada looked at Takahashi changed.

He had originally thought that with Takahashi's lazy personality, he would definitely not be able to adapt to such high-intensity practice.

He hadn't expected that in just one month, Takahashi would be able to adapt perfectly and could do it just like a high school student, needing only three hours.

During this month spent at the U17, Takahashi must have experienced arduous struggle and tempering.

This must have been a painful month; he hadn't expected Takahashi's expression to still be so relaxed and cheerful.

It seems his previous judgment of Takahashi was wrong; Takahashi is actually the type of person who can face difficulties and setbacks with a smile, possessing a resolute character.