Chapter 183: The Exhibition Match Begins

Kintaro broke the silence and said, "Uncle Phoenix, what was our Japan Team's ranking before?"

"Introduce us to the opponents we might encounter next!"

Byodoin pondered, not answering immediately.

Fuji's expression was somewhat serious as he said, "I remember that last year our Japan Team's ranking was only 23rd!"

"The first place was the D-Guo Team!"

Shiraishi asked, "Is it the D-Guo Team that Tezuka Kunimitsu went to?"

Fuji nodded.

Oishi seemed to suddenly realize something and said, "If Tezuka went to D Country, does that mean he will become our opponent next?"

Fuji nodded with a heavy expression and continued, "There is also Echizen; he went to the USA Team. I remember the USA Team's ranking seems to be fifth."

Kintaro felt it was unbelievable.

"What? Japan is only 23rd? The USA that Chomae went to is actually fifth!"

Listening to the chattering inside the vehicle, Byodoin roared, "Quiet!"

"Just as Fuji said, our Japan Team's ranking internationally is not excellent, so the responsibility resting on our shoulders is even greater!"

"This year, our goal is to dominate the world!"

……

Inside a hotel in Australia.

As Fuji was holding a glass of water and preparing to return to his room, he saw Takahashi Yanichi playing a game in the restaurant.

"Captain Takahashi, weren't you supposed to go draw lots with Senior Byodoin today?"

Upon hearing this, Takahashi raised his head and replied, "Drawing lots is too boring! Byodoin ended up taking Oishi to draw lots."

Fuji was stunned for a moment, and an ominous premonition surfaced in his heart.

Sure enough, in the evening, Byodoin and Oishi brought back the news.

"Tomorrow's pre-tournament exhibition match for the World Cup will consist of doubles teams mixed with three middle schoolers and high schoolers."

"We drew the D-Guo Team as our opponents today!"

Oishi reported the result to everyone.

A sharp light reflected from under Kite's glasses, "Facing the world's number one D-Guo Team right from the start?"

"Oishi, look at the 'great' draw you made!"

Shiraishi smoothed things over, saying, "Exhibition matches don't count toward the standings. Think of it another way; it can also let us experience the strength of the world's strongest."

……

The next day.

U17 World Cup venue.

A voice came over the broadcast.

"The upcoming event is the U17 World Cup exhibition match, D-Guo versus Japan!"

"Welcome the representative teams of both countries to enter."

"Entering the venue first is the nine-time consecutive World Cup champion, the D-Guo Team!"

As the D-Guo team members dressed in black uniforms walked over slowly, cheers erupted within the venue.

"Kings! D-Guo Team!"

"Kings! D-Guo Team!"

Many spectators in the stands waved the D Country flags in their hands, cheering them on.

"Click, click, click!"

Camera lenses were also aimed at the various members of the D-Guo Team.

"Entering next is the Japan Team!"

The wave of sound that had just swept through the entire venue vanished the moment the Japan team members dressed in red and white uniforms entered the field, and the entire venue went quiet.

"What a sharp contrast!"

"It seems no one is optimistic about our Japan Team!"

Oishi scratched his head and said.

"Isn't that the professional tennis player Borg?"

"How could he be on the D-Guo Team?"

Kirihara exclaimed upon seeing a conspicuous bald man in the D-Guo Team.

Takahashi replied, "As long as one is under 17 years old, even a professional player can participate in this tournament."

Marui popped the bubble gum in his mouth and said, "Is that face of Borg's really under 17? He looks like he's in his twenties!"

Takahashi said, "He's mature for his age! We have people like that on our representative team too!"

Marui instantly turned his gaze toward Sanada.

At this moment, Sanada stared fixedly at one of the people on the D-Guo Team and said seriously, "I didn't expect Tezuka to actually participate in the tournament as part of the D-Guo Team."

Fuji also opened his eyes and said, "Although I had prepared myself mentally, I didn't expect Tezuka to actually become our enemy!"

After the members of both sides were seated, the broadcast voice continued.

"Now for the first match: D-Guo Team's M. Bismarck and Tezuka Kunimitsu versus Japan Team's Duke Watanabe and Fuji Shusuke."

……

"I didn't expect our first match opponent to be Tezuka!"

Oishi was very surprised.

"There's nothing to be surprised about! Since Tezuka became a representative of the D-Guo Team, we were bound to run into him on the court eventually."

"It's just a pity that I didn't play in this match, missing an opportunity to battle Tezuka."

Atobe said.

Fuji opened his eyes, staring intently at Tezuka, who was wearing the Germany Team uniform on the opposite side.

Takahashi said: "The aura Tezuka is emitting now is even more powerful than it was during the National Tournament!"

"Fuji, the current Tezuka is even harder to deal with!"

Fuji nodded and walked onto the court without hesitation.

"A one-set match, starting with the Germany Team's Bismarck serving."

The umpire announced loudly.

Takahashi stretched on the spectator stand and leisurely found a seat to sit down.

"Captain Takahashi, you don't seem particularly curious about this match!"

Shiraishi felt puzzled seeing everyone else standing on the sidelines watching the match with boiling blood, while only Takahashi lazily found a seat to sit down.

"Although I don't want to dampen the team's morale, Fuji has absolutely no chance of winning against Tezuka."

Takahashi said slowly.

"What?"

Atobe was very surprised.

"Takahashi has played against both Tezuka and Fuji, so he should have the most say!"

Yukimura said.

"Fuji's Fifth and Sixth Counter are both based on spin."

"But in terms of spin, Tezuka has gone further than him."

Takahashi said while taking a cola out of his backpack.

"Gone further in terms of spin?"

"Are you talking about Domain and Phantom?"

Oishi asked.

"Smart!"

"As far as the mastery of spin on a tennis ball is concerned, with Tezuka there, Fuji has no way to apply his own spin to the ball."

"Even if Fuji were lucky enough to use his last two counters—Hecatoncheir's Gatekeepers and Star Fireworks, Phantom could still make the ball bounce out of bounds!"

"What's more, this Tezuka should have already perfected his Supreme Domain."

Takahashi explained while drinking his cola.

"Supreme Domain?"

Sanada repeated.

"Yeah! This move is really quite troublesome."

"Two completely opposite spins concentrated on one tennis ball!"

"Balls that can be returned are pulled to his side, and balls that cannot be returned are made to bounce out of bounds!"

Takahashi explained.

"So on the middle school student side, the Germany Team has a greater hope of victory."

"What about the high school students?"

Shiraishi asked.

"Look at Bismarck's ball now?"

Takahashi signaled everyone to look at the court.

"That is... a wobbling ball with no spin?"

Yukimura replied, pondering.

"Yeah!"

"Duke relies on the Super Sweet Spot to hit his signature move—Duke Home Run."

"A home run is a super Power Ball hit by using the strength of the entire body."

"But if Bismarck hits a wobbling ball with no spin, then Duke cannot find the Super Sweet Spot, and therefore cannot hit a home run."

Takahashi explained.