"The probability of a straight shot is 91.7%! Overly developed muscles have reduced sensitivity by 4.7%, so my chance of scoring this point is 100%!" A string of data spilled from Mitsuya's mouth.
"Game! 6-0! Match over!"
"Even in strength training, you should still pay attention to scientific methods, Nakagawa~" Mitsuya said warmly to Nakagauchi Sotomichi after winning the match.
"I lost~ Thanks for the advice, Mitsuya!" Nakagauchi nodded calmly in response.
As time passed, most matches on the courts had concluded. Although wins and losses were mixed, the First String members generally held the advantage—after all, aside from a select few, most of the strong players were already in the First String.
"Game! 6-2! Match over!"
"Impossible… they're just two first- and second-years!" Matsudaira said bitterly.
"Enough! We were simply outplayed!" Tonin snapped at Matsudaira with a downcast look.
Across from them, Heizenji and Hara Tetsuya danced bizarrely, seemingly celebrating their victory. Apparently, every graduate from Shitenhōji had a few screws loose.
"You're still obsessed with the right side of the court, Right-end!" Hakamada Izō laughed loudly.
"The right side is the domain of the gods! No one can break through it easily!" Migihashi Itarou replied with a calm expression.
"Is that so? Don't underestimate the world, bastard!" Hakamada's face suddenly twisted into a snarl as he spoke fiercely.
"Game! 6-1! Match over!"
"See? I told you, you're too obsessed with the right side, Right-end!" Hakamada said lightly before leaving the court. Behind him, Migihashi knelt on the ground, eyes vacant, his confidence seemingly shattered.
Meanwhile, on the high platform in the central plaza, Akashi and the others watched with interest as players returned one after another, most wearing First String badges. Among them, Irie's presence seemed oddly out of place.
"As expected, No. 20~" Chitose smiled, glancing at the badge on Irie's collar, and shook his head.
"Looks like the rest all failed in their challenges," Yukimura said with a smile.
"No! Look over there!" Sanada suddenly spoke up.
Following Sanada's gaze, they saw Tokugawa returning to the plaza alongside Ibuya Tetsujin—but the No. 11 badge now hung on Tokugawa's collar.
"Oh? So No. 11 is Senior Ibuya? Interesting!" Tachibana Kippei grinned at Ibuya.
Just then, a golden-glowing tennis ball smashed into Ibuya's stomach, blasting him into the air. Blood spurted from his mouth as he flew.
"A loser who drops his match has no right to appear before me! As for you, Tokugawa, looks like you've improved a bit!" From a slope nearby, Byoudouin lowered his racket and looked at Tokugawa with a cruel, mocking smile.
Behind Byoudouin, the First String's top ten watched like spectators at a show. Among them, Tōno Atsukyou's expression was even more vicious and bloodthirsty than Byoudouin's.
Only Mōri, who had rejoined unnoticed, quietly shook his head. Beside him, Ochi Tsukimitsu stood expressionless as always, his face unreadable. Tanegashima, however, was still nowhere to be seen.
"Byoudouin!!!" Tokugawa roared, glaring furiously at him.
"Getting bold, huh~? Speaking to the boss like that—looks like you're asking me to execute you, Tokugawa!" Tōno sneered, as if hoping to cripple him the next second.
But to Tōno's surprise, Tokugawa quickly calmed, gave him only a cold glance, and walked toward Ibuya, clearly intending to help him up.
Byoudouin watched Tokugawa supporting Ibuya, sneering with disdain before saying, "Still the same fool! Without knowing the cruelty of the world, you're nothing but trash!"
"Oh my~~~ how cold~" On the high platform, Fuji narrowed his eyes with amusement as he looked at Byoudouin.
"Captain! Don't you think that was going too far?" Ryōma said angrily from the side.
"Seems you still haven't adjusted to the rules here, Echizen~" Fuji turned to him, shaking his head.
"Let's go. The results are in. Next, it's our stage," Akashi said indifferently.
After Akashi finished speaking, everyone followed him toward the high platform steps. Meanwhile, on another balcony in the central plaza, Kurobe's voice rang out:
"All First String members! The challenge matches have ended. Now, everyone present, including Tokugawa Kazuya, has a chance to become a final member of the Japan representative team!"
"What nonsense are you spouting, you weakling coaches!" Byoudouin frowned at the three coaches.
"No need to get impatient, Byoudouin-kun! Tomorrow, all First String members will have a special team shuffle match! There will be a total of 14 matches, and the winners will become the final representative members. Look forward to it!" Saitō Itaru said cheerfully.
"Hah? A team shuffle match? Don't tell me you plan to find some trash to waste our time? Or maybe you want me to destroy the entire training camp?" Byoudouin's face was now filled with anger.
"This is an order from the head coach! You have no right to oppose it, Byoudouin Houou!" Kurobe said sternly.
"Tch! What the hell is that old man thinking!" Hearing that it was Mifune's arrangement, Byoudouin couldn't say more and turned away with the First String members.
On the way back to the First String's exclusive courts, Byoudouin's expression was dark. Kaji Kazena, seemingly trying to ease the mood, asked Mōri:
"By the way, why haven't we seen a single middle schooler along the way? Weren't 50 recruited?"
"Ah… how should I put it~ I'm guessing all the middle schoolers are training on their own courts right now?" Mōri replied in a slightly strange tone.
"Oh? But I didn't see any when I passed by Courts No. 10 and below!" Omagari Ryuuji asked curiously.
"Most of the middle schoolers are on Court No. 1 and Court No. 2 right now," Ochi answered coldly, resolving their doubts.
Suddenly, footsteps ahead stopped. Everyone looked up to see Byoudouin turn with a dark expression, glaring at Ochi Tsukimitsu.
"What did you say?! Court No. 1 and Court No. 2 are all middle schoolers?"
"Yes. Right now, aside from Oni on Court No. 1, the rest are all middle schoolers," Ochi said flatly, his tone completely even.
"Oni went to Court No. 1? Looks like while I was away, this training camp has really gone downhill!" Byoudouin laughed in anger.
"So that means… tomorrow's team shuffle match will be against…" Kimijima said thoughtfully.
"Ah~ ah~ give me a break!" Omagari clutched his forehead, looking pained.
"Hahahahahaha~ this is going to be so much fun! Mifune, I'll make sure you realize how stupid this decision was!" Byoudouin suddenly burst out laughing, but the killing intent in his tone sent chills down the spine.
Behind them, Echizen Ryōga casually bit into an orange, his smile growing more playful, with even a faint trace of schadenfreude.
Meanwhile, on Court No. 1, all the middle schoolers had gathered, including those from Court No. 2. They were listening to Akashi announce the lineup for tomorrow's shuffle match. To match the First String, the middle schoolers would also select 20 players to compete.
"The list is here. It's split into two groups, matching the First String's top ten and bottom ten. For tomorrow's matches, who you play with in the bottom ten is up to you. I'll arrange the top ten. Any objections?" Akashi's calm gaze swept over everyone. Seeing them shake their heads, he continued:
"Tomorrow's matches will have a total of 14 games—6 doubles and 8 singles. I'm not asking for a clean sweep, but you must secure at least eighty percent of the wins. As for Byoudouin, I'll handle him myself! Is that clear?" At that moment, Akashi's eyes shone with an intense light.
The list in his hand recorded the names of the 20 players:
Akashi Seijurō, Yukimura Seiichi, Tezuka Kunimitsu, Akutsu Jin, Atobe Keigo, Fuji Shūsuke, Tachibana Kippei, Chitose Senri, Niō Masaharu, Sanada Genichirō.
Tōyama Kintarō, Echizen Ryōma, Shiraishi Kuranosuke, Kite Eishirō, Liliadent Krauser, Inui Sadaharu, Yanagi Renji, Ishida Gin, Kirihara Akaya, Kabaji Munehiro.