The Prince of Tennis, Talent Replication

Chapter 103

"Echizen?"

Arai stroked his chin and said, "He's not here."

Kevin Smith was slightly disappointed and was about to turn around when he heard Arai say sternly, "How about this, I can fight you."

"Oh, it seems you must be the strongest here. Let's have a match then."

Kevin Smith said.

"Focus all your attention on the ground."

Arai, having finished speaking with his support, was secretly pleased, having finally gotten Tezuka's words right. He couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Hehe!"

"Hey, is Arai okay?"

"It's really worrying for him."

"I think we should go find Kawamura-senpai, otherwise that guy will cause trouble again."

"I'll go ask Kawamura-senpai right away."

"Is it okay for me to serve?" Kevin Smith asked, holding the ball.

Arai was very magnanimous: "It's okay, showing courtesy to international friends is a tradition of our Seigaku."

"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony."

Kevin Smith tossed the ball up, not with all his might, and slammed it into Araki's well with a thud.

"Okay, watch me."

Arai was very pleased with himself. With a bang, he retaliated, secretly delighted.

"Hey, what's that move, buddy?"

Kevin Smith raised his racket high and lowered the other end of his body.

"Bang!"

Like a madman, Kevin Smith spun the ball towards Arai.

"Thump!"

"Clatter!"

Arai was hit squarely in the chin and crashed to the ground.

"Isn't that...isn't that Fuji Yuta's outside spin ball?"

"How could he do that?"

"Ouch, that hurts!" Arai cried out in pain.

"Looks like you're not so strong either?!" Kevin Smith said condescendingly, without a trace of remorse on his face.

"I was careless just now, let's try again." Arai said through gritted teeth as he got up.

"Go and tell Echizen Ryoma that Kevin has arrived."

Kevin Smith said this to everyone he defeated.

At this moment, he was standing on the Hyotei Academy's basketball court, speaking triumphantly to Jiro Akutagawa, whose face was covered in bruises from his beating.

"Echizen Ryoma?"

"This guy can't find Echizen Ryoma, so he takes it out on us."

"And why is this guy so violent?"

"Ci Lang, are you alright?"

"Ouch, that hurts!"

Kevin Smith identified all the recognized top schools and defeated them all.

In the selection training camp, everyone is fighting for a single spot.

At the entrance of the youth selection training camp, Mamoru Inoue walked in with the documents in his hand.

Soon, everyone knew about it.

"Is he the captain of the team we're playing against?" Kikumaru Eiji asked, holding his head.

"Kevin Smith's father, George Smith, and Ryoma's father, Echizen Nanjiro, used to..."

Inoue Mamoru began to recount that old story, while Echizen Ryoma looked completely uninterested.

"A legendary tennis star?"

"So, Echizen's father was a professional fighter."

"Wow, Echizen is actually a second-generation professional. That's really amazing."

While everyone was still discussing, on the other side...

Natsume Tsukiya, Hanamura Aoi, and Teya Kunimitsu sat together and began discussing the list of participants.

"I've already decided who I want to recommend. What about you?"

Hanamura Aoi's list included two names, which she pushed to the center of the table.

"I have no problem on my end," Natsume Tsuki replied.

Hanamura Aoi: "So, Tezuka, what about you?"

"I have no problem either," said Kunimitsu Teiya.

"Alright then," said Hanamura Aoi, resting her hands on the table, "Let's take a look at these six candidates first."

"Okay," Natsume Tsuki replied.

"Then, I'll recommend Keigo Atobe from Hyotei and Genichiro Sanada from Rikkai. Are you two okay with that?" Hanamura asked.

"No problem."

Natsume Tsukiya and Tezuka Kunimitsu answered one after the other.

The two people I would like to recommend are:

Natsume Tsukiya pushed forward the list in his hand and said, "Akuzu from Yamabuki Junior High School, and Masaharu Niou from Rikkai University Affiliated Junior High School!"

I guessed it.

Hanamura Aoi said proudly, "These two have been the most hardworking and trained the most from the beginning, and they are also the two who have improved the fastest in this group. I'm not surprised that you can recommend these two. It's a pity that you, as the coach, can't recommend yourself."

"However, I will not give up this opportunity," Natsume Tsukiya said with a smile.

"Of course, you are one of our most valuable team members."

After smilingly finished speaking, Hanamura Aoi turned to Teiichi Kunimitsu and asked, "So, Tezuka, which two players would you recommend?"

After a moment of silence, Tezuka Kunimitsu said, "My two recommended players are Chotaro Ootori and Mido from Hyotei!"

Hanamura Aoi and Natsume Tsuki exchanged a glance, both looking puzzled.

Aoi Hanamura's doubts are easy to understand. Ryoma Echizen was a dark horse all the way up to the Kanto Tournament finals. He didn't lose a single match and kept getting stronger. It's hard for her to understand why Kunimitsu Tezuka didn't choose Ryoma Echizen.

According to the original story, the reason why Tei didn't choose Echizen Ryoma was simple: he defeated the number one fighter Sanada, lost his fighting spirit, thought he was invincible, and didn't take training and matches seriously. Tei did that for Echizen Ryoma's sake.

As it stands, Echizen Ryoma failed to defeat Sanada, and Natsume Tsuki doesn't know why Tei Kunimitsu did so.

"Tezuka, won't you reconsider?"

Natsume Tsuki also spoke up.

"Yes, Tezuka."

Hanamura Aoi continued, "Echizen is an invaluable asset to our team. Although we haven't fought Natsume-kun yet, I believe they are both very strong. Without Echizen, our chances of winning will drop."

"It won't be that serious, that's good."

Guoguang Teya made up his mind.

Soon, the day arrived to announce the list of selected members.

Everyone gathered in the auditorium.

As the head coach, Aoi Hanamura naturally had to speak up: "Of the seven members of the youth team, six have been decided. There is one left. As everyone knows, Hyotei is the champion team, and if Natsume Tsukiya were not the coach, he should be on the list. However, for the sake of fairness, each of the three groups will select two people, leaving the last spot for everyone to have a fair chance."

After she finished speaking, she looked at the audience.

"So, even if we're not among the top six, we can still fairly compete for the seventh spot, right?"

"That seems to be the case, but do you think you can beat Natsume Tsukiya?"

"Hmph, whether I can win or not, we'll only know after we fight. Before we fight, I don't think I'll lose."

Everyone's attention was drawn to the seventh spot.

Especially the members of Natsume's group, their training volume these days is at least ten times that of the other groups. You can tell from their appearance that Natsume Tsukiya's training has boosted their morale.

"I am very grateful for everyone's hard work during this training camp."

Hanamura Aoi said, "Everyone's strength has improved a lot, but there are only seven spots available. We need to select seven suitable people to participate. Now I will announce the list of six people selected for the team."

Eiji Kikumaru: "Who will be selected?"

Takeshi Momoshiro: "Atobe from Hyotei and Sanada from Rikkai should both be selected."

"That's true." Kikumaru Eiji nodded.

Momoshiro Takeshi looked at Echizen Ryoma beside him: "Of course, and our team's Echizen too, right, Echizen?"

Ryoma Echizen remained silent, but he never believed he would fail to be selected.

"Mido-senpai, do you think we'll be chosen?"

Ootori Chōtarō asked.

Ryo Mido: "That's not important. Our goal is to win the national championship."

Listening to the conversation between the two, everyone pondered silently.

Kiyosumi Sengoku: "These two guys really have a clear goal, don't they? But then again, isn't our Yamabuki team also competing in the national tournament?"

Renji Yanagi: "The national championship should belong to Rikkai University."

Takeshi Momoshiro: "The National Tournament? With Tezuka back from Seigaku, we're sure to win."

"Keigo Atobe, a third-year student at Hyotei Academy; Genichiro Sanada, a third-year student at Rikkai University Affiliated Middle School!"

Aoi Hanamura announced through the microphone: "Jin Akutsu, third-year student at Yamabuki Junior High School; Masaharu Niou, third-year student at Rikkai University Affiliated Junior High School!"

"What, Akutsu?"

"No way, Akutsu from Yamabuki Junior High School actually got selected!"

"However, that guy has been practicing like crazy lately; I've never seen anyone so wild."

Ultimately, it comes down to having the ability.

There was a lot of quiet discussion, and because Akutsu's crazy training intensity far exceeded theirs, and Akutsu was also very fierce in the sparring, there were no opinions despite the surprise.

"Quiet."

Hanamura Aoi continued announcing, "Ryo Mido, a third-year student at Hyotei Academy; Chotaro Ootori, a second-year student at Hyotei Academy, that's all!"

After she finished speaking, she looked down.

"No one from Seigaku was selected?"

"No way, Seigaku was the runner-up in this tournament."

"However, it doesn't seem to matter who you are."

"Besides, aren't Mido and Ootori from the Ryuzaki Group at Hyotei? You should ask Tezuka about this."

"Do you have any questions about this lineup?"

Huacun Kui's eyes darted left and right, and she smiled, "If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

Everyone fell silent.

The only question is why there are no Seigaku members.

However, since the two people chosen by the Ryuzaki Group were chosen by Kunimitsu Teie, this question is no longer valid.

It's obvious that Atobe and Sanada belong to the Hanamura group, while Akutsu and Niou belong to the Natsume group. Neither of the two members of the Natsume group are members of Hyotei, so there's no further question.

The person who couldn't understand it the most was Echizen Ryoma, who stared blankly at Tei Kunimitsu.

Huacun Kui said, "If there are no objections, then those who want to compete for the seventh spot, please come here to register after the meeting. The seventh spot will be selected by the winners and losers. If you do not register, it will be considered that you have automatically given up participating in the competition."

As everyone looked at each other, Hanamura Aoi continued, "You only have one opponent, and that is Natsume Tsukiya. If he hadn't played as a coach, there would be no doubt that he would be the starter."

"Natsume, that guy."

Sengoku Kiyosumi got itchy hands. He had no excuse for his defeat in the Kanto Tournament, and although he knew he might not be able to beat them, he still wanted to give it a try.

"Disband!"

As soon as Hanamura Aoi finished speaking, Sengoku Kiyosumi followed her.

"It's a thousand koku."

Hanamura Aoi had observed everyone's training, and she had seen Sengoku Kiyosumi's strength firsthand.

Hanamura Aoi said, "Tezuka said that if it weren't for Mido and Ootori from Hyotei, he would definitely consider choosing you as a member of the youth team. However, Mido and Ootori are too outstanding in terms of both individual strength and teamwork. In order to better deal with the West Coast team this time, we have no choice but to..."

"It's alright, Coach," Sengoku Kiyosumi said. "I really want to play another match with Natsume-kun."

"Then come with me," said Hanamura Aoi.

"Captain, why?"

Ryoma Echizen simply couldn't understand it.

Given his stubborn personality, most of the time he would just be sulking and wouldn't ask why he couldn't play.

Ryoma Echizen has not played in every match in the past.

This time, he didn't think he had done anything wrong.

"You've accumulated too much resentment in your heart."

"Tezuka Kunimitsu said."

After the Kanto Tournament, the Seigaku group went to Germany to visit Tei's family and do some sightseeing. Ryoma Echizen harbored a lot of resentment.

This resentment has persisted until now. For Kunimitsu Tei, this youth selection is not a very important matter. If Ryoma Echizen continues in this state, it will definitely affect the upcoming national tournament.

So arrogant!

This is the problem with Ryoma Echizen now.

Ryoma Echizen believed that Seigaku's defeat was the fault of others, not their own.

During the team selection process, Ryoma Echizen was convinced that he would definitely be selected, which indicates that Ryoma Echizen's current mindset is problematic.

Rather than competing, Guoguang Shoujia hopes to correct this mistake in a timely manner.

The best way is to prevent Ryoma Echizen from competing, thus stimulating him. Too much success is not a good thing.

"Resentment?!" Echizen Ryoma didn't think it was his fault, saying, "I just don't want to lose to anyone, including our Seigaku, I don't want to lose to anyone."

Ryoma Echizen only shows more of his emotions in front of Kunimitsu Teie.

"Then, the last spot is right there."

Tezuka Kunimitsu remained as cold as ever. After speaking, he paused, glanced at Echizen Ryoma, and then walked away.

Kikumaru Eiji and the others hid far away and saw the two arguing. They waited until Tezuka Kunimitsu left before jogging over.

Eiji Kikumaru: "Little one, what did you say to the Tei family?"

"I'm going to defeat Natsume Tsukiya."

Echizen Ryoma frowned and said.

"Defeat Natsume Tsukiya?" Kikumaru Eiji exclaimed in surprise.

Momoshiro Takenori exclaimed excitedly, "That's wonderful! That's exactly how it should be!"

Eiji Kikumaru: "Hey, Momo, is this really going to work?"

Takeshi Momoshiro: "There's nothing wrong with it. I trust Echizen."

"Alright then, I support you," Kikumaru Eiji said to Echizen Ryoma.