Chapter 72: First and Second Updates - Players' Official Appearance Moment! ...

In the end, no one took off their Rikkai University uniforms.

Silently, facing the gazes of others on the road, I went to the third court with a sense of guilt and helplessness.

The only two who were spared, Jack Kuwabara and Yagyu Hiroshi, successfully became the first and last candidates.

I endured the scorching gazes and the condemnation of my inner shame all the way. I didn't know why I felt shame, but it just appeared.

The children, Yukimura Seiichi, Sanada Genichirō, Yanagi Renji, Kirihara Akaya, Marui Bunta, and Niou Masaharu, successfully entered the third court.

The guardian they had been looking for, 'Mr. Yagi Kei', was squatting above the referee's head waiting for them.

Rikkai people: "..."

After just a moment, he automatically became the referee of the cat climbing frame: "..."

Rikkai people: "!!"

"Sorry, sorry, we'll take him away right now!!"

The cat was taken away, and the innocent referee was finally spared.

Kirihara Akaya lowered his voice and asked Yagi Kei, "Kui, where did you go just now? We looked for you everywhere and couldn't find you!!"

Others heard it and more or less pricked up their ears and listened carefully.

The player pressed the small speaker twice, and the traces of the lost teammates quickly appeared on the small map. However, in just a moment, the teammates' avatars appeared one after another in the system ranking battle pop-up bar.

——What high efficiency!

The NPC next to him called out to the player, and the player took the time out of his busy schedule to look at him.

Kirihara Akaya's eyes widened: "Hmm?"

The other people from Rikkai University pricked up their ears: "!!"

What are you talking about? Give SkipSkip!

After waiting for an answer for a long time, Kirihara Akaya only to see a pile of seaweed rushing towards him: "..."

“——QAQ!!”

The player waited for his teammates and then began to wait for his opponents.

Players start waiting.

Players continue to wait.

Players are still waiting,

“Beep!”

"The match has officially started for fifteen minutes, and Tokyo Yinhua Middle School has not yet appeared. This is considered a forfeit!"

"This match—Rikkai University Affiliated High School vs. Tokyo Ginka Junior High School, Rikkai wins big!"

As soon as the unsuspecting player looked up, a pop-up window popped up in front of him.

【You win! 】

[Congratulations! You've successfully advanced. We're expediting your next opponent... loading...]

No, that's winning?

The players haven't shown their power yet?

The bewildered players looked around, and the Rikkai public, whose peripheral vision was always fixed on the younger generation, was startled.

"——What happened!?!"

as well as,

'What is this kid going to do again?!'

Each game was tense, and in contrast, the only one who was calm was the referee of this game.

The referee couldn't help but smile happily at the thought of being able to get away from that elusive kid from Rikkai University.

At this moment, a world has been achieved in which only the referee is happy.

Everyone at Rikkai looked at each other in bewilderment. Even though they stared at Yagi Kei for a long while, he only raised his head slightly and stared in one direction in a daze, without doing anything out of the ordinary.

For a moment, everyone couldn't figure out what he was going to do, so they just stared at him closely while letting go slightly.

"Since Yinhua has given up, let's go and see our next opponent," Yukimura said.

"Alright, let me think about my next opponent..." Marui Fumita recalled the match list at the entrance.

"Ah! I remember now—it's Fudomine!"

The sixth course, Fudo Peak,

Halfway through the three-on-one match, Kamio Akira used his speed to successfully toyed with his opponent.

Fudomine, who made a name for themselves in the regional competition, is undoubtedly a dark horse. The Kanto competition has brought them even more attention and spotlight.

"…Is this Fudo Peak?"

"I've never heard of it...it's so strong!"

"Another tough opponent... This year's Kanto Tournament..."

Ju Jiping sat in the coaching chair, folded his arms and remained motionless, suppressing all rumors.

The Fudo Peak team members regard him as their backbone and are secretly united.

"Fudomine vs. Chengdi, the current score is 3:0!"

When the referee announced the score, the whispers in the audience suddenly became more intense.

"It's actually so one-sided..."

"Emperor Cheng has to go back home again this year, haha."

"It seems Fudo Peak's advancement is a foregone conclusion. Who will they face next?"

"No matter who it is, facing this dark horse, it will be a disaster, right?"

“Ahahahahaha…”

The laughter grew louder, but soon it suddenly stopped, as if something was coming over.

Tachibana Jiping, who hadn't lost his mind amidst the praise from the others in the audience, seemed lost in thought. He opened his eyes slightly and glanced over.

And where the crowd gathered, a team of figures walked out like Moses parting the sea.

The one leading the group was wearing a team jacket, with iris-colored hair, and a pair of long, gentle, and calm eyes beneath his head.

Seeing the school emblem on his team uniform, passersby were even more intimidated by his aura.

"Yes, yes—Rikkai University!"

As soon as these words came out, the conversation suddenly became louder.

"Why would Rikkai University come to watch Fudomine's match?!"

"Is there some connection between Rikkai University and Fudomine?"

"Are there any connections between these two schools? Why have I never heard of it?"

"No, no, no, I remember—"

"After Fudomine advances in this match, their next opponent will be Rikkai University!"

Yukimura Seiichi, with his arms folded and his coat on, and Tachibana Kihei, who was still sitting in the coach's seat on the court with his face slightly turned, met their eyes from a distance.

As they stared at each other, other people from Rikkai University came from behind.

The Fudomine members gathered in the arena, forming a protective formation with Tachibana Yoshihei as the center.

The two sides faced each other, their breath stagnant, as if a lightning-fast confrontation would occur in the next second.

The onlookers dared not breathe, for fear that any extra noise would disturb something.

In this heavy atmosphere,

Players appeared on the court.

“…”

Everyone in Rikkai looked at the familiar figure in the stadium in silence, then slowly turned their heads to look behind them.

Kirihara Akaya, who was still chattering with Yagi Kei a minute ago, turned around in confusion.

——There is nothing around him!

In the blink of an eye, this guy ran away again! !

Everyone in Rikkai University is almost used to this feeling of exhaustion.

But the onlookers didn't. They were still catching every detail, eager for a tit-for-tat confrontation.

"Look! Rikkai University has sent out their advance troops!"

"—That's right! It's that first-year student. I've known for a long time that this kid has a future!"

"Look! He's raising his hand towards the captain of Fudomine—"

"——Could it be that he is about to attack first?!"

"Hurry, hurry, hurry—let the storm come even harder!!"

Storm Player Cool raised his hand towards the NPC: "Yo."

Although they had a premonition, it seemed that their premonition was not wrong: "..."

"Ha, haha, you're here, Yagi-kun."

Ibu Shinji glanced at him and suddenly said, "Where's your hat?"

Kamio Akira looked at him in surprise.

This guy Yiwu actually cares about people from other schools?

The player thought about it and realized that although the game allowed players to dress like human beings in the cutscenes, the cutscenes were already over, so...

Everyone at Fudo Peak watched helplessly as Mushroom Head, seemingly inspired by Ibu Shinji's words, lighted up and he casually took out the long-lost trash can lid with the Hyotei Academy emblem printed on it from the fourth dimension.

He put it on his head with a swish.

Dazzling and dazzling!

The cat cocked its tail in satisfaction with its own combination.

The people of Lihai who witnessed this scene suddenly felt dizzy before they even had time to extend their hands.

No, don’t…

You little one has just started to behave like a human being, don't go back to being an alien so soon!

Facing this cross-dressing scene and being blinded by the dazzling trash can lid, the people of Fudo Peak slowly suppressed their smiles.

Even Kamio Akira, who usually loves to laugh, gave Ibu Shinji a deep look for the one who gave the reminder.

"...Did you do this on purpose?"

"What kind of joke are you talking about?"

Ju Jiping separated the team members who were about to quarrel with him, and looked at the mushroom head in front of him.

During the last four-school alliance training camp, a good revolutionary friendship was developed among the four schools.

As the source of their rebellious spirit, Yagi Kei is undoubtedly the key to their friendship.

Tachibana Jiping asked him gently, "Yagi-kun, do you have anything to say by coming down first?"

Of course, everyone did not fail to think that he was here to make harsh remarks.

But when I think about Yagi Kei's behavior,

There is no such thing as a harsh word.

If this guy really wants to say something harsh,

He could raze the entire Kanto Tournament venue to the ground.

I can't do it at all~ I can't do it~~

With a strange trust, everyone at Fudo Peak looked at him.

The player, however, skipped the NPC's dialog box and turned around to stretch out his evil hand.

The people of Fudo Peak, who were expecting him to speak, just watched him with a pair of extremely honest dead fish eyes as he picked up a trash can.

“…”

“………”

Use the most honest expression and do the most dishonest things.

The people of Rikkai who arrived late successfully witnessed this scene.

"...No—let go of that trash can..."

No matter how helpless I was, I could only watch Jibaimao Yangguang actively and happily rummaging through the trash can.

'It's okay, it's okay.'

The people of Rikkai silently began to persuade themselves.

——At least, Yagi is rummaging through the trash can here instead of carrying it around!

That’s great progress!

The Rikkai public lost their expression after being ravaged by the chicken and cat.

Fudomine also noticed the arrival of Rikkai University.

The two teams officially faced each other on the court.

Yukimura Seiichi and Tachibana Yoshihei nodded.

"Captain Tachibana,"

"Captain Yukimura,"

"I've heard something about it,"

"Nice to meet you,"

From the perspective of the audience who are looking forward to "getting bigger and bigger",

Rikkai University and Fudomine actually became polite to each other.

Yukimura Seiichi smiled: "Looks like the next opponent will be Fudomine."

Tachibana Jiping nodded: "We will not give up easily."

Yukimura Seiichi: "Haha, then we'll just have to wait and see."

Yukimura Seiichi and Tachibana Yoshihei smiled and shook hands.

After shaking hands, Jiping noticed something and lowered his head.

Look at the outer contour of the muscle, slowly,

"Captain Yukimura, you've been working out really well. Even your biceps are so well-defined."

Yukimura Seiichi: "..."

…Should I say it’s all thanks to Yagi Kei?

He could only respond in silence.

The two schools met and confirmed their opponents.

The staff at the Kanto tournament venue quickly lined up,

[Next match: Rikkai University Affiliated Junior High School vs. Fudomine Junior High School, Court 7]

[…loading…matching…]

【Matching completed! 】

[Your opponent is——Fudomine! ]

The player immediately looked up and saw a matching interface pop up in front of him.

Teammates—all in!

Opponent—all in!

All the avatars of the team players were listed in the middle, and with a buzzing sound, the cutscene CG began.

The two teams came to the seventh court together with their bags on their backs. Near the court, spectators and teams from other schools had already rushed over after hearing the news.

Seigaku and Hyotei, who had just finished their first match, were among them.

Atobe Keigo crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes slightly, "Haha, I didn't expect that the first one to confront Rikkai University... would be Fudomine."

Ozuki Yuushi nodded his chin slightly, "Well, anyway, the next game we have to face is one of these two teams~"

Atobe Keigo: "You've really kept me waiting, haven't you, Karachi?"

Takahiro Kabachi, with his golf bag on his back, said: "USU."

Taketo Mukaihi blew out some bubble gum. "But it's a good idea to take this opportunity to collect data on them. After all, they're the renowned overlords of Kanto and dark horses."

When Jiro Akutagawa heard that the next match would be against Rikkai University, he quickly came to his senses.

"Is it Marui?! Will Marui play in the first game?!"

Mukai Taketo was helpless: "Hey, hey, Jiro... at least save some face for our Hyotei..."

Likewise, on the other side, everyone from Seigaku also arrived at the seventh court.

"—Luckily, I made it in time! It hasn't even started yet!"

Kikumaru Eiji built a shed to look out, and Oishi followed him helplessly.

"Normally, it's just the beginning. There's no need to rush, Eiji."

"——This is different, Oishi-senpai," Taocheng Wu said with a swaying smile.

"Although we've had training camps and practice matches before, this is a life-and-death duel—in that sense, it's completely different!"

He even poked Ryoma Echizen beside him, "Isn't that right, Ryoma?"

Echizen Ryoma, who was drinking Ponta, glanced at him from under his baseball cap.

"Not even close."

"Wow—Ryoma, you're showing off again!"

Fuji smiled as he watched them play, then turned his head slightly and looked at Tezuka who had been silent beside him.

He brought up the topic appropriately, "Tezuka, who do you think is on the right side of this game?"

Tezuka Kunimitsu did not speak.

Perhaps even if no one asks, everyone seems to already have the answer in their hearts.

If it was the former Rikkai University, it would be very difficult to deal with.

And now, we have the minister who has returned.

The complete Rikkai University, which brought together the three giants...

Everything seems to have been decided long ago.

"Everyone, we must keep our morale high and not give up just because the other side is so strong."

Ju Jiping encouraged before the game to boost morale.

"As always, we will do our best and keep fighting. The result will not let us down."

"--yes!"

Looking back at Rikkai University,

Player, sitting on the back of the coach's chair.

Yukimura Seiichi: "..."

Others: “…”

Slowly, Yukimura Seiichi said: "Yagi...how about we sit down nicely?"

It’s not that children are not allowed to sit on it, but it’s a good chair...do they really have to sit on the back of it?

The others looked at Yukimura slowly, hesitating whether to tell him that this was actually good enough.

At the very least, he is sitting on the coach's chair, not on the referee's chair on the coach's chair.

While he was hesitating, Mushroom Head suddenly seemed to have thought of something and reached out to pull out a referee chair from the four-dimensional space.

As soon as it was placed on the coach's chair, 'Patta Patta' flew up and sat down.

Noble Phantasm, experience bonus! Activate!

The Rikkai people slowly raised their heads: "..."

Here he comes,

He finally came.

Yukimura Seiichi: "Has he...always been like this?"

Rikkai said nothing, just nodded.

The high-sitting Jibai Cat and the low-standing Rikkai people looked like a portrait, except that the high one was a little too high and the low one was a little too low.

Doubtful voices were heard from the crowd around.

"What's going on at Rikkai University?"

"Where did they bring the referee chair from...how many referees are there in this match?"

"I don't understand. I really don't understand it anymore."

Mamoru Inoue was at the front. He adjusted his camera, set up the tripod, and honestly recorded every detail of the battle between Rikkai University and Fudomine.

He had a feeling that there would definitely be a surprise in this game.

Although Mushroom Head behaved abnormally, he had already shown full resistance to it, and both Rikkai University and Fudomine could selectively ignore it.

Even the referee of this game was the one who had just been tortured by the players in the third court!

Lucky Referee: Not happy.

"Well, everyone, get ready and go." Yukimura Seiichi said to everyone with his arms folded.

He was wearing the Rikkai University uniform jacket, which moved without wind, and his aura was even more powerful.

Of course, everyone is not nervous about the upcoming game.

But looking at a certain mushroom head who is at a commanding height...

"...Is this really okay?"

Marui Bunta murmured,

“…”

“…Pray.”

Jack Sangyuan slowly.

Both sides sent out doubles teams, and the difference in strength was so great that it could be described as one-sided.

The Marui-Kihara pair and the Yagyu-Yagi pair won two doubles matches at the fastest speed.

What we have to watch now is the singles match number three, which can be said to be the final match!

The audience's emotions were aroused.

Dark horse vs. king,

Will it be a dark horse that breaks through the siege, or will the king take the lead?

It depends on whether this third round will be let go!

Players are still waiting for matching matches.

Polyhedral dice Click to start!

System pop-up window prompt: [Your battle order is——]

【Singles three! 】

Your opponent is——

【Tachibana Yoshihira】

【Do you accept the challenge now? 】

【·yes】

【·no】

Is there any need to hesitate? Of course -

【·yes】

【Confirmed! 】

“…Here it comes…Here it comes!”

The audience became lively again, but then the discussion became louder.

"Hey...wait, something's wrong!"

Some discerning people noticed that the difference between the two teams was huge.

"Fudomine actually put their chief in singles three—?"

"Here at Rikkai University...it's actually an unknown first-year student??!"

The audience suddenly wailed.

"No, how could this happen!"

"Where's Sanada? Where's Yanagi? At the very least, second-year Kirihara will do! Why would they send a first-year student they've never met?"

"The most crucial singles three... you can't even train them like this—!"

The audience was talking about it, and the sound even reached the venue.

Kirihara Akaya started to bare his teeth, "You don't understand anything——"

Marui Bunta pulled him back, shook his head, and motioned him to look the other way.

After confirming [Click], Mushroom Head jumped off the referee's chair and scratched his head expressionlessly.

As he walked forward, he took out his tennis racket from behind and turned around, heading towards the court without looking around.

Yukimura Seiichi's eyes moved slightly and he called him, "Yagi,"

Suddenly, a special NPC pulled him into a cutscene CG, and the player was confused.

What happened?

Isn't the game about to start?

Yukimura tried hard to organize his words and think about how to express it as tactfully as possible.

Facing the innocent and dark eyes of the younger generation,

Yukimura Seiichi paused, feeling somewhat helpless, and finally said briefly:

"Can you fight...safer?"

Rikkai University has always upheld the principle of free play and encouraged its members to follow their nature and pursue their own strength.

But that's for normal people.

In comparison, Kei Yagi seems a little abnormal.

After all, this is not Rikkai University, and the opponent is not him.

No matter what, you can't really treat the other side as Japanese.

Seeing the young junior's dead eyes without any emotion, Yukimura Seiichi knew that he didn't understand.

“…”

He slowly gave an example from himself, "For example...you should hit a tennis ball, not a banana peel."

He stepped on a banana peel and slipped into a pit, barely surviving.

On the other side, Jiping Ju kicked the banana peel and slid 800 meters away...

Use your brain, use your brain quickly.

Sanada Genichirō suddenly said, "Don't destroy the court."

Facing the gazes of Yukimura Seiichi and the others, Sanada Genichirō said silently, "Rikkai University's renovation expenses are already overburdened."

“…”

When these words were spoken, those who heard them were heartbroken and those who listened to them cried.

Everyone immediately thought of the Rikkai University tennis court that had been beaten into the surface of the moon.

Well, this is quite necessary.

Yanagi Renji also added: "Use a tennis racket, not any other tool, Yagi."

Although it was not stated explicitly, nor was a single word mentioned,

But everyone, without any prior agreement, thought of a certain powerful weapon that appeared quite frequently...

——Giant flowers, coconuts, and vegetables.

This is even more necessary.

Just kidding, it's okay for a practice match... But in a formal competition like this, pulling out a giant cauliflower to attack the opponent will definitely be called a foul!

The player was still watching the cutscene CG, but he was distracted and looked down.

Status bar——suddenly there are several debuffs,

Then take another look.

[Attack method locked: Tennis]

[Weapon Lock: Tennis Racket]

【Venue protection is on】

as well as,

[Matching object life safety protection is turned on]

Oh, the last one, is it really necessary?

The players walked onto the court, and Tachibana Jiping also walked onto the court.

The two looked at each other across the net.

Even in the previous joint training of the four schools, there were almost no people who could really fight 1v1 with Yagi Kei.

After all, the other party either ran away and disappeared, or brought a bunch of strange things to dazzle everyone.

As for his true strength, it only exists in some hearsay.

Tachibana Jiping's greatest strength is that he never underestimates any opponent. He respects every opponent who stands in front of him and places them on the same level as him.

Even if the person opposite is just an unknown first-year student.

This is his greatest advantage.

Now, it has become his biggest weakness.

…

The sudden roar and loud noise when the ball hits the ground,

Fuji Shusuke opened his sharp eyes,

Atobe Keigo slowly placed his fingers on his brow bone.

No one laughs anymore,

Countless pairs of eyes were cast down,

The field fell into a deathly silence.

Dust and smoke filled the air, the mist cleared away,

My breathing slowed down to the point of not disturbing the slightest moment, only my thoughts were running at high speed.

The brain is like the most sophisticated instrument, and the heart is like a drum.

Wrong, wrong, wrong,

It was wrong from the very beginning.

It was only a moment later that Ju Jiping realized that his feet could no longer move.

...I shouldn't look at it straight.

Just put it in the same position,

Just thinking that it is enough to 'look straight',

...there is already a gap in cognition.

Underestimation, arrogance, neglect, delay, regrets galore,

and the deepest,

despair.

Across the net, holding the tennis ball, he slowly threw it upwards. Under his black hair, he slightly raised his eyes.

Kei Yagi,

Kei Yagi, a freshman at Rikkai University,

He is despair itself.