Chapter 40
On the day of departure, Kirihara Akaya was pulled onto the school bus by his seniors with a confused look on his face.
"Hey! Travel." Kirihara Akaya finally realized that this was the reward the seniors had mentioned before.
Marui Bunta patted Kirihara Akaya's shoulder, signaling him to get in the car quickly. "Yeah, didn't I say that before?"
Kirihara Akaya had no recollection of this incident. His mind was full of tennis club affairs and the upcoming rookie competition. He thought that when he encountered the rookie challenge, it would definitely leave a deep impression on people like the Big Three.
Uraya Shiita waved at the entrance of the tennis club: "Don't worry, Captain Kirihara. I will take good care of the tennis club and wait for your return."
During the trip to Germany, the regular players of Rikkai University's tennis club gathered together to discuss travel plans and the local customs and culture of the destination.
"I want to visit art galleries in Germany and a tennis club." Seiichi Yukimura thought about the future.
Marui Bunta raised his hand. "Jackal and I plan to go to the nearby snack streets first. We'll share the delicious food in the group."
Jackal Sangyuan nodded.
Niou Masaharu put his arm around Yagyu Hiroshi's shoulders. "We're going to the library first. Yagyu wants to buy some mystery novels."
Yagyu Hiroshi pushed up his glasses, took Niou Masaharu's hand away, and agreed, "That's right."
"Wait! Senior, where am I?" Kirihara Akaya, who failed foreign language and couldn't communicate, looked left and right.
Yanagi Renji looked at Sanada. "Each person looked at it for a long time."
Sanada looked at Yanagi Renji. "Deal."
"We have the military advisor and Sanada here~ haha." Niou Masaharu teased Kirihara Akaya.
Kirihara Akaya, his mind full of tennis, carefully glanced at Sanada-senpai and Yanagi-senpai's faces. Seeing that they looked the same, he finally felt relieved. "Then I'm going to the street tennis court! Let's see how German tennis is played, hahahaha."
Yukimura Seiichi smiled and said, "Maybe there's a chance I'll meet an interesting opponent."
The group agreed on a time to meet and then acted separately.
Sanada and Yanagi Renji walked on the street, observing the surrounding scenery.
Yanagi Renji occasionally stopped and recorded something.
"Senior, over there." Kirihara Akaya suddenly pointed to a building not far away and said.
Not far away there is a tennis court surrounded by green plants. Many people are sweating on the court, and there are many spectators watching on the side.
At the entrance to the tennis court, there is a sign with the venue name written in chalk below it.
The sign in German and English said only doubles were accepted recently.
Sanada carefully read the content on the sign, while Yanagi Renji observed the game on the side.
Kirihara Akaya was also very excited and eager to show his strength on the German tennis court.
"It looks like they're preparing for the event." Yanagi Renji commented.
Sanada nodded and walked into the tennis court first. "Since we're here, we might as well go take a look."
"Senior, I want to fight with that guy." Kirihara Akaya's eyes fell on a player who was warming up. The man's movements were smooth and powerful, and he was obviously a master.
Yanagi Renji grabbed Kirihara Akaya and asked him to wait. "Akaya, don't be impatient."
Sanada found the spectators and asked about the game. It turned out that a small doubles tennis tournament was about to be held nearby, and most of the participants were tennis enthusiasts from the neighborhood.
Someone watching the match enthusiastically informed Sanada, "This competition is limited to doubles teams. The winner will have the opportunity to attend professional training and maybe even have the chance to become a professional player."
"Aren't there any other empty courts nearby?" Sanada asked.
The spectator shook his head. "Everyone's been actively preparing for this event lately. Once the competition is over, there won't be any distinction between singles and doubles on the court anymore."
Sanada frowned and looked at Yanagi Renji and Kirihara Akaya. Kirihara Akaya probably wouldn't be able to achieve his goal this time, so if he wanted to play, he would need to find a partner.
Yanagi Renji gently stroked his chin, as if thinking about something. "A career opportunity? I need to see if Yukimura is interested."
"Senior Liu?" Kirihara Akaya looked anxious and obviously wanted to play on the court immediately, but he could not understand either German or English, and had no idea what the seniors were saying.
Yanagi Renji translated: "The competition here only accepts doubles. If you want to play, you need to find a temporary partner."
"Senior Yanagi, how about..." Kirihara Aka did not hesitate too much. Between Senior Sanada and Senior Yanagi, he would definitely choose Senior Yanagi without much thought.
Yanagi Renji declined Kirihara Akaya's invitation. "Sanada can come with you. I'll go gather some information about the competition."
Since it is a selection that can lead to professional competitions, the composition must be complicated. Let's go to the registration point first to check the situation.
Yanagi Renji waved at Sanada and left the venue.
Sanada stayed at the street court, looking at the newly vacated field, and walked forward. "Let's do it."
While inquiring about the news, Sanada and Yanagi Renji understood the rules of the court. Except for the requirement of doubles, all other rules are universal. Players who want to compete can go forward and challenge when they see the court is empty. Unless the two parties have already arranged the match in advance, the opponents are usually random, and they will play against whoever challenges them.
"Wait for me, Senior Sanada." Although Kirihara Akaya didn't speak the same language, he was familiar with Sanada and hurriedly followed with his racket.
Sanada found a vacant court and walked up. Kirihara Akaya followed closely behind, racket tightly gripped in hand, his face filled with excitement and anticipation.
Being full of questions did not stop Kirihara Aka from playing tennis. The starting lineup was decided and the order of the game would not be easily changed.
A pair of local players walked into the venue, wearing uniform sportswear and with confident smiles on their faces. "You go first, and it's decided by one round."
Sanada walked to the baseline to serve, as fast as the wind.
The ball was going very fast, and the player on the other side of the net didn't find the right spot for the ball to land. Kirihara Akaya was standing aside and couldn't get involved at all. Senior Sanada alone was able to win the game.
If the serve is decided by Sanada, the return belongs to Kirihara Akaya.
The trajectory of the German player's ball was clear in Sanada's eyes. Before Sanada could step forward, the ball was hit back by Kirihara Akaya on the same field.
Kirihara Akaya held his breath, staring closely at the trajectory of the tennis ball, moving his feet quickly and hitting the ball back accurately.
There is no cooperation in doubles matches, only the display of individual strength.
Sanada's limited doubles experience was covered by Kirihara Akaya. In order to not miss the ball, he could only catch the ball that Kirihara Akaya did not have time to catch.
After several rounds, the rhythm of the game between Sanada and Kirihara Akaya was chaotic, but they were significantly ahead in the score. There was no coordination at all, only strong individual abilities.
"Game right 6-0!"
The spectators in the audience area gasped in amazement, as they obviously had not expected that this makeshift duo would be so powerful.
Although it seemed that they played without any plan, they were actually suppressing the game.
Even with the victory, Kirihara Akaya wasn't satisfied. "Why doubles? It would have been nice if Yanagi-senpai was here."
After winning the match, Sanada didn't stay on the court for long, immediately making room for those who wanted to practice next. "Playing with Kirihara Akaya is so tiring. Even doubles isn't as exciting as playing one-on-two."
Kirihara Akaya and Senior Sanada had the same idea, and their enthusiasm for playing tennis had diminished a lot.
Yanagi Renji returned to his spot after gathering intel, only to find Sanada and Kirihara Akaya sitting in chairs watching the match. "According to the information we've gathered, registration closes in two days, and it's limited to doubles. If you'd like to participate, you can find the registration point at the intersection. There's a professional player guarantee, and you must be under 15 years old. The winner will get to experience Germany's best youth training center, and those with exceptional skills may even pursue a professional career..."
"Profession!? I really want to see it. Senior Liu, please sign up with me." Kirihara Akaya's eyes lit up.
Yanagi Renji pushed his glasses and analyzed, "There's still time. Yukimura should be interested, and maybe Marui and the others will participate. Sanada?"
"Let's go back and ask." Sanada wasn't very interested, and it was a doubles match.
On the streets of Germany, the members of Rikkai University went about their business. Yukimura Seiichi lingered in the art gallery, lost in the sea of art; Marui Bunta and Jackal Sangen feasted on exotic cuisine at the food court; Niou Masaharu and Yagyu Hiroshi quietly browsed in the library, occasionally exchanging a few words...
"Akaya looks very excited. Did something good happen?" As soon as Yukimura returned to his accommodation, he saw Kirihara Akaya sitting on the sofa.
Kirihara Akaya immediately jumped up from the sofa and excitedly explained, "Minister Yukimura! Street competition, professional..."
Yukimura Seiichi smiled. Although he didn't understand what Kirihara Akaya was saying, it didn't stop him from encouraging his junior. "But, what about your profession?"
"That's right, Yukimura." Yanagi Renji informed the Rikkai University members who had returned from their trip of the detailed information he had collected.
After listening to Yanagi Renji's story, Marui Bunta chewed the candy he had just bought from the street and asked vaguely: "The timing is quite coincidental. Do you want to join us?"
Kirihara Akaya nodded heavily, his face full of anticipation: "Of course I do! Maybe I can become a professional player~ The combination of Yanagi-senpai and I will definitely win the championship."
"Pfft~ It's not that good of a deal. It's probably just an invitation to a visit. Forget it, I might as well study other majors in high school. But if the captain needs a doubles partner, I can reluctantly help." Niou Masaharu knew his partner Yagyu Hiroshi's plan, so there was no need to interfere. Besides, Yukimura was still on the team.
Jackal Kuwahara and Marui Bunta exchanged a look of hesitation. It didn't matter whether they participated or not, but with only one spot available, Yukimura was the only one suitable.
Marui Bunta scratched his head and said, "I won't participate, and neither will Kuwabara. If you need us to cooperate, that's fine."
"Yeah, since there are people participating anyway, the final winner will definitely be Rikkai University." Jackal Kuwabara agreed.
Yukimura Seiichi looked at Sanada Genichirō and asked, "Professional, Sanada, is it okay to play doubles after such a long time?"
"Of course, Yukimura." Sanada had no special desire for the competition. Sooner or later, Yukimura would appear in the professional arena.
Yagyu Hiroshi looked at the somewhat moved Niou. "Why? Changed your mind again?"
"What a pity~ If Sanada and Akaya were a pairing, I would definitely try to snipe them in the finals, haha." Niou Masaharu glanced at Yukimura. With these two people's combination, even without the data of the military advisor, one would know what the result would be.
Marui Bunta patted Kirihara Akaya on the shoulder, and everything was said without words.
Yanagi Renji and his notebook. "Then it's Yukimura, Sanada, me, and Kirihara who will register. I'll fill out the registration form tomorrow, and we'll just have to wait for the competition."
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