bookbashuk Chapter 159 Middle school students are terrifying!
Chapter 159 Middle school students are terrifying!
Chapter 159 Middle school students are terrifying!
"5
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"Defeat?"
His rough eyebrows twitched suddenly, and Oni Jujiro froze on the spot, his eyes filled with disbelief and astonishment.
Shuji Taneshima, whom he couldn't defeat even with all his might, was actually dragged down from his pedestal by two middle school kids.
"It looks like we should give up our position."
Kanata Irie immediately got into character, her eyes instantly reddening, her tone laced with just the right amount of resentment as she murmured, drawing out her words, "Damn it, I'm so unwilling to accept this~~"
"I'm so unwilling!" Kanata Irie shouted to the sky.
Oni Jujiro simply exhaled a heavy breath, his chest heavy with the weight of defeat, yet also filled with hope for the rise of his successors; complex emotions intertwined in his eyes.
On the other side, Byodoin Phoenix's knuckles were clenched so tightly they cracked, his aura was frighteningly low, and his eyes were churning with boundless rage.
These two good-for-nothings actually let two junior high school students defeat them, which is a complete disgrace to him as the captain of an army. He wished he could rush into the arena immediately and tear Taneshima Shuji and Omagari Ryuji apart with his own hands.
Ryoga Echizen, however, seemed completely unconcerned about the defeat. His brow was furrowed, and his mind was fixed on one question:
How could my own devouring power fail?
How could Akutsu, whose tennis skills he had taken away, possibly win?
"We lost."
The high school students all stared blankly, their expressions filled with disbelief. After a long while, someone murmured in a low voice, their tone full of bewilderment and shock: "These two are top ten players in the first team, and they actually lost to two brats in the badge ranking competition."
"How can these two middle school students be so amazing?"
"Did they already have this kind of strength? How come I've never heard of them before?"
The high school students had a variety of thoughts: some were shocked, some were unwilling, and some questioned their own abilities. Their discussions were full of complex emotions.
Conversely, the middle school students on the sidelines were already cheering and jumping for joy: "See? I told you so!"
Kikumaru Eiji grinned, his eyes crinkling with smugness, "I knew they'd win!"
Momoshiro Takeshi sighed and rubbed his forehead, embarrassed. "Eiji-senpai, you don't recall saying that, did you?"
"Really?" Kikumaru Eiji scratched his head, laughing carefree. "Hehehe, anyway, it's good that they won!"
Sengoku Kiyosumi gazed at Akutsu on the court, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. He thought to himself, "Akutsu, you've really grown. You haven't disappointed me."
Guan Yuechu turned to look at Fuji Yuta, her tone grave: "Yuta, it seems we have gained another formidable rival."
"Mitsuki, what are you talking about?" Fuji Yuuta asked, looking puzzled. "Akuzu is graduating soon."
Kanzuki was immediately angered and glared at him: "I'm talking about Hiyoshi Waka, that second-year student at Hyotei!"
Upon hearing this, Fuji Yuuta's expression immediately turned serious. Hiyoshi Waka was indeed not to be underestimated, as he was able to join forces with Akutsu to defeat Tanejima Shuji and Omagari Ryuji.
On the court, Shuji Taneshima casually tucked his racket under his arm. Looking at Akutsu, his gaze held regret, but also admiration: "Oh dear, what a pity, to lose here."
Ryuji Ōgura tore off the badge from his chest, raised his hand and threw it to Wakashi Hiyoshi, saying calmly, "Here, take this. It's well-deserved."
Shuji Taneshima caught the badge Akutsu threw at him steadily, his fingertips tracing the edge of the badge as he spoke in a serious tone: "However, if you think you're invincible just because you beat the two of us, you're sorely mistaken."
Oogura Ryuji chimed in, "The real challenge is yet to come; this is just the beginning."
"We never considered you invincible," Akutsu said arrogantly, his eyes sharp as knives. "No matter what kind of enemy you are, I will crush them all."
Shuji Taneshima smiled, turned, and walked off the field: "Good luck to you."
Ryuji Oogari followed closely behind, glancing back at the two before leaving, his voice clear and firm: "It's your time now."
In the monitoring room, after a brief silence, Sato looked at the screen, his face full of admiration: "These two junior high school students have indeed brought us a different kind of surprise."
Takushiro Ryuji frowned, a hint of doubt in his voice: "But are these two really capable of handling their current positions?"
Sato looked up at him and asked, "You're the executive coach. Haven't you noticed anything unusual during this training period?"
After a moment of contemplation, Takuji Longci slowly shook his head: "These two never fall behind in training, but they don't have anything outstanding about them either. Compared to the other trainees, they seem quite ordinary."
"Tap tap tap—"
Kurobe's fingers flew across the keyboard, instantly bringing up countless surveillance clips on the screen, all of them showing training footage of Akutsu and Hiyoshi.
He pointed to the screen, his tone certain: "Both of these two had experience fighting against Natsume Tsukiya before the match. The special moves they just used were almost exactly the same as the ones they used against Natsume Tsukiya."
A hint of surprise flashed in Sato's eyes: "You suspect that their techniques are also related to Natsume Tsuki?"
Kurobe didn't speak, but simply raised his eyes, his gaze fixed on the camera aimed at Natsume Tsukiya, his expression slightly serious, as if he were deep in thought.
After a long silence, he picked up the microphone on the table, put it to his lips, and his voice clearly echoed throughout the arena: "Please, Natsume Tsukiya and Echizen Ryoma, come to Stadium Number Two."
On the screen, everyone was startled, their faces filled with astonishment, and their eyes all turned to the direction where Echizen Ryoma was.
Ryoma Echizen merely raised his eyes slightly, the brim of his hat concealing the emotions within them. He habitually pressed his fingertips against the brim, grabbed the racket beside him, and strode resolutely and solitarily toward the court, without a moment's hesitation or a backward glance.
"Hey, little one!"
Kikumaru Eiji looked at his solitary figure and called out to him with a tone full of tenderness.
Eiji Kikumaru knew all too well that Tsukiya Natsume's strength had reached an unattainable level, and that Ryoma Echizen's journey there was likely to end in disaster.
But Ryoma Echizen didn't turn his head back, with only one thought in his mind: he couldn't possibly lose!
As for how much strength Natsume Tsukiya actually possessed, he didn't care, nor did he want to care.
Over the years, he has defeated countless strong opponents, and winning has become commonplace. Over time, he has come to believe that he is the strongest.
"My goodness, it's over my knees!!"
Kintaro Toyama shouted anxiously, trying to rush up and grab him.
Kuranosuke Shiraishi gently pressed down on his restless shoulder, his voice gentle yet firm: "Kane, let him go... In any case, Echizen Ryoma of Seigaku will not give up until he has a fight with Natsume Tsuki."
"But that guy is really good!"
Kintaro Toyama looked worried. After all, he and Ryoma Echizen were about the same age and were both first-year superstars, so he couldn't help but care a little.
"Everyone has their own path to walk, and all we can do is wish him good luck."
Shiraishi Kuranosuke gazed at Echizen Ryoma's retreating figure and spoke calmly.
Kanzuki scoffed, his tone full of mockery: "Echizen Ryoma, you really overestimate yourself and are courting death."
"Mitsuki, you can't say that," Fuji Yuuta frowned, instinctively retorting.
Kanzuki raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a half-smile: "What, Yuuta, do you think he can win? Let alone win, do you think he can even take a single point from Natsume Tsukiya?"
"How could I possibly know such a thing?"
Fuji Yuta pursed his lips, his tone lacking confidence.
"You know."
With a resolute tone and sharp eyes, Kanzuki stared at Fuji Yuuta: "Actually, you know very well that it's impossible to get even a single point from that guy. Kunimitsu Teie couldn't do it, Seiichi Yukimura couldn't do it, and Ryoma Echizen certainly couldn't do it either."
The junior high school students present frowned slightly upon hearing this, their faces showing worry.
Natsume Tsukiya, this name is no ordinary existence, nor is he an opponent that anyone can underestimate.
Ryoma Echizen wanted to challenge him, and his courage was commendable, but it also contained a hint of overestimation of his abilities.
Everyone knows that if the difference in strength is too great, such a challenge is meaningless and will only increase frustration.
Everyone understands that Ryoma Echizen has a high opinion of himself, but it's still too much of a stretch for him to challenge Tsukiya Natsume.
On the other hand, the high school students had completely different ideas.
Having witnessed firsthand how the relatively unknown Akutsu and Hiyoshi defeated two top-tier fighters, Tanejima Shuji and Omagari Ryuji, they no longer dared to underestimate any junior high school student.
No one knows how many monsters like Akutsu are hidden among these junior high school students.
Akutsu and Hiyoshi Wakashi usually seem ordinary and even unremarkable, especially Hiyoshi Wakashi, whose name had never been heard of before.
Yet these two, working together, defeated Ryuji Omagari, who had the best endurance, and Shuji Taneshima, who could render his opponent's moves invisible.
This reversal made it impossible for them to see through the junior high school students' abilities.
Perhaps, Ryoma Echizen, who dared to challenge Natsume Tsukiya, is also a ruthless character who is hiding his true strength.
Ryoga Echizen, who had already started to leave, stopped abruptly upon hearing the announcement over the loudspeaker. He turned around and his gaze instantly fell toward the direction of Court 2, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.
"What, you're interested too?"
Byodoin Phoenix crossed her arms and asked without turning her head, her tone carrying a hint of disdain, yet also a touch of curiosity about Echizen Ryoga's behavior.
"Why not take a look?"
Ryoga Echizen's gaze remained fixed on the direction of the stadium, his tone calm, but his heart was already churning with emotion.
He had heard the name Natsume Tsukiya countless times from Echizen Nanjiro; according to rumors, he was an extremely formidable opponent.
Moreover, he was always more concerned about Echizen Ryoma's every move, so there was no reason for him not to stay.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Natsume Tsuki slowly walked towards the second court.
He walked with a steady gait, his aura was calm yet imposing, and he held a bright racket in his hand.
On the racket face, there are only two intersecting lines, simple yet sharp, exuding a force that cannot be underestimated.
Ryoma Echizen stood on the field, his eyes fixed on the two cross lines, his brows furrowing involuntarily, and a hint of anger flashing in his eyes.
Not far away, Ryoma Echizen noticed Ryoma Echizen's furrowed brows and subconsciously looked at the cross-shaped paddle. His brows furrowed even more tightly than Ryoma's, and a hint of displeasure and anger even flashed in his eyes.
This is clearly bullying!
He knew that Ryoma Echizen was currently learning how to use a cross racket in order to master the light hit... but Ryoma Echizen couldn't even return a normal shot with a cross racket yet.
The opponent actually did this...
"That person is Natsume Tsukiya, the so-called Zero-Seal Tyrant, right?"
Ryoga Echizen spoke slowly, emphasizing Natsume Tsukiya and Zero-Sealed Tyrant, while scrutinizing Byodoin Phoenix with his eyes.
Are you questioning me?
Byodoin Phoenix instantly misunderstood, subconsciously thinking of his upcoming decisive battle with Natsume Tsukiya—a shutout?
Thinking about the shutout, it's either him winning or being shut out.
Ryoga Echizen did not turn his head, while Hikaru remained on the court with a solemn expression.
A thought flashed through his mind:
If the rumors are true, and Natsume Tsuki really can shut out all his opponents, just like Yukimura Seiichi back then, then Echizen Ryoma will definitely be shut out as well.
Moreover, being shut out by a cross-shaped racket that he still couldn't control would be a fatal blow to the proud Ryoma Echizen.
Ryoga Echizen's gaze shifted between the two, his worry growing stronger.
"Actually, you don't need to do this at all."
Natsume Tsukiya stood opposite Echizen Ryoma and spoke first. His tone was calm, without any provocation, but rather with a hint of admonition.
Ryoma Echizen raised his head, his hat brim tilted slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes, not understanding the meaning of his words.
Before your brother came along, I actually had a pretty good impression of you.
Natsume Tsukiya said slowly and calmly, "You used to be an invincible genius, dazzling in every way, ambitious and capable, but unfortunately..."
""
"It's none of your business what happens in our family!"
Ryoma Echizen's tone suddenly turned gloomy, abruptly interrupting him, his eyes surging with long-suppressed resentment and unwillingness.
After saying this, he was stunned. He suddenly realized that he had regarded Natsume Tsukiya as an enemy for too long. The repression and resentment in his heart finally erupted completely at this moment.
He gripped his racket tightly, raised his head, his gaze sharp as a knife, and his voice trembled slightly, yet he shouted with unwavering determination: "No matter how others acknowledge that you are the strongest, I don't accept it! When it comes to tennis, I will not lose to anyone."
Natsume Tsuki merely glanced at Echizen Ryoga not far away, his expression remaining calm and showing no sign of anger.
In this world, he would never let other people's opinions ruin his good mood.
Outside the arena, murmurs arose: "That middle school student seems to be hiding something."
"Yeah, he actually said something like, 'If I were to play tennis, I wouldn't lose to anyone.'"
"Hmm, maybe he's like Akutsu and the others, a monster who hides his true abilities."
"Middle school students are terrifying."