126. The True Temptation of Hanamura

"It is not just the Tanaka brothers; it includes Reiji Kamishiro, Takahisa Kajimoto, and Hiroshi Wakato. All of this year's first-year recruits have undergone the 'enhanced human' concept training from Coach Aoi Hanamura, who also joined Shonan this year. However, there are three who fall outside this scope: the Ebi-zuka trio, who became regular players for Shonan last year."

Sadaharu Inui showed the group the data in his notebook.

"The Ebi-zuka trio were the three strongest first-years at Ebi-zuka Junior High last year: Hiromi Kiryu, Toshiaki Honda, and Makoto Uehara. Because the upperclassmen in the tennis club were jealous of their strength and bullied them, the three of them quit the Ebi-zuka tennis club and transferred to Jōsei Shōnan."

"Hiromi Kiryu is sharp-witted and is known as the 'Mad Dog' for his do-or-die spirit on the court; he is a calm and intelligent player. Toshiaki Honda is not good with words; he is quiet and taciturn, but his strength should not be underestimated. As for Makoto Uehara, he is very adept at utilizing his physical strength and possesses immense explosive power."

Under Inui's explanation, the group nodded thoughtfully. Ryo Shishido asked, "But since they are second-years this year, they should be playing with the first-years at Shonan. Why isn't Aoi Hanamura putting them through the 'enhanced human' training?"

"Perhaps it is because their playing styles are already set. However, what I do know is that Aoi Hanamura feels a slight regret that she cannot remodel the Ebi-zuka trio."

Inui adjusted his reflective glasses.

"You’re really something, Inui, to be able to get hold of so much information." Yoshiro Akazawa remarked with a sigh.

"Next, I will tell you about the information regarding the Shonan first-years..." Inui flipped his notebook forward.

...

"In short, the Shonan first-years have all voluntarily become Aoi Hanamura's 'works.' They have all undergone enhancements to become perfect masterpieces. Although it has only been less than four months, they are clearly not to be underestimated, just like the Ebi-zuka trio." Inui closed his notebook.

"But I can't help but feel like Shonan's Aoi Hanamura is running some kind of multi-level marketing scheme..." Shinya Yanagisawa really did not have a good impression of that school.

"There is no need to dwell too much on the word 'work.' To put it bluntly without linguistic nuances, that is simply what they are. Furthermore, they are all volunteers; no one is forcing them," Inui stated.

"Renji and I have discussed the order of the lineup and made some changes. To counter Hiroshi Wakato, who can imitate superstars of the professional tennis world, Matsubara, you will face him. He will be playing in Singles 3," Renji Yanagi said, looking at the young boy.

"Eh? You’ve already figured it out?" Narumi Matsubara was slightly startled. Ever since advancing to the Kanto Tournament, it had been difficult to predict the opposing team's singles and doubles order.

"There is no mistake. According to calculations, he will definitely appear in the third singles slot," Inui said with certainty.

"Understood." Matsubara nodded.

"The Tanaka brothers will be an immovable doubles pair, so I will team up with Renji to handle them," Inui said.

"Fuji and Akutsu will pair up for doubles," Yanagi added.

"!" Akutsu was stunned. He truly had not expected to be paired with Fuji.

"That is perfectly fine," Fuji nodded with a smile.

"They put Fuji in doubles again this time..." Matsubara thought to himself as he listened to the arrangements. Inui and Yanagi in Doubles 2, Akutsu and Fuji in Doubles 1, himself in Singles 3, Tezuka in Singles 2, and Yoshiro Akazawa in Singles 1—are they planning to win in just three matches?

However, Shonan's singles players were not mediocre either. There was Hiroshi Wakato in Singles 3, and Singles 2 would likely be Takahisa Kajimoto or Reiji Kamishiro. As for Singles 1, it was unclear which of the Ebi-zuka trio it would be. According to Inui's data, all three were capable of playing both singles and doubles.

The next day.

The Kanto Tournament semifinals began. At the entrance of the specialized tennis complex, a blue bus pulled up. As the folding glass doors opened, the first to step off was Aoi Hanamura, followed immediately by Hiroshi Wakato, who wore his white cap backward. The moment Wakato stepped off the bus, he was instantly surrounded by a group of pretty girls in school uniforms, their screams filling the air.

"It's Shonan's Wakato-kun! Please, you must win the match!"

"That goes without saying. Although our opponents fought their way from the regional qualifiers to the Kanto Tournament, they are ultimately just an obscure, weak team. We at Jōsei Shōnan have been dedicated to athletics for a long time." Wakato flipped his palm and smiled triumphantly.

This triggered another wave of frantic screaming from the girls from other schools.

Takahisa Kajimoto and the others stood behind Hanamura, watching the noisy scene around Wakato. Kajimoto said faintly, "It seems it won't be quiet for a while."

"That kid Wakato really knows how to attract the girls, with that flashy hair and cap," said Makoto Uehara, who was tall and wore sports sunglasses.

"Hmph, so flashy even though he's just a first-year. But the guy does have the look of a star; it can't be helped. *Cough, cough.*" Toshiaki Honda, wearing a face mask, shrugged.

Hiromi Kiryu, with his hands in his pockets, his short hair slightly spiked, and a rebellious expression, merely frowned at Wakato, who was surrounded by layers of girls, before looking away.

"It's practically like Wakato's personal bodyguard unit..." Yohei Tanaka said with his hands on his hips.

"I'm used to it... Besides, Wakato is going to embarrass the school sooner or later..." Kohei Tanaka shrugged.

As the second bus arrived, the Seigaku regulars stepped off. The girls surrounding Wakato did not let out any infatuated screams when they saw Tezuka and the others; after all, they were there for the former and had little interest in the Seigaku students.

"Oh... has Shonan already arrived?" Ryo Shishido said, seeing the lively scene outside.

"?" Aoi Hanamura noticed Narumi Matsubara standing at the end of the Seigaku regulars. Seemingly remembering something, she walked over quickly and revealed a charming, mature smile. "You must be Matsubara, right?"

Hanamura's action naturally caught the attention of the Shonan regulars. They all cast their gazes toward him. *Narumi Matsubara... the boy who can execute tennis techniques that are shockingly beyond what a first-year should be capable of?*

"Narumi Matsubara..." Takahisa Kajimoto murmured, looking at the boy, then wore a serious expression. As the Singles 1 player, he didn't know if he would get the chance to face Matsubara. Honestly, he wanted to see if the boy's incredibly fast non-spin serve was faster than his own 180 km/h hyper-speed serve.

"Yes." Looking at Hanamura, Matsubara nodded slightly. This woman seemed no different from how she would be in three years. 26 or 29... were they about the same age?

"I look forward to our match today," Hanamura said, appearing very polite.

"Ah... he is the team's captain and coach; I am not," Matsubara said, pointing to Kunimitsu Tezuka, who stood at the very front.

"No, I am just happy to see you. After all, you are a very fine piece of material. I've been watching you since you first emerged in the regional qualifiers. I must say, if you could come to us, you would definitely become even more formidable." Hanamura scanned Tezuka, Fuji, and the others with her eyes before focusing back on Matsubara, smiling with great allure.

"Trying to poach me..." Matsubara hadn't expected Hanamura to be here to recruit him. As someone who often recruited others, was it his turn to be scouted?

"I will pour every ounce of my energy into making you a perfect masterpiece. All of them have been trained under my personal guidance." After saying this, the woman looked back at Kajimoto and the others.

Hanamura's words made the boy feel somewhat awkward. The language of this world was completely different from the reality he came from, so the meanings of phrases had shifted significantly. What was originally meant as "giving it one's all" was interpreted here as "giving it one's all with every inch of one's body."

*With her whole body... physical instruction? Hanamura's seduction here is much more stimulating than in the original work...*

Matsubara swallowed hard and suppressed the inappropriate thoughts in his mind. Hanamura looked like a female pervert. Honestly, he didn't need any of this woman's "loving education."

"Never mind, Coach Hanamura. I appreciate the kindness, but my body has its own ideas. It cannot become a 'work' of art," Matsubara declined.