Chapter 252: Irie Joins the Game

Data Cannot Be Measured

In Japan's U17, only two individuals have ever received such a treatment. And these two are undoubtedly figures capable of swaying the outcome of a match.

"But..."

Thinking of this, Takuzo frowned and said, "Even if he hasn't shown his full strength, he shouldn't be given such an evaluation, right?"

"Have you forgotten something?" Kurobe shook his head, his gaze shifting to the black-haired boy on the training field. "His identity is completely different from the others!"

Identity?

"Wait!!"

Suddenly, Takuzo's eyes widened in realization. "I almost forgot! This kid is a middle schooler!!!"

During the morning match, he had subconsciously categorized Ishikawa as a high school freshman, similar to Mori and Gen.

But in reality, Ishikawa was just a first-year middle schooler! Given this identity, the "unmeasurable" evaluation wasn't an exaggeration at all.

"Ishikawa Shin..."

Kurobe lightly tapped the desk with his left hand, his brow slightly furrowed. Unlike Takuzo, he had studied Ishikawa's records. Before the spring intra-school selection tournament at Hyotei, there were no records of him participating in any matches.

"Is it a lack of data? Or... had he never even touched a tennis racket before this year?!"

The former was manageable, but if it were the latter...

At this thought, a glimmer of intrigue flashed in Kurobe's eyes. If that were the case, the "unmeasurable" evaluation would be absolutely justified!

Training Field

After completing the final physical test, Mori let out a long sigh.

"Hey..." Gen leaned over and whispered curiously, "Do you think our physical data is any good in this state?"

"Staying low-key is the way to go," Mori replied in a hushed tone. "I believe what Ishikawa said—this training camp is full of hidden talents. If we don't want to be targeted, it's best to keep a low profile."

As for the training regimen, Mori didn't think the coaches' plans could surpass the results they achieved under Ishikawa's intense guidance.

"Yeah," Gen nodded. "I feel the same way."

"Let's go, seniors," Ishikawa's voice suddenly rang out behind them.

The two stiffened, stammering, "Uh, well..."

Seeing their expressions, Ishikawa smiled. "Don't worry, it's lunchtime."

Hearing this, they immediately relaxed.

"Phew, I thought..."

"Thought what?"

"Nothing, nothing!"

They quickly shook their heads, not wanting to admit they were afraid of the training.

Ishikawa blinked. "Oh, I thought you might be scared of the training."

"Of course not!"

The two immediately puffed out their chests. "A little training like this? No way we'd be scared!"

"That's what I thought."

Seeing their reactions, Ishikawa couldn't help but smirk. "Let's eat first. We'll need the energy for training later!"

"Uh..."

Mori and Gen's expressions froze again. They weren't stupid—they realized they'd fallen into Ishikawa's trap. But having already spoken, they couldn't back out now.

After lunch and a short break, the three began their daily training.

This time, since the coaches had their data, staff were assigned to correct their form.

Scientific training wasn't just about setting the right intensity or developing muscle groups—it also involved correcting bad habits.

Often, the difference between top players came down to the smallest details. Bad habits could become fatal weaknesses!

Court 3

Yamato, Nakagauchi, and Matsudaira watched the trio with curiosity.

"They're pushing themselves too hard, aren't they?"

Matsudaira had stopped his own training to count the number of repetitions the trio was doing. At first, he thought they were foolish for starting so intensely. But after two hours, they were still going strong.

Drip... drip...

Mori and Gen were drenched in sweat, but every time they glanced at Ishikawa, who maintained his steady pace, they gritted their teeth and pushed on.

They didn't want to be looked down upon by the other Court 3 players, nor did they want to fall behind Ishikawa.

"This kind of training will burn them out," Nakagauchi shook his head. "They might last a few days, but they'll eventually grow tired of the monotony."

"True," Yamato agreed. "This kind of repetitive training needs some variation. Gradually increasing the intensity would be more effective."

After all, humans aren't machines. Visible progress and a sense of achievement can help alleviate physical and mental fatigue.

If things went as expected, the trio would eventually give up and accept the coaches' plans.

However, reality proved them wrong.

The next day, Mori and Gen's bodies instinctively resisted the training. But seeing Ishikawa's unwavering determination, they pushed through.

Training is all about adaptation, turning it into a part of life. Under Ishikawa's influence, the two not only survived the initial burnout but also saw visible improvements in their physical abilities.

This only strengthened their resolve to follow Ishikawa.

Five Days Later

Mori and Gen had fully adapted to life at U17. Training, eating, and resting had become their daily routine. After overcoming the initial monotony, they no longer needed Ishikawa to push them—they prepared for training on their own. For them, skipping a day of training left them feeling unfulfilled.

In contrast, the other Court 3 players were growing numb. The trio's strength was already superior, and with their intense training, the gap was widening.

"Interesting."

A curly-haired, round-faced young man with glasses observed the trio's sweat-drenched training with a smile. "Their training intensity is even greater than I imagined."

"Irie?"

The other Court 3 players noticed his arrival.

"What's he doing here?" Matsudaira narrowed his eyes. "Isn't he usually with Oni and Tokugawa?"

Yamato and Nakagauchi also looked over, their eyes filled with more respect than Matsudaira's. After all, Irie's status wasn't just that of a Court 3 player.

"What's he up to?"

Seeing Irie approach the trio, who were practicing their swings, the others were puzzled.

"Good morning, you three!"

Irie greeted them with a smile.

Ishikawa turned to him. "Senior, is there something you need?"

"Nothing much. I just saw your training and felt a bit ashamed," Irie said, shaking his head. "I haven't trained this seriously in a long time."

The other Court 3 players couldn't help but twitch at his words.

"Typical Irie, never a word of truth," Matsudaira muttered to himself.

"How about it?" Irie stretched and smiled. "If you have time, would you like to play a match with me?"

What?!

The surrounding players were stunned. No one expected Irie to challenge Ishikawa to a match!

"A match?"

Ishikawa, aware of Irie's reputation, was also surprised. But seeing Irie's serious expression, he smiled and said, "When?"

"How about now?"

"Sure."

The others were even more shocked.

"Does Ishikawa not know how strong Irie is?" Yamato and Nakagauchi wondered.

Irie, who often trained with Oni and Tokugawa, was undoubtedly at the level of Court 1. In fact, he was one of the Court 3 leaders, tasked with nurturing talent for the higher courts.

"Irie's acting out of character," Matsudaira thought. He knew better than anyone that Ishikawa hadn't shown his full strength during his match with Tōjin.

This match would undoubtedly surprise many.

Coaches' Room

Observing the situation on Court 3, Kurobe raised an eyebrow. "Irie and Ishikawa?"

Takuzo was puzzled. "What's he doing? Private matches are forbidden in the camp!"

"Come on," Saito interjected. "That rule doesn't apply to someone like Irie. I'm more curious why he wants to play Ishikawa."

Kurobe's eyes gleamed with thought. He had a hunch about Irie's intentions.

"Let's watch," Kurobe said, focusing on the screen. "Regardless of the reason, this is a chance to understand Ishikawa better."

Saito grinned. "Or maybe, through Ishikawa, we'll get a better understanding of Irie's true strength."

Takuzo nodded in agreement.

The coaches had long been skeptical of Irie's data. This match could finally reveal his real capabilities.

Court 3

Aside from Mori, Gen, and the other Court 3 players, Oni and Tokugawa had also arrived.

Oni stood calmly with his arms crossed, while Tokugawa's gaze was fixed on Irie. Among all the U17 players, only Irie and Oni knew the full extent of Irie's strength.

But even Tokugawa wasn't entirely sure how strong Irie truly was.

At the same time, Tokugawa couldn't shake the feeling that he and Ishikawa were destined to face off in the future.

"Game start, best of one set!"

The umpire announced, "Irie to serve!"

"Too bad," Yamato and Nakagauchi sighed. They had hoped to see Irie return Ishikawa's high-speed serve, but Irie was serving first.

"Ready?"

Irie smiled at Ishikawa, who assumed his receiving stance. "Let's begin!"

With a smooth motion, Irie tossed the ball and swung his racket.

The ball flew toward Ishikawa, but upon bouncing, it suddenly accelerated, curving sharply toward Ishikawa's face.

"An accelerating serve?!" Gen exclaimed.

But Ishikawa remained calm. Instead of dodging or blocking, he used a reverse grip to slice the ball, redirecting it perfectly.

The ball flew back, meeting Irie's racket with a crisp sound.

The spectators were stunned. They hadn't expected Irie's serve to have a second layer of complexity, nor had they anticipated Ishikawa's impeccable counter.

"Impressive," Tokugawa murmured, a hint of wariness in his eyes. "His insight is remarkable."